The Future of Puzzlebrains

[Scurra]

Without going in to other details, I can assure you that the forum is safe until December 2016. Lots of time to sort out the rest- but keep those ideas coming!

Of course, that's always assuming that the website host doesn't crash as well. (They were down completely for a little while this evening, but no news as to why.)

[strep98]

Now for my two pennies worth. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this site and the people on it, you have all keep me sane when I have troubles and some listen when I need a shoulder. Take the time you need Scurra and come back refreshed and as Bunny says if you need to e-mail us all the puzzles to get around it I'm up for that. I've enjoyed testing, it is not something I am very good at, but it has been a great privilege to be asked. If we can get around all of this somehow let me know what help you need. I know you don't really like facebook, but it may be a way of promoting the mag to make it a bit more profitable for you, red fraggle's book has been promoted so well on it.

Keep us updated and ask for help if and when you need it, you have been here for us and now perhaps it's our turn to help you.

[kathlyn]

Ditto to all that's already been said. I know I don't contribute much these days but often look in to see what's going on. It would be so sad to see PB disappear and all the friends we've made.

[Redfraggle]

I've said before - I can help you with Puzzlebrains if you put it on FB. I know what I'm doing - believe it or not

[Bunnylump]

I do believe you. I've seen you in action!

[Redfraggle]

I know - but it's a task that can be shared. Three or four can be made admins.

[Bunnylump]

So, who has got ideas on what to do in the interim to keep us all amused?

[SparkOut]

Rabbit races. With fraggle jockies.

[LAT]

Brilliant! That should definitely keep us all amused!

[Bunnylump]

Well, all I can say, SparkOut, is that you are easily amused!

I have a question, Scurra. What are your thoughts on members' puzzles in the interim?

[LAT]

so are you offering Bunnylump?

[Bunnylump]

Not particularly. But I wouldn't mind doing the odd one now and again if that's OK with Uncle Scurra. I was just wondering if other people might post the occasional puzzle too - again, with Scurra's blessing.

[LAT]

Did you ever get an answer on this from the jester?

Now that some others have decided to join the puzzle-writing team, maybe there is more scope for extra random puzzles to keep the rest of us on our toes?

[Bunnylump]

Well, that's what I was sort of hoping. Obviously, they wouldn't be to the standard of PB puzzles, but it might just keep us amused...

What does everyone think about this? Scurra?

[Wulfruna]

That sounds a great idea! However, it would still need monitoring and a level of control over what the puzzles are and how and when they appear. (To avoid overlap and repetition)
So the question is whether Scurra is willing to continue his editorial role, but in a reduced form, to give him a bit of a break, as he requests. He did indicate that he was willing to put together maybe a couple of issues during the year, but I quite like the suggestion of something more regular - e.g. a puzzle (or two?) issued on every 1st of the month, to keep us checking in.

I would envisage this as puzzle writers voluntarily submitting stuff to Scurra (as already happens to some extent) and then he can assess and edit them as appropriate in the usual way - but without the pressure of a timetable and the demands of thematic content. There probably needs to be some kind of testing process also before releasing them - but this might be reduced to just one other person testing each one for obvious errors and then letting them loose on the rest of us. Does that sound a possible procedure?

There is also the separate question of "voluntary contributions" to the 'club' in financial terms - there are hidden costs in keeping the show on the road, not just in terms of the upfront costs of printing and postage, but also such as maintenance of the website and equipment. But that is a separate discussion and we need Gill to check out the end-of-year finances first.

[Bunnylump]

Well, yes, I see what you are saying, but I wasn't suggesting giving Scurra any extra work. He is, after all, trying to have a break!

I was meaning in the style of the Members' Puzzles thread we used to have on DVP, where people posted random puzzles that they had made themselves on the understanding that they were not to the usual standard and that the owners of the website were not responsible for the content.

[LAT]

Exactly!

Surely the last thing we want is to make more work for Scurra if he needs a break. And making it too formal with any kind of time scale could put undue pressure on him.
But if anyone feels like posting a puzzle with the understanding that it hasn't gone through him and may not be up to his exacting standard, then I'm not sure I can see what the problem would be. It would at least keep everyone checking back and hopefully open up some discussions if and when puzzles do appear.

And if anybody does feel like writing a puzzle and wants someone to test it before going public I would always be happy - and I'm sure other previous testers would be too.

So all we really need to know is that the jester doesn't object to the forum being kept alive in this way over the next year or so until/if he feels like resurrecting the puzzle mags.

[Scurra]

I will respond to this over the weekend. It's complicated.

[Bunnylump]

Isn't EVERYTHING complicated? I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that life is just complicated all the time. Which is annoying when you are a simple soul like me.

[Wulfruna]

That's fine! I wasn't sure about what precedent there might be for random puzzles being produced by individuals. I wasn't around for DVP so didn't know about that. I just produced the suggestion in order to push the discussion along a bit and clarify the practicalities.
It's just that if they were PB style puzzles, e.g.producing a hidden answer (rather than "ordinary" puzzles just to pass the time) I was not sure about the production mechanism. It's a question of having the proper layout and being able to post them up on the website for printing and solving, which might be necessary in some cases, though not for all. For instance I could happily do one of my acrostics, but the programme I have for that does not produce a printable version without being reproduced via Scurra (though I guess he would not mind doing that for me on the odd occasion).