A method of gradually revealing an image using cube puzzles is provided. A first image is divided into a plurality of blocks. Each block can have one or more arbitrary colors. A second image is then generated from the first image where each block of the second image corresponds to one or more blocks of the first image. The blocks of the second image are unicolor blocks with colors that are selected from one of the six colors of a cube puzzle. Groups of adjacent blocks of the second image with the same number of rows and columns as the sides of the cube puzzles are assigned to participants to match to the color of the blocks on the sides of their cube puzzles. Once each participant matches the colors of an assigned region on a side of the corresponding cube puzzle, the matched region is reveled to all participants.

Polycube-based puzzles are disclosed. Three-dimensional Sudoku-like puzzles using polycubes of various sizes and dimensions, where the cubes making up each polycube have visually identifiable features on all sides such that sets of polycubes can be created to facilitate the Sudoku-like puzzle game. Polycube-based puzzles using sets of polycubes arranged in different configurations where each side of a resulting combination of a set of polycubes has no repeated visual identifier.

A playing card having a substrate entirely of a first predetermined colour overlaid with a removable surface coating entirely of a second predetermined colour contrasting with said first predetermined colour, said removable surface being sufficiently friable so as to be able to be scratched off by a player in a pattern predetermined by said player to reveal said substrate in said pattern. The scratched playing card uses the high contrasting colors (typically primary and secondary colors) to produce letters or image(s). These cards are interchangeably used in a strategic and non gambling card game often utilising the Stroop effect.

STEAM learning kits can include interactive devices that can be assembled by users. The interactive devices can have various designs and features that facilitate learning by users. The STEAM learning kits can be used to assemble interactive devices that can take on a number of forms that would be interesting for a child's toy, including but not limited to insects, animals, vehicles, or other figures. Various aspects of the present disclosure describe examples of systems that include interactive devices implemented in an interactive device form factor, such as to enable a user to assemble a butterfly wall; features of various examples described herein can be used to implement various form factors of interactive devices.

An apparatus for shape and color matching retrieval games to be played in a body of water, such as a swimming pool, includes base stations, cover panels, and retrieval objects that players retrieve from the body of water during play of the game. The base provides a support to which cover panels can be removably affixed. The base and the cover panels each have on their top surfaces a series of position markers in the nature of slots formed in various geometric shapes. Each base and cover panel has a subset of retrieval objects matched in shape and/or color to its respective position markers. A method is provided for playing different versions of retrieval games using the base and the cover panels.

A playing card having a substrate entirely of a first predetermined colour overlaid with a removable surface coating entirely of a second predetermined colour contrasting with said first predetermined colour, said removable surface being sufficiently friable so as to be able to be scratched off by a player in a pattern predetermined by said player to reveal said substrate in said pattern. The scratched playing card uses the high contrasting colors (typically primary and secondary colors) to produce letters or image(s). These cards are interchangeably used in a strategic and non gambling card game often utilising the Stroop effect.

The philosophy of games is to provide a mental challenge to the person who is playing the game. With this game a person can build the game according to that person's wants and desires and in this case a dodecahedron is used; the dodecahedron is color coded and an interior sphere is placed with the dodecahedron. Clues that have been placed in pockets of the outside surface of the dodecahedron will consist of locations where coins are hidden. These coins will be gathered and the dodecahedron is manipulated. The interior sphere contains the solution to the game or a prize and is initially locked prior to the start of the game. As the contestants play the game and solve the puzzle, the interior sphere is unlocked and the solution or prize is revealed. The game can be structured to the desires of the individual builder as often as possible.

A compact mechanical toy is provided. The toy is a base coupled to several stacks including multiple story and a plurality of movable disks. The toy includes a first part including one stack having different shaped stories that go from largest to smallest starting from the bottom which fits any one of the disks at one time. The toy further includes a second part movable disks coupled to the first part, the second part including complex embodied cavity shaped to fit each of the plurality of movable disks that matches all multiple stories attributes in a certain order. The object of the game is to move each of the plurality of disks from a first stack to the opposite stack.

In one embodiment, a neuromorphic robot includes a curved outer housing that forms a continuous curved outer surface, a plurality of trackball touch sensors provided on and extending across the continuous curved outer surface in an array, each trackball sensor being configured to detect a direction and velocity a sweeping stroke of a user, and a plurality of lights, one light being collocated with each trackball touch sensor and being configured to illuminate when its collocated trackball touch sensor is stroked by the user, wherein the robot is configured to interpret the sweeping stroke of the user sensed with the plurality of trackball touch sensors and to provide immediate visual feedback to the user at the locations of the touched trackball touch sensors.

A method of gradually revealing an image using cube puzzles is provided. A first image is divided into a plurality of blocks. Each block can have one or more arbitrary colors. A second image is then generated from the first image where each block of the second image corresponds to one or more blocks of the first image. The blocks of the second image are unicolor blocks with colors that are selected from one of the six colors of a cube puzzle. Groups of adjacent blocks of the second image with the same number of rows and columns as the sides of the cube puzzles are assigned to participants to match to the color of the blocks on the sides of their cube puzzles. Once each participant matches the colors of an assigned region on a side of the corresponding cube puzzle, the matched region is reveled to all participants.