Jukebox
Daniel Czuriga and Tibor Folytan (MoonTree Puzzles), 4.75″ x 8.5″ x 4.1″, 6.5 lbs
In the puzzling world, a few years can go by quite quickly – I think it was back in 2020 that Daniel Czuriga first shared with me his idea for a new sequential discovery puzzle that would take the form of a jukebox. Daniel never stopped – periodically checking in with an update or a proto pic to share (I recall a prototype pic in laser cut wood that especially piqued my interest). Such interest was further undeterred as I know his taste in puzzles is quite similar to mine and so I suspected that whatever puzzle project was in the works would be something I wouldn’t want to miss out on. Still, a first puzzle from anyone could go either way, and I knew how ambitious this particular puzzle promised to be. When Daniel told me he had his two IPP copies ready to go, I was oh so grateful to have the chance to solve a copy before it went off for official IPP judgment. As he was submitting for judgment, he asked that I not post until after the party (go over to Boxes & Booze to check out his post as well). I should mention that it deservedly won Jury Grand Prize and as you will see below, I believe this was well deserved.
Going back to a few weeks ago: so it was that a large box arrived, containing an expertly packaged metal jukebox, with an absolutely lovely brown to offset its aluminum sheen. Frankly, it is gorgeous, resembling a classic jukebox, miniaturized to about 4.75″ x 8.5″ x 4.1″ from its place of honor in Ye Olde Soda Shoppe but still significantly substantial at close to 6.5 lbs. It stands on four small legs, with some holes and what-not adorning its sides. After admiring it for some time, turning it this way and that as I poked and prodded, I found something that did something, affording me a couple early steps before hitting my first of several walls. After playing around some more, I developed an idea of what needed to happen and set about accomplishing the task.
Eventually, after a fair amount of stops and starts (and stops and starts), I was able to get somewhere new; I was already working with some tools and the next step was fairly apparent, leading me to the first of several compartments. After examining the fruits of my success I stayed stuck for some time until an aha! hit – I jumped this wall, finding that a quite cleverly crafted clue contained yet more surprises. Yet again, success afforded me some fruits to enjoy, as another wall faced me. I was sure there must be something I was missing (there was) and it took a good amount of experimentation before I found the well-hidden secret needed to progress. This would continue through step after step and compartment after compartment until I found the “satisfying ending” to which the description refers, which does little to express the originality and joy of the puzzle’s finale. I not only laughed but ran to get my lovely and typically puzzle-indifferent NPSO to show her what I had accomplished: the finale is cool enough to elicit a smile from even the most jaded of non-puzzling partners.
Jukebox is most definitely sequential discovery, with tools and tricks that lead you on a journey that steers close to its theme; the jukebox is not just a concept but is integral to the puzzling itself. Puzzles that look like something do not always do this – sometimes the aesthetic is purely aesthetic but not here: Jukebox relies on multiple points of thematic reference that keep you close to its concept throughout the solve.
After solving, I set about the reset, which I found to be extremely intuitive. I would solve and reset the puzzle a few times before shipping it off to be judged by the lucky band of IPP-ers chosen for the task. I will be pretty surprised if it doesn’t elicit the same level of joy I was fortunate enough to experience (which it ultimately did).
Daniel and his partner, Tibor Folytan (together: MoonTree Puzzles) have made something that is fun and unique, with a complexity that challenges but never annoys. Any time a puzzle’s description contains the word “dexterity” I tend to get a bit suspicious – this is not at all my strong suit and I worry that such steps might frustrate me. But this never happened with Jukebox; that particular section had sufficient clues and feedback that I was able to enjoy progressing through it, never feeling compelled to smack my head (or the puzzle) against a wall.
I am excited for this puzzle to be released into the wild – Daniel has put so much into making this and we puzzlers are the fortunate beneficiaries of such care. He has worked hard to try and keep the cost down so that more puzzlers have the chance to enjoy it. Because that is really what sits at the base of this project: the desire to make something cool for us to enjoy. With the amount of hours put into designing and prototyping and tweaking over a period of several years, this is assuredly not the best way to make a buck; rather, this is a project that shows puzzlers’ love for the medium. I sincerely hope that these two designers find the time to bring us a follow-up (first they need to actually begin producing these for sale – I know I will be ready to pick up a copy despite having already solved it because this one is a keeper). Be sure to keep an eye on the #upcoming-Puzzles channel on Discord and/or on their website: http://moontreepuzzles.com.
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