We just got this game and while exploring it, I have found out that a small circle magnet helps to keep the balls together and getting them from the endpoint easier. I also place the entire game on a thin towel to catch the balls if they happen to fall off the board, and keeping them close, instead of rolling all over. Helps when working with kids.
I backed the Kickstarter on this just because I thought it deserved to exist. One thing that I think cannot be understated, referring to this as a "marble computer" is NOT a metaphor. The switches and gears makes this a legit computer. As in yes you could essentially run Minecraft on it or whatever. Now it would of course have a processing power literally millions of times slower than an electronic processor and you'd need a board the size of a small town to run something as complex as a modern video game, even a very basic one, but it IS a computer. Very much looking forward to my copy arriving in the next couple weeks more than likely.
I love these things. I also ordered the Spintronics Act One, Act Two, & Power Pack. I might just get another set of them for my classroom. But I'm going to enjoy it first and learn.
This reminds me of computer games like Marble Drop and Great Permutator, but in a physical format. Fascinating! I had no idea this existed. Thanks for the coverage!
What determines whether it’s a “bleu”or an “orange” marble that’s “selected to be released”?? I dont “see” the mechanism that “makes”/moves to make that determination(release of which marble.) ty for your answer
Reminds me a lot of the old Dr. Nim game. Who remembers that one? I love these marble computer gizmos and even once had a clock with marbles rolling all over to keep the time. Noisy, but very cool. :-)
Reminds me kinda of a pachinko game I had as a kid. Of course I don't think it had any method of altering the flow of the balls,unless ya changed the level of it slightly. I didn't see the purpose of it as a kid as it wasn't much of a game, but more of a kind of meditative exercise. Lol I think it is a big thing in Japan, is it? Where they have gambling parlours with complex versions of pachinko that people bet on the final target of the falling balls that they buy and drop into the game,which gives them more balls which they turn in for money?
Yet another Turing Tumble video that doesn’t explain how marbles rolling down a board does mathematical puzzles. Here’s a tip - make a vid explaining a specific puzzle - say 3 x 4 or whatever the hell it does
It’s the same as Dr Nim, just more elaborate. If you aren’t familiar, I think there is a video about Dr. Nim on RUclips 👍🏻 here it is: ruclips.net/video/9KABcmczPdg/видео.html
Turing Tumble counts/does sums in binary using the blue arrow pieces (bits) to form a register (group of bits) that can be read as a number. Say you have a 3-bit register (3 blue bits placed vertically in a line on the board). Bit 1 is worth 1, Bit 2 is worth 2 and Bit 3 is worth 4. You only count the ones that are pointing right. In a regular computer, sequences of 0's and 1's are used. But in Turing Tumble, it's left and right. The Turing Tumble puzzle book teaches you how to read binary once you've done a few puzzles with the blue bits individually to get familiar with them. It has a chart showing what each bit is worth and some example numbers to read. The register displays numbers as follows. If all the bits are left, that's zero (you don't count any of them). If they're all right, that's 7 (1+2+4). If Bit 1 and Bit 2 are right and Bit 3 is left, that's 3 (1+2. The third bit is left so you don't add 4). By arranging the green ramps around the register on Turing Tumble (facing right to add, left to subtract), you can make it so that each time a ball is released, it adds 1 or subtracts 1 from the register and the positions of the bits change accordingly to display the right number. Multiplication involves using the ramps to direct the ball to start further down the register, so it doesn't interact with the first bit. To do a sum, you have two registers. Say 5-3. The first register (on the left) starts on 5, the second register on the right starts on 3. A blue ball is released and causes the left register to change to 4. It triggers a red ball and the second register changes to 2. It releases a blue ball and so on. The third blue ball will change the left register to 2 (the answer to 5-3). This will release the third red ball. The third red ball causes the right register to reach zero (all the bits facing left). A trap can be placed beside the third bt on the right so that this ball is stopped and does not release another blue ball. The Turing Tumble stops and the left register now reads 2, which is the answer to the sum. That's how Turing Tumble does sums.
It isn’t supposed to teach basic programming it is supposed to be a simplified and big computer chip He says at the end it teaches his kids binary...yeah cause that is what it does
That was a joke on the limited amount of marbles as a while loop is the simplest concept, that can potentially run indefinitely. You would need some sort of contraption to get the marbles back to the top. Otherwise, Turing completeness is pretty pointless.
Build your own pachinko!!! I think this would be a great aid in science class (do they actually teach science anymore?). But I think the majority of kids would get bored with this very quickly. C'mon kids, prove me wrong!
We just got this game and while exploring it, I have found out that a small circle magnet helps to keep the balls together and getting them from the endpoint easier. I also place the entire game on a thin towel to catch the balls if they happen to fall off the board, and keeping them close, instead of rolling all over. Helps when working with kids.
Thanks for these great tips! Was thinking of buying this for my nephew, and I think I'll include a magnet and towel with the toy as well.
I backed the Kickstarter on this just because I thought it deserved to exist. One thing that I think cannot be understated, referring to this as a "marble computer" is NOT a metaphor. The switches and gears makes this a legit computer. As in yes you could essentially run Minecraft on it or whatever. Now it would of course have a processing power literally millions of times slower than an electronic processor and you'd need a board the size of a small town to run something as complex as a modern video game, even a very basic one, but it IS a computer.
Very much looking forward to my copy arriving in the next couple weeks more than likely.
That is the great thing about it! Not only is it Turing complete, it is fun for anyone to play with simply for fun
so true! Im now watching this video on my Turning Tumble!! 🤣
but boy it sure took a long time for me to set it up just to play this one video!!
Tom's hypnotized stare at the end is the best possible compliment for this.
I backed this and its coming any day now! I seriously cannot wait.
I wouldn't expect such an anime art style for a product like this.
I love these things. I also ordered the Spintronics Act One, Act Two, & Power Pack. I might just get another set of them for my classroom. But I'm going to enjoy it first and learn.
I love the bit at the end where Tom is just staring at it...
Derrick Hodge its like those old toys where theres a thing in the stairs going up then sliding to the bottom then repeat
N E A T
Tom is a very good reviewer and this shows it
This reminds me of computer games like Marble Drop and Great Permutator, but in a physical format. Fascinating! I had no idea this existed. Thanks for the coverage!
Marble Drop is love
I just got one my kids love it.... Ordered back up balls though.. They are so small
What determines whether it’s a “bleu”or an “orange” marble that’s “selected to be released”?? I dont “see” the mechanism that “makes”/moves to make that determination(release of which marble.) ty for your answer
I want to know too!
if a ball ends hitting the bottom left flipper it will release a ball from the left side. The bottom right flipper releases a ball from top right.
I wish they did it in Ebony and Teak and called it Bang & Olufsen "Pachinko Souve"
Very cool. Kinda wish they do more clours so eg 4 diff entrys and etc
Reminds me a lot of the old Dr. Nim game. Who remembers that one? I love these marble computer gizmos and even once had a clock with marbles rolling all over to keep the time. Noisy, but very cool. :-)
Here is what the Dr. Nim game looks like if anyone is curious.
ruclips.net/video/9KABcmczPdg/видео.html
I believe in the Kickstarter he said he was inspired by an old marble game from the 70s. I assumed he was referring to Dr. Nim.
You actually get to create and play a Dr. Nim game with this.
Very cool that they added that! :-D
Love this so much, backed for two copies and they should be here next week!
If you find this interesting and don't know the classic game "Avalanche", check it out.
Does it have Steam achievements though?
Lol it’s not a video game!
8:32 It's not just Touring complete, it's multi threaded!
When the marbles keep pace, this is actually how pipelining works in processors.
Great game, lreally like want it for my son, but the price and the shipping make it too expensive
I could literally watch this for hours
Reminds me kinda of a pachinko game I had as a kid. Of course I don't think it had any method of altering the flow of the balls,unless ya changed the level of it slightly.
I didn't see the purpose of it as a kid as it wasn't much of a game, but more of a kind of meditative exercise. Lol
I think it is a big thing in Japan, is it? Where they have gambling parlours with complex versions of pachinko that people bet on the final target of the falling balls that they buy and drop into the game,which gives them more balls which they turn in for money?
I am so glad I backed this!
This looks awesome. I definitely would like to get it.
Thanks, this is a really useful review.
Why isn’t this on BoardGameGeek?
Yet another Turing Tumble video that doesn’t explain how marbles rolling down a board does mathematical puzzles. Here’s a tip - make a vid explaining a specific puzzle - say 3 x 4 or whatever the hell it does
lol same
It’s the same as Dr Nim, just more elaborate. If you aren’t familiar, I think there is a video about Dr. Nim on RUclips 👍🏻 here it is: ruclips.net/video/9KABcmczPdg/видео.html
Turing Tumble counts/does sums in binary using the blue arrow pieces (bits) to form a register (group of bits) that can be read as a number. Say you have a 3-bit register (3 blue bits placed vertically in a line on the board). Bit 1 is worth 1, Bit 2 is worth 2 and Bit 3 is worth 4. You only count the ones that are pointing right. In a regular computer, sequences of 0's and 1's are used. But in Turing Tumble, it's left and right. The Turing Tumble puzzle book teaches you how to read binary once you've done a few puzzles with the blue bits individually to get familiar with them. It has a chart showing what each bit is worth and some example numbers to read.
The register displays numbers as follows. If all the bits are left, that's zero (you don't count any of them). If they're all right, that's 7 (1+2+4). If Bit 1 and Bit 2 are right and Bit 3 is left, that's 3 (1+2. The third bit is left so you don't add 4). By arranging the green ramps around the register on Turing Tumble (facing right to add, left to subtract), you can make it so that each time a ball is released, it adds 1 or subtracts 1 from the register and the positions of the bits change accordingly to display the right number. Multiplication involves using the ramps to direct the ball to start further down the register, so it doesn't interact with the first bit.
To do a sum, you have two registers. Say 5-3. The first register (on the left) starts on 5, the second register on the right starts on 3. A blue ball is released and causes the left register to change to 4. It triggers a red ball and the second register changes to 2. It releases a blue ball and so on. The third blue ball will change the left register to 2 (the answer to 5-3). This will release the third red ball. The third red ball causes the right register to reach zero (all the bits facing left). A trap can be placed beside the third bt on the right so that this ball is stopped and does not release another blue ball. The Turing Tumble stops and the left register now reads 2, which is the answer to the sum. That's how Turing Tumble does sums.
Basically 21st century Dr. Nim.
I am saving up to buy 1 of these
Did you get it?!
It isn’t supposed to teach basic programming it is supposed to be a simplified and big computer chip
He says at the end it teaches his kids binary...yeah cause that is what it does
This is brilliant
But can it do a "while" loop?
Since its Turing complete, it can do a while loop, run windows or play Fortnite, depending on the size of the board.
That was a joke on the limited amount of marbles as a while loop is the simplest concept, that can potentially run indefinitely. You would need some sort of contraption to get the marbles back to the top. Otherwise, Turing completeness is pretty pointless.
With infinite marbles, yes, yes it could.
It'll be really slow at it though
simulation app "Turing Marble"
Looks really awesome!
Why doesn’t this have a BGG listing?
A few people tried to get it one, but BGG rejected it saying it doesn't meet their criteria for a board game.
It's not a game, it is a puzzle and educational toy.
Does seem very cool!
Build your own pachinko!!!
I think this would be a great aid in science class (do they actually teach science anymore?). But I think the majority of kids would get bored with this very quickly. C'mon kids, prove me wrong!
Reminds me of Dr. Nim
I'm almost certain you can build your own dr nim with these pieces
Google Digicomp II
Got an actual race condition going in the end, there. Lol
Would it be safe to say that this game is the "Shoots and Ladders" equivalent for the 21st century? lol
"Neat" 😁