I composed these puzzles, but I did not design "Islands in the Stream"; I was first introduced to these by the name "Nurikabe" at Puzzle Japan. I was quickly drawn to their aesthetics, and they have become my favorite puzzle type at that site. As best I can tell, 'Nurikabe' is simply a name they made up and has no translation; I decided I'd be more deliberate and give them a thematic makeover, if nothing else. Walls and regions are far less appealing than islands and tributaries. That, and it puts some *color* into it. So I didn't design the puzzle, but I spruced it up.
I composed these two puzzles basically in the same way I'd solve one of them, just adding in the numbers as I needed to. I detest trial and error, and prefer to be able to devise tactics to employ to solve puzzles; I took the various rules I learned about solving and applied them in different areas in order to build the two here.
I will likely make more of these, and I have a few variations in mind that do not require altering the basic rules. I didn't invent Nurikabe, but I will do my part to add to the art form, and not just by giving it another name. - ZM
no subject
I composed these puzzles, but I did not design "Islands in the Stream"; I was first introduced to these by the name "Nurikabe" at Puzzle Japan. I was quickly drawn to their aesthetics, and they have become my favorite puzzle type at that site. As best I can tell, 'Nurikabe' is simply a name they made up and has no translation; I decided I'd be more deliberate and give them a thematic makeover, if nothing else. Walls and regions are far less appealing than islands and tributaries. That, and it puts some *color* into it. So I didn't design the puzzle, but I spruced it up.
I composed these two puzzles basically in the same way I'd solve one of them, just adding in the numbers as I needed to. I detest trial and error, and prefer to be able to devise tactics to employ to solve puzzles; I took the various rules I learned about solving and applied them in different areas in order to build the two here.
I will likely make more of these, and I have a few variations in mind that do not require altering the basic rules. I didn't invent Nurikabe, but I will do my part to add to the art form, and not just by giving it another name. - ZM