Sudoku's Storied History

Modern generations marvel at the intelligence and creativity displayed by ancient civilizations. The great pyramids of ancient Egypt are the perfect example of incredible design and unmitigated human accomplishment. In ancient times, people were dependant on their minds to create, solve, and entertain. Today, most people turn their minds off and turn on the TV or radio when it's time to be entertained.

From time to time, when we find the regular media is rather dull, or we feel that our minds need a bit of a workout, we will turn to brain twisters and riddles, or crossword puzzles. It is one of the ways that we explore our thought processes, and how we encourage our own creative side. Without riddles and puzzles, our brains become rather dull themselves. All people have a deep need for activities that shape the mind and help us develop new ideas and concepts.

Many ancient games have been modernized, or simply repackaged, for a modern audience. Others have had a few tweaks to make them more relevant to today's world. Sudoku may have been played centuries ago, and its simple design can be inviting to newcomers, but there are layers in abundance here.

The word "Sudoku" is another name for "number place". Derived from the Japanese language, "Sudoku" refers to a logic-based placement. A type of puzzle game, in other words. The first Sudoku puzzle was published in 1979, in a US magazine. The puzzle traveled to Japan, where it exploded with popularity. If translated into English phrases, the name "Sudoku" would actually be "the digits must remain single", though the word Sudoku is actually an abbreviation of the original Japanese name. The name has gathered various manners of pronunciation in different countries, but the basic standards of the game have not been altered. The puzzle enhances your mental processes. There are simple basic rules to follow when solving a Sudoku puzzle.

Retired architect and freelance puzzle constructor Howard Garns created Sudoku while in his late 70s. Mr. Garns created puzzles for a living, so he knew the tricks to creating a great puzzle. The idea for Sudoku was derived from that of Euler's "Latin Square" puzzle. Howard Garns took the ancient game and altered it by adding a "third dimension". In the Sudoku version, Garns also provided the player with a partially completed grid that required the solver to complete the rest of the blank grids.

Only after arriving in Japan did the name "Sudoku" get applied to the game, which Garns had named "Number Place." Later, the name was copyrighted by a Japanese company, though the puzzle itself was launched in Britain and then around the world.

Originally, Sudoku was played manually in Japanese and American publications. In 1989, Loadstar Publishing introduced a computerized version, followed by another version by Apple. Sudoku has also been fashioned into a version of another popular 1980's puzzle, the Rubik's Cube.

In the year 1997, the popularity of Sudoku in the media had reached overwhelming heights. A Hong Kong judge named Wayne Gould became so engulfed by the game, he developed his own computerized version of a Sudoku creator.

Nationwide, newspapers would print the puzzles and sell out quickly. World media acknowledged Sudoku as the "fastest growing puzzle in the world". By 2005, Sudoku was at the peak of its popularity.

The history of Sudoku is as interesting as the puzzle itself, with ancient roots, modern influences, and an ocean crossing to reach its full popularity. Fans of Sudoku should toast Mr. Howard Garns for bringing endless hours of puzzling pleasure to their lives.

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Terence Uniacke is a contributor to a variety of Internet magazines, on hobby shop online and amusement recreation themes.
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