Sokoban puzzles?

[Dock]

Is there copyright on Sokoban level designs?

I realise that the Sokoban name is under copyright still, but enough copyrighted games have used the mechanics to suggest to me that the rules aren't protected. However, are level layouts protected? Are there any sets of Sokoban levels that are especially good, or are people generally advised to just design their own?

On a related note, does anyone have any particular favourites for implementations of sokoban or indeed alternative takes on the ruleset. For example, I know some versions have 'holes' that blocks can be pushed into in order to reach the designated area for the blocks to be pushed to.

Finally, and perhaps randomly: does anyone remember a 3D Sokoban clone that featured black and white graphics, and was featured in Edge magazine as freeware?

[Applewood]

Here are several million. I got permission to use most of these in return for a mention in the credits (http://www.sourcecode.se/sokoban/levels.php)

[Oaf]

We made one with monsters :) (http://blobbit.com/blobbitpush.html)

[Dock]

Applewood - so you got in contact with the authors in order to use yours?
Is there anywhere that rates puzzles to be higher difficulty or indeed more fun that other puzzles? Also, where is the Sokoban game you made?

Oaf, did you design all your levels yourselves?

[Applewood]

Yep. Most of them were thrilled to see their stuff on a new format and get their names out there. One or two were a bit stupid about it so I gave them the flick. And no, I can't remember who was who before you ask ;)

The game itself was for brew phones and never got released as we binned that market and couldn't be bothered to try and get a publisher for it in case it meant dusting off our phones. :eek:

[Oaf]

Yeah we designed them all ourselves. Well, Stoo designed them - there might be some similarities to existing ones....

[MrBozo]

A while ago I made a free Sokoban clone, called Visual Sokoban (http://gravejat.sylvain.free.fr/projects/vb/sokoban/), with 3000 levels that were gathered around the web by me and someone else. I didn't know much about copyrights back then and didn't care to ask all the level designers for permission (most I had no way to contact). I didn't think it would cause a problem to be honest. A few months after the release I received some angry e-mails from one or two (can't remember exactly) people who noticed their levels were included. The real problem was that these particular levels came from other Sokoban clones that were still being *sold*. So obviously they didn't like to see their levels given away freely. Based on that experience, I think always asking for permission when you're not sure about something is a good rule.

[TimS]

Since we really didn't need THAT many levels (not the hundreds of a more traditional sokoban clone) we just designed 'em. Something like this can help -- http://codecola.net/sps/sps.htm.

-Tim

[weguwe]

Here are several million. I got permission to use most of these in return for a mention in the credits (http://www.sourcecode.se/sokoban/levels.php)

.. must .. resist .. temptation .. :p