Roger von Oech sent me his
Ball of Whacks to experience first hand (sic). Each of the identical pieces of plastic have a magnetic signature to them that creates unique constraints when sticking the puzzle together. I have very little patience for puzzles, but nonetheless had fun playing with a few "whacks."
Roger felt that his puzzle embodied the ideas of
simplicity. I could see his point. Easy to take apart, feels good, creates a quick law7();?>-al bond. But this toy is definitely not for small children in the house because each "whack" is perfectly shaped for a journey into the mouth (of course there is an explicit warning on the box).
John Maeda
