ResQ

The vortex theory [of the atom] is only a dream. Itself unproven, it can prove nothing, and any speculations founded upon it are mere dreams about dreams. - Lord Kelvin

French Canadian puzzle designer Frederic Boucher, who lives in Japan, has been inside the vortex since 1999 when he first began making puzzles after being inspired by the “Lunar Lockout” puzzle game. Of course he was always fascinated by making things, even as a child. “My creation process often starts from an idea of form or a movement that I want to incorporate. What I like with puzzles is not just creating and playing, but also all the links that are woven, the friendships that are born with other people sharing the same passion. Without this essential element, the ResQ would never have seen the light of day, but let's start at the start of the story ...”

An inspiring game
*photo courtesy of Frederic Boucher*

Frederic relates the origins of his now famous VisitorQ puzzle, and admits that the storyline was inspired by that very first puzzle game which sparked his creative journey, the Lunar Lockout. “It was in a small shop near my home that it all started. On the counter of the shop there were several jars containing small cute toys. One of them contained small multicolored plastic robots. I clearly remember telling myself "I want to incorporate these robots into a puzzle!" I have always loved science fiction and for some time I had in mind to create a SD puzzle having the theme of the SF. So I bought a dozen and began to work the same day on this puzzle. The biggest difficulty encountered was to create a cockpit for the robot (so that it is stable in the puzzle). I found a way by modifying an acrylic tube. The VisitorQ was born! I had fun like a child by creating this puzzle!”

little green men
*photo courtesy of Frederic Boucher*

Frederic had created a highly intricate interlocking conundrum where trapped pieces dance about inside a confined cage (i.e. – “the vortex”), and a confusing yet elegant sequence will allow the “visitor” to be freed. He added a few extra challenges (as if the brilliant dance of pieces weren’t enough), including an additional prize to be found, and a deviously tricky hidden move to get things started. The challenges were presented as the following goals: 1-Unlock the vortex. 2-Manage the visitor through the space warp and release him from the vortex (using only straight moves). 3-The visitor had a gift for you, but he had lost it somewhere during the travel. Find the gift. 4-Return the gift and the visitor at their places of origin.

VisitorQ by Frederic Boucher
*photo courtesy of Frederic Boucher*

The Image is more than an idea. It is a vortex or cluster of fused ideas and is endowed with energy. - Ezra Pound

VisitorQ was such a hit with enthusiasts that one of them, Brent Hessel, sent his copy to North Carolina puzzle maker Eric Fuller in hopes that Eric would find it equally entertaining and want to make a production run of it. Eric and Frederic have a friendly relationship and mutual respect for their creative talents, so it’s not surprising that Eric loved the design, and had a few more ideas of his own to add, starting with that first move. Eric wanted to find a way to keep the idea but incorporate it more seamlessly into the puzzle. He also wanted to decorate the puzzle along the space theme, and in his search came across the little alien charm on a website devoted to … body piercing jewelry. It was a perfect icon to place on the outer puzzle cage and became the first step in the updated instructions for Eric’s version of the puzzle – “ResQ”: to “1. Free the Visitor from his Psychic Prison”.

As the puzzle progresses, and the “rescue” commences, all manner of little tools and objects are acquired and discovered – these were all sourced from the “Painful Pleasures” body piercing site! It turned out to be a perfect provider for small, precise and well made little objects which could be potentially repurposed into a puzzle. With so many tiny items at his disposal, ResQ developed naturally from putting one thing here, then another there, and so on to the finale. Testing took awhile, to determine the best places to put all the pieces so the puzzle flows well and in a sequential manner. Eric wanted the experience to be a stepwise hunt, so that when something is discovered, it may appear to need a certain tool to reveal more, but of course that tool is not provided right away. ResQ has a few of these tantalizing teasers along the way. And while VisitorQ already has many complex and intricate movements throughout the solve, Eric added one more to his version near the endgame, requiring a move which seems impossible until a very clever secret is discovered and understood. In his notes on the puzzle Eric comments, “I can't overstate the sophistication and elegance of VQ. To the extent ResQ turns out to be a good puzzle, it's because I was standing on the shoulders of a giant.” Not to be outdone in praise, Frederic is also a huge fan of Eric’s update, commenting “The result is exceptional! He added so many things into this small box that it is barely believable! I have personally been blown away! The ResQ is downright an improved and increased version of the VisitorQ.”

ResQ is a dizzying dance of movement and discovery with a very satisfying flow and ending, and resetting it is equally challenging. There is an anomaly possible during the reset which makes it seem almost impossible to properly configure again and you can get caught in a loop doing the same thing over and over. I can attest to this personally, and even Eric experienced it. I suppose it’s like getting caught in a space and time vortex (imagine that), and the only way out is to do something unpredictable and unexpected. Speaking of unpredictable, despite Eric’s best efforts in testing the puzzle, which were practically exhaustive, some people discovered an unintended solution for the finale involving actually removing a piece from the cage (which is not supposed to be possible). It was just another example of how you can’t always find or plan every solution to a puzzling problem, and that’s ok. According to Eric’s estimation, it was no shortcut, either, but in fact a more complicated rescue effort. ResQ deservedly received a top ten award at the 2021 International Puzzle Design Competition.

You can only coax someone into the vortex from in the vortex – Esther Hicks

Here’s a toast to this phenomenal phenomenon, from North Carolina’s Blake Pope, beverage director and general manager at Kindred in Davidson, whose “ruby port-enhanced Whiskey Sour transcends the seasons”. At Kindred restaurant, the focus is on seasonality, which in turn influences the drink menus, but this creative cocktail can be enjoyed any time of year.

In Pope’s delicious drink, a traditional whiskey sour (whiskey, lemon, simple syrup, and depending on which camp you’re in, an egg white) gets upgraded with the addition of two special ingredients. First, the deeply vegetal, bittersweet Italian amaro Cynar, and second, a hearty dose of jammy ruby port which softens the amaro and brightens the whole mixture. Pope explains, “A personal favorite has always been a classic New York Sour. I love bright and acidic cocktails but I especially enjoy the addition of wine for the added nuance and velvety structure. Plus, it just looks gorgeous. The intent with the Search and Rescue was to pay tribute to that but push it a little further in a few directions. The Cynar adds a bitter element and to balance that we chose to use a Ruby Port which carries a touch more sugar content than a typical red wine.” It’s a terrific combination you ought to search out – it just might rescue you from … the vortex. Cheers!

Search and Rescue by Blake Pope

1 ¼ oz rye whiskey

¾ oz ruby port

¾ oz fresh lemon

½ oz Cynar

½ oz simple syrup

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. No garnish, unless you are entering the vortex …

See more from this artist:

Eric Fuller

Into the Vortex

ResQ

Ice Capades

Idea Men