Tetris ice cube trays

There's little more to say that the picture doesn't cover, except to reflect on the wonderful summer synergy of slotting in that long, crackling I-piece, fusing a refreshing gin-and-tonic into a triumphant Tetris. There's something irksome about those four square "filler" cubes, though. It feels a bit like cheating.

Tetris Ice Cube Trays [Mystake via Technabob]

[#1 posted by strider_mt2k , July 11, 2008 3:55 AM]

Do they have to put the bogus squares in there to avoid a lawsuit or something?

I mean...SMALL SQUARE ice cubes?
Where's the fun in THOSE?

[#2 posted by John Brownlee , July 11, 2008 4:02 AM]

I'm wondering if they aren't there just so it is a standard sized ice cube tray. In truth, I wouldn't have a problem with them if they were just blank gaps: you know, Tetris fuckups you make when you don't stack things perfectly. But that I piece at the top left is just HOVERING there under that interpretation.

[#3 posted by LSK , July 11, 2008 5:39 AM]

With 4 squares, there should be some way to organize this so that there's one more piece...

[#4 posted by liquis , July 11, 2008 8:43 AM]

They must have used countless man hours trying to make it all fit perfectly without the little squares, before giving up with their compromise.

Maybe it can be done with one more or one less line?

if one of us figures it out the ideal pattern will (s)he be rewarded with something lovely? perhaps discarded promo gadgets?

[#5 posted by liquis , July 11, 2008 8:45 AM]

They must have used countless man hours trying to make it all fit perfectly without the little squares, before giving up with their compromise.

Maybe it can be done with one more or one less line?

if one of us figures it out the ideal pattern will (s)he be rewarded with something lovely? perhaps discarded promo gadgets?

[#6 posted by Anonymous , July 11, 2008 4:57 PM]

They're not "left over little squares", They're "atoms" from the 'fusion' version.

problem solved!

[#7 posted by Chris S , July 11, 2008 10:52 PM]

*sigh*.

Here you go.

000111122333
044455622663
664556655466
366226554440
333221111000

This is the same 5x12 grid. That means 60 squares total and 15 Tetris pieces. Their original is interesting. They have both "L" pieces, the "T", the "bar", and the "square". But they only have one type of "zig". The mirror zig is missing. They are also using four "T" pieces - way too many.

My proposed solution uses:
- uses all Tetris pieces
- 2 of each piece except one extra zig
- is still 5x12
- has no holes

Here's the key to the map above.

- 0 3 "L" (plus mirror)
- 1 "bar"
- 2 "square"
- 4 "T"
- 5 6 "zig" (plus mirror)

I have a graphic, but no way to embed it. If one of the editors wants to drop me a note (I assume editors can see posters' email) I'll send the graphic.

Of course, given that they already have the molds for these, I'm not expecting them to immediately switch.

[#8 posted by arkizzle , July 12, 2008 6:47 AM]

Damn Chris, that's.. *sigh*

[#9 posted by ninjameredith , July 13, 2008 1:31 PM]

I think you should fill it with juice or food colored water for more accurate pieces

[#10 posted by dw_funk , July 13, 2008 11:44 PM]

Is there any actual way to buy these? The website was just terrible huge pictures hawking like, four products.