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. [strider_mt2k]

   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. [John Brownlee]

   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. [LSK]

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

4. [dw_funk]

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

5. [Chris S]

   *sigh*.

   Here you go.

   000111122333
   044455622663
   664556655466
   366226554440
   333221111000

   This is the same 5×12 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 5×12
   - 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.

6. [arkizzle]

   Damn Chris, that’s.. *sigh*

7. [ninjameredith]

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

8. [liquis]

   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?

9. [liquis]

   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?

10. [Anonymous]

    They’re not “left over little squares”, They’re “atoms” from the ‘fusion’ version.

    problem solved!