The Dr. Wood Challenge Centre is the arch-brand of Mind Challenge Ltd Australia under which a revolutionary range of exciting products are being launched globally.
q.
What all will this revolutionary range of products do?
a.
The portfolio of products will: Challenge the most advanced pure thinker, Respond to the thinking of even the most self-denying individual, Adapt to the needs of a wide range of people: from children as young as six to professionals, retirees, homemakers etc Provide an education in thought and a unique mental training instrument to people from every walk of life to promote a clean, neat and structured satisfaction in a chaotic world. Delight the very soul of every man, woman and child on the planet.
What did he do in the 5 years that he was in Sweden ?
a.
He graduated from the University of Uppsala with Majors in Psychology & Education and a Minor in Ethnography. He also attained his Master of Social Science from the same University.
q.
What is the University of Uppsala known for?
a.
It is associated with awarding the Nobel Prize.
q.
What was his destination after Sweden ? What did he do there?
a.
He moved to New Zealand . From the University of Waikato , Hamilton , he attained his Doctor of Philosophy with his area of research being Altruism.
q.
What is the academic background of our co-inventor Frank?
a.
He holds a science degree with a Major in Physics (with mathematics & chemistry as electives) from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. He has a Master of Science from the University of Queensland , Australia .
q.
What specialised area of research was Frank involved in before he joined Dr. Wood?
a.
He was Senior Research Scientist, and Manager of the Solar Pond Project with the Solar Energy Research Centre at the University of Queensland
KALEIDOSCOPE CLASSIC
q.
What is a kaleidoscope?
a.
A toy tube containing mirrors and coloured fragments reflected to produce changing patterns (The Australian Oxford Dictionary)
q.
What is The Kaleidoscope Classic?
a.
It is the ultimate puzzle game. Elegant in its simplicity, unparalleled in its play value! It is composed of 18 pieces, each unique in size, shape and/or colour. As a puzzle: these 18 pieces generate 1,000’s of patterns… it’s a lifetime of creative fun at your fingertips. As a game: you enKounter an exhilarating strategy game for 2 or 3 players with the very same 18 pieces. Use your intuition, acumen and judgement to outplay, outscore and outsmart your opponents…
How does The Kaleidoscope Classic resemble the traditional kaleidoscope?
a.
It shares the same brilliance of colour, the mysterious allure of symmetrical design and limitless possibilities and combinations.
q.
How is it different from the traditional kaleidoscope?
a.
The brilliance of colour and the mysterious allure of symmetrical design that can be created on The Kaleidoscope Classic has nothing to do with a glass, a tube or the refraction of light. The Kaleidoscope Classic comes alive with the human touch.
As a puzzle in your hands, it has offers unlimited challenges, solutions and creative possibilities. As a game it gives you great interactivity, range of rich gameplay options and a never-ending supply of game stimulation!
q.
Why is The Kaleidoscope Classic described as “the challenge that everyone can solve but no one can conquer”?
a.
The challenges are abundant – the solutions unlimited
No one individual can solve every solution to every challenge offered by The Kaleidoscope Classic – Hence, it often referred to as “…the challenge that everyone can solve but no one can conquer”
(The Kaleidoscope Classic comes with 101 exciting challenges just to start you off. Challenges vary in degree of difficulty from extremely easy to extremely complex).
Challenges may also have a number of solutions. While the simplest of the challenges – the checkerboard challenge has in excess of 40 Billion solutions; there are others that may have just one.
For The Kaleidoscope Classic today, we have the ability to roll out one challenge every week for the next 100 years.
If that was not enough, once the challenge seeker has solved some of the included challenges, their own creativity will kick in. They will be able to create their own patterns, their own designs, their own interpretations…! It is truly the challenge that never ends
q.
What is enKounter?
a.
It is the name of the strategy game that is played with the 18 pieces of The Kaleidoscope Classic.
q.
What is so exciting about this game?
a.
enKounter is a thrilling multi-player strategy game for two or three players. It takes minutes to learn and offers immense depth in game play. Everyone can get into it - the rules of play are simple enough! However, to be a real Game Master will take all your intuition, acumen and brilliance. Its everything a classic game should have
An average game takes 15 minutes and you can play a single game card or an entire Championship series!
The game is delivered in its tactile form, as well as online. Compete against a global community from around the world and become the enKounter WORLD #1.
q.
What do I get when I buy a Kaleidoscope Classic?
a.
Your Kaleidoscope Classic Box includes:
CONTENTS
CLASSIC
The Kaleidoscope Classic Tactile Puzzle
Yes
A Think Book (featuring 101 exciting challenges) and The Survival Kit!
Yes
4 enKounter Challenge Game cards
Yes
4 enKounter Score Sheets and 1 Championship Leader Table
Yes
12 Digit membership code for lifetime access to funkc.com upon registration.
Yes
THE PUZZLE
q.
How many challenges do I get when I buy a Kaleidoscope Classic?
a.
get a lifetime of challenges on acquiring a genuine Kaleidoscope Classic.
Your TH!NK Book gives you 101 exciting challenges just to get you started. Thereafter, if you have purchased The Kaleidoscope Classic Deluxe, you go online to register at www.funkc.com and receive 1 fresh challenge every week for the next 100 years!! Visit the Challenge Library for all previous challenges and solutions. The KC is truly a LIFETIME of creative fun at your fingertips!
q.
What kind of challenges are these?
a.
From very easy to extremely difficult. There is a challenge for every interest group
ANIMALS
SPORTS
SCIENCE
SCI - FI
FLOWERS
q.
Do I get solutions for these challenges?
a.
Some partially solved challenges are provided as part of the Survival Kit in your TH!NK Book. At the end of the TH!NK Book you will find solutions to all the ‘even’ numbered challenges (of the 101 challenges included)…and if you’re still looking for more then you will have to visit the Challenge Library at www.funkc.com where you will find a solution for every challenge ever released!
q.
How long can you give me these challenges?
a.
For The Kaleidoscope Classic today, we have the ability to role out one unique challenge every week for the next 100 years! Incredible?!...we think so too!
These challenges can be made available to you both online through our official website www.funkc.com and offline through a variety of media.
q.
How will I get these challenges?
a.
These challenges will come to you from two sources. First, is through our official website. Second, through offline media – for instance – through newspapers, magazines, and their publications, & through live contests being held at schools, colleges and institutions at city, state and national levels.
q.
What if I need help in solving a challenge?
a.
Help is always at hand! The TH!NK Book includes a SURVIVAL KIT – 5 hints that will hone your challenge solving skills as you embark upon your journey into this ingenious invention!
This is also available online at www.funkc.com. Once you are on the official website you can then interact with the global community of Kaleidoscope Classic members through our chat rooms and discussion forums to get help and guidance.
Solutions to every challenge released on the internet are readily available at the Challenge Library.
Additional to all of the above, we would be happy to receive emails at our customer care division where members of The Dr. Wood Challenge Centre will reply to your queries. Simply write in to customercare@drwood.com .
q.
What do I get if I complete the 101 challenges?
a.
You get rewarded by getting a certificate that you can download from our website www.funkc.com. Please go online and print it when you’re done solving your 101 challenges! Then go on… acquire a LIFETIME membership to funkc.com and solve a fresh challenge every week for the next 100 years!
THE GAME
q.
What is the game enKounter all about?
a.
It is an exhilarating strategy game played with the same 18 pieces where you use your intuition, acumen and judgement to outplay, outscore and outsmart your opponents.
q.
What is included in The Kaleidoscope Classic for me to play this game?
a.
In order to play enKounter we have included for you the following :
-4 X Challenge game cards
-4 X Score sheets
-1 X Championship Leader Table
-And of course the 18 unique Kaleidoscope Classic pieces.
q.
What are these challenge game cards? How do I use them?
a.
With these cards, you convert the ultimate puzzle into the ultimate strategy game for 2 to 3 players that the whole family can enjoy! enKounter challenge game cards are what are used in combination with the same 18 puzzle pieces to play and exciting strategy game designed for 2 or 3 players. Just place your challenge game card on the base of your tactile puzzle set and follow the instructions provided in your TH!NK Book.
q.
What is the objective of this game?
a.
The object of the game is:
• To place your carefully chosen pieces strategically on the game card to score more points than your opponent/s and have as few pieces as possible left at the end.
• Penalty points apply for each piece you are unable to place on the challenge game card.
• The winner is the player with the highest points after deducting penalties!
q.
How long does it take to play a game?
a.
A one off card may take anywhere between 10 to 15 minutes. You could choose to play an entire Championship series which would take up a larger amount of time but it would definitely keep you thoroughly engaged!!!
q.
Is this for adults only or can children play this too?
a.
It can be enjoyed by everyone from age 6 to 106! Unlike many strategy games, this strategy game takes minutes to learn … average game 5 to 15 minutes. You can play at any level you like – easy, medium or hard!
q.
Are there any strategies to play?
a.
Yes there are! Take a look at the TH!NK Book (available online too) and you will find some interesting strategies that will give you an edge over your friends!
q.
Are there only 4 challenge game cards for this game?
a.
We have over 6,000 game cards that will progressively be released for this incredible game!!!! .
q.
What is the Lifetime Membership?
a.
Lifetime membership to www.funkc.com is your ticket to a lifetime of challenges @ 1 per week, Online playability of BOTH the puzzle + the game, Contests, Chat Rooms, Discussion Forum, & a whole world of interactivity & fun!
q.
What facilities will I get at the website?
a.
Membership to funkc.com entitles you to
• a unique challenge per week,
• the solution of last week's challenge,
• the challenge library (where you will find every challenge and solution released so far),
• participation in our monthly contests (for prizes like DVDs, Mobile phones, MP3s, etc),
• our Global Ranking System (where you will be given your global, national, state and city ranking),
• K-Chat (our chat channel),
• K-Forum our online discussion forum (where you can post your thoughts & ideas, suggestions and complaints etc),
• Strategies for thinking – your Survival Kit made available online to give you strategies for thinking about your Kaleidoscope Classic,
• Online playability of BOTH puzzle + game (where you can play with your Kaleidoscope Classic on your computer – either on your own or against an international community of globally ranked game players!),
• solution recording programme (where you can record your own unique solutions to any challenges),
• My Gallery - your own personal Kaleidoscope Classic Gallery where you can store up to 100 of your unique creations and even share the same through your email
• Statistics & Awards – From monthly prizes, honour stars and plaques right through to Puzzler of the Year & Gamer of the Year • Member Creations – see your own creativity displayed to the world!
• Plus many more exciting features!
q.
Can I solve the checkerboard so that both sides are solved at the same time?
a.
The Kaleidoscope Classic is designed so that it cannot be solved in checkerboard on both sides simultaneously!
q.
Are there any two-sided challenges?
a.
Solve the stylised sunflower – then look at the reverse!
q.
Can I make my own designs/pictures/patterns on the board?
a.
ABSOLUTELY! In fact, we encourage you to use the power of your own creative thinking to embark on your personal Kaleidoscope journey!
Remember that The Kaleidoscope Classic is not just a great puzzle… it is a window to your personal world… where you are the creator, Dr. Wood is your guide and The Kaleidoscope Classic is your medium!
We have included over 100 challenges for you to conquer in the box. Further challenges are offered FREE (with solutions at the official website @ 1 per week for the next 100 years). However, we encourage you to create your own designs, patterns, interpretations, and stories!
Send in your creations to be posted on the exclusive Member's Creation Gallery!
q.
Is this for adults only or can children play this too?
a.
It can be enjoyed by everyone from age 6 to 106! Unlike many strategy games, this strategy game takes minutes to learn … average game 5 to 15 minutes. You can play at any level you like – easy, medium or hard!
q.
What age groups can play with this?
a.
The Kaleidoscope Classic is ideal for ages 6-106.
q.
Can more than one person play with The Kaleidoscope Classic?
a.
The Kaleidoscope Classic provides a lifetime of challenge, excitement and delight for the whole family and all your friends. For example, you can:
• attempt challenges in groups,
• Develop your own designs, patterns, pictographs, interpretations… and share them with friends and family. Ask them to solve your unique challenges and have hours of fun as you try and solve theirs.
• Compete with each other for how quickly you can solve a specific challenge, how many unique solutions you can come up for a specific challenge the possibilities are unlimited!
• Use the Kaleidoscope Classic to determine who will foot the bill at dinner, who will clean the house, etc.
• Play enKounter with your friends and family – you can play a one off card or and entire championship series while you're on vacation.
• Play on the computer and compete with people from around the globe while you're online!
• You can carry The Kaleidoscope Classic wherever you go – school, work, travel, vacation…there's always something it can offer you!
q.
How will my children benefit from this?
a.
The Kaleidoscope Classic is non-violent, non-confrontational, non-culture and non-gender specific. It offers an education in thought and uses play as a medium to enhance creative & lateral thinking abilities. It helps improve focus and concentration on account of the high involvement and compelling nature that draws you while solving a challenge. The game play is a great way to develop strategic thinking and teaches children forward planning. Easy to learn and minutes to finish a single game, it isn't even demanding on their time!
q.
How do I know you will give me a challenge every week for the next several years?
a.
All our challenges are secured in Bank vaults at undisclosed locations.
GLOBAL RANKING SYSTEM
PUZZLE
q.
What is the Global Ranking System on the website?
a.
For every solution that you submit on the official website, the system automatically generates for you a global and national rating!
q.
Explain the ranking system of the website.
a.
Speed: A fresh challenge is uploaded every week @ midnight GMT. The earlier you submit your solution to The Dr. Wood Challenge Centre, the higher will be your rating. However, the overall rating is based on more than just speed of solving!
Most solutions: Challenges will almost always have many unique solutions. Simply put, there will be many different ways in which they can be solved. The higher the number of unique solutions you submit, the higher will be your rating.
Cumulative: The overall rating is provided as an amalgam of speed and most solution categories. The person who submits the last challenge first will be the ultimate winner! For example, if two people submit 5 solutions each for a particular challenge, the person to submit the 5th challenge first will be rated above the other.
q.
Are there any other forms of recognition for solving challenges?
a.
Yes there are! There is a Star Award system too.
Green Star -Silver Star -Gold Star -
Platinum Star -
q.
What is the basis for stars being awarded?
a.
The first time you solve a challenge, you are awarded a green star against your name. This star stays with you as you interact with other Kaleidoscope Classic enthusiasts whether you are chatting on the K-Chat channels or posting to the K-Forum! As you solve more challenges, you graduate from green to silver to gold and then to platinum!
• Solve at least one challenge successfully and receive a green star!
• Solve 12 challenges successfully and receive a silver star
• Solve 26 challenges successfully and receive a gold star
• Solve 52 challenges successfully and receive a platinum star
• Rank in the Top 10 in the world and receive an additional platinum star!! Game
The enKounter Global Rating System is a dynamic program that recognises and rewards brilliance, achievement and consistency at the game.
There are two levels of recognition:
• Player Status Plaque : Green Plaque -Silver Plaque -Gold Plaque - Platinum Plaque -
• Global Ranking
Player Status Plaque
Each time you win a game, you win points.
As you accumulate points, plaques automatically appear alongside your name to reflect your status when you are online alongside you're your achievement on the puzzle side!
Player Status
Points required
Unrated:
0 – 9 points
Green:
10 – 24 points
Silver:
25 – 49 points
Gold:
100 – 199 points
Platinum:
200+ points
You are rewarded with differential points for winning games against different rated players. Winning games against higher rated players gives you more points:
Star Rating
Points Won from defeating player with respective rating
Unrated
1
Green
2
Silver
5
Gold
10
Platinum
20
Global Ranking:
The Global Top 100 players across the globe are tracked on the Global Ranking List . Represent your country and win the most games to become the World #1.
Note: To maintain your Global Ranking, you must keep playing (and of course, consistently winning). If you stop playing, you start to lose points every 30 days. The higher your rank, the more points you lose from staying inactive.
Star Rating
Points lost if player is inactive for more than 30 days at a time
Unrated
1
Green
2
Silver
5
Gold
10
Platinum
20
q.
I've lost a piece / what if I loose a piece? What is your replacement policy?
a.
The pieces of The Kaleidoscope Classic are the subject of intellectual property rights and are not produced individually. It is not possible to replace a single part since each box carries it own complete set of pieces. If you require any further assistance, please contact customercare@drwood.com
q.
Of course people are going to start duplicating the board? So why should I buy it from you?
a.
First let them try and duplicate the board…with the four colours – it is not so easy! The kind of duplication will not offer the same quality and will not have the same effect that someone like you would like to own. For example: When you create a pattern, if the edges of the pieces don't meet perfectly, then it will not and cannot give you the kind of satisfaction you deserve for your creativity. But what you will also not get is
• The continuous outflow of unique challenges that the inventor has developed.
• The lifetime membership to the global Kaleidoscope Classic Programme
• Access to the official website
• Eligibility to participate in member's only exclusive offline contests and events across the globe.
• To be part of the growing Kaleidoscope Classic Community.
… Need we say more?!
q.
How come we have never heard of this Dr. Wood before? If he is such a genius we would know!
a.
The Inventor, Dr. Mark Wood has spent over 20 man-years in developing a range of revolutionary products, the first of which is The Kaleidoscope Classic – Already, The Kaleidoscope Classic is the largest selling puzzle game in India and Australia . It is only a matter of time now before the name will be on everyone's lips.
q.
What are the training and development applications?
a.
Often training and development heads seek tools that serve as icebreakers. Introduce the Kaleidoscope Classic to your room of trainees and see how quickly people start forming groups and learn about each other.
Solving challenges offered by The Kaleidoscope Classic while in a group situation allows observation of individual problem solving ability – how each individual deals with taking up a challenge, interpersonal styles – in a group situation, how they communicate with and relate to other team members, leadership style – who decides to take the lead and in what manner he leads the group/team – demonstrate how groups can create individually different solutions to the same challenge and how it can all come together to make spectacular kaleidoscopic happenings, and so on. For further details, please request a copy of the Corporate Manual.
q.
How will it help an older person?
a.
The most common mental faculty affected by the ageing process is memory – the solution: a form of mental exercise. This is reinforced by current research that seems to indicate that doing puzzles regularly is good for you.
Neurobics is a term that has come out of the USA . It is aerobics for the neurons.
The Kaleidoscope Classic is the perfect solution to this problem wherein it facilitates the exercising of different aspects of the brain by encouraging you to solve a large variety and number of challenges through application of left & right brain and memory and creativity aspects of intellectual functioning. What's more, its loads of fun!
q.
How is it an educational product?
a.
Please request a copy of Mastering The Kaleidoscope Classic, the official Education Manual for teachers, parents and students.
The educational applications of The Kaleidoscope Classic lie in its ability to build and strengthen fundamentals of analytical and spatial thinking based on logical reasoning while the user enjoys the simplistic challenge solving experience. Also, it contributes towards improving focus and concentration because of its compelling nature. After all it appeals to left brain, right brain, memory and creativity aspects of intellectual functioning. It teaches patience & perseverance. It teaches us to look for alternatives and the importance of starting over when alternatives don't work.
For details please refer to the official Kaleidoscope Classic Education Handbook! Also visit our education=kc pagefor more information.
q.
What is left-brain and right brain?
a.
There are two hemispheres in your brain, the right and the left. The left hemisphere governs our ability to express ourselves in language. It controls our logic, our reasoning, and our analytical thought processes. The right hemisphere is the creative half; it can "see" the whole out of parts, thus allowing us to connect puzzle parts together. The right hemisphere also plays and important role in the comprehension of emotion.
Left Brain
Right Brain
Step-by-step reasoning
Mystical
Logical
Musical
Mathematical
"Creative"
Speaking - verbal
Visual-pictorial
Pattern user
Pattern seeker
Try this to understand left & right brain a little better!
Look at the chart and say the COLOUR not the word:
YELLOW
BLUE
ORANGE
BLACK
RED
GREEN
purple
yellow
red
orange
green
black
blue
red
purple
green
blue
orange
Your right brain tries to say the colour but your left brain insists on reading the word!
So if you're finding it hard to say the colour…you need to play with The Kaleidoscope Classic to develop your right brain some more!!!
It is the name of the strategy game that is played with the 18 pieces of The Kaleidoscope Classic.
.
Solve the stylised sunflower – then look at the reverse!
The Kaleidoscope Classic is ideal for ages 6-106.
