《纽约时报小填字游戏背后的智者：Joel Fagliano的访谈》
乔尔·法格利亚诺一直对谜题充满了兴趣他的父亲是著名纽约时报的纵横字谜热衷者，...
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探索《纽约时报》小填字游戏创作者Joel Fagliano 的思维
如果你是《纽约时报》小填字游戏的粉丝，那么你一定熟悉每天解决其巧妙简洁谜题的挑战。但你有没有想过，是谁负责创作这些考验智力的谜题的人？好了，不必再想了！我们有机会与Joel Fagliano 进行交谈，他是小填字游戏的幕后推手。在这次独家采访中，Joel 分享了他的创作过程、出题技巧的艺术以及保持小填字游戏对数百万解谜者新鲜和引人入胜的秘密。让我们戴上解谜帽，一起踏上这个迷人的旅程吧！
与乔丹一起打篮球，谜题版
当Joel 还是一个十几岁的少年时，他有幸担任《纽约时报》（NYT）传奇填字编辑Will Shortz 的实习生。这就像是一个篮球运动员能够和迈克尔·乔丹一起训练。但Joel 很快意识到，Will 只是一个普通友好的家伙，却有一个极度谜题头脑。他们肩并肩工作，共同编辑谜题并交流想法。Joel 通过观察Will 是如何考虑线索难度和解谜者的视角来磨练自己的风格。这是一次宝贵的经历，塑造了他的谜题创作之旅。
一窥创作过程
创建小填字谜题是一门独特的艺术。与更大的《纽约时报》填字游戏不同，小填字谜题并不总是有一个连接最长答案的中心主题。相反，它主要关注让观众熟悉的单词之间的平滑交错。Joel 通常会提前一周左右处理一个谜题。这使他可以结合时事并为解谜者提供时事线索。这一过程始于选择单词和设计网格。思考线索是最后一步，因为单词可能会在制作谜题的过程中发生变化。
Joel 从各种来源汲取灵感，从日常生活中的经历到他遇到的有趣短语。例如，他开车时看到一块新泽西州车牌上写着“Shore to Please” – 这是对该州名称的双关语。Joel 立即在他的小笔记本中记下了这个短语，他在这里收集了想要使用的线索和答案。当要创建一个谜题时，他从一个种子词开始构建谜题，始终考虑到观众对单词的熟悉程度。
要不要有主题，这才是问题
由于网格大小限制，小填字谜题中的主题可能具有挑战性。通常情况下，Joel 只能设计两个彼此相关的答案。例如，他曾经在谜题中将“car”、“van”和“bus” 平行放置。能够在谜题中拥有三个相关答案而不混乱其他部分的情况很罕见。Joel 享受着创造这些小主题带来的额外约束，并推动他的创造力。有了结构和限制有助于引导他的创造性发挥。
拥抱惊喜和误导
带给解谜者惊喜是Joel 保持小填字谜题新鲜和引人入胜的秘诀。他喜欢引入以前从未在谜题中出现过的答案，或者那些挑战公平性边界的答案。目的是给解谜者带来令人愉悦的“哈哈”时刻。从“AEIOU” 字母“五元元音”的定义到“OnVHS” 线索为“美国人以前如何存储他们的媒体”，Joel 在他的谜题中注入巧妙而意想不到的元素，以挑战和惊喜解谜者。要在保持小填字游戏易于使用的同时刺激解谜者的大脑而不压倒他们，这是一个微妙的平衡。
听众、误导和社交联结
在制作小填字谜题时，Joel 不断考虑着解谜者的多样性听众。他考虑到不同解谜者的需求和希望，从弟弟的聊天群到讲法语的岳母。在平衡易接近性和挑战性方面是一个微妙的过程。但谜题的真正魔力在于它们为每位解谜者提供独特的体验。就像解决谜题视频游戏一样，当你找到通往答案的自己的道路时，你会感到一种自豪感和成就感。正是这种个性化的体验促成了解谜者和谜题创作者之间特殊的联系。
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Morning Inspiration and the Art of Observation
Joel finds that early mornings are the best time for his creative process. With a fresh mind, he can focus on crafting puzzles before the distractions of the day take over. Joel also finds inspiration during his walks, without any devices in hand. It’s a time for ideas to bubble up, new themes to emerge, and the interplay of words to take shape. Observation is key to puzzle-making. Whether it’s staring out of a train window or scrolling through news articles, inspiration comes from unexpected places. For Joel, it’s all about capturing those moments and scribbling down ideas as they come.
The Thrill of Surprise and Crunch Words
Joel admits that he gets excited when he can surprise solvers with answers they’ve never seen before or when he stretches the limits of fairness. The Mini puzzles are a playground for experimentation and innovation. It’s all about providing solvers with new experiences and finding the perfect balance between familiarity and surprise. Crunch words, like “emoji” or “ocean,” are handy tools that offer flexibility in clueing and allow Joel to create fresh and engaging puzzles each month.
From the Streets of New York to the World
The Mini puzzles have come a long way since their inception in 2014. Initially aimed at providing a more accessible alternative to the challenging NYT puzzles, the Mini has now become a global sensation with millions of solvers worldwide. It’s exciting for Joel to see how this digital platform has increased the exposure and accessibility of puzzles. The Mini is no longer limited to hardcore crossword enthusiasts but has attracted a broader audience of puzzle lovers. And that’s exactly what he always wanted – to make puzzles that appeal beyond the traditional puzzle-solving crowd.
Looking to the Digital Future
As the NYT shifts its focus from print to digital, puzzle games play a significant role in the evolving landscape. Joel is excited about the future of digital puzzles and creating games that feel digital-first while adhering to the best practices of puzzle-making. The goal is to provide players with experiences that make them feel better and smarter after they’ve solved a puzzle. The challenge lies in finding new ways to engage solvers and create games that captivate their minds.
Beyond Crosswords: A Glimpse into Joel’s Hobbies
While Joel spends most of his time immersed in puzzles, his personal hobbies diverge from the puzzle world. Unlike other constructors who indulge in video games, Joel prefers reading novels during his free time. However, he admits that puzzles never entirely leave his mind. He often finds himself thinking of clues or answers while reading a novel, as each word becomes an opportunity for puzzle inspiration. Apparently, the puzzles have found a permanent place in his mind!
The Cryptic Frontier
Although Joel hasn’t delved deeply into UK newspapers and their cryptic crosswords, he finds them intriguing. Cryptic crosswords offer a meta-game experience with their own set of rules and conventions that take time to master. While Joel tries to keep the Mini accessible and devoid of crossword lingo, he appreciates the cryptic approach for its intricate design. It might just be the next frontier for him to explore and conquer.
Embracing the Puzzle Community
At the NYT, puzzle makers support each other’s work and offer valuable feedback. The Mini undergoes playtesting, ensuring its accuracy and a satisfying solving experience. The team constantly communicates and collaborates to maintain quality across all puzzle products. Feedback and discussions revolve around difficulty levels, clue fairness, and overall puzzle enjoyment.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement from Joel
Joel finds the increasing role of puzzles in the digital era of newspapers exciting. The ease of access and global reach of digital platforms allow puzzles to reach a wider audience. The Mini has seen tremendous growth over the years, attracting millions of solvers daily. It’s a testament to the power of puzzles to captivate and engage people from all walks of life. To the solvers, Joel appreciates their dedication and invites them to explore the world of puzzles beyond the Mini. So, whether you’re an avid crossword enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of puzzles, keep solving, keep challenging yourself, and remember, the puzzles are there to make you feel better and smarter after each solve.
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🎮📚🌍
That wraps up our enlightening conversation with Joel Fagliano, the creative force behind the NYT Mini Crossword. We hope you enjoyed this journey into the world of puzzles and gained valuable insight into the art of puzzle-making. Don’t forget to share this article with your fellow solvers, and let’s keep the puzzle enthusiasm alive! 🧩🌟
Q&A
Q: Are there any other puzzle games that Joel enjoys playing or finds inspiring?
A: Surprisingly, Joel doesn’t indulge in many puzzle video games. He appreciates the challenge they offer but prefers to dedicate his free time to reading novels. His focus remains on creating puzzles rather than playing them.
Q: Does Joel plan on exploring cryptic crosswords in the future?
A: While Joel finds cryptic crosswords intriguing, he hasn’t extensively explored them yet. However, he realizes the potential and complexity they offer and sees it as the next step in his puzzle-making journey.
Q: How does Joel strike a balance between making puzzles accessible and challenging?
A: Joel constantly keeps his audience in mind, catering to both newcomers and experienced solvers. He aims to strike a delicate balance where puzzles are engaging, entertaining, and accessible to a wide range of players. It’s all about making solvers feel accomplished and satisfied after completing a puzzle.
Q: What is the future of puzzles at the New York Times?
A: As the NYT shifts its focus to digital platforms, the puzzle team aims to continue creating engaging and innovative puzzle games. The goal is to provide players with experiences that are digitally optimized while maintaining the best practices of puzzle-making. The team is excited about the future possibilities and plans to develop a suite of games that feel digital-first.
References
[1] The New York Times [2] New York Times Mini Crossword [3] The New Yorker Puzzles [4] Joel Fagliano’s NYT Puzzle Newsletter Article
Don’t forget to check these links for more puzzle fun and challenges!
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