Nintendo Tumbler Puzzle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
|
| Type | Puzzle |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | Gunpei Yokoi |
| Company | Nintendo |
| Country | Japan |
| Materials | Plastic |
The Nintendo Tumbler Puzzle is a cool and tricky puzzle. It's also known as the Ten Billion Barrel. In Japan, its original name was tenbirion. This puzzle is both a mathematical challenge and a mechanical toy.
It was invented by Gunpei Yokoi, who created many other fun toys for Nintendo. The puzzle first came out in 1980.
Contents
How the Nintendo Tumbler Puzzle Works
The puzzle looks like a clear plastic cylinder. This cylinder has six different levels. It sits inside a black plastic frame. The frame has a top and bottom part that connect through the middle of the cylinder.
The very top and bottom levels of the cylinder are one solid piece. But in the middle, there are two parts that can spin. Each of these spinning parts is two levels high.
Each of the four middle levels has five small spaces, called chambers. Each chamber holds a colorful ball. The top and bottom levels are a bit different. They only have three chambers. These chambers hold either three balls or parts of the frame. This depends on how the frame and cylinder are lined up.
You can move the balls up or down. To do this, you raise or lower the black frame compared to the clear cylinder. This lets balls in three of the five columns move one level at a time.
The main goal of the puzzle is to sort the balls. You need to make sure that each of the five columns has balls of only one color. It's a fun way to test your brain!
Where the Puzzle Appears in Games
The Nintendo Tumbler Puzzle has made special appearances in several video games. These are often small tributes to its inventor, Gunpei Yokoi.
Metroid Prime Cameo
A small version of the puzzle shows up in Metroid Prime for the GameCube. This was a way to honor Gunpei Yokoi, who used to produce the Metroid games. In the game's Phazon Mines, you can find a giant version of the puzzle. The character Samus Aran can use her Morph Ball form to interact with it. She can spin the levels and climb its sides using magnetic rails.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
The puzzle also appears in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Players can win it as a prize from Redd. This happens during the fireworks shows in August.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
It's also a hidden surprise, known as an "easter egg," in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D.
WarioWare Gold Microgame
In WarioWare Gold, the puzzle is part of a microgame. Players need to quickly match four of its colorful marbles to win.
See also
- In Spanish: Barril de Rompecabezas de Nintendo para niños
