Hexoban
(Hexagonal Sokoban)

Origins:

Hexoban is a hexagonal variation of Sokoban. It began, January 2, 2002, when I created the first Hexoban puzzle (shown above) and challenged programmers to write a program on which to play it. Much to my surprise, I quickly received responses from over a dozen people with suggestions for developing Hexoban; most notably, J. Kenneth Riviere who specified the inital data and file structure. In one week we had two Hexoban programs (thanks to J. Kenneth Riviere and George Petrov), a puzzle editor (thanks to Fabricio C. Zuardi), and nearly a dozen puzzles from Aymeric Du Peloux, J. Kenneth Riviere, David Holland, Gerald Holler and myself.

Using hexagons, instead of squares as in standard Sokoban, offers a new realm of possibilities. A whole new set of movement patterns, tricks and traps is being discovered as hexagonal puzzles are developed. Just having to think in a new geometry adds to the challenge. If you enjoy Sokoban, give hexoban a try. It provides new challenges for both the puzzle maker and player.

David W. Skinner
January 19, 2002
sasquatch@bentonrea.com
 

Hexoban Specifications:

  • File extension for puzzle definitions is .hsb (Hex SokoBan).
  • Hex location data is stored in a two-dimensional array using every other entry. (Even numbered rows use even numbered columns. Odd numbered rows use odd numbered columns.)
  • Use the standard character set (#$.* +@).
  • An empty line must be used to separate levels.
  • Comments may go before or after each level.
  • All key words go after each level.
  • All comments and key words at the beginning of a file (before first level) apply to all levels. This text is seperated from the first level by a empty line.

    •  
  • Directions for recording solutions:


    •     Up    North

    Left         Right

       South   Down
     

    Hexoban Games:
  • HexoSoko for Windows by J. Kenneth Riviere
  • YHexoban for Windows by George Petrov
  • SokoSave for several platforms by Eric Sunshine and Paul McCarthy (play Sokoban, Hexoban, and Trioban puzzles)
  • Hexoban for Macintosh by Scott Lindhurst


    • Hexoban Editors:

  • Hexoban Generator by Fabricio C. Zuardi for Macintosh and Windows
  • Hexoban Editor for Windows by Victor Kindermans


    • Puzzle Collections:

  • Aymeric Du Peloux
  • François Marques
  • More Puzzles


    • Other Links:

  • Hexoban Solver by Paul Voyer

    • Hexobans by David W. Skinner:

    Text file of entire set (16 puzzles).
     

    dws001
        # # #
       #     #
        #     #
       #   . #
      #   .   #
     #   $ $   #
      # # # *   #
         # @   #
          # # #
    dws001

    dws002
                  # # #
           # # # #     #
          #     $     #
         #   $ $   $ #
      # #   #   # $ #
     #     #   # #   # # # #
    #     #   # #   #   . . #
     #   $             . . . #
      # # $ #   # @ #   . . #
       # #     # # # # # # #
          # # #

    This interpretation of "Classic Level #1" is not meant to be a strict conversion, but a new puzzle with a similar flow. The hexagons provide different problems in puzzle construction. This requires different intersection/blockage situations than those in the original puzzle.
    dws002
    dws003

    dws004

    dws005

    dws006

    dws007

    dws008

    dws009

    dws010

    dws011

    dws012 (revised 03-Mar-2002)

    dws013

    dws014

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