# What is the name of this (type of) puzzle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034 "2008-02-02T23:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/1 "2008-02-02T23:51:10Z")
Dopers, help, I’m stuck here. I came across [this](http://www.smart-kit.com/games/jigsaw/) online jigsaw puzzle and was blasted back into my childhood. I had a box containing three separate jigsaw puzzles like this one, in which each piece is, in itself, a complete picture. Sadly, I have long since lost track of the whereabouts of this box, and had indeed completely forgotten about it until I saw the webpage. 1. Is there a specific name for this type of puzzle? 2. Does anyone have the faintest idea what the puzzle I had could have been called? I remember the following things: - there were three different puzzles; one had an office theme, another had animals, the third one was just “random weird pictures” - the puzzle box came with a set of clues for each puzzle printed on paper; these clues had pictures of each individual piece followed by a “quote” by that particular piece containing a clue as to its relation to other pieces (e.g. “Man, I really wish that horse would stop drooling into my hair”) - it was probably bought in the late 80’s, probably while we were living in Syracuse (probably by my dad, but this tidbit of information, I fear, is not going to help you very much) Can anyone ease my plight? I’ve been racking my brain for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/2 "2008-02-03T03:01:12Z")
We had the animal one when I was growing up (early 80s, or earlier). But it came in a box by itself, not bundled with others. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/3 "2008-02-03T03:24:47Z")
I have no idea, but I just wasted a good hour putting it together… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/4 "2008-02-03T04:09:12Z")
Is [this](http://www.azplerp.com/index.html) what was mentioned in the OP? I found a link on the front page of the site that hosts the linked puzzle. Also, what the hell connects to the old man in the trenchcoat? As far as I can tell, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/5 "2008-02-03T04:22:31Z")
I hate this game. An hour? It’s going to take me all night. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/6 "2008-02-03T04:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=Savannah] I hate this game. An hour? It’s going to take me all night. [/QUOTE] As you find matches, it gets easier, because the negative space gets more defined. You can see the shapes that go in it more fully. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/7 "2008-02-03T04:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Also, what the hell connects to the old man in the trenchcoat? As far as I can tell, nothing. [/QUOTE] He connects the guy at the desk to the sunbather and the peeping tom. I have a [screenshot](http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q77/innerstickler/answer-1.jpg?t=1202013076)here if it gets too frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/8 "2008-02-03T04:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Is [this](http://www.azplerp.com/index.html) what was mentioned in the OP? I found a link on the front page of the site that hosts the linked puzzle. Also, what the hell connects to the old man in the trenchcoat? As far as I can tell, nothing. [/QUOTE] He’s standing on top of the boy with the binoculars; the girl in the bikini is upside down with her head and arm against his legs, the flowerpot is against his face, the boy in the blue shirt is upside down with one arm against the front of his hat, the dog is against the back of his hat, and the computer on the desk is against his back. ETA: and I see Inner Stickler beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/9 "2008-02-03T04:47:50Z")
I haff solved zee poozle, and vivout readink dee spoilerz! Muhahaha. I’m smarter than a grade fiver. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/10 "2008-02-03T04:49:10Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] He’s standing on top of the boy with the binoculars; the girl in the bikini is upside down with her head and arm against his legs, the flowerpot is against his face, the boy in the blue shirt is upside down with one arm against the front of his hat, the dog is against the back of his hat, and the computer on the desk is against his back. ETA: and I see Inner Stickler beat me to it. [/QUOTE] Yes, but your response was much more informative. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/11 "2008-02-03T05:23:27Z")
So, I poked around the site with the picture puzzle, and came upon [this little waste of time.](http://www.smart-kit.com/games/3d-logic/) I guess I’m done for now. I’m currently stuck on Level 7. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/12 "2008-02-03T05:32:40Z")
Cleared Level Seven! ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/13 "2008-02-03T05:36:58Z")
W00t! (Roughly an hour here.) ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/14 "2008-02-03T06:03:32Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Is [this](http://www.azplerp.com/index.html) what was mentioned in the OP? I found a link on the front page of the site that hosts the linked puzzle. Also, what the hell connects to the old man in the trenchcoat? As far as I can tell, nothing. [/QUOTE] Well, the page you linked to calls them “Jumble-fits” and “cluster puzzles”. So there’s your answer, **auRa**. Thanks for the OP, cause that was entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/15 "2008-02-03T13:46:34Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Is [this](http://www.azplerp.com/index.html) what was mentioned in the OP? I found a link on the front page of the site that hosts the linked puzzle. Also, what the hell connects to the old man in the trenchcoat? As far as I can tell, nothing. [/QUOTE] Yes! Yes! I remembered that it had some sort of weird name in it, and A. Z. Plerp it is. Oh joy of joys! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-type-of-puzzle/436034/16 "2008-02-03T14:52:14Z")
You wanna talk frustration? It came up on my screen, but the _instructions_ were just below the visible window. I could pick up the pieces fine, but without knowing that I could rotate them, nothing would fit. But … but people were saying they solved it in an hour or so! Egad I can be a moron.