Turing Machine Review: Punch Card + Logic = Fun?

Tom Vasel, Mike DiLisio, Chris & Wendy Yi all take a look at Turing Machine!

Intro 0:00
Overview 1:10
Final Thoughts 7:59

Support the channel by becoming a member!

Check out the friendliest conventions on Earth!

[jeremyslayton]

The discussion variety in these group reviews is excellent. I love the new format change. Great work you four!

[FemmeSensei]

Love the honesty and love love love love these group reviews. Without those candid, honest takes with different personalities and game leanings some of these games and reviews could really miss folks. Thanks Dice Tower and thanks Mike for sticking yourself out there!

[makaveli]

I really appreciate and understand Mike’s low score as without him it would be easy to see the high scores and jump into something that definitely isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve had those feelings of it just not clicking with certain games in the past whilst everyone else round the table is getting it and that sucks.

[RedCubTX]

As a programmer that loves logic puzzles, (Used to buy the Penny Press grid logic books as a kid.) I am looking forward to getting this for solo play. Love the group reviews and this for sure is a game that has a specific audience.

[chrism]

Mike's feeling of frustration is how I feel playing traitor mechanic or social deduction games

[derickkopff]

I’d be curious as to your comparison to Search for Planet X (which I enjoy solo.)

[BlueGiantMedia]

The logic puzzle of this looks right up my alley. I’d be interested in this solo or cooperative to teach my kids logic too. My main concern is that I wonder if it’s better just as an app. The production does looks great though.

[LeScorpionmasque]

We're really glad that the equation Punch Card + Logic = a Seal of Excellence for Turing Machine ☺

[lorelielomaloma]

i can’t imagine this would feel fun to me - i used to have to program using ibm punchcards and the memories of dropping a box load of the cards on the floor and the cards flying every which way… and having to start all over again…

[sanugsanug]

Fabulous review. I liked all of the different perspectives. I like logic puzzles, and I look forward to playing the game when it arrives in 4 days.

[teejleague]

I really love the new format. It's extremely helpful to hear different voices. I am very sure I'd side with Mike on this one, but my husband would side with Chris. It helps us know that it's a game Ben will love playing solo but probably not so much with me. Very cool format.

[benjaminspears]

I think we need to see Tom vs. Chris in a mental showdown!

[kwouters]

I had (and still have) a very similar game when I was a kid called “Safecrack”. In Safecrack, you’re trying to find a three-digit combination to a safe. The clues are also about odd/even, multiples of 3/4/5, sums of numbers, etc. The key cards were also punched cards with holes in them to get clues and check your answers. Turing Machine is clearly more advanced, but the similarities are many!

[Infil]

I appreciate Mike's perspective on this review; this game really feels like it was built specifically for programmers. Not even just the name/theme of the game, but the way the game flows (submit a test code and receive information on which properties of your test correctly map to the real code), figuring out that some codes are impossible even just by looking at the setup... this type of logic is for a very specific type of person, even moreso than other logic games I think.

That said, I was hoping to hear a bit more from the DT crew whether they thought the physical implementation was too fiddly to enjoy? This seems like the type of thing that would be perfect as an app, but I think part of the allure of the package is the slick punchcard production (you get to marvel at the mathematical design of fitting millions of puzzles on a stack of cards, rather than just using an app). But with the physical game, you have to constantly sort those huge stacks of answer/verifier cards, even if you only spend 5 minutes on a puzzle. Then for your next puzzle you have to put everything back in a careful order and pull out new cards. I suppose them not mentioning it means it didn't bother them as much, but I was hoping to hear them talk about that a bit.

[hecate_oh]

I was intrigued by this game, when no-one knew what it really was but many people were talking about it, but in fact I have the same kind of thinking as Mike. I'm sure it's a grand game, but not for me (and I loved mastermind when I was a kid however!)
this video was very useful, thank you!

[willreardon]

Just started playing this game and I LOVE it! It’s definitely a solo game for me - I can see the daily online puzzle becoming part of my routine. I have that nook that Chris dreams of set up already 😊

[angiebernhardt]

What kind of table is that in this video? Looking for a table and like that one. Thanks 👍

[Michaelrsted]

All really fair points and great with variant views.
It’s all very logical.

[shanedbunting]

Just curious but how many of you worked out the example in Chris's game explanation before it was revealed?

[laniehrlich]

Oh man I want this game!

I really appreciate the differing opinions with explanations why. It helps me understand if I’m going to like a game!