The NY Times Is Consistently at the Center of the Puzzle World
The Times is on a pedestal of sorts, and rightly so. It has its own pattern and distinct style, and if a puzzle can be "branded" then the Times crossword is the Coca-Cola of puzzles. Good puzzles develop a recognizable style, and for those who appreciate it, the puzzle will develop a following. Many games are mechanical and can't have a unique style; for example word searches and Sudoku can be solved by anyone given enough time. Puzzle-solving requires knowledge, curiosity, tenacity and experience with the particular puzzle's style. The Times style is rich in terms of degree of difficulty and clueing.
Mondays are easiest, with a good mix of straightforward clues and short words. Each day the difficuly increases until Saturday, when the clues are super-tricky, answers require arcane knowledge and 15-letter, multiple word answers are common. Sunday's grid is made for slow solving over coffee and a long breakfast - an extra large grid with a wide mix of difficulty, word length and trickiness. This consistency gives regular puzzlers a frame of reference to judge their performance, and makes them want to come back for more. If a puzzler hits the wall consistently on Wednesday and then finally gets through, it creates a craving to do it again and again, and to look forward to finishing Thursday. And so forth.
Its Popularity Is Probably Based on How Much the Editor Will Shortz Loves His Job.
It is highly unlikely that the newspaper's management strategically built the crossword into what it has become. What management did well in recent years was to hire low-key "enigmatologist" Will Shortz in 1993. Shortz is famous in the puzzle world for his one-of-a-kind bachelor's degree in enigamtology from Indiana University. Under his watch, the puzzle expanded its appeal, particularly with the growth of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which regularly drew over 100 attendees prior to Shortz's appointment and then rapidly grew to 699 in 2007.
Wordplay, a well-received 2006 documentary about the event, took in over $3 million and endearingly captured the quirky world of both professional and amateur puzzlers. In the film, celebrity puzzlers like Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart talk about their love of the Times puzzle, and interviews with participants culminate in the 3-person championship match.
Shortz's face can be seen in airports throughout North America on the many Times Crossword Puzzle books that make air travel bearable for many. A wide range of crossword merchandise is now available, including pens, art, apparel and books. Several dedicated blogs exist, ranging from the Times' own blog on its website to the popular Rex Parker Does The NYT Crossword Puzzle, authored by university professor Michael Sharp, who proudly claims the title "55th Greatest Crossword Puzzler Solver in the World" based on his 2007 ACPT result.
Puzzle Enthusiasts Perceive Crosswords to Be "Brain Healthy"
There is some scientific evidence that shows continued mental stimulation help the brain's resistance to diseases like Alzheimer's. Many have taken this to heart, and along with a glass of red wine for cholesterol, happily sit down to a crossword to excercise the brain.
Also, the Times crossword, like many top-class peers, expands vocabularly and education. Clues from a wide range of subjects appear and in combination with the internet the curious solver continuously expands knowledge.
Online subscriptions and more information are available at the NY Times Crossword site.
