MF8 Legend(传奇) -- a new patent 3x3x3 cube, new design core.
The spring is inside the axle.
Here is some photos:

well it looks nice and all, and i cant say this with any certainty, but im guessing with recent events involving infringement that some stuff is about to hit a fan. good luck with that though

This looks awesome, but how well does it turn. To me it looks similar to a bandaged 4x4x4 cube.

OMG!

I also love the design, but wonder if the edges and corners are all their own work, if you get my drift...

Of course our own work

Apologies for any offense caused. I was merely remarking on similarities between the cubies and other recently patent hampered puzzles. I love the ball core.

I don't think this puzzle is at risk of infringing Verdes' patents. It makes no use of the conical surfaces that likely caused the problems with the Dayan.
On the other hand, I'm puzzled what about what aspect of this puzzle is considered patentable.

It might not look like it, but this is really close to a normal Rubik's 3x3x3 with the addition of a ball core. A few cutouts for reducing surface area/friction are added and slightly altered proportions have been used, but the basic cutting profile is still the same. The main reason the pieces look different is that they are molded in a different way, so other optimizations have been made for molding.
On regular 3x3x3's a small section of the edges is cut away so the pieces can be molded in a single pull (on this puzzle, the edges are made in two halves). I'm very interested to see if leaving this section in place (which results in a mechanism without gaps) will make the puzzle turn better.

I am sure there are novel patentable features in this mech, and I don't think there are any potential infringement issues with Verdes or any other current patents, however I think the main issue is that it seems too complicated/over-engineered and thus expensive to make, but I'm not convinced there are real benefits over the original design to make it competitive.

Haha I was waiting for this to come out. I first saw this last year at SmaZ's shop in Hong Kong. It is very hard to pop and it is also very children friendly (meaning it can my thrown around without getting damage). What i worry most about it is that the corners touches the ball core (I think) and it may cause too much friction. But nevertheless, in my opinion, it is a very nice and solid puzzle. Turning is also smooth.

hmmm....is this the one AJ had at the puzzle meet up the last week?
Turns nice. I need to buy two of them when you get them out! When is it coming?

Have already tried this one. Smaz got one & I turned it. It smooth, nearly impossible to pop. But a little bit cracking. And the main feature is : small~54mm

I've thought of the concept of a ball core 3x3x3 before, but was unsure of how and/or if it would work. Now I know!

As an observation, as far as my knowledge goes, this is the fourth unique patent for a 3x3x3 cube. There's the Rubik's one, the Void Cube, the V-cube one, and this one.

I want to see a video. A speedcuber's video of this would be best.
I wonder if this construction with the sphere inside can cut corners.

It reminds me of the mechanism grigorusha used for his microbic. (pic)

Once I saw this I know it reminded me of something- but I couldn't remember what. Now I think that it looks alot like the MF8 megaminx mech applied to a cube. (obviously there'd be no legal problems as this is also a MF8 puzzle... ) The puzzle looks great, I hope there will be some reviews once this becomes widely available.

I would say the mechanism is virtually identical. It would be interesting to know who came up with it first...

I would say the microbic mechanism is about as far away from this as you could get. The microbic mechanism closely resembles the V-Cube mechanism but this MF8 cube clearly does not.

Looks interesting. I'd like to see a video of the turning quality. I'm not sure how fast it will be because there is a large amount of surface area that is touching the core, which will undoubtedly create friction. Some lubix might do the trick, who knows this is purely speculation .


P.S. did anyone see the puzzle in the back right of pic 3.

I am slightly confused with why the edge pieces don't hit each other during a turn. Great puzzle mech

As the pieces slide, the small gap between the pieces allows them to glide by smoothly.

I think it's engineered to just barely turn. The large arrow shows the two pieces moving, small shows the way the edge piece moves next to the other one.

I for one am very interested to see how this one functions. I really cannot say what I expect. at the very least this one sure does look like it wont pop easily. You might even have to unscrew it just to disassemble it.

However on the design of the puzzle as Tomz has stated it is NOT v-cube in any way. this puzzle is almost exactly the same as every other 3x3 out there. The difference is that the extra area that is normally just in the puzzle kind of uselessly, is pushed all the way flat to the outside sphere of the puzzle.I included a little picture to hopefully help explain. The corners have then simply been widen reducing the width of the inner edge that holds on. That part is similar to the Gu Hong.

The microbic cube looks similar to this only because the extra area of the pieces like this puzzle have been minimalized and the core pushed up to the outer circumference just the same. The microbic cube from what I have seen, with the pictures of the mechanism that were posted, IS at least 90 % V-cube design, though I am sure it is not intentional. the differences being the previous statement and that it uses a "clip" like many dollar store cubes, rather than a screw to hold in the centerpieces.

seems a very interesting mechanism
A thing that I dont understand well is, what is the reason of the spherical core? I mean, the pieces seem to hold together wihtout having to rely in the core. Is it spherical just to avoid pops?

I can't wait until this is released.

Kinda looks like it was made from a megaminx. Rounded everything and glued cubies to it.

(No negative comments/criticism intended )

My Mom had an old cube that I think resembled this. It had a Japanese color scheme. Anyone have an old cube with a mech like this? When I say old, I mean from way back when Rubik's Cubes first were big. My Mom's broke so I can't go verify it now.

hope its ok to post this


Legend

The turning on this looks amazing too. I can't wait for all of these new mf8 puzzles to be released.

video
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjM4NjEyNDYw.html

Wow! I'm very impressed. It does corner cut(a lot) and turns smoothly. So I'm looking forward to further videos with some better music.

Now on eBay (Now_Store).

Edit: and White.

Hmm, only 3,99$, is it because of the 10$ shipping, cause its seems like a super low price for an cube.

I don't think the music was the point in the video.

It's too bad I spent every last dollar I had at Puzzle Addictions. Now I can't try out this 3x3x3. I guess I'll have to settle with the F2 for now.

Legend! Wow… it remind me of Trumpchi（传祺）.
Maybe MF8 is a Chinese cube legend.

We have shifted the cube cost to shipping as usual to avoid heavy ebay fees.
We shall start to post the orders tomorrow. As the Chinese New Year coming soon, we shall have holidays from 30 Jan to 4 Feb.
Happy Chinese New Year ! Wish all be Healthy and Wealthy !

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but in one of the pictures I see a grey dino barrel... any clue why?

I've tried this cube and the design of the core is a vital part of it. This makes the cube soft and smooth, IMHO.

It seems a if mf8 might have a few surprises for us this year! Hopefully! Only time will tell.

Chris

I picked up two of these the other day. DIY versions. GRRR. We all know Rox's experiences with DIY's and this was no different.
I did take photos along the way so I'll give them to you here.

Out of the package

almost ready to start

curiosity got the better of me and i just had to open the ball!

core almost done. only 2 bits to add, and this is where i ran into problems. I don't know if the inside was stripped or the screw was too small, or if it was threaded, but 2 balls I tried, and 2 balls didn't work. This one (or both of them rather) are going back to the shop.
Frustrating to say the least, but at least I didn't order it online.


Not working

I hope you get it built... I would enjoy an objective comparison video to other puzzles

I'll need to get 2 new puzzles before i can build it. I'm not sure what is wrong with that core bit, but Matt couldn't get it to work either. After the holidays for it I'm afraid.

Im pretty sure you have the centerpieces screwed in upside down.

Nice one Muffet, your right. I didnt see it untill you said it

hmmm might have to give it another go the right way round
Had the other sides screwed in I might have noticed it, but then maybe that's why the other sides wouldn't screw in

Well this is embarrassing. You would think after all these years I would know how to put a cube together.
It works now that I turned the centers the right way round. thanks guys.
Now to find some stickers....

Thats ok,it is kinda of odd because there is no "stem" on the bottom half. Im glad it is working now, maybe we shall see a review?

1 am here. it will have to wait until tomorrow I'm afraid. My lights have just been shut off. I think someone is trying to tell me something

No stickers as yet. Sharon has just told me to put on some spares. Will do that and make the requisite video. Turning from what I've done is nice!

Ok, video is up now.
I've compared a DaYan colored plastic 3x3x3, the Da Yan GuHong, a cheap YJ (US$3) that I just picked up and the Mf8 3x3x3 (with the centers facing the right way )
No silly comments. this was done one handed with my camera. Not an easy task. And yes, I have a tripod somewhere, but I think it's lost in my desk under all those puzzles that are cluttering it.

Good comparison, but the puzzle is hardly legendary.

The center pieces is wrong, please install the piece inside out.