Here’s what makes the Midi special
Last week I wrote about our new Midi crossword and the constructors who make it. This week, I’ll talk a little more about the content that makes the Midi special. The difficulty of the Midi crossword is about the same as a regular Monday or Tuesday crossword. The puzzles are all themed, and each has a title that hints at the theme. Ian Livengood, the editor of the Midi, is careful to make sure all of the vocabulary in the puzzles is beginner-friendly. Unlike the daily crossword, which almost always has black-square symmetry in the grid, the Midi crossword is more lax. Ian thinks that having looser rules about where black squares can sit makes it easier for constructors to create puzzles with easier vocabulary. Because the Midi is online only, it gives Ian the freedom to make puzzles that don’t need to work in print. One of the biggest ways that this has played out is that the puzzles can use color, which isn’t possible in the newspaper. Many of the upcoming puzzles have what we call “overlays,” which are images or animations over the puzzle that add a visual element. Some are visible when you open the puzzle and offer a hint to the theme. Others appear after the puzzle is completed, as a little flourish. Here are a couple of recent examples of fun overlays we used online that wouldn’t have worked in print.
The Midi is still evolving, and we’re interested to hear what our solvers have to say. What makes you want to solve a puzzle when you open it? Email and tell us: crosswordeditors@nytimes.com.
Solve Friday’s Crossword on Easy Mode!
In today’s Wordplay column, Sam Corbin writes about why Friday puzzles are her favorite of the week. For expert hints on today’s puzzle, read her column. Were you able to solve the Friday puzzle with Easy Mode? We want your input! Share your experience with us by email. Easy vs. HardIn today’s regular Friday puzzle, the clue for 1-Across is a cute misdirect: [First impression of a new video game?]. The phrase “First impression” makes you think of your feelings when you initially encounter something. For Easy Mode, I wanted to write a clue that was lively and colorful but more straightforward. I went with [Something to press when beginning an old Nintendo game].
How are we doing? Thanks for playing! Subscribe to New York Times Games. If you were forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up to receive it regularly here. P.S. The answer to Easy vs. Hard is START BUTTON.
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