guys, is there a way to play the sudoku in an easier way?

If you were to make all the possible 9 by 9 Sudoku puzzles, how many puzzles would there be.

Advanced Sudoku players – have you ever encountered a Suduku puzzle that just seems unsolvable? I entered every possible number in every square and still there is not definite answer on this one. I have been able to solve all the other puzzles – some faster than others – but eventually all – except this one. What can I do?

How many of you are playing sudoku, and do you find it a mental and brain increasing game. I`m crazy about it!

What is the process for making a sudoku puzzle?

Are they reverse engineered, or is there some mathmatical process?

Can the total number of distinct Sudoku puzzles be calculated? Any experts in math stat here? How in the world would you calculate this? I was a math major many years ago, but I can’t quite figure it out. Please post the solution if you can.

A Sudoku-2 puzzle is similar to the usual Sudoku puzzle, except for the fact that it includes 16 squares on a 2*2 board, rather than the 9*9 one, and it’s played in the same way (of course you can only use numbers ranging from 1 to 4). I have estimated the possible results of a solved Sudoku-2 into 4*3*2*3*2*2*2 = 4!*3!*2!*2 = 576 but I have followed a heuristic method and I have not been able to find a way to prove it mathmatically. Is the result correct? And if it is, is there a way to prove it?
Note:
I have noticed that some of you have answered that there is only one way to fill a Sudoku-2 puzzle. This is true if you see it as a game, but my point is to find out how many possible outcomes are there if you fill an EMPTY Sudoku-2 (which means without the given numbers; doing it all by yourself). I hope this clarifies what I asked.

I am referring when you play the same level of puzzles (all easy, etc.– not comparing easy puzzles to hard puzzles), some puzzles seem to be easily solved than others. Is there a pattern with solving sudoku puzzles?

I’d appreciate some on topic answers this time? It’s also called hex sudoku. But they’re generally called super challengers in the puzzle books and they also have 32 circles going through both center diagonals that cannot contain the same number in either diagonal. I would appreciate it if the program mentioned contains said making capabilities (I just can’t get enough of super challenger sudoku!). If you don’t know of any programs, at least list a site that has pre made 16 x 16 sudoku puzzles like in the puzzle magazines. I’d really appreciate a decent answer this time, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that likes them!

If they don’t fill enough squares, there will be multiple solutions; if too many, either there will be no solution at all (if a conflict arises) or they are making the problem easier than need be. Are there rules that describe the minimum number of filled squares to define a Sudoku (whether 3×3, 4×4 or bigger)?