WordBlock: The Game
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WordBlock is a simple, yet addictive word puzzle game. It is an adaption from a game that can be played with friends, using only a piece of paper. When playing WordBlock on your PocketPC, the computer will play the part of your friends.
Each player has a square grid-like board (you may choose the size between 4 and 6 cells in both height and width). The players take turns. At his turn, every player chooses a letter to be entered into a cell on the grid. All players must enter this same letter on their respective grids, but they may choose different locations.
| Off course, the number of points depends heavily on the word list that is used. The English wordlist in WordBlock was created from the standard Linux word list, which is free of copyright. If you don't like this list (because you think 'bloc' and 'lo' are not normal English words), you can modify it. Check out the separate article on how to modify and extend WordBlock. |
Players score points when the letters on their grid form words. a 2-letter word scores 2 points, a 3-letter word scores 3 etcetera... A word that fills an entire line earns double points. Words may overlap and letters may be used for multiple words. So a line filled with the letters 'block' will score 20 points:
| block |
10 (2x5) |
| bloc |
4 |
| lock |
4 |
| lo |
2 |
Both horizontal and vertical lines can score points. Diagonal lines cannot. The game ends when all grids are full. The player scoring most points wins.
Gameplay
When you start WordBlock on your PocketPC, you will see that the menu allows you to start a new game with a 4-, 5-, or 6-letter grid. When you start a game your screen will look like this
Your grid is empty and it is up to you to start by choosing the first letter. Select a letter from the little listbox in your avatars (an avatar is a small image representing a player) balloon. After selecting the letter, Tap the cell you want to letter to appear in. Directly after you choose your letters position, the other players will place the letter on their grids (which remain invisible to you untill the end of the game).
Then the next player will choose a letter. You will see the players avatar telling you the selected letter. It is up to you where you want to place this letter in your grid. Tap the cell of your choice.
The area directly beneath your grid will always show a list of the words that you have created till now. Each line and column will show the points scored in that line directly next to it. In the upper left corner of the screen, there is a small score board indicating the current score of all players.
Strategy
Each of the computer characters follows a different strategy. Some strategies are smarter than others. Some strategies work better on small boards, while others work best on the 6-letter board. You will find that it is far from easy to beat all characters, but you can practice by picking one of the characters and settle for beating only him.
Tips:
- Some letters are more common than others. No matter which words your opponents are trying to create, they are bound to need some E's and N's along the way. If you choose an E, it might well be usefull for them. If you don't choose the E, the chance is relatively high that one of the opponent will need it. So try to focus on the less common letters in your words.
- The point value of words can be very different, depending on how many smaller words they contain. Try to search for high-value words and stick by them.
- Do not be afraid to use part of your grid as 'trash'. You will not be able to use all of the letters anyway. Make one corner of your grid the waste-bin.
Have fun