Words With Friends

Words with friends isn’t you, me, and a dictionary; it’s a take on Scrabble(TM) developed just for the iPhone and Touch. The play is the same but the board layout is unique.  You’ll find double word and triple letter scoring just not in the same spots.

WWF is entirely touch play, beginning with game selection.

Words with friends screenshot game selection

Games where it’s your move are displayed in time sequence from most recent opponent move to oldest. In the shot above you’ll notice the eyes. Those indicate your opponent is watching the game. Additionally, if a number is displayed on the line, it means you have chat messages waiting for you in the game.

Tap on any Words with line and the game is highlighted. The screen then slides to the left displaying the board.

Words with friends screenshot playing board

The game board has two views. Zoomed out if the default. Zoomed in allows you to move it around.

Words with friends screenshot zoomed game board

Playing is easy; just tap the letter and drag it onto the board. If it ends up on the wrong square, just tap and drag it again.  There are buttons to Play (submit), Recall (clear placed letters), swap (allows swapping letters, don’t preselect, select after hitting swap), and Resign.

Topping up the screen are the Games and Chat buttons. Games goes back to the sorted list. Chat takes you to chat just for that specific game.

Play isn’t instant or demanding. Each player takes their turn and then the game waits for the opponent to make their move. There is no game timer, nor nudge option.

The game uses built in spell check, preventing players from making illegal moves. As in Scrabble, words formed cross-wise also must work..

Locating other players is a bit odd. You can invite someone from your contact list, a random person, search for another player by name, or choose Pass and Play.

Pass and Play means you and your opponent play on the same iPhone versus each other. You just take a turn and pass the iPhone over.  I’ve not tried this mode out yet.

The game is crash free, plays with wireless, and has push notifications. Being so easy to pick up and play makes this a great value and an equally great time sink.

Words With Friends on iTunes Store

SuperPoke! Pets Haiti Support, originally uploaded by Tojosan.

Slide, the folks behind Superpoke! Pets, has rolled out some Haiti support items. Most are gold items requiring real dollars to end up purchasing. 100% of all Haiti item purchases will be donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

From their site:

Hi everyone,

As we’re sure you all know by now, earlier this week the country of Haiti was devastated by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. Our hearts go out to all those affected, and in the wake of this tragic event, Slide and its employees have started a donation pool to aid in the global Haiti relief efforts.

In addition to the contributions we are making, we want to invite the SPP Community to show your support. We just released Haiti-themed coin and gold items in the Pet Shop. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Gold items will be donated to the American Red Cross’ relief efforts in Haiti.

Donating to this cause is only part of what we can do here, though. We can show our support for the people of Haiti the SPP way by using these items to decorate your habitat and send a message of love and goodwill. Share your habitats in this thread, and let’s show how many of our hearts are with Haiti here in the SPP Community!

Thanks everyone. Let’s do our best to help the people of Haiti when they need it most.

-keane

Devon’s Chainmail Dice Bag == Turducken of geeky awesome!

Posted using ShareThis

Spore Islands on Facebook screenshot

Maxis and EA bring Spore Fun to Facebook

Love Spore? Love cute Facebook games? This is for you.

Spore Islands isn’t like the full blown Spore game available on PC and Mac.  In this version of Spore, you design a creature and let him loose on your own private island.

You pick from several types of islands to call home. Once you pick, that’s our creature’s home island for the rest of the game. On the island will be two ‘wild’ creatures.  These are game generated creatures. Additionally, you can invite up to two friends to join you on your island.

Evolution

Spore Islands has creature design and evolution. It retains some of the same elements, such as picking body parts, and choosing upgrades.  Evolution though is limited not based on your creature’s success but on an allotment of DNA points. DNA points regenerate over time, up to a maximum of 12 available.

Each change of your creature costs one or more DNA points. That includes changes to diet, speed, and attack power selections.

Check it out. You’ll see sliders to change. Your creature’s appearance changes as you adjust the sliders.

Spore Islands on Facebook evolution

Over time, you’ll find a combination that works well on your island type. At that point, you’ll not need to spend evolution points on a regular basis. DNA points can then be used for changing creature appearance and other visual changes. Also DNA points allow abilities to be purchased.

Facebook Gaming

Facebook brings along it’s own poisoning of anything good though. Like other applications, you can purchase points.  Maxis calls them DNA points, but like Zynga games, they can be purchased or through partner deals. In this game it’s going to be extra tempting.  Who doesn’t want special abilities and a cute hate for their creatures.

If you’ve had a chance to play this, please share your stories and thoughts with me.

Yours,

Todd

Find me on Facebook.

Spore Islands on Facebook

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This is one of the new messages you’ll see when you visit a friend’s restaurant. There are a variety of calls for help as well.

Here’s the leak.

So there you go, you’ve got a leak to fix. It’s a no brainer though as you simply click on any of the leak spouts in the restaurant.  A click activates a small timer over the top of the leak or other issue. Once the countdown is done, away it goes.

You’ll receive a message box like the one above.  Your friend rewards you with either 5 or 10 coins. This doesn’t replace clean up coins you earn for picking up pizza slices and discarded soda cans. It’s an additional way to get some coins.

The nicest thing about this feature? It’s redeemable in all of your friends’ restaurants.  I was able to claim over 100 coins today in this feature alone. Not a windfall but it pays for those cups of water.

My personal favorite is the penguins.

Yeah, cute little guy. Apparently he’s equally annoying to leaks, a sleeping bear, giant mushrooms, and skunks. Honestly PlayFish, picking on penguins.

This is a fun feature addition to a pleasing casual game.  PlayFish continues to add nice little features.  Upcoming are new themes as well.

You can find Restaurant City on Facebook.

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Mafia Wars: Halloween Loot Event! Starting Friday at midnight (PT), all jobs and fights have a chance to give you special Halloween-themed items. Act fast because the event ends Monday, November 2 at midnight (PT). Sneak a peek into a few of the items!

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Disclaimer: not a Slider Inc sponsored contest.

Hi,
Glad you took your time to drop in to see what this is about.
We (a group of friends and relatives that live and ride motorcycles and horses here in Texas) have a few male and female friends that have had or have breast cancer.

Well, October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESSMonth and we have decided to hold a contest.
This is an independent contest and it is not run by Slide, Inc.

Rules:
1. Create a habitat that is in good taste for BCA.
2. Tell us a story about the habitat and if it is dedicated to anyone.
3. We will not ask for your real name, however you can use it if you like. But we would like your age so we can have a child’s level **(ages 13-18 ) and an adult level(ages 19 & up.)**
4. Your entry is allowed 1 time and 1 time only! If there are any repeats this will disqualify you. So plan it carefully before you hit that POST Button.
5. This contest RUNS FROM 02am EST. on 09-23-2009 UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST 10-31-2009!
Any post after that time will not be considered.

WINNERS:A Post will be made no later than November 5th,2009 Stating the WINNERS. (I, hope we can go through all of the entries before then. LOL )

There will be a team of 6 judges. Each of us will go through all the entries and make a decision and then we vote on the final 6 from each category.

PRIZES: They will be awarded to each level. (Child’s level & Adult level)
1st Place:3 gold items!
2nd Place: 2 gold items!
3rd Place: 1 gold item and 1 of the oldest items from our treasure boxes.
3 Honorable Mentions: 1 of the oldest items from our treasure boxes.

Note**
Eligibility Criteria and Representations. You hereby represent that the following are all true:
a. You are at least 13 years old, and if You are less than 18 years old, You have the permission of Your parents or legal guardian to use the Slide Service. (Please be aware that Slide may create certain areas on the Slide Site that contain adult or mature content. You must be at least 18 years of age to access and view such areas.) If You are not at least 13 years old, please discontinue using the Slide Site and the Slide Services immediately.

We are looking forward to all the creations. If you are just dropping in to take a look, PLEASE GIVE US A BUMP!!
Send this on to your friends too.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
LOVE, LIFE, HOPE
And remember:
“BOOBS ROCK”
Angy, Chante, Trey, Lori, Willow & Brian

Follow the link.
My pet.

Moscow is the next Mafia Wars city. Zynga is kicking it off with some cool new loot.

Mafia Wars: Moscow Preview! To celebrate the upcoming release of the Mafia Wars: Moscow, all jobs and fights can drop Russian Mafia items. Collect them all for a chance to unlock an exclusive item. Hurry before time runs out.

If you’ve not played yet today, you can expect to see this box pop up.

Here’s one of the fine Moscow loot drops:

There are eight pieces of Russian goodness and they are dropping randomly on all missions. Get out and get your Moscow preview loot.

Cheers,
Don Jordan
Facebook Profile
Join my mafia

Assassin's Lair Restaurant City

When you have to blow off a little steam, why not use it to make vegetables?

Screenshot from the game Restaurant City on Facebook, game by Playfish.