Shahid Kamal Ahmad by shahid
In WordUp your aim is to grow a word more than the computer can. The computer places a letter. Then it's your turn. If the computer can't continue the word on its turn, you win and get a point for every letter placed. If you choose a letter that creates a word not in the ENABLE word list, you lose and start again with zero points. That's it.
I've rated the game as mature audiences because the word list contains offensive words and could be chosen by the player or the computer. Future versions might well change this.
The game prototype for the Mac uses:
- C++ code, the game written from scratch starting for Ludlum Dare (growing theme) solo in under 48 hours
- The ENABLE word list
- The Cinder Library
- The Apple San Francisco system font
- Tile graphics created in Acorn
- Sound effects created in BFXR
I plan to continue developing this prototype into a full game.
I've rated the game as mature audiences because the word list contains offensive words and could be chosen by the player or the computer. Future versions might well change this.
The game prototype for the Mac uses:
- C++ code, the game written from scratch starting for Ludlum Dare (growing theme) solo in under 48 hours
- The ENABLE word list
- The Cinder Library
- The Apple San Francisco system font
- Tile graphics created in Acorn
- Sound effects created in BFXR
I plan to continue developing this prototype into a full game.
Love the simplicity and immediacy of play
Playing against CPU is hard because essentially the CPU is "cheating" always... it always knows the next letter, so you are effectively competing against yourself... which is both good and bad! And clearly I'm terrible... my best score is only 30! :(
Because CPU goes first always, you need to create a word that completes on an even number of letters to win, otherwise CPU adds in a final letter to take your prize!
I think the basis for something beyond a game jam is here, depends where the game expands to, i.e. whether that be a larger meta game or some overall goal, or playing multiple words simultaneously or a more "complex" scoring i.e. bonus for longer words, bonus point timer if place letter faster, etc.
I feel that playing it on anything other than a device with a full keyboard may be a bit trickier. For example on mobile, the keyboard interface is going to be taking up a lot of screen real-estate... my worry would be that the game *may* lose its immediacy due to input constraints. (Of course there are other ways to enter letters i.e. cut-down keyboard, subset of possible letters, user draws letter with finger, etc)
Look forward to seeing it progress! :)
Mobile version please :)
@frankA - all those things would go in a more fleshed out version. I just didn't have time to put any of that in, they're all excellent suggestions. I'd have different word lists for different difficulty levels and a variable strength AI to come up with the next letter or none. Taking turns for sure. Different starting word stems of different lengths too. Lots of scoring ideas and power ups and so on.
@aaants it's meant for mobile, though frankA's concerns around screen real estate would have to be addressed. It's definitely slim on the content front. My aim was to finish something, so everything was totally stripped down. It's also lovely to hear you've played this more than other entries. I'll work on making it fuller!
An alternative to making the computer "easier" would be to offer say 3 letter suggestions only 1 or 2 of which are valid. Might be nicer for mobile as well.
Really clean and elegant idea. A real GEM! Nice work Shahid. Love the clean design of the sound and visuals.
I'm not sure I'm a fan of the scoring system as it stands. At the very least, add a highest score field! Losing all my progress feels bad, man.