Electronic scrabble-like game brings fun anywhere, anytime

Kansas State Collegian: Electronic scrabble-like game brings fun anywhere, anytime

Wordfeud is a new application for the iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone and Android. It allows you to play an electronic Scrabble-like game with anyone, anytime.

The best thing about this app is the fact you can play at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. All you have to do is download the app and create a login. The app allows you to log in with your Facebook or Twitter, or you can create a separate user name to connect with friends. You can even play random opponents.

This app is basically just a way to pass time, but I enjoy coming up with words and making them fit. Most of the time I don't aim for the most points, I go for the best word I can fit, which often still gets the most points.

One of the game's downfalls is it doesn't take proper nouns, like cities and names. The app uses English, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish and Swedish dictionaries. Once you pick a language, you can't use words from the other available languages.

The hardest part of the game is finding space after the first 10 or so moves. There are times when you get great letters and think of a word, but you can't find a clear space or enough space on the board to play. I usually end up guessing words, which has helped me improve my vocabulary because I've discovered a few new words. I know many of the people I play against also guess words just to use up letters without having to skip a turn.

The most addictive aspect of Wordfeud is the competitiveness. Finding a word that fits and getting the most points, or putting words on the board that are funnier or better than what the other person can come up with is what drives this game.

Depending on the words placed and extra point spaces used, final scores can range from being a few points apart to one person's score being twice as high as the other's. The game board is filled with double and triple letter and word spaces which can boost a score significantly.

Just like real Scrabble, the game takes thought and skill. Unlike the real version, you can guess more and find new words without having to go look the words up in a dictionary every time.

Wordfeud is a great way to waste time, but only if the other person responds quickly. If you don't play it on a phone, you are limited to Wi-Fi spots.