Scrabble for the Pocket PC

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.handmark.com/products/scrabbleppc/">http://www.handmark.com/products/scrabbleppc/</a><br /><br />Handmark has relased Scrabble for the Pocket PC. The game has the following features:<br /><br />• Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary included. You can install the optional definitions to get the definition of words as they are played.<br />• Friendly mode - allows words that are outside the standard rules.<br />• Tournament mode - follows the rules strictly.<br />• Play against the computer in Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, or Expert mode.<br />• Play against one, two or three opponents using one device and the Handmark SCRABBLE game will hide your tile rack from your opponents. Play against opponents using multiple devices with IR beaming!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020904-scrabble.gif" /><br /><br />The program comes with a 10 game limit in the trial version. The registered version can be purchased for $29.99 from the Handmark web site. All Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002 devices are supported.

[Fattizzi]

Looks like a nice game.....but 30 bucks. Please. You can buy the entire board game for less than that. I think I will stick with Resco's Word Game for half the price and better support.

[Umberto]

Anyone know what the IR range is for these devices? I own a HP 568, and my girlfriend a Casio E-125, and I'm wondering how far apart we could sit and play via IR. I won't be able to download trial copies and test this out until the weekend. Is there a site that lists the ranges? Thanks.

[Ed Hansberry]

Anyone know what the IR range is for these devices? I own a HP 568, and my girlfriend a Casio E-125, and I'm wondering how far apart we could sit and play via IR. I won't be able to download trial copies and test this out until the weekend. Is there a site that lists the ranges? Thanks.
Usually 2-3 feet, maybe a bit more, but not much. I'll be curious to see how long before they have a bluetooth version. :way to go:

[dianebrat]

I'm with the others THIRTY BUCKS?

The very nice Hasbro V2 for PC's is only $19.99

It's sad when something this nice comes out at a crazy price, I just don't pay that much for diversions, and don't get me wrong, this is looking like a very very nice version.

And publishers wonder why people don't buy product,

my rule is under $10us, if I use it I buy it, esp on a PPC, between $10 and $20 it's got to be very good, or usefull to work.

they would have had me up to $9 here, $14 if it had a goodie pack,

&lt;sigh>

[fredtskunke]

I like Scrabble, but $30? No thanks. I wonder what criteria these companies are using for price-point data?

[JonnoB]

I like Scrabble, but $30? No thanks. I wonder what criteria these companies are using for price-point data?

Recouping development cost... If they were convinced they could triple sales at a $10 price point, I am sure they would do it.

IR may not be that beneficial, but WiFi support would be. The orientation of IR on some Pocket PC (side on Maestro) does not lend itself to head to head play.

[sponge]

Most of the price is probably the licence too.

[jeff]

I paid $30 for the HPC version of Scrabble way back when. It was delivered from Hasbro Interactive in real packaging with a CD and everything. Now it's $30 for just a download? That's tough to swallow.

But I might have actually bought it if I hadn't purchased Word Game a few months ago. With a little patience you can create a duplicate of the Scabble board layout, down to the colors. The only things it lacks are word definitions, pretty graphics, and AI which actually uses strategy instead of always playing the best word.

Jeff

[klinux]

Nice but way too $$$.

[masaki]

For $30, I'd rather buy Tennis Addict or FIFA 2002 or SimCity 2000 or Tiger Woods PGA Golf. :) At least those, imo, are worth paying $30 for.

[Wes Salmon]

Yeah, $30 is a bit high per license, but if for that $30 you can install it on 4 different devices to play 4-way, that'd be worth it.

They need a wifi enabled version before bluetooth, wifi actually works more than half the time. ;)

[JonnoB]

They need a wifi enabled version before bluetooth, wifi actually works more than half the time. ;)

Agreed. WiFi (or just LAN support) and then a match-making service like Microsoft's zone.com or the GameSpy network would make this software more valuable.

[Umberto]

Anyone know what the IR range is for these devices? I own a HP 568, and my girlfriend a Casio E-125, and I'm wondering how far apart we could sit and play via IR. I won't be able to download trial copies and test this out until the weekend. Is there a site that lists the ranges? Thanks.

[Brad Adrian]

I'm putting together a detailed review and comparison of this Scrabble game and WordGame. Hopefully, I'll get it posted within the next day or so.

[cpoole]

I paid $30 for the HPC version of Scrabble way back when. It was delivered from Hasbro Interactive in real packaging with a CD and everything. Now it's $30 for just a download? That's tough to swallow.

But I might have actually bought it if I hadn't purchased Word Game a few months ago. With a little patience you can create a duplicate of the Scabble board layout, down to the colors. The only things it lacks are word definitions, pretty graphics, and AI which actually uses strategy instead of always playing the best word.

Jeff

I purchased Word Game last month. I configured the Scrabble board in about 15 minutes. It gives me a pretty good game on advanced. If it's AI used strategy rather than best word, it would whip me most of the time.

I think that I will use my $30 to buy something other than the offical Scrabble version.

[sponge]

Is there really a need for matchmaking software on such devices with limited users? I haven't seen a good one yet, zone.com is unstable, MPlayer = lag city, and GameSpy.. well.. the less said the better.

[yawanag]

I agree with eveyone who has posted. The price is outlandish! It's too bad that the the developers think we're made of money. I've had my PPC for a year now and I have paid more in software than what I paid for the unit to begin with.

I agree with all those who have WORD GAME. You can configure it in moments to do what SCRABBLE does for a lot less.

I'm hoping these developers will get REAL one day. My cut off for software is $19.99 and that has to be something functional like Banking Software, etc. Something I couldn't funtion without, but a game - GET REAL!

[danmanmayer]

I love scrabble. I really do. Do you? I was never very good at it and once i learned the real rules about adding "s's' and "er's" and such to words i couldn't score much but that is a dang fine family game. Giddy on!

[Brad Adrian]

Is there really a need for matchmaking software on such devices with limited users? I haven't seen a good one yet, zone.com is unstable, MPlayer = lag city, and GameSpy.. well.. the less said the better.

Good, because I have no idea what you just said. :)

[jeff]

I purchased Word Game last month. I configured the Scrabble board in about 15 minutes. It gives me a pretty good game on advanced. If it's AI used strategy rather than best word, it would whip me most of the time.

When I play on Advanced the computer usually can't come within 100 points of me. So I'm always on Expert and usually only win one in five or so games. You need a bit of luck and to always be defensive to win when the computer knows every word and will always play the highest point move. If there were different levels of expert, like on the PC version of Scrabble, then I'd kick it down a bit to where it's more even. But that alone doesn't justify the $30 when I've already dumped $15 on Word Game.

Jeff

[PPCRules]

This is the very kind of pricing that motivates people to find "workarounds" to overcome the limits on the trial version. Whereas at, say, $10, who would bother? Okay, some still would, but I think you get my point.

[PPCRules]

Was at Costco over the weekend. Super deluxe Scrabble game, hardwood, turntable, the works (not sure if dictionary was included, but I'd expect so): $28

So, no, the license fee to be "Official" is not the explanation for this price point.