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An Infinite Loops contest version
of a Parker Brothers classic

Install (uses an MSI installation file)

Source Code

Equipment:

• One computer. (Duh! But you have that seeing as how you are viewing this file.)

Object:

• To list, within 3 minutes, as many words of the highest point value as you can find among the random assortment of displayed letters on the form.

Preparation:

• When you wish to start a new game, click on the ‘New Board’ button. (Below the ‘Accept’ and ‘Reset’ buttons) From that point, you have three minutes.

Playing:

• When the timer starts, find as many words of at least three words as possible within three minutes. Click on the displayed letters to select them. When you have your word, click ‘Accept.’ If you mess up, hitting ‘Reset’ will deselect the letters that you have selected so far, but all of your previously identified words will remain.
• If you know you have a word, but it isn’t accepted, you can have the program check an on-line dictionary by checking the ‘Verify incorrect words on-line?’ checkbox then hitting ‘Accept’ again. This process is not very quick, so use it sparingly.
• Words are formed from adjoining letters. Letters must join in the proper sequence to spell a word. They may join horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, to the left, right, or up-and-down. No letter cube, however, may be used more than once within a single word.

Take the following board:

Types of words allowed:

• Any word (noun, adjective, adverb, etc.) is acceptable as long as it can be found in a standard English dictionary. Plural nouns are allowed, as are all verb tenses. Words within words are also permissible; e.g., spare: spa, par, are, spar, pare.
• There are two dictionaries available. The primary one is stored locally, so it’s access is very quick. Words are verified against this dictionary first. Optionally, you can have words that fail the local dictionary be verified against an on-line, web-based dictionary. This process is slower, but the dictionary is more complete. Words found in the on-line dictionary are appended to the local file, so future uses of that word can be found quickly. You will not be able to add a word that fails both dictionaries to your word list, hit ‘Reset’ and find more words.

Scoring and Winning:

• When the timer runs out, you are done. You will only be able to start a new game, or, if the score was in the top ten on this computer, you can save your score, and the Board Number for future bragging rights.
• Your score is based upon the number of words that you have found and their lengths. One or two letter words aren’t worth the effort so they will not be accepted. Three and four letter words score one point. Five and six letter words score two and three points respectively. Seven letter words score five points and any word with more letters (good luck) scores eleven points.
• You are playing with…erm…by yourself and previous players. Unless you specify the board, each game will be different. (OK, that’s not, strictly, an accurate statement but the odds, if I’ve done my math correctly, which is nowhere near assured, is about 1 in (a mind-numbingly high number). My head hurts!)

Things to Remember:

• Always look for the line on each cube, this represents the bottom of the letter. (What, you didn’t think that the letters would all be right side up, did you?)
• Acceptable words are those found in the dictionaries. Unless your parents are watching, you can try any word you see. Just remember, certain titillating words may only bring one point, while the word titillating will bring eleven.
• The same word, formed by the combination of different cubes, will not be accepted. After all, THE is THE is THE. TWO, however is not TOO.
• The "Qu" cube counts as two letters.
• Full credit is awarded for both the singular and plural forms of a noun - provided that the player has listed them as separate words.

If you like this effort and want to drop me a line of praise, visit the Infinite Loops forum and send the message to Norseman.

If you are not pleased with this work, or are a lawyer retained by Parker Brothers to sue me for all I’m worth, my name is William Gates. (For those that don’t see the farce of this last comment for what it is, seek professional therapeutic help soon.)