Scrabble (Mac)

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a 'New' Scrabble for the Macintosh
Review: For nearly a year, I had eagerly awaited the arrival of the new Scrabble II program for the Macintosh. The waiting period has finally ended and, for Mac gamers, the wait was very much worth it. Macsoft is the producer of the Scrabble program.

This new update of the Scrabble CD Rom crossword game is a vast improvement over the prior version. The graphics are superb; the color scheme is most enticing. The game is well organized; one can get right into the game without plowing through the program's instruction booklet. I do like the suggestions list for novices who are stumped for words to play. I also like the easy to use summary board of plays made during the prior game. For people who are a bit isolated and want to play with fellow humans around the globe, the game can be played via the Internet (gameranger.com). Still, the computer, named Maven, is a fierce competitor. Maven's game level can be adjusted with a quick click of the mouse. For those players who want to play at the tournament level (where timers are normally used), this program has settings for that level with timers.

The only comment on this program is that it takes quite a bit of memory. I had to bump up my Imac memory from 64 to (via virtual memory) to 72 meg. I also had to make sure that I closed my other programs. Otherwise I highly recommend this game. Scrabble lovers will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a 'New' Scrabble for the Macintosh
Review: For nearly a year, I had eagerly awaited the arrival of the new Scrabble II program for the Macintosh. The waiting period has finally ended and, for Mac gamers, the wait was very much worth it. Macsoft is the producer of the Scrabble program.

This new update of the Scrabble CD Rom crossword game is a vast improvement over the prior version. The graphics are superb; the color scheme is most enticing. The game is well organized; one can get right into the game without plowing through the program's instruction booklet. I do like the suggestions list for novices who are stumped for words to play. I also like the easy to use summary board of plays made during the prior game. For people who are a bit isolated and want to play with fellow humans around the globe, the game can be played via the Internet (gameranger.com). Still, the computer, named Maven, is a fierce competitor. Maven's game level can be adjusted with a quick click of the mouse. For those players who want to play at the tournament level (where timers are normally used), this program has settings for that level with timers.

The only comment on this program is that it takes quite a bit of memory. I had to bump up my Imac memory from 64 to (via virtual memory) to 72 meg. I also had to make sure that I closed my other programs. Otherwise I highly recommend this game. Scrabble lovers will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A winner
Review: I play this game on the new iBook (128 RAM; 10G). It may be necessary to restart your system before playing if you left the iBook on for many days without shutting it down. Otherwise Scrabble plays without a glitch.

The game is a joy to play. There are numerous modes (e.g., 2 or 3 letter words, anagrams, 'bingo' or 7 letter words, etc.); numerous set ups (one or many players, networking, human or computer players); and different levels of difficulty. Sometimes I play for the sole purpose of learning new words, in these sessions I use extensively the hint menu and the word suggestion menu. For a word lover it is pure joy.

The interface is beautiful--it is an excellent mix of the quaint traditional feel and possibilities of technology. Although different 'look and feel' are available from high tech, to desert, landscape, etc.

The game set up menu is a bit clunky (player selection, score summaries, etc.). Regardless this is a great design.

Highly recommended for all ages

Rating:
Summary: Scrabble for Macs
Review: This is a great way to play Scrabble if your partner doesn't play. It has a dictionary, word lists, and other guides. It would be nice if you could click once for a new game and not have go back to the menu and re-do your preferences. Another problem (with Macs) is, it crashes when interrupted by indexing and other automatic computer functions (updates, etc.) All in all it's an easy and fun way to squeeze a little Scrabble into your life, and to improve your game.

Rating:
Summary: Countless Hours of Fun for Scrabble-philes Eveywhere!
Review: This new, update version of Scrabble on CD-ROM is as entertaining as its' boardgame equivalent. Providing challenges that even the most professional players will find challenging, Scrabble is a great to kill free time or develop your vocabulary skills.

The addition of a dictionary, in addition to the games screen views only adds to the excitement that the boardgames lacks when it comes to design and usefulness. The people at Hasbro have done it again, and I am totally elated that they decided to release this updated version on CD-ROM.

So if you are a single player in look for some major competition, or want to compete with a friend online, Scrabble is your guarantee for an entertaining time. Add this to your shopping basket today, and see what I am raving about.

Rating:
Summary: Countless Hours of Fun for Scrabble-philes Eveywhere!
Review: This new, update version of Scrabble on CD-ROM is as entertaining as its' boardgame equivalent. Providing challenges that even the most professional players will find challenging, Scrabble is a great to kill free time or develop your vocabulary skills.

The addition of a dictionary, in addition to the games screen views only adds to the excitement that the boardgames lacks when it comes to design and usefulness. The people at Hasbro have done it again, and I am totally elated that they decided to release this updated version on CD-ROM.

So if you are a single player in look for some major competition, or want to compete with a friend online, Scrabble is your guarantee for an entertaining time. Add this to your shopping basket today, and see what I am raving about.

Rating:
Summary: Smart Scrabble
Review: This product is great for improving your Scrabble game, and it's also a lot of fun. You can play against 1-3 computer opponents with varying skill levels, or against real people. Unless you're in tournament mode, you can take advantage of features such as a word lister that generates suggestions for how to score the highest points with the tiles you have. There are also features such as instant summaries of letters remaining to be played.

My one annoyance is with the dictionary: it challenges some words you'd think it would accept, while accepting some words you'd think it would reject. If in doubt, doublecheck a word with it prior to finalizing your move, or add words to your own custom dictionary.

Overall, though, MacSoft's Scrabble exemplifies the benefits of converting a board game to software. No more tedious adding up points for tiles--the computer does it all for you!

Rating:
Summary: Smart Scrabble
Review: This product is great for improving your Scrabble game, and it's also a lot of fun. You can play against 1-3 computer opponents with varying skill levels, or against real people. Unless you're in tournament mode, you can take advantage of features such as a word lister that generates suggestions for how to score the highest points with the tiles you have. There are also features such as instant summaries of letters remaining to be played.

My one annoyance is with the dictionary: it challenges some words you'd think it would accept, while accepting some words you'd think it would reject. If in doubt, doublecheck a word with it prior to finalizing your move, or add words to your own custom dictionary.

Overall, though, MacSoft's Scrabble exemplifies the benefits of converting a board game to software. No more tedious adding up points for tiles--the computer does it all for you!

Rating:
Summary: A winner
Review: We finally succumbed to purchasing Scrabble for the computer before Christmas and promptly lost our seven year old son and houseguests to various parts of the house. Friends and acquaintances have become hooked too.

The game is positively additive. Both adjectives can be equally applied - which parent can complain when a child will sit for an hour playing a game that expands his vocabulary, spelling and strategy? Our vocabulary has been broadened too.

Although we give the game 5 stars overall, there are a couple of glitches that could be ironed out for better play. Maven (the computer player) is both judge and jury in game play and assumes that he, and he alone, knows all words. If he doesn't recognise a word opponents are instantly chalenged and loose their turn. There is no opportunity for "appeal" or the facility to educate the computer as you play. The custom dictionary feature is not entirely intuitive and can only be revised outside game play which gives the computer opponent a distinct advantage. One can avoid such conflicts by checking the on-screen dictionary before playing the word, but that's not really how the game is played.

The computer's suggestions for word play are slightly limited - it manages to see individual words, but lacks the breadth of perception to "see" stacked word play and the higher points that can be played in this manner. It also isn't particularly good on strategy.

These niggles aside, we are happy to give the game an unequivocal "two thumbs up". As a way to hone skills and play a game when either no-one else wants to or is available, it's great.

Rating:
Summary: Scrabble - a guilt-free use of time!
Review: We finally succumbed to purchasing Scrabble for the computer before Christmas and promptly lost our seven year old son and houseguests to various parts of the house. Friends and acquaintances have become hooked too.

The game is positively additive. Both adjectives can be equally applied - which parent can complain when a child will sit for an hour playing a game that expands his vocabulary, spelling and strategy? Our vocabulary has been broadened too.

Although we give the game 5 stars overall, there are a couple of glitches that could be ironed out for better play. Maven (the computer player) is both judge and jury in game play and assumes that he, and he alone, knows all words. If he doesn't recognise a word opponents are instantly chalenged and loose their turn. There is no opportunity for "appeal" or the facility to educate the computer as you play. The custom dictionary feature is not entirely intuitive and can only be revised outside game play which gives the computer opponent a distinct advantage. One can avoid such conflicts by checking the on-screen dictionary before playing the word, but that's not really how the game is played.

The computer's suggestions for word play are slightly limited - it manages to see individual words, but lacks the breadth of perception to "see" stacked word play and the higher points that can be played in this manner. It also isn't particularly good on strategy.

These niggles aside, we are happy to give the game an unequivocal "two thumbs up". As a way to hone skills and play a game when either no-one else wants to or is available, it's great.