ScrabbleWordFinder
Word Games and Technology
Word puzzles or games are defined as any game that involves the formulation, discovery, or alteration of words. Often, the games are devised to challenge a personal knowledge of language and provide mental stimulation. In addition to being a dose of entertainment, word games and puzzles have also been used for educational purposes. For instance, the board game Scrabble can be used to help language learners practice and increase their vocabulary. Some teachers use word games to help improve literacy.
Online Word Games and Puzzles
There are various types of word games and puzzles that are played through different mediums such as pen and paper, board games, and video games. Today, the most popular word games can be found online. This can be caused by several factors. One reason is affordability as many online word games can now be played for a cheap price or even for free. Another reason is accessibility. Playing word games can now be done on a desktop PC, laptop, or smartphone. The Internet has also enabled players to access a game anytime, anywhere. The variety of opponents existing over the internet is also a factor. Having the ability to play with different opponents from around the world makes each game uniquely challenging and fresh. The growth of mobile technology has also led to the rise in popularity of online word games and puzzles. Another factor that has influenced the popularity of online word games such as (Scrabble|Words With Friends) is the ability to play against multiple people (simultaneously|at the same time) and at your own pace.
The most popular word games online are usually classic board games on a mobile platform or those that have been revised to add a twist to a classic game. One of the top 5 popular word games is Words With Friends, a game that is available to play on Facebook or on a smartphone. It has around 18.3 million users as of March 2012 according to ComScore, a digital metrics company. According to Zynga, the creator of the game, there are 4.8 million games completed every day and over 3.5 million words played per hour (as of December 2011). Scrabble has also had resurgence in popularity recently because people are now able to play it online and on their phones. Another popular online word game is Hanging with Friends which is the Hangman game with a twist.
Online Word Game Cheats
Because of the popularity of these games, it may have been inevitable that there will also be an increase in the development of word game cheats. Game helper tools such as Words With Friends Cheat and Scrabble Word Finder help players find words that will garner them the highest amount of points or those that would help them strategically win the game. These software cheats have slowly gained popularity as the number of players rise in number. In one event in 2011, a form of Scrabble Cheat tournament took place for charity where players can donate money to 826 NYC and gain the ability to cheat in the game. While these cheats have become popular, there are a number of people voicing out their concerns. Schools in Indonesia are prohibiting cell phones because these software cheats may enable students to cheat in classes. Others are worried that the popularity of such helpers can lead students to believe that cheating in school is acceptable. Whether these are valid concerns or not, it has yet to place any influence on the popularity of cheating in online word games and puzzles.
