Scrabble for iPhone gets a Facebook boost

Say the words 'Facebook' and 'Scrabble' in the same breath and you're likely to get the evil eye from fans of the lamented Scrabulous application that formerly called the social network its wordy home, even though the official game has made its way back onto Facebook. Despite the stomp job on the unofficial version from Hasbro The Hardnosed Holder of the copyright, the game is still addictive in analog, online and iPhone formats.

Now a new version of the iPhone Scrabble game, which previously permitted networked head-to-head play over WiFi, is giving players the option of using the Facebook Connect tools to play against friends far and wide. Announced today at the Game Developers Conference, the FBC-friendly build of the app requires you to add the Scrabble application on Facebook, then log in from the iPhone to connect the two. If you don't already own the iPhone app, it's $4.99US. Play can cross over between the web and iPhone versions of the game with no difficulty -- I'm loading it up as we speak and challenging my Facebook buddies (who are, without exception, better at Scrabble than I am) to a match or two.

We'll have a full rundown of GDC opening day iPhone news later on tonight.

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Source: http://www.eamobile.com/Web/US/en/mobile-game/PromotionActio…

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Say the words 'Facebook' and 'Scrabble' in the same breath and you're likely to get the evil eye from fans of the lamented Scrabulous...

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cinemec

Well you learn something every day. I wonder if Mattel will ever bring a scrabble worldwide app to the iphone.

March 25 2009 at 12:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cinemec

Not too far + wide... for some bizarre reason EA don't sell scrabble on the UK app store.

March 24 2009 at 9:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to cinemec's comment

Michael Rose

The reason is not so bizarre as all that: Hasbro doesn't own Scrabble worldwide, just in the US.

March 24 2009 at 10:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

umijin

I could care less about BS FB hooks. What a waste of coding time and resources.

The previous version of the game didn't even allow me to listen to my own audio while playing the game. Did they fix this glaring error?

And it always took 3 taps to play a game for me, as I never used quick play- too easy.

March 24 2009 at 9:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to umijin's comment

Dan Buckley

Yes they did. You can play with your own music finally. That kept me from playing it more. Now I can play with my own music and over the net.

March 26 2009 at 2:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Maurice Turner

I just "upgraded" today and overall the speed has improved, plus you get access to another dictionary (shit is now a valid word). BIG downside: Quick Play is gone. Now it takes 3 taps to start a game. I know EA wants to push Facebook, but it's another 3 taps to resume a saved game.
Tip: The volume for the start-up movie is controlled by your speaker volume, just play a song and turn the volume all the way down. Now you're set for the next time you start the app.

March 24 2009 at 8:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tyler

Not to mention I never want to play it due to the unnessarily loud startup sound. Doesn't matter if you have it on vibrate or the volume all the way down. Still starts up at full volume. Waste of $5...

March 24 2009 at 8:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Yeah, if it actually worked. Game locks up when you play a word.

March 24 2009 at 7:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply