Words In Action
Word puzzles, wordplay, word games. Collectively, an infinite world of diversions awaits, whether you prefer paper or pixels.
Do you remember an arcade video game called Break-out? I stumbled upon a version that uses colorful words instead of bricks. The concept and gameplay are the same. My reflexes aren't what they used to be, but this was a blast of nostalgia!
Now, how about an infinite rabbit hole within our infinite word game universe? If I send you to Neal.fun, please come back to this newsletter! LOL
Infinite Craft is a battle between you and the word merging AI that turns Fire and Sand into Glass.
Amazingly, you start with just four elements. As you combine them in different ways, you start to get a sense of what should happen. However, the AI doesn't always cooperate so, if you stick with it long enough, you figure out different ways to craft the desired object. For example, after creating just 27 items, I was able to make a penguin by combining an Iceberg with sushi!
Finally, let's return to the saner world of the printed word. Vocabulary, your personal collection of known words in one or more languages, determines how hard it is to do certain quizzes, play Scrabble and complete crossword puzzles. Some puzzles require that you understand the meaning of the words, while others reward you for just recognizing words.
I find all forms of word puzzles to be fascinating. I'm always trying to make up new, weird and wonderful ways to challenge your vocabulary. About a dozen years ago, I wrote a series designed to help you improve your Scrabble vocabulary. It was titled Scrabble Sunday. The articles are still there, if you want to dive in!
By the way, you can practice your Scrabble-fu with my online game, Rack Rush.
Enjoy the puzzles.
