I have added the ability to play with custom word lists within WordLord. Users can simply deposit lists of words to the <external storage>/WordLord/ directory on their Android device and play with any words or phrases that they would like. The desired word lists can be selected when a game is started:
I have also added the ability for the developer (me) to easily add additional word lists to the game's .APK file. These word lists can be released in future updates of the game.
Next, I have done some some research on user interfaces of games similar to Hasbro Inc.'s Electronic Catch Phrase ™. Below are some screenshots:
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| The original game |
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| PhoneFraze (11,000 - 55,000 downloads, including 1,000 - 5,000 paid downloads at $3.99) |
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| Phrase Party! (51,000 - 105,000 downloads, including 1,000 - 5,000 paid downloads at $1.99) |
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| Buzzword Frenzy (unknown amount of downloads) |
Out of all the games, the latter (Buzzword Frenzy) seems to have the best user interface. However, Buzzword Frenzy is an iPhone game. I would like to mimic its sleekness in my application, perhaps in a simpler way. I believe that I can use 9-patch PNG images in order to create the sleek interface that elegantly frames its elements. Thus, I will have to perform some research in this area. I also enjoyed the game's website,
http://www.buzzwordfrenzy.com. Should I make a website for WordLord, I can refer to Buzzword Frenzy's page for inspiration.
Sources for UI images:
Below are some notes I took regarding the UI topic for WordLord:
- What is an appropriate frame for UI?
- Metal, wood, desk-like?
- Frills?
- Simple?
- Should the game have a shadow?
- Paper that's tearing?
- Font choice for current word - is there anything better?
- Timer - put in frame?
- Application name - how to make it cool looking?
- Celebrate the current word
I have set a goal that I would like to achieve by the end of the Smartphone Development II class - place WordLord on the Google Play store. I plan to charge $1.99 for the full version of the game. I may create a demo with a word list of around 900 words. I believe that WordLord has a nice set of features and options that differentiates it from the currently available Catch-Phrase-like games. For example, no game uses the device's sensors to accept the shake gesture and no game keeps score automatically.
I should not run into any copyright-related problems. According to
FL-108, "copyright does not protect the idea for a game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it. Nor does copyright protect any idea, system, method, device, or trademark material involved in developing, merchandising, or playing a game."
Research - not much of it exists on the topic of word guessing games. I do not believe that research of papers dealing with word guessing games will affect the outcome of my project. It would be more useful for me to have groups of people try each of the Catch-Phrase-like applications, including WordLord, and tell me what they like or dislike about them. This sort of feedback can help me differentiate my application in a positive manner and create a successful game that many want to play.
