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Diabolically Arcane

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App-raisal

30 March, 2012

Hands up if you’re addicted to Words With Friends? So far I’ve resisted the urge – largely due to the hobby merging too closely with my day-job. Having said that, I’ve been toying with a new plaything available at the iStore called Words Deluxe.

Shaped around a Target-like scramble of 9-letter words, from PORCUPINE to NIGHTMARE, the game is about speed and composure, finding the mojo to snap up the biggun, and other lengthy specimens before the clock crashes the party.

(So far, the only nine to blot the copybook is a blend of DAMTAILOR. You got it yet?)

The chief designer is Roberto Parlavecchio. Not sure if he’s the hepcat responsible for the chilled jazz soundtrack, but the four varying modes of Casual, Challenge, Mad Minute and Two Player work well. The damage is a meagre $2 – cheaper than iced water at The Ivy – and the diversion potential is unlimited.

What about you lot? Any apps keeping your wordy selves happy? Or maybe the gizmo has zip to do with verbs and maladroit – your answer. No matter – share your app-robations here.

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Rewording The Brain

Focus & memory, lateral leaps & logic - every aspect of cognitive health is lit in Rewording The Brain, a book revelling in how puzzles boost your brain. Part 2 equips your brain to conquer any twisty clue, plus the wild crossword finale. Pop science meets neural gameplay, Rewording is rewarding, and out now.

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Rewording The Brain

Care to renew your noodle? Rewording The Brain explores the latest neural studies, seeing how puzzles (and twisty clues) boost your neurons. Part 2 helps you crack such clues, and prep the grey matter for the crossword showcase to finish. More here

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101 Weird Words (and 3 Fakes)

From Ambidextrous to Zugwang, this mini-dictionary teems with rare or alluring words, plus bonus riddles, puzzles and fun word-facts. Dictionary detective will also nab the collection's three fakes. Ideal for late primary schoolers, or word-nuts in general.

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Gargantuan Book of Words

Sneeze words. Fake pasta. Viking slang. Gargantuan is a jumbo jumble of puzzles & games, mazes & quizzes, tailor-made for that wordy wonderkid in your life. Or anyone in love with letters, secret codes, puns, rhymes, emoji & all things languagey. More here 

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Recent Comments

Riddledom Rave

If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
Just the handy stuff, like FAQ and EUW
I mean, WTF?! No way
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