Scrabble was first introduced back in 1938. I am appalled by the recent announcement that the game will be changing the rules when the newest edition is released this summer. You cannot have a game for 72 years and suddenly decide to change the basic rules of play. That’s just not right, people! The game will end much faster since there are now more words you can use. It will also (in my eyes, at least) make the game too easy to play. What happened to the challenge?

I’m referring, of course, to the fact that Scrabble will now allow players to use proper nouns when coming up with their winning words. The names of people, places, companies and brands will now count. Mattel is hoping to attract younger players with this move, citing the fact that the younger generation tends to have a smaller vocabulary than adults do.

A spokeswoman for the company said the use of proper nouns would “add a new dimension” to Scrabble and “introduce an element of popular culture into the game”. The company believe that all of the new twists and turns included in this release will keep existing players happy while attracting new (and younger?!) ones to the brand.

I will let the jury stay out on this one until I play it for myself. I’m happy to see that Mattel still plans to sell a version of the game that will adhere to the old rules. Grab your dictionaries… that’s the way we roll with Scrabble in my house.