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.

Scrabble Rules Change Will Allow Proper Nouns

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What do you do if you want to play something like Checkers, Chess or Backgammon over Wifi on your iPhone? And of course, you only have five dollars on you. How can you manage? Thankfully, there’s a perfect app to fit your need. Using Astraware Board Games, you can play any of eight games with your friends, right from your iPhone.

Test your skills while playing Chess, Backgammon, Ludo, Checkers, Reversi, Nine Men’s Morris, Snakes and Ladders, and Tic Tac Toe. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an Expert, this app will be perfect for you. Simply touch your game piece and move it where you want it to go. Or shake the iPhone to roll the dice!

Astraware Board Games is perfect for families to enjoy together. Many of the games include customizable rules and a range of difficulty levels, but designed with casual players and non-experts in mind. Play against the computerized players, against friends using “hotseat” multiplayer on your iPhone, or against a friend on two separate devices using a local Wi-Fi connection.

For only five dollars, it’s silly not to have this App. You can play against the computer when you are stuck somewhere without an Internet connection, bored out of your mind. Or you can gather your friends, and see who can manage to outwit whom. Either way, you’ll have hours of fun.

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