Think, think, think. You need a word and fast. Can you use the Q? Does it work? You're only down by 10 points. You need a word that will put you far ahead of the other person. You go for the word "blab." On a triple word stacked next to another word. That earned you 70 points ensuring that you will possibly beat your opponent. But now, you have to do it all over again with someone else.
This is a common example of what happens when playing the game "Words With Friends." It's a challenging game played on the iPhone or iPod touch, as long as said iPhone or iPod's operating system is updated through iTunes. You just go to the App Store and search for the game. There are two versions you can get: free and premium. The free version of Words With Friends does contain advertisements that pop up after each move played on the board. If you want your games to be ad-free though, you can purchase the premium version for $2.99.
There really are no differences between the free and premium version of the game with the exception of the advertisements. The board looks like a basic scrabble board, although double and triple word and double and triple letter scoring are scattered about. Individuals can communicate with their opponents by tapping the chat button. There is a games menu where people can keep tack of all of their games, including past games. Individuals can play up to 20 opponents at a time. Most of the time, they will play with people they know. Trista Casey, a University of Central Arkansas graduate, said she plays with her boyfriend, four friends, and four random opponents.
Games can go as fast or as slow as people would like. Although for some it can cause a problem. "I don't like how slow it is," said OU student Joshua Jennings. "People take too long to play their next move. Scrabble is better because I can play the computer and it will get right back to me." Most people play in between classes, during downtime at work, or on days when they have absolutely nothing to do. But, that's the beauty in having a game like Words With Friends. It's a touch and go game that requires no time limit. That's why it's so easy to get swept up in a game or 12. Most of the time, once someone plays Words With Friends, they're hooked and want to find more people to play with. This is when they tell their friends. It's a healthy dose of competition between each other with no hard feelings at the end. It's just a game, created to stimulate minds and make people think. "Several of my friends told me about Words With Friends and I didn't want to get it for the longest time," said freshman Valerie Riley. "But then I got it and I have been hooked ever since." Networking has cause the game to be #19 on the top 100 paid apps and # 35 on the top 100 free apps on the iTunes store.
For some though, finding words just doesn't come very easily. But on the official Words With Friends website people can find the official dictionary and rule book. Also, there are many apps now that help people find words, which some consider cheating. There are about nine apps found that will help people find the best words for them. All of them can be purchased for less than two dollars. But most opponents prefer people to not use them. It's about actually thinking and trying out words, not just searching for one on an app or a website. "I sometimes ask my friends for help if they are interested, but most of the time, I just try and come up with words on my own," said Casey. "I don't use websites or dictionaries."
Aside from issues with cheating, words with friends is an enjoyable game to play. It can get highly addicting and it could cause someone to want to play for hours on end. It will cause them to sit at the edge of their seat waiting for their opponent's next move. It could be seconds, minutes, hours, or maybe even days before a move is played. But that doesn't stop people for waiting. If anything, they can just start another game.
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