Fun, true to game and sound. Poor accessibility.
This reviewer reminisces about Countdown on the TV, eagerly guessing words that I would start before the final letter is placed. Was always a challenge and also fun.
This game gives all the feels but it falls short on accessibility. Specifically, it’s unforgiving of any ‘slip of the hand’ and mistakes leads to the time running out. For example, accessibility considerations should be taken for those with developmental coordination disorders (between 5-10% of the population, usually mislabelled, life-long), who are usually very creative and could excel at the real game.
Improvement points, albeit no updates in 9 years:
1. Allow pause, it is more accessible. Cons about it being easier are moot if people want it paused all they need to do now is shift apps and it will go in standby.
2. Enable an undo button. Cons: none, if resolves mistakes and is one of the most basic of processes when using text or numbers.
3. Optional 5 seconds if a solution is already being typed, particularly numbers, but a mistake will give your right answer zero.
4. Enable voice typing and math speech recognition to truly be accessible.
Not making something accessible because it makes it easier for others without a condition is exclusionary and possibly discriminatory.
This game gives all the feels but it falls short on accessibility. Specifically, it’s unforgiving of any ‘slip of the hand’ and mistakes leads to the time running out. For example, accessibility considerations should be taken for those with developmental coordination disorders (between 5-10% of the population, usually mislabelled, life-long), who are usually very creative and could excel at the real game.
Improvement points, albeit no updates in 9 years:
1. Allow pause, it is more accessible. Cons about it being easier are moot if people want it paused all they need to do now is shift apps and it will go in standby.
2. Enable an undo button. Cons: none, if resolves mistakes and is one of the most basic of processes when using text or numbers.
3. Optional 5 seconds if a solution is already being typed, particularly numbers, but a mistake will give your right answer zero.
4. Enable voice typing and math speech recognition to truly be accessible.
Not making something accessible because it makes it easier for others without a condition is exclusionary and possibly discriminatory.
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Its great but nowhere near as easy as the tv version
There are obvious differences which are obviously not possible to replicate on an app from the original. What annoys me most are irritating nuances, like when you get a word as long as the computer has offered and it always mentions its own offering as the longest word possible????? Or when neither (myself or the computer) gets the conundrum, it states I (just me!)has not been successful. That computer never fails to misspell a word at any level?. These can be discouraging to people on lower levels. Not me 😁
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Could be so much better
This could be so much better, but almost every letter round, you get duplicate letters. It is constant, and more often than not you get. Ore than one set of duplicate letters, and often triple letters. It really should not happen that often. It has been the case since I started playing .
Also, the computer on hard mode is odd on the numbers game. Fails to solve simple solutions, but manages to solve really obscure ones. Not really reflecting reality.
Also, the computer on hard mode is odd on the numbers game. Fails to solve simple solutions, but manages to solve really obscure ones. Not really reflecting reality.
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Great practice!
It’s not quite the same as watching on the television with a trusty notepad and pen, and the numbers round takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s great practice and the different format makes your brain work in a slightly different way, which can only be a good thing. I usually pick the ‘hard’ setting, or occasionally ‘expert’ if I want to destroy my self-confidence (although I have beaten it once!)
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Poor making choices
The game is fun but way choose too slow. You have to have finished typing in word before time is up or fail and typing letters out takes far longer than writing it. So can end up a letter short. Also if you don’t press too accurately it misses on a phone costing more time. For numbers say use big number times number and realise adding number to big number gets closer. But if do everything in head often run out of time when type in. On paper can just scribble alterations. Would be better if could declare score for words and numbers and then write down solution. With say time for word and time for numbers. Or be able to use voice input…So say E V O L V E
Other thing it disqualifies words that are legitimate UNBUNGS
Other thing it disqualifies words that are legitimate UNBUNGS
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The best Countdown game available
I do enjoy playing this, but do also get frustrated when my massive thumbs press the wrong letter when I have seconds to go. I will add to the support for the request of a ‘not written down’ option, but, will add that it would be great to be able to say the word ‘dictation style’ as in real life. I’ll still give 5 stars though as there is no option for 4.5 😂
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Needs amends….
Great app but released without proper trials or, as clearly seen by other reviews, they’d have spotted two irritating problems. Firstly, the leaderboard doesn’t update when you increase your score which is annoying. Secondly, pulling the letters down to form a word takes time and then pressing submit to log the word sends all the letters back which is also irritating. Means you run out of time trying to pull letters to spell the word you find before end of time. So you realistically get the first 15/20 seconds. Same problem for numbers, you just don’t get chance to write it down. M clearly reviews prior flagging same problems but no update to fix. Shame really, only downloaded two days ago but it’s irritated me to stop using it.
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Dictionary problem
The app works well but the dictionary used to check words against often does not recognise many English words. For example amongst those I’ve had rejected as ‘not in the dictionary’ recently include AORTAL, MOUTHES, EXHALANT and REQUOTES…all in Oxford and other concise dictionaries. This is extremely frustrating, especially when the words it finds are often extremely obscure and sometimes exclusively American English and spelling.
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Very annoyingly slow game app
Must people complain abt the nit written down option but fail to realise that the app gives you a shuffle option and on-screen calculator which compensates for the real game.
My issue with this game manufacturer is that the the interval levels are so slow to switch between sections. Take the final conundrum for instance: you have to wait a couple of seconds for conundrum screen to show, then couple more seconds for results to be revealed it’s so frustrating. In some sections you can tap to speed things up but the reaction time of the game is frustratingly limited. The ability to whiz through quick games is essential and they failed in this objective.
My issue with this game manufacturer is that the the interval levels are so slow to switch between sections. Take the final conundrum for instance: you have to wait a couple of seconds for conundrum screen to show, then couple more seconds for results to be revealed it’s so frustrating. In some sections you can tap to speed things up but the reaction time of the game is frustratingly limited. The ability to whiz through quick games is essential and they failed in this objective.
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Uses US English words which is frustrating
Not a fan of the US English dictionary use; when doing the conundrum took me ages to get it because ‘vandalised’ was spelt incorrectly (for a Brit, anyway). Can we please have the option to choose dictionary?
Other than that - great game! Agree with others saying it would be good to have ‘not written down’ option. Or maybe iPad version allowing us to actually write using Apple Pencil. Think that would make it more realistic for me; I’m quicker when I can write them down.
Other than that - great game! Agree with others saying it would be good to have ‘not written down’ option. Or maybe iPad version allowing us to actually write using Apple Pencil. Think that would make it more realistic for me; I’m quicker when I can write them down.
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Great
This game is great it’s so much like the real tv show.
I like the fact you can practise or play alone.
The instructions are clear but I’ve found that on 5he numbers game the computer won’t let you finish using your numbers if you are going to be more than 10 points away from the total required .
It’s a really good game and apart from the above mentioned I can’t fault it.
I like the fact you can practise or play alone.
The instructions are clear but I’ve found that on 5he numbers game the computer won’t let you finish using your numbers if you are going to be more than 10 points away from the total required .
It’s a really good game and apart from the above mentioned I can’t fault it.
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Great though dictionary needs work
I am practising for the show and this app is generally very good. I agree with some other review comments I’ve read:
- would be good to skip through the 30 seconds when you have the solution early
- inadvisable to use the numbers like a calculator to guesstimate
- a 'not written down’ function with, say, 3 seconds to type in would be realistic
My main query is with the dictionary though. It’s generally fairly accurate to the ODE (I am cross-checking with Lexico) but it allows US spellings and ‘closed forms’ which are sometimes a bit dodgy. This gives the Expert CPU a clear advantage as would-be contestants don’t want to be looking for words that won’t be allowed on the show.
Otherwise, it’s very good indeed, and true to the spirit of the show.
- would be good to skip through the 30 seconds when you have the solution early
- inadvisable to use the numbers like a calculator to guesstimate
- a 'not written down’ function with, say, 3 seconds to type in would be realistic
My main query is with the dictionary though. It’s generally fairly accurate to the ODE (I am cross-checking with Lexico) but it allows US spellings and ‘closed forms’ which are sometimes a bit dodgy. This gives the Expert CPU a clear advantage as would-be contestants don’t want to be looking for words that won’t be allowed on the show.
Otherwise, it’s very good indeed, and true to the spirit of the show.
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Brilliantly recreates the quiz on your smartphone
This is so close to the TV game and the developers have done an incredible job trying to emulate that experience. It is extremely addictive, so be warned. The only slight differences from playing the actual game.... You can rely on the in-game calculator to do some of the maths for you so can get a little lazy doing the sums in your head and the game doesn’t allow for those words you think of on 30 seconds which you don’t get a chance to write down (same with the numbers game). Not sure how they could ever do this, though. Well done to the developers.
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Not written down
I am really enjoying the game but I agree with the reviewer who said the game needs a ‘not written down’ button or something when submitting found words. I often find words late, when there isn’t enough time to write them down. Please add this function. Only been playing the game for half a day so maybe I am not grasping the calculation process for the numbers either, but when solving the numbers during the TV show, I often make two separate calculations then synthesise them at the end, to reach a solution. Seems like the in-game calculation process does not allow for this method, which is annoying, unless I am missing something. These are my only gripes, otherwise the game is very enjoyable, thank you.
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Rigged
I played against expert level and used an official anagram dictionary solver online. The game doesn’t like it when you beat the higher levels. It lets the computer have the word “Sluggo” which it claimed was a singular word for “Sluggos” which apparently are some sort of men’s trunks?!? The dictionary used is a complete farce. May as well be able to use people’s names because it allows the computer to use the most nonsensical animal or personal names. I used the dictionary to make the word Lardass and apparently that isn’t in the dictionary?? Lol complete fix designed to help the computer win. The bot doesn't like losing. The CPU will struggle with words and only come up with 3/4 letter words like “Help” but always nail the numbers round with the most random of calculations. So the CPU is dreadful at English but an absolute maths genius. Absolute rip off and completely rigged to make the computer win. Rubbish
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7 letters not written down.
I enjoy playing this game.
One amendment I would like to see would be to have the “not written down” option. If you see an answer in the dying seconds of the round It can often be difficult & very frustrating to hit the right tiles. It would be good to be offered the chance for say an extra 5-10 seconds to put in an answer without pausing and have it count - just like they have on the tv show.
One amendment I would like to see would be to have the “not written down” option. If you see an answer in the dying seconds of the round It can often be difficult & very frustrating to hit the right tiles. It would be good to be offered the chance for say an extra 5-10 seconds to put in an answer without pausing and have it count - just like they have on the tv show.
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Great for practise
I’m also using this as practise for the real thing. It’s great for he word games - particularly as some words I assumed were in the OED are not. This is not fixed as some child suggested earlier (why on earth would it be? You don’t win anything!), just has a specific dictionary which is authentic to the show - although some words I do question! The numbers game I agree does calculations for you so makes it a little easier. Would be good to have a pause during the timer as well, an an interactive element so you can play with others online, but overall this is about as good as an app can get.
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Crucial practise
Great app to practise for the real thing. I was using it daily up u till my filming date and it helped a lot. One thing to bare in mind with the numbers game though is that it acts like a calculator for you, best thing to do is write the numbers down once they’re picked, close your phone and then work it out on paper.
Would be great of you could pause the clock, especially in practise mode, help you build up your time skills.
Will continue to play and train!
Would be great of you could pause the clock, especially in practise mode, help you build up your time skills.
Will continue to play and train!
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Not bad but...
Not bad, a little long (though follows the format of the game) however the two player version takes far too long as there is no option for two people to play a connected game on two different devices at the same time and it’s pretty clunky.
Also there are lots of words that DO exist in the English Oxford dictionary that the game says aren’t words (and follow the rules) pretty annoying given that the whole point is that it’s a maths & spelling game!
Also there are lots of words that DO exist in the English Oxford dictionary that the game says aren’t words (and follow the rules) pretty annoying given that the whole point is that it’s a maths & spelling game!
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Just like the real thing
This is a great rendition of the tv show, the graphics are as good as they can be for this game and the sound is true the tv show too. The numbers round can be the difference of winning and losing, at home looking at the tv and solving it is something I can normally do, but when you have to do it on the screen it is a little harder and nerving 😯 I would recommend the purchase if you like the tv show, or word games in general...great job on the app.
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