Games PC SCRABBLE ONLINE User Manual
®
TABLE OF CONTENTS
First Things First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
The ReadMe File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
In-Game Help System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Setup and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Saving and Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Welcome to the
Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Player Login . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Standard
Game Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Basic Game Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
SCRABBLE
Game Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Word Lister Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
SCRABBLE®Online
SCRABBLE
Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Game Rules (General) . . . . . . . . . . .11
2
Game . . . . .5
Game Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Mini-Games Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Personal Trainer Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Custom Dictionaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Player Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Timers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Tournament Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
LAN Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Email
SCRABBLE
GameSpy
Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Atari Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
End-User License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
SCRABBLE
Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The ReadMe File
The
SCRABBLE®Online
License Agreement and updated information about the game. We strongly encourage you to read this
file in order to benefit from changes made after this manual went to print. To view this file, double-click
on it in the
Scrabble Online). You can also view the ReadMe file by first clicking on the Start button on your
Windows®taskbar, then on Programs, then on Atari, then on Scrabble Online, and then on the ReadMe file.
SCRABBLE Online
In-Game Help System
This manual complements the in-game Help system, which you can access by clicking on the HELP
button in the Main Menu or in the Menu Bar at the top of the game screen. The Help system also
includes a glossary of
System Requirements
Operating System: Windows®98/98SE/Me/2000/XP
Processor: Pentium®II 400 MHz or faster
Memory: 128 MB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 600 MB Free
CD-ROM Drive: 8X Speed
Video: 4 MB Windows®98/98SE/Me/2000/XP-compatible SVGA video card*
Sound: Windows®98/98SE/Me/2000/XP-compatible sound card*
DirectX®: DirectX version 9.0 (included) or higher
Multiplayer: For online play via GameSpy: 56 Kbps connection or faster and
*
Indicates device should be compatible with DirectX®version 9.0 or higher.
CD-ROM game has a ReadMe file where you can view both the End-User
game directory found on your hard drive (usually C:\Program Files\Atari\
SCRABBLE
game terms.
Internet access.
For LAN play: Ethernet card and LAN with TCP/IP protocols
For Voice Chat: Headset with microphone
3
SETUP AND INSTALLATION
1. Start Windows®98/98SE/Me/2000/XP.
2. Insert the
3. If AutoPlay is enabled, a title screen should appear. If AutoPlay is not enabled, or the installation
4. Follow the remainder of the on-screen instructions to finish installing the
5. Once installation is complete, click on the Start button on the Windows®taskbar and choose
Note: You must have the
Installation of DirectX
The
SCRABBLE Online
DirectX®9.0 or higher installed on your computer, click “Yes” to accept the DirectX®9.0 License
Agreement. This will then launch the DirectX®9.0 Install.
SCRABBLE Online
does not start automatically, click on the Start button on your Windows®taskbar, then on Run.
Type D:\Setup and click on OK. Note: If your CD-ROM drive is assigned to a letter other than D,
substitute that letter.
CD-ROM game.
Programs/Atari/Scrabble Online/game to start the game.
CD-ROM requires DirectX®9.0 or higher in order to run. If you do not have
CD-ROM game disc into your CD-ROM drive.
SCRABBLE Online
®
game disc in your CD-ROM drive to play.
SCRABBLE Online
SAVING AND LOADING
A game in progress (except for LAN or GameSpy games) may be saved. When you click on SAVE (from
the Main Menu on the Menu Bar), a grid listing dates and names of saved games appears. Click on
OKAY to save your game using the default name, or click on the default name and type in a new name.
You can click on an old saved game to write over it.
Note: It is not necessary to save a finished game in order for the
it. All games completed under a given Player Profile are stored in memory and thus can be reviewed
with the Analyze Your Play feature. You need to save a game only if you have not finished it and wish
to return to it later.
To Load a saved game, highlight the game you wish to load and then click on OKAY.
4
SCRABBLE Online
game to “remember”
WELCOME TO THE SCRABBLE®ONLINE GAME
Now there’s always a
meet players of all levels for spellbinding online tournament games. Sharpen your skills with solo play,
Email matches and Mini-Games… then join the growing
SCRABBLE
game to play! With the
SCRABBLE Online
SCRABBLE
game community, day or night!
game, you can
MAIN MENU
The Main Menu screen appears when you start the
Online
game. Placing the cursor over some of the menu choices
reveals further choices.
The Main Menu choices are also available from the Menu Bar
that appears at the top of the screen during gameplay. The
Main Menu offers the following choices:
Start New Game – Start a new Standard
(1-4 players at the same computer). Note: Any time you use Start New Game, you must go through the
Player Login. If you just want to start a new match with the current players and Game Preferences from
within an existing game, click on the Restart Game button.
Play Online – Choose LAN, GameSpy or Email play (see pages 34-39 for details).
SCRABBLE Mini-Games – Choose one of four Mini-Games (see pages 22-27 for details).
Personal Trainer – Improve your
for details).
Options – Adjust Audio Options, customize Styles, manage Custom Dictionaries, set up Voice Chat, and
view Player Records and Credits. See Options on pages 19-20 for details.
Resume Last Game – Return to the last game you were playing in the current gaming session.
Load Game – Load a saved game in progress.
SCRABBLE
SCRABBLE
SCRABBLE
game
game skills with challenging activities (see pages 27-29
5
Help – Get assistance with all aspects of the game.
Minimize – Minimize your
other applications from your desktop.
Quit Game – Exit the
SCRABBLE Online
SCRABBLE Online
game so that you can keep it running while working on
game.
PLAYER LOGIN
Whenever you start a
Mini-Games or Personal Trainer menus, you must log in so that
game statistics are stored under the correct name/Player Profile.
Click on the left and right arrows to scroll through all available
Player Profiles, each with a different name. Each Profile stores
ratings and number of wins. You may create as many individual
Profiles as you wish.
Click on an existing Profile to select it. That player name will appear in the Name Box above the
Player Profiles.
Add New Player – Select this choice when you wish to create a new Player Profile. The cursor
appears in the Name Box. Type a new name and then click on OKAY.
Delete Player – Delete the Player Profile that is currently highlighted and showing in the Name Box.
Player Options – Select this to choose player-specific options (see more under Options on page 19).
Okay – Click on this to confirm the player name in the Name Box. The first player to log in is Player #1,
the second player is Player #2, etc.
After you select Okay, an “Add More Players or Press Play” window opens. If you are playing solo, without even using a computer opponent, click on PLAY now. If you wish to add more players, computer or
human, you may now do so.
SCRABBLE
game of any kind, or go to the
Add Human Player – If you select this, you are returned to the previous dialogue box. You may now
select an existing Profile for Player #2 or create a new one. Repeat these steps for Player #3 and Player
#4, if using three or four players.
Add Computer Player – After you click on this, you must choose the difficulty level of your computer
opponent. Maven is the name of the game’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) system. You may choose one of
12 preset challenge levels or “Custom.” The Custom choice allows you to manually set the numerical
rating of your Maven opponent. (See Player Ratings on page 33.) The numerical ratings for the preset
Maven choices are as follows: 2,100 Deity; 2,000 World Champion; 1,850 Master; 1,700 Pro; 1,550
Expert; 1,400 Hotshot; 1,250 Veteran; 1,100 Competitor; 950 Tourney Player; 800 Casual Player; 650
Apprentice; 500 Beginner.
Click on OKAY to assign Maven as the next player in order.
Note: You can have up to three Maven opponents, each playing at its own level of expertise. You can
also play with a mix of human players and Maven players.
Game Preferences – Set global preferences for the game, including Auto Challenge or use of Timers.
These choices affect all players. If you do not choose Game Preferences, the game starts with default
settings.
Note: Once a game has begun, you cannot change the Game Preferences.
Play – When you have selected or created all of the players desired (from 1 to 4), click on PLAY to start
the game.
STANDARD SCRABBLE GAME
The Standard
This can be played with 1-4 players, using any combination of human and computer players. If more
than one human player is playing, the “hot seat” method is used. That is, the player whose turn it is sits
at the keyboard and operates the game. There are no special keys assigned to each player. Each player
uses the same commands and keys when it is his or her turn.
SCRABBLE
game is a single-player or multiplayer game that is played on a single computer.
6
7
To Start a New Game:
The first step is the Player Login (see page 6). You must first create or select a Player Profile.
See
SCRABBLE
rules for playing the
sic board game, adapted slightly for the computer.
To learn more about how to physically play the game and use the game’s interface, see Game Screen
below, Basic Game Mechanics (pages 9-11) and/or Game Buttons (pages 14-17).
To learn more about the horizontal Menu Bar at the top of the game screen, see Menu Bar on pages 19-20.
Game Rules (General) on pages 11-14 if you wish to learn or review the general
SCRABBLE
game. The
SCRABBLE Online
game follows the same rules as the clas-
GAME SCREEN
The
SCRABBLE Online
1. The horizontal Menu Bar at the top of the screen.
2. The Player Display(s) to the left of the Game Board. These
contain running information about each player, including
name, current score, last word score, and time remaining
(if Timer mode is enabled) for the player taking a turn.
3. The Game Board. In the Standard
consists of empty squares for placing tiles and a text box at the bottom of the board that displays
turn-based game information, such as the current point value of the word being formed.
4. The Game Buttons. In the Standard
PASS/PLAY, RESTART, EXCHANGE, TILES, TOOLS and (in certain situations) CHALLENGE. See pages
14-17 for more about the Game Buttons.
5. The Tile Rack. This contains the player’s current letter tiles. There are usually seven letter tiles in the
rack at the start of a turn, but toward the end of the game, there may be fewer tiles.
Main Game Screen consists of:
SCRABBLE
game, this
SCRABBLE
game, these buttons are SHUFFLE/TAKE BACK,
BASIC GAME MECHANICS
To learn about the general rules and scoring of the game, see
SCRABBLE
ing section describes the mechanics of the computer version of the
game; it does not offer a comprehensive look at the game rules.
Picking or drawing new letter tiles for your rack can be done in
two ways:
Letter tiles may be placed on the board in two ways:
When you have formed a word on the board that you wish to play, click on PLAY or press Enter on
your keyboard.
Game Rules (General) on pages 11-14. The follow-
“Manually” – In default mode, players select the tiles
manually. To select a tile, click on any of the face-down tiles in the Tile Selection Screen. The Tile
Selection Screen opens automatically when it is a player’s turn to pick new tiles. The player selects
one to seven tiles, depending upon how many are needed to replenish his or her rack.
Auto Pick – When you enable Auto Pick from the Player Options menu (see Options on pages
19-20), the game automatically and randomly selects your new tiles for you from the available Tile
Pool. You can also activate Auto Pick from the Tile Selection Screen. Once Auto Pick is enabled for
a player, that player no longer sees the Tile Selection Screen.
Drag and Drop – Click on a tile in your rack and drag it to an empty square on the board. Click a
second time to release the tile into the highlighted square. Tiles may be returned to the rack in the
same manner.
Typing – First, click on the square where you wish to begin a word. Clicking once makes a rightfacing arrow appear (for horizontal words). Clicking twice makes a down-facing arrow appear
(for vertical words). You can only type a word that uses the letters currently in your rack. As you
type each letter, the corresponding tile disappears from your rack and appears on the board. Press
Enter on your keyboard to play the word. Press Backspace on your keyboard to “erase” a letter.
8
9
If you are playing solo or against only computer opponents or if Auto Challenge is enabled, Maven checks to
see if your word is acceptable. If the word is unacceptable, the tiles you placed on this turn are returned to
your rack. You score no points on this turn.
If Auto Challenge is not enabled, then your word is counted, whether or not it is acceptable. You
receive full point value for this “word” unless an opponent CHALLENGES the word successfully (see
more below).
If you cannot play or do not wish to play a word on your turn, you have two options:
Pass – Click on PASS. Your turn is forfeited, and play passes to the next player. You score no
points for this turn.
Exchange Tiles – Click on EXCHANGE and select whichever tiles you wish to exchange (from one
to seven), then click on DONE. New tiles are selected and play passes to the next player. You score
no points for this turn.
Use the SHUFFLE buttons to rearrange tiles in your rack. Changing the order of tiles can help you see
new word possibilities.
Click on TAKE BACK to take back all tiles placed thus far on this turn. Until you click on PLAY, you can
always take back all tiles you have placed on the board. Tiles taken back simply return to your rack.
To Challenge an opponent’s last play, click on the red CHALLENGE button at the right of the game board
when your turn has begun. Maven checks the opponent’s word for validity (using the
— Official Word List).
If the opponent’s word is found to be unacceptable, then you win the challenge. The opponent’s tiles
are automatically removed from the board and returned to his or her rack. The points for that “word” are
subtracted from the opponent’s score. If the word is found to be acceptable, you lose the challenge
and lose your turn (provided you have checked Challenge Penalty in Game Preferences).
Note: The Challenge Button never appears when you are playing alone or with computer players OR if
Auto Challenge is enabled.
SCRABBLE
OWL
Blank Tiles can be used as any letter. Place the blank tile in the square where you wish to use it, and
then select the letter that you wish to use in its place. The chosen letter appears on the board in red.
Until you click on PLAY, you can remove the blank tile and use it again in a different location or as a different letter. Once a blank has been successfully PLAYED, it represents the selected letter for the rest of
the game. Note: To use a blank tile while typing, type the letter you wish to use for the blank.
SCRABBLE GAME RULES (GENERAL)
There are 100 letter tiles in the Tile Pool, including two blank tiles. For information about letter distribution within the 100 tiles (and other tile info), click on TILES at the bottom of the game board (see Tiles
on pages 15-16).
All words labeled as a part of speech (including those listed as being of foreign origin, and as archaic,
obsolete, colloquial, slang, etc.) are permitted with the exception of the following: words always capitalized, abbreviations, prefixes and suffixes standing alone, and words requiring a hyphen or an apostrophe.
Play order is based on the order in which players log in (the player who logged in first goes first).
Gameplay
1. The first player combines two or more of his or her letters to form a word and places it on the board
to read either across or down with one letter on the center square. Diagonal words are not allowed.
2. Complete your turn by clicking on PLAY (or pressing Enter on your keyboard). Then draw as many
new letters as you played in that turn (see Basic Game Mechanics on pages 9-11) or let the
game Auto Pick new tiles for you.
3. The second player, and then each player in turn, adds one or more letters to those already played to
form new words. All letters played on a turn must be placed in one row across or down the board,
to form at least one complete word. If, at the same time, the letters touch other letters in adjacent
rows, those must also form complete words, crossword fashion, with all such letters. The player
gets full credit for all words formed or modified on his or her turn.
10
11
4. New words may be formed by:
Adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board.
Placing a word at a right angle to a word already on the board. The new word must use one of
the letters already on the board or must add a letter to the pre-existing word. (See Turns 2, 3
and 4 under Scoring Examples on page 14).
Placing a complete word parallel to a word already played so that adjacent letters also form
complete words. (See Turn 5 under Scoring Examples on page 14.)
5. Blanks: The two blank tiles may be used as any letters. When playing a blank, you must select the
letter that it represents. It remains that letter for the rest of the game.
6. You may use a turn to exchange all, some, or none of the letters in your rack. To do this, click on
EXCHANGE, and then click on the tiles you wish to exchange (up to all 7), and then click on DONE.
This ends your turn.
7. Any play may be challenged by the next player (unless Auto Challenge is enabled; see Game
Preferences on pages 20-21). If the play challenged is unacceptable, the challenged player takes
back his or her tiles and loses those points. If the play challenged is acceptable, the challenger
loses his or her turn. All words made in one play are challenged simultaneously. If any word is
unacceptable, then the entire play is unacceptable. Only one turn is lost on any challenge. See
Game Screen on page 8 for more details.
8. The game ends when all letters have been drawn and one player uses his or her last letter; or
when all players
pass
three times in a row.
Scoring
1. The score value of each letter is indicated by a number at the bottom of the tile. The score value of
a blank is zero.
2. The score for each turn is the sum of the letter values in each word(s) formed or modified on that
turn, plus the additional points obtained from placing letters on Premium Squares.
3. Premium Letter Squares: A light blue square doubles the score of a letter placed on it; a dark
blue square triples the letter score.
12
4. Premium Word Squares: The score for an entire word is doubled when one of its letters is
placed on a pink square; it is tripled when one of its letters is placed on a red square. Premiums for
double or triple letter values, if any, are calculated before doubling or tripling the word score.
If a word is formed that covers two premium word squares, the score is doubled and then re-doubled
(four times the letter count), or tripled and then re-tripled (nine times the letter count).
Note: The center square is a pink square, which doubles the score for the first word.
1. Letter and word premiums count only on the turn in which they are played. On later turns, letters
already played on premium squares count at face value.
2. When a blank tile is played on a pink or red square, the value of the word is doubled or tripled,
even though the blank itself has no score value.
3. When two or more words are formed in the same play, each is scored. The common letter is counted
(with full premium value, if any) for each word. (See Turns 3, 4 and 5 under Scoring Examples on
page 14.)
4. BINGO! If you play seven tiles on a turn, it’s a Bingo. You score a premium of 50 points after total-
ing your score for the turn.
5. Unplayed Letters: When the game ends, each player’s score is reduced by the sum of his or her
unplayed letters. In addition, if a player has used all of his or her letters, the sum of the other
players’ unplayed letters is added to that player’s score.
6. The player with the highest final score wins the game. In case of a tie, the player with the highest
score before adding or deducting unplayed letters wins.
Note: The game ends automatically if all players make three consecutive turns in which zero points are
scored (Pass, Exchange Tiles, unacceptable word or two blank tiles).
The above rules are for the Standard
Game Preferences (pages 20-21) for rule and gameplay variations.
SCRABBLE
game. See Tournament Rules (pages 32-33) and
13
Scoring Examples
H
O
R
MOB
STEAP
TIB
A
F
N
H
O
R
MOB
STEAP
A
F
N
H
O
R
M
STEAP
A
F
N
H
O
R
M
A
F
N
H
O
R
N
In the following examples, the words added on five successive turns are shown in bold type. The scores
shown are the correct scores if the letter R is placed on the center square. In Turn 1, count HORN: in
Turn 2, FARM; in Turn 3, PASTE and FARMS; in Turn 4, MOB, NOT and BE; in Turn 5, BIT, PI and AT.
Turn 1: Score = 14 Turn 2: Score = 9 Turn 3: Score = 25
Turn 4: Score = 16 Turn 5: Score = 16
GAME BUTTONS
In the Standard
SHUFFLE/TAKE BACK button – this button toggles between SHUFFLE and TAKE BACK. Until you have
placed a tile on the board, the button appears in the SHUFFLE state. Once a letter tile has been placed
on the board, the button becomes the TAKE BACK button.
14
SCRABBLE
game, the following buttons appear:
Use the SHUFFLE button to randomly rearrange the order of your tiles in order to help you see new word
possibilities. (For more purposeful ordering of tiles, see TILES button, below.)
The TAKE BACK button removes tiles placed on the board and returns them to the rack. TAKE BACK
remains active until you click on PLAY or return all tiles to the rack.
PASS/PLAY button– this button toggles between PASS and PLAY. Until the player has placed some
tiles on the board, the button remains PASS. Clicking on PASS allows you to forfeit a turn without
penalty or scoring.
Once any tile has been placed on the board, the PASS button becomes the PLAY button. Once any number of tiles has been placed on the board in a legally acceptable formation (the word itself might be
unacceptable), the PLAY button becomes active. Click on PLAY when you wish to register your acceptable formation of letters as a word play.
If you return your tiles to the rack, the button becomes PASS again.
RESTART button – This button restarts the present game, with all of the present players and prefer-
ences. (To start a New Game with a change of players or preferences, go to the Main Menu and select
Start New Game.)
EXCHANGE button – At any time before clicking on PLAY, you may exchange some, or all, of your letter
tiles for new ones. Once you have clicked on the EXCHANGE button, click on those tiles you wish to
exchange, and then click on DONE (or CANCEL if you click on a tile by mistake or change your mind
about exchanging).
CHALLENGE button – This button appears only when (a) you can legally make a challenge and (b) Auto
Challenge is disabled in Game Preferences. Click to CHALLENGE a word that the previous player has played.
TILES button – The TILES button opens a small submenu with the following two choices:
Tile Count – A small chart shows the quantity of each letter, plus blank tiles, that are present in the
starting 100-tile Tile Pool. Click on the TILES REMAINING button to display, alongside the original
number, the quantity of each tile currently remaining in the Tile Pool.
15
Loading...