Scrabble for the Kindle

The Kindle is a device optimized for reading, so if you're looking for lots of snazzy video game stuff it's not the toy for you.

That said, Hasbro Electronic Arts has created a really nice Scrabble game application for the Kindle that works exceptionally well. So far I've only played it solitaire against the built-in AI, but the game does have the option for playing with up to four other people in a sort of "hot seat" mode (I assume you'd just pass it around.)

The AI at "Normal" level isn't too hard to beat. It knows a lot of strange words, but it doesn't play very strategically. I found it's style to be a very frustrating defensive style that seems most interested in blocking YOUR moves rather than trying to set itself up for high-scoring plays of its own. I have found that this makes it vulnerable to a steady counter play that concentrates on scoring moderately well every turn (10-15 points) rather than looking for Bingos or other big plays.

It plays using all the usual standard Scrabble rules.

The interface is very easy to use, and is based off the "5-way" controller on the Kindle, making it pretty intuitive. My only concern is whether the 5-way is designed to take that much use over the long haul. Normally, while reading, you don't use it all that much.

Still, it works well so far and the price is very affordable, just $4.99, making it just about the least expensive Scrabble game available. Overall I like it and I think it's almost a "must-have" for a Kindle owner.

Kindle blog

Pawnderings is now available on the Kindle, for those of you with that device.

Does the Kindle have any implications on gaming?

I got mine this weekend and I'm still learning the ins and outs of the thing, but my first impression is highly favorable. It really does make reading pretty easy. For one thing, it's actually easier to handle than a book. You can easily read it one-handed, which makes someone like me who likes to read while eating (a habit that annoyed my father when I was a kid) very pleased indeed.

It's not a good game-playing platform, of course, although it appears some folks are trying. I see some things that look like they might be games on Amazon.

But it could be a useful supplement to boardgames. Rules, for example, are often posted on the Web now. The Kindle can read Web pages, but perhaps a specific Kindle application of the rules would be useful. One of the selling points of the Kindle editions of books is their ability to be updated, which would be very helpful indeed for wargame rules.