Frequently Asked Questions
How do I invite a friend to play?
You can start a new online game with anyone by selecting New Game > Invite a Buddy. From there, you can directly click on a buddy, phone contact, or recent player to send them an invite. Alternatively, if you know the person's username or email address, you can also type it into the text field and select the Invite button at any time. If the person you selected does not have an account with DroidWords, you'll be prompted to send them an invitation by email to sign up.
Your game invitation will appear under My Games > Invites on your phone. Once your opponent chooses to accept or decline your invitation, the game will automatically be moved to your Currently Playing list.
How do I end a game when my opponent is unresponsive or has not played in days?
The Forfeit option, accessible by clicking your phone's Menu button from within a specific game, allows you to request a game removal due to inactivity. If it is your opponent's turn and you select this option, they will be given approximately 24 hours from your last move to play their turn. If they do, this option is reset and can be selected again in the future. If they do not, the selected game will automatically be removed from your game list.
There is no automatic timer started upon the last move played, and each forfeit or forfeit request must be manually initiated. We do this to give users the flexibility of choosing whether they want to play at a more casual pace, without the pressure of making a move within a fixed period of time. At the same time, users who would like to play at a more rapid pace maintain the option of ending a game within 24 hours at any time.
How can I make the board larger?
You can double tap any spot on the board to zoom in or zoom out. To pan across the board while zoomed in, touch the board and drag it in any direction.
How is the center square bonus calculated?
The center square, usually labeled with the DroidWords icon, is the equivalent of a double word (2W) bonus square. The first move of any game must begin with this square being covered.
How do I clear my list of finished games?
The Finished Games section stores the last 25 games that have been completed, forfeited, or removed. Any game older than the last 25 will automatically be removed from your phone and cannot be accessed thereafter.
What dictionary does DroidWords use?
DroidWords uses a custom lexicon containing elements of both TWL and SOWPODS, two of the most commonly used dictionaries referenced in the game of Scrabble. The lexicon additionally combines various word lists and is manually filtered to produce a set of over 150,000 words. This list forms the basis for word validation and the computer's algorithmic moves; it is also updated on a continual basis with the addition and removal of specific words. For information on how definitions are provided, see the question below.
Why can't I find a definition for a word?
DroidWords uses Wiktionary as its source of definitions, not as its lexicon. The availability of an appropriate definition depends on both the service's availability as well as it having a corresponding entry in the Wiktionary database. Because the lexicons differ, certain words that are valid and playable within the game will not be defined. In other words, the words that Wiktionary defines are not necessarily the words that can be played in DroidWords.
In addition, it's important to note that DroidWords only lists the first definition supplied by Wiktionary. This specific definition may or may not be what determines the word's validity when used within the game. Wiktionary's comprehensive definition for a given word, including alternate definitions and usage examples, can be accessed by tapping the word itself from the Definitions dialog.
If you are disconnected from the Internet, you will not be able to retrieve definitions during that period of time. In such cases, you'll also see a 'Definition Not Available' dialog box.
Why is the computer cheating?
The computer uses the exact same lexicon and word validation scheme used for all players. Every word that the computer plays is a word that can be played by a human opponent, and it is incapable of inventing a word or playing by its own rules. In most cases, a user may be overlooking the words formed by adjacent tiles, which must themselves be valid words. In addition, users should distinguish between the lexicon (often informally termed the "dictionary") and the availability of a word's definition (see the two preceding questions & answers).
How do I change my game's skin?
You can change the look of both the menus and the game board by going to Settings > Skins and choosing a theme that you prefer.
How do I report someone who is sending unsolicited or offensive chat messages?
We take any abuse of the chat feature very seriously; violations of the Terms Of Use will usually result in the suspension of online service for the offender. If you encounter a situation in which you believe someone has violated the Terms Of Use, you can use the feedback form from within the game to request a review of the incident.
Why is my email address provided during registration?
Your email address is used only to identify your account for online games and to allow your friends to invite you to games. Users must manually choose to send email invitations to any friends on their contact list. DroidWords does not send spam or unsolicited emails.
How can I make gameplay faster? People are too slow!
The custom game modes available in DroidWords offer variations of standard gameplay that can promote a faster response from your opponents. The Blitz custom game mode gives each player a specific amount of "viewing time" to make their move. If the timer expires, the player will automatically lose a turn.
While this mode is designed to encourage users to play quickly, it is not the equivalent of real-time gameplay. Because users are likely to be using their phones for a variety of purposes, the aforementioned "viewing time" can be suspended in specific situations (for example, when taking a phone call).
In single player mode, note that the computer's calculation of its next move can be resource-intensive, especially on older phones with less memory and processing power. To help the computer process its move faster, we recommend minimizing the number of games you play while the computer is "thinking" and trying to avoid multi-tasking to other memory-intensive applications. If the computer's calculations are interrupted (for example, by powering off your phone), you can restart it by simply opening up that specific single player game.
Why am I receiving a network error?
A network error message may be caused by several factors and is usually temporary in nature. On one end of the spectrum, a poor or non-existent Internet connection is one possibility that may produce this error. Similarly, a corporate firewall or intermediary (for example, a public WiFi network at a coffee shop or hotel) may also interfere with the data being sent or received. On the other end, the servers that handle our game traffic may at times be unavailable due to maintenance or particularly high periods of activity. In the latter case, we're usually able to restore online service within approximately 24-48 hours.
I have a game that appears stuck.
In general, a game that is stuck can be a result of network errors (described above), differing versions of DroidWords, or a variety of other potential causes. If you've waited a period of time and still have not received a corresponding game update, you can choose to abandon the game or re-sychronize your account. To re-sychronize your account, you'll need to uninstall the application and reinstall it, then choose to log into your account as an existing user. Note that re-sychronizing your account will remove any single player and local games, which are not stored online.
How do I retrieve my username or password?
You can retrieve your username and password via our website at http://www.droidwords.com. You'll need to provide the email address you used during registration in order to do so.
I'm having technical issues. What do I do?
If you encounter technical difficulties playing the game, you can try uninstalling the application first to see whether that alleviates any issues you may be experiencing. You may also want to check for an updated version of the game on Android Market as well. If you'd like to email us directly, please be sure to include the device you're using, the version of the Android OS on your phone, and any relevant details regarding the issues you may have. You can email us directly from the feedback form from within DroidWords.