Loren Brichter’s Game Center success story, Letterpress, has been updated today in the App Store with a couple of new features and improvements. Version 1.2 of the popular, Scrabble-like word game introduces a new HTML5-based feature called “Share Replays.” You can now share a link from the iOS game that shows a word-by-word progression of how a match progressed.
The last update to Letterpress brought the ability to quickly demand a rematch, and now you can see a history of your skills as a wordsmith with Replays. The game’s dictionary has also been tweaked and improved.
Click this link for an example of how Share Replays work on the web. MacStories spoke with Britchter about how he implemented the feature:
I asked Brichter about the technical details of Replay, because — try it for yourself here from a Mac or iOS device — I had to know how he managed to archive a match’s list of words and play it back with an interactive slider. In version 1.2, the app creates a JSON version of the history of the game, which is then “replayed” via JavaScript and HTML in the browser. The Replay webpages support touch controls (you can move the slider with a mouse on a computer) and the letter tiles “tilt” just like they do in the app if you touch a word in the list. You can also simply tap the board (click on a computer) to advance one step at a time. It’s a simple feature that’s been executed extremely well.
Britchter’s always-funny release notes:
– Share Replays! Now you can tweet, post, email or just hoard links to your games and show off yer skillz! (Requires iOS 6)
– CHRISTMAS is a proper noun. It’s not allowed. Bah humbug.
– Loads of little tweaks.
– Improved dictionary.
– Handle orientation changes on iPad better.
– Clarified the “prefix” rule in the How To Play. Apparently the word “prefix” means something different to programmers and grammar geeks! The rule is actually really simple; it has nothing to do with roots, stems, definitions, moon cycles, or latin derivations. It’s boils down to: no words found at the beginning of a previously played word. Easy.
– People read these. Neat. If I were smart I’d monetize all over your eyeballs.
Letterpress is available for free in the App Store and runs nicely on the iPhone and iPad. A small in-app purchase unlocks the ability to play multiple matches at once.
Source: App Store
Via: MacStories
