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Popular Browser Game 'Wordle' Sold to The New York Times, Will Remain Free 'Initially'
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and yet, funnily enough, you didn't. This is the perfect example of opportunity and time. You didn't do this, someone else did. You didn't market this, someone else did.
The criticism which comes form hindsight is strange - it's always 20/20.
They bought the users / name brand. Not just the code. You could replicate twitter’s code easily, but that’s not the value.
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
Suspended
It's that not easy. He invented the game and got paid for it. It's also cool that he had alot of people supporting him. That's what mattered to him the most. Well deserved. 👏
If the NY Times is smart, it'll keep Wordle free and use it as a loss leader to get more people interested in the Crossword puzzles and the Bee. ??
Oh they are going to monetize the you-know-what out of this game.
Prepare for micro transactions out the arse. 99 cents for letter “hints”. $1.99 for extra lives. $2.99 to skip the 24hr cooldown and get the next word. Perhaps a subscription to get rid of ads.
I don’t blame the creator for selling at all, but it is a sad day for Wordle.
Prepare for micro transactions out the arse. 99 cents for letter “hints”. $1.99 for extra lives. $2.99 to skip the 24hr cooldown and get the next word. Perhaps a subscription to get rid of ads.
I don’t blame the creator for selling at all, but it is a sad day for Wordle.
If the game does eventually fizzle out (and it likely will as fads do) it won't be because it's on NYT or their paywall.
It's because it's really not that challenging. It's fun but if you don't guess it in 4 or less give yourself an "L". If I guess it in 5 or 6, I hang my head and pray to my ancestors for forgiveness for the shame I have brought them.
It's because it's really not that challenging. It's fun but if you don't guess it in 4 or less give yourself an "L". If I guess it in 5 or 6, I hang my head and pray to my ancestors for forgiveness for the shame I have brought them.
How does one ruin 6 chances at guessing only words that are 5 letters?
They already have the vastly-superior Spelling Bee anyhow.
Thats not how NYT games work. You subscribe you get the games. Done.
It's a nice game that I play once a day when I remember, but I have to say it's a bit too easy.
I'm happy he cashed out in time.
I'm happy he cashed out in time.
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I love Spelling Bee, but Wordle is really fun! Like the minis. I don't have the time to even try the full crosswords except Mondays, but I know someone who can polish the hardest ones off in ten mins. No idea how she does it
The New York Times today announced that it has purchased popular web-based game "Wordle" for low-seven figures. Created by Josh Wardle, Wordle has gained millions of users over the past several months and has become well-known on the internet thanks to its simple score sharing features and straightforward gameplay.
Wardle said in a January interview with TechCrunch that "part of the point" of Wordle was that it was free to play and that he had no interest in monetizing it, but at the time, he also said it would be "foolish" not to speak with those interested in investing in Wordle in some capacity.
The New York Times says that Wordle will be free to play for new and existing players "at the time it moves" over to the NYT site, but there is no word on whether it will be monetized and locked behind a paywall at a later date. Specific wording in a New York Times story says "the game would initially remain free to new and existing players," so the "initially" could imply future changes.
In a letter announcing the acquisition, Wardle said that he is working with The New York Times to ensure that wins and streaks will be preserved during the transition.
Wordle made headlines in early January because as it rose to popularity, multiple app developers attempted to capitalize on its success and created clone apps in the App Store. Wordle has always been a web-based browser game and is not available on iOS devices through an official app, so these clone apps capitalize on the Wordle idea and charging people money.
Apple ultimately decided to remove all of the Wordle clones that used the Wordle name from the App Store, and to date, there have been no additional Wordle clones released for sale on Apple's platform. With Wordle now owned by The New York Times, we could possibly see an official Wordle app in the future as the NYT does already offer an app for its crossword puzzles.
Article Link: Popular Browser Game 'Wordle' Sold to The New York Times, Will Remain Free 'Initially'
Now I don’t want to play it as much.
Good for Mr Werdle, He deserves a payday, but I think I’m tired of being databased constantly.
He didn't invent the game at all, the game's been around on UK TV as a gameshow called Lingo since 1988.
Haha, glad I'm not the only one! The instructions confused me too, but I figured it out once I started playing. They should have just shown one word with green, yellow, and gray tiles to explain what each color means...instead of each in their own word with black tiles in the mix.
exactly right. it's a public domain idea being used for many years. he's selling his execution of it, but why not make your own? he's really only selling the name.
Pretty sure it would have been dead in a year anyway. I enjoy playing it, but it's a fad game. He was smart to take the money when it was offered.
If that’s the case, it’s not as bad as I initially feared. Hopefully they don’t decide to turn it into its own, seaparate.
Regardless, it’ll still be behind a paywall which will make me sad even if it’s not large.