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Popular Browser Game 'Wordle' Sold to The New York Times, Will Remain Free 'Initially'
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Copyright or trademark what exactly? He didn't invent the game, like hangman it's been around forever.I'm not sure why he didn't copyright it or trademark it. I guess it was a fun project. Glad to see he got paid for it
By creating the name "Worldle" first, he automatically copyrighted that, no one else can legally create something called "worldle" hence Apple banning all clones using that name. You don't need to register a trademark to copyright something - the mere fact you did something first is evidence of copyright.
Install it as a PWA. Apple is very aggressive with Safari re: automatically deleting a web app's local storage when it is used in a browser. It appears they have relented some when the web app is stored locally as a PWA where your local storage is not going to be deleted. However Apple's wording about this is not 100% clear, so at some point I guess (should PWAs start gaining share), they have the lattitude to screw PWA by changing this policy so as to mention "that's why we have the App Store" when users scream bloody murder.
The great thing about this whole story is that it shows how advantageous it can be to develop a web app if you have something that has the engagement potential of Wordle. Josh is a millionaire without the App Store. He owned everything because he built Wordle as a web app. If he had done the same as a native App Store game, Apple would own the users, and partially control how Wordle is presented (ranking). Undoubtedly part of what the NYTimes purchased was the user base, and once Wordle became a meme it was a simple url away for everyone vs. the confusing search results in the App Store (which Apple was forced by public opinion to clean up).
If one is creative, a good coder, takes the time to understand using SVGs in the browser, there are a ton of possibilities to create/own something uniquely engaging. I hope more devs think about this vs. Apple/Google pitch that an App Store is needed for devs' success. Success here though takes more thought & creativity to publish something "simple, creative, with maximum user engagement" vs. something that needs native APIs/speed for success. That creativity is probably harder vs. using the App Store to make money with a poor app, bought reviews, and semi-scam monetization.
Several commenters have said "I could have done this is a day". That is undoubtedly true. So start thinking like Josh. Make something simple and wonderful. Publish it yourself. It is not hard with a web apps -- apart from the "creative" part. Unfortunately the latter is the hardest part.
I guess if you owned the NYT you would make everything free ? Great Business model huh ?
Oof, I mean sure one could technically do that, but that is still a fairly obscure thing for people to know how / think to do. I think even you are saying there is less deletion, but not a full guarantee, when installing as a PWA. I would rather just have either iCloud sync or some account attached to my email address, so some fragile cookie state is not the sole source of truth for my game record.
Josh could have, of course, added accounts, but that is where the need for money starts to ramp up. At that point there would be records and servers to run/maintain, and it's a more difficult thing to run for free. Hence, I assume one of the reasons he may have decided to sell to NYT. Happy for this news as I think you are. Personally I don't care if it's an app or a mobile website I can sign into, as long as the quality/reliability improves.
It’s also just a play on the game mastermind.
It would have been super easy to code as well. I don’t get why companies buy these fads.
Imagine using the WWW to make money, instead of an app on the app store. You guys out there who want to force payment options on Apple...take note.
However, on the topic, never heard of it, although s/o plays words with friends.
They’re not buying the code; they’re buying the name and the hype. A million dollars is not very much money to a company the size of the New York Times, and they’re clearly betting that of the users it will attract to their site, now, at the peak of its public moment, some fraction of them will stay long-term and earn the NYT more than a million dollars in subscription and ad revenue.
Certain things, yes. Why are you surprised? They already make daily crossword and Spelling Bee puzzles free.
Why do you assume 6 guesses at a 5 letter word is a given? Let's be really generous to you and assume you got this after the first try...
DATES (where ATES are all in green). You now have 7 remaining options and 5 choices.
Copyright is automatic. It's not a process you do. You're thinking of trademarks.
Oh is that a game you can play on the web where you guess five letter words in six tries that has a new word every day? Oh it's not? Then it's not the same.
Lingo, it's an 20year+ old game on Dutch TV...
Here come the clones ... sigh ... one of my apps has about 50 lookalikes ... sales went from hero to zero. You cannot copyright the idea ...
As I understand it, he'd have automatic copyright on the source code, UI elements of original creative design, and original descriptive materials. Trademarks aren't automatic, but can take so long through USPTO, that a one trick pony can grow old and die before the trademark is granted.
Thing is, it's a word game, and language is a pretty extensive "Prior Art", so that aspect can't be used to substantiate a copyright claim. Then there's the social aspects of the program, which are ludicrously simple to replicate with a backtick here and a %% there, here a =, there a ], everywhere a }}
It's a happy lucky miracle that dude is getting paid, and also that the NYT invested ethically and transparently, perhaps building broader word game portfolio. The NYT surely could have bought a crappy rip-off app from a 6th grader and totally prevailed in court. So many big media platforms have cast their editorial lot with this century's cheaters and liars, side-eye at you, WSJ.
He couldn't copyright it because he didn't actually create it. It's been around for years. He just gave it a cool name. Why on Earth would you worry about him copyrighting it? The point of copyrighting a work is to get paid for it, which he did do.I'm not sure why he didn't copyright it or trademark it. I guess it was a fun project. Glad to see he got paid for it
I only started playing it a week ago. Unfortunately it’s too easy and I am not good at other word games such as crossword puzzles.
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 Wordle, 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'
Pic confirms I’ve solved it twice on my 3rd guess.
Can’t understand why such an easy game is so popular, but like so many others, I still enjoy it!
You want to make it more challenging? Don’t start with the same high-yield words every day. My wife and I pick a different word-of-the-day to start with, entirely based on the context of the day. Sometime, that’s an amazing win and we beat both the NYT averages AND the NYT Wordle Bot (a web app they created that analyzes your play). Sometimes it makes it a LOT harder. Also, turn on the “hard mode” option, which forces you to play any reveal hints in your next pick.
For example, with Wordle 329, my wife had just attended a pro-choice rally in Seattle, so ”Abort” was the word of the day:
…and sometimes you have an incredible combination of luck and skill (as above). Other days you get boxed into a more challenging situation, where you’re lucky to escape with a 4 or 5 try win. NOTE: The above word, “Fetus” was NOT played with hard mode on.