The Countdown Android App is now out!

[JackHurst]

The app now has a subscription feature which gives unlimited access to Jokerdown, Decadown and Mini rules, as well as a new 30 round "Triathlon" format. There's also the word check screen (which has a new "add 2 letters" section, and a couple of stats screens with graphs. I plan to add more features for subscribers as time goes on. Requests welcomed!

Currently enjoying my free trial having removed adverts previously. What is the standard subscription rate when the free trial is over, and is there an option for a one-off lifetime sub?

It's priced at £11.99 yearly, or £2.99 monthly.

[JackHurst]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

[Tom S]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

Happy to do this- username is tom.

[Adam S Latchford]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

Excited for this mode! I won't have a lot of time for trialling the game but keen to hear about the results. Likely will encourage me to buy to remove ads

[Andres Sanchez]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

I'm interested, username's Andres S. iirc

[JackHurst]

The three of you should all now have a game available vs me

[JackHurst]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

Excited for this mode! I won't have a lot of time for trialling the game but keen to hear about the results. Likely will encourage me to buy to remove ads

I'll be running a small event on the app in December which will be subscriber only More will be posting more details in a se0arate thread.

[Tom S]

The three of you should all now have a game available vs me

Whereabouts do I find it? Can't see anything as stands

[JackHurst]

Bottom of you challenges list.

(These kind of things will probably get their own section of the app one day, but since I don't have the time to do it quickly, for now they'll just be in your challenges list.

[JackHurst]

)

[Adam S Latchford]

Bottom of you challenges list.

(These kind of things will probably get their own section of the app one day, but since I don't have the time to do it quickly, for now they'll just be in your challenges list.

Nice, you trounced me

Super hard cons coming for you at rugby except if you're against maus and i give you guys squeezing

[Ronan M Higginson]

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

I'll have a go. Username is the very creative Ronan Higginson.

[JackHurst]

Super hard cons coming for you at rugby except if you're against maus and i give you guys squeezing

Not sure whether to be happy or sad about this haha. Was interesting to see some VERY hard conundrums at Rugby last time.

I've been mucking around with multiplayer. It's very prototype, but if anybody wants to do a head to head 20 conundrum game, let me know here (with your username). I can set up a game vs myself, or if you have another player in mind lmk who they are.

I'll have a go. Username is the very creative Ronan Higginson.

Added. Looking forward to my impending ass-whooping.

[Thomas Carey]

Squeeze me harder. I think my thing is Maus with the emoji but I've had a few variations for no good reason

[Tom S]

Cool- sorted it out now! Definitely some toughies in there!

[JackHurst]

Async games have been well received among the player who have been kind enough to test them out with me, so I'm happy to share that in December, there will be the first ever multiplayer (async) games in the app, which you can sign up for in over in the event thread!

[Fiona T]

Might be just me ....

Quite often after one of the challenges, I end up accidentally abandoning rather than submitting. It is largely lack of concentration, but I think because the 'submit' screen looks so like that 'done' screen it's easy just to automatically press the back button to get back to the main screen. I do it with alarming regularity! Maybe if the submit screen had 'abandon' and 'submit' or something? Not sure if you can capture a back key press if you haven't submitted to pop up a 'do you really want leave' like it does in game?

But mebbe I just need to pay more attention

[Fiona T]

Might be just me ....

Quite often after one of the challenges, I end up accidentally abandoning rather than submitting. It is largely lack of concentration, but I think because the 'submit' screen looks so like that 'done' screen it's easy just to automatically press the back button to get back to the main screen. I do it with alarming regularity! Maybe if the submit screen had 'abandon' and 'submit' or something? Not sure if you can capture a back key press if you haven't submitted to pop up a 'do you really want leave' like it does in game?

But mebbe I just need to pay more attention

Having managed it again this morning, it's the back to menu top left I'm pressing on autopilot, so a confirmation there would work if it's a more common issue than just me!

[Graeme Cole]

Yesterday, Phil Stanton mentioned to me that when the app asks you to pick your numbers, the "Random" button never picks 6 small. I can reproduce this. I've just played four 10xN games, pressing the Random pick button every time, and in 40 numbers rounds I didn't get a single 6 small. This is with version 1.96 of the app.

[JackHurst]

Having managed it again this morning, it's the back to menu top left I'm pressing on autopilot, so a confirmation there would work if it's a more common issue than just me!

Thanks for pointing this one out, I've fixed this. I've also fixed the 6 small issue reported by Phil and Graeme.

Thanks for all the bug reporting! Keep em coming

Fixes will be out in 1.97 this coming week.

[JackHurst]

I've fixed some issues with links, so that everything should work fine now if you have the app installed and are running 1.96 or higher

Here's a nice and tricky numbers round you can have a go at:

https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdownroun ... pfMzUvQf1r

And here's a juicy decadown letters round you can try:
https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdownroun ... AuDlcO4Cn4

[Fiona T]

Having managed it again this morning, it's the back to menu top left I'm pressing on autopilot, so a confirmation there would work if it's a more common issue than just me!

Thanks for pointing this one out, I've fixed this. I've also fixed the 6 small issue reported by Phil and Graeme.

Thanks for all the bug reporting! Keep em coming

Fixes will be out in 1.97 this coming week.

thanks - the accidental non-submit thing working nicely! It's saved me at least twice

[JackHurst]

A few milestones worth celebrating

- We've hit 50k downloads
- We hit 2 years on 26th Dec
- We hit game 500K on 24th Dec

In 2024 we'll be aiming for the big 1 million

[JackHurst]

I've just rolled out an updated prototype for Async Head-to-Head Games. This feature is still in its early stages and is accessible exclusively through invite links, which you'll find below.

Before you dive in, here are some key points you need to know:

1. Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start.
2. Prototype Stage: Bear in mind that this feature is a prototype. This means you might encounter some bugs and find that explanations for certain elements are missing..
3. Creating Private Games: When you create a private game, you'll receive a unique game link to share. You can send this link to multiple people, but remember, the first person to open the link in the app will join your game.
4. Creating Public Games: Opt for a public game to be match-made against another player seeking a public game. Currently, the matchmaking algorithm doesn't account for player ability, but I'm working on implementing this feature soon.
5. Game Expiry and UX: Be aware that games can expire before both players complete them. We know the user experience in this scenario isn't ideal, and it's on the radar for improvements.

Your participation and feedback are important for helping me refine this feature. So jump in, try it out, and let us know your thoughts!

Exclusive Game Invite Links:
Be the first to open these links in the app to join a multiplayer game:
Game Link 1
Game Link 2
Game Link 3
Game Link 4
Game Link 5

I looking forward to seeing you in the game!

[Callum Todd]

[*]Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start.

Loving the head to head feature, thanks Jack. Can I ask what "rate limiting" means please? Sorry if I'm being thick but I don't think I've ever come across that term before.

I confess I have abandoned two head to head games previously. One was a complete accident, I closed the app by mistake, and another I deliberately abandoned when I cocked some rounds up but only because I had forgotten it aas head to head and thought I was kind playing a solo game.

I had wondered: given it's async, for the public h2h games would it be possible if a player abandons the game to put that challenge 'back in the pot' as it were, so that the next player picks up that game from scratch. That way the player on the other end of the game doesn't get an abandonment.

[JackHurst]

[*]Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start.

Loving the head to head feature, thanks Jack. Can I ask what "rate limiting" means please? Sorry if I'm being thick but I don't think I've ever come across that term before.

I confess I have abandoned two head to head games previously. One was a complete accident, I closed the app by mistake, and another I deliberately abandoned when I cocked some rounds up but only because I had forgotten it aas head to head and thought I was kind playing a solo game.

I had wondered: given it's async, for the public h2h games would it be possible if a player abandons the game to put that challenge 'back in the pot' as it were, so that the next player picks up that game from scratch. That way the player on the other end of the game doesn't get an abandonment.

There's a maxmimum amount of times you can do it within a fixed time period. At the moment it's twice in 48 hours. Then you just have to wait for one of the abandoned games to fall out of that time window.

Should I change the messaging to make it clearer? It's not about telling people off, it's just about keeping the flow of games working. I agree about recycling abandoned games. I was thinking another way would be to fill abandoned games with bot opponents instead.

[JackHurst]

I also need to add a feature that lets you pause games. It's going to require quite a large refactor which is why I have been putting it off. This would probably help too.

[Callum Todd]

There's a maxmimum amount of times you can do it within a fixed time period. At the moment it's twice in 48 hours. Then you just have to wait for one of the abandoned games to fall out of that time window.

So if you abandon two head to head games in 48 hours, you can't start another head to head game in that time window? That sounds good.

I forgot to apologise in my previous post for my dropped games which is pretty poor form so sorry to those on the other end of those abandonments!

[JackHurst]

There's a maxmimum amount of times you can do it within a fixed time period. At the moment it's twice in 48 hours. Then you just have to wait for one of the abandoned games to fall out of that time window.

I forgot to apologise in my previous post for my dropped games which is pretty poor form so sorry to those on the other end of those abandonments!

No need to apologize! Game abandonments are bound to happen. It's unfortunate that it might restrict honest players such as yourself, but overall feels necessary to keep the game engaging.

I don't want abandoned games to feel like a badge of shame haha.

[Tom S]

I've just rolled out an updated prototype for Async Head-to-Head Games. This feature is still in its early stages and is accessible exclusively through invite links, which you'll find below.

Before you dive in, here are some key points you need to know:

1. Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start.
2. Prototype Stage: Bear in mind that this feature is a prototype. This means you might encounter some bugs and find that explanations for certain elements are missing..
3. Creating Private Games: When you create a private game, you'll receive a unique game link to share. You can send this link to multiple people, but remember, the first person to open the link in the app will join your game.
4. Creating Public Games: Opt for a public game to be match-made against another player seeking a public game. Currently, the matchmaking algorithm doesn't account for player ability, but I'm working on implementing this feature soon.
5. Game Expiry and UX: Be aware that games can expire before both players complete them. We know the user experience in this scenario isn't ideal, and it's on the radar for improvements.

Your participation and feedback are important for helping me refine this feature. So jump in, try it out, and let us know your thoughts!

Exclusive Game Invite Links:
Be the first to open these links in the app to join a multiplayer game:
Game Link 1
Game Link 2
Game Link 3
Game Link 4
Game Link 5

I looking forward to seeing you in the game!

Is this feature available to non-subscribers, too? TIA!:)

[JackHurst]

I've just rolled out an updated prototype for Async Head-to-Head Games. This feature is still in its early stages and is accessible exclusively through invite links, which you'll find below.

Before you dive in, here are some key points you need to know:

1. Rate Limiting for Abandoned Games: To encourage fair play. If you abandon multiple games, you'll be rate limited. Please make sure to finish the games you start.
2. Prototype Stage: Bear in mind that this feature is a prototype. This means you might encounter some bugs and find that explanations for certain elements are missing..
3. Creating Private Games: When you create a private game, you'll receive a unique game link to share. You can send this link to multiple people, but remember, the first person to open the link in the app will join your game.
4. Creating Public Games: Opt for a public game to be match-made against another player seeking a public game. Currently, the matchmaking algorithm doesn't account for player ability, but I'm working on implementing this feature soon.
5. Game Expiry and UX: Be aware that games can expire before both players complete them. We know the user experience in this scenario isn't ideal, and it's on the radar for improvements.

Your participation and feedback are important for helping me refine this feature. So jump in, try it out, and let us know your thoughts!

Exclusive Game Invite Links:
Be the first to open these links in the app to join a multiplayer game:
Game Link 1
Game Link 2
Game Link 3
Game Link 4
Game Link 5

I looking forward to seeing you in the game!

Is this feature available to non-subscribers, too? TIA!:)

Yep. As the prototype evolves, subscribers will have a more feature rich multiplayer experience, but non subscribers will still be able to play too.

[Andres Sanchez]

Alright, I don't know if this is a bug or not but out of four games I've managed to get the same player thrice. What's odd is that the majority of my numbers rounds have been four large. I don't think the second thing is a bug but I feel like the first one definitely is.

[Fiona T]

Alright, I don't know if this is a bug or not but out of four games I've managed to get the same player thrice. What's odd is that the majority of my numbers rounds have been four large. I don't think the second thing is a bug but I feel like the first one definitely is.

I assumed you get the next unplayed game, so if I sit and play three games in a row at the same time as you do, then that's gonna happen. I think also at the moment there's relatively few people playing - I've had mainly A, quite a few teapots, a few Jack and a smattering of others - have only managed 1 win so far - brutal!

[JackHurst]

I assumed you get the next unplayed game, so if I sit and play three games in a row at the same time as you do, then that's gonna happen. I think also at the moment there's relatively few people playing - I've had mainly A, quite a few teapots, a few Jack and a smattering of others - have only managed 1 win so far - brutal!

Yes it's this.

Some custom game invites for anybody who fancies:

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC (all conundrum 15 rounder)
https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdowninvite?link7

LNCLNCLNCLNCLNC (all rounder 15 rounder)
https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdowninvite?link8

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN (Gevin suddenly needs to do laundry)
https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdowninvite?link9

[Jessica 'QwizicaL' Pratesi]

HAMMIES is listed on the apterous wiki as being accepted in episode 8194 as an "others" word. It's not listed in the word check on the app.

HAMMY only seems to be on the app as an adjective.

[Fiona T]

HAMMIES is listed on the apterous wiki as being accepted in episode 8194 as an "others" word. It's not listed in the word check on the app.

HAMMY only seems to be on the app as an adjective.

It's been ticketed for adding in the next apterous dictionary update.

[JackHurst]

I am planning a post-game insights page. This would replace the existing (pretty ugly) page you get when you finish submit game.

The idea is that you would get customised set of information related to the game you just played. Could be things like:

- You've played this format xxx times and this is your yyyth best score
- You missed AMNIOTES, this word comes up a lot, so write it down somewhere
- This game had an overall difficulty rating of X/10
- X other players have played a game with this format

The information that Subscribers get will be more detailed. I will probably also add an option to "Submit game privately" so you can still get insights, but your game won't appear on the leaderboard.


Please suggest ideas for what you'd like to see!

[Jonathan Wynn]

Hi I'm subscribed but still getting ads. I've changed my phone recently and had to install the app on it but when I go to "remove ads" manage subscriptions etc just says "you're already subscribed' and then I get ads again just repeats this cycle endlessly....how can I fix this please?

[JackHurst]

Hi I'm subscribed but still getting ads. I've changed my phone recently and had to install the app on it but when I go to "remove ads" manage subscriptions etc just says "you're already subscribed' and then I get ads again just repeats this cycle endlessly....how can I fix this please?

Hello the process for restoring subscription to another device is manual at the moment. If you email me details of your new and old user, and your subscription receipt I can sort it all for you.

[JackHurst]

Version 1.131 is now available which contains the updated dictionary!

Just keep in mind if you are wanting to max out your score on the daily challenge today, it's possible the max might be higher before updating.

From tomorrow for a few days all daily challenges with be numbers and conundrums only to minimise this scenario.

Happy to answer any questions.


In due course I will be removing games using the old dictionary from some leaderboards.

[JackHurst]

Hi I'm subscribed but still getting ads. I've changed my phone recently and had to install the app on it but when I go to "remove ads" manage subscriptions etc just says "you're already subscribed' and then I get ads again just repeats this cycle endlessly....how can I fix this please?

I don't think I ever heard back from you on this? In version 1.131 I've done a fix that should automatically handle this scenario without needing me to aply changes for you.

[Adam S Latchford]

Version 1.131 is now available which contains the updated dictionary!

Just keep in mind if you are wanting to max out your score on the daily challenge today, it's possible the max might be higher before updating.

From tomorrow for a few days all daily challenges with be numbers and conundrums only to minimise this scenario.

Happy to answer any questions.


In due course I will be removing games using the old dictionary from some leaderboards.

Cool thanks!
Numbers only duels / conundrums makes sense for a short while - had a mad one on apterous where if you played before a certain time you could play some words that would later be disallowed (privated if i recall) which wasn't ideal!

[JackHurst]

https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdowntournament?QLNMo

Hey folks. I'm running another experimental tournament in the app. You can click the link above to enroll and view standings. There are 20 spaces and the tournament kicks off tomorrow evening.

The format is Round Robin "Turbo" (LLNNC). You will play 19 5 round games. This may initially seem like a lot, but because you can play Async games whenever you like, it ends up being very manageable. It's probably a total time commitment of 50-90 minutes, and this is spread over 4 days however you like.

Read more about how app tournaments work in this forum post
viewtopic.php?t=16215&sid=0b85b14ade215 ... ce81cc7dca

Turn on notifications (via menu) to receive reminders and updates.

[Jonathan Wynn]

Hi I'm subscribed but still getting ads. I've changed my phone recently and had to install the app on it but when I go to "remove ads" manage subscriptions etc just says "you're already subscribed' and then I get ads again just repeats this cycle endlessly....how can I fix this please?

I don't think I ever heard back from you on this? In version 1.131 I've done a fix that should automatically handle this scenario without needing me to aply changes for you.

Sorry I only just read this. Yeah don't worry everything all good now thanks so much

[JackHurst]

Attention numbers geeks, the next tourney is a numbers one

Subscribers can join here https://wordgamegeeks.com/countdowntournament?QLPWZ