Wordle, the browser word puzzle game your friends are probably playing, is easily the first big sensation of 2022. Since so many folks are either playing it or asking what it is, it’s probably not a good idea to rip it off and then brag about it online.
Here’s a little background. Wordle is a puzzle game where every day you have to correctly guess a five-letter word in six tries. It was created by software engineer Josh Wardle for his wife who loves word games. Wardle said he never wanted to make money from Wordle, hence why it’s a free browser game.
Then there’s Zach Shakked who proudly shared earlier this week on Twitter that he loves Wordle so much that he just made it again and put it on the App Store using the same name, Wordle. Other than the option to guess four, six, and seven-letter words, the (not original) Wordle is essentially the same game and interface.
While copycat apps are quite common, they rarely use the same name. But considering Wardle made this game for his wife and had no intent to earn a profit, he likely didn’t file a copyright claim on the game’s name.
This led (not original) Wordle on the App Store to garner 12,000 downloads overnight and become the fourth highest result for the term “Wordle” according to Shakked. In his words, “We’re going to the f*cking moon.”
Because while Wardle offers a free browser version, Shakked offers a paid “Pro version” that gives players unlimited playtime. The backlash was swift, as it's not a great look for someone to brag about profiting from someone else's success. Shakked has since made his Twitter account private.
Engineer Andy Baio, who shared Shakked’s braggadocious tweets on profiting from (not original) Wordle, says that while Wardle’s game is not original itself — with roots going back to the 1980s word game Lingo — Shakked’s version wholesale copies the name and interface that Wardle did originate.
IGN has reached out to Shakked, but in the meantime, you can play the original Wordle here and check out IGN’s beginner’s Wordle guide for some helpful tips.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
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Here’s a little background. Wordle is a puzzle game where every day you have to correctly guess a five-letter word in six tries. It was created by software engineer Josh Wardle for his wife who loves word games. Wardle said he never wanted to make money from Wordle, hence why it’s a free browser game.
Then there’s Zach Shakked who proudly shared earlier this week on Twitter that he loves Wordle so much that he just made it again and put it on the App Store using the same name, Wordle. Other than the option to guess four, six, and seven-letter words, the (not original) Wordle is essentially the same game and interface.
While copycat apps are quite common, they rarely use the same name. But considering Wardle made this game for his wife and had no intent to earn a profit, he likely didn’t file a copyright claim on the game’s name.
This led (not original) Wordle on the App Store to garner 12,000 downloads overnight and become the fourth highest result for the term “Wordle” according to Shakked. In his words, “We’re going to the f*cking moon.”
Because while Wardle offers a free browser version, Shakked offers a paid “Pro version” that gives players unlimited playtime. The backlash was swift, as it's not a great look for someone to brag about profiting from someone else's success. Shakked has since made his Twitter account private.
Engineer Andy Baio, who shared Shakked’s braggadocious tweets on profiting from (not original) Wordle, says that while Wardle’s game is not original itself — with roots going back to the 1980s word game Lingo — Shakked’s version wholesale copies the name and interface that Wardle did originate.
IGN has reached out to Shakked, but in the meantime, you can play the original Wordle here and check out IGN’s beginner’s Wordle guide for some helpful tips.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
Continue reading...