Whatsit.today is a new word guessing game where players try to decipher a hidden five-letter word by submitting guesses. Feedback is provided after each guess, revealing which letters are correct and if they are in the correct position within the word. The game offers a daily puzzle and the opportunity for unlimited practice. The creator is seeking feedback on their project.
A developer has publicly launched a new online word puzzle game called "Whatsit?" and is seeking feedback from the Hacker News community. The game presents players with a series of jumbled letters, challenging them to unscramble these letters and form a valid English word. The creator proudly shares that their mother enjoys the game and expresses hope for positive reception from a wider audience. The game itself appears to be minimalist in design, focusing primarily on the core gameplay mechanic. No additional information about scoring, difficulty levels, or other features is explicitly provided in the initial presentation, suggesting a straightforward and potentially relaxing word puzzle experience. The developer's appeal to the Hacker News community implies a desire for technical feedback and perhaps suggestions for improvement, in addition to general opinions on the game's enjoyability and potential. The underlying implication is that this is a relatively early stage release, open to iteration and refinement based on user input.
Summary of Comments ( 216 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43593789
HN users generally praised the simple, clean design and addictive gameplay of the word game. Several suggested improvements, such as a dark mode, a way to see definitions, and a larger word list. Some questioned the scoring system and offered alternative methods. A few pointed out similar existing games, and others offered encouragement for further development and monetization strategies. One commenter appreciated the creator's humility in presenting the game and mentioned their own mother's enjoyment of simple word games, creating a sense of camaraderie. The overall sentiment was positive and supportive.
The Hacker News post, "Show HN: I built a word game. My mom thinks it's great. What do you think?", generated several comments offering feedback and discussion.
Many commenters were supportive and encouraging of the creator, praising the game's simplicity and addictive nature. Some shared their personal experiences playing the game, noting how quickly time passed while engaged with it. A few users offered specific suggestions for improvements, like adding a timer or a competitive element with leaderboards. The "mom thinks it's great" part of the title also resonated with several commenters, who found it endearing and relatable.
Some commenters provided constructive criticism, such as addressing the mobile experience (specifically mentioning the keyboard popping up and covering the game). Others discussed the game's similarity to existing word games like Boggle and suggested ways to differentiate it further. There was also a technical discussion about the implementation details, including suggestions for using different frameworks or optimizing the code. One commenter even delved into the algorithm used for word validation, offering potential enhancements.
A recurring theme in the comments was the importance of finding the right balance between simplicity and complexity. Some users appreciated the game's minimalist design, while others suggested adding features to enhance replayability. This sparked a conversation about the target audience and the potential for appealing to different player preferences.
Overall, the comments were a mix of positive feedback, constructive criticism, and technical discussions. The creator actively engaged with the commenters, responding to questions and acknowledging the suggestions. This interaction fostered a sense of community and contributed to a productive discussion about the game's potential.