SCRABBLE, the game that lasts and you never tire of.
Written: Dec 11 '03 (Updated Jan 11 '05)
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Pros: It's a timeless game that one never tires of.
Cons: letters move easily on board.
The Bottom Line: This game for ages 8 through to adult is always challenging and a good mental strength builder.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Milton Bradley Standard Scrabble |
Of all the board games we own, I have to say that the Milton Bradly Scrabble is most used by everyone in our household. My wife and I play endless hours together during the Christmas break she gets from teaching. Every night we light the fire and enjoy the game. We have treated ourselves to the deluxe set.
The standard game is what the kids play. Our daughters play against each other. My oldest daughter has games against her boy friend.
The Milton Bradley logo is on the game, however that brand is owned by Hasbro. Hasbro also owns Tonka, Playschool, Creative Play Toys, Parker Brothers Micro Machines, Transformers, and a host of other VERY popular companies.
A BIT of HISTORY
In 1931 an unemployed architect by the name of Alfred Mosher Butts dreamed up a game using letters to make words. In studying the New York Times Cross Words he figured out which were the most popular letters used. In turn he set up the game with just a certain amount of each letter depending on popularity. He also devised a scoring system by giving them value. The name of this game was Lexico. It was still quite a few changes away to being the game we play today.
This game never became popular, in fact no game companies were interested in it. He had shopped it to Parker Brothers and Milton Bradly. The other problem was that he could not get a patent on the game.
About seven years later he changed the game around a bit more. He developed it a bit further by setting up a game board and having the letters add to each other to make words that were attached to each other. A new name came to the game. It was called Criss-Crosswords.This game was more popular but was hindered by Mr Butts lack of business sense. Still no companies were interested and still no patent.
It wasn't until 1948 that a friend,James Brunot was interested in producing the game. This brought on a few more changes and after giving point value to premium squares they were able to get a patent and they called the new game SCRABBLE.
Further interest came to the game when the chairman of Macy's, who on vacation learned of the game, ordered them for the store and it immediately became a hit. The game played today is the same that started in 1948. In fact the seven tile draw, 15 x 15 board and letter point value are as Mr Butts had devised in 1938.
TODAY'S GAME
The Milton Bradley Standard game comes in a box that has been around for years. It can now be found in another new box. This one, that is red in colour, has a banner type look to it that highlights the word SCRABBLE. The original board is still available too.
I read that in the years since they called the game Scrabble well over one million games have been sold in over 125 countries and in 30 languages. This makes it the most popular board game in the world!
BASIC SET UP and RULES
The game comes with very clear instructions of how to play the game. I will give some general rules here.
From the game box you take out the board. This has 225 squares that are lined up 15 x 15 squares. On the board are certain "premium" squares that dictate extra point value from different uses.
The box has a pouch and in that pouch you will place the 100 wooden tiles that start the game. Each tile has a point value and only a predetermined amount of the particular letter.
Here is a listing of the letters, how many are in the game, and point value.
Letter
Number of tiles
Point value
A 9 1
B 2 3
C 2 3
D 4 2
E 12 1
F 2 4
G 3 2
H 2 4
I 9 1
J 1 8
K 1 5
L 4 1
M 2 3
N 6 1
O 8 1
P 2 3
Q 1 10
R 6 1
S 4 1
T 6 1
U 4 1
V 2 4
W 2 4
X 1 8
Y 2 4
Z 1 10
Blank 2 0 For ease of play this tile number and point value chart is printed on the board. A certain amount of strategy is used in determining statistical chances of picking up particular letters.
Four wooden tile holders, one for each player up to four players are placed in front of each player. Each player may have seven tiles on the tile holder. After tiles are used, that same amount are taken from the bag, once again giving a total of seven tiles.
Play goes clock wise. Each person in turn adds letters to the board to create words. The words are placed horizontally and vertically. No words may be made on the diagonal. Each word must be attached to other tiles. Points are scored by point value of the tile along with premium points depending on which premium square you are on.
Tiles may be added to the beginning of a word to make another one or the end or both.
Points are tallied each turn. More excitement comes into the game if someone challenges a word. Before the game players must agree on a word source for challenged words. Most dictionaries will do. There are particular dictionaries that are used for competition play. There is also an official word book that is available to people who belong to NSA, National SCRABBLE Association.
There are world wide tournaments of this game.
Over the years we have played the rules a bit more lenient at times depending on who is playing.
Play continues until all tiles are used or you predetermine a certain amount of time for play, perhaps one hour. Or the official 54 minutes and one last turn.
When all tiles that can be used are, points are deducted for any help tiles according to point value on the tile.
With the game come scoring charts. This keeps play and scoring orderly.
A FEW FURTHER NOTES
This game has been terrific in our household. It has given out family hours and hours of fun. I mentioned my wife and I have the deluxe game. Also available is a travel version. We have one and take it everywhere we vacation.
This game is wonderful for ages 8 and up. A real sharp 6 or 7 year old could follow it too.
When teaching young kids to play it is better to just get them making words. You can get to the rules at another time. Once the young ones are comfortable with the play, then you can start with the rules..
This is a game that my wife and I play at leisure. We will read a book or whatever while the other of us is taking a turn.
We have had games last for hours as we leisurely, yet competitively, played the game. If you do stop play, you can just leave the tiles in place for the next day. The tiles do move too easily and care must be taken to keep the letters on the board, as is.
Other family game reviews by popsrocks
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How to Host a Murder Mystery Great memories with this one!!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $10.00
Type of Toy: Board Game
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