#Getting over it game pretentious software

But this game was never about showing off our vocabulary вЂ“ and now, if it has become a game just for those with extensive vocabularies, then perhaps it is time to hang up our Wordle-boots. I used to pride myself on my vocabulary, having scored very highly in spelling bees and verbal aptitude tests throughout my life, so this did sting a little! Yes, I should go and read more books, and learn more 5-letter words вЂ“ we could all do with reading more. When I tweeted about how I feel Wordle has changed, I was baffled to receive so many aggressive messages by people who felt personally affronted, many of whom accused me of holding bias against The NYT and many who suggested that I go and read more and increase my vocabulary so that I wouldnвЂ™t find the game so hard. There is a real fear that Wordle is becoming exclusive, and that the joy has been sucked of it out by the subtle veneer of pretentiousness added by association with The New York Times. Perhaps the new owners want to weed out those who are not as clever, and then monetise the experience for those who are deemed more intellectual. From a one-man show, it has become part of this large media empire. Perhaps there is a sense that what was a common personвЂ™s game has now been taken over by a corporation. We were not the only ones feeling this and it seems to be a broader sentiment on Twitter, at least, where many Wordlers have come together to post their yellow, green and grey grids. вЂњThey are out to trick usвЂќ someone commented and although we sent each other laughing face emojis, I couldnвЂ™t help but wonder if there is some truth in this. We joked that we were becoming slower and stupider, but secretly felt aggrieved at how the previously joyful game now seemed frustrating. I spoke to a few other people in our Wordle WhatsApp group who had started wondering if the game had become harder recently. Maybe itвЂ™s just my tired and jet-lagged brain, I thought and persevered. And, then I noticed that it was becoming trickier. I was overseas and was still using the same site for accessing the game. I read this news but wasnвЂ™t aware of when the transition had happened. Then The New York Times bought the game from Wardle for an undisclosed 7-figure sum. It somehow seemed stripped of any pretentiousness. It seemed to bring people together from all walks of life, whether they were big readers or not, and no matter how extensive their vocabulary was. Anyone with internet access, on a phone or their computer, could play this from anywhere in the world.

#Getting over it game pretentious software

Wardle had refused to monetise it and the game was available without any complicated software to download, and no subscription needed. The simplicity of the game, the regular endorphin release we got from solving the daily challenge, and how accessible it was all combined to create a phenomenon.ДЄnother reason why people loved Wordle so much was because of the ethos behind it. I tried to also evangelically convert my family with regular updates and messages in our family WhatsApp group. I played it every midnight as soon as the new game was released, and I wrote about it in glowing terms.

Not Josh Wardle the creator of this game, although I admit having some loving feelings towards him for designing such a simple yet brilliant distraction. Let me start off by saying that I have loved Wordle for a while. We joked that we were becoming slower and stupider, but secretly felt aggrieved at how the previously joyful game now seemed frustrating (Getty)