Official Scrabble app 'launches' on Facebook, unplayable in North America

by Scott Jon Siegel { Apr 8th 2008 at 9:00PM }

The official Scrabble Facebook application has recently launched, but don't expect the Scrabulous boys to be shaking in their word-savvy boots anytime soon. Copyright issues prevent the game from being played in the US and Canada, and numerous game-breaking bugs make it only slightly more playable everywhere else.

The region-locking is due to the confusing state of Scrabble's international copyright. In the majority of the world, toy manufacturer Mattel owns the rights to the game, but in North America, that honor goes to Hasbro. Everything would be honky dory with the Facebook version, except that EA already has an agreement with Hasbro to distribute digital versions of their titles, which the RealNetworks-developed Facebook app would be in breach of if Scrabble were playable in North America.

Fortunately, North Americans apparently aren't missing much: the game is currently suffering from the "beta blues", with its woefully-small user base already up in arms on the discussion boards over some usability issues, as well as the system's penchant for deleting in-progress games. Nothing beats the real thing, right?

[Via Purple Pawn]

Tags: facebook, hasbro, mattel, scrabble, scrabulous

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ross Miller @ Apr 8th 2008 6:17PM

"Nothing beats the real thing, right?"

Except maybe Scrabulous :)

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 8th 2008 9:50PM

Oh my god! A blogger in the comment section! =p

Scott Jon Siegel @ Apr 9th 2008 12:01AM

Er, that was the joke, Rossy. Sarcasm much? ^_^

Mr Khan @ Apr 8th 2008 9:10PM

I thought it was for spite, until i read the article

You know, all those web services like MTV Movies that won't display outside of America, so someone made something that was the exact opposite

Bucfann @ Apr 8th 2008 9:31PM

EA just has their hands in everything now dont they....

And not that I use Facebook or would even play the game there, but sometimes the whole idoicy of all this nonesense just gets pathetic and rediculous. Im talking about the 'breach' that is keeping this out of US and Canada.

Trickob @ Apr 8th 2008 9:31PM

oh man, we can't play scrabble online on facebook! that's so unfair! other continents are so lucky! I wish I lived in the middle east so i could play scrabble on facebook online! LAAAAAAME!

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 8th 2008 9:32PM

Available everywhere except America? Sounds like karma to me

Daniel Hogberg @ Apr 8th 2008 10:04PM

So the crappy, buggy Scrabble app is only available to non-Americans. Yep, sounds like karma to me too. :)

Neebs @ Apr 9th 2008 6:24AM

But it still doesn't go to Canada.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 9th 2008 9:22AM

Guilt by association?

Also, who plays scrabble online?

Cephas @ Apr 8th 2008 9:33PM

First Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, now this!

Scott Jon Siegel @ Apr 9th 2008 12:03AM

Okay, I'm *still* pissed about that.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 9:33PM

Haha Victory is mine!!!

Finally something outside the U.S and Canada, too bad is scrabble (I prefer monopoly) and too bad is in facebook.

Well you aren’t missing much.So far is impossible to Join a game since they are gone too fast.

After 5 minutes:

Now I'm playing a match but I don't know if its is still my turn since the other player isn't doing anything and I’m allowed to place words but not to play them

Nevermind it was the other player turn and She/he/it is taking ages. It seems that person is looking for hard words on the online dictionary so I guess everyone cheats in this game.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 9:37PM

For a game that’s not playable in the U.S or Canada it doesn't feel like it since the only language available is English.

Well the other player is still in reference.com so it might take a while.

Seriously the use of dictionaries makes this game more about luck than skill.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 9:41PM

Well it sucks,there is no time limit so you can just leave the other player hanging and you can create as many matches as you please so it turns into a patience game.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 9:55PM

I was so bored that I started to typed in Still alive lyrics in the chat window.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 9:58PM

I meant type in.

I only need 3 more letters to complete Quillibo.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 8th 2008 9:59PM

Is anyone else besides you allowed to join in this conversation?

Mr.ESC @ Apr 8th 2008 10:05PM

-No GTFO N00B

-Yeah no losers allowed.

-Lol

-Become an hero.

(Well I'm trying to post my first impressions also I have to wait for the other player to put a word and that happens every 10 minutes.)

Grimble Crumble @ Apr 8th 2008 10:20PM

I go to highschool with Chris Hansen's son.

rTwelve @ Apr 8th 2008 10:52PM

C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!

mr nimblewick @ Apr 9th 2008 12:03AM

It's proably like Scrabulous, where you are expected to play the game over a few days, not just in one sitting.

CaptBlackheart @ Apr 8th 2008 9:49PM

Crappy software from RealNetworks? Jeez, what's the world coming to, never thought I'd see the day.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 8th 2008 11:06PM

Fun factoid I had learned in class: Scrabble is actually a non-proprietary game, since its copyright had died a long time ago, but copyrights don't protect ideas but "the expression of an idea".

In other words, as long as Mattel/Hasbro re-issue newer editions of Scrabble, it's still a proprietary game (but only for the released editions).

It makes me wonder how Scrabulous is getting sued though, since Scrabulous is just an interpretation of a non-proprietary game, unless it's actually ripping off elements a recent re-edition. However, all I can say is "haha for Mattel".