Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Author Topic: Scrabble without the Scrabble®  (Read 3292 times)

Casey Buck

  • Member
  • Posts: 992
Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« on: January 24, 2021, 10:57:59 PM »
I think it's a shame that a clue-based Scrabble hasn't been done in nearly 30 years. The primary thing that has stymied a revival (and for that matter, reruns on Buzzr) is Hasbro and possibly Exposure Unlimited.

So that got me thinking, can you do a Kirkland Signature version of Scrabble without infringing on Hasbro's IP?

There's only three things that you'd have to change that I could think of:

1. The name, obviously.
2. The tiles to determine the letters to place. Maybe change that to just simply picking two numbers, like on the 1990 pilot.
3. The pink and blue square bonus money mechanic.

Other than that, isn't the rest of the game Fremantle's domain?

TLEberle

  • Member
  • Posts: 15578
  • Rules Constable
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2021, 11:36:28 PM »
I mean, Camouflage was pretty dang close.
Travis L. Eberle

parliboy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1726
  • Which of my enemies told you I was paranoid?
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2021, 01:07:32 AM »
So that got me thinking, can you do a Kirkland Signature version of Scrabble without infringing on Hasbro's IP?

So basically, make a Words with Friends game show?
"You're never ready, just less unprepared."

Strikerz04

  • Member
  • Posts: 953
  • The Money Will be Spent
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2021, 01:41:54 AM »
So that got me thinking, can you do a Kirkland Signature version of Scrabble without infringing on Hasbro's IP?

So basically, make a Words with Friends game show?


Bingo.
(and that's also not a name suggestion, either)

Joe Mello

  • Member
  • Posts: 3420
  • has hit the time release button
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2021, 11:09:48 PM »
So that got me thinking, can you do a Kirkland Signature version of Scrabble without infringing on Hasbro's IP?
I'm semi-joking, but my suggestion is "Caesar's Challenge without the Caesar's"
This signature is currently under construction.

parliboy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1726
  • Which of my enemies told you I was paranoid?
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2021, 02:00:12 PM »
I'm semi-joking, but my suggestion is "Caesar's Challenge without the Caesar's"

That just won't work.  You can't have Caesar without the dressing.
"You're never ready, just less unprepared."

PYLdude

  • Member
  • Posts: 8224
  • Still crazy after all these years.
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2021, 07:53:15 PM »
So that got me thinking, can you do a Kirkland Signature version of Scrabble without infringing on Hasbro's IP?

So basically, make a Words with Friends game show?


Bingo.
(and that's also not a name suggestion, either)

Weren’t they actually attempting to do this?
I suppose you can still learn stuff on TLC, though it would be more in the Goofus & Gallant sense, that is (don't do what these parents did)"- Travis Eberle, 2012

“We’re game show fans. ‘Weird’ comes with the territory.” - Matt Ottinger, 2022

Casey Buck

  • Member
  • Posts: 992
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2021, 08:46:55 PM »
So basically, make a Words with Friends game show?
Not quite. When I referred to Scrabble, I meant "TV Scrabble", as in the Woolery 80s version (complete with the punny clues and the Sprints). Is there a solid enough game there without having the Scrabble chrome?

parliboy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1726
  • Which of my enemies told you I was paranoid?
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2021, 02:34:23 PM »
Is there a solid enough game there without having the Scrabble chrome?

Yes... if the quality of the presentation itself is high enough.  Political considerations set aside, Chuck's hosting style was anything but cookie cutter.  He knew how to steer the ship, and he knew when to let the ship steer itself.   Too many "hosts" don't know how to do that.
"You're never ready, just less unprepared."

Clay Zambo

  • Member
  • Posts: 2012
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2021, 03:05:32 PM »
When I referred to Scrabble, I meant "TV Scrabble", as in the Woolery 80s version (complete with the punny clues and the Sprints). Is there a solid enough game there without having the Scrabble chrome?

The game is certainly entertaining enough. If you want some way to connect one answer to another, it could be last-letter-of-one-answer-becomes-first-answer-of-the-next.
czambo@mac.com

Neumms

  • Member
  • Posts: 2373
Re: Scrabble without the Scrabble®
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2021, 01:25:31 AM »
2. The tiles to determine the letters to place. Maybe change that to just simply picking two numbers, like on the 1990 pilot.

I've had the same idea. The letters could pop up at random how they did in the Scrabble Sprint. I'd also love to see them play the Sprint alternating turns using something akin to a chess clock, like Grand Slam.