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Show HN: Zanagrams
71–80 of 114 posts
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#72Wow, this post blew up! Thank you everyone for all the helpful feedback. I’ve just deployed a few updates:
- Added a short playable tutorial for new players to learn how the game works.
- Added a timer below the grid. You can hide this in the settings if you don’t want the extra pressure!
- Fixed some bonus words based on your recommendations.
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#73I love it! But the bonus word (a word most player would miss) on 29/7 was not very subtle. No spoilers, but you won't miss it >.<
Haha just a common bird family. Get your head out of the gutter!
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#74I'm stuck. Does that mean I chose the wrong word earlier and used up an essential letter? Does the sequence of word guesses matter? Is there an Undo feature so I can back up and try a different order of guesses? Can I get a hint? Is there a way to give up and see the solution (order of word guesses)?
This was helpful feedback thank you. I've tried to make this more clear with a new tutorial and updataed instructions
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#75Fun game! On iOS I frequently triggered a double-tap zoom accidentally, and it’s weirdly difficult to zoom back out once that happens (a second double-tap doesn’t work, and pinch to zoom out only works in some areas of the page).
Fixed this thanks!
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#76Fun game. I found had trouble seeing the color contrast, so I modified the connection color by updating the CSS for .root.tile to #aaffff
Which colors specifically if you dont mind me asking?
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#77Wow, this post blew up! Thank you everyone for all the helpful feedback. I’ve just deployed a few updates: - Added a short playable tutorial for new players to learn how the game works. - Added a timer below the grid. You can hide this in the settings if you don’t want the extra pressure! - Fixed some bonus words based on your recommendations. I also made a bonus HN themed puzzle as a thanks for all the feedback - ht…
Tutorial was great! And I would like the option to give up.
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#78How is the puzzle generation? can you fully automate generating good puzzles or do you tune them by hand?
I really enjoyed this, and hope to continue doing so.
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#79How is the puzzle generation? can you fully automate generating good puzzles or do you tune them by hand? I really enjoyed this, and hope to continue doing so.
I have it semi automated but I've found they need to be manually reviewed to make fun puzzles.
Basically I start with an 8, 9 or 10 letter word as the core of the puzzle. I then have a generator add random letters and paths around this until it makes a grid with a good number of valid words.
I then run the words though GPT 5.5 which scores them on how "common" the word is to the average person. This is very subjective as everyone has very different vocabularies.
I then manually decide which words to include as core required words or bonus words.
Finally the puzzle is tested by my wife and mum to see if it is "fun" or it goes in the bin haha.
Re: Show HN: Zanagrams
#80Wow, this post blew up! Thank you everyone for all the helpful feedback. I’ve just deployed a few updates: - Added a short playable tutorial for new players to learn how the game works. - Added a timer below the grid. You can hide this in the settings if you don’t want the extra pressure! - Fixed some bonus words based on your recommendations. I also made a bonus HN themed puzzle as a thanks for all the feedback - ht…
A hint would maybe be good. You could highlight the first letter and a direction, for example.
The share functionality could be improved. Sharing the score and time to the specific puzzle would be nice.
Also I came back to this thread to comment that this is the most engaging, fun, and satisfying word puzzle game I've maybe ever played. My only complaint is that there aren't more puzzles!
Thanks for the fun :)