Literati (game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Literati | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Yahoo! Games, Beiks LLC (Palm OS), MVP Software (Windows) |
| Designer(s) | Diana Gruber, Bob Provencher |
| Engine | Java (Yahoo web browser version) |
| Release date(s) | 1994, 2002(Yahoo! browser version) |
| Genre(s) | Word game |
| Mode(s) | Single player (offline), Multiplayer only (online) (2-4 players) |
| Platform(s) | Web browser, Windows, Palm OS |
| Media | Web, Download |
Literati is a computer-based word game, originally created by Diana Gruber and Bob Provencher between 1990 and 1994. Its most popular incarnation is played through a browser on the Yahoo! Games network, although versions have also been released for Palm OS devices and Microsoft Windows. The game is a variant of Scrabble.
[edit] Gameplay
Two to four players take turns forming words crossword-style. Like Scrabble, Literati is played on a 15x15 grid. Tiles are placed on the intersections to make words. There are bonus intersections that have higher values and can raise the value of a word played on them. Scores for each turn are determined by totalling the point value of the tiles played and adding any bonuses gained on that turn. The first player forms a word covering the center intersection. All of the players then in turn play off the tiles already on the board to make new words. The game is over when all the tiles have been played or no player can make a valid word with the tiles he or she has left. At the end of the game the scores for each turn are added up, and a score is taken away for the number of remaining tiles. The player with the highest total score is the winner.
Literati differs from Scrabble in that there isn't a set pool of tiles which players draw from, rather there is a likelihood of drawing each letter. This means that a game could have multiple Qs or none at all, whereas there is always exactly one Q in a Scrabble game. Also, point values for the letters range from 1 to 5, and a letter's value is determined based on its likelihood of being drawn. There are always four blanks in a game of Literati, and each player is given one blank in their opening set of tiles. Additionally, "bingo" plays are worth 35 points in Literati compared to 50 points in Scrabble.
