Rules and Objectives:
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Objective: Evolve words -- any dictionary words -- starting with a
random Mother.
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To play, click on the Child in the grid that is closest to becoming a
word. Think ahead. Some letter combinations are part of many different
words.
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Each character in each Child has an equal chance of changing. Words with
changed letters and words shifted to the right or left are displayed in
colors.
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To play competitively, open a browser tab for each player.
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Feel free to make your own objectives. You may play to accumulate high
scores, or you may play against a timer. You may try for difficult words,
or you may select words in advance, You may try to form sentences. Since
itatsi does not currently support one and two
letter words, you may assume they exist for your sentences. If there is a
demand for one and two letter words, this capability will be added.
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If you make a full word of the selected length, your score for that word
is doubled.
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The validation dictionaries are hopefully free of spelling errors, but no
word list is complete and without controversy.
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Strategy:
Higher scores are awarded for longer words. Embedded worded are scored
automatically. Some words may have half a dozen embedded words. You may play
for finding embedded words, or you may try for the bonus awarded for finding
ten full words of the selected length. The game length enables competitively
play.
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This game does not allow you to rearrange letters, although shifting
happens as a kind of mutation. Your strategy therefore will include
selecting patterns that are favorable based on the position of letters.
The letter S, for example, is often useful at the end of a word, because
many words have plural forms ending in S.
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itatsi does not weigh the frequency of letters
according to usage in language. Every letter in the alphabet has an equal
probability of appearing. Except for the unfortunate compression of
non-English alphabets, itatsi is language neutral.
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The algorithm that mutates letters has no memory and is not influenced by
the current score, the current language, or by the potential for forming
words.
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Colors are visual aids to help you scan for changed words. The colors
have no other significance.
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Sometimes two or more words will appear simultaneously in the grid. You
cannot score both in one round. Your strategic move is to score the one
that is most likely to produce additional words as a Mother.
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Based on "Weasel" as described by Richard Dawkins
Weasel Javascript
algorithm coded by Wesley R. Elsberry.
Game concept, scoring, coding and design by Midwifetoad
Itatsi coded using Macromedia HomeSite 5.5
Weasel Words Game concept, scoring, coding and design are the
intellectual property of James L. Sowder.
All Right Reserved. The trade name Weasel Words applies to
the word game implemented by this web page, and to the underlying concept,
the user interface, and the scoring system. This game may not be hosted on
any web site without the express permission of the author.
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