royleban - showroom of unique products for sale on Ponoko

WIM - the every which way word game

royleban — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:47:12 GMT

WIM - the every which way word game Players compete to score the most points by forming interlocking words in all directions, using square letter tiles, most of which can be used in more than one direction or as more than one letter. Players receive bonuses for using a previously played tile as a letter it wasn’t used as previously, for changing the orientation of a word, or for using all seven tiles on their rack in a single play. English has 26 letters, but WIM only has 19 distinct tiles. Eight of the tiles are ambiguous and can be read as two different letters, depending on the orientation of the tile, and three of the tiles may be used as the same letter in more than one orientation. The first prototype was drawn with a Sharpie. The second prototype used transparent labels. Now it’s Ponoko!

Puzzle Coasters

royleban — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:55:45 GMT

Put these jigsaw puzzle pieces on your table, where they can serve as handy coasters. When you get bored, see what words you can make with the letters on them. When you’re warmed up, go for the real challenge -- arrange all 16 puzzle pieces in a 4x4 grid, so that you get four words reading across and four different words reading down. Don’t give up too easily! Once you’ve solved it, scramble the letters and leave it for guests to play with when they’re finished with their drinks. Sets come in two colors, with vowels in one color and consonants in another color. I can also create customized versions of this puzzle.

Word Dominoes Puzzle

royleban — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:57:01 GMT

A dominoes puzzle with words instead of pips! These word dominoes combine, in pairs, to form phrases and compounds words. Lay out the dominoes to make a solid rectangle, five words wide by eight words high, in which all connected dominoes form phrases and compound words. All of the words on the dominoes will face in the same direction, but you will have to read some pairs from right to left or upwards for them to make sense.