Text Mate

Game Description: How many words do you really know? Try and complete these words given just a few letters. Any word that matches will work - but answer quickly or your time will run out.

How to Play Text Mate: Text Mate has two different games you can play: 'Rapid Fire Mode' or 'Puzzler Mode'.

How to Play Text Mate 'Rapid Fire Mode':

• Select 'Rapid Fire Mode'.
• You begin the game with 2 minutes on the clock.
• For each word, you will be given the first 3 letters.
• Use your keyboard to type in the remaining letters. (If you do not know how to touch-type, you can use your mouse to click on each letter from the letter board but you will be at a considerable disadvantage).
• Use your 'Backspace' key to remove the last letter inserted.
• Try to spell any acceptable word.
• You may use the same word more than once.
• When you are playing the 'Rapid Fire Mode', Text Mate will show you how many possible word matches there are based on the letters currently on the board. For instance, if you see Matches: l, you know that there is only one possible acceptable word. If you see Matches: 27, you know that there are 27 possible acceptable words. The possible matches change with each letter you insert. So, watch this carefully. If you see Matches: 0, you will need to use your 'Backspace' key to remove at least one letter because, obviously, you have made a mistake.
• When you successfully spell an acceptable word, the letters you inserted will turn orange to match the first 3 given letters... and it is on to the next word.
• For each successful word you spell you will earn points, and time is added to the clock.
• The game ends when you run out of time!

How to Play Text Mate 'Puzzler Mode':

• Select 'Puzzler Mode'.
• For each word, you will be given the first 3 letters.
• Use your keyboard to type in the remaining letters. (If you do not know how to touch-type, you can use your mouse to click on each letter from the letter board but you will be at a considerable disadvantage).
• Use your 'Backspace' key to remove the last letter inserted.
• Try to spell any acceptable word.
• You may use the same word more than once.
• When you successfully spell an acceptable word, the letters you inserted will turn orange to match the first 3 given letters... and it is on to the next word.
• You get 20 seconds to solve each word.
• Your goal is to solve as many words as you can.
• The game ends when you run out of time!

Text Mate Playing Tips:

• If you know how to touch-type, definitely use your keyboard. It is much faster than trying to search for letters on the letter board, and then have to click each letter individually with your mouse.
• Use plurals. For instance, is you are given the first 3 letters of CAB, and the word is six letters long, you could use the word CABINS. It is usually easier to think of a five lettered word and add an 'S', rather than coming up with a six letter word without the 'S'.
• Use suffixes such as 'ED', and 'ING'. Just like adding an 'S' to make a word plural, adding suffixes to the end of words makes it much easier to form those longer words.
• Use the same word more than once when you can. For instance, I have noticed that I am often given the first 3 letters of EXH for a seven letter word. I always use the word EXHALES. Why? Because I know it will work. So, why bother coming up with a different answer?

Richard's Rating: 3 out of 5.

Pro: Text Mate is a lively and fun word game. Yes, it is perhaps a bit on the easy side. But, eventually you will get tripped up with a word you don't know.

Con: The only complaint I have about Text Mate, is that sometimes you will get a repeat word. That kind of puts a little damper on things. But, other than that, you should find the game a pleasure to play.