Trickster (board game)

{{Short description|Word-based board game}}

{{Full citations needed|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox game

| subject_name = Trickster

| players = 2–4

| ages = 8+

| setup_time = 2–6 minutes

| random_chance = Medium (letters drawn)

| skills = Anagraming, bluffing, mathematics, spelling, strategy, vocabulary

}}

Scrabble Trickster is a word game created by Mattel and announced on 6 April 2010, designed as a spin-off to one of the company's products, Scrabble. Mattel intends to sell the product in Europe starting in July 2010, but not in North America, because the company owns the rights to Scrabble and its derivatives worldwide except for in North America, where rival company Hasbro holds control of the game.

Rule differences

Trickster has rules that are similar to those of Scrabble, with some notable differences. The new game occasionally allows words such as proper nouns to be used, as well as words that are spelled backwards. Players can also be allowed to "steal" letter tiles from other players. Players can only execute these moves when they place a word on specially marked squares that ask that the player draws a randomly chosen card, which contains instructions that may include one of the previously mentioned actions.

Reception

The initial announcement of the new game brought forward some controversy when widespread media announcements{{cite web |title=Game Changer: Scrabble Amends The Rules |website=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327011754/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125614564 |archive-date=2023-03-27 |url-status=live |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125614564}}[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-scrabble-to-allow-proper-names/ New Scrabble to Allow Proper Names][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8604625.stm BBC: Proper nouns come into play in Scrabble rule change]{{Cite web |url=http://jeffvrabel.com/2010/04/06/scrabble-allows-proper-nouns-a-nation-mourns-its-lost-innocence/ |title=Scrabble allows proper nouns; a nation mourns its lost innocence |access-date=2011-03-30 |archive-date=2011-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603094606/http://jeffvrabel.com/2010/04/06/scrabble-allows-proper-nouns-a-nation-mourns-its-lost-innocence/ |url-status=dead }} implied that the rules to Scrabble would be changing, before learning that the new rules would in fact apply to a newly developed game.[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125676618 No Proper Nouns In Scrabble]{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2010/04/06/don-t-panic-proper-nouns-will-not-be-allowed-in-scrabble.aspx |title=Proper Nouns Will Not Be Allowed in Scrabble |access-date=2011-03-30 |archive-date=2011-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605223352/http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2010/04/06/don-t-panic-proper-nouns-will-not-be-allowed-in-scrabble.aspx |url-status=dead }} Criticism of the newly introduced variant typically refers to the game as a "dumbed down" version of Scrabble, made to appeal to more casual players who are more familiar with the names of celebrities than lesser known words from the Scrabble dictionary. Mattel acknowledges that the changes are made to appeal to a larger audience, especially to a younger audience.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |accessdate=2019-01-22 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/scrabble-endures-trickster-is-new-game-1.918456 |title=Scrabble endures: Trickster is new game |work=CBC News |publisher=CBC |date=2010-04-07 }}

{{cite web |accessdate=2010-04-07 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20001840-52.html |title=The sky isn't falling: Scrabble rules aren't changing |work=CNET News |publisher=CNET |date=2010-04-06 |author=Terdiman, Daniel }}

{{cite magazine |accessdate=2010-04-07 |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1978438,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409060505/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1978438,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2010 |title=Why Has Scrabble Changed Its Rules? |magazine=Time |publisher=Time Warner |date=2010-04-07 |author=Handley, Meg }}

}}

{{Scrabble}}

Category:Mattel games

Category:Scrabble variants

Category:Board games introduced in 2010