Bogglific Backtalk

Mishap #5

Every mom, single or otherwise, needs an outlet. Dads have what... golf, ESPN, WingHouse?? Of course, every dad is different, just like every mom. Some women shop. Some women get their toes done. Me, I play Bogglific on Facebook. Or at least I did... until last week.

Until Hasbro chose to put the squeeze on the one frivolous thing in my life that has brought me so much happiness. For word nerds the world over, online Bogglific -- based on the Boggle game -- wasn't just a game. It was a full-on escape from our cares, our responsibilities, our jobs, in some cases... (I almost always played at night, for the record, in case my boss is reading this). :D

It was a little portal of pleasure through which we slipped, temporarily transformed into word superheros. We trained and honed our skill at visualizing words backward, diagonally, and in ever more twisted configurations. We stockpiled our ammo of small but obscure words -- like sei, hast, ort -- and we marveled at all of the places our fellow Bogglers came from -- Canada, the U.S., Singapore, Ireland, Australia, the Maldives. We raced each other against the clock.

But then the clock ran out on us when Hasbro decided the online version was too much like its physical counterpart. Granted, I do think intellectual property should be protected to a point. Money does stimulate creative thought. But so do open source emporiums like Facebook. And imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (and PR).

Most of us Bogglers simply hope that 1. Hasbro will work out some sort of deal with the creator of Bogglific, Roger Nesbitt, or 2. Roger will alter the application enough to satisfy Hasbro.

But don't just take it from me that Boggliphiles are passionate... Here are comments from just a few of the MORE THAN 2,000 MEMBERS of the Bogglific Petition for Hasbro.

Todd (Minneapolis, MN) wrote

Hasbro, if you take this from me, you are no longer my HasBRO, you are my HasENEMY! Don't ruin my fun.

Stone Hedge (India) wrote

HASBRO!!!!
I was introduced to this mind blowing game of Bogglific here on Facebook. In my entire 32 yrs of existence, this is the best game I have come across. Please keep this on so as to provide exposure to as many new people as can be. This will eventually help you in the long run, morally as well as economically!!

Katie (Michigan) wrote

My dear Bogglific,

I will miss you very much. I will always remember the good times we had together. The late night trysts. The hours of homework procrastination.

Thank you for all you have given me, especially my oddly huge vocabulary of three-letter words.

Love, Katie

Jan Brick (Boston, MA) wrote

Dear Hasbro,
I've become absolutely addicted to Boggle by playing Bogglific. I've gotten other people hooked too. I've bought Boggle games as gifts. It's the best game ever invented! With Bogglific I can play Boggle with my kids on the opposite Coast. It's a huge loss to so many people! Please reconsider.

Sarah Small (Knoxville, TN) wrote

Like many people, we bought the actual Boggle board game for Christmas BECAUSE we love playing on Facebook so much. Please don't take it away!

Adam (London) wrote

The mind boggles at Hasbro's stupidity

Lisa Dawson (Ann Arbor, MI) wrote
Without Bogglific, how shall I waste my time? At least this keeps me off the street and away from crack. Thanks Hasbro, guess I will have to be an addict on something else.

Joe Persico (Saint John, NB) wrote

Petition signed by Joe Persico, of Moncton NB, Canada. The 860th best player on bogglific.

Boggle is the only thing Im good at, and without, I pretty much suck. Hasbro, if I could personify you I would punch you in your corporate face.

Good day Sir

That pretty much says it all...

Valuable Lesson Learned: If you toy with word game addicts, be prepared for a slew of three and four-letter critical words.

Boggle cube graphic by Ken Sim, posted to Bogglific Petition for Hasbro.