14 DAY TRIAL // Do you know the games on FBI page? My favorite is "Most Wanted Words". You get a sheet filled with what appear to be random letters. But there is more than meets the eye as in all that jungle of letters there are some words hidden (those scrolling down in the left). The objective is to find them all in the least time possible. The downside is that there are only two sets of words available so you get pretty bored after a while. But I always come back from time to time to take a test (maybe they'll give a prize).
However, you can make your own game and sleuth for words. I've got just the software for you. Words Sleuth Generator is the newest on the market and as the name implies, it creates grids of words disguised by a plethora of random letters or even a message. The price for the educational application is $9.95 (a dropdown from $15.95), but you can try it for free and for as long as you want, provided that you are OK with the limitations of the demo version. These restrict printing the table, saving it and there is also a limitation on the number of words you can enter.
The developer provided a license for testing purposes only and as soon as the product was registered File menu was unlocked and all the options in there became fully functional (print, load, save and exporting to MS Word). Also, the number of words restriction will disappear.
The clean cut interface is quite appealing and compels you to give it a try. There is no way to fullscreen it but for the 15x15 grid it is more than appropriate. There are no hidden options (save for those in File menu which are locked by the demo version) so everything is out into the open. Ease of use is the pith of Word Sleuth Generator as the acme of option complexity is positioning the words in the grid (X/Y axis).
The greatest part of the interface is occupied by the grid which can be of either be a 15x15 square or a 30x30 one. For both options the maximum limit of words is seven. But unlike FBI's Most Wanted Words in Word Sleuth Generator you can also add numbers and special characters just to spice things up. Although these can be a clue to the elements to be discovered if you choose to populate the blank space with random letters.
Positioning the word in the grid can either be manual and the user introduces the coordinates him/herself or automatic (the application makes the decision). According to the three difficulty levels available (easy, medium and hard) the soon to be hidden elements can be placed vertically, horizontally, from right to left and vice versa, diagonally and upside down. Thus you have all the conditions to make the game as difficult and tough as you want.
After adding all the words you can fill the blank spaces with random letters or with a message of your own. If you are using special characters I suggest you fill the blank space with a message of your own and introduce those special characters as well. Otherwise, they'll be just identification elements for the word to be found.
In the right hand part of the application window, there are the words you have inserted in the grid along with their position and the direction of reading. If you misspelled a word there's no biggie as the developer implemented "Delete" option in the application. Simply choose your word from the drop down menu and delete it.
For the more experienced of you there is the advanced user grid: 30x30. It may seem to you that it is not too much fun in the demo version as only seven words are allowed, but trust me, make those words as short as possible and fill the blank space with random letters and you've got yourself a time killer.
An additional option of the program is Highlight function. As the name says it, this will make all the words stand out from the myriad of letters in the grid. It is a clear view of the solution and the positioning of the words. I guess this is to be used when the player gives up.
I wish there was another module of the software, one that allowed you to test yourself, just like in Most Wanted Words. Though the application has a small installer, it is equipped with many options and functions.
The Good
The application works fine and it is great to teach your kid some new words the fun way, or improve the observation skills.
It has three difficulty levels that make the job harder. You are allowed to fill the blank spots with your own message which can include any alphanumeric and special character.
The Bad
Though the price drop is a healthy move from the developer I was hoping for more options. Adding more features like a test module would greatly improve the value of the application.
The Truth
Word Sleuth Generator is a great educational application to use with your kids. You can teach them new words and accustom them to paying attention and reading between the lines (literally) in a fun absorbing way.
There is room for improvement and more options, but this is only version 0.6 so the developer still has time to make it more complex.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
