For anyone else reading, the limited time beta download of this is at
http://www.windowsgames.co.uk/download/ ... p-beta.exe
More feedback:
System: Windows XP 32-bit, work machine, rubbish integrated video card, no direct x installed.
Wordstorm installed fine, and offered to install Direct X 9. I declined.
While using GDI+ fallback rendering performance was bad, very jerky. I then installed Dirext X 9 using a Microsoft installer, and the game then ran very nicely even with the integrated rubbish video card (not surprising since its only using 2D features of direct x!).
Might be good to add a help menu option that is present if direct x is not yet installed that offers to install direct x so people always have the option (eg 'Install DirectX for better performance').
I downloaded the new version, the instructions page looks nicely clear of device references now. Eventually would be nice to see a button that does the same as shake did - re-arranging letters would be handy. I
Also gameplay ideas:
The response when finding one of the words not in the official list is a little disheartening - what if doing so gave bonus points instead that have some kind of value. eg they could be used to reveal random letters of official words in the list below as hints to help find them - or they could be added once you get 100% so you can get scores over 100% (but not count towards the initial 100%).
Also a different sound effect for surrendering above a certain threshold complete (eg 80% or 90%) would be friendlier (perhaps a slow clap or people making a non-committal 'hrmm' instead of booing).