|
| Q
Why are
all my Scrabble game emails now being sent to me on
scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk
? |
|
A On
the weekend, of April 5th 2014 many service
providers took the advice of an organisation called
DMARC.org
They
published a document telling their subscribers, (the service
providers) to block all emails, if the domain name of the sender in
the From field does not match the domain name from which
the emails were sent from. Our only option was to send all Scrabble games
emails to all players on
scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk which matches our web site's domain
name thepixiepit.co.uk
If we
had not done that, no players would never receive any of
their game emails, making our Scrabble by email web site useless for
them. So, there is no reason why you cannot receive your game
emails, if you add,
scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk to your Contacts or Safe List, as
all of your game emails are now being sent to you, on that email
address.
Please
also check, you are not marking game postings as spam, and sending
them to a Junk Mail/Spam/Trash/Delete folder. |
|
| Q
Why do my
Scrabble game emails arrive in my Junk Mail or Spam folder? |
|
A
It is probably due to
the “way” your email program perceives emails, many email programs
will deem emails as junk because they contain embedded hyperlinks,
these are the links to your games. Once you have “told” your email
program your Scrabble game emails are NOT Junk or Spam, they
should arrive in your Inbox. To do that, highlight a game email and
click on Not Junk, or Not Spam. |
|
| Q
Is
Java required to play Scrabble here? |
|
A Yes
Java is required here, it is used to draw the game boards, and for
Instant Scoring. Java is perfectly safe to use, it's used in in
thousands of applications worldwide, without it, many web pages
would not function. You can securely download Java click here |
|
| Q
I started a new game
as player 1, and no Scrabble game invite was sent to me? |
|
A The game sends all the
Scrabble game emails out automatically, we have no control over their arrivals at the other end sorry.
Please
check you are not blocking
scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk as
all of your game emails are sent to you on that email address. |
|
| Q
Can I play the game using an iPhone, or iPad? |
| A
Yes you can. When logged into your game, place your finger on the
square where you want your word to begin, and a keyboard will pop up on
your iPhone's screen, tap the letter you want to play, and proceed to
the next square, repeat the process as is explained above, until you have
completed your word(s), then tap the keyboards Go Key. You can also
drag your board, to make it larger on your iPhone's screen. Special
thanks to Suzy of Quinnipiac University, for testing the game using an
iPhone. |
|
| Q
Can I play the game using the Kindle Fire HD? |
| A
Yes you can,
when
you enter your letter using the keyboard, say for an example the letter
A. The letter entered appears in orange at the top left-hand side of the
keyboard. Tapping on the orange letter sets it in the square, so when
you move to the next square, the letter does not disappear. You have to
do that for each of letters you enter, just tap on the orange letter at
the top left-hand side of the keyboard. As of the 28th of March 2013,
Kindle users are telling us placing tiles is now very difficult, and
Instant Scoring does not work properly. We can only assume they have recently updated their Operating System,
and that is causing the issues, as nothing has changed our end. One
Kindle user told us this:-
Kindle users must go into the
"Private Browsing Mode" in the "Silk Browser" when making Scrabble plays
through The Pixie Pit.
To do that:
Open the Silk Browser
Click on the "menu" bars (right hand side of the screen about in the
center.
A box will pop up "Enter Private Browsing"
Click on it and then go to our game website.
It appears to work very well.
Kindle's Silk is not allowing the operation to function in the normal
mode of the Silk Browser. |
|
| Q
Can I play the game using my Nokia mobile phone with the Windows 8.1
platform? |
| A
Yes you can, but for some odd reason it does not support the java
scripting used for Instant Scoring. When Instant Scoring is being used,
you cannot enter your letters in the form fields on your boards, but
they can be entered if Instant Scoring is switched off. Players can
always use the Compute Score button, if they want to know the total
points for their plays, before they post them. |
|
| Q
I just
took my turn, and the score was credited to my opponent, help? |
|
A That
can only happen if players reply to their own game emails. All game
emails are sent by the game, many players see them as personal
emails, sent to them by their opponents', they then reply to them,
and in doing so, they are sending their opponents' everything they
need, to login as them, and take their turn. The game will therefore
correctly credit your opponent with the play(s) you made, since the
game assumes, you are the opponent. If you ever reply to a
game email, always edit out your tiles, and passwords.
|
|
| Q
I can see
you use verification codes, just what are they please? |
|
A Verification
codes are used to validate the email addresses used. For some weird
reason, some players create games, using fake email addresses. So if
that is the case, they will never receive their game invites, and
the verification code therein, which is needed to open a new game.
Using fake email addresses, is totally pointless, in an email based
game by the way !
|
|
| Q
Is there
any way for the game to remember the email addresses and player names, I
enter in their respective form fields, as it's such a drag having to
repeatedly having to type them in? |
|
A The
game will not "remember" them, but if your web browser supports Auto
Complete, that function will. Please be extra careful when entering
email addresses used in your games however, as if they are entered
in error, they will always be in error. For information on turning
on Auto Complete for Microsoft's
Internet Explorer, please
click here.
|
|
| Q
My
friend has started a new game, yet I haven't had the email? |
|
A This
is the most frequent problem we receive here. 99% of the time it is
a typographical error made in an email address when creating a new
game. We ask you to make sure email addresses are correct. At other
times, it is down to players blocking email addresses. Please add
scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk to your allowed list, as
all of your game emails are sent to you on that email address.
|
|
| Q
I
have been invited to a game that I do not want to participate in,
nor did I ask to be invited. I feel you are abusing my address,
please remove it off your site. |
| A
We
do not create the games being played here, nor do we keep a database
of email addresses. All games are created by the players
themselves. If you feel your address is being misused, please
forward your game invite to us, with the explicit wish that you want
that game deleted. We are also not responsible for the misuse of any
email addresses used to create a game here. |
|
| Q
How
does my annual subscription work? |
| A
You
decide which email address you want to use for your games. Once you
have subscribed, that email address is entered as paid, in the
subscription database software. Each time you play, your email
address is checked by the software, and if it is found as
subscribed, it lets you continue playing, this only takes a few
milliseconds. It is VITAL players only use their subscribed
email addresses, for all of their games. Each subscribed email
address is unique to that player. If players use a variation of
their subscribed email address, they will be asked to subscribe it.
So if you have duel domain names, like .com and .net, please only
use the email address you subscribed. |
|
| Q
My
game updates appear as if they are written by my opponent(s), so
would they know my passwords, and tray letters? |
| A
No, the
game creates the updates, none of your opponents' would know that
information. All they may input is, the optional message they may
send. |
|
| Q
I
have subscribed, and it is amazing value, for 12 months of unlimited
games. However, when I login to my game, I am taken to the page,
where I am asked to subscribe. Why is this? |
| A
Players
will only be asked to subscribe, if they are not using the email
address, they subscribed. Many players are creating new games, using
email addresses, that are not subscribed. Players should only use
their subscribed email address, for all of their games. |
|
| Q
I am
already subscribed, but I have since changed my Internet Service
Provider. How do I subscribe my new email address? |
| A
Please forward your currently subscribed email address, and your
new email address to
Admin.
They will then transfer your subscription.
|
|
| Q
I am
already subscribed. How can I subscribe a friend? |
| A
If
you wish to subscribe a friend, please
click
here. Please only subscribe, the email address, they use for
their games. |
|
| Q
I
use AOL version 8, every time I try to login, my screen freezes up,
why? |
| A
AOL
admit this is a bug in their browser. The fix is this. Click on
Settings - Preferences (on the AOL toolbar). Click on Internet
Properties. Click on Shopping Assistant tab. Uncheck the option for
'View the shopping assistant'. |
|
| Q
I
have had my game update posting, advising me it is my turn next, yet
the Login page is telling me it is my opponents turn? |
| A
Your
are viewing the cached copy of the Login page that is stored in your
temporary internet folders on your local drive. All you have to do
is refresh/reload the Login page to view the most recent copy on the
remote server. |
|
| Q
How
do I actually form a word, or words? |
| A
You
place your pointer/cursor into the small white field of your choice,
and type in the letter you wish to use, from your letter tray, using
your keyboard. You do this until you have formed your desired word,
or words, by selecting the adjacent small white field etc. All
plays must either read from left to right, or top to bottom. You
cannot spell words backwards, unless they are palindromic of course! |
|
| Q
I have
selected to receive game updates, of my own plays, but I never receive
them?! |
| A
Game
updates of your own plays, are sent on scrabble@thepixiepit.co.uk Please make sure, you are not blocking that address. |
|
| Q
The
game keeps telling me I don't have a particular letter in my tray, but
I have?! |
| A Many
players try a word on the board, then see something better, but leave
the other word on the board. That would give you an error screen. |
|
| Q
I
can't find my game? |
|
A
Any games that have had no play for the days we specify between play will
have expired. Expired games are deleted to maintain server disk space.
They cannot be recovered.
Once
Player 1 has started your game, all players receive an email. This
email contains information as to that Players score, whose turn it is
next, and the embedded URL, (place where your game is), plus other
information. The game never forgets this information, so all you need
to do is either click on the embedded URL, or copy and paste it into
your Browser. This will take you to your Game Room, scroll down until
you see your player names and click on them. This will take you to
your game board Login page.
Please
do not use the link to your actual game in your Favourite Folders. The
game changes as each player takes their turn, any cached pages will
differ from the actual game, and the results are confusing to the
player! An example would be. The game is telling you it is your turn
when it is in fact your opponents turn, or vice versa.
|
|
| Q
I used to use the minus sign - to play my blank tile. Can I still use
it? |
|
A
To play your blank, just type in the required field, the letter you
wish your blank to represent. It will appear in red, with no
subscript score. You can still use the minus sign if you wish, your
blank will then appear as a blank! Advanced
Tip: If you are playing a blank that coincides with a letter you
already have (you have one S, one blank but need to spell a word with
two S's, then it might be best to use "-", the minus sign,
to play the blank explicitly so the program knows WHERE the
blank should go. Blanks have no score value.
|
|
| Q
I want to change my
options, like my password or address. How do I do that? |
| A
You can change your options on turn of play. Click on the link your
wish to use at the top of the Game Board page. If you want to use the
Tiny Tiles feature, you have to be using Microsoft's Internet
Explorer, have java scripting enabled, and screen resolution 800 x
600. DO
NOT use these options if you intend to challenge the previous players play. |
|
|
Q I
click on my game's URL and get this weird message saying my board.txt
can't be found?
|
|
A This
arises when games have been deleted. All new games, where players have
not started their first turns, within 2 days expire. Unfinished games older than 10 days
are automatically deleted. We have to do this due to the demand of the
game. If you have exceptional circumstances that require more than 10 days to take your turn, please contact us. It can also arise if your
mail program does not support embedded hyper text mark-up language
(HTML) links or URL's as they are know as. In this case, copy and
paste the entire link to your game, into your web browser's
window that you use to access the web, then click on Go, or whatever
your browser uses.
|
|
| Q
I'm
part way through my game, yet I haven't had the email telling me it's
my turn next? |
|
A
This
occurrence is due to mail server delays and beyond our control. You
can always check the status of your game by going online and viewing
your board.
|
|
| Q
I
accidentally hit my Return key before completing my word(s). How can I
correct this? |
| A
Players
can correct errors, by using the Correct Play link found on the
end of play page. If you are not on that page, just Login and click on
Correct Play. Only use that link, if your opponent has not played
since you made your error. |
|
| Q
I'm
playing several games, and my email address has changed. Do I have to
start all over? |
| A
No,
Players can always change email addresses on turn of play. You do
this by clicking on the Change Your Address link at the top of the game
board page. |
|
| Q
How do I
challenge a play? |
| A
We do
ask players to agree which dictionaries to use, prior to play, in the
new game invite. If a word(s) played is not in the dictionary agreed,
then that play can be removed using the Challenge Play link found at the top right hand of your game board page. |
|
| Q
How do
I remove a players last play? |
|
A
You
can only remove the previous player's play, assuming it
is an incorrect play. You cannot use the Challenge Play to correct your own errors, nor can it be used, if the incorrect
play was made two or more plays back in the game. If a word is challenged,
it is removed, and its
points deducted. This effectively makes the player who played the
incorrect play lose their turn. A challenge removes all the
previous player's words played,
even if some of the words are valid.
An challenge will not work if you have just changed to Tiny Tiles, or
changed your address and password.
All that
will do is, remove those changes you have made. It
is possible for the game to check any plays made against the
dictionary DBase. This however would soon grind the server to a halt,
due to so many simultaneous lookups of plays made.
Players
can challenge, and remove the final play in the game. There is a link in the Game Over
posting, asking the next player if they feel the play is incorrect, to
remove that final play.
|
|
| Q
The game keeps telling me my play in invalid. What am I
doing wrong? |
| A
You cannot play one word here, and another one
somewhere else on the board. Also, you cannot play a word onto
another, then play onto, or across the first word you played. An
example would be, you play GONE onto an E already on the board, then
play GOAT off the G in GONE. That is not allowed in Scrabble! You can
only play onto, across, or adjacent to an existing word on the
board, and only once! |
|
| Q
I can't make a word. How do I swap my letters, or skip
my turn? |
| A
Click on Swap Letters, select which letters you wish to
swap, then click on Skip Turn. If you cannot swap your letters if the
letter bag has less than 7 tiles, just click on Skip Turn. Play then
passes to the next player. |
|
| Q
My
friend and I can't finish our game, neither of us can play a word, or
swap our letters. What do we do? |
|
A
In
circumstances like this, a "stalemate" scenario, the game will
compute you scores by subtracting the value(s) of your remaining
letter(s). The player with the highest score wins the game. You can
do this by clicking on Delete Game.
|
|
| Q
How do
I find someone to play with? |
| A
There
are heaps of willing players to be found in our
Guestbook. |
|
| Q
How
and where do I play? |
|
A
The
Rules of the game can be found by clicking on the Rules button
link. It is up to the person who creates the game as to where you
play. If it's a 2 player game, you create your game via the 2 player
door. The same applies for 3 and 4 player games by clicking on the
respective doors.
|
|
| Q
The
shuffle and sort does not work for me? |
| A
We
are aware that this is a problem in Netscape v 4.7. It is important
that you have JavaScript client-side
scripting
enabled in your Browser, in order for shuffle and sort to work. |
|
| Q
If I
use the Online Dictionary or Online Definition, will my turn be
disqualified? |
|
A
Not in
our game. These facilities are there for all players to use, so there
is no "cheating" as such. We actively encourage players to
use them, and thus avoid a challenge to your word. Players should only
use the Official Scrabble Dictionaries, as used in the game, for their
source of words to look up. The definitions site used, in NOT an
Official Scrabble Dictionary.
|
|
| Q
Can I
delete my finished game? What would happen if I created a new game
using the same player names? |
|
A
We
take care of deleting finished games. They are normally removed about
24 hours after completion. You cannot create new games, in the same
game room, using the same names until your finished game is deleted.
This is to protect your game from being overwritten. The last player
to play can delete the game before 24 hours. They do this by clicking
on the URL to their game, from the posting they receive after the very
last play has been made.
|
|
| Q
Just
who are Bibbin & Bibbette, and what is The Pixie Pit? |
| A
They
are The Letter Bag Pixies !! They look like Smurfs and
speak with a Helium Accent.
The Pixie Pit is where they live!! Pay
them a visit! |
