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British/US team cracks last great crossword challenge
Until now considered to be impossible to set, let alone solve, the challenge of creating 3D crossword puzzles has finally been cracked. British publishers Helicon, in conjunction with California-based software creators Horizon, are bringing the new 3D crossword to the UK.
Logistically impossible?
'People told us it was a great idea, but logistically impossible,' said Dan Moran, Horizon's CEO, and inventor of the software which creates interactive puzzles allowing players to navigate in 3D down, across, and through the crossword.
Fears of Internet overload
Crosswords inspire millions of fanatical puzzlers around the world, with more and more people becoming addicted to the world's greatest word game. 3DCrossword will be licensed in the UK by Helicon, and puzzlers will be faced with their most irresistible challenge yet. Fears that those Web sites featuring the new crossword super-challenge may become overloaded were dismissed by Michael Holyoke of Helicon:
If the crossword appeared on only one or two Web sites, they might find themselves overloaded. But our Helicon databases contain over 21 million words – we have the potential to create limitless numbers of customized 3D crosswords, and to present a fresh challenge appropriate for every Web site.
Into the third dimension...
3DCrossword is a cubelike structure that rotates on the screen as players navigate around the puzzle, the corresponding clue appearing on a panel on the side of the screen. The puzzle can incorporate 'rich clues': clues with active links to further information, hints, details – even image and sound files.
Very sticky content
Because the game is entertaining, challenging, and rewarding, 3DCrossword attracts and retains viewers. It provides ample opportunity for advertising, both around the game panel and embedded in the clues. Backed by Helicon's database of over 21 million words, and thousands of illustrations and multimedia clips, the potential exists for thousands of themed puzzles – on sport, lifestyle, British culture and history, facts, figures, and famous people – even for educational applications, such as interactive lesson material. Helicon is seeking to license customized versions of the 3D crossword puzzle along with their database content, providing flexible, customized, and compelling content to UK Web site owners.
Did you know...
...crosswords were used to crack Nazi Enigma codes?
...the first crossword was printed in New York Today?
Check out the fact sheet notes for the history of crosswords and statistics about the world's favourite word game today.
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