GB-Wordyl: Word game for Game Boy (& Color) / Analogue Pocket / Mega Duck
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GB-Wordyl
A word game for the Nintendo Game Boy / Color, Analogue Pocket and MegaDuck Handheld and Laptops
- To run the browser version: Click to start and click again to set focus
- Cornish Language Web version here: https://bbbbbr.itch.io/gb-wordyl-cornish-language
- Catalan Language Web version here: https://factorialunar.github.io/vocable/
You can download the ROM file, run in a Gameboy emulator or use the browser version on this page.
Physical Cartridge available at Ferrante Crafts:
RetroAchievements
There is a Retro Achievements page for the MegaDuck build here:
Special MegaDuck Features
- Physical Keyboard support for the CEFA Super QuiQue and Hartung Super Junior Computer models
Features
- Game statistics: Won, Lost, Streak & Win Percentage (saved to cart)
- Multiple Language Dictionaries (separate ROM for each one)
- No words with special chars, just English A-Z letters
- Cornish (KW)
- Catalan (CA)
- Deutsch (DE)
- English (EN)
- Español (ES)
- Français (FR)
- Italiano (IT)
- Nederlands (NL)
- Latin (LA)
- Português Brasileiro (PT-BR)
- Translated UI text for Cornish (KW), Catalan (CA), Deutsch (DE), English (EN), Español (ES), Nederlands (NL), Português Brasileiro (PT-BR)
- No words with special chars, just English A-Z letters
- Hard mode and optional Auto-fill of exact matched letters
- Large answer word list and dictionary less a couple cringy words
- English Dictionary: 12,965 words
- Common words used as solutions: 2,296
- Super Game Boy Border
- All in a 32K ROM
Controls on Game Boy Hardware or Keyboard in Browser:
- Submit guess : START (Enter key)
- Add/Remove Letter: A/B (Z/X keys)
- Keyboard Cursor: D-PAD (Arrow keys)
- Options Menu: 3 x SELECT (Left Shift)
- Move Board Cursor Left: SELECT + B
- Move Board Cursor Right: SELECT + A
- Move Keyboard Cursor: ARROW KEYS
USB/Bluetooth/etc Gamepad:
(This is a modified JS Game Boy emulator with gamepad support)
- Chrome / Firefox Mapping ( when "standard" gamepad available)
- Default mapping otherwise :
- Rotate = A / B
- Start and Select = Second two buttons
Options:
- Hard mode: All revealed letters clues must be used in the next guess.
- Auto-fill: Exactly matched guess letters will be automatically filled in for the next guess.
- Skip Auto-Filled: Board letter entry will skip over any letters which have been auto-filled. They can still be changed using the board cursor.
- Source - https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl
- Built with GBDK 2020 - https://github.com/gbdk-2020/gbdk-2020/
- Game Sound FX and CBTFX Driver : Coffee "Valen" Bat
UI Language Translation credits:
- German: Skite2001 - https://twitter.com/skite2001
- Dutch: Ferrante Crafts - https://ferrantecrafts.com
- Brazilian Portuguese: Bruno Maestrini & Daniel Tolentino - https://github.com/DanielTolentino
- Spanish: Adamantibus
- Cornish
- SJD https://sjd-sjd.itch.io/
- Niwlen Ster
- Kamm Cam
- Dyski Kernowek Discord Group
- Steve Harris (https://kerdle.vercel.app and https://an-wiasva.herokuapp.com)
- Gerlyver Kernewek (https://cornishdictionary.org.uk)
- Catalan:
Additional improvements and help from:
- arpruss : Highlighting fixes, Improved Dictionary compression and lookup speed
- zeta_two : Previous dictionary compression
- toxa : Ferrante Crafts 31k ROM + 1k Flash cart support
- Eucal.BB : Help with Megaduck Laptop testing and research
- Daeo : Cart and box Graphics
- Coffee "Valen" Bat : Game Sound FX and CBTFX Driver
100% of donations go to support the itch.io platform. (details)
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- GB-Wordyl Cartridge now Available at Ferrante CraftsJun 15, 2022
- GB - Wordyl v1.0.1 EverDrive GB X7 Fix, CatalanJun 01, 2022
- GB Wordyl: v1.00 is Here!May 25, 2022
- Small Update: Added Português Brasileiro Language (v0.85.2)Apr 07, 2022
- GB - Wordyl v0.85Mar 25, 2022
- GB - Wordyl v0.75Mar 05, 2022
- GB - Wordyl v0.55Feb 17, 2022
Comments
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Is there an artwork file available I can use (with my Miyoo Mini v4)? Thanks!
Is there some kind of standard format used for that, such as image size in pixels? Might be able to make something available given that info.
No standard. I took a screenshot of the image on your page that shows the game box, and that worked okay. Just making that image part of the download would be great.
I've added a download for "GB-Wordyl Box Preview Artwork" which has a clean digital version of the box front (medium resolution).
Perfect! Thanks!
Just wanted to say 'thank you' for making this. So much fun popping this into my GBC and playing a few rounds
Thank you! Glad that it brings you some joy :)
A very ingenious game. Thank you.
Won my first game on try 2🏆
Nice! :)
I can't find the English rom for this :(
Hello,
The English ROM is in the zip file as : gb-wordyl_1.0.3_mbc5_en.gb
The two letter language codes used for ROMs are listed near the top of this game page. For example:
> English (EN)
Oh! Thank you so much! Excellent clone, I love it!
this looks amazing
RTC support against the official answer list would be fun...
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
We need a version in Brazilian Portuguese, Pleaase!
Thank you. :)
I think I found a suitable dictionary and answer list. I made a test version here, if you wouldn't mind checking it and sharing your feedback (feedback can be in the github issue or here on itch.io)
https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl/issues/1#issuecomment-1088280850
I test and look's great!
The ROM don't have sound or music?
Nice guess :)
And thanks for testing. I'll make the PT-BR available as an official download.
No sound fx and music at this time. Sound fx maybe, but music is unlikely in the 32K ROM format (which is intended for a physical cart release). There just isn't much room for anything after the dictionary. :) :) :)
There might be a non-32k ROM release in the future, that one could have music.
Hey! there's someone selling your game in physical cartdridge on Etsy, or maybe it's veeeery similar
Thanks for the notice. The two that I can see (lavender town and nill tronic) are both selling the original, non-improved version by stacksmashing, although only one acknowledges where it is from.
Just a small update - the next version which is coming out very soon will have Sound Effects. Still no room for music.
niiiiiice!
dude, have you ever played jaipur?
is a very simple card game for two people.
you would be the perfect guy to turn this gem into a game boy game!
two card games that would be perfect in game boy: Cubirds and Jaipur.
play a few games on the Game board Arena, you'll fall in love!
I haven't heard of those games, thanks for the tip!
Killing it with this update, thank you. Keep up the great work.
Very nice! I wish there was a version with a german dictionary though. :P
We discuss some work on this in the comment thread directly below - you can download an initial version with a German dictionary from the related github issue.
It remains to be seen how well the user interface text can be translated and still fit within the current constraints.
https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl/issues/1
There is now a version (0.85+) with a German dictionary (see limitations noted above) and translated User Interface text. Looks like your wish came true. :P
Thanks to Skite2001 for User Interface translations!
Amazing, thank you very much! =)
Viel Spaß damit! ;) Bei Bugs, etc. bitte Feedback geben. Danke.
Very very nice game and improvements from you... I just wonder... Would it be possible for me to use your github fork and replace /translate the english words via paste'n'copy to german, or wouldnt this easy like this? Cheers
There is another update with many improvements coming very soon. :)
For German language a potential problem is the code (dictionary compression, keyboard, font) does not support special characters like umlaut, etc. Everything is built around the 26 English letters.
If you have words that are limited to those criteria then it is possible.
Given the above, if you have the two lists of words (Answer words and Remaining 5-letter words) then perhaps I can try to make a build.
You are welcome to try making the changes yourself, but it may be easier if I do them.
I think there would be enough 5 Letter words without umlaut. And even if they are really needed it could be done this way:
ä=ae
ö=oe
ü=ue
Do you think translation of your words would be possible, or better choose completly new ones?
Translation from English is unsuitable since there are thousands of words and many wouldn't be 5 letters once translated. See "answers.txt" and "full.txt"
https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl/tree/main/compress
Better to find an already compiled German word list (perhaps even Word list) and then filter that to 5 letter words (and as you suggest, exclude ones with special chars is sufficient).
Then split into a set of most common words (answer list) and remaining words. Sometimes that sorting is already available somewhere. And perhaps look through answer list to remove the more "offensive" words.
I put German word lists reduced to 5 letters and English A-Z in a zip file here:
https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl/issues/1
If you're interested, you can take a look to see if they are suitable.
If they are, and you are up for it, it would be nice if you might skim through and remove typically offensive words from the shorter "answers" list (this shorter list is where it chooses the secret word for each round).
Hey mate 👍your progress is faster then my search for other german wordlist sources 🤣
I crosschecked your german answer list. Seems very good and can't find a single offensive word 👍😎
I built a ROM with the German answer list and dictionary then added it to that ticket (you're also welcome to comment there if you'd like). I did some brief testing and it seems to work as expected.
If you want to give it a try that would be great.
https://github.com/bbbbbr/gb-wordyl/issues/1
If it looks good, maybe I'll add an intro popup message indicating the language and explaining the limitations.
When I use afterplay.io (my preferred emulator), it doesn't work.
That's unfortunate, sorry to hear that. For problems that only occur on emulators and not real hardware, I'll generally consider those to be bugs in the Emulator and will not address them. A better solution is for the given emulator having problems to improve the accuracy so they can run games without special accommodations.
The web emulator on this page is available as an alternative.
Thanks
Use this one, works fine:
https://taisel.github.io/GameBoy-Online/
J = A
Z = B
ENTER = START
SHIFT = SELECT