ISketch
Encyclopedia
iSketch is a browser-based drawing game
that is similar to Pictionary
.
Players take turns in drawing a word or words (using a mouse or tablet
) while the other players try to guess. Puzzles come in over twenty languages and over two hundred themes. Difficulty level ranges from easy to expert. Guessers score when they solve the puzzle within a short grace period after the first correct guess. Artists accrue points for every correct guess within the grace period.
Aside from the standard game rooms, players can create custom rooms where they tailor game settings and choose from a wider selection of word lists. Players are also presented with a private studio where they can practice, and save or share drawings with others. Rooms categorized Social include chat
-only and lounge rooms. In general, player mentality is social: rules are mostly enforced by the players themselves, and it is not uncommon for player communities to spring up around certain rooms.
Registration is not required in order to play. However, it is advisable to read the game instructions prior to joining.
Votes can be used to warn a player for violating rules on their draw or for booting persistent offenders out of rooms, but this rarely helps due to the lack of players with votes.
Game Administrators: When a vote is cast, Game Administrators are notified and will attempt to assist and intervene if necessary. Administrators may support the decision of the voting user, or suspend the user's ability to vote. Administrators can ban
persistent offenders from the site.
User-created rooms: While pre-created rooms are moderated by Administrators, user-created rooms employ a system similar to IRC operators where the room creator has full control over rules. Controls include, but are not limited to, making the room private, assigning other moderators and ejecting players.
There are also a number of various chatrooms which simulate sex. This is allowed and tolerated by the site creators. Administrators allow this to occur by claiming iSketch is for over 18's, however this is not stated prior to entering the site. Due to the lack of password protection, the unrestricted and unregulated areas of the game may be unsuitable for young children or vulnerable people.
Chat Rooms: Most Chat rooms are user-created, but rooms created by administrators, where the game is played, have a chat box in addition to the game box, where users can chat and send actions (for example: laughs, hugs, and kisses) to other users. There is also an option for private chat with each of the other users.
Filters: A user may enable filters
for pre-determined words, room names, emotes, and profile icons
. Players should be aware that the word filter does not currently apply to usernames, so offensive words contained therein would remain visible.
Browser game
A browser game is a computer game that is played over the Internet using a web browser. Browser games can be created and run using standard web technologies or browser plug-ins. Browser games include all video game genres and can be single-player or multiplayer...
that is similar to Pictionary
Pictionary
Pictionary is a guessing word game designed by Robert Angel and first published in 1985 by Seattle Games Inc. The game is played with teams with players trying to identify specific words from their teammates' drawings.-Objective:...
.
Players take turns in drawing a word or words (using a mouse or tablet
Graphics tablet
A graphics tablet is a computer input device that enables a user to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way a person draws images with a pencil and paper. These tablets may also be used to capture data or handwritten signatures...
) while the other players try to guess. Puzzles come in over twenty languages and over two hundred themes. Difficulty level ranges from easy to expert. Guessers score when they solve the puzzle within a short grace period after the first correct guess. Artists accrue points for every correct guess within the grace period.
Aside from the standard game rooms, players can create custom rooms where they tailor game settings and choose from a wider selection of word lists. Players are also presented with a private studio where they can practice, and save or share drawings with others. Rooms categorized Social include chat
Chat room
The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by mass media to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing...
-only and lounge rooms. In general, player mentality is social: rules are mostly enforced by the players themselves, and it is not uncommon for player communities to spring up around certain rooms.
Registration is not required in order to play. However, it is advisable to read the game instructions prior to joining.
Game Rooms
Language Game Rooms
|
Game Room Variations
Special Subject Game Room Examples
|
Rules and moderation
Player Voting System: iSketch users have the ability to moderate the game in order to ensure fairness and adherence to the rules. However, only users who have been using iSketch for a number of weeks may vote. iSketch has introduced a system of allowing votes due to the length of stay on the site. But this is dependent on the browser used and all information is saved in cookies. However, there have been many complaints about this system since votes disappear on a frequent basis due to problems in the scripting of the site. Deleting cookies can be blamed on occasions but often votes disappear without reason.Votes can be used to warn a player for violating rules on their draw or for booting persistent offenders out of rooms, but this rarely helps due to the lack of players with votes.
Game Administrators: When a vote is cast, Game Administrators are notified and will attempt to assist and intervene if necessary. Administrators may support the decision of the voting user, or suspend the user's ability to vote. Administrators can ban
Ban (law)
A ban is, generally, any decree that prohibits something.Bans are formed for the prohibition of activities within a certain political territory. Some see this as a negative act and others see it as maintaining the "status quo"...
persistent offenders from the site.
User-created rooms: While pre-created rooms are moderated by Administrators, user-created rooms employ a system similar to IRC operators where the room creator has full control over rules. Controls include, but are not limited to, making the room private, assigning other moderators and ejecting players.
There are also a number of various chatrooms which simulate sex. This is allowed and tolerated by the site creators. Administrators allow this to occur by claiming iSketch is for over 18's, however this is not stated prior to entering the site. Due to the lack of password protection, the unrestricted and unregulated areas of the game may be unsuitable for young children or vulnerable people.
Chat Rooms: Most Chat rooms are user-created, but rooms created by administrators, where the game is played, have a chat box in addition to the game box, where users can chat and send actions (for example: laughs, hugs, and kisses) to other users. There is also an option for private chat with each of the other users.
Filters: A user may enable filters
Wordfilter
A wordfilter is a script typically used on Internet forums or chat rooms that automatically scans users' posts or comments as they are submitted and automatically changes or censors particular words or phrases.The most primitive wordfilters search only for a specific string and replaces it...
for pre-determined words, room names, emotes, and profile icons
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
. Players should be aware that the word filter does not currently apply to usernames, so offensive words contained therein would remain visible.
Issues
- iSketch requires Adobe Shockwave. Because of this, it is not possible to play iSketch on operating systems without the Shockwave player software, (such as LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
), unless a Windows compatible browser and Shockwave plugin, is installed and run through WineWine (software)Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
.
- The game allows only a limited number of players; therefore one might see this message when trying to log on: The server is currently full. Please try again later. If a room is full you can have someone in that room invite you.
- Players may pass answers between each other via instant messagingInstant messagingInstant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
, such as Windows Live Messenger or Skype, or they simply write the puzzle itself instead of drawing. These are forms of griefing. Griefing can pose problems if target users are unaware/incapable of effective use of the boot mechanism or any of the other moderation features. Game administrators may act on reports of griefing and offenders are punished with temporary blocks or permanent bans.
Further reading
- "Yahoo! Picks of the Year". (Dec. 2000). Retrieved Jan. 2, 2007.
- Williams, Felicia (Dec. 2000). "Games Grown Ups Play / An Online Doodle Dandy". PC World, p. 184.
- 2nd Place Winner, People's Choice Awards - Interactive Entertainment. *Adobe/Macromedia UCON 2001. Retrieved Jan. 2, 2007.
- Aquino, Grace (2001). "Review: The all-star team of online games". Retrieved Jan. 2, 2007.
- "Ten Cool Sites". (Jan. - Feb. 2002). Exploratorium. Retrieved Jan. 2, 2007.
External links
- Play iSketch (requires Adobe Shockwave)
- Public iSketch Communities (English): iSketchforum
- iSketch Communities (other languages): Dutch, Italian, Portuguese
- Galleries: iSketchforum