Q-Word is a brand new game for the Sinclair QL home computer which will revolutionise the non-Microsoft leisure software - this makes the most of the new graphics modes available on the latest versions of the Sinclair QL, such as the Aurora motherboard (provided you have a Super Gold Card), the Q40 and Q60 computers and emulators such as QPC2 to bring a high colour mouse controlled game to the Sinclair QL community, which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

QWord has taken months of programming, including a re-write of the famous Turbo SuperBASIC compiler. The Q40/Q60 version forms the largest ever commercial program released for the QL, at over 5Mb. We are grateful for the work by the development team : Geoff Wicks (programming), Rich Mellor (Game design and programming), Phoebus Dokos (Graphics design) and George Gwilt (Turbo Compiler).

The aim of the game is simple - you need to clear a grid of letters by making as many words as you can from adjacent letters in the grid. Points are awarded depending on the letters used as well as the length of the word. You play against the clock as well as the dictionary, as you wrack your brains to try and make words out of the letters in the grid. A wrong word loses you points as do any tiles left on the grid at the end of the game. As a result, it is important to use as big a dictionary as possible for use with the program - the program currently supports QTYP dictionaries, which are widely available and we can even supply a copy of PWord - the 500,000+ word UK English Dictionary for QTYP to use with the program.. Other dictionaries are available from Just Words.

You have three levels of play for the program, each of which offers a different time limit and more tiles on the grid, from level 1 (14 x 9 tiles) to level 3 (29 x 19 tiles) and with a random grid generated for each time that you play, you can be assured that you will not become tired of this game easily.

Addictive without being frustrating. Can you get your name on the high score table??

Where Now?

Thanks to Geoff Wicks, the manual for the demo version is now ready for Download. You can also view the online QWord manual.

QWord Is Available for Purchase Now

The versions for QPC2/QXL, Q40/Q60 and Aurora have now been released. Generally, if you want to use the program under SMSQ/e, you will need at least v2,98 of SMSQ/e. Each version of QWord comes with its own high colour automated installer and manual.

QPC2 version requires QPC2 v3.20+ in order to use full digital sound (unfortunately this is not available if you are using a QXL card).

Q40 and Q60 versions require SMSQ/e v3.00 or later

The Aurora version will only work with a Super Gold Card (a Gold Card is not sufficient for the graphics). QWord will run either QDOS/Minerva or SMSQ/e v3.00+. **IMPORTANT** SMSQ/e for the Aurora exists in two versions, with the same version numbers - only one has the colour drivers and only this version will work with QWord (this version is approx 260K - the standard SMSQ/e is approx 210K).. We would however recommend that you purchase the high colour version of SMSQ/e to make the most of your Aurora hardware as this is the only maintained QL operating system.

Foreign Language Versions

Thanks to the efforts of Geoff Wicks, QWord is now configurable to use the following language grids:

Dutch
English (UK)
English (USA)
French
German

The dictionaries for each language are separate. Specialist QTYP dictionaries for each language have been produced, which removes the need for accented characters in the foreign languages. You will be able to specify the preferred language when ordering QWord, but a charge of £2 per dictionary will be made for any additional language dictionaries required.

Versions currently Available (all v1.02)

(you can purchase a version for another type of computer for only £5 after you have purchased the first version)

QWord Demo Version for Windows

Demo version only at present (restricted to a maximum of 250 seconds per grid and you cannot store your high scores). This demo version is available thanks to the demonstration version of the QPC2 SMSQ/e emulator written by Marcel Kilgus

This version utilises the 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary (supplied).

Select Language and then Download demo

If you enjoy QWord, you may also be interested in Bejewelled.

QPC2/QXL

This version supports both 256 colour (QPC2 v3.10 {SMSQ/e v2z99} or later) and 16 bit colour modes (needs SMSQ/e v2.98 or later).
With v3.20+ of QPC2, you can hear full stereo sounds and music.

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
CD Version £20 (inc UK p&p)

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
Download only £18

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
CD Version £30 (inc UK p&p)

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
Download Only £28

Q40/Q60

This version supports the 16 bit colour mode of these computers. It works only with SMSQ/e v3.00+ at present - we are working on a QDOS Classic version.

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
HD Version (compressed) £20 (inc UK p&p)

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
(Download Only) £18

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
HD Version (compressed) £30 (inc UK p&p)

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
Download Only £28

Aurora Graphics Card

This version supports 256 colour mode and works with either QDOS/Minerva or the Colour Driver version of SMSQ/e (v3.00+). However, you will need a SuperGoldCard and ideally a hard disk drive (although the game can (just about) be installed on a HD disk..

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
HD Version £20 (inc UK p&p)

QWord Only c/w 79,000+ word OSPD UK English scrabble dictionary
Download Only £18

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
HD Version £30 (inc UK p&p)

QWord plus PWord (500,000 word UK dictionary)
Download Only £28

QWord on HD Disk plus latest Colour Driver SMSQ/e for Super Gold Card
£50 ** SPECIAL OFFER **

QWord on HD Disk plus update from Standard SMSQ/e to the latest Colour Driver SMSQ/e
£35 ** SPECIAL OFFER **

QTYP Dictionaries

PWord (500,000+ word UK English Dictionary) on HD Disk
This is the QTYP dictionary only - compressed £10

PWord (500,000+ word UK English Dictionary) on CD
This is the QTYP dictionary, ASCII dictionary and Solvit format (includes Solvit by Geoff Wicks) £15