Scrabulous Gets Shut Down
Posted by Nick O'Neill on July 29th, 2008 10:10 AMWell the time for Scrabulous may have just come. As Caroline McCarthy pointed out this morning, the Scrabulous application is no longer running. When you visit the application a box appears that simply says “Scrabulous is disabled for US and Canadian users until further notice. If you would like to stay informed about developments in this matter, please click here.” The link then continues to a page that requests user email addresses.
The signs don’t look too good for Scrabulous who was sued last week by Hasbro. While we don’t officially know that this is the cause of the application being shut down, we do know that Scrabulous has been facing some heat from Hasbro for months now. Just a few weeks ago, Hasbro launched the official version of Scrabble on Facebook and after facing an uphill battle for new users, it looks like the company has turned to the law for protection.
Is this the last that we’ve heard from the Argarwalla brothers who developed the application? Right now We are completely unsure as no comment has been made yet from the dynamic duo. I’m hoping to receive a comment later today so I will be sure to update this post, if and when I do.
Update
Rajat Argarwalla has forwarded me the following statement on behalf of the Scrabulous team:
Facebook has informed us that they have received a legal notice from Hasbro in reference to the Scrabulous application. In deference to Facebookâs concerns and without prejudice to our legal rights, we have had to restrict our fans in USA and Canada from accessing the Scrabulous application on Facebook until further notice.
This is an unfortunate event and not something that we are very pleased about, especially as Mattel has been pursuing the matter in Indian courts for the past few months.
We will sincerely hope to bring to our fans brighter news in the days to come.
(4.64 out of 5)
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July 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
They have lost in the courts of public opinion…
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=14916117452
Sad really.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
They have lost in the courts of public opinion…
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=14916117452
Sad really.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Does anyone know what Hasbro offered Scrabulous? I read that it was guessed at around 10 mil - (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/the_scrabulo...) - however that is not a figure that has been confirmed.
I think if they were offered a good deal like that and they balked then you gotta play the cards you were dealt.
As for Hasbro’s reputation - uhhh nobody will care about this issue in six months from now. Seriously - it is a free online game based on a game that people play off line all the time. What will the backlash be? Down with Scrabble up with Dominoes?
Yes it sucks for the brothers that made the app but if I was going to be so bold as to copy a game like - I don’t know - “Monopulous” and the idea of the game was to roll a dice - and land on different squares going around the perimeter of a square board. Al the time getting money together to buy up properties and then charge rent to others who land on my properties and the dude with the most money in the end wins - then I think someone would see that maybe, just maybe I did not come up with the idea myself. And just maybe the company that owns said game might just think I stole it from them.
Like Kenny Rogers said “You gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em!”
Cheers - Eric
July 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Does anyone know what Hasbro offered Scrabulous? I read that it was guessed at around 10 mil - (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/the_scrabulous_snag__money) - however that is not a figure that has been confirmed.
I think if they were offered a good deal like that and they balked then you gotta play the cards you were dealt.
As for Hasbro’s reputation - uhhh nobody will care about this issue in six months from now. Seriously - it is a free online game based on a game that people play off line all the time. What will the backlash be? Down with Scrabble up with Dominoes?
Yes it sucks for the brothers that made the app but if I was going to be so bold as to copy a game like - I don’t know - “Monopulous” and the idea of the game was to roll a dice - and land on different squares going around the perimeter of a square board. Al the time getting money together to buy up properties and then charge rent to others who land on my properties and the dude with the most money in the end wins - then I think someone would see that maybe, just maybe I did not come up with the idea myself. And just maybe the company that owns said game might just think I stole it from them.
Like Kenny Rogers said “You gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em!”
Cheers - Eric
July 30th, 2008 at 10:30 am
And today, a timely PR piece from Hasbro:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/indust...
“Now, SCRABBLE fans everywhere can play like the champs with the SCRABBLE: Diamond Anniversary Edition. It’s designed with one idea in mind: to spoil SCRABBLE players wherever they go. From the sleek folding carrying case to the two slide-and-store trays, there’s never been a more convenient way to enjoy the popular game.”
Seriously?
July 30th, 2008 at 11:30 am
And today, a timely PR piece from Hasbro:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/retail/scrabbler-spells-big-w-n-n-e-r/
“Now, SCRABBLE fans everywhere can play like the champs with the SCRABBLE: Diamond Anniversary Edition. It’s designed with one idea in mind: to spoil SCRABBLE players wherever they go. From the sleek folding carrying case to the two slide-and-store trays, there’s never been a more convenient way to enjoy the popular game.”
Seriously?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Hackers attack EA/ Hasbro LOL
http://www.betanews.com/article/Hackers_take_ou...
July 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hackers attack EA/ Hasbro LOL
http://www.betanews.com/article/Hackers_take_out_EAs_Scrabble_after_Scrabulous_removed_from_Facebook/1217448149
July 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Wow..we would have never imagined the uprise from a mere Facebook game..was it really THAT good?
July 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Wow..we would have never imagined the uprise from a mere Facebook game..was it really THAT good?
July 30th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Isn’t that crazy! Hackers take it down maybe we really have some seriously upset people.
I agree with @4 Nick - maybe it was really THAT good! Moral of the story - don’t mess with Scrabble players!
Cheers - Eric
July 30th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Isn’t that crazy! Hackers take it down maybe we really have some seriously upset people.
I agree with @4 Nick - maybe it was really THAT good! Moral of the story - don’t mess with Scrabble players!
Cheers - Eric