The new version of Crossword Fun is here, fresh and hot, and promises a lot of fun, especially to movie buffs!

Following the popularity of the application, both on the hosted website and on Facebook, we have added an interesting new feature to its functionality: the inclusion of photos. What this practically means is that word definitions are now paired with a relative headshot picture that helps the crossword participant to recognize the person that the definition refers to.

To put this to work, a new category came to play: Movie Actors. Using the popular imdb.com as a source, the application selects trivia information and a photograph of an actor from a selection of over 1,500 actors and actresses and constructs the crossword definition, expecting from the player to identify the person and fill the puzzle with his/her surname. The outcome is very exciting as you can see from the screenshot below:

As always, crossword sources are automatically selected from online crawlers and the puzzler that is generated in every visit is never the same with the one before. Every refresh to the page will take you to a new puzzle to solve, so don’t hesitate, go and test your Movie Trivia knowledge and put your name up there in the Hall of Fame.

As for ourselves, we’re really excited with this new feature and are already planning some new categories to put into use. The possibilities are endless, so stay tuned!

See below the most important key-points to help you play the game:

A new crossword puzzle is automatically generated every time you refresh the page.

When the introduction is over, you are requested to enter a name.

• If you have played the game at least once, the name you have used is already in there for you, so it is recommended that you keep your used name so that the Hall of Fame statistics will remain consistent.
• If you are a first-time player, you should enter a name before proceeding. Make it big and as unique as possible so that it will be distinct on the Hall of Fame. If you have cookies disabled, the system will not remember the name for you, so try to remember the name you used when prompted again in a future attempt.

Click on “OK, Move on“.

In the Options page, you should select the puzzle Category that you wish to auto-generate a crossword for (default is: Word Definitions) and then you may (or may not) toggle some options on/off. These are:

• Skill level: Novice (upon finishing typing a word entirely, the word is highlited in red - false input - or black - correct input).
• Skill level: Expert (No highliting of words or letters while typing.User has no indication whatsoever of the corectness of the word typed).
• Complexity: Lite (Lite complexity means that at most 20 words are included in the generated crossword).
• Complexity: Complex (a complex crossword contains at most 30 words to be discovered).

After making the desired choices, click on “To the Game!“.

We have been busy. We are taking a brake from 3D game development and have been working on a crossword generator project (made in flash & actionscript) that will generate a new Crossword puzzle with every refresh of the page. We have named this new game “Crossword-Fun” and it is still in early beta.

We kindly invite you to test the application and report bugs or just let us know what you think. The application can be found at the following link:

http://www.immersionfx.com/crossword-fun/crossword.html

The idea is of “Crossword-Fun” is simple: based on online Clue Databases (like dictionary.com) an algorithm selects a random set of words and their corresponding definitions and creates a new crossword on the fly. The user that attempts to solve the crossword will use an intuitive way to match words to the given definitions. Upon successful completion of the crossword, the user’s time will be recorded to the Hall of Fame.

immersionFX’s Professional Web Design Services include Website Design and Development. See our portfolio of recent websites:

CanonCreta | 2009
www.canoncreta.gr - Canon Authorized Dealer in Crete, Greece.

Orasis Wedding Photography | 2008
www.orasisphotography.gr - Portfolio of exceptional wedding photographer Harris Koutsopanagiotopoulos.

DIGIMA | 2007
www.digima.gr - DIGIMA is a team with experience in computer design. DIGIMA’s goal is the continuous upgrade of quality which in combination with realism and high fidelity sets new standards in architectural photorealism and digital presentation.

PhotoActive | 2006
www.photoactive.gr - Portfolio of professional photographer Panos Kounoupas.

AthenaCollection | 2004
www.athenacollection.com - A unique collection of jewellery and accessories of exceptional quality and beauty by designer Athena Avouri.

Italian Scholl of Athens | 2003
www.italikisxoli.edu.gr - The only Italian school in Greece owned by the Italian Government.

Pedro Camacho is a very talented music composer. This year was his breakthrough year after being the winner of IGF 2008 (with Audiosurf) and the composer of the successful Fury.

Already among Pedro’s greatest fans after the wonderful collaboration we had in Days of Sail, we really had no other option but to work with him again for our second game, CrimeCity.

CrimeCity’s score contains three music tracks:

Sirens of Hope, the main menu track, is bold and menacing, yet at times can be playful or even melancholic.

Chasing rats, is the action score that accompanies the gameplay. The percussive sounds throughout this score add magnificently to the prominent noiresque style of the game, perfectly matching the pace of the gameplay.

But Pedro also knows well how to compose melodic themes in-between that are strong enough to compel the listener to press the repeat button. My Hometown, the melodic piece that rus through the tutorial mode is a perfect example of a more laid back and more subtle cue with a change of pace from the pounding action music.

All in all, the new CrimeCity soundtrack is a true orchestral score that is guaranteed to put you in the mood of the game. Check out the three inspiring tracks at the game’s website.

Thanks once again Pedro for this magnificent piece of work, wishing for more to come!