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| URL | www.isketch.net |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | No |
| Type of site | Drawing website |
| Registration | None |
| Owner | Robert Wahlstedt |
| Created by | Robert Wahlstedt |
| Launched | 15 June 1999 |
| Current status | Active |
iSketch is a browser-based drawing game for all ages, similar to Pictionary.
Players take turns in drawing a word or words (using a mouse or tablet) while the rest try to guess. Puzzles come in over 20 languages and over 200 themes[1]. 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.[2]
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[3] where they can practise, and save or share drawings with others. Rooms categorized Social[1] 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 [4] in order to play. However, it is advisable to read the game instructions[2] prior to joining.
Contents |
Game Rooms
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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[5]. 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 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 a number of so called Cyber rooms, where people simulate sex.
This is allowed and tolerated by the site creators. Administrators let this occur by claiming Isketch is for over 18's but nowhere does it state this prior to entering the site.
There is no password protection, so 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.
- Filters
- A user may enable filters[6] 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.
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 Linux), unless a Windows compatible browser and Shockwave plugin, is installed and run through Wine.
- 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 always have someone in that room invite you.
- Players may pass answers between each other via instant messaging or simply write the puzzle itself instead of drawing. These, and what is generally considered offensive behavior, 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 often punished with temporary blocks, or bans, depending on the case.
References and notes
- ^ a b iSketch Instructions
- ^ iSketch Studio
- ^ iSketch log on page
- ^ iSketch Rules
- ^ Player preference settings.
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.
See also
External links
- Play iSketch (requires Adobe Shockwave)
- Public iSketch Communities (English): iSketchforum, SimplyiSketch
- iSketch Communities (other languages): Dutch, Italian, Portuguese
- Galleries: iSketchforum, SimplyiSketch
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