With all the game apps launched for smartphones, there's a new leader that made me ask "Why Draw Something?" Why has Draw Something been downloaded 35 million times in the first month? It has surpassed the Words with Friends game app, becoming the number one app. It was such a huge success, that Zynga, the game company behind Words with Friends, paid OMGpop $180 million dollars for Draw Something.
How to Play Draw Something
Draw Something is played much like Pictionary, the hit board game of the 1980s. Its simple concept may be the first reason Draw Something is so successful.
Players take turns drawing a picture clue that will get the other player to guess a word.
Each turn consists of three parts:
- Watching the other person guess the word from your drawing.
- Watching their drawing and guessing their word.
- Choosing a word and drawing a clue.
If you start a game with someone, you will draw first. If someone else starts the game, you'll guess first.
Win coins
Words that are easy to draw are worth one coin, medium words are worth two, and hard words are worth three. When the other player correctly guesses the word from your drawing clues, you win coins. Coins can be used to buy more colors to use for drawing, to buy bombs that narrow your letter options, or to buy new words when you've seen them all.
There is no leaderboard of who has the most coins. Success in the game is all about getting the other player guess your word and vice versa.
Before you get started, read tips on setting up and playing Draw Something.
Some reasons why Draw Something is a hit
While Draw Something's skyrocketing success couldn't have been predicted, I have some ideas about why Draw Something is so popular and why you might to play the game.
It's easy to play- Within minutes after downloading Draw Something, you can start playing a game.
Your friends are already playing. - with 35 million downloads, you probably know a few people who are already playing Draw Something.
The replay feature makes Draw Something special.- The game could have been set up where you draw a picture, send it to the other player, then get a notification that the other player guessed successfully.
Instead, you get to watch a replay of the other person's turn. Your drawing strokes display in an instant replay while you watch the other person choose letters as they struggle to guess the word. You'll know exactly what part of the drawing was the key to the other person's successful guess. It's a wonderful insight to someone else's thinking process.
It's exciting to watch the other player guess the word from your drawing.- For those of us who are wanna-be artists, it is exciting to draw something recognizable. I drew the Eiffel Tower as a clue for the word "Paris" and was delighted when the other player got the answer from my simple sketch before adding other french clues.
It brings out your inner artist.- Drawings can be as elaborate and detailed or simple as you want to make them. A number of gorgeous drawings that are true pieces of art have been posted on the Draw Something Facebook page and other websites. Some of these master artists spend hours creating their drawings.
You don't have to be an artist to play.- It can be fun to play even if you are just using stick figures and basic lines to represent objects. The most artistically challenged players will use a word to identify what they drew. While words are frowned upon, for some it's the only way.
It's collaborative. - You are rooting for the other player to guess your drawing. Because there are no leaderboards or leveling-up, you create your own challenges. Perhaps you want to guess the word faster than before, or see how long you can go without giving up. I find myself cheering out loud when the other player guesses a word. Working together feels great.
It's addictive. - I started doing research on Draw Something and have become addicted. First, it was just fun to draw. Then, I wanted to earn coins so I could buy more colors. I really needed green to draw plants and Android men. Next, I wanted more bombs so I would get help when I couldn't guess from the other player's drawing. I didn't want to stop a winning streak. And finally, I want more coins to buy more words. I have played enough games that I am able to guess from a really bad drawing just because I have seen the word before.
It will be essential that the game continues to be updated with more available words so it doesn't become stale. Zynga has already announced that they will be adding more features to Draw Something in future updates.
