Hobbies And Interests
"Ultimate Board Game Collection"
Though most of the mini-games in the "Ultimate Board Game Collection" are classic board games or card games, there are two mini-games that are word-based: "Anagrams" and "Word Cubes." In "Anagrams," the player forms words using a jumble of letters -- the more words that can be formed, the higher the score. In "Word Cubes," players find words by linking letters together on a screen of letter blocks.
"Scrabble"
"Scrabble" is a word game in which players use letter tiles to form words on a board. Points are scored by adding letter points, as well as taking advantage of on-board score multipliers. A multiplayer-enabled "Scrabble" game was released by Electronic Arts for the PSP and features several game modes, including the classic Scrabble experience, a "Speed" mode in which players attempt to score as many points as possible in a set time, and a Scrabble learning tutorial mode.
"Spelling Challenges and More!"
PSP gamers looking to beef up their spelling skills can play "Spelling Challenges and More!" which was released in 2007 by Crave Entertainment. The game uses the PSP's internal speaker or headphone jack to speak words that the player must spell out using an on-screen keyboard. There are other word-themed activities included in the game such as a word scramble and identifying parts of speech.
"Mind Quiz"
"Mind Quiz" has several brain-exercising activities that test math skills, reaction speeds and memorization. Based on the same theory as the Nintendo DS "Brain Age" series, "Mind Quiz" players can test their theoretical "brain age" by completing daily activities which measure the mental acuity of the user. Word-themed activities include a word unscrambling game and a word memorization activity.
"Hot Brain"
"Hot Brain" was released in 2007 by Midway and is another PSP title that features a compilation of educational activities. "Hot Brain" has multi-player functionality with both co-operative and competitive challenges. There is also a practice mode for those looking for a casual, non-goal-oriented gaming session. The game's activities are categorized into five subjects, including a "Language" subject that includes a spell-checking mini-game.