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Wordtrak launches as a fast‑paced 1v2 word duel

Hacker News •
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Developer Dan Miller unveiled Wordtrak, a 1v2‑player word‑battle that lets opponents claim three or five tracks and score by filling them with Scrabble‑style tiles. The web version runs at wordtrak.com, while an iOS client ships through the App Store. Built with Rails on the backend and Expo for the frontend, the game emphasizes quick matches that can be paused at any time and supports cross‑platform sync.

Creation began with a week of rule‑writing in markdown, aided by Claude‑generated drafts and family playtests. A train motif and split‑flap visual inspired the UI, while a simple CPU opponent handled early matches. After several iterations, triangular scoring rewarded completing whole tracks, and a daily single‑player mode added leaderboards to spur competition. Players can also customize tile colors, and the app tracks win‑loss records for each user.

Feedback from friends and older relatives shaped the final polish, exposing app‑store submission quirks and the need for higher score ceilings. Miller plans an Android release and modest ad monetization, but the core experience—fast, strategic word duels on a nostalgic split‑flap display—is already live. Players can join via browser or the iOS client today.