Some overdue background

Dear TongueTiers,

Some of you arrived at this game after a conversation with one of us — Rose, Ezra, and Eric — but many dove in without really knowing what it's all about, so we wanted to offer some context, especially since we keep asking for feedback. Here, then, is the brief origin story, which is itself a window onto our aspirations for the game.

TongueTied was sparked by Rose's frustration with being unable, as a non-native speaker of German, to really shine in German Scrabble — but also unable to lure her German husband into English Scrabble. Ezra and Eric, who love languages and love building things, were looking for new projects; when Rose came knocking, it was kismet (Bridge: DE EN).

The game is a digital child of two human impulses, pride and curiosity, and we hope these roots show up in its personality, celebrating what its players know while also urging them to learn more, with friends as their guides. We have other hopes for TongueTied, too, which we'll share in future posts. If you're not interested, simply unsubscribe. But be warned: some messages will unveil new features that might alter your strategies on the board.

Otherwise, keep the feedback coming, and please share the game with others. We're aiming for a set number of true fans (people playing regularly against opponents who aren't us) by the end of April, and multiples of that by the end of May, and we're optimistic about getting there with your help.

Thanks for your time,

Rose, Ezra, and Eric