Understanding the Functionality of Dingbats

Driven by my love for journalism, I immersed myself in learning every detail of the printing process during my first job in the industry. For enjoyment, I mastered the operation of an antique letterpress owned by a fellow language enthusiast. We spent countless enjoyable hours socializing like journalists and manually arranging letter blocks to form words. After an incident where my carefully arranged tiles scattered onto the floor, I learned the importance of using spacers to secure the blocks. These spacers included blank blocks for separating words and sentences, as well as dingbats, which left decorative symbols on the paper.

While the letterpress has faded from commercial use, dingbats remain relevant. They are employed to signify the conclusion of an article or book chapter and have evolved into decorative elements in print advertising and design [source: Wise Geek].

To fully grasp the Dingbats brainteaser game, it’s essential to go beyond the term's historical background. Mastering rebus puzzles is key. These puzzles employ images and text as hints, leading to answers that are often idioms or well-known phrases. Occasionally, a specific word or letter is highlighted, providing a crucial clue. For instance, "aid aid aid" with an arrow pointing to the first word translates to "first aid." Alternatively, phonetic hints might be used, such as a cat beside a log representing "catalog."

The Dingbats game series features puzzle cards divided into three levels of increasing difficulty, each offering higher points for correct solutions:

Dingbats, From Newspapers to iPhones

Paul Sellers, a cartoonist based in Kent, England, was known for creating newspaper comic strips like "Lancelittle" and "Eb & Flo" in the 1960s, which gained international publication. In 1980, he introduced Whatzit?, a word-and-picture puzzle that first appeared in local newspapers, later achieving global syndication and inspiring a board game of the same name. This marked a significant turning point in Sellers' career [source: Holtz].

Within a few years, the Whatzit board game was marketed in the United States and Canada, known as Katch-Its in Australia and Dingbats elsewhere. By the turn of the century, it had evolved into puzzle books and various board game versions, all now out of print, including [source: Board Game Geek]:

Today, the Whatzit? syndicate continues to be featured on websites, in publications, and on mobile platforms, but the game is exclusively referred to as Dingbats [source: Universal Uclick].

In 2010, to celebrate the game's 30th anniversary, a digital version of Dingbats was launched for iPhone and iPod Touch (with no confirmation on an Android release). This marked the debut app from London-based Starberry, a company named after the Navajo word for blueberry. For the Sellers family, this app represented more than a historical milestone; it initiated a collaborative effort involving the entire family.

The app's production was spearheaded by Seller's sons, Rus and Ben, while his daughter, Rachel, handled the voiceovers. The game's visuals and audio were crafted by Seller's grandsons, and the testing phase included his wife, Marj, and daughter-in-law, alongside his grandchildren. The game's design was the work of family friends, Tom Gidden and Vince Sneed.

How to Play Dingbats

Although the board game versions of Dingbats are no longer in production, many copies can still be found in game collections and available for purchase online. To start playing the Dingbats board game, place four cards of each type face down on the board. Players then roll the dice (or, in some versions, spin a revolving board with an arrow to determine who goes first).

The player with the highest roll (or the one indicated by the arrow) begins by flipping a puzzle card from one of the board's corners. As the Solver, an opponent starts a 30-second timer. When you believe you've solved the puzzle, announce your answer and flip the card to check the solution.

If your answer is correct, keep the card and continue solving as many puzzles as possible before the timer ends. Play then passes to the next player on the left.

To determine which card to attempt next, look for arrows printed under each card on the board. Multiple arrows often provide options for adjacent cards. If no card is present in the indicated space, you may select any card at random.

If you fail to solve the puzzle, return the card and place a new one from a different-colored deck on top. The player who solves the top card wins both cards. Occasionally, this jackpot includes multiple cards, all of which contribute to the solver's score.

The game progresses until all 12 card spaces are empty. Solved puzzle cards accumulate in either your pile or an opponent's, and points from each card in your collection must be tallied.

If you achieve the highest score, celebrate with a triumphant shout like "Winner, winner, chicken dinner" or any other victorious phrase. To add excitement, incorporate the game's 12 optional wild cards in the next round. These cards can grant extra solving time, force a player to skip a turn, or award double points [source: Ravensburger].

How to Play Digital Dingbats

While not all digital adaptations of beloved board games are worthwhile, the "Dingbats" app for iPhone and iPod Touch captures the essence of the original while introducing appealing enhancements, such as solo play. (It was priced around $2 in early 2012, and the iPhone version is also compatible with iPads.)

Players tap the screen to reveal one virtual card at a time, displayed in sets of 12, each featuring phrase-and-word puzzles akin to the classic game. Once a card is flipped, a 90-second timer appears. If you know the answer or wish to guess, type it using the on-screen keyboard.

If your answer is correct, the card vanishes from the screen, revealing the remaining cards in the set. If incorrect, a ding sound plays, and the puzzle card stays on the screen for another attempt.

Players can engage on the Dingbats Facebook page, where a free app provides a daily puzzle. Other web-based games, such as those on Fun With Words, also feature rebus puzzles, though they lack the timed format of Dingbats. (Note: Another app titled "Dingbats" for iPad by Blockdots is unrelated to Seller's game. It involves pairing consonants with hidden vowels to solve word puzzles, resembling an iPad version of "Wheel of Fortune.")

Dingbats Tips and Strategies

Engaging in brain games like Dingbats keeps the mind sharp, regardless of age. Logic puzzles stimulate neurons, enhancing synaptic connections. Essentially, your brain evolves and adapts as it practices problem-solving, storing information in both short- and long-term memory [source: Hoiland].

While improving cognitive skills is rewarding, having a strategy to win (or surpass personal records) is equally important. Sometimes answers come quickly, but if they don’t, consider these approaches [source: Your Amazing Brain]:

If you’re completely stuck, try reading the card aloud. For instance, while I solved many Dingbats puzzles effortlessly, one card stumped me. It featured the King of Hearts playing card followed by the word "bored."

My initial guesses were "royally bored" and "royal bore," fixating on the "royal" aspect. Eventually, I gave up. Later, saying the words aloud sparked the answer: "Cardboard." Sometimes, vocalizing the puzzle can unlock new connections.