Dear Reader,
You’re reading the monthly newsletter from Amuse Labs, covering the world of puzzles, publishing, and updates to PuzzleMe™, the most advanced digital platform for smart games.
People Magazine Doubles Down on In-App Crosswords
Since its very first issue in 1974, People magazine has carved out a niche for itself in the crossworld with the People Puzzler, offering a delightful weekly 13×13 grid for pop culture enthusiasts. The magazine has now turned People Puzzler into a free daily puzzle in their mobile app and a thrice-a-week feature on their website. The puzzle is typically themed around a celebrity with nearly all clues related to entertainment.
Starting with a weekly puzzle is a great way to test the waters and begin to build recognition as a source for enjoyable crosswords. People Magazine used this strategy effectively to build a beloved puzzle franchise, and is now in the perfect position to double down on it. Turning People Puzzler into a daily puzzle gives the magazine’s readers a compelling reason to both download its app and open it every morning.
Billboard Launches a 10×10 Crossword for Music Fans
Billboard, a storied publication for music fans, has launched a new daily crossword puzzle. These 10×10 puzzles by renowned constructors Adam Aaranson and Stella Zawistowski are filled with clever nods to the world of music, making them a perfect daily treat for fans. The puzzle released on October 3rd, for instance, was packed with clues related to the latest Taylor Swift album launch.
Billboard is using PuzzleMe to maintain its signature brand colors and look and feel. This launch is yet another great example of how puzzles can be tailored to an audience, both in terms of brand identity and puzzle content.
PuzzleMe Plus: The Right Plan for Many People
PuzzleMe’s new “Plus” plan is here, making the platform’s advanced features more accessible than ever. For just $90 a month, small local newspapers, community groups, and other organizations can now access powerful PuzzleMe tools like name and email collection, custom media uploads, and our popular Contest Mode.
This plan is the perfect starting point for those looking for slightly advanced features to drive deeper engagement. With this launch, we also want to ensure that crossword constructors on the platform continue to have free access to the features they need. Professional crossword constructors are invited to apply for a complementary upgrade to PuzzleMe’s Professional plan here.
From the Crossworld
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Mel Taub, the legendary creator of the Puns and Anagrams puzzle for The New York Times. A true master of wordplay, Mr. Taub’s puzzles brought joy to countless solvers for decades. His wit and creativity will be sorely missed. You can read more about Taub’s remarkable life in his New York Times obituary.
Registration remains open for the Boswords Fall Themeless League. Sign up to put your crossword-solving skills to the test with a fun set of themeless grids. Also, a big congratulations to the winners of the Midwest Crossword Tournament held in Chicago on October 4th.
PuzzleMe Spotlight
A selection of updates from PuzzleMe, the most advanced digital platform for games
1. Introducing Preset Themes
We’re excited to introduce Preset Themes, a new feature that allows you to instantly change the look and feel of your puzzles. With a single click, you can choose from seven beautifully designed themes, each with its own unique font and color combination.
Explore themes like “Forest,” with its calming light green background and Open Sans font, or the cool lavender tones of “Grape” with the crisp Arial font. We’ve even included a “Typewriter” theme for a touch of vintage charm. This new feature, available now across all plans, is all about helping you deliver a truly memorable solving experience.
2. Customize Your Forms For Solvers
You can now customize the labels on PuzzleMe’s name and email collection forms to gather the information you need from your solvers. Want to collect a phone number instead of an email address? Or perhaps a username instead of a full name? With our new Form Settings, you have the flexibility to tailor the form to your exact needs.
PuzzleMe’s forms are perfect for a variety of use cases, from running contests to getting newsletter signups. We’ve even seen people use forms effectively to collect leads at events, since audiences don’t mind giving their information in exchange for a fun puzzle experience. We hope this feature can help you connect more deeply with your audience and reach your engagement goals.
3. A Satisfying Reveal for Jigsaw Puzzles
To help solvers who may find it too difficult to put all the pieces together, we’ve added a new Reveal option on PuzzleMe jigsaws. When you click the reveal button, you’ll see a delightful animation as all the pieces come together, one by one, to complete the picture.
It can be frustrating not to have the option to jump to the end of a puzzle. This small addition is meant to help more people complete the puzzle and see the final result, even if they find it too difficult to solve themselves.
About Us
Amuse Labs is the creator of PuzzleMe™, the leading digital platform for Smart Games. It is a B2B SaaS company trusted globally by brands and publishers, powering Crosswords, Sudokus, Jigsaws, Quizzes, Word Searches and more. Explore opportunities to partner by sending a note or applying if you’d like to work with us!
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