Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.
Difference between revisions of "Apterous"
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| − | [[Image:Apterous Game.JPG|right|thumb| Screenshot of Apterous game with chat window in background, circa early 2010]] | + | [[Image:Apterous Game.JPG|right|thumb| Screenshot of Apterous game with chat window in background, circa early 2010.]] |
| − | [[Image:Apterous.png]] '''Apterous''' is a ''[[Countdown]]'' website maintained by [[Series 59]] | + | [[Image:Apterous.png]] '''Apterous''' is a ''[[Countdown]]'' website maintained by [[Series 59]] runner-up [[Charlie Reams]]. It is the first site ever to allow players to play simulated games of ''Countdown'' online without the aid of [[MSN Messenger]]. Almost all [[Series Winners]] since 2009 are members. Apterous was accessible exclusively through a Java applet until April 2016, when the ability to play the game directly within one's browser was introduced. |
Apterous was established on 29 June 2008; originally known as ''Netdown'', it received its final name on 23 July. The site's second member, after Charlie Reams, was [[Jon O'Neill]], who seems to have inspired the name of the site as it was a word he declared in his [[Championship of Champions XII]] [[Episode 4116|preliminary]]. | Apterous was established on 29 June 2008; originally known as ''Netdown'', it received its final name on 23 July. The site's second member, after Charlie Reams, was [[Jon O'Neill]], who seems to have inspired the name of the site as it was a word he declared in his [[Championship of Champions XII]] [[Episode 4116|preliminary]]. | ||
| − | Players log in and can play against other online players or the site robots ('bots'). | + | Players log in and can play against other online players or the site robots ('bots'). The bots are (from weakest to strongest): 'Apterous Prune', 'Apterous Nude', 'Apterous Waldorf', 'Apterous Plum', 'Apterous Caesar', 'Apterous Velvet', 'Apterous Prime' and 'Apterous Rex'. There is also a unique bot, 'Apterous Soap', who refuses to offer any word more than once. Another unique bot (who cannot be played anymore) was 'Apterous Sponge' who remembered every word played against him. Players of Apterous are known as ''Apterites.'' |
| − | To cover for expenses of running and maintaining the Apterous server, Apterous has a paid subscription service. The paid subscription is required for the user to enjoy all of Apterous's features. Apterous charges £20 for an annual subscription. | + | To cover for expenses of running and maintaining the Apterous server, Apterous has a paid subscription service (formerly known as ''apterous+''). The paid subscription is required for the user to enjoy all of Apterous's features. Apterous charges £20 for an annual subscription, £6 for one year's access to Superstats, or £23 for both. Non-subscribers can only play up to 30 games before buying a subscription. |
| − | The site includes other forms of Countdown including [[Speed Countdown]], [[Goatdown]] and [[Hypercountdown]]. The site automatically keeps count of a player's wins and losses, as well as the highest scores and highest ratings. | + | The site includes other forms of ''Countdown'' including [[Speed Countdown]], [[Instant]], [[Goatdown]], [[Countdown Unlimited]], and [[Hypercountdown]]. The site automatically keeps count of a player's wins and losses, as well as the highest scores and highest ratings. |
| − | Apterous's [http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=1000000 one-millionth game] was played in 2013, | + | Apterous's [http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=1000000 one-millionth game] was played in 2013, its [https://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=2000000 two-millionth game] in 2017, and its [https://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=3000000 three-millionth game] in 2020. |
| − | [[The Countdown Database]] is part of the website, and contains comprehensive records of over | + | [[The Countdown Database]] is part of the website, and contains comprehensive records of over 7,000 games of televised ''Countdown'' as well as other series stats and stats on [[Octochamp]]s. Since 2010, the [[Countdown Wiki]] has also been hosted exclusively on its servers at ''wiki.apterous.org''. |
| − | ==External | + | ==External Link== |
*[http://www.apterous.org/ Apterous.org] | *[http://www.apterous.org/ Apterous.org] | ||
[[Category:Online community]] | [[Category:Online community]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:05, 5 January 2023
Apterous is a Countdown website maintained by Series 59 runner-up Charlie Reams. It is the first site ever to allow players to play simulated games of Countdown online without the aid of MSN Messenger. Almost all Series Winners since 2009 are members. Apterous was accessible exclusively through a Java applet until April 2016, when the ability to play the game directly within one's browser was introduced.
Apterous was established on 29 June 2008; originally known as Netdown, it received its final name on 23 July. The site's second member, after Charlie Reams, was Jon O'Neill, who seems to have inspired the name of the site as it was a word he declared in his Championship of Champions XII preliminary.
Players log in and can play against other online players or the site robots ('bots'). The bots are (from weakest to strongest): 'Apterous Prune', 'Apterous Nude', 'Apterous Waldorf', 'Apterous Plum', 'Apterous Caesar', 'Apterous Velvet', 'Apterous Prime' and 'Apterous Rex'. There is also a unique bot, 'Apterous Soap', who refuses to offer any word more than once. Another unique bot (who cannot be played anymore) was 'Apterous Sponge' who remembered every word played against him. Players of Apterous are known as Apterites.
To cover for expenses of running and maintaining the Apterous server, Apterous has a paid subscription service (formerly known as apterous+). The paid subscription is required for the user to enjoy all of Apterous's features. Apterous charges £20 for an annual subscription, £6 for one year's access to Superstats, or £23 for both. Non-subscribers can only play up to 30 games before buying a subscription.
The site includes other forms of Countdown including Speed Countdown, Instant, Goatdown, Countdown Unlimited, and Hypercountdown. The site automatically keeps count of a player's wins and losses, as well as the highest scores and highest ratings.
Apterous's one-millionth game was played in 2013, its two-millionth game in 2017, and its three-millionth game in 2020.
The Countdown Database is part of the website, and contains comprehensive records of over 7,000 games of televised Countdown as well as other series stats and stats on Octochamps. Since 2010, the Countdown Wiki has also been hosted exclusively on its servers at wiki.apterous.org.
