POINTS
When playing Solo Mode, Battle Mode, or Pass N Play players are awarded points based off how fast they can guess the picture. Each picture is worth a maximum of 200 points, and it decreases by 5 points as the picture is drawn. Once the total points dwindle down, a timer appears and players are given 10 seconds to make a guess. Should the timer reach 0 before a guess is made, players will be awarded 0 points.
ENTERING AN ANSWER
Similar to sending a text message, use the keypad to type in an answer. For instance, the number 2 can be used to cycle through the letters A, B, and C. Should you have to go back and change any part of the word press left or right on the d-pad to move the cursor to the appropriate letter.
PLAY NOW
Once this mode is selected, Pictionary will automatically find and launch into a 4-player multiplayer game as a guest user ? network fees may apply. The roster is comprised of a red team and a blue team with each team having one drawer and one guesser. Your team and role will randomly be determined. When the game begins, the drawer will be informed of what picture to draw and the guesser will be told to guess the picture being drawn on the canvas. Drawers should be creative with the available tools. Guessers can guess an unlimited number of times without any penalties. One will notice that there are two frames on the screen. The top frame is for your team, and the bottom frame is for the opposing team. As a result, both teams can see what the other is drawing and guessing in real-time. The game ends when one team guesses their picture, time runs out, or a player abandons the game.
While Pictionary is searching for a multiplayer game, the guest user can hit the MENU button to access several options. Two options available are creating an EA account by selecting ?Create Profile? or logging in with an existing username by selecting ?Login.? Logging in will provide the user with access to all the multiplayer options (e.g. hosting a game, viewing statistics, creating buddy lists, etc.).
SOLO MODE
After entering a name and passing the instruction screen, you will be brought to the staging area. Here, the current round number is displayed while data is loading. Press the START button to begin the round and a picture will be slowly drawn on a blank canvas. When you?re ready to guess, press the BUZZ button. Enter in an answer, and press the GUESS button to submit it. Points are gained if the answer is correct, or one life is deducted if the answer is wrong.
HEAD TO HEAD
Both players type in a unique name and then proceed to the instruction screen. Afterwards, the staging area is reached where the current round number is displayed. Press the START button to begin the round and a picture will be slowly drawn. When a player is ready to guess, their respective buzzer button must be pressed. For Player 1, the buzzer button is 1. For Player 2, the buzzer button is 3. At this point, the player who buzzed in must enter an answer and push the GUESS button. If the answer is correct, points are awarded to the player. Otherwise, one of the player?s lives is deducted.
PASS N PLAY
3-4 people can play this mode. After each person types in a unique name, players will be brought to the instruction screen and then onto the staging area. Here, the current round number is displayed and additional instructions are given regarding who should be drawing or guessing. Each round follows this process: 1) phone is handed off to the drawer identified in the staging area, 2) after completing the picture, the drawer must press the PAUSE button and select PASS from the menu, 3) phone is handed off to the guesser identified in the staging area, and 4) the guesser submits their guess. Guessers can guess an unlimited number of times, but are given a time limit. Points are awarded to the drawer and guesser for the correct answer. If the answer is incorrect, or a guess isn?t made before the timer runs out then no points are given. The game ends when everyone has had an opportunity to draw and guess one time. Whoever has the highest points of the group wins the game.
FREE DRAW
This is the best place to practice drawing pictures with the available tool set. There aren?t any time constraints or penalties. So, players can take as long as they want to draw. Also, a maximum of 5 pictures can be saved and loaded up at anytime.
CHANGING SETTINGS
Select Options from the main menu and a list of settings will be displayed. Select the desired option by pressing up or down on the d-pad. After an option is selected, press left or right on the d-pad to change the value.
- Sound: turn the sound on or off
- Vibration: turn the vibration on or off
- Timeout: 45/60/75/90/105/120 seconds that a player is allowed to remain idle before a network disconnect occurs
- Reset Game: Clears all high scores and restores default settings.
Controls
Key Context Functionality
END ALL Exits application
CLR Menu System Backs out to last screen. On Main Menu, exits application.
Left Text Entry Move active letter slot to the left
Right Text Entry Move active letter slot to the right
1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 Text Entry Enter in a letter, number, or symbol
Up Menus Select menu item above
Down Menus Select menu item below
Right Softkey Menus Access menu; Yes
Left Softkey Menus Access menu; No; Quit
OK Menus Select current item
Left, 4 Drawing Move cursor to the left
Right, 6 Drawing Move cursor to the right
Up, 2 Drawing Move cursor up
Down, 8 Drawing Move cursor down
1 Drawing Move cursor diagonally upper-left
3 Drawing Move cursor diagonally upper-right
7 Drawing Move cursor diagonally lower-left
9 Drawing Move cursor lower-right
OK, 5 Drawing Start/stop drawing
* Drawing Change color
# Drawing Change drawing tool
Please Note: Controls may differ across handsets.
Saving/Loading
Pictures can be saved and loaded in Free Draw mode.
Levels
N/A
Multiplayer Options
GUEST USERS vs. REGISTERED USERS
Guest users will have less access to multiplayer options compared to registered users. Please see the list below.
Guest User:
Registered User:
- Play Now
- Play Friends
- Host Game
- Join Game
- Community
- Create Buddy List
- View Stats and Rankings
- View One?s Stats
- Rank with One?s Buddies
- Weekly Winners
- Top 10 of All Time
CREATE PROFILE
In order to gain access to all of the multiplayer features of Pictionary, users must create a profile by following these steps:
- Select Play Now from the main menu.
- Press the MENU button to bring up the guest user menu.
- Select Create Profile.
- Accept EA?s terms and conditions by pressing the YES button.
- Populate profile form by entering in a username, password, birthday, zip code, and e-mail address.
- Press the SUBMIT button to send the profile to EA.
- User will be asked if they want to receive updates. Press the YES or NO buttons. Afterwards, the profile will be sent and the user will automatically be logged in.
LOGIN
All users are considered guest users until they login. Registered users must be logged in to access all multiplayer features by following these steps:
- Select Play Now from the main menu.
- Press the MENU button to bring up the guest user menu.
- Select Login.
- Enter your username and password.
- Press the SUBMIT button.
- Upon acceptance, the user will be displayed the registered user menu.
HOSTING A GAME
Registered users can setup games that individuals in their buddy list can easily find by following these steps:
- Follow the LOGIN steps above.
- At this point the multiplayer options should be displayed.
- Select Play Friends.
- Select Host Game.
- Read the instructions and press NEXT.
- Read the next set of instructions and press GO.
- Select team and press START.
- Wait for friends to join ? you may want to contact friends prior to setting up the game.
JOINING A GAME
Registered users can join specific games by following these steps:
- Follow the LOGIN steps above.
- At this point the registered user menu should be displayed.
- Select Play Friends.
- Select Join Game.
- Pick a game being hosted by one of your buddies. If the game doesn?t exist, you can either use the SEARCH button to find a game, or you can host one yourself.
CREATING A BUDDY LIST
Registered users can create a buddy list by following these steps:
- Follow the LOGIN steps above.
- At this point the multiplayer options should be displayed.
- Select Community.
- Select Buddy List.
- Select Add Buddy.
- Enter a friend?s username and press the SELECT button.
VIEWING STATS AND RANKINGS
Registered users can view stats and rankings by following these steps:
- Follow the LOGIN steps above.
- At this point the multiplayer options should be displayed.
- Select Community.
- Select View Stats and Rankings.
- Select the stats or rankings you would like to view.
MY INFORMATION
One can view and change their profile information by following these steps.
- Follow the LOGIN steps above.
- At this point the multiplayer options should be displayed.
- Select Community.
- Select My Information.
- Change any of the desired information.
- Press the BACK button.