Yes, you can finally play Wordle on your BBC Micro like it’s 1985

In a similar fashion to how the original Doom has been ported to countless systems, including retro handheld consoles and even a calculator, Wordle is now available to play on the BBC Micro.

The machine was released in 1981 in partnership with BBC and Acorn Computers, in order to appeal to schools and users who wanted a PC to cater for classrooms and literacy projects.

If you grew up in the eighties and nineties, there’s a good chance you’ve just had a nostalgic flashback, as other games such as PODD, Mr Mephisto and Elite would most likely be installed on a BBC Micro in the corner of a classroom. But in 2022, Wordle looks set to arrive on this iconic machine, if you have one still laying around.

If you're unaware, Wordle is a daily game where you have to guess a five-letter word in six tries or less. There are guides in which letters are correct, but if you lose, you end your winning streak, until you win another.

This unofficial port by Chris Bradburne has a 12,000 dictionary of five-letter words, so you won’t be in danger of words repeating anytime soon.


Analysis – As many ports as DOOM on the horizon?

Playing the game on a BBC Micro works as intended – you get six tries and if you guess the correct letters in the right order, they will be highlighted in green. If they’re right but in the wrong order, these will be yellow.

Wordle port on BBC Micro

(Image credit: Chris Bradburne)

It’s a testament to Wordle’s creator, Josh Wardle, that in the space of five weeks, we’ve seen copycats, ports, and unofficial spin-offs such as Lewdle to scratch that five-letter puzzle itch further.

It’s a simple concept but it works brilliantly, but it’s also simple enough that t could be played on almost any device that features some kind of keyboard support.

The next step could be voice control perhaps to help users with accessibility needs. Or one that uses AR to translate sign language into words.

Wordle port on a BBC Micro

(Image credit: Chris Bradburne)

There’s countless possibilities for Wordle, but Wardle hasn’t attempted to profit off any of this. It’s just a game that has a sole aim to be enjoyed, something that sometimes feels all-to-rare these days.

And in the current gaming world of $ 70 billion acquisitions and what it could mean for certain franchises on non-Microsoft systems, it’s a breath of fresh air.

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Olympus E-M1 Mark III is a Micro Four Thirds powerhouse with a price tag to match

The Olympus E-M1 Mark III has followed up its recent leak with an official announcement – and it confirms that one of the most powerful Micro Four Thirds cameras we've seen will come with a premium price tag to match.

The E-M1 Mark III, which sits below the flagship E-M1X and inherits many of its features, is aimed at pros and keen amateurs who prize speed, handheld shooting and portability in a system with a wide range of native lenses.

While Four Thirds sensors are smaller than their APS-C and full-frame equivalents, they do allow cameras like the E-M1 Mark III to pack in features that would otherwise be tricky to squeeze into a 500g body. One of those is an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system that claims to provide 7.5 stops of compensation, allowing handheld shooters to use slower shutter speeds to help preserve image quality.  

The 20.4MP Live MOS sensor is sadly the same as its predecessor, but is paired with a new TruePic IX processor that powers some impressive AF and software skills, which we first saw in the E-M1X. These include the 50MP Handheld High Res Shot, which helps landscape shooters get around the 20MP limitation of the sensor, and Face and Eye Priority autofocus, which stems from the 121-point Phase Detection AF.

Other improvements on the Olympus E-M1 Mark II include a new 'multi selector' (otherwise known as a joystick) for quickly selecting AF points, and 'Live ND' for seeing the effects of the in-camera neutral density filter on your snaps in the viewfinder.

Olympus E-M1 Mark III

Pro price tags

Aside from these new features, the E-M1 Mark III shares a lot of similarities with its predecessor, including a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and its SSWF (Super Sonic Wave Filter Filter) tech, which should keep the sensor free of pesky dust particles.

The camera's 4K video has also been given a minor bump with the inclusion of the flat OM-Log400 profile, which lets more advanced shooters grade footage in post-production. 

So does the Olympus E-M1 Mark III have any downsides? While it's shaping up to be a fine all-rounder, the main one is likely to be price. It'll be available to buy body-only from late February for $ 1,799.99 / £1,599.99 (around AU$ 3086), or in various kit lens combinations.  

These kit bundles include one with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens for $ 2499.99 / £2,199.99 (around AU$ 4,240) or another with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4.0 IS Pro lens for $ 2899.99 / £2,499.99 (around AU$ 4,820).

These prices are quite hefty when you can pick up a full-frame Sony A7 III and Nikon Z6 for around the same asking price. On the other hand, the E-M1 Mark III is targeted at different photographers and Micro Four Thirds lenses are considerably smaller and more affordable than their full-frame equivalents.

If you don't need all of the E-M1 Mark III's new features, the E-M1 Mark II will remain on sale for a body-only price of £1,299.99 (around $ 1,680 / AU$ 2,510) or £1,999.99 (around $ 2580 / AU$ 3860).

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