Phrase Frenzy
February 4th, 2009 - Steve Zehngut
Phrase Frenzy is 100% Zeek Interactive from start to finish. Phrase Frenzy was an original game concept. And we executed every phase of design and development.
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THIS GAME RULES!!!
I usually do not comment on blog posts but I found this quite interesting, so here goes. Thanks!
Another great game. Designed just as well as lingo, love it.
too bad its off gsn.com now.
:[
Did they take it down?
Steve — In response to your question, “Did they take it down?”, the answer is “Yes”. They are currently in the process of taking it down. Now, it sounds like your company developed this game (am I understanding correctly?). GSN’s explanation for deciding to remove it from their web site (which I found on their “Community Message Board” where people can make comments about games, report problems they encounter, etc.) goes like this (I copy/pasted it directly from the Message Board):
Traffic for the game had been lessening due to … and increasing technical issues, including browser incompatibility (‘Registering Database’ is a common error). Unfortunately since Phrase Frenzy was based on old code built by a third party no longer accessible, we have been unable to update the game to keep it manageable and widely compliant with our players’ systems.
It seems to me that you are that “Third Party” to which they refer. Is this correct? If you are, are you truly “no longer accessible” to GSN (like they have stated above)? If you are accessible to them and if you would be able to fix the technical issues and update the code, is it feasible for you to contact them to resolve this issue? If you are able to do this, they could reinstate the game on their web site. Phrase Frenzy is quite a popular game on GSN with quite a large following.
I commend you and your company for the development of a product/game like this. I have never found a game like this on any web site that has a feature where you can chat in the game while playing between round and, after playing a game or two, that you can take a break and go into the “Lobby” to chat with friends. On the GSN web site, there is currently only one game (Bingo America) where you can play and chat. But, in the case of this game, most of the chat happens DURING the game and it’s very difficult to play and simultaneously chat. Furthermore, the chat “box” is very small and it’s difficult to follow what people are saying. On other web sites I have found the same type of chat or the game will have “canned chat” (like what you would find in the Lingo game room — not in the Lingo Lobby though). But Phrase Frenzy is a challenging “thinking” game — unlike other games on other web sites and, especially, on the GSN site.
At any rate…back to the main point of my post…Is it accurate that (if you are the 3rd party developer of Phrase Frenzy to which they refer) you are the ones with the capability to resolve the technical issues and update the code? And, if you are, is it feasible for you to contact them in order to make it possible for them to reinstate this game?
Thank you for having a space on your web site for viewers to post questions and blog.
Thank you so much for the response. We are in fact the third party developer and I assure you that we are completely “accessible.” With all due respect to GSN, they have never contacted anyone at Zeek to discuss updating the code. If anyone at GSN is reading this, please give us a call.
It is quite possible that there are technical issues with this game. The game was built almost 8 years ago using the Shockwave plugin. The server technology that it uses is very dated as well. To work properly with today’s Browser/OS standards, the game and server need an update. If we were to update Phrase Frenzy, we would need to re-develop it in Flash (which is our core competency).
I would hate to see this game die and I hope that GSN reaches out to us. We’ll keep you posted.
-Steve
THank you, Steve, for your speedy response. With all due respect to you, if GSN were, in fact, going to or were intending to reach out to you (for an update), it is my belief they certainly would have done it prior to their decision to dismantle it from their web site. As you can see in the “copy/pasted” quote in my first posting here directly from their website’s Message Board (written by one of their Administrators who is referred to as the “Guide Angel”) they state that they are unable to update the code and, therefore, resolve the technical issues because the third party developer is no longer accessible. I think the only way this would get resolved is if your company were to contact GSN to let them know you are available, able, and willing to make the appropriate adjustments to the game.
I, too, along with many other players would hate to see Phrase Frenzy die. It’s a terrific and challenging online game. And, I wouldn’t need to write to you here (hopefully I’m not becoming an annoyance to you with my posts) if I were able to find it on another game site.
I am happy to post a message on the GSN site letting them know I found the third party game developer and that you have stated that you are not only accessible, but willing and able to update the game (hopefully this is true what I’m saying, i.e., about your willingness). We can see if they will respond to that post.
Once again, thank you for responding so quickly.
Thank you so much!
Is this game available on your website?
Sorry, it isn’t.
Would it be possible to purchase the code for the game for public use?
We are currently reviewing our options for this s game. We will keep you posted.
do you have an email we can send to either myspace or facebook so they can contact you if they are willing to use the game?
I really wanna play im so mad at Gsn how could they without asking us lol
i hope xxsugarrulesxx’s posts help! please try to bring the game back…
there are many many MANY players on gsn.com that want that game back real badly.
everyone is complaining about it, including me… please try something!
I would be interested in creating a website JUST for phrase frenzy..
Seriously..
I find myself trying to click the words for “90’s Television Shows” every time I get to this page..
Do something soon :’(
Steve & xxsugarrulesxx
I hope neither of you mind, I took it upon myself to copy and paste part of your thread here and email it to GSN. Hopefully they will choose to make a move quickly…if they read their own message boards they can see everyone and their grandmother wants this game back up.
Today was the first time I have logged onto GSN in probably a good 3 years. I was specifically getting on the site for Phrase Frenzy. I’ve now wasted time resetting my password and having my username emailed to me only to be dissappointed!
Steve, if there is anything you can do to get this game up and running on your site or elsewhere it will be greatly appreciated!
Love & Peace To All
Ashley
I found myself looking for this game yesterday on gsn.com unaware that it had been pulled off the web until coming across this page in a google search today. I haven’t played in almost three years and was looking forward to playing again, so I hope you guys can get it back up and running.
Sincerely,
Tesha
Tesha,
I’m the same as you, haven’t played it in like 3 yrs and was so looking forward to playing it!!! I hope someone can get GSN’s attention and have them fix whatever problem is going on so we can play again! Or some other game place will somehow upload this game so we can all play again
I know some people that would lobby to get this game back.
I have not played ‘Phrase Frenzy’ for a very long time, but I had a craving to yesterday, due to no school. I logged onto GSN, reset my password, and created a new account because my old one had been deleted. I have gone through a ton of trouble to find ‘Phrase Frenzy’, only to be disappointed. I have searched through Google, Yahoo, and MSN, only to find that page after page of searches for ‘Phrase Frenzy’ lead to nowhere. I love this game, and it’s a tool that I use for school, as well as fun. I enjoy this game, and play it with my friends so so so so much!! This is one of my favorite games, and I am so so so SO freaking disappointed to find out that there is not a single site that I have seen on any thing that I have searched.
I’m in the same boat! Logged onto GSN after about 2 years only to be heart broken that Phrase Frenzy is no longer! This game encouraged my little sister to learn to type more quickly so that she could play!!
Please bring it back in some way and soon! 
I have only been away from the site for about six months now. I used to play with a friend who was a trivia genius but he went off to college. Now that he is back we tried getting online to play only to be very disappointed. This was the only game besides Lingo that I played on GSN – definitely my favorite online game. If there is any way this game could either reappear on GSN or on its own website I think there are a lot of people who would be very appreciative
today i was really bored and decided to look up the game on gsn and then discovered that it was gone!….i used to love that game and havnt played in a couple of years…soo i really wish they would bring it back.
Was just playing this game a couple months ago as I hadn’t played it for quite awhile either and I couldn’t remember the name to it till I got another account with GSN. I was looking to play today and came across this saying that Phrase Frenzy was off the website right now. I hope they get it back. ONe of these days I would like to beat somebody in that game….lol. Even the computers….lol. Hope they get it up and running again and real soon.
bring it back!
I’m also in the same boat. I want to play so badly!
I am also with you. My sister and I live in seperate states and playing phraze frenzy gives us something to do and we also get to talk. I really wish that the game will be back soon. Please contact me if it does come back. I miss it so much.
Yes! please bring it back, so glad it’s gonna be updated!
I WANT TO PLAY FRASE FRENZYYY
Ok so Like most of u
We logged on to Gsn only a Day after a Long Night of
Playing Phrase Frenzy only to Find that it was gone
All the friendz N frenimies We made
We Miss it please Please Please we have to band together
We kno there will be so many followers this game can b so big
Y do we need Gsn and the “NEW” set up
We say put Phrase Frenzy on Its own Website.
How can we go about this, Can the fans help??
We will also re-post the conversations Left on this site If
this Will get Gsn to reply faster
Any updates for us on the status of this game?
I cannot believe they got rid of Phrase Frenzy. That was my favorite game growing up. My cousins and I would go onto different computers and divide up into teams and play against each other when we were younger. I miss it. I haven’t play in awhile but I had the sudden urge to play today and when I found out it was taken down, I was heartbroken. Is this a joke?
PS. PLEASE BRING PHRASE FRENZY BACK!!!!!
I am so disappointed that Phrase Frenzy was taken away. I know all of my friends are. We used to all play it in highschool together — and recently i looked it up and i could not find it! i miss it! please please bring it back! you obviously have a huge following with it! PLEASEE!!!
Can u make a phrase frenzy website or do you need a host (GSN)?
I had not played phrase frenzy in a couple of months, then about a month ago, I logged on to GSN, and searched and searched for phrase frenzy and I could not find it. I was very disappointed that it was not there. I tried playing a different game, but it just was not as satisfying. I have not been on to GSN website since
I think they should put phrase frenzy back on it was such a good game.
I am in the same boat right along side all of you. I have not been to the GSN site in a few months, then tonight, had the urge to go play Phrase Frenzy. I logged in, and searched for a while. I was SO disappointed that I was unable to find it. Did a google search and walla..here I am. What can we do, as consumers, to get this game back up and running? If not on GSN’s site, then someplace…
GSN’s other games (which I tried to play instead of PF) are just boring and lame. I will not go back to that site if they leave Phrase Frenzy in the dust..
Im really dissapointed in GSN, first lingo, now phrase frenzy, the other games they have now are quite boring and no where near as mind challenging as these games were! Why is is that everytime i love a game, its pulled? Like family feud on uproar and scrabble and monopoly on games.com!!!!!! ITs so unfair!
Yeah well every year for the week of thanksgiving break me, my cousin, and my sister always play phrase frenzy. and last year my sister died in september and in november me and my cousin still wanted to play and we get on and theres nothing….thats crappy… just because you cant update it doesnt mean you should delete it….it was fun and it actually meant alot to some people….
I e-mailed GSN… I think we all should! Absolutely inundate them with e-mail to bring the game back. You know what they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
I hope this game comes back! I love it! Those of you on Facebook, there’s a group for people addicted to Phrase Frenzy. Let’s pool our resources on both sites and get the ball rolling! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29960310719
Any updates?
I think we should try and get the game on myspace or facebook if gsn wont the guy from zeek responded to sumone not too long ago
maybe we can e-mal a rep at either site and see what happens
This game rocks. You should get it back somewhere. i love love love this game!!
I find it highly unfair not to put the game back up! Everyone LOVED it so much and to just take it away is crazy. PLEASE PLEASE BRING IT BACK!
Please bring Phrase Frenzy back it was one of my favorite games.
I LOVE PHRASE FRENZY BRING IT BACK
Put Phrase Frenzy on facebook!! That’s an awesome idea! It’s the best game ever, and my mom, sister, and I played it all the time and then one day it was suddenly gone!
I used to sit in class and play with my friends (after our work was done of course) I looked forward to it every day… it not only was a blast but was educational. I miss it like crazy. It was one of the very few games I played on the computer…I get tired of the other ones quickly. I like most of you guys hadn’t played in a while (since I graduated) and I for some reason it popped into my head to play. I’ve searched and searched to find it or another game that’s similar but can’t find it anywhere!!! I really hope it gets back on GSN quick!!!
BRING PHRASE FRENZY BACK IT WAS AN AWESOME GAME!!!!
Please host phrase frenzy somewhere else… It could probably even get its own successful site! We all loved it so much
We are really working on getting the permission to do so.
I MISS IT TO IT WAS MY FAVORITE AND I HAD MASTERED IT. MAKE A PHRASE FRENZY WEBSITE PLEASE
I miss this game! It was the best one, they really need to bring it back somehow. I hope you guys can get it here or somewhere. Keep us posted!
It’d be awesome to host it on Facebook. I just got bored today and decided to play Phrase Frenzy after probably about 2 years & was sad to see it gone from gsn
OK, gang. We’ve decided to develop a production schedule for this. However, we need a new name. So, give us your thoughts. We can’t use Phrase Frenzy. What would you call it?