What is apterous?
The first thing to say is that apterous is definitely not Countdown. It is not endorsed by Countdown, Channel 4 or anyone important at all. However, it is a game with rounds including numbers, letters and conundrums. This may sound familiar. You can play against your friends over the Internet, or other people's friends if you don't have any of your own. To play, just register and then log in. If you're having problems, head over to our FAQ and, if that doesn't work, please do email me and I'll do my best to help.
Current Duel Leaders
| # | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amie Bateen | — |
Format: 26 rounds of 15 seconds.
[Vote for the next Duel's format]
Latest Pencils
Top Dog
| # | Player | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judith Young | 100% |
These are the finest bones dug up lately,
in Mr Dog's opinion (patent pending).
Discussions
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0
9
Tournament Ideas
Brainstorm by Andy SC. Status: Unconfirmed.
I have been pondering as to what my next tournament should be and I have came up with a few ideas below. Please feel free to vote for whichever one you prefer. [Read more] [More miscellany]
7 2 12
Superbru: 2020 Euros
Announcement by Andy SC. Status: Unconfirmed.
I have created two pools for this summers Euros. One for predicting scores and the other is an odds based fantasy game. Come and test your skill or flukiness in these games. Euros Odds--based Fantasy: ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
3 0 6
Descriptions for Tourney Formats
Website feature request by Adam Finlay. Status: Unconfirmed.
When setting up a tourney, it asks what format to use. Obviously, we all know what some of the more common formats are (15 rounder, conundrum attack, sudden death numbers etc) However (and it's a big ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
7 13 9
Most salient stats to be more prominent on Glory Roll
Game feature request by Eoin Jackson. Status: Unconfirmed.
I propose that the most salient / meaningful / popular stats be more visible on people's Glory Rolls than other less interesting stats. How to do this, might take discussion and compromise, but I am pretty ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
13 0 22
May 2021 dictionary update
Announcement by Charlie Reams. Status: Unconfirmed.
Pretty small update: 86 new words and 187 deletions (mostly 10+ letters so not affecting the standard game much). Should be active from tomorrow. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XG4VcwZuZzmsKby-6nnsRx88i0GIgRfs2XtG2HctYqQ/edit#gid=395525367 ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
7 1 12
Benjo's 2021 Tourney Ideas - your thoughts please!
Brainstorm by Rhys Benjamin. Status: Unconfirmed.
I have some ideas for tourneys in 2021 that I thought I might put to the "public" as ideas, and would appreciate feedback and improvements. FORMULA ONE - each of the 22 race weekends is a different format ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
58 3 11
Variant idea: Jaildown
Variant idea by Charlie Reams. Status: Accepted. Priority: 2.
Request description: Time-based Prisoner's Dilemma scoring. If both players declare the same word, only the fastest one gets the points. This would involve either ending round early when you're happy ... [Read more] [More variant ideas]
11 7 7
Co:Wat?! 2021 - Countdown in Waterford (24/07/2021)
Announcement by Eoin Jackson. Status: Unconfirmed.
TL;DR summary: ~It will probably be a socially distanced event with hand sanitiser and facemasks. ~We worked within these parameters last year, and it worked well. ~The numbers are provisionally capped ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
24 0 4
Improvement to Omelette Rules
Website feature request by Chris Hare. Status: Unconfirmed.
(Inspired by questions from a confused user playing Omelette for the first time) The current rules for Omelette are not very clear. They state: "The object of the game is to find the shortest-possible ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
16 3 0
Let players know if a draw is possible
Game feature request by Rhys Benjamin. Status: Unconfirmed.
Just a little message in game chat to let players know if the tourney creator has turned draws on would be helpful, I would think. I got caught out by being overcautious on a conundrum, thinking I'd get ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
11 0 0
More Intuitive Links from User Pages
Website feature request by Chris Hare. Status: Unconfirmed.
The 'Format' tab on a User Page (example: https://www.apterous.org/viewuser.php?user=12588§ion=3 ) shows games from the last 30 days. However, when one uses the links in the 'Top Score' or 'Top Maxes' ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
35 4 17
Two possible new bots
Brainstorm by Jim Bentley. Status: Unconfirmed.
Apologies if this has been suggested before, but Apterous Odd and Apterous Even could both be hypothetically quite strong bots even though they would follow very strict rules. Basically, on letters games, ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
11 0 8
Speed of round on Dogfight Report cards
Brainstorm by Adam Finlay. Status: Unconfirmed.
It would be interesting to have a column next to the rounds of a Dogfight stating how long each round was. Would be great to know how fast I solved the numbers in the 23rd round, say! (Although that would ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
21 1 5
New item idea: number-one single
Game feature request by Dave Robjohns. Status: Unconfirmed.
I think solo duel wins are one of the most impressive achievements on the site, with it often requiring outperforming upwards of 100 people facing the same selections. For example, yesterday Matthew won ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
22 2 11
Indication of random number pick on game recap
Game feature request by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
Assuming the database knows if the number selection was 'random', it would be nice if the game recap could indicate this - perhaps with an (r) next to the selection? e.g. https://i.ibb.co/gF3CZ7L/random.jpg ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
30 1 7
New item idea: Echo
Game feature request by Callum Todd. Status: Unconfirmed.
An item for declaring the same word twice in a row. Example: https://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=2161102&round=34065597#r34065597 If this sounds like it would be too commonplace in some variants, ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
34 1 14
Marcel Stellman
Announcement by John Beresford. Status: Unconfirmed.
Sad to report that Marcel passed away this evening. He brought Countdown to the UK from France many moons ago and was a great man. 96 yrs old and fit as a flea. Great shame. RIP Marcel. [Read more] [More miscellany]
19 5 7
Item for solo duel win
Website feature request by Gevin Chapwell. Status: Unconfirmed.
I imagine it must be pretty satisfying to achieve a solo daily duel win (i.e. not a tie) - I wouldn't know as it's never happened to me - so far! And I think it would be good to have an item to mark this ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
36 2 24
Swedish language
Game feature request by Ian Volante. Status: Unconfirmed.
Would the option of playing Swedish be something that people would be interested in? [Read more] [More feature requests]
8 0 6
How is it decided whether a word is valid?
Brainstorm by Gevin Chapwell. Status: Unconfirmed.
Obviously the basic rules about how to determine what the valid inflections are, but looking at this ticket https://www.apterous.org/ticket_view.php?ticket=4173 it seems that SWOONIER and SWOONIEST have ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
News
13 June 2021
- Stephen R's 200 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×2]
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Maria Chandler, who lasted 9 rounds with a target of 5. Woof!
- Alan O'Sullivan commented on the Duel standings.
- The Duel was won by Miriam Nussbaum with a score of 70 from 98.
12 June 2021
- Andy SC commented on Royal Rumble: 2021. [+11 others]
- Jack Worsley's 1033 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×23]
- Hazel Drury's 121 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×5]
- Elliott Mellor tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Callum Todd's 227 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×3]
- Andres S. commented on Hazel Drury's game with Apterous Prune. [+3 others]
- Jack Worsley tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Touch Jnr Letters Attack with 140 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Rhys Benjamin commented on Cricket World Cup: Group Stage.
- Cammy L's 65 - 48 game with Thomas Carey received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Anthony Endsor, who lasted 17 rounds with a target of 7. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Thomas Carey with a score of 156 from 160.
11 June 2021
- John Doherty's 53 - 48 game with Maria Chandler received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×2]
- Maria Chandler commented on her game with John Doherty. [+1 other]
- James Nguyen commented on his game with Innis Carson.
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mark Murray tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- James Nguyen's 154 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- James Nguyen tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- James Nguyen tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Fiona T's 83 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×5]
- Martin Thomas's 91 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×5]
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris K's 200 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Hazel Drury's 74 - 64 game with Dave Kempshall received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Fiona T tied the record number of maximums for 9 Rounder with 9 maxes.
- Martin Thomas set a new high score for Greek 15 with 91 points.
- Dave Kempshall commented on his game with Hazel Drury.
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Mike Lee, who lasted 10 rounds with a target of 7. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Chris Hare with a score of 96 from 99.
10 June 2021
- Chris K tied the high score for Nice Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Lockdown Jnr Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Stephen R tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
8 June 2021
- News: Game of the Week was won by Amie Bateen's 120 - 0 Russian Letters Attack win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
7 June 2021
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
2 June 2021
- News: A total of 36 Duel Necklaces were awarded for May 2021.
1 June 2021
- News: Game of the Week was won by Hazel Drury's 138 - 0 Goatdown 9 Rounder win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
- News: The Duel for May 2021 was won by Toby McDonald!
31 May 2021
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
- News: Hazel Drury has been crowned champion of Premier League 2020/21 (Burnley)!
- News: Ronan M Higginson has been crowned champion of AptoLeague (S8 League)!
29 May 2021
- News: Callum Todd has been crowned champion of I Still Can't Believe it's Not COLIN!
24 May 2021
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
- News: Game of the Week was won by Hazel Drury's 134 - 124 15 Rounder win against Martin Thomas! This week's vote is now open.
20 May 2021
- New: apterous History: April 2021.
18 May 2021
- News: Game of the Week was won by Elliott Mellor's 401 - 383 Goatdown win against Rob Foster! This week's vote is now open.
17 May 2021
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
This website is not endorsed by or affiliated with Channel 4, the makers of Countdown, or any person associated with the aforementioned in any way whatsoever at all, never has been, never will be, and moreover is proud not to be. Yep.
Page generated in 0.4574 seconds. It's 11:28:34 on Sunday 13 June 2021 here at Apterous Towers. Design and all good stuff copyright © Charles Reams 2008–2021. In memory of Phillip Harcort Collinge, never forgotten. Some graphical and aesthetic elements by Matt Morrison and Jon O'Neill.