TypeRacer
Encyclopedia
TypeRacer is a multiplayer online
browser-based
typing
game.
TypeRacer was launched in March 2008, and claims to be the first multiplayer typing game on the web. Site users compete by racing miniature cars that advance as the users type short passages of 20 to 100 words. Accuracy is required; any typing errors in words have to be fixed before continuing with the race. The typing passages come from popular songs, movies and books, such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail
, A Clockwork Orange
and Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!)
, and can be contributed by users. Some users that achieve typing speeds over 200 wpm have been suspected of being robots, or otherwise cheating, which TypeRacer has taken repeated measures to restrict.
TypeRacer was listed among PC Magazine
s Top 100 Web Sites of 2008.
TypeRacer was created by programmer Alex Epshteyn, working on his own, using the OpenSocial
API and the Google Web Toolkit
. Epshteyn was inspired by teaching himself to touch type with a shareware Windows program that lacked a multiplayer mode. He describes himself as not a hardcore gamer, and had never played other multiplayer typing games such as The Typing of the Dead
. He has, however, since been contacted by a former Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
engineer, who expressed approval of TypeRacer. Epshteyn holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from UMass Amherst and was an intern at Google
in 2005.
Multiplayer online game
A Multiplayer Online Game is a multiplayer video game which can be played via a game server over the internet, with other players around the world...
browser-based
Browser game
A browser game is a computer game that is played over the Internet using a web browser. Browser games can be created and run using standard web technologies or browser plug-ins. Browser games include all video game genres and can be single-player or multiplayer...
typing
Typing
Typing is the process of inputting text into a device, such as a typewriter, cell phone, computer, or a calculator, by pressing keys on a keyboard. It can be distinguished from other means of input, such as the use of pointing devices like the computer mouse, and text input via speech...
game.
TypeRacer was launched in March 2008, and claims to be the first multiplayer typing game on the web. Site users compete by racing miniature cars that advance as the users type short passages of 20 to 100 words. Accuracy is required; any typing errors in words have to be fixed before continuing with the race. The typing passages come from popular songs, movies and books, such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
, A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange is a 1962 dystopian novella by Anthony Burgess. The novel contains an experiment in language: the characters often use an argot called "Nadsat", derived from Russian....
and Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!)
I Am America (And So Can You!)
I Am America is a 2007 satirical bestseller book by American comedian Stephen Colbert and the writers of The Colbert Report. It was released on October 9, 2007, with the audiobook edition released several days earlier. The book is loosely structured around the fictional life story of Stephen...
, and can be contributed by users. Some users that achieve typing speeds over 200 wpm have been suspected of being robots, or otherwise cheating, which TypeRacer has taken repeated measures to restrict.
TypeRacer was listed among PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
s Top 100 Web Sites of 2008.
TypeRacer was created by programmer Alex Epshteyn, working on his own, using the OpenSocial
OpenSocial
OpenSocial is a set of common application programming interfaces for web-based social network applications, developed by Google along with MySpace and a number of other social networks.It was released November 1, 2007....
API and the Google Web Toolkit
Google Web Toolkit
Google Web Toolkit is an open source set of tools that allows web developers to create and maintain complex JavaScript front-end applications in Java. Other than a few native libraries, everything is Java source that can be built on any supported platform with the included GWT Ant build files...
. Epshteyn was inspired by teaching himself to touch type with a shareware Windows program that lacked a multiplayer mode. He describes himself as not a hardcore gamer, and had never played other multiplayer typing games such as The Typing of the Dead
The Typing of the Dead
The Typing of the Dead is an arcade game , released in 1999 based on The House of the Dead 2...
. He has, however, since been contacted by a former Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is an application software program for teaching touch typing. The typing program was initially released in late 1987 by The Software Toolworks and has been published regularly ever since. It was originally created by a team of developers from Software Toolworks...
engineer, who expressed approval of TypeRacer. Epshteyn holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from UMass Amherst and was an intern at Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
in 2005.