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Frequently Asked Questions About Interactive Games/Puzzles on AARPmagazine.org
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• Technical support for puzzle players
• Frequency of new puzzles
• Yesterday's puzzle loading instead of new puzzle
• Puzzle is not loading properly
• Minimum software/hardware requirements
• Puzzle archives
• Puzzles loading on top of each other
• Shockwave locks up during cutting of jigsaw puzzle pieces
• Gray box appearing instead of puzzle
• Printing a completed jigsaw puzzle
Does AARP build all the games?
Although the games reside within AARP's websites as entertaining online content for our visitors, a company called uClick builds all the games and delivers them to our sites.
If you are experiencing a problem that is not addressed below, you can contact uClick directly at support@upuzzles.com for the fastest, most direct response. However, we are happy to help as well—send us an email at wsosupport@aarp.org.
How often do new games/puzzles appear?
A new Crossword puzzle, Universal Jigsaw puzzle, Rootonym puzzle, and Interactive Trivia game appear every day. Find them all at AARPmagazine.org's Games channel.
Special FAQ for New Format of Universal Crossword
We recently switched to a new format for the popular Universal Crossword. Click into our special FAQ for guidance on using this version of the puzzle.
I am seeing the same puzzle that appeared on the site yesterday. Why won't today's new puzzle show up?
Games and puzzles are updated daily at 1:00 am EST.
If you access any of the interactive games/puzzles via a "bookmarked" or "favorite" website address, you might be re-loading the puzzle that you played previously when you initially set it as a "bookmark" or "favorite."
To ensure that you play a new puzzle every day, always visit AARPmagazine.org's Games channel first, then click on the game/puzzle of your choice.
Also, clear your browser's cache and/or temporary Internet pages on a regular basis so that your browser gets the freshest versions of the webpages that you visit.
Contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com if you require additional technical assistance.
Today's puzzle doesn't seem to load properly. (Occasionally, jigsaw puzzles may fail to load several pieces, or they may generate "memory error" messages.) What can I do?
Usually, puzzles that do not load correctly are a temporary problem on our end and do not require any special fixes.
Refresh/re-load the puzzle page. Close and re-open your browser as necessary to ensure that you are requesting a fresh version of the puzzle page.
If the problem persists, make sure that your ActiveX controls aren't disabled. Here's how to check:
1. In your Internet Explorer application's menu bar, click on Tools, and select Internet Options.
2. On the Internet Options screen, click the Security tab (near the top of the window).
3. Click Custom Level (near the bottom of the window).
4. In the Security Settings window, find the section labeled "ActiveX controls and plug-ins."
5. If anything in this section is marked Disabled, change it to Enabled or Prompt. Do this only for controls containing the word ActiveX in the description.
6. Click OK on the Security Settings window; click OK on the Internet Options window.
7. Navigate to the puzzle you were having trouble with, or click the Refresh button on your browser.
Contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com if you require additional technical assistance.
What are the minimum software and hardware requirements for playing the interactive games/puzzles?
For Windows-based PCs:
- operating system: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, or 2000
- processor: Pentium-compatible processor running at 233Mhz or faster
- memory: a minimum of 32 Mb of RAM
- browser: Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape Navigator 5.0 or later, or America Online 6.0 or later
For Macintosh:
- operating system: Mac OS 8.1 or later
- processor: PowerPC Processor running at 233Mhz or faster
- memory: a minimum of 32 Mb of RAM
- browser: Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape Navigator 5.0 or later, or America Online 6.0 or later
The interactive games/puzzles use the Flash and Shockwave plug-ins. Download them free from Macromedia's site, which will automatically identify the correct version of its plug-ins for your operating system and browser:
NOTE: You also must have Javascript/Jscript enabled, and your browser must be set to allow cookies. (Click into AARP.org's Computers and Technology channel to learn about cookies and how to change your browser's cookie settings.)
Is there an archive of previous games/puzzles?
You can play the previous two weeks' worth of puzzles. On any puzzle page, look for the Select Other Puzzles menu in the left-hand column. Use the menu to click directly into other recent puzzles.
I am seeing a puzzle that is already completed on top of a second puzzle that is in pieces. I can't remove the top puzzle in order to play the bottom puzzle. What can I do?
To ensure that you play a new puzzle every day, always visit AARPmagazine.org's Games channel first, then click on the game/puzzle of your choice.
You must have Javascript/Jscript enabled, and your browser must be set to allow cookies. (Click into AARP.org's Computers and Technology channel to learn about cookies and how to change your browser's cookie settings.)
If the problem persists, make sure that your ActiveX controls aren't disabled. Here's how to check:
1. In your Internet Explorer application's menu bar, click on Tools, and select Internet Options.
2. On the Internet Options screen, click the Security tab (near the top of the window).
3. Click Custom Level (near the bottom of the window).
4. In the Security Settings window, scroll down until you see a section labeled "ActiveX controls and plug-ins."
5. If anything in this section is marked Disabled, change it to Enabled or Prompt. Do this only for controls containing the word ActiveX in the description.
6. Click OK on the Security Settings window; click OK on the Internet Options window.
7. Navigate to the puzzle you were having trouble with, or click the Refresh button on your browser.
Contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com if you require additional technical assistance.
The Shockwave plug-in locks up when it's time to cut up the puzzle into pieces. What's going on?
You may need to update your version of Shockwave. Download the Shockwave plug-in free from Macromedia's site, which will automatically identify the correct version of its plug-ins for your operating system and browser.
Contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com if you require additional technical assistance.
I am seeing a gray, blank box where the puzzle usually appears. How can I fix this?
For the Crossword:
This problem occurs from time to time with frequent puzzle players. Clear the cache in your browser (even if your browser does it automatically), and then reboot your computer (close the computer down manually and then restart).
For the Jigsaw:
You may need to update your version of Shockwave. Download the Shockwave plug-in free from Macromedia's site, which will automatically identify the correct version of its plug-ins for your operating system and browser.
Contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com if you require additional technical assistance.
Can I print a completed jigsaw puzzle?
Unfortunately, our interactive games/puzzles do not permit you to print a completed jigsaw puzzle. However, if you seek a copy of an image used in a puzzle, contact uClick at support@upuzzles.com to determine the availability of the image from the original source.
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