Game Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle Introduction To Video Game Design

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29811

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Kia ora from Aotearoa.
We were slow getting started with this one and then a few tricky bits along the way so three stars for difficulty. Lots of fun of course too.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.

Across

1a Talk about right before consumer finds jumper (11)
GRASSHOPPER : A three letter informal word for talk contains R(ight). This is followed by a consumer or buyer.

9aHit back at volunteers employed by online seller making a comeback (9)
RETALIATE : A word for an online seller is reversed and contains the two letters that were formerly used for volunteer soldiers.

10a Pointed remarks from lawyers with briefs lacking content (5)
BARBS : A collective noun for barristers and then the first and last letters (lacking content) of briefs.

11aThrill of quote by former partner (6)
EXCITE : The usual abbreviation for a former partner and then a synonym for quote.

12aCue from soldiers and bodyguard (8)
REMINDER : Engineering soldiers, then a bodyguard who brought Arthur Daley to mind for us.

13aProne to drink plonk, taking cap off (6)
SUPINE : A three letter word meaning to drink and then the beverage sometimes called plonk without its first letter (cap off).

15aVessel preferably parked outside church (8)
SCHOONER : A word meaning preferably or rather contains Ch(urch).

18a Light transport such as tank, for example (8)
LANDSHIP : Light, or come down to earth, and then transport or despatch.

19aBlunt point (6)
DIRECT : A double definition.

21aSort of business college once attached to Doctor No (8)
MONOPOLY : Start with a medical officer (doctor), then 'No' from the clue, and finally a now obsolete name for a tertiary training establishment.

23aBasket supplying unboxed fizz! (6)
HAMPER : A familiar term for expensive fizzy wine loses its first and last letters.

26aSmall and delicate female found in river flowing west (5)
ELFIN : The reversal of a long African river contains F(emale).

27a Gold in toilet facility for the president of the yacht club! (9)
COMMODORE : A toilet facility that might contain a gazunder surrounds the heraldic word for gold.

28aDirect view of Spooner's indication of dawn? (4,2,5)
LINE OF SIGHT : It's hard to write a hint for Spoonerisms. Direct view is the definition.

Down

1d Studies underpinning rise of tabloid plots (7)
GARDENS : The reversal of a slang term for a tabloid newspaper and then rooms that are called studies.

2dLanguage of Zulu arrested by an investigating officer (5)
AZTEC : A slang word for a plain-clothes investigating officer contains the letter represented phonetically by Zulu.

3d Shared objectives may produce shock problem (5,4)
SPLIT ENDS : Shared or divided and then objectives or goals. The shock has nothing to do with a fright or electricity.

4dState officers originally provide crew (4)
OMAN : The first letter of officers, then provide crew, or staff.

5dImpressive carriage in attendance (8)
PRESENCE : A double definition. Impressive carriage could be charisma.

6d Arab bitterness about spiritual leader (5)
RABBI : A lurker, hiding in the clue.

7dFinancial institution ruins new queen (7)
INSURER : An anagram (new) of RUINS and Her Majesty's regnal cypher.

8dCaution from coppers covering game day (8)
PRUDENCE : Coppers or small change contains NZ's national game and D(ay.)

14dThis might cut swan with broken neck if not caught (8)
PENKNIFE : A female swan is followed by an anagram (broken) of NE(c)K IF once C(aught) has been removed.

16d A proviso arranged about university as a layer perhaps (9)
OVIPAROUS : An anagram (arranged) of A PROVISO which includes U(niversity).

17d William is able to cook in this vessel (5-3)
BILLY-CAN : A familiar form of William, then a word meaning 'is able to'.

18d Doorstep millions holding stickers up (7)
LIMPETS : A reverse lurker, hiding in the clue.

20dFlood coming from fissure under hill (7)
TORRENT : A word from Celtic for a hill and then a fissure or tear.

22d Parking on road the wrong way is punishable in law (5)
PENAL : P(arking), then the reversal of a small roadway.

24dSpike may be mistaken getting power for women (5)
PRONG : Start with a word meaning mistaken and replace its initial W(omen) with P(ower).

25d Occasionally calm second rounds (4)
AMMO : The second and fourth letters of calm, then a second or short period of time.

Quickie pun nigh + towels = night owls