What's New in Gamezebo
Just In - Miss Teri Tale
Someone has kidnapped a prize-winning show dog and it's up to you to figure out who in the latest hidden object game from Reflexive, Miss Teri Tale. The game launched today on Big Fish Games. Click here to try it out, and stay tuned for Gamezebo's review.
Steals & Deals
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
Welcome to Friday's casual games news roundup. Among the top headline this week: RealNetworks acquires Trymedia, Jagex launches the online gaming community FunOrb Games, and GameSpot interviews gaming legends Sid Meier (Civilization, Railroad Tycoon) and Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese restaurants.)
Candace Kane's Candy Factory Review
Did you know that dark chocolate has nearly five times the antioxidants of blueberries? Or that sugar is one of the few naturally fat-free foods? Not that I'm advocating a candy binge, but its nice to know the good stuff isn't completely off the menu. Candace Kane's Candy Factory is an assembly line game which has you producing more of the sweet stuff by the dozens.
DragonStone Review
Young Baldric's in love... with the King's daughter no less. And she loves him, too. However, as with any chivalrous tale, Baldric can't marry her on the spot. A heroic deed must first be performed to qualify him as suitor. Thus, the king has sent him on a quest to recover a special artifact, the DragonStone. To win the princesses' hand, Baldric must retrieve the relic and return victorious.
How Madame Fate got her voice: an audio post-mortem
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate was one of those games that raised the bar for production values in hidden object games, thanks in no small part to the contributions of SomaTone Interactive Audio. (Who could forget Madame Fate's distinctive lilt, or the ambient sounds that brought the carnival atmosphere to life?) SomaTone's co-founder Kane Minkus takes us through the process of creating the game's distinctive soundtrack in Gamezebo's first audio post-mortem.
RuneScape's creator launches portal for Web games
Community and web-based gaming were two of the biggest buzz words at this year's GDC, so we weren't surprised to learn that Jagex, the company behind the RuneScape virtual world, has just launched the FunOrb Games portal. The site offers a variety of games that can be played in a Web browser thus bypassing long download times. Many of the games are free to play, but for a small monthly fee ($3) players unlock additional game levels, achievements and community features.
Production company Endemol is also getting in on the action, developing Web games based on TV game shows Deal or No Deal and 1 Vs. 100.
Coffee Rush Review
Oh no! The overly-aggressive Smokestack Coffee Company is stamping out local competition with its overpriced coffee that tastes like mud. Um, that's the Smokestack company - though you might have thought they go by another name. Ahem.
In Anarchy Entertainment's Coffee Rush, it's up to you to open your own coffee shop and take back all the areas of town dominated by the evil corporation's trendy cafes. Up for the challenge? While it lacks in the originality department, Coffee Rush can be as addictive as the drink itself.
Merv Griffin's Crosswords Review
For those who don't know, according to Wikipedia, Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an "American talk show host, game show host, entertainer, television personality and raconteur." He also happens to be the creator of Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and several other noteworthy TV programs, including the one on which this shallow and somewhat disappointing new word game for desktop PCs is based. Bummer!
Family Feud Dream Home Review
Alright game show groupies - how many of you play along at home and yell at the TV? Family Feud has been on the air since 1976, and was the first U.S. game show to air 10 times a week in its heyday. Family Feud Dream Home tries to bring this game show classic to our home computers, "and the survey says" its good news.
Lex Venture: A Crossword Caper Review
Remember when you had to do a science fair project? Most of us have done one... grudgingly (mine covered deforestation). Take a science fair without the painful parts, and add adorable Peanuts Charlie Brown and co. look-alike characters plus a huge helping of word puzzles to get Lex Venture: A Crossword Caper.
East Side Story Review
East Side Story is the fourth and newest installment of the Carol Reed mystery series by MDNA Games. Like the other games in the series, East Side Story is a point-and-click single player adventure game where players must find clues, solve puzzles and ultimately unravel the mystery of an unsolved murder.
15 Minutes of Game: DropSum
Our featured web game of the week is DropSum, one of the entries in the Become a Rock Star Flash Games contest sponsored by Gaia Online and Mochi Games. (For all you budding flash game developers out there, the contest is still accepting entries.) The goal is to drop numbered discs into a grid to create rows or columns. It's similar to Chain Factor - another great web game - but the twist is that in order to make the discs disappear, the row or column has to add up to a certain number. For example, if the given sum is 9, you could match 3 + 3 + 3, or 4 + 3 + 1 + 1, and so on. Click here to play DropSum.
Bloom Busters Review
A few gardening games have hit the casual gaming scene, but nothing like Bloom Busters. Instead of simply planting and growing crops, Bloom Busters - combining a little sim with action - sounds like a sequel to The Little Shop of Horrors with strange things happening in the garden that sprouts monsters from underground and produces giant-sized vegetables.
Yahtzee Texas Hold'Em Review
When you have a hot property, you want to utilize it in every way possible. The makers of cranberry juice, for example, didn't stop at selling a generic fruit drink; they branched out into cranapple, crangrape and so on. Over the years, Hasbro has done the same thing with its Yahtzee property, with uneven results. (Battle Yahtzee, anyone?) Now we have Yahtzee Texas Hold'em, an odd pairing that, like a glass of cranmango juice, might be a little hard for some players to swallow.
Band of Bugs Review
There's some good news for casual gamers who can't bear to play yet another hurry-up-and-serve-all-the-customers time management simulation or find-all-the-items-on-the-screen hidden object games. Increasingly, we're seeing many different genres and experimental designs ranging from music-based rhythm games and space shooters to fantasy role-playing games and story-driven point-and-click adventures.
3 Cool Things at GDC
The first year I went to the Game Developers Conference (GDC), there was one session for casual games and it was in a closet across the street from the main convention center. This year, GDC devoted a whole day for the Casual Games Summit. Indeed, casual games are coming of age.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 3
Remember that controversial article from The Escapist the other week about "cloning" in casual games? Gabe did, and he responds, in this week's excellent installment of Gabe's Corner.
Ocean Express Preview
All aboard!
HipSoft, the savvy game makers behind Flip Words and Gem Shop, is about to launch its next puzzle sensation, Ocean Express.
Gamezebo was invited on deck to take this challenging puzzler for a spin and it's no surprise it proves to be a boatload of fun.
Spacebound Preview
Gamezebo has gotten a sneak peek at Spacebound and we think it may very well be the "next big thing" in puzzle casual games. If you can't get enough of cute games like Qbeez and Chuzzle but enjoy a unique game play unlike any puzzle out there, then you may fall in love with Spacebound.
Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue Preview
The latest heroine who rocked the computer gaming world wasn't Lara Croft or any such half-dressed, gun-toting adventurer.
It was Flo.
With a menu in one hand and washcloth in another, this feisty restaurateur served up one of the most talked-about games of 2005: Diner Dash from PlayFirst.
Feelers Review
By all rights, Feelers should have been one incredibly forgettable game. It is, after all, just a 2-D shooting gallery with a name that's ... what's it called again? But -- and you've got to trust me on this one -- the folks at Alawar have hatched a shooter that's so much fun that, well, let's just say that I've battled my way through to level 37 with just two more to go. 'Nuff said?
Plantasia Review
GameLab and PlayFirst, creators of last year's hit Diner Dash have bloomed early this 2006 with Plantasia; a blend of action, strategy, and a light coating of fairy dust, hovering neatly around the surprisingly frantic world of horticulture.
Feeding Frenzy 2 Review
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there.
Or rather, it's a fish-eat-fish world, something millions of gamers are well aware of after clicking through Feeding Frenzy, one of the more popular casual games to surface over the past few years.
If you're still hungry for more, PopCap has just released Feeding Frenzy 2, a splashy sequel that adds a boatload of new features, bonus fish and a fun storyline.
QBeez 2 Review
Ever sit down to play a game for just five minutes but the next thing you know it's been two hours?
QBeez 2 is that kind of a game.
In fact, this sequel is one of the most strangely additive time-wasters we've come across in a long time.
LUXOR: Amun Rising Review
Nothing stifles innovation like success. Perhaps MumboJumbo hewed to the mantra, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," as they prepared the release of LUXOR: Amun Rising, the ostensible sequel to
Fate Review
Forget everything you know about so-called "casual games."
One of the most talked-about games these days isn't another card solitaire game, Bejeweled knock-off or Sudoku puzzler. It's an epic role-playing game (RPG) that whisks players away to a faraway land fraught with danger and intrigue.
Introducing Fate, a point-and-click fantasy romp worth sinking your mouse into.
Rainbow Web Review
Just when you thought you haven't seen anything new in 3-in-a-row puzzle games, along comes Rainbow Web from Sugar Games, a new downloadable diversion with a clever storyline, beautiful backdrops and new layers of strategy.
Gamezebo Interview: PopCap Games
In the beginning there was Bejeweled... and the world of casual games would be changed forever. Since launching Bejeweled in 2000, PopCap has consistently released great casual games, such as Bookworm, Zuma, and Chuzzle. If any company can be considered the "Godfather" of casual games, it is PopCap. And it is this reason Gamezebo has picked PopCap as first of many game developers to interview.
Poker Superstars II Preview
Poker has become of the hottest pastimes in recent memory; from television tournaments to online matches against real opponents to buying a suitcase of poker chips even at your local dollar store, it's virtually impossible to avoid the craze.
Pirate Poppers Preview
Ahoy there, swashbucklers! If you liked Luxor or Zuma, you'll want to check out Pirate Poppers from the folks at Mystery Studio and PlayFirst.
Inca Quest Preview
GameZebo has a special treat for its readers - and especially fans of the mega-popular Jewel Quest and Mah Jong Quest games from iWin.
We went on a bit of a "quest" ourselves to secure an exclusive look at their next game: Inca Quest.
Platformers for the Masses
Look around your average casual games site and you're likely to think you have double-vision. Clones and copy-cats abound, whether it's the latest gem-swapping game or the next version on Sudoku. It's enough to make you think (and many people do) that the casual gamer has been figured out. Casual gamers, the argument goes, don't want something new - all they want is the same safe gameplay in a new package. Nobody is interested in innovation.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 1
As this is the inaugural issue of both Gamezebo and Gabe's Corner, I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to the site and explain what we're all about.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 2
Last week, most of the casual gaming industry converged on Amsterdam in The Netherlands for a weeklong event called Casuality. Contrary to popular belief, the event was not merely an excuse for a European boondoggle - but also a chance for key industry folks to discuss the pressing issues of the day. These included topics such as advertising in games, the need for more regionalized content, and the impact of community and multiplayer features.
Time Breaker Review
In the early 80s, game companies had mega-hits with brick-breaking games such as Arkanoid and Breakout. You know the premise: gamers are in control of a small paddle that moves left and right along the bottom of the screen. The goal is to prevent a ball from hitting the floor. When the ball bounces off the paddle, it breaks colored bricks at the top of the screen. The level is completed when all the bricks are gone. Players can also catch falling power-ups such as one that turns the ball into three.
Egg vs. Chicken Review
Instead of the age-old question - which came first: the chicken or the egg? - the zany game folks over at gameLab and Playfirst are asking a different question: is the egg stronger than the chicken?
Gem Shop Review
Whether you love tennis bracelets or tiaras, Hipsoft's latest puzzle game, Gem Shop, is sure to put a smile on your face. The game takes many of the best aspects of puzzlers and combines them with the fun of running a small business to create a uniquely challenging title that will have you playing for hours.
Mirror Magic Deluxe Review
You may remember those puzzles in kids magazines that challenge readers to study two nearly identical pictures and find subtle differences between them.
This is the basic premise behind Mirror Magic Deluxe, a new casual game download that borrows heavily from those old brainteasers, but adds a story mode, colorful graphics and new twists to the game-play.
Mah Jong Quest Review
A journey around China in the sandals of young Kwazi is the backdrop for Mah Jong Quest, iWin's foray into the popular Mah Jong category. iWin has taken the time tested mechanics of Mah Jong and put a story to it. You'll travel from province to province as a child hero of indeterminate gender, solving puzzles and restoring the razed remains of the landscape with the power of the Tao. On your way you'll be guided by all the animals of the Chinese zodiac, coaxing you along your Mah Jong Quest with rhymes and riddles.
Polar Golfer Review
Rather than drop $50 on a copy of EA Sports' Tiger Woods Golf- and be forced to wade through a lengthy tutorial and hefty manual just to learn how to play - desktop golfers in search of an inexpensive and accessible game will enjoy taking a swing with Polar Golfer.
Granny in Paradise Review
In the early years of home video games, titles like Burger Time, Lode Runner, Donkey Kong, and others built fortunes by running their players up and down ladders, dangling them from ropes, and chasing them down with bizarre bad guys. In some cases the goal was to rescue the girl. In others it was to make a sandwich or the high score list.
Diner Dash Review
Most of us have seen an act in which a juggler spins plates - keeping dozens of dinner plates rotating on top of tall poles. The artists frantically runs from one plate to the next, giving it an extra spin if it looks like it's about to slow down and crash to the floor. Somehow, the plates never seem to fall, and she never breaks a sweat.
Aloha Solitaire Review
Pour yourself a Mai Tai, grab a handful of macadamia nuts and double-click the icon on your desktop that says Aloha Solitaire -- you're about to travel to the beautiful Hawaiian islands to play a unique and relaxing solitaire card game.
Mystery Case Files: Huntsville Review
You know, TV always portrays Poroit and Jessica Fletcher doing the fun parts of detective work: interviewing suspects, putting people behind bars, etc. But you rarely see the grunt work, the TPS reports of being a gumshoe ... staring at a room and looking for clues. Somehow, Mystery Case Files: Huntsville makes this unheralded bit of sleuthing enjoyable ... if only for a while.
Friday Casual Game Weekly News Roundup
Welcome to Friday's news roundup, where we summarize all of the interesting casual game headlines that caught our eye this week. Gamelab's Eric Zimmerman says casual games are dead (sort of) during a panel talk at the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, PlayFirst signs Wadjet Eye Games (maker of the Blackwell adventure series) to a publishing deal, and Sean Ryan discusss the inevitable rise of web gaming in his latest Silicon Valley Insider column. These stories and more after the break.
Fore play: How Big Fish found one of the great duos
Peanut butter and jelly. Ham and eggs. Laurel and Hardy. ... Golf and solitaire? OK, so it may not seem like the most natural combination. But by drawing on the best bits of both, Fairway Solitaire may have created a whole new perfect combination to rank right up there with PB&J.
PopCap, MumboJumbo sue each other
According to a report in the Entertainment Law Digest, developer PopCap has filed a lawsuit against distributor MumboJumbo for breach of contract. PopCap claims MumboJumbo owes the company about $1.4 million in profits for selling PopCap titles like Bejeweled, but has yet to pay up. MumboJumbo has responded with a lawsuit of its own claiming that PopCap terminated the distribution agreement in June, 2006 and "slandered MumboJumbo's reputation to retailers." Click here to read the original report.
Bottle Buster Review
For years, each new generation of computer games was about better graphics. Then someone decided they'd pushed that particular envelop far enough and punched up the physics instead. When that happened, the fun factor in games skyrocketed. Even casual offerings like BreakQuest made great use of realistic object interaction. Bottle Buster from Gamezilla sets out to do the same.
First Look - Tumblebugs 2
Tumble is back to defend her colored beetle friends from black bugs in the sequel to the Zuma-style action puzzler Tumblebugs. This time around, Tumble can call upon frog, butterfly and rhino beetle friends for help and use 11 power-ups including the new homing bug and gap bug. Another new feature is Sprite Rounds, where players can collect gold rings to win big points and extra lives.
Featuring 90 levels, 30 unique backrounds, 2 levels of difficulty and 4 gameplay modes (adventure, puzzle, sprite and frenzy), Tumblebugs 2 will also reveal what became of the Black Bug King, and who is behind the black bug invasion. Expect it to launch later this month. Click READ MORE to check out screenshots.
Sprill - The Mystery of The Bermuda Triangle Review
Sprill - The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle starts off with the line "It was a sunny day in the Bermuda Triangle..." which is a sure sign that something is about to go wrong! Sprill the fox is spending a quiet afternoon on the ocean when he is kidnapped by aliens and taken deep under the sea! He is forced to help them solve the mystery of a magical pearl before the aliens will let him go.
Great Secrets: Da Vinci Review
Would it be a stretch to say hidden object games produce more revenue for the eye drops industry than spring allergies and windy beaches combined? Just think of the effect on your peepers if you were to play the item hunting games released in just one month from beginning to end! The good news for those of you suffering from eye strain is that you can skip Great Secrets: Da Vinci.
Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze Review
Dream Chronicles was one of 2007's best casual titles, a Myst-style adventure featuring stunning Art Nouveau-inspired graphics, gripping music and an absorbing storyline. It offered an exceptional, albeit short, excursion into a fantasy world par excellence. Now, the sequel, Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze, has arrived, and it's destined to bestow another solid dose of what made the original so enthralling.
Escape the Museum Preview
Back in January Gamezebo posted a brief summary and a handful of screenshots for Escape the Museum, the upcoming adventure/hidden object game from Gogii Games. Over the past few days we've managed to sit down and spend some time with a playable preview version of the game, and we're happy to report that it looks to be shaping up very nicely in time for its late-February scheduled launch.
First Look - Slingo Quest Hawaii
Fans of Slingo and its addicting slots-meets-bingo gameplay will be pleased to hear that Funkitron is hard at work on the next game in the series, Slingo Quest Hawaii - rumor even has it that Funkitron President Dave Walls actually played Ukele himself on the theme song!
The Count of Monte Cristo Review
Depending on your predilections, you may have read Alexander Dumas' famous novel The Count Of Monte Cristo, or at least seen one or more of the many film iterations. Well, unless you're the most die-hard of hidden-object fans and simply must play every game in the genre, you may want to leave well enough alone and pass on FindHiddenObjects.com's seek-and-find variant on the tale.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
There were plenty of interesting casual game headlines to report this week. Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is no longer exclusive to BigFishGames.com - you now can get it on other online portals as well as Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and other retail stores. Reflexive's Russell Carroll shares some shocking game piracy figures in his latest Gamasutra column. Sean Ryan has some interesting reflections on the recent Casual Connect Europe conference in Amsterdam, and don't forget Gamezebo's interview with game designer Georgina Bensley of Hanako Games, the creator of Cute Knight and Fatal Hearts.
Just In - Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze
Dream Chronicles 2 has just launched over at PlayFirst. Click here to download it, and stay tuned for our in-depth review and strategy guide.
Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia Review
Throw some prawns on the barbie, time to leave the cable cars of San Francisco behind and head for a hum dinger of a trip with the Big City Adventure family in the new hidden object game Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia. Discover well-known sites like Hyde Park, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and Royal Botanical Gardens. Venture beyond the beautiful and famous buildings to Circular Quay, the Domain, markets, and museums. Count on re-experiencing the fun of traveling by the bay in a new setting with a few new features.
Fashion Solitaire Preview
Large Animal Games is the latest developer to jump into the fashion-themed game category with its upcoming creation - Fashion Solitaire. I'm a big fan of this group's other games (like the Saints and Sinners series) so I have rather high expectations for Fashion Solitaire.
Fashion Boutique Review
Whether in fashion or games it's not a good idea to simply follow a trend. The richest rewards go to those who take a concept and put their own unique spin on it, which is what has happened with Fashion Boutique. Ready to peg it as "yet another fashion-themed time management game," I was instead pleasantly surprised by fresh gameplay and several fun new twists.
Show Me The Money: Financing Casual Games
"Where will the money come from?" is probably the most important question game developers face. Even with the most ground-breaking, unique, industry-shaking idea, it's the cold hard cash that brings that idea to life. Or doesn't.
Money was the topic of conversation at the recent GameON Finance in Toronto, Canada. Fittingly taking place in the high-ceilinged ornate meeting hall of a former downtown bank, the event drew an eclectic mixture of established game developers and new studios, venture capitalists, consultants, agencies and investors who came together to discuss ways for game-makers to secure funding for their projects.
The Sims Carnival BumperBlast Review
The 800-pound video gaming gorilla known Electronic Arts (EA) is now dabbling in the casual game space, and we've tasted the fruits of their initial efforts with The Sims Carnival SnapCity, a highly enjoyable spin on the SimCity building games.
EA's second offering in its Sims Carnival franchise, however, isn't as impressive, with an average arcade diversion known as BumperBlast. Oh, and it has absolutely nothing to do with The Sims, which may irritate fan of the series, but we'll get to that in due time.
Valentine's Day Steals & Deals
Give your Valentine a gaming gift certificate through Big Fish Games: 1 game for $19.99 or 5 games for $49.99. Sandlot Games is running a patner offer where you can send your Valentine flowers from FTD.com and get Super Granny 4 for free. Dream Day Wedding is $9.95 at Comcast, and Shockwave is offering 25% off on Dream Day Wedding, Chocolatier, Wedding Dash, Venice Deluxe, Cake Mania, Sweetopia and Ciao Bella. You can also send a personalized Valentine's greeting for free using Jigsaw Maker 3.
15 Minutes of Game: Brainiversity Online
The brain-training game Brainiversity, which we reviewed a while back, has been re-released in an online format that you can play for free in a web browser. It includes the ability to record and compare your daily results with others, a leaderboard, and a new points and leveling system. Click here to play Brainiversity Online.
Interview with Georgina Bensley, Hanako Games
Under the banner of Hanako Games, U.K.-based game designer Georgina Bensley crafts unique adventures inspired by a passion for anime and the love of a good story. We sat down with the creator of Cute Knight and Fatal Hearts to chat about making games from her position as an indie developer.
Casual Connect Wrap-Up: I could not have said it better myself. . .
Here I am, putting together my thoughts from the Casual Connect Show in Amsterdam show, when I read this editorial by Sean Ryan, CEO of Meez, in the Silicon Alley Insider.
2 thoughts enter my mind: One, got to get Sean to write for me. Two, I couldn't have said it better myself. Finally, someone who writes about casual games who is as negative. . . I mean, as realistic as myself.
Click here to read Sean Ryan's excellent thoughts on the casual games business and conclusions from the Amsterdam Show.
Fishing Craze Review
Good news for desktop anglers: Anyone who's ever dreamed of spending a sunny day on the lake, pole in hand, versus, say, sitting slumped over a desk in a tiny cubicle can appreciate what Fishing Craze has to offer. Occasional quirks and repetitious action aside, we're confident even those who can't tell a pike from a parakeet (let alone a pickerel or rainbow trout) will still fall for it hook, line and sinker.
Monster Mash Review
"Once upon a time in Curly Valley a giant pickle attacks!"
Oh no! Not a giant pickle! The heroic villagers of Curly Valley manage to fend off the initial attack in Monster Mash, but it's up to you to help them protect their towns from more invasions in the new tower defense game from Sandlot Games.
Just In - Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia
If you enjoyed the hidden object game Big City Adventure: San Francisco then you'll be pleased to hear that the next game in the series, Big City Adventure: Sydney, Australia, has just launched on Big Fish Games. Click here to download it, and stay tuned for our review and strategy guide.
Just In - The Count of Monte Cristo
FindHiddenObjects.com has just launched The Count of Monte Cristo, a hidden object game based on the 19th century novel by Alexandre Dumas and featuring 8 characters, 20+ scenes, 15+ puzzles and 1000+ hidden objects to find. Click here to download the game.
Just In - Monster Mash and Great Secrets: Da Vinci
Sandlot has released a Tower Defense/Garden Defense-style strategy game called Monster Mash, and over at SpinTop the new hidden object game Great Secrets: Da Vinci has launched. We're working on reviews of both games, but in the meantime click on the links to check them out.
Ghost In The Sheet Review
We've reviewed our fair share of adventure games here at Gamezebo, but Ghost in the Sheet is something a little different. Imagine point-and-click where you can't actually pick up and carry items and are unable to touch objects directly because you're... well, a ghost. In a sheet. It's a great way to shake up the genre, and newcomers Cardboard Box Games pull it off well.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
PopCap talks about Peggle, Double Fusion discusses the future of in-game ad models, and Yo Yo Games announces a new game design contest on the theme of "ancient civilizations." These headlines and more in Gamezebo's Friday weekly news roundup, plus a recap of Casual Connect Europe announcements.
News from Casual Connect Europe 2008 - Day 2
RealNetworks announced the results of a survey of 1,500 RealGames players saying nearly 90% of them would be willing to watch video as before and during games in exchange for free play. These headlines and more as our ongoing coverage of Casual Connect Europe continues.
Cate West - The Vanishing Files Review
Games like Cate West - The Vanishing Files continue to raise the bar higher for hidden object games. The latest from Gamenauts and RealArcade offers several variations of seek-and-find gameplay threaded together by an engrossing mystery story and polished presentation.
Breaking News From Casual Connect Europe 2008
Last Day of Work has confirmed that Virtual Villagers 3 - one of the most anticipated casual game sequels ever - is on the way. This news and more was announced at the Casual Connect Europe conference currenly taking place in Amsterdam. Click READ MORE for a full list of press releases from the show.
Doggie Dash Review
Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of Diner Dash meets animals, and a game that could build upon what Zemnott did with Dr. Daisy Pet Vet. After all, who could resist pampering cute dogs and cats in a spa for pets, and from the same folks who brought us the breakthrough time management game series, no less? While the concept is promising, Doggie Dash doesn't offer anything new to the genre. Nada. It's virtually the exact same experience Diner Dash will give you from start to finish, but with dogs and cats instead of people. As a result, we liked - but not loved - PlayFirst's latest casual game offering.
Around the World in 80 Days Review
Jules Verne's classic novel Around the World in 80 Days opens with buddies at the Reform Club arguing the possibility of traveling the world in 80 days due to a new railway in India. Wealthy bachelor Phileas Fogg decides to put his money where his mouth is and bet £20,000 - over two million dollars in today's money - that he can travel the world in 80 days. With the exception of Fogg's American visit, the match-three game Around the World in 80 Days from Playrix Entertainment faithfully follows the book's storyline complete with the characters and locales.
Magical Forest Preview
Ever wondered what it's like to take care of a unicorn? How about a three-headed Cerberus dog? You'll look after these wondrous creatures and more in Magical Forest, an upcoming title from 3 Blokes Studios and iWin that combines elements of monster ranching, Virtual Villagers-style resource management and real-time strategy in a fantasy-themed package.
15 Minutes of Game: Love Letters
Get yourself in the mood for Valentine's Day by playing a few rounds of our featured web game of the week, Love Letters, where the goal is to spell romance-related words like "honeymoon," "precious" and "sentimental" using candy letters in a red heart-shaped box. Awwwwww. Click here to play Love Letters.
Steals & Deals
In honor of the Chinese New Year, Chill is offering all Mahjong games at a discounted price of $9.95. Over at PopCap, save 30% - 50% on selected Mac games including Peggle, Zuma, Bookworm, Bejeweled and Feeding Fenzy. PC users can save 50% on the "Word Nerd" 5-pack and 30% on the "All-Star" 3-pack.
Ice Cream Dee Lites Preview
It's the hottest summer on record, and Dee is itching for the chance to work at her Grandma's ice cream shop, Scoops. But before Grandma will put her on the payroll, Dee has to prove she's up to the task by slinging cones, milkshakes and other cold treats from a lowly ice cream truck. It's all in a day's work in the upcoming time management game Ice Cream Dee Lites from uClick and Cerebral Vortex Games.
Elements Review
With so many increasingly complex casual games flooding the market, it's easy to forget that sometimes the simplest concepts can still work wonders when it comes to providing an afternoon's entertainment. Case in point: Elements, a basic but enjoyable New Age puzzler that's sure to engage with its soothing presentation and straightforward mechanics, which - while effortless to comprehend - will leave you happily perplexed nonetheless.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
It's Friday, which means it's time for our weekly news roundup. Plenty of interesting features this week, including an interview with author James Patterson about his upcoming casual game series Women's Murder Club, a 2007 casual game retrospective courtesy of Gamedaily, and a couple of articles revisiting the age-old question of how to market games to women.