What's New in Gamezebo
Zeeby videos are up!
Videos for the second annual Zeeby Awards are now online! Click here to view the exclusive broadcast, which was recorded and produced by Lifetime TV Games.
The video features the brilliantly clever banter of host/emcee Bradford How, acceptance speeches and clips from your favorite developers, and interviews with winners by Gamezebo's own Marc Saltzman.
More than 35,000 voters picked the top casual games of 2007, with the People's Choice Award for Casual Game of the Year going to Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile by I-Play and Flood Light Games. The Zeebys also raised $11,000 for the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, a charity that helps the families of seriously ill children.
Coming Soon: The live music of the SomaTone Interactive Band playing 6 of your favorite casual game tunes!
So long Scrabulous
If you've been following the Hasbro vs. Scrabulous saga then what happened this week wasn't all that surprising, but it still came as a kick in the teeth to the 4 million or so Facebook users who enjoyed playing the immensely popular multiplayer take-off on Scrabble.
On Tuesday, fans found that Facebook had shut Scrabulous down in response to a lawsuit that Hasbro, owner of the North American rights to Scrabble, was filing against the makers of the game.
Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy Preview
Hot on the heels of Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice - which is currently the #1 selling PC game in North America - Her Interactive has given us a peak at the next game in the long-running series, Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy, which is coming out this fall.
Governor of Poker Review
Howdy pardner! Y'all love poker, I'm sure, and a new spin on the classic card game has moseyed its way to the casual game space. Yee haw! Governor of Poker folds in a Wild West theme along with a real estate spin, as you can earn enough money to buy buildings in order to become a Texas tycoon.
Gunslinger Solitaire Review
Step through the saloon doors into the Wild West, where you'll try to find the gold mine at the end of the treasure map with your six-shooter in one hand and a deck of cards in the other. Gunslinger Solitaire puts a unique cowboy spin on the old solitaire card game that's fun for a while but ultimately has its fair share of tumbleweeds.
Elven Mists 2 Preview
In the sequel to Intenium's brainteaser Elven Mists, the old Awakener of the Elves has retired after 750 years of faithful servie and nominates you as his successor. But since you're only 99 years old, you'll have to convince the dwellers of the mystical kingdom of Deru that you're qualified to reawaken the Elves, who have been hibernating in their flower beds.
Web Wednesdays: Rollercoaster Rush
My local amusement park is about to open a new rollercoaster called the Behemoth that looks absolutely insane, which is why I chose Rollercoaster Rush as this week's featured web game - that and it's really fun.
Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice Review
Nancy Drew's 18th point-and-click adventure, Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice, takes the teenage sleuth to the canals and palazzos of Italy's famouse water-bound city. She's been enlisted by the GdiF (Italy's FBI) to help capture an art thief known simply as "The Phantom."
Operation Mania Preview
What do you do when you're the doctor and someone comes into your hospital with butterflies in their stomach, water on the knee, and a frog in the throat? Operate of course! Operation Mania is a new twist on Hasbro's classic Operation board game that will be launching soon courtesy of EA's casual games site Pogo.com.
Majesco forays into casual downloads with Orchard
Majesco Entertainment has published several popular casual games on the Nintendo DS and Wii, including versions of Cake Mania, Babysitting Mania and Fish Tycoon, as well as its own popular Cooking Mama series. Majesco's upcoming game Orchard, however, will be the company's first game published for the PC download market.
Gamezebo spoke with Gui Karyo, Executive VP of Operations at Majesco Entertainment, about the company's first foray into the world of casual online gaming.
Casual News - July 29, 2008
Funtactix and Nickelodeon announce new multiplayer online casual games; I-Play and RealNetworks celebrate their Zeeby Award wins; and over at GameSetWatch, Emily Short writes a thoughtful column about storytelling in hidden object games. These headlines and more behind the cut.
Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan Review
Hidden object games that challenge players to find hundreds of well-concealed items in busy scenes is one of the hottest genres in the casual gaming space. This includes plenty of "sequelitis," which is just fine for fans of a particular series. And the latest sequel in the Dream Day franchise, Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan, should satiate long-time fans.
Glyph 2 Review
Visually attractive with more sophisticated gameplay than the original, Glyph 2 is a fantastic sequel that offers 255 new match-three levels to explore as you seek to unlock the mysterious glyphs and put a stop to the darkness that's spreading across Kuros.
All About Farming Preview
Next up to try its hand at a farm-themed time management game is Realore, who will soon be launching All About Farming. You'll plant pumpkins, cabbage and other organic vegetables, buy cows, take care of chickens and pigs, and more as you work to revive your grandfather's farm. Old gramps will even act as your assistant.
Sarah's Emergency Room Preview
Merscom has partnered with Portuguese developer GameInvest to produce the hospital-themed time management game Sarah's Emergency Room. Merscom's production team also worked on the hit Dairy Dash, so hopefully some of the good vibes will rub off - you'll get ot find out when the game launches in September.
Ashtons Family Resort Preview
In Ashtons Family Resort, an upcoming time management game from Realore (makers of Jane's Hotel), you'll get to try your hand at running the family tourist business as you manage four unique camping spots: the shores of a lake, a ski resort in the Apls, a sunny safari in Kenya, and a deep-sea diving camp on an island in the Pacific Ocean.
Pony World Review
Every little girl dreams of having a pony, or so they say. Thankfully for parents, now besotted toddlers can finally get one courtesy of Pony World Deluxe, which lets you raise simulated versions of the friendly critters at a fraction of the real-world cost.
Apple Pie Review
One benefit of reviewing games: It's a great stress reliever. After a rough day, I played Apple Pie with my son so I could write the review. THe match-three game gave us an opportunity to connect by doing something fun together. Unfortunately, the game's benefit stopped there.
Clueless Preview
Along with Mean Girls and Pretty in Pink, Paramount Digital Entertainment and Legacy Interactive are working on a game based on the 1995 Paramount film Clueless, which stars plucky Beverly Hills high school student Cher as she tries to find the perfect boyfriends for all her pals.
Green Valley - Summer Rush Preview
When we last saw everyone's favorite bumbling insect dad, Beetle Bug, he was rescuing his kidnapped kids in Beetle Bug 3. Now the poor guy has inherited a farm and takes his family out to the country only to discover that the "farmhouse" is actually a shack badly in need of repairs. So in Green Valley - Summer Rush, Beetle Bug gets up early every morning to turn the run-down farm into a flourishing business.
Mean Girls Preview
Every high school has its "mean girls" - the clique of the prettiest, most popular girls who always seem to have the most terrible personalities. In Mean Girls: High School Showdown, a game based on the movie that launched Lindsay Lohan's career, you'll take on the role of a high school student trying to restore the balance of power by bringing down the biggest clique of them all: the Plastics.
Little Shop - Road Trip Review
Continuing the tradition of previous Little Shop releases, Little Shop - Road Trip serves up another heapin' helpin' of hidden object heaven. And, aside from a few critters caught in its headlights, it's an enjoyable seek-and-find romp across America, from Seattle to South Beach, in search of rare treasures to stock your little shop back home.
Parking Dash Preview
Meet Karma, the newest arrival in DinerTown and the star of Parking Dash, a new time management game being published by PlayFirst and scheduled to launch in September.
Pretty in Pink Preview
Legacy Interactive and Paramount Digital Entertainment are giving you the chance to relive the story of the classic 80s movie Pretty in Pink in a new hidden object game coming out this fall.
Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water Preview
Merscom announced at Casual Connect Seattle that it will be launching an original hidden object game franchise, with the first title, Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water, scheduled for launch later this year. Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water is being developed by GO! Games, the Siberian studio who also developed Blood Ties.
Yumsters! 2 Review
As a professional game reviewer (I know, I know, no violins please), it's a good sign when you find yourself smiling ear to ear after booting up a new casual game. This is exactly what happened with Yumsters! 2, a new puzzle sequel from the talented developers at Kranx Productions in Russia.
Zeeby Awards - The results are in!
Agatha Christie: Deather on the Nile, Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate, Build-a-lot, Chocolatier, Dream Chronicles and Peggle were among the winners at the Zeeby Awards, which took place Thursday night as part of Casual Connect. Gamezebo's video coverage of the event will be available soon, but in the meantime read on for the full list of winners.
Casual Connect Seattle 2008 - Day 2
Some big games were announced today during Day 2 of the Casual Connect conference in Seattle. PopCap announced that it's bringing Peggle, Mystery P.I. - Portrait of a Thief and Amazing Adventures The Forgotten Ruins to the Nintendo DS this fall, and MumboJumbo announced that the next LUXOR game will be stepping out of Egypt and into Persia, Syria, and five other exotic lands. More show news behind the cut.
PopCap brings Peggle, Mystery P.I. and Amazing Adventures to DS
PopCap has just announced that it will be bringing its mega-hit game Peggle to the Nintendo DS in late 2008, along with the hidden object games Amazing Adventures The Forgotten Ruins and Mystery P.I. - Portrait of a Thief.
The Race Review
Ready for a bit of adventure in your next hidden object fix? Maybe you'd like to travel the globe on a scavenger hunt, beating the pants off other opponents and winning your way to the top? That's the concept behind The Race, a hidden object game with a neat "reality TV" flare.
Righteous Kill Preview
Righteous Kill may not sound like a fitting title for a casual game, but believe it or not it's a hidden object game from Merscom and Starz Media - based on the upcoming feature film of the same name starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.
Mystery Stories: Berlin Nights Preview
The sequel to cerasus.media's hidden object adventure Mystery Stories: Island of Hope will take place in the European metropolis of Berlin. As part of Casual Connect, the developer has given us the early scoop on Mystery Stories: Berlin Nights.
4 Elements Preview
Playrix Entertainment, the makers of Fishdom and Around the World in 80 Days, are hard at work on their next game, a fantasy-themed match-three puzzler called 4 Elements.
JeweliX Review
Got a thing for precious stones? Then you're in luck: Mouse-mashing puzzler JeweliX is all about sprucing up an old jewelry store and turning jewels into eye-catching trinkets like rings, necklaces and bracelets. Unfortunately, as good as the game's eye for pairing gems with the right accessories proves, the outing isn't nearly as sharp when it comes to actual play and polish. Bummer.
Just In - Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan
Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan has just launched. Click here to download the game, click here to write a review, and click here to talk about it in our forum. Review and strategy guide coming soon.
Casual Connect Seattle 2008 - Day 1
Day 1 of the Casual Connect conference in Seattle is drawing to a close, and there are already a ton of new games, partnerships and industry reports to announce. Read all of the headlines behind the cut, and check back tomorrow for Day 2 of our coverage.
Just In - Little Shop: Road Trip
The latest game in the Little Shop hidden object game series, Little Shop - Road Trip, has just launched. Click here to download the game, click here to write a review, and click here to discuss it in our forum. Review and strategy guide coming soon.
New study challenges assumptions about casual gamers
"Casual" and "hardcore" gamers were once thought to be two distinct groups, eyeing each other warily from across the wide chasm of the Internet. But a new study conducted by NPD Group on behalf of Big Fish Games has found that there is actually more overlap between the two groups than one might think.
Cake Mania 3 Preview
When we interviewed Sandlot Games CEO Daniel Bernstein last month about Cake Mania 2 being nominated for a couple of Zeeby Awards, he dropped some hints about the upcoming Cake Mania 3 as well. Today we have new information to share with you about the game, including screenshots and a launch date of August, 2008. (Psst, that's next month!)
The Hidden Object Show: Season 2 Preview
Gogii Games' The Hidden Object Show offered seek-and-find gameplay in the setting of a somewhat quirky - and very long - game show. Now, Gogii is boasting that the game's follow-up, The Hidden Object Show: Season 2, is going to be the longest hidden object game to date. Since the first one lasted more than 100 rounds, we're certainly interested - and a little scared, perhaps - to see just what the sequel has in store when it launches next month. It's set in a theme park and features new mini-games and modes, including a ticket redeption store.
Crumb Review
Many Gamezebo readers will remember the old "parking puzzle" games, such as Carm Jam, where the goal is for your car to reach the exit by first moving objects around vertically or horizontally in the right order. This concept now gets a fantasy twist in Reflexive's Crumb, a story about searching for the Forest Mother through an enchanted world during four seasons.
Brain Challenge Review
When the cool and awesome folks at Gamezebo (I didn't overdo that, I hope?) asked if I wanted to review Brain Challenge, I jumped at the chance to turn my flabby brain into a lean thinking machine, since all that yellow tennis ball hitting and doing strange yoga moves won't do much for the little gray cells.
Web Wednesdays: Music Catch
We had to tell you about this relaxing little Web game from Reflexive called Music Catch. As beautiful piano music plays in the background and the screen slowly rotates, your job is to catch gently rolling waves of symbols with your mouse as they pulse onto the screen. Yellow shapes are good - they increase your score multiplier. Red shapes are bad - they decrease it. And purple shapes are really cool, but we'll let you see that for yourself. Click here to play Music Catch.
Cooking Dash Preview
Since establishing her own thriving restaurant chain in Diner Dash, Flo has helped each of her friends start their own successful businesses - whether it's farming, wedding planning or fashion design - in PlayFirst's ever-expanding catalogue of "dash" games. But Cooking Dash will be the first game since the Diner Dash series to put Flo front and center again as the main character.
Burger Island 2: The Missing Ingredient Preview
eGames has given us some exclusive screenshots of the upcoming sequel to Burger Island, Burger Island 2: The Missing Ingredient. When a rival burger franchise opens up and starts stealing business from Patty and Pierre, the pair must keep up with the competition by adding new items to the menu and searching for new ingredients to create recipes in Patty's experimental kitchen. There's no firm release date yet, but the game will definitely be coming out this year.
The Mysterious City: Golden Prague Review
In The Mysterious City: Golden Prague, players take on the role of Dr. Ellis, a woman looking for a professor who's gone missing. If he isn't found within a week, the unveiling of The Golden Clock exhibit at a local museum will be put on hold. Dr. Ellis must examine the places the professor has been for clues left behind in order to discover what has happened to him in this seek-and-find adventure.
Casual News - July 22, 2008
Casual Connect officially kicks off tomorrow in Seattle and we'll be bringing you all the breaking news from the show as it's announced. In the meantime, you can read about the new executives joining Rebel Monkey and Zynga, PopCap's new Asian partnership and more behind the cut.
Just In: Pony World
Pony World, a game described as The Sims meets ponies, has launched on iWin's Web site. Click here to download the game, click here to write your own review, and click here to talk about it in our forum. Our review is coming soon.
Forgotten Riddles: The Moonlight Sonatas Review
It's getting harder for hidden object games to stand out when compared to successful blockbusters like Mystery Case Files and the Dream Day series, but one game that definitely deserves some recognition is Forgotten Riddles: The Moonlight Sonatas. Through clever riddles, compelling gameplay and admirable attention to detail, Blue Team Games and Big Fish Games have created a sweet, if slightly short, seek-and-find adventure.
UNO - Undercover Review
Do you love card games but are tired of playing the same old poker and solitaire? What about a game of UNO instead? UNO - Undercover takes the classic UNO card game and gives it a complete facelift, with a bunch of interesting new game elements wrapped in a quirky and amusing adventure.
Just In - Glyph 2
Sandlot Games has just launched Glyph 2. Click here to download the game, click here to write your own review, and click here to talk about it in our forum. Our review and tips are coming soon.
Tri-Peaks 2: Quest for the Ruby Ring Review
If it looks like solitaire and plays like solitaire, it must be... a '40s-style serial adventure? Unexpected perhaps, but that's precisely the case in new epic, globetrotting head-scratcher Tri-Peaks 2: Quest for the Ruby Ring. Taken as a whole, the number-crunching game - which fuses a simple card-counting play mechanic with attractive animations and classic tomb-raiding elements - happily far exceeds the sum of its individual parts.
World Mosaics Review
Tag along on a series of archaeological expeditions in World Mosaics, a puzzle game that cleverly combines elements of Sudoku and the Windows PC game Minesweeper. Using your trusty brush and shovel, you'll carefully uncover mysterious mosaics that serve as the key to discovering the origins of an ancient civilization known as the Sea People.
Just In: The Mysterious City: Golden Prague
A new hidden object game called The Mysterious City: Golden Prague is out now on iWin. Click here to download the game, click here to write a review, and click here to discuss it in our forum. Our review and tips are coming soon.
Casual gaming - on a console
Video game consoles are no longer just for teenage boys - at least that seemed to be the prevailing message at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, which wrapped up this week in Los Angeles. Traditionally the event where companies gather to show off the next Halo, Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, this year saw a ton of announcements that might convince more than a few casual gamers to ask for a Nintendo DS, Wii, or even an Xbox 360 this holiday season.
Just In - Forgotten Riddles: The Moonlight Sonatas
A new hidden object game called Forgotten Riddles: The Moonlight Sonatas (the sequel to Forgotten Riddles: The Mayan Princess from Blue Tea Games), has just launched. Click here to download the game, click here to write a review, and click here to discuss it in our forum.
Casual News - July 18, 2008
A new PopCap study shows that casual games can be therapeutic for people with ADHD, cerasus.media releases a hidden object game for the Nintendo DS, and Meebo and AddictingGames both announce new social networking features. These headlines and more behind the cut.
The Race Preview
Do you have what it takes to compete against five cutthroat teams in a worldwide seek-and-find contest spanning 10 countries and 30 unique locations? Or do you prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace that lets you stop and take in the scenery along the way? No matter what your preference, Gogii's upcoming game, The Race, has you covered with both a competitive "Challenge" mode and a relaxed "World Traveler" mode offering 120 rounds of hidden object gameplay.
Enchanted Cavern Review
Innocuous brainteaser Enchanted Cavern makes as good a starting point as any for getting one's head around the match-three category. Think ultra-simple and intuitive play mechanics, attractive (if unspectacular) visuals, and a soothing soundtrack that readily compliments the straightforwrd, stress-reducing action.
Should you have ever enjoyed this type of title before however, pause, stop reading here, and go download Codeminion's Ancient Quest of Saqqarah – you’ll thank us later.
Safari Sketch Review
Feeling charitable? Safari Sketch is a match-three game with a cause, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) will receive a $2 donation for every copy of the game purchased. The AZA is America's leading non-profit accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums. They evaluate and accredit only those programs that have achieved rigorous standards for animal care, education, wildlife conservation and science, keeping zoos and aquariums at the top of their game.
Spa Mania Review
Before you think, "Oh no, not another salong game," Spa Mania distinguishes itself from other spa and time management games
The Great Chocolate Chase: A Chocolatier Twist Review
The Great Chocolate Chase: A Chocolatier Twist isn't the official sequel to Chocolatier 2 - for that you'll have to wait until Chocolatier 3 arrives in 2009. But in the meantime, this spin-off admirably captures the spirit and feel of Chocolatier in a time management format that sees chocolate empire heiress Evangeline Baumeister hocking chocolates to a variety of demanding customers.
Farm Frenzy 2 Review
As a city slicker who grew up thinking milk comes from a store, I wasn't sure if I'd "get" playng Alawar's Farm Frenzy 2, a game all about farm management and profit. Much to my surprise, however, the game's challenging levels and cute graphics were egg-sactly what I needed on lengthy plane rides this past weekend.
Web Wednesdays: Sara's Super Spa
Fans of Sally's Spa, Belle's Beauty Boutique and other salon-themed time management games owe it to themselves to check out Sara's Super Spa, a free web-based flash game that puts a unique, up close and personal spin on the genre.
Just In - Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice
The latest Nancy Drew mystery adventure from Her Interactive, Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice, has just launched. Click here to download the game, click here to write a review, and click here to discuss the game in our forum.
Farmer Jane Review
As popular a theme as agriculture has become with casual game developers lately, you'd think it was the newest pop culture sensation, not a hardscrabble means of eking out a living that's rapidly losing steam in North America. Still, just in case you missed the numerous other rurally-influenced simulations released in the past three months alone, now there's Farmer Jane which, unlike competitors, packs slick 3D visuals.
Bob the Builder: Can-Do Zoo Review
Bob the Builder represents one of the more educational and constructive properties in modern kiddy pop culture. Not only are his books and television shows instructive, they also contain important themes such as conservationism and gender equality. Hence, the reason why I was willing ot let my three-year-old daughter have at Bob's latest interactive adventure: Bob the Builder: Can Do Zoo, from Brighter Minds and Diner Dash and Jojo's Fashion Show creator Gamelab.
Casual News - July 15, 2008
Several PC casual games will be debuting on the Nintendo Wii and DS this fall; EA announces a new Sims franchise called SimAnimals; and Reflexive's Russell Carroll tackles the hot button issue of portal exclusives in his latest Gamasutra column. These headlines and more behind the cut.
Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan Preview
After helping your friend Jenny and her fiancé Robert through three important milestones in Dream Day Wedding, Dream Day Honeymoon and Dream Day First Home, it's time ot help two new couples create the perfect wedding in Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan, the upcoming fourth seek-and-find adventure in I-play's Dream Day series.
Obulis Review
After years of cookie-cutter match-three, hidden object and time management titles, we're confident that casual gaming fans are hungry for something different. Physic-based puzzler Obulis certainly fits the bill, challenging players to use height , positioning and momentum to bump varyingly-hued balls into pots, vases and cauldrons of similar color.
Just In - Farmer Jane
Farmer Jane has just launched. Click here to download this farm-themed time management game, click here to talk about it in our forum, and click here to review the game yourself. Review and strategy guide coming soon.
Just In: Spa Mania
Spa Mania, a new time management game that takes place in the locale of yours truly (San Francisco), has launched over Big Fish Games' website. Click here to download the game, click here to talk about it in the forum, and click here to review the game yourself. Review and strategy guide coming soon!
Elf Bowling: Hawaiian Vacation Review
Scientists may refute the concept of "devolution" or biological regression, but to those who'd argue against society's continued decline, we humbly offer the following rebuttal: OK! magazine. Celebrity Circus. Eddie Murphy's Meet Dave. And, of course, what's certain to be everyone's new favorite harbinger of the impending apocalypse, Elf Bowling - Hawaiian Vacation, which somehow finds a way to make casual gaming's most insipid (yet strangely compelling) arcade outing even more brain-dead, if humanly possible
Just In - The Great Chocolate Chase: A Chocolatier Twist
The Great Chocolate Chase: A Chocolatier Twist has launched over on PlayFirst's website. Click here to download the game, click here to talk about it in the forum, and click here to review the game yourself. Review and strategy guide coming soon!
Just In - Farm Frenzy 2
Farm Frenzy 2 has launched over on Alawar's website. Click here to download the game, and click here to talk about it in the forum. Review and strategy guide coming soon!
Steals & Deals - July 11, 2008
- *iWin - Win real jewels by playing Jewel Quest III, and get 25% off your next game by taking a survey.
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*MSN Games - 50% off all games [use coupon code BIRTHDAYBASH]. Offer ends July 13. -
*RealArcade - 50% off Little Shop of Treasures and 7 Wonders II.
Fairy Jewels 2 Review
As evident in the original Fairy Jewels and now its successor, Fairy Jewels 2, some folks just have it in for those adorable little imps. Previously, it was a malevolent mage. Now, it's a wicked witch, a ne'er-do-well who's destroyed the fairies' home and imprisoned them. Given their plight, you must wing your way to their aid, freeing them and restoring their world in the process.
Women's Murder Club: How I-play found a perfect fit
Story is not always the top priority in casual game development. Sure, it's a great compliment to some games, adding an extra layer of satisfaction to the gameplay or a few laughs, but for other games it's a downright hindrance.
That's part of what put I-play in such an unusual position while developing Women's Murder Club. They wanted more than a threadbare way to get from Level A to Level B; their primary motivation was a solid narrative.
Games aplenty for the new iPhone
Studios like PopCap and EA have been developing mobile phone games for years, but they've never seen anything quite like Apple's iPhone. The device's multi-touch screen, motion sensors and high-definition graphics open up intriguing new possibilities for game design - and companies have already starting to take advantage of them.
Casual News - July 11, 2008
Yahoo! plans to roll out more than 400 free ad-supported games by the end of the year, Wadjet Eye Games announces a publishing deal with Lively Ivy Studios, and multiple casual gaming companies announce games for the new iPhone 3G. These headlines and more behind the cut.
Jojo's Fashion Show 2: Las Cruces Review
Moreso than any other industry, haute couture can be a brutal field - one week you're in... literally the next out. Case in point: Jojo's Fashion Show 2, which, while building on its predecessor's successful formula, fails to turn quite as amny heads. Despite offering more of what casual gaming fans already know and love (clothes, styles, chic-themed challenges, etc.), the title feels more lika glorified expansion pack than proper sequel, even if longtim admirers will hardly be disappointed.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Mahjongg Artifacts 2
Mahjongg Artifacts 2 is in the running for Best Card, Board & Mahjong Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted wtih Vadim Kumerov, CEO of Shape Games, about what makes Mahjongg Artifacts 2 special and why it deserves to get your vote.
The Mystery of the Crystal Portal Review
The latest seek-and-find adventure from RealArcade, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal, centers on journalist Nicole Rankvist as she receives a strange note from her archaeologist father, Robert, saying that he's discovered an artifact that has the power to change huanity. When Robert goes missing, Nicole must find pieces of the Crystal Portal key and retrace Robert's steps by - you guessed it - searching for hidden objects!
Gamezebo News: New Google Lively
Remember when I said that virtual online worlds were the next big thing in casual games but that most would not make money and fail?
Well, what I forgot to mention is that Google would launch their own virtual online world without a care about making money. So, the good news for all ye casual game virtual world makers is that business plan has been legitimized. The bad news is that it's game over because Google has already won.
Check out Google Lively (you can actually embed your own virtual world space within any Web page, cool!) and read Gamasutra's interesting interview with Google.
Update: Click here for Techcrunch's report card of the $345 million invested in virtual worlds so far this year.
Bob the Builder: Can-Do Zoo Preview
Children's software publisher Brighter Minds is excited about the upcoming release of its first downloadable game, Bob the Builder: Can-Do Zoo, and gave us some screenshots to share with you. Although Gamezebo doesn't often preview kids' games, we're making an exception in this case since the co-developer is none other than Gamelab, the creators of Diner Dash, Miss Management, Jojo's Fashion Show and other games that we love.
Alex Gordon Review
Treasure hunter Alex Gordon gets more than he can handle when he and his sister, Alice, discover a strange amulet buried in a cave on the island they're exploring. The amulet shatters into five pieces, which awakens the island's natives who capture Alice. To get her back, Alex must find the amulet pieces that are now scattered across the island and return them to the head native in this action platforming game.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Mah Jong Quest II
Mah Jong Quest II is in the running for Best Card, Board & Mahjong Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Senior Producer Peter Traugot about what makes Mah Jong Quest II special and why it deserves to get your vote.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Jewel Quest Solitaire II
Jewel Quest Solitaire II is in the running for Best Card, Board & Mahjong Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with the game's lead developer, Dwain Theobald, about what makes Jewel Quest Solitaire II special and why it deserves to get your vote.
Web Wednesdays: Small Fry
Small Fry is the kind of game you might not "get" right away. The action-puzzle premise of guiding different creatures through obstacle-filled levels is a bit baffling at first - think Lemmings-style gameplay where creatures wander and are likely to get into trouble without some divine intervention from the player, but with the added ability for you to pick the creatures up and drag them around the screen. Give Small Fry a change, however, and around level six the game will begin to click.
Jewelleria Review
If you've played any of the other store-based time management games like Cake Mania, Turbo Subs or Coffee Rush then you need not download Jewelleria. Not only does it offer the same play mechanic as other serving-style multitasking games but it doesn't do as good a job.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Lumines
The PC version of Lumines is in the running for Best Puzzle Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with the team at Q Entertainment about what makes Lumines special and why it deserves to get your vote.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Portal The Flash Version
Portal: The Flash Version is in the running for Best Web Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Ido Tal and Hen Mazolski of We Create Stuff about what makes Portal: The Flash Version special and why it deserves to get your voe.
Casual News - July 8, 2008
EA and Hasbro launch multi-player Scrabble on Pogo.com and Facebook, Burger Island is coming to the Nintendo Wii and DS, and more information is revealed about the LEGO-themed MMO, Lego Universe. And don't forget to vote for the Zeeby Awards! These headlines and more behind the cut.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Treasures of Montezuma
Treasures of Montezuma is in the running for Best Puzzle Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Kirill Plotnikov, producer at Alawar, about what makes Treasures of Montezuma special and why it deserves to get your vote.
Stand O'Food 2 Review
Popular as the original proved to be, with a name like Stand O'Food 2, you'd expect the latest time management outing from Alawar to be a bit cumbersome. Lo and behold, suspicions are quickly confirmed, as this puzzler's bizarre play mechanics, half-baked production values and poor translation job immediately reveal. Thankfully, as with its predecessor, what starts out as a clumsy mouse-mashing challenge soon becomes a fun and frantic way for aspiring restauranteurs to practice firing up the grill.
The Lost Treasures of Alexandria Review
The Lost Treasures of Alexandria is a match-three game that puts you in the shoes of yet another archaeologist with big aspirations. While exploring in Africa, you discover one of ten spheres mentioned in an ancient Egyptian scroll. Your colleagues aren't convinced, but you're determined to uncover the rest of the spheres. From the Middle East to Asia and across the globe, you'll visit mysterious ancient ruins in search of the ultimate goal, the "Lost Treasures of Alexandria."
Yummy Drink Factory Review
Speaking from personal experience, it's tough to be a barista. There's the grueling pace, constant stream of incoming requests, pressing need to keep abreast of multiple orders and, of course, a never-ending cavalcade of irate customers to address. Oddly enough, Yummy Drink Factory - which tasks you with manning the controls of a whimsical wonderland's coffee shop serving counter - makes these tasks fun and enjoyable, if only for a short while.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition
Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition is in the running for Best Word & Trivia Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted wtih Mark van Kuijk, the game's producer, about what makes Trivial Pursuit Genus Edition special and why it deserves to get your vote.
Countdown to the Zeebys: Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown is in the running for Best Strategy Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Greg Zesinger, Product Manager at eGames, about what makes Defender of the Crown and why it deserves to get your vote.
Just In - Jewelleria
The new jewellery-themed time management game, Jewelleria, has just launched. Click here to download the game, click here to discuss it in our forum, and stay tuned for our review and strategy guide.
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