What's New in Gamezebo
Just In - Shop-n-Spree
Shop-n-Spree, a new time management game from Viqua Games (the makers of First Class Flurry), has just launched. Download Shop-n-Spree, write a review, or talk about it in our forum. Stay tuned for Gamezebo's review and strategy guide, both of which are coming soon!
Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water Review
In mythology, Coyote was a trickster who loved to pull pranks - even if they often ended up backfiring. You'll meet him, along with other important gods of the Aztec pantheon, in Coyote's Tale: Fire and Water, a new hidden object game from Merscom and Go! Games.
Social Saturdays: Egg Breaker
As someone who has spent many academic hours studying human behavior I could write pages explaining why humans like slot machines. Or, I could just say, "They are really fun - particularly when you win!" Egg Breaker, a nifty little title on Facebook which has held my attention since November, curbs all of my slot machine impulses. Ok, well, most of them.
Steals & Deals - Jan. 30, 2009
Check out our latest steals & deals entry to enjoy bargains from PlayFirst, PopCap and Sandlot Games.
iPhone Friday: Deal or No Deal
Game shows make for interesting TV because we're always curious to see if the contestant is going to suddenly become a millionaire, living out our own fantasy. The stakes are high. The money is real. The suspense is non-stop because, with one false move, our contestant goes home with nothing. NBC's hit game show Deal or No Deal epitomizes the winner-take-all format because the contestant can literally go home with $.01 or $1,000,000 in her suitcase.
So, when I played Deal or No Deal for the first time on my iPhone it was hard not to have high hopes.
Casual News - Jan. 30, 2009
Gamasutra ranks the 10 best browser-based gaming sites; EA announces a sequel to Steven Spielberg's Bloom Blox; and an analyst predicts that U.S. game industry revenues could hit $20 billion in 2009. These headlines and more behind the cut.
Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Review
A hidden object game inspired by Daniel Defoe's classic 18th century, Adventures of Robinson Crusoe traces the remarkable story of the title character after he's shipwrecked en route to Africa and must fend for himself on a tropical island, gathering resources to stay alive while trying to find a way home.
Rescue at Rajini Island Review
A captain and his crew discover Rajini Island and send their highly qualified explorers to study its ancient ruins, but the crew lost radio contact three months ago, so you get the job of finding the missing explorers in this hidden object game, aptly-named Rescue at Rajini Island.
Just In - PJ Pride Pet Detective: Destination Europe
The hidden object sequel to Polly Pride: Pet Detective has just launched! Download PJ Pride Pet Detective: Destination Europe, write a review, or talk about it in our forum. Stay tuned for our review and strategy guide.
Interview with Nick Pili, PlaySEGA
SEGA is best known for classic console games like Super Monkey Ball, Phantasy Star and Sonic the Hedgehog, but the company's latest project has been online. Network Business Director Nick Pili spoke to Gamezebo about SEGA's recently-launched web game and social networking portal, PlaySEGA, which is shaping up to be an online destination for a variety of free-to-play casual games as well as host to a healthy back catalogue of retro classics from SEGA's video game vaults.
Web Wednesdays: Ultimate Vending Machine Challenge
It's Man vs. Vending Machine, and only one will be left standing at the end of Ultimate Vending Machine Challenge. Your goal: to beat the vending machine into submission through a series of well-timed mouse clicks in order to grab the sweet snack inside.
Continental Cafe Review
Most themed games have some gimmick that is tied to your progress in the game, like new outfits, trophies or pictures. Continental Cafe, like a handful of other cooking games, offers real recipes from various countries that you can really cook yourself at home. Now, if only they gave the rest of the game that same attention.
Just In - Rescue at Rajini Island
Search for Captain Walsh and his missing crew of adventurers while explore the remains of an ancient civilization in Rescue at Rajini Island. Download this hidden object game, write a review, or talk about it in our forum. Review and strategy guide coming soon!
Just In - Costume Chaos
Reflexive Entertainment's new time management game Costume Chaos is here! Download the game from the official Costume Chaos website, write a review, and talk about it in our forum.
Totem Tribe Review
Based on first impressions, gamers might be fooled into thinking that Totem Tribe is just an unimaginative Virtual Villagers clone. However, aside from a few similarities in basic gameplay, the only thing that both of them share is the setting - namely, isolated islands in an unknown ocean. In reality, Totem Tribe sparkles with creativity and uniqueness that should serve as an inspiration for future casual game developers.
Dreamsdwell Stories Review
For a puzzle game to really succeed, it either has to be so simple it's sublime (see Bejeweled or Tetris) or loaded with depth (Jewel Quest, Ancient Quest of Saqqarah). Anything in between, and things get a little murky. The awkwardly-titled Dreamsdwell Stories, unfortunately, falls into that middle ground.
Casual News - Jan 27, 2009
iPhone/iPod touch games dominate the list of finalists for the Independent Games Festival's mobile games competition; CasualGaming.biz interviews PopCap's Jason Kapalka; and Microsoft announces layoffs in its Games for Windows Live division. These headlines and more behind the cut.
Chocolatier: Decadence by Design Review
Having been a fan of the Chocolatier series I was both delighted and disappointed after playing this sequel, Chocolatier: Decadence by Design. On one hand, PlayFirst's latest proved to be a highly polished adventure with challenging gameplay and charming characters and story. But despite a few welcome additions, the gameplay itself is virtually the same as the original, which might let down those anxiously awaiting to see where the developer takes this coveted franchise next.
Jetsetter Review
Celebrities have some outrageous requests. Whether it's filling a jacuzzi with imported spring water, craving thousand-dollar cocktails or closing down entire malls for private shopping sprees, somebody needs to do the dirty work to get these folks what they want. That's the idea behind Jetsetter, a polished hidden object game that has you pampering wealthy celebrity clients as you play.
Wild West Quest 2 Review
Like countless B-movie Westerns, the story of Anarchy Enterprises' Wild West Quest 2 mixes prospectors, bandits, ranchers and sheriffs in a tale of revenge and standard genre fare. Most of the game is easy and it's very short. Fans of Westerns will enjoy the story and diehard hidden object fans will get an hour or two of acceptable gameplay in a Wild West setting.
Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey Preview
When two athletes go out for an early-morning jog and only one of them returns, the tragedy threatens to expose years of corruption, cover-up and conspiracy. The heroines of San Francisco's finest are on the scene in James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey, whose launch is now only a month away. Today I-play shared a few new details and screenshots with us, which we're passing along to you!
Just In - Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a hidden object adventure based on Daniel Defoe's classic story of a man who survives a shipwreck to find himself stranded on a tropical island, has launched. Download the game now, write a review, or talk about it in our forum. Stay tuned for our review and strategy guide.
Social Saturdays: Who Has the Biggest Brain?
Ever wonder how smart you really are? I must admit, I'm not the brightest star in the sky but I can twinkle on my own pretty well. If you want to find out just how bright your star is shining, then try Playfish's Who Has the Biggest Brain?, available on Facebook.
Costume Chaos Preview
We've seen dress-up games before, but nothing quite like Reflexive Entertainment's upcoming time management offering Costume Chaos, where you'll help customers transform into superheroes, police officers, Hawaiian dancers, Santa Claus and more.
Party Down Preview
From rampaging dogs to angry boyfriends and the paparazzi, it can be hard work catering to Hollywood's high-maintenance stars. You'll get to try your hand at it when Party Down launches in March. This time management game will be based on the upcoming TV show of the same name from Starz Entertainment about a group of actors who move to LA to make it big but end up forming a catering company instead.
