Joel Brodie

It's short noticed, but if you are in San Francisco this evening, are a female (or male, for that matter) and interested to learn more about the casual games industry, check out Girls in Tech Presents: The World of Casual Games.  I'm not a female myself, but I am moderating.  Go here for ticket information.

Worldwide Biggies have launched a new fashion-themed hidden object game, Fashion Finder: Secrets of Fashion.  Get your Tim Gunn on.Our review and walkthrough are coming soon.  In the meantime, download the game, write a review, and discuss the game in our forum.

Picman (aka, Paul Thelen, founder of Big Fish Games), announced today in the Big Fish Games Forum, that all games are now $6.99 and that there is no longer a minimum games commitment. Before, there was multi-tiered pricing and a 12-month games commitment to get the $6.99 price. More details on Big Fish Games' forum and my take will be below the fold.

There is a new hidden object game out on Gamehouse, Sunset Studio - Love on the High Seas.  It looks like 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas with a spinkle of The Love Boat (when am I going to see Captain Stubing in a hidden object game already?)Our review and strategy guide are coming soon. But now, you can download a free trial, write a review, and discuss in our forum.

I want to announce new features we have added to Gamezebo this week.  And, now, it all actually works!  New features include the ability to edit your forum posts, to edit user reviews, and sign in with either your user name or email address.   Click read more for more details.

People often ask me, why do you Twitter?   First of all, everyone else is doing it.  In the words of Bono and U2, I will follow.  Two, only by following friendly tweets, would I have found out that Amazon.com is selling five casual games for $.98.Amazon.com is offering these 5 games today for $.98:   Virtual Villagers, Slingo Quest, Atlantis Quest, Alice Greenfingers, and Ricochet Lost Worlds.  And, per tip by GZ user Mark Alan, Big Kahuna Reef is free!In Amazon speak, quantities are limited, so the price is only available while supplies last.

Alawar Entertainment is a company on a roll - especially in its native country, Russia, where it owns more than 80 percent of the casual gaming marketshare. After absorbing five studios over the past two years, the company boasted during Casual Connect in Hamburg that it planned to release 50 titles in 2009. Gamezebo spoke with Kirill Plotnikov, Alawar's VP of Publishing, to get the scoop on what kind of impact the company is having on casual games in Russia, Eastern Europe and beyond.

Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch is out now! Does Mumbo Jumbo have the golden touch in creating this hidden object sequel to the ever popular Samantha Swift and the Hidden Roses of Athena?   You'll see when we post our review and strategy guide.In the meantime, download Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch, write a review, and discuss the game in our forum.