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Game Review: Campgrounds

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May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Campgrounds is a time management game from Big Fish Games that just proved to me that mine is not exactly up to scratch. All my plans just flew out the window in the background of this full screen game – yup I’m blaming it on the fact that this is a full screen game because it means I can’t see the clock on my desktop so I don’t realise how much time is passing.

I have just been in and checked and you can reduce the window so that it is not full screen and it won’t cut the edges off but it does shrink everything so in this case I think it was better in full screen, and I usually don’t play full screen if I can help it.

The graphics were quite clear, if a little dark but that’s because a lot of the colours are shades of brown and green because these are campgrounds.

You play as a company vying for Campground Developer of the Year, with your trusty partner Addie.  Over 60 levels you build campgrounds in different locations and complete set tasks.

The first 6 levels were relatively simple to meet the tasks and walk away with a gold star, after that things get a little more involved.

Time is measured in days and you have a certain number to complete your set tasks – the good thing about Campgrounds is that if you don’t manage to complete your goals within the allocated time you don’t lose the game you just lose the bonus. You get to continue playing until you finish your tasks and walk away with no bonus and no gold star but you still complete the level.

At some points during the game you are offered a choice about how you want your career to proceed, do you want the eco friendly title or the money? For those who like to explore everything or who finish the game quickly this will give you another option, once you finish you can start again and choose a different path.

I am not quite 1/3 of the way through but I am having a great time balancing income and expenses, clean ups and roaming wildlife. Yes, this game is similar to a lot of the other building time management games I have played but the scenery is new, the tasks are new it’s just the formula that is the same and that could be said about a lot of things really.

Campgrounds consists of 60 levels and 5 hidden bonus levels for hours of building and demolition fun.

Download the FREE trial: Campgrounds

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GAME REVIEW: Weather Lord

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May 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Alawar is at it again, the newly released time management game Weather Lord is a great way to fill a couple of hours and it does suck you in rather easily.

Have you ever wanted to control the weather? Wanted to make Mother Nature do things you way? Weather Lord lets you do just that because you need to control the weather to ensure your crops grow as required.

There is a step by step tutorial and a little guy that pops up at the beginning of every level to give you a bit of direction as to how you should tackle the level. Each level presents you with options but not all of them are required to fulfill your tasks so be careful and keep an eye on what you’re doing. You may control the weather but if you’re not watching what you’re doing it won’t make a difference.

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Grow, harvest and process crops to ensure your financial stability and allow you to fix the roads and dry up the swamps but always keep an eye on your bank balance so that you can buy any necessary upgrades to build for your future.

Rain, wind and sun are just the beginning, as you traverse further into the game you will learn how to combine weather systems for optimal growing conditions. Do you think you can handle the pressure of the weather of the world on your shoulders?

Come on over and check it out if you think quick enough. The weather can be make or break on the farm and Weather Lord gives you the chance to return the favour coz in this game you get to break the weather.

Consisting of 40 weather lashed levels across two different settings and eight different farms this is a game to let you be in control of the monsoonal downpours and gale force winds but always be sure to appreciate the rainbows peeking out from behind the clouds.

To download your free trial: http://www.alawar.com/game/weather-lord/

Filed Under: TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , , ,

Plants vs. Zombies

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April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

PopCap Games you sure know how to twist my arm and make me stay!

I popped on to play a few rounds and get a bit more of a feel before I came to tell you about the game and what do you know, there goes my early night and all the work I had planned. Ahh, it really is hard when I can spend my night playing PC games and then turn around and call it work.

So, you’ve all heard that I love my vampires and I am missing them desperately at the moment (if you’ve read any of my other reviews you would) so spending an evening with brain eating zombies seemed like an endeavour that would scratch my horror itch.

Not sure about the scares but it certainly kept me amused.

The Plants vs. Zombies page over at PopCam boasts that the PC version of this game has 50 Adventure levels. Now I don’t know proper gaming terminology but I think it’s more time management than adventure. Yes, the scenery and the game board change which to an extent means the objective changes but it’s still a matter of making sure that you have your plants properly placed, you’re making sunshine and you’re using the right weapons because if you’re not ‘The Zombies Ate Your Brains!’ will be splashed across your screen in big green letters.

plants vs zombies

There is definitely challenge, and I am certainly addicted. If nothing else I wanted to see what whacky zombie would get the munchies for my brains in the next level, and what worthy weapon I would get to plant against them.

The imagination inherent in the characters of this game were enough to keep me involved, even though night-time gardening is extremely hard work with no sun – it’s no wonder I felt a little zombified at work today because the zombies had a fair feast on my brains last night.

The colours are vivid and the zombies are fantastic. The night time levels are richly coloured but understandably not what you’d call vibrant.

I love that you can turn full screen off and play in a game window because it is too isolating, and easy to lose HOURS and hours when playing full screen.

There are 26 types of zombies from a Simpson-esque Disco Stu (who drags in back-up dancers at the click of a finger) to well padded football players and everything in between, all of whom will go head to head against the 49 perilous plants. We have tiny little mushies to massive black bomb-shrooms, pea shooters and cherry bombs.

In addition to the 50 Adventure levels there are 20 mini games which you can unlock as you play through adventure mode. Along the way you will also unlock Puzzle and Survival modes as you collect the 20 new Achievements.

But that’s not all, you can even create your own Zombatar! There are fully customisable choices to make your very own zombie which will save on your desktop for your use wherever really… I wonder if my Zombatar would make a good Avatar on all my sites, what do you think? The funny thing I did find about my Zombatar was that she popped up in the very next level I played.

This is a game to entertain with a giggle for the strategist. Not necessarily heavy thinking strategy but definitely requires some forethought. A lovely way to spend a quiet evening at home!

Plants vs. Zombies is available for a long list of platforms as well as online and Facebook, head over to the website to check them all out.

To download your FREE 60-minute trial: Plants vs. Zombies Game

Filed Under: ADVENTURE, TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , , , , ,

New Yankee In King Arthur’s Court

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March 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The power of lightning has always been awe inspiring, and New Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is no exception. A freak lightning strike transports a poor farmer from his fields to the company of a King, a very well known king who sends him to embark on a quest.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to work through the 40 time management levels and successfully complete the challenges set for you.

There are crops to grow, gold to mine, goblins to chase off, spells to cast and trees to chop. Oh and you can’t forget the prisoners to free.

Alawar are a leader in casual gaming and they have done it again. This time management game is great for the casual gamer and it’s not too intensive. Great little escape from the daily grind.

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The levels are actually confined to the one screen which surprised me a little with this game, these are outdoor scenes that are base camp sized and they all fit into the one screen. This works for me because I really don’t like not being able to see what is lurking just past the edge of screen.

The task sequence that you can queue seems to be quite impressive, I couldn’t give you an exact number but it certainly seemed to be a few – it would probably depend on how many workers you have running around helping out at the time.

There are 40 levels traversing what may be the British Isles, and set over 4 locations.

To help you on your quest there are 8 different buildings that you will need to erect to help get you through the levels and 6 spells. Be sure to make the most of your spells because they can mean the difference between making the level or not!

On-screen hints come in the form of a sometimes witty conversation between our newly transplanted farmer and Merlin, one of the Royal Advisors. They give some friendly instruction as to the best way to approach a level, and in some cases a little giggle as well.

But watch out because it’s not just the goblins coming to steal gold and kidnap your workforce, there are also animated skeletons scaring the workers and affecting their work as well as some mad thing that just raced across my screen and destroyed my watchtower but it was there and gone before I even got a good look so I can’t even tell you what it was.

Come on over and check out how a new age farmer organises a quest, with you at the helm.

Download the FREE trial: New Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

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GAME REVIEW: Spooky Mall

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February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ghosts, vampires and the headless horseman all keep the same hours I do so perhaps it is appropriate that I am up until after midnight playing Spooky Mall, Alawar Entertainments brand new Time Management game. It makes it more realistic that I’m playing the game at the same time of day as the game takes place!

You play the friendly, efficient manager of a spooky mall that caters to all of the supernatural beings of the area. Being supernatural they keep different hours to everyone else so as the world goes to bed you race on down to the mall and run 5 different stores filled with all the yummy treats the ghosts and ghouls are craving.

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Each level you play earns you cash to upgrade your store, making it much easier to keep your customers happy. Some of your customers will give you bonuses if they leave the store happy so it’s great when someone makes EVERYONE happier, or fills all your displays but you certainly can’t complain if someone makes your store sparkling clean or gives you cash.

Not everyone is out to reward you for good service though, there are some who will do their best to steal from you so you need to keep your eyes pealed and catch the thieves before they can get away with the goods. Napoleon may stop in and if he gets a wind up and starts making a speech all your shoppers will stop to listen.

I can’t tell you about the superb sound effects, because I haven’t listened to them but I can tell you that the graphics are sensational.

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The game features 100 levels split over 5 stores which means you have 20 levels to play for each store. The stores open one at a time which made me think I would have to complete the entire game before I could come tell you anything but fortunately for me, and everyone else who likes a little variety in their life, each new store opens as you get to Level 13 of the store before. At that point you can continue in the store you are playing or move on to start the next store, or you can mix it up and go in and play each store as you feel inclined.

There are upgrades to buy at the beginning of each level to make your life easier, just be careful to watch and see what you need the most because it is rather annoying to choose an upgrade only to discover that it was the last one you couldn’t afford that is the only one you use.

The only issue I am having with Spooky Mall, aside from remembering to turn it off because I need to sleep, is that it loads slowly but that could be because my poor computer can’t cope anymore.

7 bonuses are also hidden within these stores but I haven’t found them yet so best keep an eye out.

The more I think about it the more I think it is relevant to say that there seems to be a long string of actions you can program in advance. I think one of the other games I did you could ‘book in’ about 5 moves in advance but Spooky Mall will take at least 9.

Spooky Mall will grab you hook line and sinker if you are a lover of time management. If nothing else, check it out for the great graphics and bumbling headless horseman.

You can download the FREE trial: Spooky Mall

Filed Under: TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , , , ,

COMING SOON: Vampires Vs Zombies

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November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Alawar are at it again and finally they have sent me a game that is right up my alley. Vampires Vs Zombies – well what would suit me better than that.

Vampires Vs Zombies is a time management game that sees you helping in the war between, yep, you guessed it – Vampires and Zombies. A dictator has decided to use voodoo to help him take over the world, using the television. After his broadcast zombies begin popping up all over the world.

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The vampires are not ready to lay down and be over-run by this bunch of green upstarts. Vampires are the scariest monsters, tales told to keep people in their houses at night. They have been around for centuries and they don’t intend to let their reputations be buried by these young ‘ragamuffins’.

Transylvania is yet to be overtaken and your mission is to help the scientists as they create ways to hold off the zombies while the soldiers are protecting the borders.

The graphics are dark and creepy in the pumpkin patch where the female vampires are busy harvesting. The castle is eerie with lots of reds and purples.

vamps vs zombies

The soundtrack, well that is suitably creepy, eerie and spine tingling. Except for the dings and bells etc as you achieve your goals. Yes, I actually did leave the sound on – but only so I could come and tell you what you were in for.

Your job is to control the powerful female vampires tending the pumpkin patch, fight off the zombies and process the pumpkins. But be careful because the zombies aren’t without weapons – they use giant magnifying glasses to burn through the clouds and grow cactuses that will fry your vamps to cinders, be sure to keep your pots of Egyptian Darkness filled to neutralise the light rays. But be careful because your vamp vixens can still be fried as the timer ticks down.

Along the way you will collect awards for a job well done, upgrade your machinery and find items as you beat down the zombies.

The story line can be quite amusing if you sit and read through the dialogue boxes between levels.

This game will be a great way to spend a weekend, and I can’t wait until I have the time to really get into it.

For your copy, head over to www.alawar.com and wait for it’s release.

Filed Under: TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , , ,

Juliette’s Fashion Empire

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October 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Alawar has just released another new game for the casual PC gamer and it’s addictive. I just lost half my Sunday afternoon! It doesn’t really help that it’s still early days of daylight savings and it gets late before it gets dark.

Juliette’s Fashion Empire is a time management game that captivates early because it allows you to get in a rhythm without too much bombarding you, but it isn’t long before the decisions are coming thick and fast and you have to think on your feet what’s going to be the best move to make.

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I think my Miss almost 8 would love this, not sure how she’d go in the higher levels but I am sure she would love dressing the models, doing their makeup and keeping them happy – come to think about it young Master 3 probably would too.

The colours are vivid and the backstage areas are eye-catching and classy. Bonus coins earned throughout the level can be used to upgrade the backstage area, making it easier to keep your models happy – especially in the later levels when they are coming at you quick and with way less patience.

Juliette graduates at the top of her design class and opens a boutique but has little success, a former classmate gives her a piece of important advice – it’s all about BRAND RECOGNITION! You need to get your label out there and make sure everyone knows who you are and that means fashion shows – lots of fashion shows!

That’s where we come in. It’s our job to help Juliette become the fashion force she dreams of. Juliette needs to compete against experienced, successful designers in five of the biggest fashion capitals of the world beginning in New York and finishing up in Paris. In each city Juliette needs to earn enough cash to open high end boutiques that will rival the established competition. This means keeping the models happy and productive and the show strutting the catwalk.

juliettes fashion empire

As you progress through the levels the supermodels get more experienced and less patient, and the shows get bigger as the competition gets fiercer – and that means more models. Luckily Juliette is gaining experience as she goes because you are really going to have to have your mouse finger on the pulse to make the right decisions. If your models start to get unhappy their performance will suffer, and that means you make less money.

Bonus shop tokens can  be spent at the beginning of the level to improve backstage efficiency – from a fitter Juliette to hunky male models to call and keep your models happy; from more food and drink to helpers at every station but best of all for music and fragrance to help increase the patience of your models.

Juliette’s Fashion Empire has 50 levels across five fashion capitals with over 130 fashion accessories and over 100 different articles of clothing this isn’t going to be a walk in the park. Juliette is going to have her work cut out for her and need all the help you can give her. There are 12 different models from different countries and they have differing levels of experience and patience so you will need to pay attention so you can learn to anticipate their needs.

There are so many choices and such a colourful game board that you will be entertained for hours – I know I was (never mind – the washing will still be there tomorrow). I am also certain it will prove to be the perfect way to keep my budding fashionista occupied and out of my hair for hours!

The music isn’t really much to talk about but I’m not one to play with sound anyway. The 60 shop items to buy are definitely worth talking about though. Now I just needs a couple of extra helpers because I’ve been here so long I’m getting tired and my poor little mouse finger can’t keep up.

If you like fashion and dressing up this game is definitely worth a look. I haven’t ever really played time management games before but this was a great fun way to spend my afternoon!

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TRIAL: Juliette’s Fashion Empire Game

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Hobby Farm Game

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May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Jill’s dream has finally come true! She has her very own farm on her very own island. Harvest exotic fruits, manage free-roaming animals, and operate handmade machines in Hobby Farm!

Work your farm under the gorgeous sun and help Jill with your Time Management talents.

Purchase new equipment for your farm and keep the delicious crops coming.

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  • Beautiful location
  • Fantastic upgrades
  • Manage your very own farm!

Download the FREE trial: Hobby Farm

Filed Under: TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: ,

Fashion Forward Game

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May 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Risha, having moved to Hollywood in the wake of her wildly successful directorial debut, finds all is not smiles and sunshine in Fashion Forward, a fun time management adventure from Sandlot Games! Download Game and Play for Free!

After arriving in L.A., Risha finds that everyone in town, except for absurdly skinny actresses, is dressed in appallingly bad clothes. She vows to shake things up with a hot new boutique that offers cutting-edge fashion for people of ALL shapes and sizes.

fashion forward game

Behind the scenes, Risha draws the ire of a major fashion magazine’s editor who, prompted by a cadre of disgruntled designers, slams her new boutique in a scathing article designed to shut her down. Incensed, she decides to design her own line of clothing to refute these claims, proving fashion can be innovative and unique while still being flattering and available to everyone.

Help Risha launch her new line, win over her many detractors, and convince the famous fashion magazine editor that fashion is for everyone!

  • 60 action-packed levels
  • 2 minigames
  • 4 types of bonus mechanics
  • 90 cutting-edge fashion collections for men and women
  • New interior upgrades will help increase customer patience and tips in the shop

    • Download the FREE Trial: Fashion Forward Game

    Filed Under: HIDDEN OBJECT, TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , , ,

    Shop-N-Spree: Family Fortune

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    February 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    Keep your stores afloat in Shop-N-Spree Family Fortune! Survive the economic crisis and keep your customers content in this incredible Time Management game.

    Find the items on your clientele’s list and make sure they walk out completely satisfied. Set the perfect example for your employees to keep your brand new stores profitable.

    Shop-N-Spree: Family Fortune

    • Unique gameplay
    • Fast-paced action
    • Keep your stores afloat!

    Download the FREE trial: Shop-N-Spree: Family Fortune Game

    Filed Under: HIDDEN OBJECT, TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: , ,
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