DUDE!!!!! The Daytona 500 is this weekend, and I am so excited. Also.... PSA do not try to contact me on Sunday afternoon - I am busy knitting and shouting at my TV!

 Ok so you probably knew I loved NASCAR, if not....Welcome! You are new around here!
With the 59th running of the Daytona 500, Real Racing 3 returns to Daytona International Speedway! This is a racing game for your tablet or mobile device and can be hooked up to your apple watch of apple tv, and the latest update will appeal to fans of the Daytona 500.

 During the big event, you can play in-game events to earn the 2017 Ford Fusion race car to use in the game. Real Racing 3 has also partnered in-game with renowned NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick, and players will get to experience an intimate look at the road to Daytona. So if you are a fan of NASCAR or just the Daytona 500 you will want to grab this game or update. The 2017 Chevrolet SS race car will be earnable in-game during the Maplethorpe Jimmie Johnson Championship limited-time series starting March 26 (AEDT).

 Not a fan of NASCAR or the Daytona 500 (I'm sorry you are lost and ended up here :P ), the fun will appeal to you since after the 500 players can speed their way across the finish line to earn the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR in the Flag Racing F1 GTR Championship on March 5. Play through the Lamborghini Legacy special event starting March 12 to earn the exclusive 2016 Lamborghini Centenario, the supercar built to celebrate Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 100th birthday.

 So if you are racing fan, or racing game fan this will appeal to you for sure!

The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed

I am a fan of matching games, and always like playing different ones.  So I wanted to share with you some information about a new one coming out.

Have you seen the previews for the new movie called The Secret Life of Pets? Well it's a new movie all about what pets do when we aren't home or around to see!  Of course, paired with that is a new app, and it allows game players to join the film’s characters, Max and his crew of charmingly mischievous companions, for an adventure in the Big Apple.

As you play, you will unlock new friends and colorful challenges in The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed™.  This game is brought to you by Electronic Arts, Illumination Entertainment, and NBCUniversal Brand Development.  It's going to be a free app!

In The Secret Life of Pets: Unleashed players can expect to:

Tackle Challenging Puzzles
Match their way through New York with the charming guide Max revealing new puzzles, pets and moments along the way. Players will get to chase away pesky squirrels with Mel or dig up super-sized bones for Duke.

Embark on Pet Adventures
As players progress through the game and make their way to the top of the leaderboards, they’ll meet new pets including Chloe, who can't be bothered unless there is food, Leonard, the posh punk poodle and Snowball, the insanely cute and also insane rabbit.

Reveal and Relish Pet Moments
Make the perfect match and unlock secret pet moments including releasing a flock of helpful (and beautiful) parakeets or triggering an exciting tile-exploding rainbow ball.

You can go get it now in the Google Play or App Store.

Do you like matching games?

Angry Bird Knitting Patterns

My boys have been long time fans on Angry Birds, and all their versions.  So they are super excited about watching the movie.  This is why I went looking for Angry Bird Knitting Patterns! Here is the ones I have found:

1. Angry Bird Golf Clubs
2. Angry Birds Hats
3. Angry Birds Hat
4. Angry Bird Hat
5. Ba'Bomb Angry Bird Hat
6. Knit Angry Bird Halloween Bag
7. Bad Piggie
8. Knitted Red Angry Bird Hat
9.  Yellow Angry Bird Hat
10. Angry Birds Sweater
11. Black Angry Bird Hat
12. Angry Birds Hat
13. Angry Pig Hat
14. Red Angry Birds Beanie
15. Angry Mitts
16. Angry Feet
17.  Red Bird with an Attitude
18. Yellow Bird Plush Toy Pattern
19. King Pig
20. Down With The Pigs

Monsters Will Bring Us Together: Fling, Roll, Bounce and Play the MONSTER STRIKE Mobile Game

Mixi, inc., a game developer from Japan, has unleashed a new video marketing campaign for its chart-topping mobile game Monster Strike.

SILLY VIDEO, STUNNING MONSTERS

The video features Brooklyn Nine Nine star Andy Samberg delivering a pep talk to a locker room full of computer generated 3D creatures. These 3D versions of characters from Monster Strike were created by award-winning Tippett Studio, perhaps best known recently for recreating their famous 3D holo chess scene for The Force Awakens.

I'm so-so, on this video to be honest. The silly locker room spiel didn't do it for me. But the creatures? Dang! They are stunning. Tippet Studio did an amazing job of bringing some of the creatures from Monster Strike to life, and for that the video is definitely more than worth a view (or two).

BIG IN JAPAN

Monster Strike is the biggest mobile game in Japan, dominating the charts on both iTunes and Google Play store since 2014. Worldwide it's been downloaded more than 30 million times.

If you haven't tried it yet I would say Monster Strike is definitely worth a look. The game play mechanic is pretty unique for an RPG "level 'em up" style turned based fighter. To attack you pull back on your monster and fling them across the battlefield. Your creature then bumps around the arena, banging into bad guys and causing damage, or bouncing off of allies and setting off back-up powers. 

It's sort of like shooting a game of pool while simultaneously playing Pokemon. The monsters are cute, the artwork is solid and the leveling up aspect can be a bit addictive. I will warn you, the boss fights can be challenging, particularly when trying to clear them in as few turns as possible to earn the speed bonus. Personally, I like it when a game isn't too easy and I think it's actually nice to lose every now and again.

MOBILE APP WITH A SOCIAL TWIST

One of the other really unique parts of Monster Strike is the co-op play. Rather then pairing you up with a random stranger somewhere across the world, co-op play in Monster Strike relies on gathering together with friends in the same physical space. Playing together and cheering (and jeering) each other on, creates a unique social experience that is missing from most app games.

The social aspect is the driving force behind the whole #MonstersWillBringUsTogether campaign that Mixi launched with this video. From now until April 4th likes will unlock Orbs. You can check out the full details of the #MWBUT promotion on their website, but the general gist is the more people that click "like" on a particular Facebook post Monster Strike has published featuring the new Andy Samberg video, then the more Orbs they will give out as an in game prize.

OVERALL, I find Monster Strike addictive and hard to put down. It's surprising just how much fun the fling to attack mechanic can be. Add in the ability to level up and combine monsters, and the engaging co-play options, and you've got a solid mobile game here.

TRY IT FOR FREE
Monster Strike is free to download and free to play. It's available in the Apple App Store and via Google Play. It does of course have the typical freemium gameplay aspects, where you can you use real world money to purchase in-game currency (Orbs), to speed things up or to hatch more monsters. However, having tested it out and played it for a good chunk of time I can vouch for the fact that you can play, and enjoy, this game without dishing out for the extras. Also, the whole #MonstersWillBringUsTogether campaign makes right now a particularly great time to join in on Monster Strike and get a bunch of free orbs (so far they've unlocked the "10 each" option, but I'm guessing more are to come).


Have you folks tried out Monster Strike yet? What did you think? Anyone else playing it right now? or are you about to download it and give it a shot? Let me know how you like it!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, but as always our words and opinions are our own (and we would never suggest you try a game we didn't genuinely enjoy). 

That Silly Stella

Building in Sim City

Alphabear App Review

I was playing Triple Town (or as my 5yo calls it "Naughty Bear Game") on my iPhone when I noticed a link to something called Alphabears.  I thought it was worth checking out since I like Triple Town, and word play games. 

Basically this is simple, and you want to build words with letters that are available on the grid.  Each time you enter a word the remaining letters drop 1 number.  That is the point value as well as how many turns you have to use it.  When the number gets to 0 the letter block turns into a stone.

If you use up a letter a bear pops up into the open space.  You want to eliminate as many letters in a certain area to help your bear grow. The bigger your bear the more points it will earn you.

At the end of the round, depending on how many points you earn, you will receive a bear.  You want to get those bears to level up, so when you use them in a game, you will receive a boost in points. The more you use them the more you will help them level up. Each time you level up a bear the boost you get from them will be increased, which then in turn, earns you more points.

There are usually 2 or more types of boards you can play at any given time.  Such as big board, or timed. There are also challenges where you can earn specialty bears.

One of my favourite things about this game is that while I do have to be signed into the game center I don't have to share on Facebook or sign in to Facebook to play.  You can play without any interaction from friends, which is good since none of my friends have this game, currently.

Currently this is my go to game, it's fun and makes you think a little bit about what words you can make with the available letters as well as with the lowest amount of turns left.

Have you heard of or played Alphabear?

Just Don't Crash

Blossom Blast Saga

Sometimes I struggle to come up with a new App of The Week to post as we have our favourites we play regularly. So a new one can be scarce to come up with.  So when I was sitting and watching tv, and saw a commercial for Blossom Blast Saga I knew I should try it.

This is a flower linking game, and from the makers of Candy Crush Saga & Farm Heroes Saga.  Basically you have a game field full of flowers, and you need to link them together in order to clear them.


There are big blooms, and they will cause a chain reaction, which then will clear and give you more points.

If you like linking games, then this is another option. It is fun, but not overwhelmingly different.  You have to link up to Facebook, just like with all their games, which I find frustrating sometimes.  Plus if you don't have a Facebook account you can't really play very well, which is what my boys struggle with while playing Candy Crush.

Have you played?  What do you think?

Daily Celebrity Crossword

If you like to test your brain and have a little fun along the way, then Daily Celebrity Crossword is one you should check out.

I have read that doing crosswords, knitting, and puzzle gaming types of things that make your brain work can help fight off Alzheimers. 

Each day a new Crossword is provided, and it is all based on Celebrities, movies, tv, etc. You can access old ones, and they have theme days:
Movie Monday
TV Tuesday
Wayback Wednesday
Top 40 Thursday
Sports Fan Friday
Smartypants Saturday
Sunday Funday
 

They also have surprise & bonus puzzles.  You can ask for hints, letters, or just have it fill in a word if you are stumped. 

You can link it to your Facebook account and see where you rank compared to others.

Overall a good app if you are a fan of Crosswords.

App of The Week: The app review that isn't

Ok This week's App review is going to be a bit different because I haven't found an app that annoyed me as much as this one before.

So I was looking for games to play for my weekly app review when I came across Family Fued 2.

I like the show, and have enjoyed playing Family Fued computer games, and things over the years so I thought I would give it a shot.

After downloading it, I clicked open.  The first thing that happened was an error.  Ok well that's not so good. Retry.

After taking an insanely long time to load, we were ready to play, right? Wrong.  First I needed to get through the ads, and connect with Facebook so I could play with my friends.

Then I got through that. I played a couple of rounds, between the ads, and then telling me my answers weren't up there only to find it was actually there the whole time.  I got annoyed, and closed the game.

Between errors, ads, and loading times, I don't recommend this game.

Digging Up Dirt

Timing Hero

A game of attack and dodge.

There is something strangely appealing about old-school style 8 bit games.  Often, simplicity makes things a challenge. Take, for example, the game Timing Hero.

Simple in design, limited 2 tone colouring, with 8 bit characters  and monsters, with matching fonts and style appropriate music, the basics of this game are to attack and dodge.

Using traditional console-like controls, combined with turn-based style fighting, you use your right thumb to attack and your left to dodge. It can be tempting to just mash the attack button, but, making that mistake can be rather dangerous to your health!

Before you begin, you start as a novice which helps you understand the main skills - like learning to read how and where a monster is going to attack so you can time your dodge. Once you have that mastered, the jobs are unlocked.

There are three main classes of jobs: warrior, mage, and archer with five levels of job class for each - some which unlock when certain challenges are met, others only as in-game purchases.

Each have their own unique special ability which powers up through your battles.

The monster battles are levelled with a sub-boss every 5 and boss every 10 levels. Defeating monsters earns you credits to spend on stay upgrades such as damage, critical hit, and health. 

There are tons of extra things in the game as well - from stat boosting artifacts to accomplishment awards.

I find myself playing this game frequently and am enjoying the challenge of reaching specific levels. I showed this to my game - obsessed 11 year old, who immediately downloaded it to his tablet and started playing. His review of the game can be summed up with his comment: "Man, this game is fun.  It is so addicting!"

We find ourselves chuckling over the melee attacking archers ("Ahh! I stab you with my arrow!") while competing to see who can get the farthest. (Hint: It is never me. He has been well game trained.)

The only downsides I see are:

- you have time regenerated lives so you have limited attempts to complete tasks and play. However, despite playing a bunch, I personally have yet to deplete those hearts.
- it could become monotonous. Let's face it - this game is the same movement repeated over and over.  And there are only 40 levels max per job, so you can finish the game quickly if you are skilled.

If you want a fun game that you can play without time commitment or serious brain strategies, and still fill your need to beat up bad guys... test your reflexes and become a Timing Hero.

Who Stole Me? - Wordless Wednesday

App Of The Week - Coin Dozer Season

 

Previously I wrote about my love of Coin Dozer, and thought this would be a great time of the year to tell you about Coin Dozer Seasons.

This surprisingly addictive game, is just like what you would see at an arcade, but with a seasonal twist.   Coin Dozer: Seasons rolls Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter into a single game and they are promising more seasons in the future. 


I really didn't think the coin dozer games would be all that fun, and seriously thought, ok they can be a quick posts for the blog.  That was the sole purpose of downloading these games.

I found them totally addicting, and a fun time waster.

Push shiny gold coins and exciting prizes into your hands by dropping some down the themed play board.  For Christmas it is the roof surrounded by snow and trees.   When you are pushing some of your coins and prizes drop off the side instead of into your chimney.....this is not good.  But you can get boosters like walls that will protect the sides so all your coins and prizes go straight to you!

In Coin Dozer: Seasons you’ll be returning to the rooftops, helping Santa deliver coins and presents down the chimney. Switch machines in the game and you can start collecting gifts for Valentine's Day! Switch again and you can fill your basket with eggs and chocolate bunnies for Easter! Don't drop anything off the sides if you want to have the perfect holiday! But don't worry too much, with multiple holidays to play there are lots of prizes to collect from Easter eggs to Valentine's bears to sugar cookies! Gain levels for special effects and grab special coins to further increase your coin-collecting power! Don't be bothered if you run out of coins, more coins will be giving filling you with holiday cheer soon. Keep checking back to complete your collection!

Have you played Coin Dozer, or Coin Dozer Seasons yet?

Marvel at My Skills - Wordless Wednesday

Angry Birds Go! Kid Review

My 7yo wanted you to know all about Angry Birds Go!  Here is creation for you:

(Similar to hot wheels showdown) arrow or turn phone. you beat a bird to unlock it. your birds have power-ups and you have to be in the top three to win!

Rumble Bots Kid Review

My son wanted to do a review of the Rumble Bots app for all of you, so here is his review:

 

I love this game because it is a lot like Battlebots my favourite show and you can play with your friends and the first person I played with was my Dad.

You play by making a bot in the garage.
To get new parts, buy them in the garage or complete one of the tournaments. Then, get ready and rumble!

App Of The Week: Cats and Cards

I am a huge cat lover, and like solitaire, so when I the app called Cats and Cards I thought it would be fun to try out.

What happens when the world gets infested with hordes of mice? Well you call in the cats of course!  This is basically the premise behind this solitaire game.  This is a classic solitaire game with the a purrrrrrfect twist.

If you get 3 smiley stars on each level you earn new species of cats like Zombiecats!  Once you gather the themed cats collections to win special prizes.  You can trade with friends too.

I found the game cute, and fun, but I haven't really got too sucked in with it. I don't find it the easiest to look at, which then hinders my wanting to keep playing.

It's a cute game, but not something I will continue to play on an ongoing basis. It might be a little too gimmicky for my personal tastes.

App Of The Week: Cascade

I am always on the look out for a fun game to share with you. This week I am telling you about Cascade.

Are you a fan of Match-3 games? Well than you should check out Cascade. 

Cascade is a Match-3 style game, but with a twist.  Along the bottom of the screen, you will find some boxes. You are given a certain amount of spins per level.  You spin the gems, and those boxes fill up.  At that point, you choose where you want to put the gem from the bottom where it will best fit into that row.

This will help you match up gems (with a minimum of 3), and gain you points and boosts.  It's a very simple game, but there is some strategy with where you place the gems. 

Spin, Match, and Win in this unique puzzle game! Join Jasper the Mole on his journey through 19 lands and complete over 300 colorful levels! Spin for gems and send them cascading with matches of 3 or more. The larger the match, the higher your score!

• Match-3 and slots combine in this innovative gameplay experience
• Over 300 hand-crafted levels, completely free to play; no friend gates, no paywalls, no shenanigans!
• Earn Burst Gems, Wilds, and other boosts and powerups to get you through challenging levels
• Compete against your friends on each level, or play alone
• Seamless synchronization between multiple devices

Overall it's a fun game, and something that I do play.