Showing posts with label Computer Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Computer Games. Show all posts

Thursday, 19 January 2017

Killer Zombie Cats Story Game





There is a story telling gaming company based out of Barrie, Ontario called One More Story Games! I love the name because it reminds of how I read a book "just one more chapter" or "just one more page".  And when you are playing Story Games it's that way....just one more story and I will close this.



One of the co-owners is a friend of mine on Facebook, and a really fun lady!  She was telling us about this game called Killer Zombie Cats that was created by Kiera Palmer a 11 year old camper from their summer camp!

I have boys close to this age: 8 & 10, who come up with some really fun and unique story ideas, that I think would make a really fun story game, that I thought this would be fun to check out.  Ok so I checked it out in like October, and only got to writing it now.  It's been insanity for me, until now.

The idea beind the story is:

Battle to save Earth from the Killer Zombie Cats. Everyone has disappeared except you, Donald Trump aka Trumpy Cat, and his evil horde of zombie cats who have been poisoned! Can you save the world by defeating evil? #trumpycat

It is a short game, so only 6-8 minutes long.  So you aren't investing a ton of time, but it is fun, and there are some tricks along the way. I know..... I fell for one and died :P I had to start over!

If you are looking for a long in-depth sink your teeth into game, this is not it! But if you want a quick fun game that was created by a little girl, and will have you giggling, and inspired about the next generation then please do give this game a shot:

Save the World From Killer Zombie Cats

If you are not interested in this particular game, please do check out their other games! They have a large variety! If you are interested in this game, great! Play it, then check out more of their games!

One More Story Games

Saturday, 10 September 2016

Gaming On a Mac

I am a Mac owner, and lover. I love my Mac, it rocks, and I wouldn't go back to a PC, but this made me laugh, so I thought I would share:

Photo Courtesy of We Know Memes


Saturday, 14 May 2016

Minecraft Challenges


Do you have a Minecraft player in your house?  Our friends over at The Canadian Homeschooler has created 66 ideas of things to get them to build!

This great printable helps them use their imagination, and helps them to think of new ideas when they get stuck!  Just subscribe to her newsletter and you can get the ideas!

If you or your kids love Minecraft, you should check out these challenge cards. 66 ideas to help inspire your Minecraft adventures.

Check out the post now!


Saturday, 2 April 2016

BrowserQuest - Conquer the world

Back when I was 18, and first living on my own the internet was a much different place. I remember using dial up to go to message boards and making friends.  I played a lot of browser games, and cheesy games where you had to answer questions and solve puzzles.

If you remember those days with fondness like I do, then you should check out BrowserQuest.


BrowserQuest is a multiplayer game inviting you to explore a world of adventure from your Web browser.

This is a classic style game, and I have realized I have lost my touch with those games....and I died early and often!

Let me know how you do at this game!

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Why Do Macs SUCK for Gaming?

I love my Mac, I really really do.  I also love gaming. 

Since I switched to a Macbook Pro my productivity on my 3 blogs has went ups significantly. The durability of the machine has saved us money, and me tons of frustration.  However, I use to play a lot of games on my computers, and well... now I find they start over heating, or are really slow for games.

While I do play more online games now, I would rather play a game on my iPhone vs my Mac because it's just not that great for gaming. 

So when I was doing my Youtube search for a great video about gaming, and I saw this video, I thought hmmmm let me watch. 

I gotta say I usually struggle to watch videos through to the end.  If they are over 5 minutes you can probably guess I didn't watch the whole thing. But this one I found very interesting and watched the whole thing!

So check it out:


Monday, 4 January 2016

Minecraft #Giveaway

1 Heart 1 Family has a great Minecraft Story Mode review and giveaway going on right now! Don't miss out:


Are your kid’s (or yourself) MineCraft obsessed? Do you dream of green box, village people and zombies? If you are anything like my kids, they wear, read and dream MineCraft.  They have been obsessed since day 1. DS9 was the first one to hear about Minecraft. A Kid at school told him it was a game he had to get and he worked effortlessly to earn enough chore money to purchase it. It was love at first site. At first, he began building simple worlds (houses, farms, etc.), but as he got more and more absorbed in the game, his creative talent got more complex (Walmart, Rollercoasters, Disney Character replicas, etc). He watched YouTube Videos, he read strategies books, he conferred with friends, his obsession just grew and grew.


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Sunday, 26 July 2015

Slingo Adventure



I used to play a game called Slingo Adventure on my computer when I lived by myself.  Since I have been married and living with my hubby the last 12 years, it's been a while.  I recently discovered that they now have a Slingo Adventure app! You can still get it for your computer, but I personally find it easier to play most games on my phone now as I can take them with me wherever I go!

Since this is a game I use to play a lot, I knew I would like it.  If you aren't into gambling, but like playing slot style games, then Slingo Adventure is a game that you will probably like.

Slingo Adventure is a cross between a slot machine style game play, and Bingo.  You will be spinning  the play board, and then you match the numbers that come up across the bottom of the play area.  Mark off your numbers, and spin again.

Of course, there are power ups to help you get rows finished.  Plus there are mini games, coin flips and "betting" your coins for different reasons.  You want to get the highest score possible of course.

I really like this game.  It's mindless fun, but you have to pay attention or you will miss a number and not get a slingo! Heaven forbid!

Overall this is a fun, simple to learn game.


Friday, 24 July 2015

Playing Dark Parables with @inkscrblr

We love sharing about new games we have tried, old ones we love, and posts that others have written.  Today we are sharing Paula's post from Thrifty Mommy's Tips!  She checked out the Dark Parables Computer Game and posted about it on her post.




I spent a large part of last weekend trapped on an island in Crete investigating the mysterious appearance of an underwater castle. Well, at least it seemed that way since I was completely absorbed in Big Fish games latest computer game Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide.


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Monday, 15 June 2015

Gummy Drop Game

Our friends at Thrifty Mommy's Tips wrote a post about Gummy Drop Game now being available on the PC! YAY!!


Check out her post for all the tasty deets!


One of the biggest hit mobile apps, Gummy Drop App, is now available on your PC. Gummy Drop App, available on both iOS and Android already, has been one of my favourite Match-3 games for the better part of a year. Gummy Drop App is the 8th Top Grossing iPad App and the 20th Top Grossing iPhone App. Now, this awesome Match-3 puzzle game is available on PC too making mobile and computer domination pretty much complete.


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Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Lost Games: Azrael's Tear


I am loving looking up old video games that we once loved or never knew existed. Some you can still buy today in case you are feeling nostalgic!

Today's Lost Game is called  Azrael's Tear.

Azrael's Tear is a futuristic action/adventure game that got you to search for the Holy Grail.  They year it was set in? The very far off future of 2003. LOL  Ok so I am hold enough to remember when the 2000s seemed so far off, and everything seemed like it would be all space aged.

The game had puzzles, and 3D play, and is in the first person perspective.

You have a magical type suit that helps you do all kinds of fancy futuristic type things like scanning life-forms, creating an automap, and showing a quick summary of all the items you can interact with once you enter a new location.

Of course your adventure isn't going to be super easy, I mean they aren't going to let you walk in and take the grail! So you will be unlocking doors, solving puzzles, and fighting all the bad guys which include dinosaurs, rats, and the remaining Knights Templar who were assigned to guard the Grail. Some of these Knights are helpful, though, others are not.  There are 5 left to contend with.

So .... have you heard of this game?  Have you ever played it?


Thanks to Free Game Downloads for the info about this game.

Monday, 13 April 2015

Story Stylus by One More Story Games

On And She Games we love promoting women in gaming, as well as great games, and helping you find new things to play.

I was recently introduced to a company called One More Story Games!! One More Story Games is a an start up gaming company that has a brilliant idea for an awesome gaming portal!  This is a company created by a hubby and wife team.  Blair was a developer at both Zynga, and EA, while his wife Jean is the “talkie” to Blair’s “techie” and oversees administration.

Not only did they start up this company but they are also avid gamers!  They noticed that in recent years, the gaming industry has moved more away from in-depth stories, and is more focused on graphics.  While modern games have amazing eye candy, they don't always engage us female gamers.

A lot of women gamers tend to lean towards storytelling games, or puzzle type games.  One of my favourite video games to play with my hubby is the Laura Croft Series. It has the first person shooter hubby likes, but also the puzzles, and story line that I can engage in.

One More Story Games wants to bring more of that sort of thing back to the gaming world, so they created a new portal called StoryStylus.  StoryStylus is hard to describe but it is sort of like a book meets a video game.

Imagine taking your favourite book and creating a game from it. Then playing that game with all your friends! You could go sit on the porch, or stand on the balcony, walk around the restaurant that is so integral to the story.  What if you could talk to the main characters and get more info, or interact with them?  Wouldn't that be amazing? Well that is what StoryStylus does.  Not only will this be a gaming platform so you can go in and play, but if you have your own story, or a story you want to add in, you can do that too!

I am so excited about this!!!  I think you all will be too! Check out this video for a walk through and information:


They have been working on this for a long time, and are very close to putting out to the world, as well as having great plans for making it more and more spectacular!

In order for it to be the best it can be they have started a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise the funds to improve the art work in the game.

With the Kickstarter, you can purchase in-game currency for games that will be published over the coming months, or you can purchase a subscription to create your own stories.

Library keys allow you to purchase premium storygames as they are published. A key is approximately $1 CAD, with discounts on large bundle purchases.

Published stories range from 1 to 5 keys depending on the amount of gameplay.
    1 Key = 30- 60 minutes of Gameplay
    2 Keys = 2-3 Hours of Gameplay
    3 Keys = 4-5 Hours of Gameplay
    4 Keys = 7-8 Hours of Gameplay
    5 Keys = 10+ Hours of Gameplay

There are also other bonuses depending on your amount. They have options for $1 and up! Let's help them get funded.

Give them a KICK START NOW!

Sunday, 12 April 2015

Township


I tried out a new iOS game called Township, that I got free through the app store.

Township is a city-building and farming all in one app.  You need to harvest crops, run factories and sell goods.  You can explore mines, and run establishments. 

Township is completely free to download and play. Some in-game items can also be purchased for real money, however this is optional and not required.  Although you do need a network connection to play.

 The first thing I noticed was to do anything you need to do a few steps for each thing.  For example, to harvest wheat you need to get a tool, first. I always dislike this because I feel like it just makes the game bulkier and more steps.

I don't really understand the point, and feel like it's an added unnecessary step.  It is one that most of these games have, thus the reason I am a Farmville 2 fan as they eliminated a lot of those extra steps.

Over all I found this to be a cute game, and similar to all city- build games.   If this is the type of game you enjoy, you should check it out for sure.

You can make some of the famous landmarks from around the world in your own town which I thought was a great and fun idea.

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Ultimate Video Games List - W



At And She Games we love all kinds of gaming, and all types of games! So we have been curating some Ultimate Game Lists to show off to you!  We have been working our way through the The Ultimate Board Games List for a while now, and would love if you would check that out as well!

We wanted to work on Video Games next.   But first, let me say that there are a lot of video games out there.  Every type and variety, and I am sure we will miss some a long the way.  Also since some games and systems are obsolete and "current" can be a relative term, we went with 2005 and newer, and as many as we can find.


We would love your input on any we may miss along the way!  We would also love to hear your thoughts of some of these games.  If you would like to write a review of the game on our blog (we can link back to your game or business), please email us.


Check out the other letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V


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Warhamer 40,000: Space Marine is a third-person Action Shooter in which players accept the role of a Space Marine Captain tasked with the defense of the empire as well as humanity against the Chaos Faction lead by the ruthless Ork hordes. Players will have to use their exceptional size, strength, armor, weaponry and fighting spirit in order to succeed. Features include: a new seamless combat system allowing equally for ranged and melee action, hordes of deadly enemies of various kinds, intense 16-player online multiplayer and more.

In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine you are Captain Titus of the Ultramarines, humanity's last hope for survival in a war-ridden future. Step into the armor of this superhuman warrior and use a lethal combination of deadly weapons to crush overwhelming alien forces. Fight against the savage Orks and the unholy forces of Chaos in a brutally violent world based on the richest science fiction fantasy ever created.

Space Marine features a fluid combat system that allows players to seamlessly switch from ranged to melee weapons without interrupting the flow of combat. Hitting the melee button at any time will result in a close range strike with the equipped hand-to-hand weapon as well as the camera pulling out to melee distance. Pulling either trigger will instantly snap the view back to behind the player’s shoulder ready for precise shooting. These systems are immediately responsive and leave the player in full control at all times. As the player dispatches enemies in Space Marine they will be earning "Fury" which can be used to unleash devastating ranged or melee attacks. The player can use "Fury Marksman" to enter a heightened form of awareness where time seems to slow down allowing them to pick off multiple ranged enemies in the blink of an eye. Alternately the player can opt to utilize their "Fury Strike" up close and personal with a sweeping area of affect attack that will obliterate anything close enough and knock-back and stun more distant foes. 


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warlock master of arcane







Warlock is a strategy game played on a hex based map, set in the lands of Majesty's Ardania. It has a modern look and feel yet inherits the best elements of the famous turn based strategy games of old. The underlying aim of the game is for players to overcome a variety of strategy and tactical challenges, in order to unify the land and be crowned Warlock – Master of the Arcane.

During the course of a game players are expected to explore the lands and uncover potentials sites, for new cities to be founded. Neutral cities can be captured and sacked or kept intact, for the benefit of the kingdom. As can those of rival factions.

Within the territory of a city, a host of buildings can be constructed; to provide a range of resources, to commission army units or equip them with upgrades to bolster their combat abilities. Some unqiue buildings must be placed upon rare resources which can be found across each map. These provide larger amounts of resources, more powerful units or stronger unit upgrades.


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Watch Dogs


All it takes is the swipe of a finger. We connect with friends. We buy the latest gadgets and gear. We find out what’s happening in the world. But with that same simple swipe, we cast an increasingly expansive shadow. With each connection, we leave a digital trail that tracks our every move and milestone, our every like and dislike. And it’s not just people. Today, all major cities are networked. Urban infrastructures are monitored and controlled by complex operating systems.

In Watch_Dogs, this system is called the Central Operating System (ctOS) and it controls almost every piece of the city’s technology and holds key information on all of the city’s residents.

You play as Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker and former thug, whose criminal past led to a violent family tragedy. Now on the hunt for those who hurt your family, you'll be able to monitor and hack all who surround you by manipulating everything connected to the city’s network. Access omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control traffic lights and public transportation to stop the enemy, and more.

Use the city of Chicago as your ultimate weapon and exact your own style of revenge.

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Wii Fit


Wii Fit attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines, or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available.

As with the original Wii Fit release, Wii Fit Plus is designed, as its name implies, to improve the user's fitness. The game contains a large number of activities that fall into a variety of categories, including: yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance games. With all but a few exceptions, which utilize variations on a standard Wii Remote configuration, all activities utilize the Wii Balance Board (included with this bundle), either alone or configured with either a Wii Remote alone or the Wii Remote and nunchuck. The Balance Board, like any other Wii controller acts as a motion/pressure sensing device wirelessly synched to your Wii and replicating your body's movements. Each controller employed occupies one of the Wii's four wireless inputs, together mapping the reference points needed to recreate most full body motions on screen. Although this limits the majority of the activities to a single player orientation, various activities throughout the game support up to eight players in alternating play.

To use Wii Fit Plus players import their Miis from their Wii system, set up profiles, establish a current physical baseline, set fitness goals, and embark on a routine to reach them. Wii Fit Plus tracks your usage, weight and progress towards your goal over time, giving you a status report as you start each session. At any time players can choose whatever activity they want, whether exercise or balance game, and as they progress in these they will level up in each, gaining points, setting high scores and unlocking more activities.

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Game Party

Play seven of your favorite games: Play Darts, Table Hockey, Shuffle Board and Hoop Shoot, or try your hand at variations of classics like Skii Ball, Ping Cup, and Trivia.

Fun, Easy Controls: Play your favorite games with the same motions you would in real-life. Slide your hand forward to hit a hockey puck, take aim and toss your dart at the dartboard, use a bowling motion to send you skii ball into a high scoring hoop.

175 Characters - 125 unique characters initially available, plus the chance to unlock 50 additional zany characters.

Classic Venues: Each game features classic venues appropriate for each activity. Play darts in a British style eatery, Hoop Shoot in a sports entertainment center, and many more.

Show Your Friends Who Rules: Participate in multi-player competitions, with friends in your home. Form teams to take on the competition and keep track of your progress on the leader boards.

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When it comes to music and rhythm games, Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Unlike other music games, which penalize players if they don't play perfectly, Wii Music is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. Here anyone can pick up and master the huge array of instruments available, through simple motions like strumming and drumming. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart's content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music.

In Wii Music every band has six members: Two play the main melody, two cover the percussion beats, one covers the bass groove and one uses the song's chords to support the melody. As a band, the six members often play their special parts at the same time, though each player can jam however and whenever he or she wants. Play all at once. Take turns in the spotlight. Pair up in creative ways throughout the song. You can bring the band to life by yourself, playing one part at a time-or with up to four players. See game mode below:

Solo Play: When you play by yourself, you can add one part at a time to arrange the whole song exactly how you want. The Tutes are on hand to back up your band in any parts you need filled.

Multiplayer: When in a band with friends, up to four people can be band members.
   
Wii Friends: Using WiiConnect24, you can send your jam videos to Wii Friends who own Wii Music. They can then watch your performance, modify it to their liking and send their jam videos back to you.

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Wii Sports

Bundled with Wii, Wii Sports introduces a whole new way to play your game. This is what video games should be: fun for everyone. Wii Sports offers five distinct sports experiences, each using the Wii Remote controller to provide a natural, intuitive and realistic feel. To play a Wii Sports game, all you need to do is pick up a controller and get ready for the pitch, serve or that right hook. If you've played any of these sports before, you're ready for fun!

Play Tennis, Baseball, Golf, Bowling and Boxing in the comfort of one's living room. No ball boys scurrying about, no oil from the alleys to get players dirty and no rain to keep anyone from a day at the court, park or course. Use the Wii Remote controller to mimic the actions of swinging a racket, bat or club, roll a ball down an alley or bring the left jab.

Players can use their own Mii caricatures in the game and play them against their friends' Miis for a more personalized experience. As players improve, their Miis' skill levels will increase, so that they can see exactly how much better they've become.

People of all skill levels can pick up and play any of the games in the unprecedented Wii Sports package, making this truly a title for everyone!

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Wildlife Park

 Do you have wild animals in your living room?

Congratulations!

Wildlife Park 2 will completely satisfy animal lovers and zoo fans: an incomparable natural experience – right in your living room! Become a zoo manager and take good care of your animal charges!







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Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein®: The New Order™ reignites the series that created the first-person shooter genre. The year is 1960 and the Nazi’s have won World War II. War hero B.J. Blazkowicz must launch an impossible counter-offensive against the monstrous Nazi regime that has conquered the globe..


Europe, 1960. The Nazis turned the tide of the war using a new kind of mysterious, advanced technology. Using unrelenting force and intimidation, they have brought even the most powerful of nations to their knees. The Nazi regime now rules the globe with an iron fist. Play as the one man who dares go up against the world’s most formidable military. You are B.J. Blazkowicz, the American war hero. You are the only man capable of rewriting history.

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Drag and drop living, squirming, talking globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues.

The millions of innocent goo balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore. But they don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious.

The most addicting and awe-inspiring puzzle game will set you on an adventure that you'll never forget!





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Worms


Three best-selling WORMS titles are available together as a boxed set! The collection includes Worms, Worms 2: Armageddon, and the 3-D cartoon craziness of Worms Ultimate Mayhem. Gear up for a wacky worm war in this trio of hit titles.

With its addictive mix of turn-based strategy and arcade action, this is one can of worms you'll be happy you opened. Worms Collection features a host of online gameplay options and exciting multiplayer capabilities.

Get wiggly in the vast array of quirky single-player missions and personalized campaigns. Also features five exciting DLC (Downloadable Content) Packs: Battle Pack, Puzzle Pack, Forts Pack, Time Attack Pack, and Mayhem Pack Retro Pack.

Where it all began: get acquainted with wacky worm wars
Battle up to three other players
Random landscape themes and a multitude of game settings
Achievements, Trophies, and a Worms Hall of Fame
22 weapons and utilities to deploy against your enemies, including the Super Sheep, the Holy Hand Grenade, and the most powerful exploding soft fruit, the Banana Bomb
New weapons and utilities, such as the Sentry Gun, Electromagnet, Napalm Strike, Petrol Bomb, Armageddon, Drill, Earthquake, and Poison Strike
Full online or offline multiplayer options for up to four players with a wealth of game modes – beginner, intermediate, pro, races, forts, and crazy crates
Customizable hats, skins, and speech-banks
Plenty of single player content that will keep players occupied for hours
Full local and online play for up to four players with a wealth of game modes such as: "Statue Defend," "Homelands," or just plain "Deathmatch," plus the ability to create your own custom game settings to play against your friends
Name your teams and dress up your worms in glasses, moustaches, and more
Construct your own weapons from a wide selection of components
Collection of all-new crazy missions

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Monday, 23 March 2015

Farmville 2


A few years ago Farmville was one of the top games played on Facebook. Most of the people I know played, and if you didn't play, well you were probably inundated with requests anyway.

That craze has died down, and while people still play a lot have moved on. I tried to play it, but didn't like it as much as others. It was an overhead shot, but I found it hard to get in close, and hard to see what I was doing.  I also just didn't find it as engaging as I should, and it lost my interest pretty easily.

When Zynga realized that they were losing people they tried to recapture the magic with Farmville 2.

Take a nostalgic journey down the countryside!

Create, build and nourish the farm of your dreams in FarmVille 2. You’ll interact with a variety of interesting characters, grow and unlock special crops, take care of animals, and make your farm come alive. Trade with neighbors, contribute to your friends' farms, and join a Co-op to work with farmers you can count on to complete a shared Order Board and progress on the Co-op Delivery Map for huge rewards!
It never did gain the popularity that the first reached, however, I think it's a pretty good game.  I actually like it a lot better than I ever liked the first one.

I recommend getting off Facebook, and playing on Zynga.com.  This way you can find people who play, and want to send you requests and help you get further in the game.  You don't have to then bother all your "friends" on Facebook.

When you start out you will go through an easy tutorial, and will learn how to do each thing.

You can visit neighbours, grow crops, feed animals, and expend.


They have groves, and plots now so that it is easier and faster to upgrade things as well as do the maintenance faster.

There are different missions that also coincide with special recipes, and buildings for that mission.  You follow the story of farmville, creating recipes, and farming to help out the town. 

You will earn rewards, and bonuses, and be able to move up in the ranks to beat your friends.  I like that you can also create a co-op now, so you can all help each other to produce more recipes and get to the rewards faster.

They have mastered growing the game and making it better.  If they make a mistake by making a mission too short of time, and the jobs too hard, they will learn from their mistakes, and also give you a bonus. 

I also like that I can grow a family, so now when I log in, during the morning and I have a ton of things to do it goes faster because I have 4 "people" doing the work.

Overall, I think this game is improved from the original and I really like it.  If you are on Zynga you can add me as a friend and neighbour!

Sunday, 22 March 2015

Chinese Browser Games



Although typically the North American online gaming market has been targeted on games for social media and apps - like Farmville or Candy Crush Saga, the arrival of Chinese browser MMO (multi-member online) games has sent me researching more about them.

For about a year now, my husband has been playing a game called League of Angels, which involves a complex series of of challenges, both personal and team-based, which - despite the fact is technically "free-to-play" - encourages the heavy need to purchase miscellaneous extras and in-game currency in order to become a higher ranked or powerful character.

Apparently, this approach works really well and the company can easily make several millions of dollars a month.

At the 2012 Game Developers Conference in Europe, one young man named Jared shared his insights into the world of Chinese Browser games and how they work. It was called $100,000 Whales - An Introduction to Chinese Browser Game Design, and frankly, it's astounding. If you have time, and are curious, I recommend listening to his chat.

Some key facts:
  • These games are designed to be MMO games, which will encourage competition among players.
  • Designed to be focused on monetization.
  • Many new servers are opened every week - like 200! Why? Because these games typically have a short turn around, they need to make their money back as quickly as possible, so the goal is to encourage players to join a new server, offer incentives for ranking up the leaderboard, spend excessive amounts of money to claim the #1 position on that server and make a quick return on investment.
  • Event focused: Server launch rewards & scheduled events all day so you know what you need to do from the moment you sign in to when you log off. These reward you with points to help your leaderboard status and through prizes that will better your character's stats. It also keeps you playing and spending money because you want to complete that event in a certain position to maintain or better your place on the server ranking boards. 
  • Everything in the game is upgradeable - gear, mounts, status, items, experience scrolls, convenience, etc. You just have to pay. 
After watching the video, I took a new look at the game my husband plays and it's exactly following this model.

It uses multiple platforms (including Facebook now!) and constantly has new servers opening - most of which offer bonus incentives to help those players blast through the starting stages to become as strong, if not stronger, than the older servers. Everything has stats and is upgradeable.  There are events and activities scheduled all day long. There are rewards for daily participation in special events. There are cross-server games and events to encourage competition between servers (who is the best?!). There are payment options for just about everything: more turns to spin the wheel, more time for a game, revive yourself faster when you die in battle, getting new gear, buying items to better your chances to rank in high-reward events, getting additional mounts or heroes or angels, in-game currency to use in shops, adding points to the guild's score to make it better, scrolls to help you level up faster, monthly payments to be a VIP - and have bonuses like a single click button to complete tasks, etc., etc.

It's a slippery slope - and even when it's just a few dollars here, few dollars there, it's easy to see how companies running games like this are able to quickly rake in multimillion dollars per month. The people who choose to not to spend money quickly fall to the bottom of the standings and those who pay rush to the top. It isn't really about skill - it's about what you are able to buy and the rewards you get for doing so. I recently heard that one of the "big name" guys that my husband has been chatting with admitted to having sunk over $16,000 into the game during the past year. It's mind-blowing to me that someone could spend that much on a game.

It seems as though localizing this style of game can be a challenge in our Western world, needing several adaptations to make it more marketable to the difference between cultures, but it looks like some game design companies are giving it a go and are doing fairly well.

It is interesting, however, to see how the monetization methods appear to have rubbed off on other games - have you noticed that even Facebook games seem to have daily rewards for logging in and now offer bonus turns or extras for a small fee? I think we could have the Chinese Browser Game model to thank for this.

If you are a hardcore gamer, and want to get into some of these games, I recommend bracing yourself for the financial requirements in order to be the best. That being said, they can be a lot of fun, build a fun community of gamers, and provide a variety of different activities every day that give you a good challenge for skills and entertainment.

Monday, 16 March 2015

Minecraft for Dummies

We are big fans of Mom Vs The Boys blog around here.  Jennifer is not only a dear friend, a sweet heart, a rockin' Mom of 3 boys, but also an awesome blogger!

Jennifer's boys are Minecraft fans, which is another reason to love her...raising gamers!

Over on her blog, Mom Vs The Boys, she recently reviewed 4 Minecraft for Dummies books!



Be sure to check out her post over on her blog: Minecraft for Dummies Review!
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