by December M

There’s been some controversy lately as to whether we are to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”. I prefer to think of this time of the year as gamer’s heaven. Almost all of us get a few days off to spend with family and friends and to play. Play with Santa gifts, play with wrapping paper, play, play play. That’s part of what makes this time of year so special. And for people who like to game, playing is what it’s all about.

Finally, we are given a few days in which to enjoy playing alone or with family and friends. We can all sit around the computer and play together. And nobody gets upset about you having a little fun. It’s the one time of the year that playing a game isn’t seen as a dirty little indulgence you need to complete behind closed doors, late at night, while nobody is watching.

So I have decided to send this very personal message to all gamers out there, that doesn’t mention “Merry” or “Happy”. It won’t say any of the traditional words you’re used to hearing. I want to send you a festive wish in GameSpeak.

To the crew at Club Casual Games, thank you for a spectacular year and for giving me the opportunity to play, play and play! To our amazing customers, clients, friends and followers, I thank you for the inspiration, respect and conversations you have shared with me.

And to gamers, one and all, I say:

Game On, Level Up and may you have Epic Wins in 2011.

Have a great time everybody!

Hugs,
December

Christmas is only a week away and suddenly you realise that there are too many gifts to get, too many people that are difficult to buy for and far too little time to fit it all in. On top of this is the usual Christmas madness of organising family, get-togethers, food and so forth that it’s no wonder we’re often exhausted before it even begins. That’s why giving the gift of games is such a clever and EASY way to give gifts this year!

Games can be great respite over the festive season; played by one or the whole family and give the perfect excuse for some quality me-time when you need to escape the craziness. Plus, downloadable games are very affordable and offer bang for your buck. Nothing says “It’s time to let your hair down and play” like a downloadable game! They also make a wonderful treat for yourself over the festive season, to ensure you receive something you truly want!

So keeping in mind that we’ve had an amazing year for really brilliant games in 2010, here are my top 8 games that I believe will suit everyone in the family.

SKIP-BO Castaway Caper

Genre: Card Game
Card games with no mess, that keep you engaged and interested. Play alone or play in teams. Play in adventure mode or really test your skills in speed mode. No matter the choice, SkipBo is a family classic that really works as a PC game. Download it and you’re away, trying to beat your opponents with masterful skill and strategy.

Settlement Colossus

Genre: Strategy
Simulation, strategy and hidden object searching combine to give you an almost ultimate experience in gaming pleasure. While the core of the game is re-settling and building an empire, you must also prioritise your resources, collect and gather sufficient items to progress all the while researching and developing new skills. Suitable for the entire family, Settlement Colossus can be replayed over and over again giving you excellent value for money.

Roads of Rome

Genre: Time Management
With 40 levels and a blend of strategy and simulation, Roads of Rome is a fast paced frenetic time-management game that will have you gasping for breath at the end of each level. With a wonderful romance as the backdrop, you play Victorius, a Roman general desperate to marry Caesar’s daughter. Construction of the road requires skill – exploring new territories and constructing new buildings in each stage. Manage your resources carefully and expand Rome’s influence. Roads of Rome offers you a complete package to keep you entertained well into 2011.

Heart’s Medicine: Season One

Genre: Time Management
In a quirky twist, Heart’s Medicine is a time management game created like a television show and this is just where the innovation starts. Allison Heart is a resident in a bustling hospital and must learn all the skills necessary to help her patients. You will have the opportunity to treat patients using clever skill-based mini-games and puzzles while being drawn in to the characters and their stories. Love is in the air, but is Allison ready to give her all to be a great doctor?

Bejeweled 3

Genre: Match 3
If it’s possible to improve upon perfection then PopCap’s latest addition to the world’s #1 puzzle franchise does just that! While the core gameplay stays true to the classic, match-3 formula, there are 7 new play modes to meet all of your moods — including Classic, Quest, Lightning and Zen. The visuals and sound effects really are spectacular and the flashy achievement badges are worthy of the digital pool room! With buckets of replayability Bejeweled 3 is one of those rare treasures that you’ll return to time and time again for years to come.

Midnight Mysteries: The Salem Witch Trials

Genre: Hidden Object
Explore the dark side of Salem and witchcraft in this clever mystery game. With a chilling soundtrack and a host of decisions to make, this hidden object/puzzle/mystery game allows non-linear progress through each chapter. As you travel back and forth in time, see the ghosts of history tell their tale as you unravel the conspiracies within. Salem Witch Trials is the perfect antidote to the saccharin sweetness of Christmas Eve!

Jolly Rover

Genre: Adventure
Swashbuckling pirate dogs with sass and sex appeal will have you laughing out loud as you enjoy this crazy canine adventure. In the tradition of the humorous adventures of the 80s but with all the technological advances of the noughties, Jolly Rover is a clever blend of elaborate graphics, jaunty soundtrack and well developed characters. Can this pirate get the gold, get the girl and finally get a cup of tea? Only you will be able to find out as you enjoy the pleasure that is Jolly Rover.

Snark Busters: Welcome to the Club

Genre: Hidden Object
Sassy and spirited Kira Robertson sets off on an adventure to catch the Snark in this exquisitely drawn and brilliantly executed hidden object adventure game. The game offers a plethora of puzzles, some great humour and wonderfully innovative game-play, along with a captivating storyline. Pleasurably wile the hours away with Snark Busters over the holiday season!

View the entire catalogue of over 500 downloadable games at Club Casual Games

Download a trial version of Bejeweled 3 from Club Casual Games

by December M:

Bejeweled 3 doesn’t just bedazzle and bewitch you – it really could be the be-all and end-all of Match 3 games! I have never played any of the Bejeweled games before (yes, my head is hung in shame) so I opened myself up to this game without any of the publicity, none of the hype and few expectations. I wasn’t even entirely sure what Genre the game was. And in many ways, the Bejeweled 3 hasn’t been heralded enough!

It has to be said – Bejeweled 3 is damn good value for money! It’s a game with almost unlimited potential to please all family members aged from 6 to 96. Also, I can’t imagine there are many games that can boast as much undeniable replayability as this game. The game has 4 standard modes (Classic, Zen, Lightning and Quest) plus four more unlockable games making Bejeweled 3 seem like those Russian dolls – every time you unwrap one section, another is waiting for discovery.

On top of all this, Bejeweled 3 is visual eye candy. The graphics really are spectacular and the use of sound effects and voice encouragement really add to the game-play. One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the ‘instant replay’ feature where you could see your awesome movies replayed back to you. It reminded me of watching those incredible tennis slow-motion replays during Wimbeldon. All of these elements create a quality and well rounded game that makes it a definite must-buy title.

It isn’t without some issues, however. The tutorial is only shown on the Classic mode which is a disadvantage to any player that decides to play the game in a different order to the standard route. And the explanation or instruction for the other modes isn’t exactly verbose and can often leaving you understanding the goal through trial and error.

In Zen mode, you can add in all sorts of mantras to quit smoking, think positively or lose weight (plus others) but I didn’t see much of that on screen. There are also subliminal messages designed to help you relax and find your inner Zen but honestly, if you need to give up smoking or lose weight, playing a Match 3 game won’t help you. You should be just playing it because you love it!

Lightning mode was fun and fast – with you needing to create matches that give you more time. Once the timer runs out, your game is up and it was interesting trying to find different strategies to play all the different modes of play available. However, Quest mode really delighted me, with a series of requirements to be fulfilled each level to progress. It really did feel like a different game entirely and required a completely alternate plan of action to complete. Classic mode is untimed, adding to the expansiveness and flexibility of the game.

Help is available if you wait long enough – a gem will glow with arrows to guide you if you are completely lost, but it does take a long time for this to occur. You will naturally find that some of the game styles will suit you more than others and there are plenty of trophies to aim for.

The unlockable games include Poker (a personal favourite), Butteflies, Diamond Mine and Ice Storm and when you add these together with the fun game-play and exquisite graphics, you’ll will see how this game could be a winner well into the future.

I’ve just come back from a few days away – an extra long weekend to relax, unwind and re-energise. I need it because I know what’s coming. It’s Christmas! And while Christmas can offer joys untold with miracles and magic, it can also be a time of utter stress and aggravation.

I’ll be visiting family this year, which is never simple, and never easy. It involves a lot of travelling, thrown together sleeping arrangements, arguing over the bathroom, and living out of a suitcase. There’s always too much food but never enough of the healthier options. Far too much alcohol, but you always run out of softdrink. And while the nieces and nephews have grown into wonderful young adults, they’ll still eat too much, too quickly and feel ill yet refuse to go to bed early on Christmas Eve.

It just seems to be the way Christmas is.

So prior to facing this wonderfully paradoxical disaster/lovefest, I took the opportunity for a few days of downtime. And it was heaven. Bliss. Utopia. I stayed in a rainforest retreat with a large swimming pool and adjacent day spa. I took time to venture out and visit the beauty of the area and go boating on the rivers, dining at exotic places and generally having a  sleep-in every single day.

I rarely connected to the Internet, preferring to go ‘analogue’ for a few days – the mobile phone rarely rang so I left that behind. The clocks were turned off. No music – merely the sound of birds squawking and the rustle in the undergrowth of little animals. I used the barbaric system of paper and pens, or walking to reception to order room service. I ditched the camera on a number of occasions, to just have me communing with Mother Nature.

Yet there were two things I really really missed. The first was my dog (who had stayed behind with a friend) but the other was far more surprising. I missed playing games. I had borrowed my husband’s laptop and connected to the on-again/off-again internet available but didn’t take any games to play. After all, it’s not my computer, so I couldn’t really install a bunch of stuff on it… that would be a bit rude, yes?

So there I was, sitting in heaven, completely stumped. No quick round of SkipBo, no chance to play Bejeweled 3, no time to spend agonising over Text Twist 2. No hidden object games, no time management, no ball poppers. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

And although I loved my holiday and time away, I was eternally grateful for being able to play games online. I would strike up a new connection and gingerly explore the online game websites and managed to get a few rounds of gaming in, before the connection would die again. I was able to play the games I love to play without the hassle of needing to download and install anything. And although when at home I am the compulsive downloader, while on holiday it really suited me being able to just play online. As it suited me.  When it suited me.

Games have always been a great way to switch off the madness of the world, and when coupled with a fabulous few days break, emphasised how crucial some time-out was, especially this close to the craziness of Christmas. So if you don’t find the opportunity to get some downtime, some alone time, some oh-my-goodness-i’m-gonna-scream time, then consider visiting an online game site and see if that doesn’t help you to recharge those batteries. You can find Club Casual Games’ online section right here.

by December M.

You have to really admire gardeners. They have the patience of that Job guy from the Bible. Down on their knees in their favourite gardening apparel, with a wide brimmed straw hat – hand tools by their side. They mulch and fertilise and tend to their patch with loving care. They create new garden beds and correct the pH levels of the soil, water and soak, plant the seed and watch and wait. And wait. And wait. Then water. And wait. And wait. Then eventually, something grows and they rejoice in the moment, picking whatever has grown to either eat or decorate with. And finally (if it’s not an evergreen), it dies. And so the process begins again.

I don’t have the patience for that. I dig a small hole with my bare hands, plop in a seed and hope for the best. Which, as it turns out, is as hopeful as the snail is that something will actually grow so it can eat it. I haven’t measured pH levels in soil since Science class in high school. And I inevitably forget to water the damn things. If something should pop up from under the surface, the snail usually beats me to it. Either that, or I forget where I’ve planted and thinking it’s a weed, remove it from the soil. Maybe that’s why I have a black thumb? No, make that a black hand!

But in my defence, I will say that I am very good at killing plants. Established gardens wither and die; gifted plants look at me sorrowfully and then let out a plant-ish sigh before giving up and committing suicide. If I sing to them, I’ve noticed that the plants straighten up as if letting out a blood-curdling scream of terror before committing Hari-kiri. So gardening is perhaps not the best hobby for me to pursue.

Digital gardens, however, are a whole different ball game… or plant game, as the case may be! I can tend them and sing to them and water them, in fact, almost kill them with kindness and they keep on soaking it up like a dry leaf lifts itself up to the rain. Digital gardens like me. And so, I like them.

And in the gaming world, digital gardens are everywhere. I can be a farmer and grow crops. I’ve no idea what half of these crops are, but they look pretty and inevitably I’ll be able to sell them to a mysterious buyer or market. I could be a florist and make extraordinary flower arrangements from plants in my garden and thrill myself at my astounding creativity. (It should be pointed out that beautiful flower arrangements are truly in the eyes of the beholder, and I think they’re beautiful, so therefore they must be!)

For something different, I could grow plants that I feed to animals on my farm and then turn the animals into products and foodstuffs. Or maybe make succulent meals from my hard worked garden. In the electronic world, gardens are easy peasy. And fun.

No sunburn, no sweat, no exhaustion and no real snails to fight with. (Any digital snails are normally part of the game, and you usually end up with some sort of vicious weapon you can kill them with!) But best of all, no waiting! Plants grow almost instantaneously and while you may not manage to save them all, you will have a good time trying to not kill them. And absolutely no plant deliberately kills itself. It doesn’t take one look at you and just ‘know’ that you are the worst thing to come along since the atomic bomb.

So I like gardening games. There are plenty of them around and they give you lots of warm ‘fuzzies’ at the end of every level. So this season, don’t bother with the real thing – go digital. Just be careful that you don’t decide to mix up the two types of gardens – water and computers really don’t mix!

To get you started, visit Club Casual Games and in the search box type ‘farm’. You’ll be astounded at how many games there are just waiting for your green thumb… and my black one!

Download a copy of Jewel Quest Mysteries 4 from Club Casual Games

by December M:

The great thing about the collection of Jewel Quest games is the variety. Each gives you different challenges in different ways. Jewel Quest Heritage offers a unique twist on the Match 3 genre that encompasses quality graphics, expressive storyline and entertaining game play.

Unlike standard Match 3 games, Jewel Quest Heritage offers three types of play – traditional, swaps and limited jewels. While it may not seem much of a twist, this small change reaps big rewards and bigger challenges as you must rethink the way you normally approach this style of game. And the different boards reduce any tedium normally associated with these types of games.

The swap mode allows you to swap non-matching adjacent tiles but in limited moves while the Limited Jewels game makes you strategize how to best implement the small number of matches made possible. These two additional boards, along with the traditional way of playing, really adds a new dimension to the Match 3 game and maintains interest and increases re-playability.

The graphics and soundtrack of this game are all class, and the game does not disappoint in the plotline either. The rich tale is explained as you progress, inviting you to become an active participant to unravel the mysteries of your family tree and to rightfully present the Jewel Boards to your daughter.

There is a good tutorial included in the beginning which explains the different ways of playing each game and you can return to these whenever you need a reminder on game rules. If you take a while to make a move, one is suggested in traditional mode but really, this is a game of trial and error. Some strategies may work a treat on one level but not on another so you need to be open to trying different tactics, depending on the game type.

Once again, this Jewel Quest game does not disappoint – giving you ample entertainment and fun game play.

Download a free trial of Master Thief – Skyscraper Sting from Club Casual Games

by December M:

Robin Fleet is sexy. Dead sexy. Women will want to be her, men will just want her. I’m not sure if it’s the white streak in her hair, or the legs that stretch down toward tomorrow but either way, she’s very appealing. Much like this hidden object adventure!

As a Hidden Object game, Master Thief has a rich storyline and plenty of mini-puzzles to keep you entertained. The graphics are crisp and creative and I loved the jaunty soundtrack! The hidden object scenes for each level and often multi-levelled and you have some sort of task or puzzle to complete before you can move on.

Finding items isn’t difficult but there is help if you need it. Hints are time based and available one at a time. The atmosphere of the game really works and it involves and engages you as you play. Additional content including wallpapers are unlockable inside the game by collecting enough keys. These keys can often be harder to find than the items on the hidden object list!

All in all, Master Thief is a quality game that will keep you busy for a few hours and probably humming one of the in-game tunes!

December M:

As a talented dance instructor, it’s your job to manage a dance studio while finding talented new dancers for a music video. This time management bonanza is a wealth of information on dancing styles and the graphics really do get you going. There isn’t much time to enjoy it, though, because the speed of Dancing Craze is out of control.

Not only do you teach people to dance and to work out, but you must also direct them for massages, keep the clients supplied with drinks and towels plus there’s also the dance star mat (just for that extra challenge).

The game starts slowly, acclimatising you to the concepts of the game but quickly spins into a whirlwind of activity that will leave you wondering if you were accidentally turned into a washing machine.

What sets this game apart from others is that as you improve and upgrade your studio, the new items added really make each level feel unique. With each additional item you add to make your studio better, also brings with it new challenges and requires different strategies to overcome them.

And it’s this uniqueness that really makes Dancing Craze shine. If you like time management games, get your dancing shoes on with this one!

by December M:

I keep writing about how good casual games are, but sometimes it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one. I was reading a great blog post on The Wall St Journal by Nick Wingfield about Angry Birds, a game specifically designed for mobile phones.

Now I realise that mobile phone apps and games are completely different from PC games. After all, one is designed to be played on the run, the other is designed to play on a more stable environment. And I don’t think anyone would argue that the experience of a PC game is more rich, more detailed and more immersive on a laptop or desktop PC, simply because of the screen size. After all, you can see more details on a larger screen.

And in my opinion, the games that best suit mobile phones are different from those that suit PCs. People who play a pc game are looking for a distraction for an hour or two at a time. Those on mobile phones are using it while travelling to work, waiting in line, having a lunch break etc so they are more likely to play in short bursts, what marketers call “entertainment snacking”.

But I guess the thing that impressed me the most about this article is how they emphasise that casual gaming is good, and good for you.  It states “A scientific study from 2008 found that casual games provide a “cognitive distraction” that could significantly improve players’ moods and stress levels.” I like the idea that by playing a game I can improve my mood. Lower my stress levels. Be a better person. Isn’t that what we are all aiming for?

Wingfield continues, “many casual games… use positive reinforcement to make players feel good when they succeed” and this is another wonderful lesson to come out of casual gaming. Positive reinforcement is, well, positive and anything that helps you to feel good about yourself and at your achievements is surely a good thing?

So obviously it isn’t just me who thinks casual games are good and good for you. It wouldn’t be the fastest growing niche in the gaming industry if it wasn’t doing something right. So how do you most like to play? On your mobile, on your pc, or both? To me, it is now obvious that if I want to be a better person, a less-stressed person and one who knows how to smile, the first step I need to take is to play a casual game.

Read Nick Wingfield’s full article ‘Why We Can’t Stop Playing’ at The Wall Street Journal’s website

This month has seen a range of new games released and it’s been difficult for me to choose my favourites because of the multitude of different genres made available. I think it’s interesting how some months you have a huge list of really good games you love and other months you scan what you’ve played and think, “Did I really waste my time playing that?” But always, there seems to be a few sparklers; games that really engaged you or excited you and I thought I would share my top five for November with you. No doubt you will agree, remind me of a game I haven’t thought of, or even just be reminded yourself of a game you’ve yet to try. No matter your thoughts, drop me a comment and let me know. After all, I write this all down just for you!

Heart’s Medicine

Genre: Time Management

This is an innovative and creative twist on the time management game, where the storyline really does matter and gaming imitates television. This game is impressive – not only for the strong storyline but also because of its ingenious game-play. This type of time management is exciting because it isn’t just a standard click here, click there, click here…wait, click here, click there routine. You need to actually ‘care’ for patients and run medical tests and solve dilemmas that are meaningful. And I guess that’s what so good about this game – it really does feel like you are progressing with the story rather than just having a click-fest.

Download a free trial of Heart’s Medicine from Club Casual Games

A Magnetic Adventure

Genre: Puzzle

This may seem an odd choice to some, but genuine physics based games are so rare. Especially when they also provide loads of entertainment! With 50 levels to complete, this game is a brain teaser wrapped in a question mark and surrounded by a puzzle. It uses very clever techniques to force you to think about how magnets will react with other objects and how you can manipulate those items to achieve your goal. Some of the levels are so incredibly easy that you feel you might not be challenged and then other levels will have you scratching your head, begging for help from friends, using the help button and still feel like the game is out to get you! And any game that can have you tearing your hair out while loving the frustration should definitely sit on a Top Five list!

Download a free trial of A Magnetic Adventure from Club Casual Games

Marooned

Genre: Hidden Object

Lost on a deserted island with amnesia. Sounds corny doesn’t it? And yet, Marooned delivers this rich storyline well and immerses you with wanting to solve the mystery. I believe a sequel to this game is coming out soon, so you really need to play this one first – because as with all good games, there’s something special about the original! Marooned really does tantalise you and incorporates a lot of adventuring along with Hidden Object searching. This game is definitely worth a look.

Download Marooned from Club Casual Games

Luxor 5th Passage

Genre: Arcade

Ball Popping Madness. I’ve never been one for these types of games but the entire genre is really popular. This game has been eagerly anticipated for a while and fans think this game really does have it all. When I tried it, I had to admit it really did have more appeal than most ball poppers I’ve played and the hour trial seemed to pass far more quickly than I anticipated. So any ‘arcade’ game that can get my motor running certainly seemed destined to be in this post!

Download a free trial of Luxor 5th Passage from Club Casual Games

Twisted Lands: Shadow Town

Genre: Adventure

They say you should save the best for last and I’m not sure if this is the ‘ultimate” game released this month, but it certainly is the best in its genre by far. The eerie storyline and atmospheric adventure game is cinematic in look and feel. The mystery is engrossing and draws you in deeper and deeper. There’s something so special about a game like that – that even when you aren’t playing, it sits in the back of your head as you try to think of how to solve the next dilemma. I won’t spoil it for you but believe me, the ending is incredible!!!

Download a free trial of Shadow Town from Club Casual Games here

So these are my top five for November. What are your thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Think I’m a nutcase? Let me know below