Games

Mac Game Review: Jack of All Tribes

Game Diary, Reviews

Mac Game Review: Jack of All Tribes

I recently reviewed the iPad version of Jack of All Tribes, a ‘casual time management meets sim meets strategy’ game. I thoroughly enjoyed the game, so when I was able to review the newly released Mac version, I immediately jumped at the chance! Let’s see how the game did in the transition from tablet to computer! The Hype: Travel to the past with Jack and rule a prehistoric tribe in this fun time management game with puzzle elements! Help fellow tribesmen set up their homes and create thriving villages. Keep villagers happy with food, drinks and entertainment; protect them from…

Zombie Gunship for iPhone/Touch

Game Diary, Reviews

Zombie Gunship for iPhone/Touch

I am both a fan and historian of weaponry and aircraft. One of the meanest flying machines available in combat is the AC-130 Gunship. The AC-130 is often used to support ground troops and convoys. A 140mm M102 cannon, a Bofors 40mm autocannon and a 25mm GAU-12 Equalizer packs quit the punch. The firepower brought by the gunship is known to be feared and respected in combat. Lucky for us, the AC-130 is being used to help survivors of the zombie apocalypse escape impending doom. The entire game is spent at the helm of the three powerful weapons of the…

iPad Game Review: Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds

Mix together a crime-drama mystery, puzzles, hidden objects, and tons of twists and turns and intrigue … and you have the makings of one of the most compelling games made for the iPad this year. The name of that game is “Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds” from G5 Entertainment. Let’s take a look and see if it lives up to that promise! The Hype: Try your hand at investigating a crime, crack the case and catch the criminal in this perplexing hidden-object game! Detectives Turino and Lamonte have been assigned to a new investigative unit: Special Enquiry Detail….

iPad Game Review: Treasure Seekers III HD: Follow the Ghosts

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Treasure Seekers III HD: Follow the Ghosts

Several months ago I reviewed Treasure Seekers II: The Enchanted Canvases. Similar to the Mystery of the Crystal Portal games, Treasure Seekers are hidden object games with a story that keeps you engaged as you go along. Now there is a new entry to the series – Treasure Seekers III HD: Follow the Ghosts. Does it live up to the high standards of its predecessors? The Hype: Use your Hidden Object skills to explore a mysterious world, and discover valuable clues. In Treasure Seekers 3: Follow the Ghosts you will help Nelly and Tom release unlucky ghosts trapped by an…

iPad Game Review: Jack of All Tribes HD

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Jack of All Tribes HD

It used to be so simple to categorize so-called ‘casual games’. Trivial time wasters, like a Match-3 puzzler like Bejeweled, or other fun little games like Zuma or Peggle. Or there were hidden object games or puzzles that would last a couple of hours. But suddenly we have a game where we need to gather resources, build and upgrade bases, stave off invading forces, meet objectives from quest-givers and time constraints … and suddenly you realize that Jack of All Tribes is NOT your ordinary casual game! The Hype: Travel to the past with Jack and rule a prehistoric tribe…

Gear Games Retrospective: Quake (1996, FPS) Celebrates 15 Years

Reviews

Gear Games Retrospective: Quake (1996, FPS) Celebrates 15 Years

A few weeks ago I looked back at Duke Nukem 3D in anticipation of the arrival of Duke Nukem Forever, which I subsequently reviewed as well. However, Duke Nukem 3D wasn’t the only shooter released in the first half of 1996 – on June 22nd 1996 a whole new era in first person shooter gaming was born with the release of Quake! In celebration of that milestone I take a look back at this legendary FPS game from id software. The Hype Rage through 32 single player levels and 6 deathmatch levels of sheer terror and fully immersive sound and…

Transformers: Dark of the Moon for iPhone/Touch

Game Diary, Reviews

Transformers: Dark of the Moon for iPhone/Touch

My youngest son had his fourth birthday on July 2nd. We had a small party with some family and a few friends, and we always let the boys choose their party theme. Riley decided long ago his would be a Transformers party complete with cups, plates, napkins and a cool cake with Bumblebee. Most of his gifts were Transformers, so we had the complete experience. We are waiting until we leave for a mini-vacation to see the movie, so I just downloaded the game, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which was on sale for $.99. Let’s take a look. Play…

Adventures in Customer Service: Just Sony Being Sony

Editorials, Game Diary, Music Diary

Adventures in Customer Service: Just Sony Being Sony

The ups and downs of the whole Sony PSN hacking and outage have been discussed here and elsewhere in grueling detail … but now that it has been a month since the service came online you might wonder how things have changed at Sony – have they changed how they treat their customers, or are they still a company marked by hubris and arrogance? Given the title, do you REALLY need to ask? I have two stories, one personal and the other impacting many PSN users around the globe. The Qriocity Curiosity Just before the PSN outage I signed up…

Battery Died on Your iPhone? Play Angry Birds in Real Life!

News & Features

Battery Died on Your iPhone? Play Angry Birds in Real Life!

Admit it, you’ve drained your smartphone battery more than once playing Angry Birds. It’s so hard to leave a level without 3 stars, and the next thing you know you’re blowing past the low battery warnings and then “poof”, no more Angry Birds for you. Well, that was the bad old days of technology, before you could buy your very own “Angry Birds” toy set. Yes, thanks to the good folks at Think Geek, you can build your own live-action Angry Birds game. Even cooler, it’s a multiplayer game. Play as the pigs and try to outsmart your birdbrained opponent,…

PC Game Review: Duke Nukem Forever

Game Diary, Reviews

PC Game Review: Duke Nukem Forever

I recently did a retrospective review on Duke Nukem 3D, so that experience was fresh in my mind as I loaded up Duke Nukem Forever and played it. One of the reasons I wanted to do that was because it is very easy for faded memories to turn into inaccurate assessments and then into unrealistic expectations – so by playing Duke Nukem 3D in 2011 I was able to temper my 15-year old expectations for Duke Nukem Forever with the reality of the prior game. So what are my thoughts? Read on and find out! The Hype: Duke Nukem Forever…

iPad Game Review: Avadon: The Black Fortress

Game Diary, Reviews

iPad Game Review: Avadon: The Black Fortress

Avadon: The Black Fortress is an ‘old school’ role playing game (RPG) from ‘indie’ developer Spiderweb Software. I have already reviewed the Mac and PC versions of the game in detail, and since the core game is identical, much of this review will go over the same stuff. The main focus is to detail the ‘iPad experience’ – how the controls work, the graphics, and so on. In other words, I have already established that Avadon is worth buying for the Mac or PC, but is it worth a purchase for the iPad? The Hype: Spiderweb Software brings you Avadon:…

Word Scramble Challenge Edition

Game Diary, Reviews

Word Scramble Challenge Edition

From time to time my wife mentions apps she has found or heard about that might be good for the Blue Plate Special. The other night as we watched the news in bed she said, “You should make that word game you always play the Blue Plate.” At this moment I realized, I had a problem with playing Word Scramble Challenge Edition. For some time I have played the game some before bed and just about any other moment I had time to kill. A while back I reviewed the game before it was in its current form which you…

Gear Games Rant: Avadon for iPad Released - 10 Reasons the PC RPG Zealots are Wrong

Editorials, Game Diary

Gear Games Rant: Avadon for iPad Released – 10 Reasons the PC RPG Zealots are Wrong

This week we get Avadon: The Black Fortress from Spiderweb Software on the iPad in the iTunes App Store. I have already gushed about the Mac and PC versions of the game, and will have my full review (hint: it is also gushing) of the iPad version this week. Almost immediately the forums of traditional computer role-playing games – in theory the biggest supporters of an ‘old school’ developer like Spiderweb – exploded with loads of vitriol. It came from all directions – and it is pretty much all wrong-headed. Rather than celebrating one of the few advocates of traditional…

Is there an Origin/Steam Battle Brewing?

Editorials, Game Diary

Is there an Origin/Steam Battle Brewing?

EA was actually relatively early to the digital download game, with their online store serving up games through the evolving EADM since 2007. Even back then EA pushed use of the service, but users balked because initially the EA specified that downloads were held for 6 months, or 2 years if you paid the extra ‘insurance’. Just before E3 last week EA launched their Origin digital download service, clearly aimed to take on market leader Steam. This week EA has made moves that show it is ‘On Like Donkey Kong’ … or, more appropriately, ‘Off Like Crysis 2’! That’s right…

Gear Games Retrospective: Duke Nukem 3D (1996, FPS)

Game Diary, Reviews

Gear Games Retrospective: Duke Nukem 3D (1996, FPS)

This week we FINALLY get the sequel to the classic 1996 game Duke Nukem 3D. I will be getting a review copy very soon in will have a full review as soon as I can. But in the meantime I thought it appropriate to dig back into the game that launched the 15 year quest for a sequel! The Hype Duke Nukem, the politically incorrect celebrity and ultimate alien ass kicker, defends Earth and its babes from alien invasion. He is a can-do hero who realizes that sometimes innocent people have to die in order to save Earth, so accuracy…