Were you sad to see Diner Dash close its doors on Facebook? If you have an Apple mobile device, you can now fill in a bit of the hole left behind with the game's closure, as the original Diner Dash is now absolutely free to download via iTunes. Technically, the free version is only for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but you can download it on your iPad as well (the graphics will be much poorer in that case).
Before this sale, Diner Dash could be purchased for $2.99, which makes this a pretty good deal. Add to this the fact that the game is frequently updated with new content (new themed restaurants and levels, for one) and the deal becomes even better!
Sure, downloading an iPhone game won't bring back the joy of playing as Flo on Facebook, but we certainly won't turn down a free game. The only thing to keep in mind here, folks, is that this free price will only be around for a limited time. How limited? Unfortunately, PlayFirst doesn't say, but that just gives you all the more incentive to download it now, even if you don't plan on playing it until later!
Showing posts with label free games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free games. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Game of the Day: SKIP-BO Castaway Caper
The Game of the Day is looking in the attic for a game to play. SKIP-BO Castaway Caper is here. After your ship washes up on the shore of a seemingly deserted island, it quickly becomes clear that the island is not only inhabited, but that it is also home to a powerful volcano. Your presence has awoken and angered the volcano and put the entire island in jeopardy. Fortunately, the islanders are masters at the great game of SKIP-BO™ and are willing to teach you their favorite game. Only you can play SKIP-BO™ with the friendly inhabitants of the island, calm the active volcano, and restore the quiet peace of this tropical paradise.
Click >> play SKIP-BO Castaway Caper
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Click >> play SKIP-BO Castaway Caper
Important side note: Just by playing The Game of the Day you will be entered into a monthly drawing to win a FlipCam HD. You don't need to do anything else, just play! The more you play, the more chances you have to win. For more information on the Game of Day check out the official Game of the Day hub.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Time travel in media: A good concept? Or just confusing as hell? [Spoilers]
Okay, I have a few things to get out of the way: No I haven't played all games involving time travel or watched all other pieces of media with time travel so feel free to pitch in in the comments with any evidence that supports a point but I just want to look a little bit at time travel in games and how it compares with time travel in other types of media such as films, tv etc etc. I, for one am all for time travel as long as it doesn't make my head spin.
Example 1 of 'good' time travel: Chrono trigger
This is 'good' because it isn't anything crazy, you're still in the same world, just a long time before and the reason you travelled in time is explained in due time.
Example 2 of 'good' time travel: Infamous
In this game the main character (from the future) goes back in time to prepare the player-controlled main character from the present for a danger that will come in the future. This is interesting because there are very small, subtle hints at it throughout the game.
Example 3 of 'good' time travel: Prince of persia Sands of time
Okay, this one may be a little debatable because at the end of the game you go back in time, rendering everything you did in the whole game pointless because it never happened. But it is very well thought out because from the start of the game, the prince has been using this power all along without considering that this was a solution to the mess he is in. It's not as though they ran out of ideas and just said "What we'll do is we'll throw in time travel, that explains anything" because it was there all along.
Okay, now on to 'bad' examples of time travel.
Example 1 of 'bad' time travel: Heroes
Anyone who watched this programme will know that the character, Hiro Nakamura was cool. He had the power to completely control time and space. But his future self chooses to use these powers to give everyone cryptic messages about how the world can be saved when he could just save it himself (Being theoretically the most powerful character in the show). It's frustrating and no wonder the show was cancelled because the time travel thing made it seem so surreal.
Example 2 of 'bad' time travel: Dragonball Z (anime)
Okay, you know Cell? The story they made up with him coming from the future either didn't fit or wasn't explained very well.
So, bulma builds trunks 1 time machine. 1. Emphasis on the 1.
Now, trunks goes back to warn the goku about androids. Cell also goes back in time (In another timeline, apparently) to kill trunks before he goes to the past and goes in his place.
Now, there's a bit of a problem with that. There existed only 1 time machine. So, if cell killed trunks then surely trunks would not have been able to go back in time and warn Goku. Trunks explained that that happened in another timeline, but for that timeline to exist, someone else from another timeline must have influenced cell to do that, otherwise either cell or trunks couldn't have gone back. Random anomalies don't happen across timelines. If time machines weren't invented, it's assumed that there is only one timeline. Therefore ther is a new timeline for every machine invented. But there is only one. So either trunks or Cell don't exist in the original timeline. Head-spinner, right?
Example 3 of 'bad' time travel: Star trek
Okay, so no need to go on about this one, vulcan gets destroyed in a new timeline and people are pissed because it sort of ruins everything that happens from then on and long term fans are like "Why did you make us watch it for all these years then if you're just going to do that?".
Okay so the good examples are all from games. The bad examples are from a tv show, an anime and a film (I made sure I did that) Now, my point is, has games got something right that other media seems to mess up on in multiple occasions? If so, game script writer should be looking for a raise and a pat in the back. So why can't everyone get it right? Well, I have an answer for that, too. They haven't the same imaginative mind that game developers have. Games are made to engage with the player on levels that non-gamers couldn't possibly understand.
When you finished dragon age you said "I defeated the arch demon!"
When you beat Call of Duty you say "I killed the terrorist!!"
When you beat final fantasy, it wasn't Cloud that owned Sephiroth, it was you.
So, in that sense time-travel is tailored in games to make you understand.
In films you don't get that feeling. "I destroyed the one ring"
"I beat the big bad". No one says that. (Big bang theory reference, anyone?)
So, it's not the point I meant to make when I sat down to write this blog, but it seems by and large, films and tv (there are exceptions) don't get time travel as right as games do.
So thanks if you read this all the way through. If you didn't like it, don't worry; you can always go back and un-read it!
Example 1 of 'good' time travel: Chrono trigger
This is 'good' because it isn't anything crazy, you're still in the same world, just a long time before and the reason you travelled in time is explained in due time.
Example 2 of 'good' time travel: Infamous
In this game the main character (from the future) goes back in time to prepare the player-controlled main character from the present for a danger that will come in the future. This is interesting because there are very small, subtle hints at it throughout the game.
Example 3 of 'good' time travel: Prince of persia Sands of time
Okay, this one may be a little debatable because at the end of the game you go back in time, rendering everything you did in the whole game pointless because it never happened. But it is very well thought out because from the start of the game, the prince has been using this power all along without considering that this was a solution to the mess he is in. It's not as though they ran out of ideas and just said "What we'll do is we'll throw in time travel, that explains anything" because it was there all along.
Okay, now on to 'bad' examples of time travel.
Example 1 of 'bad' time travel: Heroes
Anyone who watched this programme will know that the character, Hiro Nakamura was cool. He had the power to completely control time and space. But his future self chooses to use these powers to give everyone cryptic messages about how the world can be saved when he could just save it himself (Being theoretically the most powerful character in the show). It's frustrating and no wonder the show was cancelled because the time travel thing made it seem so surreal.
Example 2 of 'bad' time travel: Dragonball Z (anime)
Okay, you know Cell? The story they made up with him coming from the future either didn't fit or wasn't explained very well.
So, bulma builds trunks 1 time machine. 1. Emphasis on the 1.
Now, trunks goes back to warn the goku about androids. Cell also goes back in time (In another timeline, apparently) to kill trunks before he goes to the past and goes in his place.
Now, there's a bit of a problem with that. There existed only 1 time machine. So, if cell killed trunks then surely trunks would not have been able to go back in time and warn Goku. Trunks explained that that happened in another timeline, but for that timeline to exist, someone else from another timeline must have influenced cell to do that, otherwise either cell or trunks couldn't have gone back. Random anomalies don't happen across timelines. If time machines weren't invented, it's assumed that there is only one timeline. Therefore ther is a new timeline for every machine invented. But there is only one. So either trunks or Cell don't exist in the original timeline. Head-spinner, right?
Example 3 of 'bad' time travel: Star trek
Okay, so no need to go on about this one, vulcan gets destroyed in a new timeline and people are pissed because it sort of ruins everything that happens from then on and long term fans are like "Why did you make us watch it for all these years then if you're just going to do that?".
Okay so the good examples are all from games. The bad examples are from a tv show, an anime and a film (I made sure I did that) Now, my point is, has games got something right that other media seems to mess up on in multiple occasions? If so, game script writer should be looking for a raise and a pat in the back. So why can't everyone get it right? Well, I have an answer for that, too. They haven't the same imaginative mind that game developers have. Games are made to engage with the player on levels that non-gamers couldn't possibly understand.
When you finished dragon age you said "I defeated the arch demon!"
When you beat Call of Duty you say "I killed the terrorist!!"
When you beat final fantasy, it wasn't Cloud that owned Sephiroth, it was you.
So, in that sense time-travel is tailored in games to make you understand.
In films you don't get that feeling. "I destroyed the one ring"
"I beat the big bad". No one says that. (Big bang theory reference, anyone?)
So, it's not the point I meant to make when I sat down to write this blog, but it seems by and large, films and tv (there are exceptions) don't get time travel as right as games do.
So thanks if you read this all the way through. If you didn't like it, don't worry; you can always go back and un-read it!
How I think Sony should upgrade XMB and PSN
I love the XMB but many are complaining that it boring and just bare. I always ask if they want the 360 OS with "flashcards system" you know how it looks. Anyway theses are some things I think should be added or changed.
1.Upgrade the XMB sound
I think each category (the horizontal menus ie. setting, video)should make a sound as you scroll offer them that is not the usually click. When you press left to exit an item there should also be a different sound than the click. Triangle to bring up a menu should make a sound as well.
2. Upgrade PSN visually
I think that when ever you select a category it should highlight so if you go over music the entire music section should be highlighted. When you press triangle the menu should come rise up or come out from the side not just appear. Make the category bigger so they stick out.
3.Update PSN features
I am not one that wants X-game chat or party system but Sony did use those features in PS Home so they have it working already. Group chat and Groups should be Sony's X-game chat and party system. There are more features.
4. revamp the PSN store
I hate the current PS store lay out. just change it
5.Changed the in-game XMB
If we can't use the setting, video, or Internet category's we don't need them taking up ram slowing down the in-game XMB. I think the PS button should go straight to you message list or Friends list.
6.Make PSN feel more like a social network.
Make profiles more like actually profiles with more information, dress the profiles up.
7.
Get rid of the current friends list and make the profiles the friends list. right now you get this little thing that shows name,trophies level, and game playing and it feels bare so get rid of them and use the actually profiles card.
1.Upgrade the XMB sound
I think each category (the horizontal menus ie. setting, video)should make a sound as you scroll offer them that is not the usually click. When you press left to exit an item there should also be a different sound than the click. Triangle to bring up a menu should make a sound as well.
2. Upgrade PSN visually
I think that when ever you select a category it should highlight so if you go over music the entire music section should be highlighted. When you press triangle the menu should come rise up or come out from the side not just appear. Make the category bigger so they stick out.
3.Update PSN features
I am not one that wants X-game chat or party system but Sony did use those features in PS Home so they have it working already. Group chat and Groups should be Sony's X-game chat and party system. There are more features.
4. revamp the PSN store
I hate the current PS store lay out. just change it
5.Changed the in-game XMB
If we can't use the setting, video, or Internet category's we don't need them taking up ram slowing down the in-game XMB. I think the PS button should go straight to you message list or Friends list.
6.Make PSN feel more like a social network.
Make profiles more like actually profiles with more information, dress the profiles up.
7.
Get rid of the current friends list and make the profiles the friends list. right now you get this little thing that shows name,trophies level, and game playing and it feels bare so get rid of them and use the actually profiles card.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Diner Dash serves up good eats on iOS for free
Were you sad to see Diner Dash close its doors on Facebook? If you have an Apple mobile device, you can now fill in a bit of the hole left behind with the game's closure, as the original Diner Dash is now absolutely free to download via iTunes. Technically, the free version is only for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but you can download it on your iPad as well (the graphics will be much poorer in that case).
Before this sale, Diner Dash could be purchased for $2.99, which makes this a pretty good deal. Add to this the fact that the game is frequently updated with new content (new themed restaurants and levels, for one) and the deal becomes even better!
Sure, downloading an iPhone game won't bring back the joy of playing as Flo on Facebook, but we certainly won't turn down a free game. The only thing to keep in mind here, folks, is that this free price will only be around for a limited time. How limited? Unfortunately, PlayFirst doesn't say, but that just gives you all the more incentive to download it now, even if you don't plan on playing it until later!
Do you already own Diner Dash on iOS, or will you download it now for the first time since it's free? Does this freebie giveaway help heal the wound of losing Diner Dash on Facebook? Let us know in the comments!
Before this sale, Diner Dash could be purchased for $2.99, which makes this a pretty good deal. Add to this the fact that the game is frequently updated with new content (new themed restaurants and levels, for one) and the deal becomes even better!
Sure, downloading an iPhone game won't bring back the joy of playing as Flo on Facebook, but we certainly won't turn down a free game. The only thing to keep in mind here, folks, is that this free price will only be around for a limited time. How limited? Unfortunately, PlayFirst doesn't say, but that just gives you all the more incentive to download it now, even if you don't plan on playing it until later!
Do you already own Diner Dash on iOS, or will you download it now for the first time since it's free? Does this freebie giveaway help heal the wound of losing Diner Dash on Facebook? Let us know in the comments!
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