Anyone playing MCF: Dire Grove?

All right, dear readers, are any of you playing Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove Collector's Edition?

I really want to know what this game is like, but I don't want to sink the bucks if it's going to be twisted like Return to Ravenhearst. If one of you plays this, please comment and let us know what it's like. How does it compare to Return to Ravenhearst? Any improvements? Anything disturbing?

For everyone who's interested, the standard edition will be released in December. For now, this $19.95 collector's edition is available to extreme Mystery Case Files fans. It comes will all kinds of extras.

News - Big Fish Games Mac version!

Just a little bit of news for you today.

Big Fish Games now has a Mac version of the site for all you Mac users. Let's hope they continue to increase Mac development and support!

Deal - Return to Ravenhearst for $2.99!

I have good news for you, friends.

Thanks to alert reader, irishdec52, it was brought to my attention that Big Fish is offering Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst for only $2.99 for a limited time!

That's right - $2.99. I went to the site and verified it myself. This is a special deal available to everyone! The coupon code is RTR299. I don't know how long this offer will last, so you probably want to get it as soon as you can.

If you're asking, "What the heck is Return to Ravenhearst?" I suggest you go read my review.

While I don't recommend this game for children, or adults who are easily affected by the creepy and twisted, I do think it was a great game. I would have given it 5 stars if it was more family friendly.

Now's the time to get this game if you haven't already.

News - Luxor Adventures and Luxor 3!

Tomorrow, Big Fish's new game will be Luxor Adventures, a new hidden objects game in the Luxor series, which has traditionally been marble popper games.

But here's the best part: if you buy Luxor Adventures, you get Luxor 3 thrown in for free!

Now, when I have a chance to recommend Luxor 3, I do. Read my review to find out why.

So, get ready to pick up Luxor Adventures and Luxor 3 tomorrow for some HOGin' and marble poppin' goodness!

Luxor Adventures - released tomorrow!

News - Mystery of the Crystal Portal at Big Fish Games!

You might have read my review of Treasure Seekers by Artogon Games. If you did, you know that I think very highly of the game, and of Artogon's original take on the HOG genre.

The Mystery of the Crystal Portal is another game from Artogon using the same engine as was seen in the Treasure Seekers games, but until now, it hasn't been available from Big Fish. I played a good portion of the game elsewhere in the past and found that it offers more of the same goodness.

So, if you like the Treasure Seekers games, you'd better give The Mystery of the Crystal Portal a try, now that it has arrived at Big Fish. The graphics are beautiful, the music is good, and the gameplay is what you'd expect from Artogon. This is a great selection for the HOG crowd.

HOG obsession and a new Mystery Case Files game!

I have two bits of news to discuss today.

A New MCF Game

First, fans of the Mystery Case Files series should take a trip over to MysteryCaseFiles.com and watch the trailer for the new MCF game: Dire Grove. It looks like they actually got live actors this time around. For me, this has great draw because it taps into my mind's nostalgia sector. I first became a computer gamer in the 90s. Myst was the game that hooked me. After that, I was regularly at the media store browsing adventure games. This was the golden age of point-and-click adventure gaming, where FMV integration was the new standard, as seen in games like Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within, Zork: Nemesis, and my personal favorite, the Tex Murphy series. It was a sad day when the adventure game industry started going downhill and FMV was abandoned in favor of computer-graphics characters.

This, combined with the fact that the previous MCF entry, Return to Ravenhearst (see my review here) turned out to be one of the most fun casual games I've ever played, makes me very interested in this new MCF title. I'll try the demo for Dire Grove, but if it's as twisted as Return to Ravenhearst, I'm going to have to pass.

HOG Obsession

You might remember my recent thoughts regarding the use of young ladies as a marketing strategy for hidden object games. Well, there's a more general trend going on right now. Maybe you've noticed it. HOGs are being released by the truckload.

Nov. 1
Nov. 2
Nov. 3
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 6
Nov. 8
Nov. 9
Nov. 10
Nov. 11

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. Have the developers received a message that gamers have such a great love for finding hidden objects? While I've enjoyed a hefty share of HOGs, the mechanic is not fun enough to constitute game after game. This, of course, is a taste issue. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are people who download and love every HOG just because the mechanic never seems to get old for them. Just as with board games, certain game mechanics click with certain types of minds.

Are you obsessed with HOGs? Post a comment and let the rest of us know what it is about HOGs that keeps you going!

More egg solids! - a review of Farm Frenzy

Today, I review the oldie-but-goodie, Farm Frenzy! This was the first in a series of 4 Farm Frenzy games.

What I liked Streamlined gameplay Cute, colorful design Lots of things to work for Fun economics and strategy What I didn't like I wished there were even more upgrades No ending to speak of

Quick Plot

Get good at managing farms by feeding animals, producing goods, and making money!

Features

• 5 types of animals to buy (geese, sheep, cows, dogs, cats)
  
• 3 types of goods to develop (eggs, wool, milk)
• 10 things to build and upgrade
• 16 awards to earn
• 48 levels
• You control everything from a first-person perspective, rather than controlling one character from a third-person perspective (as is common in many time management games)
  

The map. The blue dots are levels.

Highlights

The great thing here is the mechanics. This is an economic time management game, and the developers came up with something wonderfully original.

Gameplay

Here are the basics of how the game works.

• Collect the products that animals drop (geese drop eggs, for instance)
• Build buildings that can process these products, making them into more valuable products (turn eggs into egg solids, then into muffins)
  
• Ship products into town by truck to earn money
• Use money to buy more animals and upgrade your buildings
• Lock bears in cages when they come to attack your farm animals
• Achieve the level's goals within a certain amount of time to earn stars
• Spend stars to buy better buildings and resources at the shop between levels

Music

The music is simple and cute. It matches the bright mood of the game. The only issue is that the music is the same for every level. If you don't like the music, this might drive you nuts. You might want to turn it off. I didn't mind it.

Degrees of Challenge

One feature that made the game so fun for me is the medals you can earn. You are given Gold and Silver goals at the beginning of each level. If you finish the level quick enough to meet the Gold goal, you earn the gold medal and a bunch of extra stars, which allow you to purchase upgrades more quickly in the shop. Silver goals are the same, but easier to accomplish. This challenge was what kept me playing. I played each level as many times as it took to master it and earn the gold medal. It seems there's one best method for each level, and if you can figure it out, the gold medal shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I have one gripe though. Eventually, all those gold medals earned me enough stars to purchase every available upgrade in the store. This gave me nothing to use my hard-earned stars on for a big chunk of levels toward the end of the game. I thought they should have allowed more upgrades, like a single-click bear cage (a 3-click bear cage is the best available).

A level in progress.

Suitable for the family?

If there's one thing kids love, it's animals. My kids liked watching the animals roaming around the screen munching grass and dropping goods. They liked watching the cats collecting the goods and the dogs barking to keep the bears at bay. This one is cute and bright - great for kids! Maybe not for my wife so much - she didn't like hearing the same music playing constantly from across the room...

The family man's final ruling

Despite my minor gripes, this is easily among my favorite casual games of all time. It is just so fun to play! There is something elegant about these mechanics. The design is superb. It combines time management with economics and strategic planning in a fun and engaging way. There are always upgrades to work for, and it is so satisfying to send a batch of cheese to town and watch huge money roll in. While there isn't really any ending to the game, the last level makes all the previous work worth it. You'll see.

If, like me, you aren't as interested in restaurant-based time management games, give Farm Frenzy a try. You might find that this is a welcome new take on the genre. And if you like it, there are 3 more games in the series!

You'll like the game if... You like strategic time management games You like cute games You like farm-themed games You like economic games You won't like the game if... You prefer less strategy in your time management games You prefer to control a character who runs around serving food

My rating:

If you want to play Farm Frenzy, click below: