Gaming Blog

Casual Games

The Easy and Entertaining InstaMatch Game

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Facebook has so many ways to entertain its users. Apart from letting people communicate on the site through the exchanging of messages, sharing of photos and creating a life story via the life events, it has numerous game apps as well.

Instagram is not to be outdone because it, too, has its own game app. This is known as the InstaMatch which launched in early 2012.

By its name alone, one would readily know that the game is a matching type. But it’s not the usual and classic one people know because there’s a twist to it. …

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Revisiting Burger Island

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If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about, Burger Island is one of those casual games that has a lot of replay value. I think Burger Island was released a year or so ago but I still remember playing it nonstop. So why am I writing about it now, a year or so later?

Well, I found myself out of new casual games to play the other day and I was browsing my computer when I saw the icon for Burger Island. I was instantly transported to the past, with the imagined aroma of cooking burgers and French fries and the creamy flavor of milkshakes. I couldn’t help it – I had to play the game again.

Burger Island is one of the more difficult casual games I have ever played. The concept itself is fairly easy. You have to prepare customers’ orders before the time runs out. You have three major products – burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Each of these products have different variations which you can purchase as you go along and amass enough money. At the beginning, the combinations are fairly easy but do not be fooled, they get very complicated soon enough and a single mistake will make your food forfeit. Indeed, the first time I played this game, I found myself getting mad a lot of times because I had problems keeping up with the pace.

The graphics are very cute – the food looks real. Then you have the music, a funky beat that keeps you on your toes. Of course, we cannot forget Pierre, your French boss who has this endearing yet irritating attitude. You’ll see what I mean – play the game!

Of Casual Gaming

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bigfishgames CNNWhoever thought that there would come a day when we would differentiate video games as being casual and serious? I have always loved video games and only lately have I realized these categories. So what is casual gaming? According to Wikipedia, a casual game is:

Any computer game targeted at a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules, in contrast to more complex hardcore games. They require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play, and there are comparatively low production and distribution costs for the producer. Casual games typically are played on a personal computer online in web browsers, although they now are starting to become popular on game consoles, too. Casual gaming demographics also vary greatly from those of traditional computer games, as the typical casual gamer is older and more predominantly female.

(Let’s talk more about that last sentence sometime in the future.) Anyway, so casual games are those games you’d find online like on Yahoo Games, Bigfishgames, Gamefools, and other similar sites. They’re pretty easy to play – you can finish a game in a day if you play a lot. They are fun and relatively cheap, especially compared to console games.

I, for one, am a big fan of casual games. They are a great way to kill time. Hardcore gamers out there, don’t be so quick to down them. Trust me, if you find yourself having fun at at least one casual game, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Top Casual Games For Christmas

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As promised, I did some research on what the hottest casual games are at the moment. I have my own favorites but of course, that does not mean that everyone else will like them. So I headed on over to Gamezebo, my favorite source of casual games. This is their current top ten list:

1. Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
2. Mortimer Beckett and the Time Paradox
3. Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe
4. Treasure Seekers: Visions of Gold
5. Mystery Stories: Berlin Nights
6. Hospital Hustle
7. Fitness Dash
8. Alabama Smith in Escape from Pompeii
9. Forgotten Lands: First Colony
10. Call of Atlantis

Let me see. I am currently playing Build-a lot- 3: Passport to Europe. It really isn’t that much different from the previous versions of the game, except for new places, new types of houses and buildings, and new services. They also added a bit more “trouble” for the player – fire and noisy party incidents. If you know someone who liked the first two games, then it would be a good idea to get the third.

Fitness Dash and Hospital Hustle are looking pretty good. I think they will suit people who liked Flo and her slew of Diner Dash games. I have also looked into Forgotten Lands: First Colony and it might be good for those who like “slow-paced building-worlds” games. The reviews of this last game generally bode well except for the graphics, which are reportedly unsatisfactory.

So there you have it – take your pick and make a casual gamer happy this Christmas!

Video Game Gift Buying Guide

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How many times have you gotten all excited about a video game gift only to be dismayed at what you see when you tear off the wrapping? I have heard countless horror stories about this. Then there is the other side of the story – parents buying their young children certain games (meant for older people) and then blaming the video game companies for their children’s behavior.

In order to avoid these potentially disastrous situations, The New York Times published a guide on giving video games this Christmas. It is quite amusing, actually. For us avid gamers, it is a no brainer. You might want to share the article with your friends and family members who may otherwise be less informed.

The list provided covers a lot of ground – good enough to help those who need help. Some of the games that made it to the list include Grand Theft Auto IV (are you even surprised?), Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution, War Hammer Online, Wii Fit (I want one!), Little Big Planet (I want that too!), Fallout 3, and Gears of War 2.

This got me thinking – casual games were not really mentioned. There is a slew of new casual games available. But who would you give a casual game to? Your aunt? Your sister? Don’t make the mistake of overlooking even the hardcore gamer. If you remember, I know a lot of people who would actually play these games every now and then. Let me look up which are the hottest ones and get back to you next time.

Casual Game In Focus: Top Chef

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Cooking games have become popular in the past year but many of them tend to be similar to each other. I personally don’t mind this as long as the games are fun. A newcomer to the world of cooking games seems to be catching on like wildfire. I am sure that you know all about Top Chef, the reality TV show. Now there is a game version, which is touted by Gamezebo as one of the best cooking games:

In game, you play a young and naive chef named Anna. As you progress, you learn more about Anna and the other contestants – some friendly, some not – through short intro and outro cutscenes. Naturally, you have a rival, who’s named Charles. He is arrogant and condescending, and wouldn’t it feel great to knock him down a peg!

Hosts Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio from the show are here. The graphics are cartoony, and all the characters are distinct and well-drawn. Even the food looks tasty! The music is taken from the TV show, adding to the authenticity.

The “meat” of Top Chef is your time in the kitchen. Anna has to create dishes in two Quickfire Challenges and one Elimination Challenge in each of the 15 episodes. Before each challenge, Padma briefs you on what you’re about to cook and what requirements you have to fulfill. Anna gives you some helpful tips, then it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire.

After Anna decides what dish she’ll prepare, like a canapé, grilled meat or sandwich, a recipe appears. But this is where Top Chef becomes wonderfully inventive. Rather than explicitly following a to-do list for a dish, you have to add the ingredients that you think are most appropriate.

For me, the “tasty-looking” food is very important. That is what actually entices me to play these cooking games. Of course, the fact that you can make up your mind as to which ingredients to use adds another realm to the game. Perhaps Top Chef will beat all those other games out there.

Casual Game Review: Carnival Mania

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Here is another casual game that might get you glued to your computers for hours and hours. Carnival Mania is relatively new tycoon game that challenges the player to create his own fair ground. The basic concept is fairly simple – just like all the other tycoon games. The difficult part is in actually achieving all the goals. I have only tried the demo version but based on that, I think that I shall buy the full version some time soon – when I have the spare time to spend on playing. Anyhow, since I only played the one hour free demo, I didn’t encounter the really difficult parts yet. Let me just share Gamezebo’s review, which is quite comprehensive:

Of course, all of these elements belie a surprisingly tricky economic ecosystem which hides underneath, whether in sandbox or story mode, the main attraction. Assigned specific goals in each of 54 timed scenarios (build X many of a certain structure, reach Y income level, save up Z amount of cash) and six individual locations in the latter case, to meet them, you’ll need to think several steps ahead.

Managing money and resources like building materials and employees is just the beginning. As play progresses, you’ll also need to buy blueprints for newer, more expensive attractions, acquire land to build them on, sell off underperforming acts and upgrade various park elements. Never mind mechanical repairs that can shut down your cash flow as quickly as they can a hot streak in one fell swoop.

I can’t wait to actually play the whole game!

Casual Game Review: Farmer Jane

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It’s about time for another casual game review. This time, it is a game with an agricultural theme. Not everyone has been to a farm, especially these days, but I suppose most everyone has had a hankering for a rural lifestyle. Well, at least, if a real life experience is not possible, a virtual one would do.

That is what Farmer Jane has to offer – a chance to manage a farm (or several farms, to be exact). The storyline isn’t that original, to be honest. Grandpa has problems with his farm, Jane and her brother (Joe, I think) help out and get suckered into working in other farms. The graphics are quite good, actually. Though there isn’t much by way of animation, the 3D graphics are pleasant enough to view.

As for the game play, it starts out easy enough, which is a good thing for newbies. Seasoned “rush” and “frenzy” players might find the beginning levels a bit too easy, though. However, I would have to say that the escalation of the difficulty is quite interesting. The game still has some surprises for those who have been playing these types of games for quite some time. As a matter of fact, I got stuck in January of the 5th farm.

The trick is to click real fast and to come up with a strategy that will allow for the maximum combos while keeping the customers happy all at the same time – which is basically what we do for these kinds of games.

I’d say give Farmer Jane a try.

Tradewinds Caravans

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If you like casual games, then I am sure that you have played at least one of the installments in this casual game series. In some respects, Tradewinds Caravans is much like its predecessors. Still, it has some new additions to the gameplay which makes it quite engaging.

The basic idea is the same. You play a character, which you can choose at the beginning of the game. Using this character, you wander around the Silk Road trying to make money trading goods while trying to stay alive battling the numerous bandits that ply the road. Of course, you still have to accept and complete tasks. One of the main things I like about this game is the dialogue. You have numerous dialogues with other characters in the game and they are simply witty. I think this is a trademark of the series. Even the old Tradewinds were known for their humorous lines.

A new aspect to Tradewinds Caravans is how you conduct the battles. You can now hire various guards and mercenaries to keep you safe but they will not add to your goods capacity. For that, you have to buy pack animals at the stable. I think this aspect has made the game a bit more difficult than its predecessors.

I have finished the game and I have unlocked 2 special characters. I will not be a party pooper and tell you about these 2 characters. Why not try out the game for yourself and experience it for yourself?

Video Games And Senior Citizens Happy Bedfellows

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grandpa wii
Who said that video games were for kids only? You only have to look at the statistics and you will see that a lot of gamers are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Yet did you know that now, even senior citizens are getting into gaming?

Indeed, the older generation has discovered this activity that so many of the younger generation hold dear. In fact, even doctors are looking into the possibility of the existence of the health benefits of video games on senior citizens. An article on Newsday features this topic. It seems that casual games and Wii games are the most popular with the senior citizens. They have discovered a way to pass time and exercise both the body and the mind as well.

I have no doubt about the benefits that these games provide to senior citizens. After all, I am a firm believer in the benefits of video games to other age groups – why exclude the older generation? More so, I am observing first hand this kind of experience. My parents are retired – have been so for many years – and they just stay at home most of the time. My dad goes out and does odd jobs here and there but for the most part, when they are at home, their favorite pastime is to play casual games on the computer. I know how this activity makes them feel more relaxed and less bored.

Maybe the next step is to get them a Wii so they can have actual physical exercise? 😉