Zeebys Winners Announced

Posted February 13, 2007 @ 8:28 am - Filed under: News

Winners of the first annual Zeebys award for the best casual games of the 2006 have been announced, following Internet voting, and presentation of the awards at the CGA (Casual Games Association) conference in Amsterdam.

People’s Choice Awards (voted by gamers) were:

Craft Awards (voted by CGA members) were:

Congratulations to the winners, and if you haven’t checked out these games yet, this is a good chance to do so. Who’ll be nominated next year? It’s way too early to tell, of course, but keep and eye out for the best games of 2007, then vote in next year’s Zeebys!

Learn more…

First Annual Casual Game Awards

Posted January 19, 2007 @ 4:19 pm - Filed under: News

Vote for the Best Casual Games - First Annual Casual Game AwardsWhat were the best casual games of the 2006? You get to decide by voting on the Zeebys, the casual games industry’s version of the Oscars.

You can vote for the winners of the “People’s Choice” awards for the best games of the year in categories such as arcade games, puzzle games, strategy games, word games, cards games, and the big prize, the Best Casual Game of the Year award.

Nominations were chosen by members of the Casual Games Association (CGA). The nominees for the Best Casual Game of the Year are:

CGA members have also chosen, and will vote themselves, for “Craft Awards” in technical categories such as game design, story, graphics, sound, etc. The top overall achievement garners the Craft Achievement of the Year award.

The complete list of nominees and categories is available on the Zeebys web site. Voting is open until the end of January, and winners will be announced on February 8, 2007, at CGA Europe West: Amsterdam.

Vote Now!

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst Review

Posted January 12, 2007 @ 9:00 pm - Filed under: New Releases, Reviews

Mystery Case Files: RavenhearstMystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is the the third episode in the Mystery Case Files franchise. The two previous episodes, Mystery Case Files: Huntsville and Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects, were two of the biggest sellers of 2005 and 2006, and Ravenhearst is poised to do the same in 2007.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is a classic puzzle game that features a captivating story line, exquisite illustrations and plenty of unique levels and compelling characters

In Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst, players assume the role of a master detective who must unlock the hundred-year-old mystery that surrounds Ravenhearst Manor. The recently acquired diary of Emma Ravenhearst may hold the key to unraveling the history of this unsettling place, yet all the pages are missing. In order to solve the mystery, you’ll need to search 32 rooms, scouring each one for a list of cleverly hidden items, then locate and assemble diary pages to learn the history of the house and, ultimately, unlock the mystery.

The game includes hundreds of items to find, which are new and different each time the game is played. The items are all “hidden in plain sight” in the beautifully-rendered illustrations, but are so carefully camouflaged that they are all but invisible, until you see them, then you won’t be able to understand how you missed them in the first place.

It often takes several minutes of careful study to find all the items on your list, and sometimes the description of an item is deliberately ambiguous. For example, is a “bat” a baseball bat or a winged rodent? It can be frustrating, but it’s also tremendously addictive.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst

In addition to finding the items hidden in each room, you will occasionally need to solve a puzzle in order to enter a room. These elaborate mechanical puzzles are Rube Goldberg-ish in nature, in which you need to work out the exact sequence of events needed to unlock the door. These cleverly-designed mini-puzzles are great fun.

Once you’ve found enough items, you’ll receive the torn-up pieces of an old photograph, which you’ll need to piece together in order to receive a missing diary page and continue your quest.

Ravenhearst’s graphics are absolutely top-notch, and the game features moody and atmospheric music and sounds that greatly add to the experience of exploring a spooky old mansion. And once you’ve solved the mystery, the game’s not over. You can play again and again, and the game is always fresh, with new items and puzzles galore.

More information about Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst
Download Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst (71.39MB)

Top Casual Games of 2006

Posted December 26, 2006 @ 10:36 am - Filed under: News

Top Casual Games of 2006GameTunnel has released their list of the top five 2006 Casual Games of the Year. Here they are:

  1. Eets: Hunger. It’s Emotional by Klei Entertainment
  2. Tube Twist by 21-6 Productions
  3. Blast Miner by Cryptic Sea
  4. Scrubbles by Oberon Media
  5. Egyptian Addiction by Big Toe Software

Prior winners include Professor Fizzwizzle, Revolved, and Dungeon Scroll.

Read the article for the complete details.

Diner Dash 3: Flo on the Go

Posted December 8, 2006 @ 10:00 pm - Filed under: New Releases

Diner Dash 3: Flo on the GoAfter building a dining empire from scratch and saving five more restaurants from the wrecking ball, Flo’s finally taking a much-needed vacation! But how long can the hard-working heroine resist doing what she does best - slinging grits and earning tips? Fans find out in Diner Dash: Flo on the Go, the third title in the top-selling Diner Dash® franchise from leading casual games publisher, PlayFirst.

In her latest adventure, players join Flo and her friend Darla as they embark on the vacation of their dreams. But when Flo’s suitcase suddenly spills into the water, she must rely on her table serving talents to get their vacation back on track. Soon, even more restaurants need Flo’s help and with all the mayhem, will she ever get to relax? Seat customers, take orders, and satisfy nine types of customers to help Flo improve five all-new restaurants in the third episode of the original smash hit!

Building on the innovative gameplay of the first two games, players help Flo manage a stream of challenging customers including two new types, Tourists and Lovebirds. The game also introduces new travel-themed twists and turns, such as turbulence and blackouts. Players can select from a wide range of restaurant upgrades - everything from a lap pool on the cruise ship to a candelabra on the train - to enhance each level. Facing challenges such as managing noisy customers, taking picture requests and mopping up spills, players are in for a new high-flying adventure with casual gaming’s most beloved heroine.

More information about Diner Dash 3: Flo on the Go
Download Diner Dash 3: Flo on the Go (10.33MB)

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