ThumbGods in 2009

In 2009, I reviewed indie games like Funky Farm 2, A Case Of The Crabs, Rotoadventures Momo’sQuest, Slayer of Dragon,  Democracy 2,  Electric Box,  Faerie Solitaire, and CyberWord. I plan to keep focusing on creative, indie games next year. I also played major mainstream titles, like Cartoon Network’s new MMO Fusionfall, and James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club:  Games of Passion for the DS. ThumbGods reviewed the match-3 Atlantis, Totem Tribe, National Geographic’s Mystery of Cleopatra, Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal, Sims 2 on the DS, and Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting To Danger! Major misses  this year were  My Boyfriend,  Create-a-Mall,  the disappointing Build-a-lot 3, and Jack in Lost in Blue 2. (Not all of LiB2. Just Jack.)

I tried to branch out a bit from reviews, and started writing some hints, including a guide to solving MyTribe mysteries and hints for Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting To Danger! I’ll probably keep doing this whenever I’m really proud of solving a puzzle and want to help out.

Thumb Gods had a great guest post when when Lexton Collins reviewed Runes Of Magic. I guest posted reviews of Cake Mania 3 and Ciao Bella, over on Casual Gamer Chick, Crayon Physics Deluxe review on Angry Gamers, Travians: Asterix Meets The Sims on SeeJaneGame, and contributed to several issues of Indie Game Mag.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Free Azada Download

Another freebie from  Big Fish Games! Click the Azada image, follow the instructions to buy the game, and then enter the code FREEAZADA at checkout to get it free!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Big Fish Freebies!

Lots of great freebies from Big Fish Games today! You can use the coupon code FREEAZADA to get a free download of Azada,  FREEFAIRWAY for a free download of Fairway Solitaire (not to be confused with Faerie Solitaire!) or FREESPA for a free download of Spa Mania. These are full games, not the demo version!

You’re welcome!

Popularity: 19% [?]

Thoughts on Game Distribution

CasualInsider has a piece on exclusive distribution. I hate to quote such a huge portion of the article but I really can’t condense. Basically, the makers of Totem Tribe decided not to offer their game exclusively through one games portal, instead it was offered for sale through multiple channels. Big Fish Games was one of the portals.

I reviewed Totem Tribe about a month ago, after getting it on BFG, but I had no idea of the politicking behind the scenes. Totem Tribe is still available on Big Fish Games even if it’s not on the top 100 list.

The game was released silently on BFG, with no front page coverage, and still manged to get to number 13 on BFG’s top 100 games within a few days of being released, but on the next day, the game vanished from the top 100 completely. On the day BFG removed Totem Tribe from its top 100, the game was the top game on Reflexive, two on Shockwave, and three on Real Arcade. Since, the game has reached the top ten on Amazon, Arcade Town, iWin, Logler Global, Real Arcade, Reflexive, and Shockwave, and, on many of these, reaching the top place.

The game’s best rank on Big Fish Games was 13 of 100, but now the game is no longer to be seen. Moral of the story? Never rely on portals. Build up your own site, and work on developing strong brands that consumers will remember and want more of.

I agree, but I think CasualInsider’s moral isn’t as pat as it sounds. How is a casual game-player going to find the indie websites of small developers, or even hear about those developers and games at all? Portals like Big Fish Games have a massive advertising budget to spread the word about new games. It’s also easy to bookmark and check back. If I don’t use a portal — and I’ve blogged about my concerns with portals before — how will I even hear about games I might like to try and buy?

Once I discover the site and play a good game, I try to remember the developer’s name but that’s because I blog on gaming. I didn’t care about that before, and besides the big names, I didn’t really follow any development news.

So, how do you hear about new games? Portals? Word-of-mouth? Word of, um, keyboard? And, when you do play a good game, do you remember the developer and check back for new things?

Via Portal Wars: Exclusive, or no deal | CasualInsider.com.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Thoughts On Casual Games Dev

Game development isn’t exactly my strong suit. Personally I prefer to let other people work long hours, pouring their heart and soul into a game, and then I play it and complain about what’s wrong with it. Hey, that’s where my talents lie!

But I do have huge admiration for indie developers, and I hope to focus on lesser-known titles here on ThumbGods.

Cliff Harris of Positech Games talks about making independent development profitable. Cliff is behind the Positech Games titles Democracy 2, Kudos (and Kudos 2!) and others. The entire interview is worth reading, if you’re all interested in what makes a game succeed, but one statement really stuck with me.

Who will survive in the casual game business in 2010?

Big Fish Games, Popcap.
I think I’ve got the full list there.

Big Fish Games is an awesome casual games portal. The “new game every day!” works perfectly for repeat business.  They’re a total giant, even my mother-in-law has a Big Fish Games account. But I worry that massive portals like BFG (much as I love them!) and now Amazon are making it harder for the guy-with-website development model to succeed.

Not to be all doom and gloom, because as Cliff’s interview shows, an indie game developer and creative marketer can still do very well.

Via Interview with Cliff Harris (cliffski) from Positech Games | Sell More Games.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Game Review: Atlantis

I wrote a little while ago about Big Fish Games’ free game giveaway. Did you get yours? I picked Atlantis and Fairies. Atlantis is a match-3 casual game. As colored bubbles slide down a maze, players shoot other bubbles into the lineup to pop three or more. Set up chains and arrange longer groups for extra points, like your average match-3.

When you pop certain combinations or activate special bubbles, strange effects happen to your maze. Your bubbles might slow down, stop, or even travel in reverse, which adds to the fun. There’s also the obligatory exploding bubble that pops everything in it’s path.

Besides the puzzles’ names, it didn’t really have much of an Atlantis theme. Still, the backgrounds were pretty and even more importantly, none of the backgrounds made it hard to see the bubbles. The bubbles themselves were distinctive colors too, so I was never frustrated by trying to determine if the ochre ball is meant to be brown or orange.

If you like match-3s, this is a solid, enjoyable one. The bubbles are pretty and easy to see, the controls are quite simple and sensible, and the different mazes hold a player’s interest. With the wide selection of bubble popping games, though, it doesn’t stand out all that much.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Game Review: Totem Tribe

Totem Tribe was sort of a cross between MyTribe and Age Of Empires. You start out as a young chief with a small tribe, and you complete building, combat and searching missions to improve their fate.

Totem Tribe uses building and unit training without the usual resource management side of things. There’s no real harvesting involved and no resource requirements to build new items, which takes some of the challenge away, and lets you focus on building an aesthetically pleasing settlement. Or maybe that’s just me. Your buildings each create specialized units, which you can then use to explore, build, fight, and so forth.

It’s no Momo, but this game is cute. Your villagers fight mushroom people and funny animals, and they live peacefully with giant ladybugs and lazy turtles.

Each island has gems, seashells and other clickable collectibles. It took me a little while to realize that what I’d thought were some funny-looking flowers are actually the gems you are meant to collect. Oops. Because there are surprise activitable items, I found myself clicking on everything, old-fashioned hand-activate style, to see what might happen.

Totem Tribe blends a civ game, a strategy game and the good kind of hidden objects game, all things I like, into an addicting casual game. My only real problem is that the story falls flat.  While I actually liked the gameplay of repeatedly finding a new object of Epic Supreme Destiny on each unlocked island, I found  the chief’s requests for and the general quest text about each Super-Duper Supreme Epic item to be stilted and annoying.

Overall, a solid casual game, even if the story arc leaves a bit to be desired.

Popularity: 20% [?]

New Free Games From Big Fish

Get a new free game from Big Fish Games! Go to the page for Mystery Case Files Madam Fate Game and then:
Click “Buy Now”
Select the $19.99 price option
Use FREEFATE as the coupon code
Apply code and watch as your order magically becomes free!
Download your new full version game.

I’m downloading mine right now!

You can also get a free download of Build-a-lot with code FREEBUILD, but I really didn’t like that game so I can’t be bothered to get it, even free.

We also had some more free games from Big Fish a few weeks ago.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Free Casual Games From Big Fish!

Click on this link to a Big Fish Games coupon, and you’ll get 2 free games. The full versions, not the usual one-hour trial version.

You’ll be able choose two (2) free games from the selection of games listed below.
1) Atlantis Atlantis: Visually stunning and absolutely addictive, Atlantis takes you on a trip to the 19th century. As the head of a team of explorers on a classified mission, you unlock the secrets of the long-lost city in 81 challenging levels of pure fun. If you succeed, fame, fortune, and world-changing technology from Atlantis will be yours!

2) Fairies Game: Fairies takes you to a world where legends are true and magic is real. As the most powerful wizard ever, you are the only hope for a once peaceful land where fairies have been captured by an unknown evil. Complete 100 mesmerizing levels, break the magical spell that traps the fairies inside pictures, and restore justice to this world in need. Succeed and you’ll be a hero, granted the ultimate power; use it wisely!

3) Top Ten Solitaire Game: The world’s 10 most popular solitaire card games combined into one incredible game! With amazing graphics, animated cards, soothing music, great features and polished game play, it is no exaggeration to say that Top Ten Solitaire is the best solitaire game ever! Play Klondike, Pyramid, Scorpion, Accordion, Penguin, Canfield, Golf, Monte Carlo, Free Cell, and Yukon all in one collection.

4) Word Search Deluxe Game: It’s the master of all word search games! Thousands of word groups, numerous game types, a puzzle editor, and much more make this a must have for anyone who currently enjoys word search games or has ever enjoyed playing them. There is a kid’s option complete with animated characters and an easy to read large grid of characters.

5) Slot Words Game: Get ready for some good ‘ol word scrambling madness! Place your bet, spin the reels and prepare to do some quick thinking to unscramble the letters that the slots reveal. The more you bet, the longer the word and the bigger the payout. Progress through the levels, each giving out greater payouts but allowing less time to solve the puzzles. How many levels can you survive before you start losing your hard earned cash?

I’m downloading mine right now. What about you?

Via Free Samples: Big Fish – 2 Games Downloads

Popularity: 7% [?]

Ciao Bella

Ciao Bella is one of many casual sims reviewed on Casual Gamer Chick. It’s available to download as a free trial or a full-game purchase from the always-awesome Big Fish Games.

Ciao Bella is a life sim, based on management of resources and time. Elena must handle all the crises that pop up in her extended family, keep her meters full in the areas of health, culture, family, work and harmony, and still improve her relationship with her boyfriend, Elio. The challenge is keeping Elena’s meters full, getting enough sleep and making enough money, while meeting Elena’s goals by the deadline. When I wasn’t actively working on a mission, my Elena existed on a steady schedule of reading and yoga, which is good for health, culture and harmony, but not so good for work and family, or for Elena’s finances.

Read the rest at Ciao Bella Review | Casual Gamer Chick

Popularity: 9% [?]

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst

Visit Big Fish Games for a free download of Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst. Here’s what Big Fish Games has to say about Ravenhearst:

Rumors surrounding the history of stately Ravenhearst Manor have circulated for decades. The recently acquired diary of Emma Ravenhearst may hold the key to unraveling the tale behind this unsettling place, yet the pages are missing. Players assume the role of Master Detective to unlock secrets held within Ravenhearst ™, scouring a myriad of enchanting rooms in the manor for cleverly hidden clues. Locating and assembling diary pages helps tell the story of the house and, ultimately, unlock the mystery.

To get your copy, order the game at the $19.99 pricepoint and then enter the code HolidayRaven for a $19.99 discount. I just got my download so I’ll be posting a review after Christmas.

Via Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst ™ Game Download | Big Fish Games

Popularity: 3% [?]

Home Sweet Home

The Sims is one of my favorite games. The best aspect of the game is creating homes and decorating them. After that I usually don’t actually play the game. I just build neighborhoods with lovely homes and no residents.

Home Sweet Home is a casual game that challenges you to decorate the homes of your clients. You are given somewhat cryptic information as to what they are looking for. Then it’s time to buy the furnishings. Watch that budget because buying the furnishings is only half of the equation. Next comes the build where you help a crew create the room under budget and on time.

During the building phase, you can help your workers by giving them coffee or handing them a needed tool. You will also have to administer first aid if they get hurt. Any time a worker is away from a task they are assigned, their progress is slowly lost. This can really put you behind schedule so it’s best to meet their needs as soon as possible.

Home Sweet Home is a lot of fun especially for those who like the interior design aspect of The Sims mixed with time management. A demo version of the game is available at Big Fish Games.

Popularity: 3% [?]