Games and More

Babies are cute.  Everyone loves them.  Miniclip.com thought they would take advantage of that fact and make a game about babies.

The game is Baby Blimp.  Your job is to help the storks in the baby factory prepare the babies for expectant parents.  Then you send out the storks to deliver those newly prepared little tykes.

As you progress through the levels you can upgrade your storks for speed and strength (carrying capacity).  You can also upgrade your factory with better toys, more beds and baths, all the things little babies might need.

It is a cute little game.  But probably not one I play more than once through.  Nor will it take too long to complete.  It’s a cute diversion.

Did you enjoy bouncy balls as a kid?  Well the folks at Free Arcade.com have a new twist on an old toy.

You are presented with a screen of bouncy balls.  Your object is to collect a set number of balls.  (The number goes up with each level.)  You collect the balls by getting three of the same color in row.  Balls can be swapped with any neighboring ball to make a match.

Each level is timed and you have a panic button that you can hit once each level for a free match.  The sound effects are amusing although they might get annoying if you play more than a few rounds.  Toward the end of your time a warning sound and just before the level ends the balls begin to shake.  If the level ends without all the balls being collected the remaining balls will bounce out of the window.

It’s a cute and rather addictive game to while away a break.

On a fifteen minute break?  Looking for something to pass the time?  Free Games Online.com has a hidden picture game you might enjoy.

The game is based on the Pink Panther movie and even plays the music as you play.  There are a series of 10 pictures from the movie and 10 clues at the bottom of the screen.  The first clue is in the first picture, the second clue in the second picture and so on.  Your mouse becomes a magnifying glass and when it magnifies the clue you click the mouse button to move on to the next clue.

The game is very simple because as soon as you mouse over the clue the glass turns pink.  Also, you can really only play once because there are only the 10 scenes and clues.  Playing a second time will not give you new pictures.

However, if you are looking for a way to spend a quick few minutes it is a cute game.

On a lunch break and looking for something to do?  Try playing Farm Frenzy 2.  It is offered free from iwin games.

The game is periodically interrupted by sponsor’s ads and you are required to maintain an Internet connection.  Also an initial download is required.  However all the features of the purchased game are available.

The new version of Farm Frenzy allows you more choice in your game path.  It also features hidden picture bonus rounds.  You still purchase upgrades as you proceed through the game and again you can purchase them in whatever order you desire.  However, as in the previous version, some levels require certain upgrades.

This has all the enjoyable features of a time management game plus choices in round order and upgrades to keep it interesting.  I enjoyed it.

If you enjoyed Cake Shop or you just like time management games Game Fools.com has Cake Mania 2 available for free online play.

The second version of the game offers more varieties of cakes and frostings.  In order to see all the available options you will need to purchase an additional over and frosting machine.  Unlike the original version you choose your starting location as you attempt to help one or the other of Jill’s friends.  The game play is the same as the original–just different scenery and a different storyline.  Also, the graphics are better.

The second version does not offer the mini-games that are available in the third version.  Nor does it feature the dress up option.  However, it is still an enjoyable time management game if you are looking to while away a few hours.

Yesterdays I talked a bit about the game Ikariam.  Today I thought I would go into a little more detail and give a few tips.

You begin the game on an island with as many as 16 other villages.  Each island has two resources available:  wood and a luxury item (wine, marble, crystal glass, or sulfur).  All of the building cost wood to create and/or upgrade.  Every building but the academy will eventual cost marble as well.  The academy requires crystal glass to upgrade.

The palace and the governor’s residence require wood for the first level, marble to complete the second, then crystal glass and finally wine.  To establish a colony you must have a palace and you can only have as many colonies as your palace has levels.  Additionally you will need to build governor’s residences in your colonies with the same number of levels as colonies otherwise corruption will run rampant in your colony.

The town hall, academy, barracks, trading post and town wall can all be built immediately.  All other buildings require research in the academy to create.  The more levels your academy has the more scientists you can have researching producing faster results.

So as far as deciding which colonies to create in what order consider that all buildings (except the academy) eventually require marble to create and/or upgrade.  Crystal glass is needed to upgrade the academy and train spies.  Sulfur is needed to train soldiers.  Wine is for keeping your citizens happy.

I hope that helps you establish fruitful colonies and have great success at the game.

If you liked the idea of Travian but found the game play to involved or perhaps you are simply looking for another game in which to conquer try playing Ikariam.  The initial start up is easier.  Instead of balancing four resources in order to expand you only need to worry about lumber to begin.  Also, Ikariam uses gold so trade is easier to facilitate.

However, do be careful how you spend your initial luxury goods because the are necessary for later expansion and are not always available through trade.  Also, you can not settle new territory until you have created a palace (and you are only allowed one colony per palace level).  As each island only has one luxury good chose your colony placement with care.

Good luck.

Travian is a building and conquering online game.  You start with a small village and try to conquer the world.  I linked to it in a previous post, but now I thought I’d give a few tips.

In your starting village you only have 20 building sites (not including the rally point).  However, there are thirty-one building you can construct.  So choose your buildings with care.  Are you going to be a world conqueror?  Then stick with the military buildings.  Are you going to be a diplomat?  Then stick with the trade buildings.  Also bear in mind that your palace can only be built once and the stonemason can only be built in that town.

And before you get all gun hoe with thoughts of conquering remember your palace has to be a level 10 before you can conquer or found new villages.  I hope this helps you on your quest to take over the world.

Yesterday Peter gave us a link to another good Kenken site.  If you’d like to go directly to the online puzzles click here.  If you’d like to go directly to the printable puzzles click here.  Thanks again Peter.

Today’s game, Paint Buckets, requires a registration.  I keep an alternate email for these type of registrations so that my regular email is not flooded with junk mail.  The game can be played for free or you can choose to compete for cash.  (I recommend the free variety.)

If you have ever played with the Microsoft application Paint the play is similar.  You are attempting to turn a picture into a single color.  You have three paint buckets in each color pictured.  When you pour a paint bucket onto a square each adjacent square of the same color will also change color.

The game play is relatively simple.  But each new picture presents its own challenges.  Hope you enjoy.

If you enjoyed the tutorial in yesterday’s post you will really enjoy the new link I have for you today.  The New York Times puts out six new Kenken puzzles daily.  Three of the puzzles are on a 4×4 grid and three are on a 6×6 grid.  The difficulties range from easy to hard.

There is a “reveal” button to help you when you get stuck.  It will reveal the solution for one square.  You can use the reveal button multiple times if necessary.  After you have filled in all the squares the “check” button appears which will check your work for you.  If you have any errors they will be lit up in red and the phrase “try again” will bounce on the screen.  If you have no errors “congratulations” will bounce on the screen.

Give these puzzles a try.  If you like them you’ll soon find yourself looking for more.