The game has 25 levels and took me maybe an hour to complete from beginning to end.  Two levels took me FOREVER – one of the levels where you have to switch the ducks around where all of them are facing you and the last level where you have to play Tic-Tac-Toe to the DEATH.  Not really to the death but you have to win the stupid game in order to beat the level.

Some of the levels are matching; some are memory.  Almost all are fun.

I’m sure that if the game’s characters had been stones or pieces of coal then it probably wouldn’t have had as much of a draw for me.  The music is also whimsical – The Nutcracker – and I found myself humming it throughout the game.

All in all, Duck: Think Outside of the Flock is a genuinely fun game that doesn’t take up too much of your time and like a good casual game, it’s one that you can pick up and then put down without much worry that you’ve missed something.

Image Source: Bonte Games

Post from: EveryJoe

Ducks!

Why make a game out of the popular dummies book? I mean, casual games are supposed to be titles that have a low learning curve, and to publish a full tutorial game about one just doesn’t make sense.

But the developers said the game aims to give players an entirely fresh take on popular games, give them a chance to self-improve by teaching everything it takes to learn and master them, says EA Casual Studios vice president Robert Nashak.

They’re looking at releasing Poker for Dummies and Brain Training for Dummies in October of this year and Travel Game for Dummies in November. Both for the PC and the DS.

Image courtesy of Gamasutra.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Dummies Game Series for Casual Games? Duh!

The article also mentioned the start and the boom of casual games which forked in millions of dollars for developers like PopCap and others. Then suddenly people realized that with a little know-how on programming game logic, one can create a title, hoping they can take a chunk of the pie. That’s why casual titles started mushrooming everywhere.

There are also some industry executives claiming that the casual gold rush is over, now that the market is fast becoming saturated. Many casual game buyers found out that they’re having a hard time determining which ones are worth buying. So is it really “game over” for the casual game business now that so many crappy clones and half-baked titles are out there?
So here’s Forbes’ list of games that are worth one’s time, effort and money:

1. Peggle (Developer: PopCap, $19.95, popcap.com)
2. Aquaria (Developer: Bit Blot, $30, bit-blot.com)
3. Mr. Robot (Developer: Moonpod, $24.95, moonpod.com)
4. Snapshot Adventures: The Secret of Bird Island (Developer: Large Animal Games, $19.95, largeanimal.com)
5. Defcon (Developer:Introvision Software, $19.50, everybody-dies.com)
6. Galcon (Developer: Imitation Pickles, $19.95, imitationpickles.com)
7. Wonderland Adventures (Developer: Midnight Synergy, $19.95, midnightsynergy.com)
8. Venture Arctic (Developer: Pocketwatch Games, $19.99, pocketwatchgames.com)
9. Cortex Command (Developer: Data Realms, $18, datarealms.com)
10. Eschalon: Book 1 (Developer: Basilisk Games, $19.95, playgreenhouse.com)

Image taken from Forbes.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Forbes’ 10 Overlooked Casual Games

According to a site, 4-ADHD.com, playing games like Tetris or Bejeweled can help improve concentration, relieves stress and promotes relaxation in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

There were eighty-three (83) out of the 220 correspondents to the survey who claimed it for a fact. Dr. Carl Arinoldo says:

“It seems that children with AD/HD often lack that sense of control that comes much more easily to their non-AD/HD peers. Playing casual games such as Peggle and Bejeweled, among others, is one area in their lives in which these children can experience some sense of control with the added benefit of achieving success in something.”

Although there’s still the advise of not allowing children to play excessively, since the survey only indicated that the benefits were for those who played in limited periods of time.

Image taken from PressTheButtons.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Need Help with Concentration? Play Casual Games!

To earn, just drive in traffic to your site and sell off ads. These ads are in form of free flash games, some of which are make-overs and dress-up doll games just like the one shown above.

I don’t know how effective this is but the author said that a friend was earning $5-10 a day. Not bad, eh?Too bad he didn’t say how to start earning.

This is probably the same as the game-ad widget/plugin model as I’ve written about before or just like what this site is doing. But by the looks of the sample sites he mentioned, it looks like a whole lotta work for me.

Here are other play and earn sites that I’ve stumbled upon:

• GameAdvertising Online
• Game2Money
• MochiAds

Flash game taken from Jozzua.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Making Money on Casual Games? How?

EA (Electronic Arts) has jumped in the bandwagon of developing casual games targeted for girls or women-who-are-young-at-heart, if you prefer. Superstar, the sequel of the multi-platform title is aiming to “promote self-expression, creativity and empowerment for girls worldwide”.
According to this article, the game is bundled with a USB-microphone, just like its predecessor. It allows karaoke action alongside with wiimote bopping dance moves. Lineups include songs from Rihanna, Maroon 5, Leona Lewis, Britney Spears, Kanye West, Fergie, Katy Perry, and Good Charlotte with a mysterious “featured artist” which will soon be announced.

Image taken from EA.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Boogie Superstar – For Girls Only?

What’s great about the offering here is that its similar to the mini-games that you play while waiting for the game to load or install. And you can create your own games based on some limited custom options.

And if you ask me, it has the making of its own social network since it gives the gamers the opportunity to play and interact with each other online. Its now available for everyone with the launch of its public beta. This I will try myself, soon!

Image courtesy of Sims Carnival

Post from: EveryJoe

The Sims for Online Casual Gamers

As sited in the New York Times, Entertainment Section, Rockstar Games’ VP and GTA IV co-writer Dan Houser dismissed casual games, believing people still want games that are groundbreaking. Yeah sure, its like comparing apples and oranges.

Wait, dismissed is too light a term to describe it. In verbatim, he said “f*ck casual gaming”.

So what if the world is not full of hardcore gamers like us? So what if casual games are not as radical nor technologically challenging? So what if some (like me) can’t afford to buy those pricey consoles, gizmos and titles? (well at least not now, hehe) F*ck those who think casual gamers are not gamers at all.

Casual games has been here for years since time in memorial and I’m telling you all it will be here to stay.

Post from: EveryJoe

Apples and Oranges

Studies proved a significant decrease in mood categories namely psychological tension, anger, depression, fatigue and confusion. While gaming increased vigor to players.

I’m convinced. Heehee.

The 6 month study started in October 2007 and was conducted on 134 subjects.

Image taken from PressTheButtons.com 

Post from: EveryJoe

Study Confirms Casual Games Relieve Stress