3D Dream Bowl

3D Dream Bowl is a fantastic release from CDK Studio! Several different modes of play allow you to play alone, against the computer or head to head with another player. A variety of different alleys provide a style for every taste and 12 different balls are available!



I found the game easy to play and almost addictive! Hearing that crash as I bowled a strike was very satisfying! lol Many of the bowling games out there don't quite cut it, but this one did it for me. Ball control is smooth and easy to manipulate without the silliness of some games that allow you to move the ball as it travels down the lane.

Download a free demo of 3D Dream Bowl HERE!

Purchase the game HERE!

System Requirements
OS: Windows ME/2000/XP/VISTA
CPU: 600MHz or faster Processor
RAM: 256 MB
DirectX8.1 or greater

I give this game an 7 out of 10!

Skyrates - Free Browser Flash Game

(click image above for more screen shots!)

Skyrates is a game design and development project exploring different types of gameplay and multiple platforms such as a Flash client, AIM, and a web forum.

In Skyrates, we are experimenting with sporadic play. A good way to think of your interaction with the game is much like checking your email. A few minutes here and there, spread throughout your entire day.

Skyrates isn't just you, though. It's a multiplayer online game that has you taking on the role of an ace pilot trying to conquer the skies. Whether you are a peaceful trader, a careful diplomat, or a bold fighter, the sky's the limit!

I've been playing this game for 2 days now and it's quite intriguing! For anyone who enjoys real time simulation games with the added bonus of a multiplayer environment, Skyrates has a lot of appeal! As I go through the game and learn more about it (there's a lot to learn!) I'll update the blog, but it's worth checking out! Even now there are over 3000 players online, so it's definitely getting a lot of interest!

Try it out here!

Plant Tycoon

Download the free trial or purchase the game HERE.

I really love the games produced by Last Day of Work. I own every single one of them! Plant Tycoon is their latest release and it is as good, if not better, than their other titles.

The object of this game is to grow plants in your nursery and sell them, cross-breed them and discover the magic plants of Isola!

This is a wonderfully slow simulation game that requires patience and perseverance. Like Fish Tycoon and Virtual Villagers, Plant Tycoon takes place in real time. It takes several hours (depending on which time setting you choose) for a plant to grow from seed to bloom. I tend to start the game off and leave it running in the background, checking on it every 30 minutes or so.

You also can collect insects that happen to be crawling or buzzing around your nursery. Once you catch an insect and add it to your collection, any subsequent similar insects are turned into cash. This can be a GREAT help early in the game, when money is tight.

With over 500 possible plant breeds to grow and very limited storage space for your seed collection, keeping track of what you're planting is a must. The peeps at the LDW forums have uploaded different tracking charts and even a virtual seed container that can really help! You can also find walk-throughs and other hints there.

Some tips and tricks -

• Get some paper and pencils ready. I found it necessary to track all of my cross breed attempts in order to find the secret to the magic plants.
• Be patient! This is a slow game and that is part of it's beauty. Unless you know exactly which plants you need and how to breed them, completing the game in a few hours is impossible - which is great!
• Adjust the prices! Some plants can sell for $600 or more! Find out which ones they are and breed a lot of them to boost your income!
• Buy the seeds from the shop! Often, some of the magic plants can be grown from those seeds.
• Upgrade your soil as soon as you can. Higher level soils allow you to grow those fragile hybrids.

For more information, tips, tricks and hints about this game, please visit the following forums:

Last Day of Work
PlayFirst
Game Cafe

I truly love this game and give it a 10 out of 10!

Build-a-Lot

Click the image above to be taken to the download page or click HERE.

I really enjoyed this game! I tried the evaluation version from Real Arcade and didn't think it looked that exciting, but once I got started, I did not want to stop!

You play as a real estate developer who works with the local towns to improve their real estate markets. In the career mode of the game, each level has it's own set of requirements and a time limit. Build a variety of homes and other buildings, meet rental and cash requirements and meet the level goals before time runs out!

Although the game begins easy, it soon becomes quite challenging. Attaining expert goal on every level is definitely not easy, but I enjoyed every moment of the game.

As you progress through the levels, you unlock new buildings and homes. Draft the new blueprints and build on!

The game also offers a relaxed mode, which I found quite enjoyable - great for learning the game play as well!

Some tips and tricks -

• Build 2 banks and set one to donate, so you don't have to pay taxes, and leave the other to collect interest. Although this uses up a lot that could be a home, you can make a LOT of money this way!
• For most levels, building the most expensive home you can and selling it right away can give you a good financial base with which to expand!
• Upgrade all of your homes! The upgrade value can significantly increase your rental income and the sale value of the home!
• Do not put your houses up for sale while other homes are selling. You won't get the full value.
• Buy homes that come up for sale if you can afford it. When they need to be repaired, demolish them and build a more expensive home on that lot.

I give this game an 8 out of 10!
For more information and tips, visit the PlayFirst forums and Game Cafe!