Reminder! Trivia Contest Tomorrow!

On December 7th at 7pm CST (8pm EST and 5pm Pacific time), Enigmadness.com and Wadjet Eye Games will be presenting the next Game Cafe Trivia Contest!

Dave Gilbert, of Wadjet Eye Games will be on hand to challenge your gaming knowledge and also answer your questions about the casual game development industry! Ever want to find out how a game goes from an idea to a finished product? Here's your chance to question a successful game developer!

Wadjet Eye Games is sponsoring the event and will be giving away a FREE copy of Blackwell Unbound - the amazing sequel to The Blackwell Legacy - to the winner of the contest!

There will be 30 questions asked, ranging from easy to guru, based on the popular Blackwell Legacy game! If you haven't played the demo, download it HERE now to get ready for the contest! If you played the game and like it, you can order it from PlayFirst here or from Wadjet Eye Games here! You can even download a free demo of Blackwell Unbound here!

This will be a very special event and we're so pleased to have Dave Gilbert joining us (as we're huge fans of the Blackwell games!)

In order to access the live chat room at the Game Cafe forum for this event, you'll need to register at the site - it's free! Click here to visit the Game Cafe forums and sign up today!

Once you are registered, you will see the link to the chat room towards the bottom of the main page. If you have any trouble accessing the room, please review the help files and ensure that your java is enabled in your browser. If you need more help, send me a PM at the Game Cafe website or email me at thegamefairy@enigmadness.com!

Hope to see you all there!

Diner Dash Hometown Hero - Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland Restaurant

(click images for a larger view)

PlayFirst has released a new diner for Diner Dash - Hometown Hero! This diner is called Winter Wonderland and takes place inside a warm, welcoming ski lodge!

Serve hot foods to frozen skiers in 10 full levels and one expert level! Let them warm up by the fire and sip on holiday punch (eggnog maybe?) in glasses with moose ears! Cute! Watch the snow fall through the large picture windows and see skiers and sledders race down the hillside.


Choose decor upgrades for the lodge to customize the look and feel of the new diner! Choose new tables, counters, wall decor, lighting and a cozy carpet! You can also get a FREE Santa hat in the online boutique! (The top image shows Flo wearing the new hat!)

Some people were not happy that this wasn't a Christmas themed restaurant, but you can't please everyone all of the time. Had it been a Christmas diner, no doubt some people would have complained about that as well, so PlayFirst found a happy medium that incorporates the fun and beauty of the winter season!

The complete diner is available through the DDHH online boutique. Log into your game and click on the shop button! For $4.99 you get the diner with all 11 levels and multiplayer features. If you're like me, you've been collecting the new restaurants as they're released and already bought this one as well, lol.

This diner is winter the way I like it.. seen through a window from inside by a warm fire! :)

Elf Bowling 7 1/2 - The Final Insult

Elf Bowling 7 1/2 - The Final Insult

Hold on to your stockings! The elves are up to no good and Santa needs your help to show those crazy elves what the true meaning of "strike" is. It`s quirky, hilarious bowling fun just in time for the holiday season! Compete in a crazy bowling game with the elves - oh that naughty Santa - serving as the pins and providing their own special, colorful commentary. With just the flick of your mouse, bowl to get a spare or strike, winning trophies along the way.

• Unique bowling lanes.
• Quirky avatars and pins.
• Creative power-ups.

I have to say that this was one of the most unusual holiday games I've played this year, lol. Different modes of gameplay allow you to play against a friend, against the computer or try the story mode for a bowling adventure! The game play is rather easy, which is good as I was incredibly distracted by the Elves and their sarcastic comments, lol.

The graphics are bright and cheery, the sound is alright and the commentary of the Elves is just hysterical. Overall, I thought this was a very cute addition to the list of holiday games available!

Click these links for pop up screen shots: Image 1 - Image 2

To download a demo of the game, click here!

To buy the game, even using your BFG Game Club Credits, click here!
(Please allow pop-ups from Enigmadness.com so your order form will appear!)

I give this game a 6 out of 10!

Brainiversity

Released from PlayFirst today is a very game designed to get those synapses firing! Brainiversity is both entertaining and educational, or at least requires a bit of thinking, which is more than most casual games ask, lol.


Play your way through a series of exams, including spelling tests, memory tests, math quizzes and many more! The difficulty increases as you successfully complete exams.

Stimulate your brain with 16 different activities covering Language, Memory, Math and Analysis. Earn stamps, record your daily workouts and compare your results with friends. There's nothing like a good mental stretch to keep your brain fresh!

• 10 different stamps to earn
• Practice mode lets you hone your skills
• Daily chart visually tracks your progress

There have been reports that casual computer games can stimulate memory and brain function and this game is designed to do just that!

Click here to download the free demo or to purchase the game!

Need help? Visit the Game Cafe forum and meet some new friends!

I give this game a 7 out of 10!

Mahjong Holidays

Mahjong Holidays (2006)

This game was released last year, but I wanted to put it up as its a great holiday Mahjong game that I own and enjoy a lot! I don't play Mahjong games all that often, but when I need a break from Diner Dash: Hometown Hero, I need something quiet and relaxing, lol.

It's time to ring in the holidays with Mahjong Holidays 2006. Break out the eggnog, throw a log on the fire, and settle in for some real mahjong fun! This festive version of a classic game will delight everyone. With three gameplay modes to choose from, your holidays can last even longer.

• Create custom boards.
• Holiday art and music.
• 34,000+ layouts.

Truth is I'll play just about any game with a holiday theme.. but there are ones that I actually like! This is one of them. If you didn't grab it last year, you can get it now! ;)

Download a free demo of Mahjong Holidays here!

Buy it with your BFG Game Club Credits right here!

Purchase the game for $19.95 if you're not a BFG club member here!
(Please allow pop-ups from Enigmadness.com to launch the download or game purchase form!)

Farm Frenzy (Again)

Farm Frenzy! (Again!)

I know I've already posted about this game, but it's just that good so I'm posting about it for a second time, lol.

Seriously though, the reason for this post is that you can now buy Farm Frenzy right here with your BFG (Big Fish Games) Game Club credits! Yay!

If you are a BFG club member and want to purchase the game, click here!
(Even if you're not a club member, you can still buy it through BFG by clicking that link)

To read my review of the game, click here!

Cradle of Persia

Cradle of Persia



A sequel to the hit game Cradle of Rome, Cradle of Persia recreates the fun in a new locale!

Build up the glorious heart of Ancient Persia in this engaging puzzle game! This land was adored with luxurious metals and gems that were set to impress peasants and visiting nobles alike. But its exotic gardens and impressive architecture have long since vanished in the passing sands. Now you have the chance to seek out the riddles of these ruins. To do this you will need skill and a keen wit, but the result will unlock a mystery never before seen by man, here in the Cradle of Persia.

• Sequel to Cradle of Rome.
• Impressive match-3 action!
• Unique power-ups!

Click for a screen shot of Cradle of Persia!
Image One - Image Two

As I've said before, match-3 games are not my favorite kind of game and there certainly is a preponderance of them around lately. However, I really did like Cradle of Rome and Cradle of Persia is just as good! The only downside is that Cradle of Persia is very, very similar to it's predecessor, and feels much like the first game with some new graphics. But, that's not the end of the world for fans of the series. The game is bright, fun and easy to learn and play. And of course, you get to build a new city!

You can download a free demo of Cradle of Persia here!

Like it? Buy it here - even with your BFG Game Club Credits!

If you're looking for Cradle of Rome, get it here!