Filed under: Video Games, Columns

It may not be Halloween yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t spend some time haunting and hunting amongst the monsters and the freaks. This week, we’ll find out why sandworms are the new zombies (and why zombies aren’t quite played out yet), we’ll try to survive on desert islands (without the aid of any soccer ball companions), we’ll turn slack-jawed yokels into canned food, and we’ll delve into gaming madness with the Panopea generosa (i.e., the King Clam, one of the strangest game protagonists we’ve ever encountered). All for free, and all at your desk. You’re welcome.

Continue reading Games on the Go: Zombies, Aliens and Monsters… Oh My!

Games on the Go: Zombies, Aliens and Monsters… Oh My! originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Web

Our favorite online games are the simple ones with a high-replay value (e.g., ‘Canabalt‘). It doesn’t hurt if they’re free, either. The latest title to drag down our productivity is a 2-D side-scroller called ‘Solipskier’ that asks gamers to guide a stick-figure skier down the slopes — while drawing those said slopes. Like we said, it isn’t a complex game, with the simple objective to navigate your skier through green gates while doing tricks and not falling to your death. That gameplay alone would get boring (Ed. Note: Um, remember ‘SkiFree‘?), so ‘Solipskier’ also asks you to draw the game’s landscape by clicking and dragging your mouse across the screen. If you stop, the ground will disappear and the stick-figure skier will tumble to his death.

We’re still learning the physics behind drawing a smooth slope, so we won’t share our shamefully low high score yet. But we can say we’ll be staying late after work tonight to improve it. [From: Indie Games and Solipskier, via: Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

‘Solipskier’ Is a 2-D Timewaster That Combines Skiing and Drawing originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Google, Web

Here’s a cute little timewaster for Gmail fans: ‘Galactic Inbox.’ The premise is simple: You control a mighty winged Gmail envelope tasked with disposing an onslaught of baddies, including cans of what we presume are a major brand of luncheon meat. You blast your way until you meet the boss, a birdcage with spiked balls for arms holding other Gmail envelopes hostage. Your goal, obviously, is to destroy this message-hoarding meanie and free your little brother and sister envelopes. Impressively, the whole thing is coded in HTML5. For the best experience, it’s highly recommended that you use either Google Chrome or the Firefox 4 beta, otherwise playing might be more like watching a slide show. [From: Gmail Blog and Monocubed]

Gmail Saves the Universe in ‘Galactic Inbox’ originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Columns

The fantasy genre has always held particular sway over various corners of geek culture. (In fact, some might say that J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy gave birth to what we consider fandom today.) Ancient lands populated by fearsome beasts, wizards, warriors and mystical objects have provided fertile landscapes of escapism for countless books, movies, and, of course, video games. Fantasy has set the stage for some of the most popular gaming franchises around today, from the ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ inspired origins of ‘Final Fantasy’ and ‘Dragon Quest,’ to the orcs and elves of ‘World of Warcraft‘ and the ‘Elder Scrolls‘ series. Today, we’ll delve into dank dungeons, climb gargantuan beasts, and slay countless enemy hordes in a quest to quench our thirst for fantasy gaming.

Continue reading Games on the Go: Final Fantasies for Flash

Games on the Go: Final Fantasies for Flash originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Web

Continue reading ‘Achievement Unlocked 2′ Revives the Blue Elephant for Time Wasting Fun

‘Achievement Unlocked 2′ Revives the Blue Elephant for Time Wasting Fun originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Columns

For many, the original ‘Super Mario Bros.’ is the quintessential video game. Not only did it help the NES to usher in a new era of home consoles, but it also popularized a genre that would come to dominate gaming for decades: the platformer. Platformers arguably originated with ‘Donkey Kong,’ which also starred the plumber-protagonist Mario, and challenged gamers to leap over hazards, climb ladders and traverse perilous platforms suspended in mid-air. ‘Super Mario Bros.’ was released five years after ‘Donkey Kong,’ and cemented the core mechanics of the genre: daring leaps across gaps and onto ledges and platforms, precariously placed in a horizontally scrolling landscape. The genre soon came to define 8- and 16-bit gaming with such classics as ‘Castlevania,’ ‘Metroid’ and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog.’ While platformers evolved into the realm of 3-D with ‘Super Mario 64′, its traditional, two-dimensional form still holds a fond place in the hearts of many gamers. Thankfully, indie and flash game development has led to a smorgasbord of incredible new platformers to satiate any aficionado. Today we’ll present our picks of some of the best.

Continue reading Games on the Go: Jump Up and Get Down With Platformers

Games on the Go: Jump Up and Get Down With Platformers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Columns

If we distill 99-percent of games to their core, we’re left with one crucial imperative: shoot stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. The shoot-em-up genre (lovingly shortened to ‘SHMUP’ by aficionados) traces its roots all the way back to 1962, with the creation of ‘Spacewar!,’ an outer-space combat game for the PDP-1 computer. Following those humble origins, the genre exploded with the advent of arcades in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Games like ‘Space Invaders‘, ‘Galaxian‘ and ‘Asteroids‘ were not just integral to the genre’s development, but central to video gaming as a medium. As technology progressed, however, and games became more complex (e.g., the first-person shooter), the genre began to fade away, relegated to the domain of hardcore purists. In a gaming culture dominated by a desperate need to mimic the thrills of Hollywood (although sometimes it works the other way around), it can be incredibly refreshing to just blast away at something without having to worry about the trappings of modern gaming. If you’re in the mood for some simple, visceral thrills (and modern updates on a classic formula), allow us to offer our picks of the best SHMUPs around.

If you, anyone you know, or a game you love is a great candidate for our independent Flash games round-up, email the author at bend@switched.com.

Continue reading Games on the Go: Shoot-em-Up!

Games on the Go: Shoot-em-Up! originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games

You have never played a game like ‘Everybody Edits.’ You’ve never seen anything quite as chaotic or cruel posing as a “casual” flash game. The basic premise is simple: you control a tiny smiley face avatar, and you must guide it through the level to the end. That’s where the simplicity ends. Levels are designed by users, and a designer can choose to leave a level “open.” Doing so enables the user to actually alter the layout as he or she wishes — whether by changing the goal, or by messing with the other players (up to 49), who are sure to be driven mad by the seemingly impossible task of “beating” each map.

Levels consist of differently colored blocks, arrows that toss you in whatever direction they point, and keyhole blocks, which disappear and reappear as players pass over keys of the corresponding color. Particularly mean-spirited level designers will place these disappearing block directly over a sea of arrows that will swiftly, and callously, send you right back to the beginning. Despite feeling like the game’s developers are mocking us somewhere, and being driven to fits of rage by particularly evil level builders, we can’t help ourselves from coming back for more. We’d like to think it’s because of the simple and addictive game play, but we’re beginning to think we just hate ourselves. [From: Everybody Edits, via: Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

‘Everybody Edits’ Is the Most Chaotic and Cruel Game Ever originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games, Playroom

If you, anyone you know, or a game you love is a great candidate for our independent Flash games round-up, email the author at bend@switched.com.

Continue reading Games on the Go: All the Colors of the ‘Bow

Games on the Go: All the Colors of the ‘Bow originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Video Games

Continue reading Games on the Go: Let’s Get Physical

Games on the Go: Let’s Get Physical originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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