Sorry for the late post, but yesterday my Moshi monster reached Level 13. I had ignored it for a little while so it was hungry and cranky when I resumed playing. Still, it did not take long to get the health and happiness back up to 999.
The Level 12 game is pattern matching and is called Manic Match. The player is presented with a sequence of shapes and then has to find the matching sequence of letters. For example, a shape sequence of (red circle, blue circle, blue circle, red circle) corresponds to the letter sequence ABBA.
The Level 13 game is Shuffle Kerfuffle (I don't make up these names). A four letter word is presented above four empty boxes. An arrow goes from each letter of the word to an empty box. The player then has to assemble the new word. The key words are words like MEAT or EDIT that can be scrambled to give four other words. The hint for this game is often to focus on the first two letters. That is normally enough to indicate which of the four supplied answers is the correct one.
The next Moshi Monster update will be when I reach Level 14
Thank-you for reading
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Superb DJ School (scratch)
For this game the player goes to DJ school to learn to scratch in time with the rhythm. It took longer than I expected to get the medal for this game given how simple and short it is.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bejeweled
Bejeweled
This is one of the first games I bought from Popcap and it is still one of my favourites. This is not the original (see Shariki) "match three" games but arguably the first popular game of that type. The game play is simple: match three or more jewels on an 8x8 grid by swapping (horizontally or vertically) adjacent jewels. This means the maximum number of jewels of a single color that can be lined up at any one time is five. Under the right circumstances ten jewels can be matched at once.
The original game features two modes: classic and timed. As I said, I prefer the classic mode where I can plan moves ahead rather than the faster pace of the timed version. There is also the hint button to provide impatient players with a prompt as to the next move.
Since the original game, Popcap have gone on to release three more versions: Bejeweled 2, Bejewled Twist (where a 2x2 group of jewels is twisted instead of the player swapping two jewels) and most recently Bejewled Blitz. I didn't like the Twist version of the game as much as the original. I prefer the mechanics of swapping to rotating. Blitz is one of ever-so-many FaceBook applications. This is where I encountered it recently, and bemoaned that I did not invent the game. I prefer the Zen (endless version) of the game to the one minute dash for high score in Blitz. And probably because I am a purist, I don't buy the boosts that are available in Blitz either.
Why is it so popular? I'm not quite sure. Certainly it has something to do with the fact that almost anyone can learn how to play the game. The graphics are simple but look very good. There is almost no start-up time so players can have a long session or short session quite easily. It also has to do with the randomness. One never knows how the initial grid is going to look or what new jewels will drop when the matched jewels are destroyed so no game ever plays the same way twice. The motivation to keep playing is the high-score list. One more factor that contributes to the popularity of the game is its portability. This game has been ported from the web based version to various different gaming consoles and touch-screen devices. There is even an online slot game with the Bejeweled theme!
If you haven't tried it already, give it a go. Popcap have helpfully provided Bejeweled 2 online for free.
Thank-you for reading.
This is one of the first games I bought from Popcap and it is still one of my favourites. This is not the original (see Shariki) "match three" games but arguably the first popular game of that type. The game play is simple: match three or more jewels on an 8x8 grid by swapping (horizontally or vertically) adjacent jewels. This means the maximum number of jewels of a single color that can be lined up at any one time is five. Under the right circumstances ten jewels can be matched at once.
The original game features two modes: classic and timed. As I said, I prefer the classic mode where I can plan moves ahead rather than the faster pace of the timed version. There is also the hint button to provide impatient players with a prompt as to the next move.
Since the original game, Popcap have gone on to release three more versions: Bejeweled 2, Bejewled Twist (where a 2x2 group of jewels is twisted instead of the player swapping two jewels) and most recently Bejewled Blitz. I didn't like the Twist version of the game as much as the original. I prefer the mechanics of swapping to rotating. Blitz is one of ever-so-many FaceBook applications. This is where I encountered it recently, and bemoaned that I did not invent the game. I prefer the Zen (endless version) of the game to the one minute dash for high score in Blitz. And probably because I am a purist, I don't buy the boosts that are available in Blitz either.
Why is it so popular? I'm not quite sure. Certainly it has something to do with the fact that almost anyone can learn how to play the game. The graphics are simple but look very good. There is almost no start-up time so players can have a long session or short session quite easily. It also has to do with the randomness. One never knows how the initial grid is going to look or what new jewels will drop when the matched jewels are destroyed so no game ever plays the same way twice. The motivation to keep playing is the high-score list. One more factor that contributes to the popularity of the game is its portability. This game has been ported from the web based version to various different gaming consoles and touch-screen devices. There is even an online slot game with the Bejeweled theme!
If you haven't tried it already, give it a go. Popcap have helpfully provided Bejeweled 2 online for free.
Thank-you for reading.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Foldit
Have people told you playing computer games is a waste of time? Next time someone tells you this, show them Foldit. Researchers at the University of Washington have turned protein folding into a game. Despite the power of today's super computers, there are still some ares in which they are lacking, and perhaps always will be.
The game looks great. You get to manipulate a 3D model of a protein and fold it to get a high score. There are an assortment of tools to assist you. It was good fun to be able to rotate the model and zoom in and out as well as move it around.
I've played through some of the tutorials. For me, part of the problem was not understanding exactly what I was doing. I think I need to have a better idea of what I am supposed to achieve with each puzzle. I think this type of game would suit someone with good visualisation skills. That is not my forte but I did have some fun with it.
I find it fascinating that someone thought of making protein folding into a computer game. Not only did they do that, but researchers are learning from the results of the game.
Thank-you for reading
Analysis shows that players bested the computers on problems that required radical moves, risks and long-term vision -- the kinds of qualities that computers do not possess.
The game looks great. You get to manipulate a 3D model of a protein and fold it to get a high score. There are an assortment of tools to assist you. It was good fun to be able to rotate the model and zoom in and out as well as move it around.
I've played through some of the tutorials. For me, part of the problem was not understanding exactly what I was doing. I think I need to have a better idea of what I am supposed to achieve with each puzzle. I think this type of game would suit someone with good visualisation skills. That is not my forte but I did have some fun with it.
I find it fascinating that someone thought of making protein folding into a computer game. Not only did they do that, but researchers are learning from the results of the game.
Thank-you for reading
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Superb Munchy Monk 1
I liked this one, as hard as it was to time it at the start. The player is a monk who has to slap his wrist to catch dumplings in his mouth. Timing here is everything. What did it for me in the end was to move my hand up and down in time with the music and touch the screen to slap the monk's wrist when appropriate. The game play is very quick and requires very good concentration (which means it is hard to play it in the presence of my nemesis - television).
Friday, August 6, 2010
Light Up
Play Light Up
Light Up is a logic puzzle with simple rules and challenging solutions. This is exactly the kind of game I like.
Briefly, the idea is to place light bulbs in a grid of squares. Some squares are black (solid) and block the light. Some of the black squares have numbers. In this case, the number of light bulbs directly above, below, left and right must equal that number. Light bulbs must not light each other.
In the version of the game on this site a left click will place (or remove) a light bulb. A right click will place (or remove) a X. The player can use this as a visual aide to indicate a light bulb can not be placed on this square.The grids come in four sizes: 7x7, 10x10, 14x14 and 25x25, and difficulty ratings are Easy, Normal and Hard. There is also a special one-a-week puzzle on a very large grid (30x40) with no set difficulty.
No guess-work is required, and there is only a single solution. Clicking the ready button will do one of three things: tell you how many more light bulbs are required, tell you the puzzle is solved and the approximate time it took to complete it, tell you there are mistakes in the puzzle solution. If you get as addicted to this game as I have you will dread seeing that message.
There are two things I would like to change about this game. Firstly, there is no undo option. There have been times where I have needed to keep placing light bulbs until I was sure the "solution" was incorrect. The trick then is to remove the most recent light bulbs you have placed. You will need to remember them. Two or three is easy. Six or seven can be tricky. More than that is certailny challenging. I would like either an undo function or a save point. Secondly, when there are errors, you are not told where they are. This can be very frustrating, I understand it is part of the puzzle but that hardly makes it less annoying. At least there should be the option of having your mistake pointed out to you.
A nice-to-have feature would be a hint button. Sometimes crosses and bulbs have obvious placements like the following cases:
Quite often there are single empty squares that can immediately have a light bulb. When you play long enough you will be able to recognise certain patterns when you see them.
I have played this game for so long that I now use the Ironman setup: 25x25 (or 14x14) Hard with no Xs
From a software point of view I see two interesting challenges: the first is the designing a puzzle generator and the second is generating a puzzle solver. I have not written a generator but I did find one here. Simon Tatham has provided code not only for Light Up but for 31 other logic puzzle games. I have not examined the source code yet but it is something on my ToDo list. Having the source code means it is possible to implement some of the changes I mentioned earlier. It also means there is a way to generate a puzzle and pass that puzzle to a puzzle solver (or trainer). I am yet to find any code for that. And finally I can implement the game in another programming language.
I hope this game brings you as much enjoyment as it does me
Thank-you for reading
Light Up is a logic puzzle with simple rules and challenging solutions. This is exactly the kind of game I like.
Briefly, the idea is to place light bulbs in a grid of squares. Some squares are black (solid) and block the light. Some of the black squares have numbers. In this case, the number of light bulbs directly above, below, left and right must equal that number. Light bulbs must not light each other.
In the version of the game on this site a left click will place (or remove) a light bulb. A right click will place (or remove) a X. The player can use this as a visual aide to indicate a light bulb can not be placed on this square.The grids come in four sizes: 7x7, 10x10, 14x14 and 25x25, and difficulty ratings are Easy, Normal and Hard. There is also a special one-a-week puzzle on a very large grid (30x40) with no set difficulty.
No guess-work is required, and there is only a single solution. Clicking the ready button will do one of three things: tell you how many more light bulbs are required, tell you the puzzle is solved and the approximate time it took to complete it, tell you there are mistakes in the puzzle solution. If you get as addicted to this game as I have you will dread seeing that message.
There are two things I would like to change about this game. Firstly, there is no undo option. There have been times where I have needed to keep placing light bulbs until I was sure the "solution" was incorrect. The trick then is to remove the most recent light bulbs you have placed. You will need to remember them. Two or three is easy. Six or seven can be tricky. More than that is certailny challenging. I would like either an undo function or a save point. Secondly, when there are errors, you are not told where they are. This can be very frustrating, I understand it is part of the puzzle but that hardly makes it less annoying. At least there should be the option of having your mistake pointed out to you.
A nice-to-have feature would be a hint button. Sometimes crosses and bulbs have obvious placements like the following cases:
? X ? X ? X ? L ?
X 0 X ? 3 ? L 4 L
? X ? X ? X ? L ?
Quite often there are single empty squares that can immediately have a light bulb. When you play long enough you will be able to recognise certain patterns when you see them.
I have played this game for so long that I now use the Ironman setup: 25x25 (or 14x14) Hard with no Xs
From a software point of view I see two interesting challenges: the first is the designing a puzzle generator and the second is generating a puzzle solver. I have not written a generator but I did find one here. Simon Tatham has provided code not only for Light Up but for 31 other logic puzzle games. I have not examined the source code yet but it is something on my ToDo list. Having the source code means it is possible to implement some of the changes I mentioned earlier. It also means there is a way to generate a puzzle and pass that puzzle to a puzzle solver (or trainer). I am yet to find any code for that. And finally I can implement the game in another programming language.
I hope this game brings you as much enjoyment as it does me
Thank-you for reading
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Superb The Dazzles 1
This time the player is a cheerleader. The aim is to tap the screen to duck (when the background of the girl next to you goes dark) and flick to strike a pose in time with the music. I wondered for a while why I was not getting better than OK even though I appeared not to miss a duck or pose. Then I observed that the girl shoots sparkles from her hand when you get the pose just right.
Still, this helped me to finally get an OK for Remix 3 and thereby unlock access to the next three sets of games.
Still, this helped me to finally get an OK for Remix 3 and thereby unlock access to the next three sets of games.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Superb Moai Doo Wop 1
This game would be far easier if the birds did not soil the statue when the player made a mistake. That is really distracting (and at times infuriating). But that is the kind of cute touch that is sprinkled through the game.
When I had feeble eyes I could not see the instructions so I thought the shout was a flick of the stylus. It turns out you only need to tap the stylus. Much better =)
A moment ago I saw the second round of this game on youtube - that looks really hard
When I had feeble eyes I could not see the instructions so I thought the shout was a flick of the stylus. It turns out you only need to tap the stylus. Much better =)
A moment ago I saw the second round of this game on youtube - that looks really hard
Monday, August 2, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Superb x2
I was going to post that playing this game on the train is really hard given the rough ride. Then, on the way home from the River City Eye Hospital (givers of clear vision) I won two more medals. They were in Remix 2 and Crop Stomp,
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Rhythm Heaven - Perfect
I scored a Perfect for Freeze Frame. The reward was something to read. It is called "A Confession"
Rhythm Heaven
Rhythm Heaven
This game is a departure from the mental puzzle games I favor, It is a cute game packed with mini-games to test and develop your sense of rhythm. The graphics are simple and cute and the game-play is very addictive. I borrowed the game from my sister-in-law and haven't returned it yet (Don't worry, your game details are still there).
Why is this so addictive? First of all there are a number of levels to each game. You have to play well enough to get OK. If you are really good you get a Superb ranking. This awards you a medal. You can use medals to unlock further games. Once you have the Superb ranking, the game will occasionally challenge you to Go For Perfect. If you can complete the mini game without a single mistake you are awarded a certificate and a song is unlocked. I am only at the lower levels at this stage, and have noticed that Superb and Perfect sometimes mean the same thing :) Does it sound easy? It is, in principle, but in practice not so much.
At the moment I have eight medals from the thirteen games I have played so far. I don't like going to the next level until I at least earn the OK for the previous level. I just scored Superb in Freeze Frame - you take pictures of racing cars speeding past. In this mini game, as in most others, it is more important to listen to the music than to rely on visual cues.
Will this game grow stale? I hope not. The mini games so far have been themed differently and each theme has been fun. Except for Glee Club (game #2) - what do I have to do to get superb in that game???. Time will tell. If, or when, my sister-in-law takes this game back I will buy a replacement. I may have to give the replacement to her since I don't want to go through some of the earlier levels again - and neither does the elder sageling I wager. Speaking of which, he does like to use the barista to skip levels =)
I will post each time I get a Superb or Perfect, mostly to keep a record for myself and to comment on the mini game and unlocked item.
Thank-you for reading
This game is a departure from the mental puzzle games I favor, It is a cute game packed with mini-games to test and develop your sense of rhythm. The graphics are simple and cute and the game-play is very addictive. I borrowed the game from my sister-in-law and haven't returned it yet (Don't worry, your game details are still there).
Why is this so addictive? First of all there are a number of levels to each game. You have to play well enough to get OK. If you are really good you get a Superb ranking. This awards you a medal. You can use medals to unlock further games. Once you have the Superb ranking, the game will occasionally challenge you to Go For Perfect. If you can complete the mini game without a single mistake you are awarded a certificate and a song is unlocked. I am only at the lower levels at this stage, and have noticed that Superb and Perfect sometimes mean the same thing :) Does it sound easy? It is, in principle, but in practice not so much.
At the moment I have eight medals from the thirteen games I have played so far. I don't like going to the next level until I at least earn the OK for the previous level. I just scored Superb in Freeze Frame - you take pictures of racing cars speeding past. In this mini game, as in most others, it is more important to listen to the music than to rely on visual cues.
Will this game grow stale? I hope not. The mini games so far have been themed differently and each theme has been fun. Except for Glee Club (game #2) - what do I have to do to get superb in that game???. Time will tell. If, or when, my sister-in-law takes this game back I will buy a replacement. I may have to give the replacement to her since I don't want to go through some of the earlier levels again - and neither does the elder sageling I wager. Speaking of which, he does like to use the barista to skip levels =)
I will post each time I get a Superb or Perfect, mostly to keep a record for myself and to comment on the mini game and unlocked item.
Thank-you for reading
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Moshi Monsters
www.moshime.com/szechuan
This is a web site my sagelings introduced me to some time ago. It is one of those social networking sites set up for children. Originally I signed up so we could play together. Eventually they got bored with it and abandoned it. However, I persisted and tonight my Katsuma, named Hindmarsh, reached level 12.
So what keeps me coming back to an admittedly childish game? The daily puzzles. Every day you sign in you can go to the Hall Of Puzzles and perform the daily challenge. It is a series of brain games. There is a time limit during which you must answer as many questions as possible. I like the variety of puzzles and the chance for a little mental exercise. As you gain levels different puzzles become available. The level goes to at least 17 because you need to be at that level to unlock the Side Winder game. One can go to the Hall Of Puzzles and go for a top score in any of the unlocked games. Currently my highest score is 31 in Moshi Multiply.
One other activity I enjoyed was catching moshlings. This is accomplished by planting different moshling seeds and hoping for the right one to come along. I only wanted two of them: Stanley (a seahorse) and Gurgle (a dragon). I got these specifically because they represent the sagelings. Stanley is easy to fnd but Gurgle is rather rare - hard to get - so I had to be patient.
I will post each time Hindmarsh gains a level, mostly to keep a record for myself and to comment on the unlocked games.
Thank-you for reading
This is a web site my sagelings introduced me to some time ago. It is one of those social networking sites set up for children. Originally I signed up so we could play together. Eventually they got bored with it and abandoned it. However, I persisted and tonight my Katsuma, named Hindmarsh, reached level 12.
So what keeps me coming back to an admittedly childish game? The daily puzzles. Every day you sign in you can go to the Hall Of Puzzles and perform the daily challenge. It is a series of brain games. There is a time limit during which you must answer as many questions as possible. I like the variety of puzzles and the chance for a little mental exercise. As you gain levels different puzzles become available. The level goes to at least 17 because you need to be at that level to unlock the Side Winder game. One can go to the Hall Of Puzzles and go for a top score in any of the unlocked games. Currently my highest score is 31 in Moshi Multiply.
One other activity I enjoyed was catching moshlings. This is accomplished by planting different moshling seeds and hoping for the right one to come along. I only wanted two of them: Stanley (a seahorse) and Gurgle (a dragon). I got these specifically because they represent the sagelings. Stanley is easy to fnd but Gurgle is rather rare - hard to get - so I had to be patient.
I will post each time Hindmarsh gains a level, mostly to keep a record for myself and to comment on the unlocked games.
Thank-you for reading
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