Fun Mobile Games

GlueFO

2009-06-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

I did not know what to make of the title "GlueFO" at first. I closed my eyes and tried to come up with what "FO" might stand for. I Googled it and apparently it is a Wall Street abbreviation for Fortune Foods. Yet that just didn't seem to fit.

Then I realized that "GlueFO" is supposed to be a glue version of "UFO" or unidentified flying object. Now that makes sense. GlueFO is a game in which you have a spaceship covered in glue. Small meteors stick to your ship and you take these small meteoroids and shoot them at big meteors. After all the big ones are destroyed, you are allowed to move up to the next level.

Now the glue metaphor is not perfect. Yes, the small stones stick to your ship. But who ever heard of glue that turns from a sticky substance into something used for throwing. Yet, I bet both of us will remember the title "GlueFO" when we want to pull this game off the Internet and play a few rounds.

I like the way the instruction tutorial gets right into the game. It is only 45 seconds long, unlike some really dull game tutorials. It gives you the basics so that within one minute of finding this game online, you can be playing it.

The scripts are well written and the code is executed with precision. The game actually stands out among the better quick and easy free online games out there. Try a few rounds and see if the game "sticks" to you.

Same Color

2009-06-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

So they could have been a bit more creative when they named "same color." But at the end of the day, this is just the kind of game you are looking for to play on a mobile device, so who cares if the name is a bit poor.

Not all games were made to be played on mobile devices. The designers have to understand that if they want people to play their game on a PDA, they need to build in a screen that is simple and won't get lost on the smaller visuals that most people are using. That means that you should not have such features as screen in screen or heads-up display.

Same Color does not rely on these gimmicks. Simply, you need to line all the circles up in the same color before they reach the bottom of the screen. There are many games that are similar, but if you are looking for one optimized for a mobile game, this may be your best bet.

The controls are simple. It won't be your fingers that trip you up, it will be your mind. You need to be thinking two steps ahead of every move to keep a good pace going. While the game is not hard at the beginning, the degree of difficulty quickly increases and you go up in levels.

I wouldn't give the game my highest rating. But it's not bad. It is certainly something you can enjoy killing time with for a few hours.

Don't Hold the Fun, Hold the Line

2009-05-31T06:37:00.001-07:00

Since the advent of open source, free swap java game applications, we have seen a tremendous number of new games that can be played live on the Internet or downloaded to a cell phone or PDA. Not all these are great innovations however, since the technology is outpacing the minds of many self proclaimed game designers. Yet "Hold the Line" is the kind of non-pretentious, semi-serious game that has just the right balance of challenges and programming intricacies.

Hold the Line reminds me of a traditional double circuit racing game in which the subroutines allow you to control several variables seamlessly. You have a dynamic motion graphic set that really should be standard for all games today, even those given away for free. (Just because a game is free, does not mean it should be worthless.) The sound escapes most of the common pitfalls by modulating in tone depending on how far down the track you have gotten. At any rate, as a free mobile game, you are not going to have great sound anyway, so who cares.

The game is kept simple for a reason with arrow keys and space bar being your controls. Yes, you can change this, but what would be the point?

The playing experience is rich and it certainly stands up to a game that you can come back to without getting bored. My only beef is that it does seem to take a long time to load, which you can avoid by downloading instead of playing live.

Doom Will Keep You Glued to Your Phone

2009-05-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

I remember playing "Doom" on my computer years ago. My husband and I were addicted to this game. We would play together. I was responsible for shooting, and he would move the Marine from place to place. At the time, which was over a dozen years ago, "Doom" was the most sophisticated game of its time. We were newly married and we liked playing games together. This was perfect. We would spend hours, because it took hours to complete a level and continue. Each level became more challenging as the monsters were more powerful. We had to struggle to find more "health" to regenerate and find more weapons to stock our arsenal. Also, each level had secret passageways and rooms where special armor or sophisticated weaponry was hidden.

Flash forward to 2008, and I am slowly catching up to the technology of the 2000s. I have a mobile phone with some games, but I was never interested in playing them.Well imagine my surprise when I saw that "Doom" can be downloaded to your mobile phone. It takes a lot of memory to have it on your phone, but it's well worth it. If you only have room for one mobile game, let it be "Doom." I promise you won't regret it. There are nine levels with intense action. You use the "number key" and the "star key" to move sideways. Lots of "bad guys" and interesting weapons to annihilate them all. It's a lot of fun, and I highly recommend it. I loved playing with my husband, but now I can play on my own if I'm bored!

Racing by the Beach

2009-05-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

I admit I'm not the most technologically savvy person. I don't have an iPod or Blackberry, but I do rely on my cell phone. I had no idea there were extra features offered on every cell phone. In fact, it was my son who told me that I have "Games." Huh??? Why would I want games on my mobile phone? I have a cell phone to make phone calls, not to play games. Well it turns out that it's a very good thing. My generation grew up on Asteroids, Space Invaders and Pac Man. To play a game like that on one's cell phone was unbelievable to me. We had these bulky machines with game cartridges. Today you can go to a mobile games website and download hundreds of fun games to your phone. My son was actually patient enough to teach me how to do this. I'm sure the majority of today's generation master this before pre school! So let me tell you about my first download. It was "Beach Rally, " a car race along the beach which is a lot of fun. I like games involving the race against the clock or an opponent. It's very simply to play. You use the number 5 key to accelerate, number 4 to turn left and number 6 to right. Number 8 is for braking, but I doubt anyone uses it. You're supposed to be racing, not stopping. Anyway, I discovered these mobile phone games are a wonderful feature. I had the misfortune of spending my day waiting in various lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles recently. To stop from going insane, I played "Beach Rally" most of the day. I knocked my son off the highest score list! Not too bad for a 40 plus woman who grew up in the Stone Ages of video games, don't you think?

Quad Race

2009-05-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

What is a quad? Better question. What does a quad have to do with a cell phone or PDA? Finally, what do these questions have to do with you?

Well, now that you asked, there are some important answers. A "quad" refers to a vehicle that is like a motorcycle with four wheels. Unlike a car, it is completely open. Yet with four extra wide tires, the quad can race up and down hills on all sorts of terrain. Sand, gravel, dirt - -all of these are what a quad is built for.

So what do these vehicle have to do with a cell phone? The answer is that you can now play quad race on your cell phone or PDA. You use the arrow keys to control a video representation of a quad around an interesting course filled with jumps and other obstacles. As you travel around, you can earn "turbo boosts" by touching stars that appear all over the course. Usually, you have to do something interesting like jump (space bar) for a star. The more you touch, the more turbo boosts you will have. You will need these for the really long jumps that occur more and more often the more you play.

So just download the game onto your mobile device and you are ready to play anytime and anywhere. The best thing is when you use a mobile device, no one can really see what you are doing. So even during those boring board meetings, just pretend that you are ay the beach racing a four-wheeled monster instead of looking at sales graphs and shipping costs. Go home and try and better your scores on your home computer. Since the game is online, it is always available whenever you want to play. Otherwise, just download it.

Uphill Rush

2009-05-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

Uphill Rush is a good find. It is a free mobile game that is fun and challenging. In a world where most free games are worth what you pay for them, it is refreshing to play a game like this which you could easily see actually buying.

It is a motorcycle simulation game. You can play in two different modes. the first mode is time trail. You play against the clock and try and better your fastest score down a course. The second mode is a race against computer controlled motorcycles. Either way, the game is a hoot with multiple challenging levels.

The course is laid out with all sorts of jumps, dips, and obstacles. You control your bike with the keypad and spacebar. Just like with a real motorcycle, for every action, you must balance it with a counteraction to stay upright. If you need to lean backwards to raise the front wheel, at some point you will have to lean forward to get that wheel back on the ground. Every action requires an equal counter-action after the obstacle is managed.

On the time trial mode, you will see a shadow bike taking against you. This shadow bike is simply a representation of your fastest time. That way you know if you are near to setting a personal record for the course. Of course, when you have a high score you can submit it and then everyone in the universe will know that when it comes to video motorcycles, you are a real champion.

The game does not get boring and you can have lots of fun for a few hours. Now that it is a mobile game, you can play it anywhere on your cell phone of your PDA. "Down" time has never been so much fun.

Ghost Ball

2009-04-26T01:22:00.000-07:00

I will be shocked if there is anyone out there who actually enjoys this game. It's not even worth the time to download it to your mobile device. With literally millions of games and fun applications out there, there is just no reason to play Ghost Ball. Let me tell you why: You control a white ball. You move it with the pad or arrows. Meanwhile, colored balls crash into you. You need to try and avoid them. If you hit them or one of the sides, you lose. That's it. You can hit "retry" all you want, but I highly doubt you will ever last more than ten seconds. The game may pretend to be based on skill, but it is really blind lick that controls how things operate. The speed is simply too fast for anyone to be able to control. Especially if you are playing on a mobile device, you will break your thumbs before you get beyond the first level. Why anyone would design such a game is really beyond me. It is just not fun and even though it doesn't take much time to play and lose (and believe me, you will lose), it is still a waste of time that you could be using to play something actually fun. I mean, why not play an online blackjack game or anything in which you can use your brain rather than you thumb to try and win. Blackjack can be won, Ghost Ball can only be played until crying in frustration, you turn off your mobile in disgust and actually go back to work (or whatever you needed to do).

Bandit Ludo

2009-04-18T23:20:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest. Bandit Ludo is nothing more than a video version of Parcheesi. While it may come in handy to have Parcheesi on your mobile device, is that really necessary? I mean I have never fully understood the concept of turning all board games into video games. The reason board games tend to be fun is that they are played on a board with competitors gathered around. Taking that experience and putting it on a cell phone is something else. Parcheesi and cell phones just don't seem to go together.

But enough of my rant, on to the game. The game is played on a board that looks like your standard Parcheesi board with I guess what you would call a "Mexican" look. Yes, you guessed it. Sombreros and guitars dot the background and add, well I have to be honest, absolutely nothing to the game experience.

You roll an animated die and move your pawns around the board. If you land on an enemy pawn, that pawn goes back to his start. You need to roll a "star" to move out of your home, and the first one to move all his pawns to the home territory is the winner. Now, since you re playing against the computer, this just means that if you move your pawns before the computer does you win.

There are a lot of free mobile games out there, perhaps too many. I think that Bandit Ludo may prove that point. It backs the maxim: Just because a game is fun, it may not be fun as a mobile game. Sorry, but playing Parcheesi on a cell phone? I have better games to play (see my review of Absolute Zero for something more fun).

First Light

2009-04-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

First Light is a clever game. I have to admit that much. It is a simple concept, but it is very fun and will keep you coming back for more. Unlike most games that record scores, your score rises when you do well, but sinks when you mess up. Keeping a high score requires constant effort.

How does it work? Simple. You control a large white ball. You use the arrow keys to navigate around the screen. You bounce off the walls that frame the playing area. Small white balls appear at random bouncing around with you. If you can hit a small white ball with your large one, you get one point.

At the same time, there are small black balls that are also bouncing around with you. If you hit a black one, you lose a point. The point total is always shown in the center of the screen. It can get real frustrating as you chase down the white balls only to run from the black ones.

In the beginning, there is only one black ball. But each time you hit a white one and get a point, another black ball rolls into the playing area. When you have more than ten points, the playing area is crowded with black balls and navigating to the one white one that can win you a point takes patience, skill, and a quick hand. One small slip, and your point total starts to fall.

In this game, within a few seconds you can go from a personal best record to almost nothing. That's why when you have a large total and you want to end the game and record your score, you press the space bar. Otherwise, the game will keep going forever.

Absolute Zero

2009-04-05T00:11:00.001-07:00

Absolute Zero is a modern update of the classic game Asteroids that can be downloaded to a cell phone, PDA, or other mobile device. It is really fun and does what games like these are supposed to do: It makes time fly by. After all, the reason you are playing on a mobile device is that you have some "down" time during the day. Playing Absolute Zero makes this down time just fly by (pardon the expression, it is a flying game.)

What are the differences between Absolute Zero and Asteroids. Well, first the graphics are nicer. In Asteroids, you just have three crude lines forming a triangle. This is supposed to be your spaceship. In Absolute Zero, your spaceship actually looks like a spaceship. You don't have to try that hard to imagine your ship flying through space blasting at asteroids.

Also, you have a double gun which gives you a slight edge in shooting. What is really different however is that the asteroids are no longer the main target. You have other ships going around trying to take shots at you. If you get hit you lose health. As you fire, you also lose ammo. Unlike Asteroids, there is no unlimited ammo available. Luckily, you can replenish both your health and your ammo.

To move your spaceship, just use the arrow-keys and watch your ship zip through space. The "Z" key turns on the tractor beam to pick up astronauts. The spacebar is what you need to press continuously to fire on enemies and asteroids. Asteroids will sometimes be hiding health packs or ammo. Run them over with your ship and you can reload and bring yourself back from near dead.

The gaming experience is both fun and challenging. Look, it's been thirty years since Asteroids was released. A new design every thirty years isn't so bad when you think of it.

Ocean Catch Match

2009-03-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Ocean Catch Match is a fun, aquatic version of the game concentration. It is easy to learn and keeps your mind focused when you are trying to kill some time. It is great to play on a cell phone or PDA since you can play anywhere and everywhere. Just download it and roll.

The main character in the game is the guy referred to as "Crazy Uncle Ned." Now, Ned is a rare enough name so they probably didn't offend anyone by using it. Still, using "Ned" actually takes away from the game. You don't need to know that the symbols you are trying to match represent his collection from the ocean. It is simply extra, non-essential information that game designers these days feel compelled to add to every game.

Anyway, once you get past Uncle Ned, your job is to match all the odd symbols representing creatures and items from the deep. Of course, there are the usual sea shells and shark cards. Yet there are also some neat items that you may never have seen. Before playing, I had known what a sea urchin was (they make delicious sushi!), but I did not know what one looked like.

I did know what a jellyfish looked like because I have had the misfortune to be stung more than once. I wonder why the game designer felt the need to add such a horrid creature to what is a simple fun game? Personally, he could have used images of tasty fish like flounder instead of the big jellyfish. It may not seem like a big deal, but loading a game with images that you detest actually dampens the whole gaming experience.

Still, if you want to test your brain and kill some time, download Ocean Catch Match to your mobile device and play a few rounds.

Free Sonic

2009-03-22T00:50:00.000-07:00

Many will remember a video game called "Sonic the Hedgehog" back when you had to play video games in arcades and they all cost a quarter. Now, a free mobile game called "Free Sonic" attempts to replicate the action and plot of the original "Sonic" series with surprising results.

What is remarkable is that the images are true to form. Sonic and Knuckles looks the same as they did back in the seventies, just with a few details updated for the new millennium. What is great is that even on a small cell phone or PDA display, the graphics are intense. The Sonic file is large since it contains multiple characters at multiple levels. Yet once you download the game, playing is as easy as making a call.

Even the soundtrack is based on the original. Of course, if you are in a busy office and killing time playing Sonic, you may not want people to know what you are doing. That is why there is a mute option. As far as anyone knows, you could be sending an e-mail or setting up a conference call, not controlling a hedge hog to total domination of the universe.

For those not familiar with Sonic and the game series based on the character, all you need to know is that Sonic and his friends are the good guys. The scorpions and spiders are bad. Jump over them and try to touch as many gold rings as possible. Every touch gives you more points. On the other hand, if you are bitten by a scorpion, you will lose one of your three lives, so be careful.

The game is structured around a multi-level universe which is full of jumps, drops, and loops. Always look ahead to see what obstacles are coming your way next and you will do fine.

Go Sudoku Crazy on your iPhone

2009-03-16T00:43:00.001-07:00

I only recently discovered Sudoku when I was trying to kill some time between flight connections. I saw a Sudoku puzzle book at the airport gift shop next to the usual crossword puzzle and word search game books. I had heard about Sudoku but never tried it. I bought a bag of peanut M&Ms with it and settled down to play. I have to admit I was hooked from the beginning. I started with the easy puzzles just to get a feel for it. One hour into it, I realized that I was getting a little obsessive. I ran to the gift store and bought two more Sudoku books. I was ready for the challenging puzzles. This numbers game is very easy in concept, but quickly becomes difficult. The object of this game is to fill a 3x3 square with the number 1-9, but also horizontally and vertically, which are three, 3x3 squares up and down. I know it sounds confusing, but trust me when I say it's easy to catch on and get hooked.

When I discovered I could get free downloads of Sudoku on my cell phone, I was in heaven. Any time I'm standing in a line, I pull out my phone and play a few games. I can't carry a Sudoku notebook and pen on me everywhere I go, but my cell phone fits nicely in my pocket so I'm never without an opportunity to play. It challenges the brain, which is a nice change of pace from some of the mindless mobile games and iPhone games on the market. Give it a try. You won't regret it.

The Return of Space Invaders

2009-03-07T23:33:00.000-08:00

There is a new version of the classic game Space Invaders that is now becoming very popular thanks to new technology that makes the whole game a free mobile game. That's right. Now you can play Space Invaders on any Internet equipped cell phone or PDA. Imagine waiting for a train or airplane while reliving your youth by playing this classic game.

Not sure if you remember Space Invaders? Let me jog your memory. You have a small space ship at the bottom of the screen. A relentless crowd of aliens slowly matches toward you. Blast them all the way before they make the way to the bottom of the screen to win.

Well, you never actually win. Every time you clear out all the rows of aliens, another whole field appears. The newer aliens are always faster and more threatening, firing their own missiles straight down at you. At the beginning, you have four bases to hides behind, but eventually the bases become destroyed by the rocket fire.

There is also a red space ship that is accompanied by a siren sound effect. It crosses the screen once firing randomly. If you kill, it you get a random number of points. Sometimes it is just worth thirty points, other times it is worth 300.

If you can manage to clear ten thousand points your first time out, you are not bad. But one look at the high scores on the Internet should make you humble. There are those who have scored over ten million points. By my estimates, these people would have had to play Space Invaders continuously for four days without a mistake. Now that kind of concentration is worthy of Tiger Woods! Yet for the rest of us, ten minutes makes a great game. Try it out!

Asteroids

2009-03-01T22:57:00.000-08:00

In many ways, Asteroids is the classic video game. Long before the graphic rich environment of flash and java games were developed, this simple black and white, monoline plot game captivated a nation. Millions of people plunked down twenty-five cents to try and blast away at oblong, ameba like images that we were told to believe were killer asteroids. Our "star ship" was nothing more than a line drawing of the letter "A." The weapon? A space bar produced period.

Yet now that the game is available as a free mobile game, it is making a comeback. More and more people are reliving their youth by playing on their phone or PDA while waiting for a bus, a dentist appointment, or a boardroom meeting.

Yet Asteroids is not just for those over forty. Even twenty-something -- who have grown up in an age where you need three days to learn how to play the latest twenty gigabyte games -- are turning to Asteroids. Maybe it's the simplicity they crave. The game can be learned within ten seconds. Make that five. Yet it is challenging and addictive. I am waiting to finish this review so that I can give it one more shot.

Don't ever count a game out because of its age. Games like Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Star Gazer have a lot to offer. Think about it, if millions of people spent countless hours playing this game when it cost money, isn't a few rounds with a free mobile version worth your time? What they would have given in the seventies to carry a version of Asteroids with them on a cell phone. Now that to me speaks of the progress that gaming has made. Keep your Unreal Tournament, I will stick with the intergalactic battle of Asteroids!

ROBOT Spells Weird

2009-02-22T01:48:00.000-08:00

The game is called R.O.B.O.T. Why they just don't call it "Robot" is beyond me. Perhaps they thought they were being clever. Who knows. The point is that Robot is a free game that can be downloaded to your mobile device. Whether you choose to play and for how long is entirely up to you.

You control the one good robot. Your job is to walk around shooting all the bad robots. Are you still following? Games like these tend to be very complicated! Yes, after killing lots of evil, bad robots, you go to the robot garage. At the garage, you can now decide what you want to upgrade. See, for every bad robot you kill, you earn a certain number of "cores." No one ever explains what these cores are, but they basically serve as money.

In the garage, you can either fix your robot up or buy more ammunition or even a fast set of legs (wheels?). Spend wisely since you do not have enough money to do everything. That is why it is so important not to get hit when battling other robots. Every core you must spend to repair yourself is one less core you can be spending on better abilities.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that if you waste ammo, you will not be playing for very long. After playing a bit, you will learn which bad guys go down with one shot and which will require a few hits. Then you won't have to wait and see if you have killed your target before firing again. Wait and see tactics save ammo but when you are being attacked from all directions, you don't have the luxury of unlimited time.

Now if you do have unlimited time you can play this game for awhile and learn to master all of its sophisticated nuances. But that shouldn't take more than an hour!

Smart Phone Roulette

2009-02-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

When buying a cell phone today, you have to play what I call "smart phone roulette." There are so many brands and features, that you really want to do your research and choose wisely. Otherwise your "smart phone" may be dumber than your stapler. At least with the iPhone, it may cost a bit more than the knockoffs, but at least you know you are getting real quality.

The other thing you know if you choose an iPhone is that there are millions of applications out there that have been designed specifically for the iPhone. For example, you can play a version of mobile roulette -- not smart phone roulette but the actual casino game) using the touch sensitive screen to lay a wager and take a spin. This is not a mock up, it's the real game. if you win, then you win real cash which you can quickly download into your bank account all by using your phone.

The game looks and feels authentic. It also doesn't take long to play. Each round only has to last a few seconds. You can take longer but the choice is up to you. Everyone will end up customizing his or her gaming preferences. That is one of the greatest advantages that comes with playing on a platform as flexible as the iPhone.

So the next time you find yourself with some extra time to kill, take out your iPhone and play a few rounds of roulette. You will see why these phones have become so popular around the world.

Blackjack on the Hip

2009-02-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled today because a friend just e-mailed me that there is now a version of blackjack that I can play on my iPhone. As you know, since getting the iPhone, I just don't go anywhere without it. With the nifty hip holster, I can take my little buddy anywhere. Whether I should need a phone, e-mail connection, mp3, or video player -- I have everything I need within a 2 second grab no matter what I am doing.

So until now, the only thing missing has been real games (ones that you can actually win some cash as opposed to a smiley face) that were developed with the iPhone in kind. Sure, you could try downloading some stuff and hoped it would work on your iPhone.

But now, I see there are casino game applications that have been launched that were specifically designed for the iPhone. This is huge news (although it was not unexpected.) So now that I can have my two favorite hobbies (playing with the iPhone and playing Blackjack) together, I am really pleased.

The iPhone Blackjack plays smooth and seamless. Everything you need is just a touch away, from payout odds to taking insurance to splitting your hand. You can play whenever or wherever you feel like it. With the touch screen, you can play as fast as you are able. There's no waiting for the game to keep up with you.

I am sure after a few hours I will try something news. But for right now, don't disturb me, I'm on a roll.

Mission Leprechaun

2009-02-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

In essence, Mission Leprechaun is an Irish version of the classic game Packman. The strategy is the same. You control the protagonist, in this case a leprechaun, and you try and collect treasure and free other captive leprechauns. Along the way, you must avoid snakes and goblins and bombs and all sorts of other dangers. If they touch you, you are done.

However, you should keep in mind that there are also scattered throughout the maze, items that will give you special powers. One makes it possible for you to attack and kill the hazards. Another freezes them. If you can quickly freeze them and then touch the reversal button, you can score lots of points by eating up all the frozen hazards. When you hear the voice warning that your special powers are about to end, get out of the area fast. As soon as they end, the hazards resume their menacing attacks.

Obviously, the key is to work the maze over section by section. Move about the corners until the hazards starts to chase you. When they come after you, move on to a different section of the maze. Never stay in one place to long. you must keep moving.

What is great is that this game can be downloaded to your phone or PDA. So you can now play it anywhere you want at any time. While you are waiting for a meeting to start, try it out. Turn off the sound and everyone will assume you are working! Just don't smile too much. If it looks like you are having a good time, everyone will know that you are playing a mobile game.

I don't know why the Leprechaun theme is so popular. But the little guys grow on you. Much more fun than a "packman" (in my humble opinion.)

Fill It For Free

2009-01-25T03:44:00.000-08:00

The problem with "Fill It For Free' is not anything to do with the game. It is well designed. It is fun and challenging. You can compete against yourself or against the world by trying to get the highest global score. No, my only problem with Fill It is that I have seen the same game concept countless times.

Recently I reviewed Mars Invasion. This game is almost identical, just without the nice graphics. To say that the graphics for "Fill It" are bare bones would actually be paying the game a compliment. The graphics are virtually non-existent. I know the game is free, but even free games must have some sort of standards. Some people just don't care about graphics. for them, this game will be fine. In fact, they may like it better because it loads so fast. The more graphics a game as, the longer the typical loading time.

Your job is divide up the screen and section of portions without getting hit by the things racing round. You try and trap them in smaller and smaller sections of the playing area until you complete the minimum score for the level. It is usually about 80 percent. That means that you must keep sectioning off smaller sections until the bad guys are confined to just twenty percent of the original playing area.

As you go up in levels, there is one more bad guy added. So level one, there are just two guys to look out for. Level two, you have three guys. The farthest I could get was level five. With six guys swarming all around, it really is very hard to rope of a single section, let alone eighty percent of the area.

Once again, if you want faster loading times and don't mind very basic graphics, this game is for you. Otherwise try Mars Invasion for the same playing experience with better visuals.

The Commander's Sister

2009-01-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

The Commander's Sister is much more than you ever expect to get from a free game. It actually has a convincing plot, is challenging, and requires deep strategic thinking. You get to know the characters (including the Commander's sister) through the extensive story line. While some people just want to rush in and start shooting in a game. I find it more fulfilling when I have to spend one minute understanding the game. I mean, it's only one minute.

Here is the background. For some reason, China and the U.S. are on the verge of war. China demands that America abandon a military base in Twain. The American commander refuses to do so. You -- the new Captain -- have the task of defending the base form the Chinese. The narration is even filled with fake CNN reports and a message from U.S. President Hillary Clinton (no comment!)

The way you do this is by quickly building defenses along the base's perimeter. Your defense include turrets and various weaponry. Once set-up, the weapons fire at any vehicle that comes close. You use the mouse to select and build weapons. The space bar removes you from build mode and puts you back in the combat setting.

Beware though. As time goes by, more and more enemy vehicles try and breach the walls. It becomes difficult just to keep up. Just when you are running around like crazy is when the Commander's sister drops in. You see, in the midst of the battle, despite the carnage, the danger and so forth -- there is still time for romance. Yes, the Commander's sister has a thing for you -- the new Captain. But can the relationship really work when you are being swarmed by enemy forces?

You need to play to find out the answer!

Bluep -- Even the name doesn't mean anything

2009-01-11T22:51:00.000-08:00

Bluep. When I first heard of this game, I was intrigued. It sounded like it had something to do with the color blue. Beyond that, I had no clue what the game would be. Would this be an action game? A game of skill? A strategic game? I downloaded to my PDA and decided to find out.

Well, the background color is blue. Believe it or not, that is the nicest thing I have to say about this boring game. You control this -- thing-- (a "Bluep") in the center of the playing field. You can move and shoot at a bunch of blob-like things that try and shoot you. The whole time, a mind-numbing electronic version of the Godfather theme is playing non-stop on a loop that is way too short. If you shoot the blobs, you get points. If they shoot you, you die. Real advanced, right?

The first problem is the controls. The game defaults to a standard "AWSD" set up. But "AWSD" is only helpful if you are left handed. If you use your right hand to play, it is not helpful at all. You can change the settings from the main menu and insert the arrow keys. Why they don't default to the arrows is beyond me. But -- get this -- every time you die it changes your settings. No one playing a game wants to spend time resetting settings each round. It takes all the fun right out of it.

So you kill the blobs. Who cares. All you get is to hear more of the music that was never meant to be played by a microchip. Trust me, if you play this game, you will not be able to get that tune out of your head. You will eat, sleep, and play with that tune going on and on.

But let me tell you how I really feel....

Test Word and Poker Skills in WordKing Poker

2009-01-04T04:48:00.000-08:00

Combine two skills and double your fun!

If you have ever enjoyed any form of gambling, and at the same time craved some intellectual stimulation, WordKing Poker has got to be the game for you. At least, that is what I feel about it. In WordKing Poker you get to play poker and scrabble all at the same time! What this game is in effect is a poker game which uses scrabble pieces! That is why I always call it poker for the intellect. And you can play it wherever you are at any time of day or night since it comes on the mobile phone.

Why I love to play WordKing Poker

For me, while I always loved playing scrabble (because of the concept of the whole word forming thing of the game), I did find that it was not as cool as more high tech modern games are today. So when I found out about WordKing Poker, and saw the super cool graphics, I saw that as my opportunity to play scrabble at a higher, cooler level. The only thing I would change about WordKing Poker is making it multiplayer. It is unfortunate that this feature is not yet included in the game.

Variety in WordKing Poker

The other cool thing about WordKing Poker is the variety it entails. You can play lots of different types of poker like 7 card stud, 5 card, Texas Hold'em and more, and at the same time use your word play skills. The game has a really comprehensive dictionary too and the higher level game you play, the more challenging it will be for those real word buffs.

How to play WordKing Poker

Players get dealt 2 scrabble cards which have a letter and the point score (as in regular scrabble). The aim of the game is to use the letters you have (along with ones you will take from the community pile like in a poker game) so that you can create the longest and highest score words. Depending on how much you bet will depend on how much you win.

Mobile Casino Games

2008-12-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

Casino games have sure come a long way. Once upon a time, if you wanted to play casino games, you had to actually go and travel to a real casino. Then, about a decade ago, they came up with the idea of the online casino. That meant you could stay home and open up your computer and enjoy the same games at home as you would play in the casino.

Now we have the latest thing: mobile casino games that you can play on your mobile phone, iPhone, or iPod Touch.

The best mobile casino games that I have found are at All Slots Mobile Casino. It has a nice selection of the most popular games, like roulette, blackjack, and six different slot machines. It also has some other games that I am less familiar with, like baccarat and keno, but I intend to check them all out.

Another thing about mobile casino games is that you can play them for free or you can play them for real money. Of course, the theme of this blog from the very beginning has been free mobile games, so naturally I started off playing the games in Demo mode. (That’s what they call it when you play the games for free.) After a while, though, I wanted to see what it was like to play them in real-money mode, so I gathered up my courage and opened an account with the casino.

Well, I deposited 40 pounds into my brand new mobile casino account, the casino gave me another 40 pounds as a Welcome Bonus, and I started playing the mobile roulette game. I mostly bet on 27 because that’s my birthday, and I also made some bets on the 25-26-27 “Street,” on the 3rd Dozen, and on the Odd numbers. I played for about an hour and a half, and when I was finished, I had 83 pounds in my casino account.

Mobile roulette was a lot of fun to play. There is suspense as you decide how you want to place your bet, and then the suspense builds as the roulette wheel spins around and you wait to see if your bet is a winner. Mobile roulette is a game that I recommend to all adults to play and have fun.

Mars Invasion

2008-12-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

Mars Invasion is a great, fun mobile game that can be downloaded to your cell phone or PDA. In fact, it is one of the best free games I have played. That's because it's incredibly addictive. Unlike most free games, the levels just keep coming and coming, each one getting harder and harder.

The concept is simple. You are invading Mars. You have to capture a certain percent of the territory to move up to the next level. On the first level, you need to conquer eighty percent of the area. By the ninth level, that percentage has been increased to the almost impossible eighty-six percent.

While you are going around conquering area, the Martians are fighting back. Every level, there is one more Martian you are faced with fighting. So on level nine, you are facing nine separate enemies, all intent in reclaiming the land you have conquered already. That is what makes the game so challenging. At one time, you are just two percent away from finishing the level. Then the Martians come along and all of a sudden you are ten percent back.

You start off with three lives. After level four, you earn an additional life for every level you conquer. If you spot a special power-up, drive over it and you can gain a turbo boast or even slow the Martians down with a freeze ray. But be careful, these effects are only temporary. At any time, the Martians come back to life with a vengeance.

A great strategy is to create traps for the Martians and divide and conquer. Keep them apart and you will have an easier time conquering territory. Otherwise, there will be just too many of them in a small space for you to do any serious damage. Conquer small bits of territory at a time, it is a much safer than going for a quick win (although quick wins are more satisfying.)

Metal Ball

2008-12-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

Metal ball is a fun mobile game that you can download for free and play wherever you want. All you need is a cell phone with gaming option, PDA, or any other type of hand-held that supports gaming. The game combines, graphics, music, and strategy to provide an addictive form of entertainment.

There are many, many levels. On the first level, all you need to do is move a little, metal ball with the arrow keys, along a track that is both flat and straight. Level one is very easy and in no way prepares you for what is to come. Level two throws a few variations in, the track goes around a few corners, but still nothing fancy. You can handle it.

The real fun stuff comes about around level five. By this time you are going along a track that has ramps going up and down, sudden changes of direction, and places where the track is hardly wider than the ball. If you miss the edge, you fall into the abyss. You will then be restarted from the same track, just further back.

The soundtrack of the game is one of those post modern keyboard pieces that are for some reason soothing to the ear. It is much better than most of the grinding synthesized generated stuff that normally pulses throughout games like these. The designers actually found a piece of music that complements rather than detracts from the game play.

A good strategy is to always try and stay in the center of the track. You give yourself a few precious seconds that way when you see an obstacle is approaching. Play with two fingers and always angle the direction of the ball. Pressing up and left for example, sends the ball to the Northwest. The more you play, the more you will get the hang of it.

Find Your Hero in Heroes: The Official Mobile Game

2008-10-19T05:08:00.001-07:00

Feel what it is like to be a real hero

Have you ever wanted to be a hero? Have you ever dreamed about living in a fantasy type world where it is you who is the real hero who saves the day? Perhaps that is why you love the series Heroes. If that is the case, then you will likewise love the mobile phone game Heroes. Because Heroes brings all your fantasies almost into reality as you start to become a part of this cool, super-fantastic world. As well, you also get to relive the show that you have probably been enjoying for a while. Imagine: your favorite show, through your mobile phone and you get to actually be a real part of it. What could be better?

Get even more from this game than from the show

In addition, playing Heroes: the Official Mobile Phone Game gives you more information about the plot of the show. You can play the game throughout America, well, in 4 different places at least, from the streets of New York City, Las Vegas, the future of New York City and the museum. You get to do all this through realistic settings on location that transport you to these places, again immersing you in a wonderful world of fantasy.

Which character do you want to be?

You even get to choose your own heroic character. Who have you always secretly fantasized about being? Is it Hiro, Peter or Niki? You can play one or all of them. And you get to enjoy their individual powers too. All those super hero powers you wanted to have while watching the show, well, in Heroes: the Official Mobile Game, you actually get to live them out. That is what I like doing. I am making my way home after a long day at the office, waiting for the bus and rather than just engage in such mundane activities, I can be a hero and enjoy all those super cool powers. Sometimes I just wish I had enough powers to push my way on to my bus in rush hour! But here I get to do whatever I want and for once in my day become very much less ordinary than the rest of my life. Just think, maybe one day I will be able to save the world. But if that does not happen then in the meantime I can pretend to save the world via this cool mobile phone game.

Slots Galore and Cash Too

2008-09-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

Slots tournaments are a great way to get to play lots of games for a very small investment. Lucky players will still walk away with a bundle while the rest will have spent only a very minor investment for their participation. Slots tournaments as they are held by the Jackpot Factory's World Series of Slots are even better and more fun. Here, the initial participation in the tryouts is absolutely free thus, the initial investment in absolutely nil!

Buying in to the tournament after tryouts is also possible and not very expensive. Buying in to one of the weekend tournaments (with a big jackpot of 10,000$ and a total of 25,000$ in cash prizes!) costs just 25$. Buying in to the big contests (1st of October and 1st of November with jackpots of 50,000$ and 100,000$ respectively) costs only 50$! This is the biggest event of its kind yet and anyone who's anyone will be participating!

Get into Fantasy with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2008-09-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

Go into a world of magic with this cool mobile phone game

If you like magic and you love Harry Potter (who doesn't?) then you will have such fun with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This mobile phone game features magic, wizards, action, and battles all at the same time. In this game, Harry Potter meets up with some students in an attempt to train them in defence against the dark arts. It is you, the player, who has to fight the Death Eaters in this game.

Enjoy increasingly hard levels for a greater challenge

If you like a challenge, then Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with its 7 levels will probably appeal. Also, for anyone who is Potter mad (as I am), this is the most perfect way to satisfy that craving. You really get in to the whole spirit of Harry Potter and all the films and you actually feel like (almost) that you are a part of that whole world. The graphics are a lot of fun and they are probably what makes the game so exciting and such a great way for Potter fans to have fun on their mobile phones while reminiscing about those great movies and books.

Enjoy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix mobile phone game time and again

What really appeals to me about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is that no matter how many times I play it, there is something new in the game. This is quite unlike a lot of other mobile phone games I have played in the past. But because there is so much going on with this game (pretty much like the books and movies I guess), you always want to come back for more (which is probably why the books and movies were such a success). So as well as re-enjoying the whole Harry Potter series, your gaming skills are tested and challenged too.

MoThello fun for Mobile Phones

2008-08-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

Get Better at Othello with MoThello!

Having never played traditional Othello before, I was not initially too excited to start playing MoThello (the mobile phone version of Othello). But my friend at work told me the game was a riot, she loved it and she herself had never gotten into Othello either. "Mobile phones are changing everything," she said. "Even if you never liked a game in its real form, you will love it in its mobile form, especially MoThello." So I decided to give it a go. The rules are the same with MoThello and Othello, but the graphics, sounds and speeds, make the game so much more exciting and faster.

How to Play MoThello

What you have to do is beat the other player by having more of your discs on the board than them. There are two colors (and thus two players): black and white. The person with the black discs moves first. Each player gets a turn when they have to try and flip at least one opposing disc but if this cannot be achieved, then they cannot make a move and their opponent gets another turn. Sometimes though, a player can do really well and flip more than one disc at a time, in any direction (vertically, diagonally or horizontally). When both players get to the point where they are unable to move, the game comes to an end and the player with the most discs on the board wins.

Win MoThello With Fun

I found that initially I was doing pretty badly with MoThello. I guess it was because it reminded me of how bad I used to be at board games and how I had often tried to avoid them. But once I got over that initial attitude and started playing MoThello with an attitude of fun and relaxation, I found that I was able to do pretty well. It took time and it took patience (i.e., the more I played the better I did), but I soon realized that the more I relaxed, the better off I was. Now I play MoThello whenever I have a few minutes at the end of a work day or while traveling to avoid those boring business calls I so often need to take on my mobile phone. MoThello is far more exciting than using my mobile phone to chat!

Develop Strategy to Get 4 In a Row

2008-07-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

Are You Better On the Mobile Than On Land?

That is the 64 million dollar question really isn't it? If you ever played a game on a board, or the real (as opposed to virtual) version of the game, were you any good at it? Do you think that playing the same game on a mobile phone will improve your chances of winning or your skill set? Well with 4-In-a-Row I wouldn't know since I had always been really good at Connect 4 when I used to play it against my brother. And I wasn't even sure why. It was not like I was really old enough or intelligent enough to have been able to develop a strategy for play. But somehow I just had the knack. So when I discovered that 4-In-a-Row was available for downloading to my mobile phone, I was pretty excited.

How to Play 4-In-a-Row

There are two players in 4-In-a-Row. Players are presented with a grid with 7 holes across and 6 holes down. Each player has a different color round piece with which to form four in a row (either diagonal, horizontal or vertical). In this version the colors are purple and yellow. While you are trying to form your own 4-In-a-Row, you are simultaneously trying to make sure that your opponent does not form his 4-In-a-Row. If he does, you are automatically out and he has won the game. So the strategy of 4-In-a-Row is very much dual based - look at your opponent and look at yourself as well at the same time. Thus thinking ahead before each move is advisable. If you just throw your piece in, trying to get 4-In-a-Row, you may inadvertently make a move that helps your opponent and thus you will lose!

July Free Slots Tournament

2008-07-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

July is the best month. Sunshine, baseball, barbeques, and of course, the Free Slots Tournament hosted by the Jackpot Factory. Just think, without spending a dime, you could win $50,000 -- just by playing slots!

O.K., so that's nicer than some grilled hot dogs, don't you think? Even better, you can play the games for free on your mobile device so you could even be at a picnic while winning all that cash. Here's how it works:

The tournament can be played at All Slots Casino and All Jackpots Casino, two of the most reputable and well known online casinos. Every day, you can enter a free semi-final event from July 1, 2008 until July 30, 2008. The top fifty slot winners each day are automatically entered in the August $100,000 giveaway. Of course, for $50, you can guarantee yourself a seat at the table of the big draw, even if you are not one of the many semi-final winners.

The $100,000 main even begins on August 1, 2008 at 6:00 AM GMT and concludes on August 4, 2008 at 6:00 AM GMT. While you may have heard about mega poker tournaments or roulette "scrambles", this is one of the only big money, free slots tournaments. Just think, all you need is a little luck and you could get $50,000 and still have half the Summer to spend it! (Actually, you can spend the money whenever you want. But if you did want to spend it in August, well that would be one heck of a barbeque!)

So play now. Everyone has some free time during the day when they could play. Just think, while waiting for (or even sitting through) a boring meeting, you could win enough for a couple of new cars! The tournament is on now so play today!

Play Like the Old Days With Mobile Checkers

2008-06-26T05:48:00.001-07:00

Get Back to Basics With Checkers

I had always liked to play board games on a Sunday afternoon with my parents and younger siblings. It had been a fun way to pass the time since I always found the weekends pretty boring. Now, as an adult, of course, this is never the case; there always seemed to be a huge array of different fun and exciting things to do. The different games you could get for mobile phones these days is amazing so there is always a ton for me to do. And after trying out all the new and exciting and stimulating games, I decided I wanted something a bit more simple. Well, it was at that point that I got hold of Checkers for my mobile phone and I can honestly say that I have never looked back.

First of all, I really think that the mobile phone version of Checkers is way more exciting than the old game I used to play on a board on the floor on a Sunday afternoon. The graphics in this particular version move quickly and the sounds seem to make the game more exciting. It is an easy game to play, once you have learned the basic rules. This version offers three different difficulty levels to choose from. Obviously (just my personality type) I chose the hardest one first. Well, that turned out to be a mistake as my opponent (you can choose to play against the computer chip in the phone or other mobile phone users; I chose the latter) was WAY better than I was. So that was a bit of a disaster.

Understand Basic Rules

The aim of Checkers is to get rid of all other checkers so that you can prevent your opponent from making any successful move. The black checker gets to move first and the only direction you can both move is forward. The two categories of moves are non-capturing and capturing. With the former, you get to move diagonally from one square to an adjacent square (this doesn't include white squares as they are not used). The latter type enables you to jump but this can only be done when the square behind is empty but the advantage is that multiple jumps can be made. You can even jump again if the situation on the board allows for it (i.e., take two moves in one, or even more).

After I got over my arrogant attitude, I saw that by starting at level 1 and playing consistently, I was really improving my skill set in Checkers. I am currently on level 2 and hope that in a few weeks' time I will progress (successfully and with a chance of winning) to level 3. Check it out; it really is a lot of fun.

Let's go Bowling

2008-06-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Do you like to bowl?

I do. It's a good way to pass the time, and you don't need a lot of skill to enjoy the game. I try to get out to the lanes about once a month, or so, either as a date with my wife or a night with the guys.

So, when I got my new cell phone and started playing with, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of the games was a bowling game. I had to try it out.

At first, I wasn't impressed. The game was simple, but the controls were cell phone controls: too complicated for easy use.

To play, all I had to do was position the ball in the lane, choose how strongly to roll it, and set an angle to roll it. It rolled down the lane and hit the pins on its own. The main drawback is that there is no room at all for individual skill; the game program deteremines what happens when the ball hits the pins, so there is no room for fancy shots that can hit 7-10 split. On the other hand, once you figure what combination of settings will hit the 1-2 pocket, there's really no way at all that you can avoid a good score.

Basically, this game is good for mindless entertainment. The sort of entertainment that you need when you standing in line at the bank or the post office for 40 minutes, to carry out a 3 minute transaction that you really should have done by mail a week earlier, except you forgot, and now a personal transaction is required.

See How Well You Can Drop n' Roll

2008-05-22T05:45:00.001-07:00

Since I don't always have that much time to play my mobile games, but I always like the light hearted relief they bring, I decided to check out Drop n' Roll. It seemed like the game was not going to require an intense brain puzzle solving power. Yet at the same time, Drop n' Roll looked like it was going to be a bit of a challenge for the minimal time that I did have. What you have to do with Drop n' Roll is simple enough. You have to get the hero Rollo to the exit, by clearing the blocks. But the only way you can clear the blocks is if they match. Then, when you see matching blocks you just group them all together and then they can be cleared. The other aspect of Drop n' Roll that I really liked was that there are over 50 different puzzles in the game to be solved, so you don't have a chance to ever be bored. I often try different ones, depending on my mood and since the animations and sounds are hot, all puzzles end up being fun. I've yet to attempt the master level because I'm still working on trying to get really good at the general level. But each level gets harder and harder so I feel like I'm getting there, slowly. Drop n' Roll is a good game to improve mobile phone control too, especially for those who are new to mobile phone gaming. Also, no matter how old or young you are, you can find a level on Drop n' Roll to suit and that will be fun and enjoyable. So start moving Rollo around, by dropping and rolling in this cool mobile phone game.

Fill The Pool Fast In Bubukong Bath Time

2008-05-14T06:54:00.001-07:00

Make Waves With Bubukong Bath Time

In this game it is speed that counts, but with strategy too. The aim of the game is to fill up the pool with water so that Alyssa can enjoy the bath before mid day. Now, this makes it sound like the game would be relatively easy. But it is not because the players have to deal with Bubukong which makes everything so much harder. It seems that Bubukong does try to help, but by doing so just ends up making things worse. So you have to fight against Bubukong while trying to achieve the goal of the game - filling up the tub. Getting the water is easy; you can get it from the river - but that is not the challenge of the game. The challenge is coming up with ways to beat Bubukong at his own game.

Get Back to Basics with Bubukong

I think I liked playing Bubukong Bath Time because it took me back to all the old games I used to play. I guess this is because the graphics are so basic and simple, almost like the age-old pac man style. Games were pretty good in those days even though graphics were basic. Since today there are so many flash, hyper cool graphics, the old ones seem to have disappeared in to oblivion. So I do like to come back to these basic graphics and enjoy a game like Bubukong Bath Time; it is funny to see how unreal a character like Alyssa looks; she is almost like a square person!

Bubukong Bath Time is also not such a difficult game to master so for anyone who wants a bit of fun but is not looking for too much of a challenge or to be over stimulated, Bubukong Bath Time could really be the perfect game for them. Besides, given that it is free to download to mobile phones, the price of Bubukong Bath Time is most definitely right!

SameGame 2 ? No Good For the Colorblind!

2008-04-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

I was always looking for the kind of game for my mobile phone that just didn't take too much energy or brain power. At the end of a long day at the office, or a stressful conversation with my fiancé (never have a long engagement ? it's just the worst), the last thing I wanted to do was be challenged by a game on my mobile phone. Nonetheless, I was still looking for a bit of light hearted relief. And indeed that was exactly what I got when I download SameGame 2 on to my phone. What happens in SameGame 2 is that you are faced with a screen with a bunch of different colors (which you can select depending on your preference). I liked to play SameGame 2 with traditional colors of bubble popping type games so I opted for: red, blue, green and yellow, figuring these were the most dominant and thus easy to distinguish of the colors. There you will find groups of colors bunched together. It is your job to grab as many as possible of the same color and remove them from the board. So what you want to be looking out for is a whole bunch of one color grouped together ? that way, the more blocks you have, the quicker you'll be able to remove them and thus win the game. Then, the more often you do that, the less blocks you have on the board and thus the harder it gets to find a group of clustered one colored blocks. But that just makes the game more exciting. I do find with SameGame 2, time and again, that it's a really fun game that makes you want to come back all the time because you just want to beat your previous score. And the more you play SameGame 2, the easier that is to do.

The Slots Tournament of the Century

2008-04-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

All Slots and All Jackpots have combined to give us the greatest slots tournament this century! With a grand total of $100,000 in cash prizes, this is definitely one slots tournament you really can’t afford to miss! A free chance at several thousand dollars is not something that happens every day!
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Twenty One Trivia Competition

2008-03-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

So you have a new phone or PDA that you can play games from the Internet on. You have probably played all the usual action, racing, and strategic games. Maybe you have even tried playing a game of chance from one of the many online casinos. Well, don't stop there. There are so many more interesting things you can play on the Internet.

Take trivia games for example. There are many of these, and with some, you can win cash or other prizes. But the real challenge is figuring out the trivia. One of the most popular is the "21 Trivia Competition" making the Internet and e-mail rounds these days. All the questions and answers are related to the number "21." So the questions can be about anything from politics to movies to popular music.

Now don't worry about getting stumped. You can always do an internet search using Google or any popular search engine. Just put in the key words of the question to find a webpage with the right answer. Take your time, this trivia competition has no time limit.

Here's the real reason top play: the winner gets $21,000. That's right. $21,000 just for answering twenty-one trivia questions. What could be easier? Rarely are there Internet games in which you can win so much money without needing any skill whatsoever.

So as soon as you have a few spare moments, just cruise the Internet, collect your answers, and give the $21,000 a shot. It doesn't cost anything to play so what have you got to lose?

Castle Smasher

2008-03-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

Castle Smasher is a thinking game. It is much less about quick reflexes and more about brain power. Of course, you have to be quick to win, but you also have to be clever. This is a game that is easy to use and lots of fun when downloaded to a mobile device like a cell phone or PDA.

As the name suggests, the object is to destroy a castle filled with enemy soldiers. Your weapon is a catapult and a limited number of stones. You use the numeric pad (or mouse if you are playing from home) to aim, build up power, and release the catapult. Depending on how well you chose, the stone either knocks down a section of the castle or misses it. If you run out of stones, you lose.

After you begin hitting the castle, enemy soldiers run toward you and try and capture the catapult. You must start to shoot faster. You have a few soldiers defending you, but they won't last forever. If you destroy the entire castle, you win the level. Before starting the next level (which is, of course, a bigger castle and more enemy soldiers), you get to choose one of three possible upgrades. Either start with an extra rock, get bouncier rocks, or get one more defending soldier. I recommend bouncier rocks. They can take out more sections of the castle with one shot. When you get an extra rock, that only matters if you get down to your last throw. Usually, if you are down to one more rock, you have more than one castle wall to take down and you can't win.

Castle Smasher is fun, challenging, and doesn't take up too much time. In short, all the features you want in a fun mobile game.

Stunt Pilot Trainer

2008-02-11T05:13:00.000-08:00

Who ever thought you could have so much fun on your cell phone! Stunt Pilot Trainer is such a fun game, that you might play it on your phone or PDA even when not killing time. That's right, this is a real game, not just something to do for distraction while you are waiting around. The great thing about the fun mobile game version is that you can take it anywhere. As long as you have a cell phone, you can play. So let's see how it works.

The graphics are clean, well laid out, and easy to understand. Some mobile games are not made to be played on small screens. Not Stunt Pilot Trainer. Ease of use/simplified control is also a good way of measuring how good a game can be on a mobile device. You can't have too many controls to think about and trying to press too many tiny buttons gets frustrating.

With this game, you just have to manipulate two buttons. They control whether the nose of your aircraft is pointed up or down. The object is to make it through giant hoops suspended in the air. Every time you go through one, you score points. If you miss, just keep going up until you flip over. But be careful, if you get too close to the ground you could lose control and crash.

There are also giant hot air balloons floating round the hoops. if you touch one of these, you crash. As the game goes along, it gets more and more tricky. While it is relatively easy to get past levels one and two, level three is a bear. Just keep trying, eventually you will get though it all. One more thing, the quicker you are the more points you score for completing a level. The game also remembers your high score.

Motorallye

2008-02-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

No, we did not spell "Motorallye" incorrectly. This free mobile game was made in France where "Motorallye" means "Motor Rally." (Sounds obvious but I put that in just in case someone thought it might mean motor "ally"). What, you may ask is a motor rally? It simply refers to a cross country motorcycle race where jumps, stunts, and extremely sharp turns are normal for the course.

The game graphics are straightforward. You don't want overcomplicated pictures loading up when you are playing on a cell phone, right? You use the number pad to control the motorcycle. You gain points every time you successfully jump an obstacle. You lose points (and eventually the game) if you hit an obstacle or fall down a hole. (Yes, unlike in real races, the course in Motorallye is filled with gaping holes that can swallow a biker and rider whole!) If you complete the course within the time limit, you move up to the next level. The higher level you are on, the harder it gets. However, you accumulate points much quicker also.

The sound effects are not bad for a free mobile game. Of course what you hear depends on the quality of the phone or PDA you are using. On a crowded bus, ear phones would help with this game.

The instructions are written in French, but don't let that stop you. The truth is that you really don't need instructions to play this game. All you need is quick reflexes and to figure out the buttons for jump, go, and brake. That you can do in less than thirty seconds.

The game works well on all types of cell phones although it is best on Nokia and similar platforms. Download time depends on your Internet connection and variable phone speed.

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

2008-01-22T00:35:00.001-08:00

Forget about snake and bowling, today there are literally thousands of free mobile games that can be downloaded to a cell phone of PDA in a few seconds. Some of them are quite sophisticated. The great thing about them is that you can take them anywhere.

Take Brothers in Arms 3: Hell's Highway for example. The Brothers in Arms series is a sequential action scenario game featuring detailed combat operations and requiring strategic planning. You can download the game for free from a number of websites. While it takes some getting used to, you will like the sophistication. As we said, this is no "snake game."

Just a few years ago, manufacturers added games to phones almost as an afterthought. They had no idea how much people like to play great games while on the move. Let's face it -- in today's world we have a lot of down time. Waiting for trains, buses, and meetings to start, we need distractions that we can look forward to. The Brothers in Arms series is great for this.

Hell's Highway starts where the earlier games left off. You are an army commander leading an elite unit deep inside enemy territory. You get points for completing missions without getting killed. When you complete a mission, you advance to the next level. If you have to go while in the middle of a scenario, you can indefinitely pause the game and pick it up next time you have time.

Hell's Highway really is an entertaining way to -- pardon the expression -- kill some time. You need to read through the rules when you start, but after that its pretty much self explanatory. When you do really well, the game will remember your high score so that every time you play, you are challenged.

Get a Twist on Sudoku with Hitori

2008-01-03T00:37:00.001-08:00

Enjoy A Great Puzzle Game with Hitori

I had always been in to Sudoku, ever since I discovered one day by chance in my daily newspaper. But after a while, I am not sure exactly what happened, I felt like I wanted a change. So when a friend told me he had just downloaded Hitori on to his mobile phone, and he described it as a ?game of Sudoku with a twist,? I figured it could not do any harm to give the game a try. When asking about what kind of name Hitori is, my friend told me that he did not know but that it is a Japanese word as the game originates in Japan.

How Hitori is Played

The game is played on a grid like Sudoku (depending on which version you choose there are various grid sizes from pretty small to up to 17 x 17 squares). In the beginning of the game, all the squares have a number on them. They are either shaded or unshaded. Players must ensure that the shaded ones do not ever come in to contact with each horizontally or vertically. Unshaded squares follow the counter rule; they have to be touching at all times so that they form a line at all times. A player can activate shading or unshading by using their left mouse to click on the specific squares.

Cool Things About Hitori

What I found particularly cool about Hitori was the fact that even though it was a really easy game to learn how to play (simple rules and even simpler for Sudoku players), it requires a bit of strategy vis-à-vis what to do with the shaded and unshaded squares. But that is why I was sensible and started with the first, easiest version of the game. I have progressed since then of course, but I have yet to reach the hardest level. Still, I have all the time in the world given that the game is so accessible on my mobile phone.

Frogger Puzzle Complicates Road Crossing

2007-12-16T04:15:00.000-08:00

Frogger had always been a firm favorite of mine. A game that I loved playing on the computer because it didn't require all that much brain power. And that was exactly why I was so thrilled when I found Frogger Puzzle ? pretty much the same game that I was able to download (for free) on to my mobile phone. Frogger Puzzle is all the same fun as standard computer Frogger (although there are a ton of different versions of these now too ? those I play on line, on the game boy, etc.) but with extra features that make Frogger Puzzle even more fun! First of all, with Frogger Puzzle you actually get to feel like you are in a real arcade because the graphics are so hot (must be the software used). Second of all, the colors and sounds in Frogger Puzzle make you feel like you are playing for real (as opposed to on your mobile phone). Third, there are different versions of Frogger Puzzle that you can play ? classic and game play. and fourth, like the regular Frogger I enjoyed so much, the rules and the game controls are simple ? no Einstein required here. The aim of Frogger Puzzle is for you (the Frogger) to get across the other side of the street. You are standing on one side of the street, and you have to cross. There is a lot going on though while you're trying to cross so you have to be aware of everything all at once. In fact, as my friend said recently when we were both about to leave for work that day and just having one last game of Frogger Puzzle, ?it's a bit like every day driving in New York ? there are things coming at you from all different directions.? And I guess it is that, which really appeals to me about Frogger Puzzle!

Why The Spider in Spider Solitaire?

2007-11-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

I had always enjoyed playing Solitaire. I remember years ago, pretty much when games first came to computers, I was at work with a new computer. It had three games: Solitaire, Minesweep and Worms and I would alternate with the three all day long (when I had no work to do of course). But I always came back to Solitaire. I guess it was because it made me feel nostalgic. It was the game I had played (off line of course) with my late grandmother every Saturday afternoon following a cup of tea and some cookies. Anyway, a lot has changed since then obviously. Computer - and mobile phone - games have come a long way. So when I heard of Spider Solitaire, my curiosity was peaked. Why the Spider in the title I wondered?

Reap Benefits of Spider Solitaire If You Like Solitaire

I soon found out that Spider Solitaire was pretty much like the computer Solitaire I loved those years ago but with a real edge. The same rules apply vis-à-vis removing all the cards from the screen but you have 10 different piles, at least in this version. You have to remove them all from the screen after you have organized them in suits and numbers. There are two difficulty levels in this mobile game (easy which uses one suite and difficult which uses two). I find that I can finish a round in around 15 minutes if I do the easy level and so far about 40 minutes on the hard level, but that might just be because I'm not so accustomed to it yet. I can also pause the game whenever I want (which I do when my bus pulls up on the way to work). I like the graphics in this mobile phone game much more than I liked them on the basic solitaire computer based game. I wonder why it is called Spider Solitaire though?surely spiders are 8 legged (rather than 10) creatures, but maybe the creator of Spider Solitaire once saw a 10 legged spider!

Difference Between Spider Solitaire and Regular Solitaire

The biggest difference (and edge) I found between Spider Solitaire and its regular counterpart is probably HOW the cards are dealt. With the former, you get a whole row of cards dealt every time; but with regular solitaire it is just one card. This makes the game a little more challenging and way more exciting. You are less in control, have to place more emphasis on strategic development and have to use your brain much more in Spider Solitaire. Perhaps that is another reason it got its name - that is what you have to do when you have to deal with a spider in the bath - at least, that is what I have to do!

Win Real Money Playing Free Slots

2007-11-15T04:10:00.000-08:00

Please read the headline again: "Win Real Money Playing Free Slots." It doesn't make sense, does it? Everyone knows: you have to risk money to win money. But everyone also knows: there is an exception to every rule. I have found the exception to this rule, and now I would like to share it with you.

This unique opportunity is called the "$100,000 Free Slots Tournament," and it is found at All Jackpots Casino. There is really not much I need to say; the name pretty much says it all. This is an online slots tournament. It is giving away $100,000 in prizes, including a $50,000 first prize and hundreds of smaller prizes. And it is free to enter and play - no gimmicks or hidden fees.

The All Jackpots website gives all the details of how to register and play in the tournament, so I won't go into that here. What I will tell you, and what All Jackpots for some reason forgot to mention, is how much fun it is.

The $100,000 Free Slots Tournament involves playing the Tomb Raider slot machine game. This is a great game, and a lot of fun in any event. Tomb Raider is a 5-reel, 15-payline, online slot machine. It all revolves around super-archeologist Lara Croft and her adventures and exploits. The slot machine has symbols of Lara herself - armed and sexy - and Tomb Raider symbols, Idol symbols, Tiger symbols, and others. It has scatter symbols and wild symbols, and two special features: the Free Spins bonus game and the Tomb bonus game. All in all, it is a great slots game that I would recommend even without the $50,000 to be won.

So there you have it: $50,000 to be won, nothing to pay, and a lot of fun to boot. That's what I call a winning combination.

Test Spinach Strength With Popeye Kart Racing

2007-11-12T02:23:00.001-08:00

When I was a youngster, I had always enjoyed Popeye the sailor man, pretty much as well as all the other cartoons I could get find on the TV. But then I grew up and life took over and I guess I just had less time for these cartoons. But then as I grew up even more and I started having more ?toys? (those boys and their toys), I realized that I could recreate some of my childhood fantasies and fun times right on my mobile phone. So I was pretty thrilled to find Popeye Kart Racing. And since the game was rated 8.8 out of 10, that was even more appealing to me. The price was right so I decided to download it immediately. And boy was I glad I did! In Popeye Kart Racing all of my childhood enjoyment of the cartoon came back and I even had a craving for spinach (which my veggie loving girlfriend was thrilled by). I wanted to achieve that Popeye strength so that I could successfully race to the finish line. I chose to be Popeye of course (although you can choose from all the program's different characters); I got in my kart and started racing as fast as possible to the finish line. Popeye Kart Racing is a bit like virtual bumper cars from the amusement park, but a lot more fun (well at least it is for me) as you can go fast like crazy! You have to watch out for the other karts though because they go pretty fast too so it really is a case of who has eaten more spinach that day. And then I realized what a great idea the whole Popeye show was ? getting kids to eat their greens, as it sure was getting me to eat mine, and in that realm I'm usually no better than a 5 year old! Popeye Kart Racing is more than just a race though as there are a ton of different things that you can pick up along the way that will increase your power and help you to go faster. But watch out for your opponents ? there are all sorts of weapons they can have which can destroy you. Popeye Kart Racing sure is a fun game to play and very nostalgic too.

Go to Town With Downtown Video Slots

2007-10-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Given that I really had been playing the slot machines, whenever and wherever I could for more years than I cared to remember, I did not really think I could get any surprises. I mean, surely once you have played one slot machine or video slot, you have played them all. And really how good and exciting could video slots be on a mobile phone? How would the fun and excitement of a game like that be captured on such a small mobile screen?

Well, I sure was in for a treat with Downtown Video Slots. There is quite a lot of money to be made (even though it is virtual) with Downtown Video Slots too. And having the ability to play it on the move frees up my time so I feel like I am having fun but without wasting time. For a start, Downtown Video Slots is not just one game; players get to choose from 6 different themes and cool icons so there is no chance of getting bored. You decide how many coins or paylines to choose from and what kind of profits you want to aim for; the higher the stakes, the higher the risks, but that is what makes Downtown Video Slots so much fun. If you are into rodeos you can choose the Rodeo Fever theme. You can also choose your level ? by selecting either quick game or career modes and when you play the game you actually feel like you are in a real casino. There is a lot more going on with Downtown Video Slots, including bonuses, jackpot rewards.

In terms of the actual game, with Quick Game you will be given one of any 5 machines (these are selected randomly) but with Career Mode, you get to choose one of the 5 machines. In terms of paylines, you press the left cursor or 4 to add lines and right or 6 to add coins for the next spin. And then you spin the reels. Check the payout table by pressing the # key. The advantage of quick game is the instant access to one of the 5 video slots beginning with $1,000 bankroll.

Career mode is slightly different as you begin with $1,000 and choose your machine. You have free access to the lobby and can select different machines as you wish. If you want to get to the real treasure, you need to increase your bankroll to $150,00 and then you will be able to access the 6th and final mystery machine. You have to hit the jackpot reward symbol on all 6 machines to win the game.

Make Lemonade From Lemons

2007-10-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

I have always loved the phrase that if life serves you lemons, make lemonade. Well, now I am playing lemonade with Lemonade Tycoon, the fun mobile game I purchased on line for a mere $1.99. That must have been my first wise business move; all that great excitement for such a small price!I have played a few business simulation games in the past and they have never quite been my thing but somehow the graphics on this demo really attracted me to the game. I remember growing up with lemonade stands near our house during the hot summer days and maybe Lemonade Tycoon held some nostalgia for me. I was not sure what it was exactly but I guess it was a combination of a lot of great things going on, that made me want to purchase and play Lemonade Tycoon.Lemonade Tycoon lets you really get a feel for what (if any) entrepreneurial skills you have and if you could make it in the real business world. The idea is that you have a small business venture (the lemonade stand) and you have to see if you can develop it in to a big business. You want to choose where to put your stand (consider weather conditions); what specific recipe you want to use for your lemonade to make it the tastiest; what prices you are going to charge and how to manage your inventory. Although it may only be a lemonade stand, all of these aspects are the crucial basics of running a business, large or small.If you do make correct and wise business decisions playing Lemonade Tycoon you get more in the game, like being able to buy a larger refrigerator and moving to a higher traffic location (for more customers to buy your lemonade). With realistic simulations and lots of different customers with fun personalities, Lemonade Tycoon is a fun game to play on the mobile to get you thinking about if you might be the next Donald Trump!

Take Care of Virtual Bear

2007-09-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Because Teddy Bears Need Love Too

Remember the days when you were small and you had a little teddy bear that went everywhere with you and comforted you when you were sad? I remember it well. I had Tony the Teddy Bear and I used to cry in to his chest and play with him and sleep with him held tight. He was a real source of comfort. In fact, even now, aged 32, I still have him with me. Tony has helped me through many a crisis. Well, when I saw that I could purchase Virtual Bear for my mobile phone, I jumped at the chance. I guess it was for personal, nostalgic reasons initially. This virtual bear that you have to take care of, reminded me exactly of Tony. He looked just like him but without the weird smile. The weird smile was good for me though; it just made me laugh.

Feel Maternal Taking Care of Virtual Bear

With Virtual Bear on my mobile phone, all my 'maternal instincts' came out. I knew I had to be on top of it as it were at all times. There were times I had to feed it, clothe it, train it and even play with it, just like I guess one does with a real child. And I got really in to it. It felt good because I knew it was counting on me. In fact with Virtual Bear, if you do not do all these things it will die! It is almost like it can die of a broken heart if it is not loved in the way it is meant to be. It may a little too realistic for some, but I had fun playing 'mother' to Virtual Bear.

Make Your Worms Fight Well In Worms 07

2007-09-04T03:13:00.000-07:00

Get fired up in a grizzly battle as you play Worms 07.
If you ever liked the worm game, then you will simply love Worms 07. It's so much more fun than the old worms games which now, in retrospect, look to be so basic. Worms were indeed one of the first games to hit the screens and it was somewhat of a boring game. But I guess worms have come on in leaps and bounds since those times because with Worms 07 it's almost nothing like the original version of the game. In fact you wouldn't even know the two ever had anything in common. The aim of Worms 07 is pretty much a battle one. Worms 07 is a bit like battle of the fittest. You're like the head worm (leading a bunch of other worms). What you have to do is attack the other worms (your opponents) so that they get smashed to worm smithereens and basically destroyed. And you get all sorts of things along the way which are supposed to help you. Take advantage of the weapons that come your way as they are what you need to attack your enemies, so just make sure you're using the right ones with which you can shoot your enemy. What's cool about Worms 07 is its 3D element, it's great graphics and terrific sounds. Plus, all the different time periods that you go through in Worms 07 are pretty cool too. You get to see a whole lot of things going on when playing Worms 07, that's for sure. I particularly enjoy the battleship. Also, even though generally I'm not so in to strategy games, I do feel like there's something extra appealing in Worms 07 that renders me to like the game nonetheless.

Make War Not Love In Battle for Orion's Belt

2007-08-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

I had never really been a battling kinda gal, but somehow, I got attracted to the super cool graphics on this fun mobile game - Battle for Orion's Belt. There's a whole series to buy (Battle Arena) but so far I'm happy with just this one. It's a real nail biting game as players have to try and remove their enemies (in all sorts of wild and wonderful ways), defend themselves (which certainly isn't as easy as I originally thought it might be - perhaps this is the most challenging part of the game) and keep returning to base to repair stuff and get more provisions. You wouldn't actually believe that you're sitting in the quiet comfort of your own home (or in any other place you choose with the versatility of this cool mobile game) while immersed in such an intense battle! Because that's really how I feel when I play Battle for Orion's Belt. And, like I said, I've never really been such a warrior. But the graphics make you lose it for a moment and really feel like you are waging war! And, to be honest, I really like that feeling. It's completely exhilarating. And it's not only the graphics - the digital sounds do it for me too.

Great Features in Battle for Orion's Belt

I probably really enjoy Battle for Orion's Belt and get totally immersed in it, because of the cool features like the fighting machine with the weapons, crazy speed and cool armor. And it's me who has to customize the ship to create this machine. There are all sorts of different things one can do to personalize their ship - and you have to try and figure out which will give you the best advantage when you're in the midst of battle. There are missiles (that are great enemy trackers), an electro-magnetic pulse which can knock out all the ships that are coming closer to you. There are other options too so it's up to you to really use your analytical skills to determine which will be the most helpful in this battle.

There really are a ton of different options to choose in Battle for Orion's Belt; so I find that the more I play, the more understanding I develop of how helpful (or not so helpful) they are going to be.

Love Your Pet More With Mobile Pet Tamagotchi

2007-08-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

Is This Pet For Real?Since my husband and I have always been just CRAZY about our little pet guinea pig Maxi, the idea of Mobile Pet Tamagotchireally appealed. When I was told that I could take my guinea pig wherever I go (what a huge fantasy that is), I jumped at the chance. How many times have we been thrown out of different places, or asked not to come in because we've been with our guinea pig - our pride and joy. So Mobile Pet Tamagotchi sounded like a real thrill. But I was somewhat skeptical; what, in practice, would the game actually mean? How would one play it? Get Playful With Mobile Pet TamagotchiWell, I soon found out. Mobile Pet Tamagotchi is all about being playful. It's true it's not actually my real, live Maxi that I get to take with me wherever I go, but with Mobile Pet Tamagotchi I do feel a sense of comfort and friendship. For sure it's not the same as having Gal with me, but it's a nice little distraction and given that I can pretty much take my mobile phone with me everywhere (how ridiculous is that; my guinea pig is WAY less invasive than half the loud rings I hear on mobile phones these days, but I digress), I have my little pet guinea pig which lives in my Nokia phone and will - just like Maxi - play with me whenever I want! Maxi is very much like that. He's ready to play 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And that is what you get with Mobile Pet Tamagotchi.Take Care of Mobile Pet TamagotchiBut just like with a real live guinea pig, Mobile Pet Tamagotchi makes you responsible. So I think that if anyone has kids who are driving them crazy to get them a guinea pig, let them play Mobile Pet Tamagotchi. See if they really will be responsible with this small test. You have to feed, walk and clean your guinea pig, as well as play with him or her, but REGULARLY (not just when you are in the mood for it). Because what happens if you don't? If you ignore your pet guinea pig for too long, it might actually die! Indeed, guinea pigs can die of a broken heart (being ignored), especially if they are accustomed to regular tender loving care (like Maxi is). Remember, guinea pigs can be unpredictable - and that is also what you will learn from Mobile Pet Tamagotchi? so keep a close eye on him! Mobile Pet Tamagotchi is definitely a fun way of getting a glimpse in to what it could be like to own a guinea pig.

Get Thrilled by Bounce Out!

2007-08-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

The only type of computer and mobile games I really get a kick out of are the puzzle and strategy ones that make you keep coming back and always wanting more. I guess my favorite of these on line (I have now downloaded it to my mac I like it so much) is Bubbleshooter. So when I was looking for fun mobile games to download to my cell phone I was excited to see its twin in the name of Bounce Out! Bounce Out is everything I get from Bubbleshooter with a whole lot more! And now I never have to stop my game because of its great mobility on my mobile phone! What more could anyone ask for?

You really do come back for more and then more and more with Bounce Out. What it is, is a whole lot of different colored balls on the screen. You get one of these colored balls to Bounce Out on all those balls and the goal is to aim that color at a group of at least 2 other balls of the same color to knock them out and ultimately clear the screen. Beware though; when there are hard to reach colored balls on the screen it is almost impossible to make the shot and then more balls appear (as opposed to you clearing the balls!). It is a fast and furious game; just how I like it and you will be more alert than ever as you try to beat the game!

I guess my best feature (that you do not get with Bubbleshooter) is the fuse. Because the fuse is lit on the ball and your aim is to knock out the colored balls, you have to go really fast so that you do not light it (and hence lose). That just adds excitement to the game and I now play it whenever I am waiting around and then I do not want to stop! Fun, fun, fun all the way!

Gameloft Solitaire Is So Cool!

2007-08-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

I had played solitaire before on my computer, while awaiting new tasks from my boss, so I guess that was why I downloaded the solitaire version on to my mobile phone. But I got way more than I ever expected with this cool version of solitaire. It was funny comparing the solitaire of those work days to the solitaire I play now. They were so different even though the basic principle remained the same. But also, it is much more than computer solitaire as it comes with 4 games (including freecell, pyramid and golf) so it really is more than just solitaire!

With Gameloft solitaire you can either play for dollars or solve the deal as fast as possible. Either way it is a lot of fun and you just always want to come back for more. It works really well for me as there are certain times during the day that I have a lot of time to kill but I am not near a computer. Gameloft solitaire is also extremely user friendly; you only need one thumb to control all the keys so it leaves you with one hand free to do everything else, while you wait your next task or appointment of the day. And no matter how experienced (or not) you are in solitaire, with Gameloft solitaire you can find your level as there is something for everyone. So that is some of the reasons why I am so glad I bought Gameloft solitaire!

Pick Up a Penguin With Fun Mobile Games

2007-08-02T03:20:00.000-07:00

A little while after I saw that really cool documentary about the lives and struggles of penguins, I got really into learning as much as I could about these cool, cute, dangerously near-extinct little (or rather quite large) animals. So I was quite delighted to find that I could play a fun mobile game that featured my penguin friends. When I downloaded Puzzle Penguin however, I had no idea that I would really be able to enjoy the black and white animals with such vivid graphics as this game provides - and certainly not through such a small device as my miniature mobile phone! But that's exactly what I'm able to do!

At Puzzle Penguin I'm able to guide my little friend Puck through all these different fun mazes. And the weird thing is, I was never any good at those mazes my parents used to take us to as kids. Somehow on line (or on the mobile phone) I seem to have honed my skills. Or maybe it's just because I'm 20 years older! Either way it's a lot more fun than frustrating, even though Puzzle Penguin can be a real challenge too.

I like the whole Puzzle Penguin though because I feel like we're going straight in to their mode of living when you have to push the ice blocks on to the heating elements so you can clear a path for them. Maybe that's the kind of thing the penguins have to do (in some form or another) in their real every day life. Well I like to think when I'm playing Puzzle Penguin that I'm getting a taste of some of their challenges. Because when you play these fun mobile games that are so graphically rich, you really do feel like you're doing it for real - especially with Puzzle Penguin!

Play Fun Cards With Jewel Quest Solitaire

2007-07-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

Go puzzle crazy with Jewel Quest Solitaire with all the top puzzle games in a great mobile package.

If you have ever liked the old solitaire card game, then you will simply love Jewel Quest Solitaire that you can play any time, any place, once you have downloaded it on to your mobile phone. Jewel Quest Solitaire is so much more than just Solitaire (although it is that as well). Jewel Quest Solitaire has much more of an exciting, safari feel to it, with its quite mystical jeweled deck of cool and wild cards. Indeed, you actually feel as if you could even be on safari or somewhere cool like Mexico while playing Jewel Quest Solitaire. Players first get to play through more than 30 different card layouts while they seek to unlock the confusing and exciting Jewel Quest board at the same time. While they do this, they get to see a whole load of ancient secrets of the jungle city revealed. And at the same time, if you're really lucky (and successful) at Jewel Quest Solitaire, you get to make treasure, turning regular sand in to gold! What players have to do in Jewel Quest Solitaire is move all the cards (that originally start on the layout) on to the foundation pile. Any face up card that is either a rank lower or higher than the card on the foundation pile can be played. And once you have completed this level (moving all the cards to the foundation pile) the game gets even more exciting as you get to play a Jewel Quest Solitaire mini game using all the jewels you have collected. (Hence the more jewels you collect in the first level, the better off you'll be in this level.) And your goal in this part of the game is to make as many of the squares go gold as possible. Use the 2 button to move up, and down, 8 to move left; 4 to move right and 6 to select the card; 5 to select the jewel. As you will find from just your first game of Jewel Quest Solitaire, this is so much more than just a game of mobile phone solitaire. And so much more excitement and graphically pleasing too.

Get The Best Cards With Jamdat Solitaire

2007-07-18T04:48:00.001-07:00

No matter how many times I played Solitaire in the old days with my grandma, none of it prepared me for the fun and excitement, and indeed challenge, of Jamdat Solitaire. And it is so much faster playing it on the mobile too; you do not even have to waste time shuffling!

Whatever you skill at Solitaire, you will find an appropriate level to play in Jamdat Solitaire that will challenge but not frustrate you. Apart from varying skill levels, there are different types of Solitaire (that I had certainly never come across in the regular hand held card game). If you need to review the menu again in the middle of the game, press the Control key and it will appear.

Once the game has loaded you will see the main menu and for a regular game of Solitaire, just hit the Solitaire button and press Select. For something a bit more challenging, go for Runaround in which players have to take away the cards that are either 1 point higher or lower than the ones at the bottom of the screen. It is easy to maneuver the cards; you just have to press the number or symbol on your keypad that is net to the card you wish to remove from the board.

The game option Two Close requires you to take any two cards (equal or sequential value) and remove them from the board. The aim is to remove all the cards from the board in pairs (removing them in the same way as described above in Runaround).

With Take 20 you are removing 2 or more cards which equal 20 together from the board, by highlighting those cards and removing them in the same way.

The aim of Jamdat Solitaire in its standard version is the same as regular solitaire; the player has to get all the cards lined up in their 4 separate suits and move them (in this game) to the bottom right hand side of the screen. You begin with the Ace and work your way up (2, 3, etc.) until you reach the King at which point you win the game. Moving cards or stacks on the phone is done via the correlating number on your mobile phone keypad and with a stack you can double click it to pull a card over to it.

Get The Hole With Jamdat Mini Golf

2007-07-16T06:50:00.001-07:00

Who said that you had to be outside to enjoy outside leisure activities? Not so with Jamdat Mini Golf. There are some really terrific graphics in this cool mobile game and you really do not feel like you are missing out on anything by being indoors (although given that it IS a mobile game, you could be anywhere?even on the golf course). There are a ton of challenging obstacles and it was only after a few games that I finally discovered some of the many shortcuts. You can even improve your aim in the game via the use of the camera that helps you get the perfect shot and you will be on the edge of the chair as your eyes are fixed on the screen while your ball winds up and down slopes and maybe drops into your aimed hole. With Jamdat Mini Golf you can either play alone or choose a companion. Whatever you choose, you have to finish a round of 18 holes in as few strokes as possible. Experts at Jamdat Mini Golf allegedly have achieved a hole in one in each hole but I have never even come close to that, at least not yet. But I am still aiming for that. I usually play the standard Jamdat Mini Golf alone (Normal mode) but you can choose a practice mode as well as 1-player custom in which you can select 3, 6, front 9, back 9 or all 18 holes. 2-player custom is similar to 1-player custom but with 2 players. Familiarize yourself with the keys and controls ahead of time so that you don't mess up (like I did!) in your early games.I find that the more you practice with all the different keys, the easier things are. Initially I was reluctant to use the camera, but now I see how easy it is and what a difference it makes to my putting so I use it quite a bit. I do feel practice makes perfect, or at least, practice makes better!

Go For Gold With Block Breaker Deluxe

2007-07-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

Block Breaker Deluxe is kinda cute. I have always liked the games that keep me coming back for more and now that I can download them on to my mobile phone they are even more enjoyable as I do not have to sit at the computer screen. So on your screen you get a whole load of blocks and what you have to do is knock them out, with YOU being a paddle. So the paddle has to attack the blocks. That is the SIMPLE goal of the game, but with Block Breaker Deluxe things get a little bit more complicated.

First, there are a ton of different types of blocks, and some of them are really tough to manage. The worst blocks for me were the hard blocks as they have to be hit quite a few times and I can never quite work out just how many times I need to hit them. So I think I may have knocked them out and then I find that I have not been successful. There are some blocks which you do not know about immediately either, in other words they will either really help you or stab you in the back as it were so it is difficult to know what to do with them. And then there are other sort of blocks that require your attention, creativity and wisdom for you to work out how to deal with them.

There are 6 different levels to Block Breaker Deluxe and the player has to go through them all, one at a time, clearing the blocks that block him or her AND at the same time, picking up things that will be impressive to those who own the area on which you are removing the blocks. When you complete each level (area) you have to attack the boss of that place which gives you rights to enter the underground blockbreaker tournament if you have the very high entrance fee and when you enter there you have to compete against other blockbreakers. I personally find Block Breaker Deluxe not so difficult when it comes to getting things, but quite challenging regarding the blocks as there is just so much unpredictability. But I guess that is what makes the game so much fun and keeps me coming back for more.

Monopolize the Board with Monopoly Mobile Game

2007-07-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

No matter how many times you have played Monopoly, it is the kind of game that you can keep on playing. No matter what your age, social stature or interest in life, Monopoly is a game that appeals to all. So when I saw that I could download a version of it on to my mobile phone ? the Monopoly Mobile Game ? I was intrigued. Would the Monopoly Mobile Game be able to give out the same enjoyment as that age old favorite we all know and love? I simply had to put it to the test.

I have to admit I was more impressed than I suspected I might have been. I guess what they can do now these days with mobile phones just has the capacity to improve all games, and that includes Monopoly. This version I found is known as the Here and Now game which has a lot of new and exciting icons and places. And in as much as I used to love playing Monopoly, somehow with this Monopoly Mobile Game, I am much more in to being a businessman. All of a sudden I am like a real wheeler and dealer, dying to get the most property on the board and make the most money at the same time.

In Monopoly Mobile Game you get to choose between tokens which you have to move around the board (there is no shoe or horse as in the traditional board game) and the more property you buy, the more houses you trade, the more money you make. And that puts you in a potentially good winning position. There is still the traditional chance or Chest cards which will either thrill or depress and of course when you pass GO you still get some money. But try to avoid being sent to jail; just like you would in the regular game and indeed in life!

Monopoly Mobile Game might not be the most exciting, fast paced of the mobile games, but I found it very nostalgic to play and I do like the new additions to the mobile version of the game.

Untangle Your Way Out of Subway Scramble

2007-06-21T04:14:00.001-07:00

Well indeed! How many times have I been on the subway, only to get totally frustrated by an annoying message from the driver, detailing some lame excuse as to why the train is yet again delayed? How many times did I myself want to be in his seat, convinced I could do a better job as surely I would not let a lone leaf on the track stop me for progressing forward and transporting my subway sitting customers from point A to B.Well, in Subway Scramble that is exactly what I am able to do. I am living out my fantasy of being the train driver! I am trying to guide my train through different areas of New York including Bowling Green, Columbus Circle and the Rockefeller Center so I get to see America too (well I would if we were over ground).Apart from being able to enjoy New York and other areas of North America through Subway Scramble the reason I really like the game is because it challenges me through its puzzle maze type style. I have to guide my train through all sorts of challenging twists and turns and I guess trying to do that gives me a little bit of insight in to what the driver of my regular subway train is attempting on a daily basis. There are two modes of play here: Around the world and Rush Hour. There are over 40 levels of play too.So the challenge of the game is to guide your way around and the trick is to drive well and not get caught up in the difficult driving areas which I sometimes do.

Improve Puzzle Skills with Platinum Sudoku

2007-06-21T04:11:00.001-07:00

I guess I had never been all that good at puzzle games, but maybe it was for that reason that Platinum Sudoku really appealing. The hugely exciting thing (for me at least anyway) about being able to play a game on my mobile phone was the fact that I could just access it any time, any place, anywhere! And in as much as you can do that with a computer too, it is only to a certain extent. Plus, I enjoyed the privacy aspect (nobody could see me playing) and the fact that once I had made the initial payment, I could play as many games as I wanted and it felt like it was for free! That gave me the ability to practice a lot. And with Platinum Sudoku the old adage of practice makes perfect really does ring true.

I started off on the first level (there are 5 levels to the game). What is great about that is that even for someone like me I did not feel intimidated or useless; it was easy enough for me to understand and although the first game took me a while, by the fifth game I felt like I was an old hand at it. That was nice as it encouraged me. Like I said, puzzle games had never really been my thing, so seeing that I could be successful on this game pretty much straight away, was indeed very encouraging.

I know that I will never get bored of Platinum Sudoku either. There are hundreds of thousands of grids to choose from so the game goes in to eternity! The draft option (which let me try out different options before committing to the Sudoku grid) was really helpful and again added to my confidence. So if you want a challenge that is a lot of fun, download Platinum Sudoku on to your mobile phone; it is not surprising it is such a popular game.

Untangle Your Way Out of Subway Scramble

2007-06-14T04:32:00.001-07:00

Well indeed! How many times have I been on the subway, only to get totally frustrated by an annoying message from the driver, detailing some lame excuse as to why the train is yet again delayed? How many times did I myself want to be in his seat, convinced I could do a better job as surely I would not let a lone leaf on the track stop me for progressing forward and transporting my subway sitting customers from point A to B.

Well, in Subway Scramble that is exactly what I am able to do. I am living out my fantasy of being the train driver! I am trying to guide my train through different areas of New York including Bowling Green, Columbus Circle and the Rockefeller Center so I get to see America too (well I would if we were over ground).

Apart from being able to enjoy New York and other areas of North America through Subway Scramble the reason I really like the game is because it challenges me through its puzzle maze type style. I have to guide my train through all sorts of challenging twists and turns and I guess trying to do that gives me a little bit of insight in to what the driver of my regular subway train is attempting on a daily basis. There are two modes of play here: Around the world and Rush Hour. There are over 40 levels of play too.

So the challenge of the game is to guide your way around and the trick is to drive well and not get caught up in the difficult driving areas which I sometimes do.

Hated High School? Surviving High School Now

2007-06-11T02:12:00.000-07:00

In as much as I had wished someone would have helped me wade my way through those horrible years in high school and no one did, I realize of course that fun though it is, a mobile game like Surviving High School probably would not have helped either.

I took up the challenge of the adventure-based Surviving High School simply because I liked the name of it and I had experienced great difficulties in high school myself. I had always been the 4-eyed kid they picked on but this kid had different problems ? he had been transferred in the middle of school. You see how he tries to adapt and your heart really goes out to him as you know how difficult it must be. Surviving High School gets you really involved.

The aim of the game is, well, to survive and it is split up into different chapters, the first one being Football in which you (the transfer student) have to make the football team. You also have to try and find a dream date and win the homecoming crown ? all those terrible events that set you yourself back in your teens and no doubt filled you with dread, unless of course you were one of the cool gang, which most of us were, sadly, not. You do get a bit of a helping hand from the school guidance counselor who asks you about your likes and dislikes, at which point the game adapts to these responses.

You have classes where you have to answer questions correctly and thus improve a grade; social opportunities with fellow students; choices during the day of what to do with your free time; flirting; and all the other things high school kids have to do. It is your choice ? correct or incorrect that will determine the amount of points you get.

You really do feel like you are back in those old teenage years as Surviving High School even uses the lingo of teens. It is a nostalgic place to be, or for others can be a dreadful reminder of those terrible teens. It is a long game and the choice of how to view it is entirely yours but for me it did bring back memories that for the most part bought a smile to my face, despite my horrors in those days.

Mobile games for fun

2007-06-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted the last time I bought a cell phone, so I just told ‘em to give me all the bells and whistles. I don’t even know what model the phone is, just that it’s a tiny flip phone with an over-sized screen. After I got it, I started playing with it, to learn the features, and that’s how I found out about mobile games for fun. My phone had a great little game called “Snakes” on it, where I just had to move a snake around the screen, eating up the little foodballs that appears, and avoiding eating my own tail. I scored over 200 the first time I played. After that, I was hooked, and started googling all kinds of mobile games to download to my phone.

Go Pinball Mad with Precision Pinball

2007-05-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

I used to love playing the pinball games, when the very first computers came out and I didn't even have my own computer but just enjoyed borrowing my boyfriend's when he wasn't doing basic programming. Well, to think of how far gaming and all sorts of computer software has come since then! I never would have imagined 10 years ago that I'd be able to play my favorite pinball game in a realistic environment on a phone I was walking around with! How crazy is that?

But with Precision Pinball, I can indeed do exactly that! It's wild. There's so much I can do when now that I have my mobile phone. It's a great phone but I have to admit that my favorite feature is being able to download all these fun mobile games. And they're pretty cheap too! I mean for the kind of leisure fun activity enjoyment I'm getting out of them. Plus the fact that I'm able to make money on some of these fun mobile games too!

But whenever I'm waiting for a meeting, or stuck in a line at the supermarket, I just pull out my mobile phone and I'm transferred to a fun and exciting world with Precision Pinball and each time I do so I just know I'm getting much better at it. When I try saving the ball I actually feel like I'm moving the table, but it's important to do it carefully otherwise I could topple the whole machine over! It really is exciting and this version has 9 different modes that let's me win even more balls! I can fly off of flippers and go through bumpers and ramps and Precision Pinball really makes me recall the days of my boyfriend's computer, but what a difference the audio and graphics make to these fun mobile games today!

Get Starry Eyed With Jamdat Horoscopes

2007-05-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

I had always loved looking at my stars, ever since I was a young teenager pretty much. I guess my mother got me in to it as I vividly remember her sitting at the kitchen table reading the stars in the daily newspaper. Also, I guess I just always thought that star gazing (the horoscope kind) was a lot of fun. So when I looked at the latest popular mobile games and found Jamdat Horoscopes I was thrilled! Ever since I downloaded Jamdat Horoscopes I can always find out what is going on in my stars, no matter where I am or how much time I have. I am so glad that I downloaded Jamdat Horoscopes. And Jamdat Horoscopes are more than just your daily star, you can find out what is going on with your loved ones or what your future will bring. And not only that, you don't have to wait around for 24 hours to see what the update for the next day is as you can find additional information the whole time! And of course, Jamdat Horoscopes also provides answers to any astrological questions you may have too. So I'm really pleased I got this cool feature on my mobile phone now.

See How Much More Fun Mobile Blue Blocks Can Be

2007-04-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I'd been wanting to carry on playing my game of Tetris, but I had to leave for work. Besides, I'd been playing Tetris for too long and I was looking for a bit of a challenge. So I was glad that my best friend had downloaded Blue Blocks for me - one of the most popular mobile games around. He had found it at an online games directory and told me it had only taken him a few moments to download. I have to admit I was a little wary of the whole thing wondering if it would be as much fun to play on a small thing like a mobile phone but as soon as I saw the graphics and heard the sounds of Blue Blocks I knew I was going to probably quit my computer playing games and just play on the mobile. I got into Blue Blocks straight away! It was amazing! It requires a bit of brain power too so I like the challenge. When I play Blue Blocks I just have to get at least two same colored blocks and clear them from the screen. But the great benefit of Blue Blocks (rather than my own line computer Tetris game) is that when I succeed in that, I get a cash reward! So I no longer feel like I'm just wasting time playing games (although there's nothing wrong with that either). Rather, I'm having fun and potentially making money. And I find that the more I play Blue Blocks, the easier it gets, the better I become and the more money I make! What could be better?

Choose From a Variety of Categories of Fun Mobile

2007-04-18T04:30:00.001-07:00

I guess my favorite mobile game right now is Sudoku. My boyfriend's mom actually introduced me to Sudoku as she regularly plays it from her daily newspaper. When I told her I could play Sudoku while waiting for the bus, she was like, "but how do you do that standing up?" having no idea no paper or pen were needed as I played it on the mobile! I was never even any good at Math at school but with Sudoku - even though there are numbers involved - it doesn't matter. It's just about filling the 9 x 9 grid with the numbers from 1 to 9 without having any digit repeated in any of the rows or columns. Because I downloaded Sudoku to my mobile, I get a choice of thousands of different grids so the game will never run out! I can choose from 5 different skill levels (which I do depending on how confident I'm feeling!) and can even get the same puzzles my boyfriend's mom uses as I can download newspaper puzzles too! Oh and I simply love the sound and vibration effects - it makes my Sudoku the best ever I'm sure!

Developing Darting Skills With Popular Mobile Game

2007-04-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

I found some really awesome mobile games recently on line. No wonder they were so popular. For a start, they were really pretty cheap to download to my phone so that made me happy. Second, they were really easy to download too. And third - and probably most importantly - they were really fun to play. The popular mobile games that I liked the most were the ones that I used to play for real, especially darts because I had a bit of experience of playing darts in the pub. The funny thing was, I wasn't all that good at playing darts for real, in the pub, against my friends, but when I played darts on the mobile phone I found that I could really improve my dart playing skills. I was getting pretty good at it! And the more I played, the better I became! I can even get my friends to play on this game, but I choose usually the computer opponent. Just in case, you know? Like, just in case it turns out they're better at me again on the mobile game, I prefer not to experience that! I like the fact that I have the opportunity to win!You get to see the bullseye pretty quick when playing darts through the mobile phone. Downloading is real easy and there is an FAQ anyway for any kind of possible problems you may encounter. That's why I did it actually in the first place. I wanted something that was going to be easy to access; I didn't have time to start worrying about issues with downloading or play. The instructions were all in a language I could understand; I saw a game with which I was familiar and I went ahead and got the experience I got at the pub, from my own mobile phone without any of the humiliation of losing to my friends!