Thanks AlmostAGeek You are right it works fine on Vista, but I really would prefer it would not ;)
It is addictive and steals the time I need for such things like responding to my friend's mails or playing my online-game or downloading outdated tools from questionable sources or posting in forums...
ramblinglox

Graylox, Gem Towers works fine on my Vista laptop even with UAC turned on. I've never gotten a virus warning on any of the three machines it is on.

As for playing, just click on an object then click on the other object that you want to swap with to make at least three in a row, up/down or across. Use your left mouse button. Hold down the right mouse button to rotate left or right, up or down, depending on the puzzle. Use the scroll knob to zoom in and out. Not every screen will allow some of these movements, it depends.

The game goes on so long that rather than playing through the four lives I now just see how high a score I can get before I lose my first life. The best so far is 209,456. I would love to try and beat my high score but I just can't sit that long!

AlmostAGeek and all the other addicted gamers, meanwhile I had found the cam and had played the game, but my old puter got slower and slower and so I could not play any longer and have forgotten this thing.
I wished you would not have reminded me! Can't get along with it. Could say that Vista can not do it - but I must admit, it's me. I have totally forgotten how to play, got 130 points in easy mode - but have no clue how...
Are you sure that this is the game and not the virus?

cluelesslox

Idahl, I am so sorry to hear of the hellish year that you've been through. I too am in the midwest, although in Illinois, but other than lots of snow and rain we've not had it as bad as you. I also hope that your family troubles work themselves out, that is never a good thing.

As for Gem Towers - I've put this thing on three machines so far and have never had any difficulty with it. Two are running XP (one SP1 and the other SP2), the other is Vista. I've been lucky I guess.

I never realized the pop up you get when you closed the game had issues. I have just always closed it out.

I wish the rest of you could experience this game....but thanks for trying.

MrFishy it gives you a little gift you would rather not have. It is just a ad-site but there is a virus on it.

I get a dialogue box reading "this game takes directX 9.0c" which my pc must not have? Wait a minute, I do have 9.0c installed? Guess it's just a funky download? Delete.
Sooo . . . what happens IF you click on that pop-up window, Idahl?

Erm...sorry AlmostAGeek... pass my apologies along to your hubby as well:))
You have me beat on score, but it is still one of my favorite games to play. Even though it is a match three, having it in 3D makes it a pretty good challenge.(I'm really pleased that you like it as much as I do:)

I haven't been around much as this spring/early summer was brutal. Had six deaths and then the weather in the Midwest has kept us pretty busy in clean-up duties. My county has been declared a Federal disaster area about five times in the last 14 months. I finally have the last of the flood stuff cleaned up and 99% of the destroyed trees from the tornado cut up and carted away. I have my fingers crossed that extreme weather is finished for this year, I'm tired!!:) I've also just about had it with family emergencies, I'm soooo ready for it to be quiet and peaceful for awhile. I know, wimp, right?

A reminder if you download this game... when you close it, a window will pop up, CLOSE that window! Do not click on anything in that window, just close it. Paul Varney's site was taken over by bad guys.

Copmom, I never found any help for you... sorry, I tried everything I could think of to find the author or someone that knew what was missing. I suspect your computer is missing an older common shared file, but I don't really have a clue what it might be.
Varney had another game that I DLed the demo... it was also a really good game, but there isn't even a way to buy it as it is unsupported. A shame really.

I downloaded that zip file for Gem Towers, and unzipped to it's own folder, and now when I click on the .exe I get an error message that says: Runtime error 7008. Object does not exist at line 298. Any ideas?

Back about six months ago Idahl posted a free game called Gem Towers by Paul Varney. It is a 3D match 3 games that is awesome! One sitting and I was hooked. I have since gained my highest score of 402,170 (can't remember what level that ended on). What I do know is that my behind became sore and I had numb fingers on the right hand from the darn mouse! I think that game took me hours before I used up my 4 lives.

I have since learned several things before I start playing. Go to the bathroom, make sure you have a full pack of cigarettes and a large drink at hand. Oh yeah, and make sure the cordless phone is within reach.

To this day I can not find a way to pause this game.

Idahl, if you are still out here THANKS (I really mean that). As my husband walks by and sees what I am playing all he can say is....oh, the one you can't pause, never mind....

If anyone is interested the link is below. It is still available as I just put in on my new Vista laptop. Don't click on the Paul Varney link use the file server link.

http://www.thegamecreators.com/data/newsletter/newsletter_issue_41.html#6

I can't figure out how to link to the posting on the forum but the title was FREE FREEWARE FOR JANUARY FROM FWF.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2326 (figured it out!)

Greylox, if you are still out here - you don't have to find the camera - the mouse is your camera. Use the scroll wheel to zoom in and out and hold the left button down to spin the tower or move left and right.

Okay I admit it, I'm addicted. I play it everyday. They say the first step to a cure is to admit you have a problem!!!!

Okay, I've rambled enough. Thanks for listening.