This received 84% of 137 votes and 40 comments. You can check them out by following the link below:
http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/tank-o-box/#comments
In particular check out Bob’s comment # 7 who warns us that this game will crash on start up if you are using a dual monitor screen. Bill50W suggested that you update your video drivers, which is always a good idea, although sometimes the latest ones may still only be in beta form so be sure to back up the older drivers (these are often backed up anyway and can be retrieved by going into the control panel – see the notes at the end of the review for details). Another suggestion you could try, if it crashes, but not necessarily because of a dual monitor is once you’ve activated the game download the game from Alawar’s site rather than using the set up file provided in the zip file:
http://www.alawar.com/games/tank-o-box/
You can also check out the comments made by Alawar customers who paid the full price for this game:
http://www.alawar.com/games/tank-o-box/comments/
It may take some time to down to download if you are on dial up because the file size is around 45Mb, and 390Mb when installed. (that’s quite a sizeable game, for an old arcade game such as this) but I think it is worth the wait if you like quirky games, which this is in my opinion.
(Quick review (as promised yesterday :) )
Program description: (taken from the Tank o box reead me file found in the games main folder)
The easiest way to learn the game rules is to play the TUTORIAL. At the Main Menu, press Play and choose TUTORIAL.
Remember, you can shoot enemy shells in the air. This becomes indispensable when fighting Pillboxes.
Destroy the Radar as soon as you can. This will help you defend the headquarters much more effectively. You can hear the Radar beeping when it functions. On some levels, enemies use the space detection system, which cannot be destroyed.
Use natural covers such as houses, fences and trees.
If you have a joystick or gamepad, especially one with feedback support, choose CONTROLS in the Main Menu and set it as a control device for player 1 or 2. (although there appears to be none in this version we have been given, if you do have a joystick connected to your computer please try it and let us know if it works) You can guide the tank with the joystick handle or POV-controller, depending on what you find more convenient. Joysticks work with the menu, too.
The shells do not fly too fast. You can easily avoid them, especially if you've picked a Speed bonus.
Don't try to remember the Password; it's better write it down. This will allow you to easily begin from this point the next time you play.
To read the rules and more information about the game see the "Help.html" file which is also found in the games main folder.
This is an excellent game for those few minutes you may find, especially if you are a home body like myself, or those minutes captured at work. The game is quite quirky, playing from an imaginary table, not unlike the concept used with that racing game using little cars.
Once downloaded, installation is easy, with the usual activate module that must be activated first before you install the game. Once the successfully activated window has popped up you can close it then set up the game. Once you’ve agreed to the license restrictions, you will be presented with the set up window. Be sure to select custom set up if you don’t want your game to be installed to the default setting which is :
C:\Program Files\Tank o Box
The custom setting allows you to browse your computer for a suitable location, which if you have multiple discs is very useful. I would recommend installing it to another drive other than the boot drive if you have one, as filling your boot drive can seriously slow down your computer. Watch out for the game box tick box. Deselect it if you don’t want it installed, or for it to run if you do have it installed. (Although it is useful to run it a couple of times a month to see what free game is available)
On starting the game you can select tutorial mode to get used to the controls, I haven’t taken any screen shots today though as I’m really behind in posting this short review as I spent too much time on the driver tutorial below. The tutorial mode gives you unlimited lives so that you can get used to the controls which are keyboard only. I’m sure the version I tried a few years ago had mouse controls, but then again it could be one of several others of this genre. For example Tanks Evolution, which is slightly better, but as this game is free today, I’m not complaining:
http://www.reflexive.com/TanksEvolution.html
You could even try a third person tanks game such as Think Tanks:
http://www.reflexive.com/ThinkTanks.html
WWII Tank Commander (a previous giveaway I think) a first person tank game.
http://www.merscom.biz or http://www.deafgamers.com/05reviews_a/wwii_tc_pc.htm
read a review of WWII Tank commander:
http://www.acegamez.co.uk/reviews_pc/WWII_Tank_Commander_PC.htm
or the Freeware game Cratered although it seems to be unavailable at this time as all the links I tried were dead. I’ll post a link once I find it.
There isn’t the normal save system you get with most games today. You have to note down passwords as you progress through the levels which I find a bit of a bind as I always lose the paper I write the codes down on and have to start from the beginning. Still this is an entertaining game and worth a good 6.5 out of 10. Despite its poor control (if you don’t have a joy stick {which I’ve not checked}), the fact that most of the objects on the playing filed can be destroyed adds to the fun of the game. Also you can play with a friend rather than the computer that does add a little extra to the game. My son has really got into playing two or more player games recently, especially with his friends. (It wasn’t that long ago that he used to like playing these games with me, but I’m too slow and boring as I wont use cheats to win, lol). No doubt spurred on by his Nintendo DS and hopefully his Wii if we can find one that’s not been ridiculously overpriced because of the drought.
There’s two mode arcade which is timed and the extra mode which is basically just a free for all and never ends, lol. There are loads of tanks to knock out on this one so watch out. You’ll find a decent number of power ups to improve your tank throughout the game, but make sure you pick them up before the enemy tanks do, or before they disappear
Do check out my post about Magic Ball 2, especially if you like the game as I posted an offer I’m sure some will enjoy. It was posted early-ish in the day, but as usual, there was no moderator for virtually the whole of the giveaway period, so it never got posted till this morning on the change over. I may stop writing reviews on a weekend because of this as I really can’t see the point of spending so much time writing reviews that aren’t moderated till the next day. I don’t want to do this, but I always start my weekend posts reasonably early, but still usually miss the one and only moderation (I don’t blame the moderators though as I think they are volunteers that don’t get paid) Maybe I’ll still write up those I actually like playing, as I can usually write these off the top of my head and therefore write them much quicker.
Thank you for this repeat Alawar and thank you to the Giveaway team for continuing with the project. If there are any Administrators reading the comments today, would you please read my second comment from yesterday as I’d really appreciate some feedback on the suggestion I’ve made. I’ve asked several times with never any response. Thank you.
Notes:
If you want to update or roll back (to a previous one) your graphics drivers you can do so by following the instructions below. If you are updating your drivers be sure to have the latest drivers that you’ve downloaded from a suitable site such as Driver Guide:
Where you can find the latest drivers for any device you have running on your computer. You do have to register, but it’s free and in the three years that I’ve been using the site I’ve never received one Email from them. Be sure to have your pop up blocker activated when you visit the site though, especially if you detest pop ups. Don’t let that put you off though because the site offers a service that’s only surpassed by Version Tracker, which if you subscribe to, will notify you whenever there is a newer driver for all your computers drivers, and even install them with only a few mouse click needed. There is an annual subscription to Version Tracker of around $30 or more though. I used it for a while and found it excellent value for money; but haven’t bothered to renew my subscription this year as I thought I’d update my own drivers (partly so that I can learn more about servicing etc. I use Driver Guide for almost all of my drivers needs. It’s a little more time consuming than using Version Tracker, but I’ve found the rewards worth it ‘sometimes’.
http://www.versiontracker.com/subscribe/cn0079/
Instructions for updating your drivers:
.
1) Go to the Start Menu and click on the control panel.
2) Find and click on performance and maintenance and then the system icon. If you are using the classic view just go straight to the system icon.
3) Clicking on the System icon brings up a window called System Properties. Select the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button. This brings up the Device Manager Window
4) Look for and then click on your display adapter entry. Click on whatever display hardware you use. This may be a video card or an on board (motherboard) graphics chip. If there are more than one devices listed it’s usually the first on the list that’s the primary hardware, so click on that one. If you still aren’t sure, go back to the start menu and click on Run. Type dxdiag into the field and then click on OK. This will bring up the DirectX diagnostic window. Click on the display tab and you can then see the name of the display device the computer is using.
5) Clicking on the display adapter will bring up your display adapters properties window. Click on the Drivers tab and then the update drivers button. This brings up a Hardware update wizard.
6) Select the choice ‘install from a list or specified location’ then click on Next.
7) Once in the hardware update wizard, deselect ‘search removable media’ and select ‘click on the Include this location in the search’. At this point you will need to browse for the graphics driver you’ve previously downloaded from Driver Guide
8) Once you’ve located where you put the downloaded driver, click on next and follow the onscreen prompts. Easy Peasy ;) (you can tell I have kids)
If you want to deselect the latest driver because it doesn’t work (maybe because it’s a beta the latest ones often are{as already mentioned}), or for whatever reason, just follow the steps above to step 5 and then click on Rollback driver and follow the on screen prompts.