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Arkanoids and Breakouts: A list of decent freeware (and not so free).

(73 posts)
  • Started 4 months ago by Whiterabbit-uk
  • Latest reply from Whiterabbit-uk

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  1. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Arkanoids and Breakouts:

    The following is part of my post made in the forums in response to Elefun’s3D arkanoid/Brick buster giveaway Egyptian Ball, though it's been substancially extended. I posted the full review over in the comments section by mistake so I'm not going to repost it here, though I thought I would add the notes section as it contains all the freeware arkanoids that in my opinion are worth downloading. (There are loads more but most are all sub par in my opinion). I've included the free commercial games available from GameTop and FreeGamePick though technically they are not freeware as elsewhere you do have to pay for them.

    There are many arkanoid/breakout clones available today, though most in my opinion are run of the mill sorts; however there are the occasional jewels amongst the pieces of fake jewelry to be found. Ball breaking games have always be amongst my favorite arcade games ever since the inception of Taito’s arcade game Breakout, that I probably spent a fortune on in the mid to late seventies. Looking back on that game, which you can now get freeware I wonder how I could have spent so much money (and time) playing the original as it was very very basic; especially now when you see some of the brilliant clones that it spawned. Though at the time of it's release i thought it was out of this world.

    If you are new to the arcade games world I would suggest you check out the following arkanoid/breakout titles; all of which offer something different than the usual game. The first lists (both 2D and 3D) below are not free though (apart from those I mention as freeware). I just thought I’d add them in just in case you were tempted to buy any arkanoids. These are in my opinion the nirvana of brick busting games, in particular the first one, which although dated continues to spring surprises on you throughout the game. You cannot compare the 2D and 3D arkanoids as the game play is poles apart. Most of the most beautiful arkanoids are 3D, but graphics don’t make the game play in my opinion (though they can make it seem like more fun). I’m tempted to list all the arkanoids I know and have bought, but apart from it talking far too long, I don’t want to list those I consider sub par, though I may at a later date add in my top 20 or 30 arkanoid games that does contain several arkanoids that have been given away here (eg Ball 7 and Aquaball to name just a couple):

    2D Arkanoids:

    1) Aky’s XP Breakout,
    2) Arcamania 2 (there’s a free stand alone pack available for this game called Arcamania 2 Retro that contains about 20 levels. It's worth the download in my opinion as although you only get 20 levels. Each level is quite hard and can last upwards of 10 minutes or more):

    http://www.300ad.com/arcamania2_retro.php

    3) Ricochet Infinity that has thousands upon thousands of custom made levels totally free directly linked from the game to the developers fan site. Earlier versions of this game have seen it evolve into one of the most brilliant arkanoid clones available today. All but the first in the series sports a levels editor, which have given rise to thousands of level sets. I last counted (by averaging out the numbers) that there was in the region of 35 000 separate boards available for this game. I don’t know whether the latest game infinity gives you direct access to all of those, but if you own one of the previous titles you can download them directly from the fan site in blocks of between 10 and over a 100 at a time.
    4) Reaxxion
    5) Hyperballoid 2 This is far superior to the original series . It retains some elements from the original, but has been given a complete oveerall. so far since it's release just before Christmas 2007 I've been really impressed with the game play.
    6) Arkanoid the Virtual Islands (TVI) This one is quite unusual in that it's a cross between a breakout and a space shooter. Each level consists of a constantly moving board that you travel along with your space ship:

    I would also recommend checking out the freeware section of the project where you will find several freeware alternatives. Notably Beatball and Wreckerball Dreams which are probably some of the better freeware games:

    http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/freeware/search.php?string=Arkanoid%20games&startpage=1 or you can download Wreckerball Dreams,/em> from the developers site where you’ll find another freeware game mentioned elsewhere in this post.

    Also check out Poing, which I’ve already written a review for in the forums; though do read the comments before you install the game as apparently some community members have had issues with this game as it needs to be installed to an account with Admin rights to work properly. Both Poing and Beatball have excellent ball physics. You can slice the ball to make it spin and curve:

    http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2525?replies=14

    Two more freeware arkanoid games I would recommend are called Hoowaball and DXBall. The former has no English titles yet, but apart from the German titles this game is easy to play and has an unusual take on the game. DXBall was later updated to Super DXBall Deluxe which isn’t free, but does have free level packs available if you did happen to buy it: ( http://www.blitwise.com/downloads.html )

    Hoowaball:

    http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/f792.html

    DXBall:

    http://www.freewaregaming.com/aa/dxball.html

    3D Arkanoids:

    I consider the 2D arkanoids a cut above the 3D arkanoids for game play simply because the ball speeds are often far greater and therefore make the games more challenging, though there are a few noteworthy examples of 3D arkanoids that I’ve listed below which I consider worthwhile buying (though being an arkanoid freak I’ve actually bought far too many that really were not worth the effort):

    Incrediball:The Seven Sapphires (still my favorite despite more up to date games such as Magicball 3 being released)

    Nuclear Ball 2 (see below for a link to a free version of Nuclearball)
    Gem Ball (you can get this free from gametop.com as Scaraball – see links below)
    Actionball 2 (and it’s predecessor Actionball Deluxe)
    Chak’s Temple though this game is maybe a little tame, but I like it none the less)
    Neoball

    I don’t include any of the Magic Ball series here as I think despite the last one being beautifully rendered, there’s no challenge to them and apart from the graphics being upgraded, there’s little else that’s changed apart from a few extra bonuses added. To my knowledge there are no 3D arkanoids available as freeware but you can get at least five commercial arkanoids (four of which are 3D) totally free (though you do get a browser opening to the distributors page on closing the game down – which lins you to around 50 commercially available games, all for free):

    ScaraBall aka GemBall (3D):

    http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/scaraball-download/

    Brixout (3D):

    http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/breakout-download/

    Sawnoid (3D):

    http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/sawoid-download/

    A Ball aka Nuclear Ball (3D):

    http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/a-ball-download/

    Starball (2D):

    http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/arkanoid-starball-download/

    ArkanBall (2D):

    http://freegamepick.com/en/games_arkanball.html

    I decided not to write a review of each of these games as a break out is a breakout no matter how you package it. What I like about the different versions is the variety of settings, the different power ups and the different ways the ball and bricks react in each game. If I could only take three arkanoids with me it would have to be Ricochet Infinity (partly because it has a levels editor), Acky’s XP Breakout (another that has a levels editor) and Incrediball:The Seven Sapphires. Unfortunately none of these are free games, though you can find one of the ricochet series as a free browser game, though the link is on another computer, so I’ll post that later if I remember.

    Please add other freeware arkanoids to this list if you have the time. I’ll probably search out the document I made up for someone a while back that lists quite a few freeware arkanoids, but only when I have the time. In the mean time as mentioned above if the ones I’ve mentioned are not enough follow the link to the freeware library games. There are several others you can get that are playable. I’ve posted links to lots of images of most of the games I’ve mentioned above. However remember that graphics are not always a good measure of deciding whether a game is worthy, for example when looking at the Acky’s XP Breakout images, they just look like a boring and dated game. The dated bit is partially correct as the game is several years old now; but no other game comes close (apart from Ricochet: Infinity) to beating it’s game play. Here’s a link to a demo for you to find out, though the time you get is not enough for you to experience the extreme part of the game which is almost like having a second game. You have to earn the right to play the extreme part of the game which takes about 20 levels. There are 150 levels to work through plus you can download a couple of free level packs (100 levels in total) as well as make as many as you wish yourself using the levels editor;

    http://www.isotope244.com/games/ab/ackys-xp-breakout.html

    Googled Images I've asterixed those that are either freeware or free commercial games:

    Gemball/Scaraball *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Gemball&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

    Brixout *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Brixout&btnG=Search+Images

    NuclearBall aka A Ball *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Nuclear+ball&spell=1

    Sawnoid *:

    See the download page for images

    Incrediball: The Seven Sapphires:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Incrediball%3A+The+seven+sapphires&btnG=Search+Images

    Acky’s XP Breakout:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Acky%27s+XP+Breakout&btnG=Search+Images

    Poing *:

    http://www.firestormproductions.co.uk/poing/

    BeatBall *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Beatball&btnG=Search+Images

    Hoowaball *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Hoowaball&btnG=Search+Images and http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/f792.html

    Actionball 2: Oddly there’s no images of this game yet, so I’ve posted images of the original, which looks similar.

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Action+ball+&btnG=Search+Images

    Hyperballoid 2:

    No images found

    Arcamania 2 Retro *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Arcamania+2+Retro&btnG=Search+Images

    Reaxxion:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Reaxxion&btnG=Search+Images

    Ricochet Infinity:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Ricochet+infinity&btnG=Search+Images

    Chak’s Temple:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Chak%27s+Temple&btnG=Search+Images

    Neoball:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Neoball&btnG=Search+Images

    Wreckerball Dreams *: (you can also find a match three game for free called Hexagon wild from glinkie games).

    http://www.glinkiegames.com/main/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=5&MMN_position=5:3

    DXBall *:

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=DXBall&btnG=Search+Images

    Arkanoid the Virtual Islands (TVI):

    http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Arkanoid+TVI&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

    Sawnoid *:

    See the download link page for images

    Starball *:

    See the download link page for images

    Arcanball *:

    See the download link page for images

    If you want to find more arkanoids and breakout games, both 2D and 3D check out the arkanoid site:

    http://www.arkanoid.com/games/index.php?PAGEN_1=1#nav_start

    Here’s a great site for freeware arkanoids, though not all are free. You’ll find a mix of downloadable games and browser games. In particular I”d recommend you download Jarkanoid 3 * and 2 * as well as Mcky’s Breakout 1 * and 2 *:

    http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/fbreakout.html

    More to come later……………….. Hmmm, just remembered, try Ploing 2 as well. It’s not free but the demo is a generous one. There’s a freeware alternative called Ploing 1, but I’m having trouble downloading it at the moment. If anyone finds a working link please post it here:

    Ploing 2

    http://membres.lycos.fr/plong/

    Posted 4 months ago #

  2. funkymom
    Member

    thank you, whiterabbit.

    Posted 4 months ago #

  3. graylox
    Member

    On the home page of HOOWERBALL is a manual in English

    http://www.happycoin.com/webcontent/newindex.php?display=111&language=1&menu=&top=

    and there are 2 different downloads for slower or faster systems, and a
    english language patch too

    http://www.happycoin.com/webcontent/newindex.php?display=109&language=1&menu=&top=

    Thank you WhiteRabbit. meanwhile I like these games too.
    graylox
    ____________________________
    There’s a freeware alternative called Ploing 1, but I’m having trouble downloading it at the moment. If anyone finds a working link please post it here:
    Do you mean this, it's listed under pinball on the (fantastic) caiman site :

    http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/f30.html
    G

    Posted 4 months ago #

  4. NolafromNZ
    Member

    Hi Stephen, I think the list you are looking for is under Boom Ball, a game giveaway on March 7th, 2007. Comment #42. I would have cut and pasted it, but when I tried that I couldn't get the urls to show properly so they could just be clicked on.

    I put this list into Evernote back then, so that I could download and play these games at my leisure. (In Evernote, I can double click on the urls to go straight to the site.) But, with all the game links I have amassed since then, I have only downloaded a few. There aren't enough hours in the day!!

    Posted 4 months ago #

  5. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Thank you Graylox - I have said that I'm not very observant, lol. I honestly have never noticed the language button or the patch and I've been to the home site several times. Thanks for pointing it out. :) And yes, that's the one. I'd spent far too long preparing the post that I’d lost patience with my browser which was really slow this morning.... well yesterday now. Thanks again, you're a star my lady.

    WR

    p.s.

    Thanks Nola,..... yeah I know what you mean. There has been so much stuff posted on these forums; with all that, the freeware library, links to other freeware sites such as Caiman that are safe, plus the added bonus of the two giveaways each day. I've had to become a lot more selective. I originally downloaded everything, thinking it may come in useful at some point, but that just became silly. There have been some brilliant giveaways though, both in the games and the applications sides of the project. Evernote is one of the pearls, as is today’s game and applications giveaway Egyptian Ball and Reshade. In fact the last several have been fabulous as was yesterday’s game as well. With respect to the one that got quite a bashing last week called EAZ-FIX, I decided to ignore everyone’s warnings and I'm really glad i did because the following day i had a major system crash on one of my computers and the only thing that sorted it out was EAZ-FIX. I save a profile everyday now just before I close down. I've never seen a program so efficient and easy to use.

    I do hope they give the Storm at Sea screensaver away tomorrow as I love that one. I can't get enough screensavers. :)

    Anyway ladies, I won’t be around much for the next week as my children are on half term school holidays and I really need to catch up on some prime time with them. I’ll still be doing reviews most days, but nothing else. I have a few freeware games partway reviewed, but they will have to wait. I’m sure the last two posts I’ve made on the subject should keep everyone going for a while (The Wheeled Freeware post and this one. :)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  6. graylox
    Member

    a little star in your galaxy, Stephen
    you are nice thanks! B

    Posted 4 months ago #

  7. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    There may only be 20 levels in Hoowaball, but each level is really hard to crack. This is the first time I've been able to read everything, though i know some German having llived just outside Krefeld for a coulple of years (North of Dusseldorf, though it was nearly 30 years ago that I left.

    and you also Graylox

    p.s.

    Ploing is quite hard to play as well. I like the mix of pinball and breakout, it's quite an unusual game.

    Gotta go to my dreamworld now as it's fast approaching that time when the kids will be stirring and I'm determined to spend more time with them over the next week. i've been promising to play through Peter Jacksons King Kong game that we've had for over two years. They think it's really cool all three of us playing a game togther. I'm unable to do any of the physical stuff with them, but computer games, reading story's and playing board games I can do. :)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  8. graylox
    Member

    have a good day!

    Posted 4 months ago #

  9. funkymom
    Member

    enjoy your family, stephen. :D

    Posted 4 months ago #

  10. sukibabe
    Member

    Whabbit when you get back, I have a question as how to get the extra levels for Strike Ball 2!
    I Beta tested it for RA, bought it from RA, and found out Alawar had realesed extra levels and called it Strike Ball 2 Deluxe, all in less than a 2 month period.
    I believe it was one of your posts. I was left feeling really ripped off!!!

    Here is a good one, we just got Hyperballoid 2-Time Rider in Beta at (always late) RA!

    I have Reaxxion and Infinity (which I belive to be the best out of the Ricochet series).

    Hyperballoid 2 is great playing on my Desktop with surround sound! I love the droid and the ball trails. I will however wait to make a purchase, as I have a bad taste in my mouth from Alawar!

    Enjoy your time with your kids, see you when you come back!

    Suki

    Posted 4 months ago #

  11. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Hi Sukibabe,

    The extra level sets for Strike Ball 2 Deluxe wont work with any version other than the Alawar version, which has its own activation method. As for Hyperballoid 2, I think it is far better than the original in my opinion, though when Hyperballoid was originally released I thought it was the best arkanoid since sliced bread. It was only after the 'nth' expansion pack was released with no extra bonus updates that I began to find it a little jaded. I still think the individual level sets are unsurpassed for graphics apart from maybe the ricochet series, though I'm only talking about 2D arkanoids here as graphically I think a lot of the more recent 3D arkanoids are beautifully rendered. I do like where Hyperballoid 2 is going with the levels editor, though it's still got some way to go before it reaches the level that Ricochet infinity has attained. I also like Reaxxion a lot as well, though as I’ve said in previous posts I still think Acky’s XP Breakout, which is several years old now has a lot to offer and apart from Ricochet infinity is probably the best 2D arkanoid around. Have you tried Little Gods? It’s a cross between Arkanoid and Pong, which has the most beautiful gothic looking graphics and some excellent game play that it quite challenging. Here’s an excellent review of that game:

    Review:

    http://www.gametunnel.com/gamespace.php?id=239&tab=3

    Demo Download link:

    http://www.download.com/Little-Gods/3000-2099_4-10435122.html

    I used to beta test for RA, but let my subscription lapse nearly 2 years ago as I didn't like the way you had to re-download any game you'd bought if you needed to, rather than being able to keep a hard copy on disc for yourself. I got some good games from RA, but won’t buy from them again. (That's just personal preference though) I do think the subscription is really good value though.

    ===========================READ THIS===================================

    I downloaded Ploing from the Caiman mirror last night and finally installed it a few minutes ago, and got an error that said "corrupt engine(Possible virus)" I didn't get any virus warnings on downloading the game, so it could just be an error has occurred during the data transfer. I thought I'd better post the warning here just in case, though I will investigate further and report back when I can

    =======================================================================

    p.s.
    Sukibabe, I'll still be posting but not in my usual way. It’s a pity you aren’t able to contact me as I'd be quite willing to 'give' you my copy of Strike Ball Deluxe as I've pretty much exhausted my interest in the game now, having played it out several times since buying it and both expansion packs; that's not to say I don't think it's a worthwhile game as to be honest I much preferred it to Magicball 2, which I put it in the same category as. Graylox asked the administrators for my Email so that she could contact me. I'm quite happy to release my email to anyone in the community who wishes to talk etc (well almost anyone, lol).

    I think I need to get back to basics with games as having so many makes it so much harder to actually settle on one game and enjoy it as it should be. It seems almost immoral how much money I've spent on games that I hardly ever play, especially since my accident considering what even one game would buy for some in this world.

    Posted 4 months ago #

  12. sukibabe
    Member

    Whabbit, I too left RA about the same time. The "good value" has increased in price from $7.99 to $9.99! The game credits are now good for 2 months instead of 1. You still do not have the option to buy more games at that price! That's why I belong to Big Fish. In the first month I bought 12 games for $6.99@, which is a years contract!
    I tried to explain this to RA, when they asked me why I was cancelling Game Pass, lol, they don't get it!!!! I post on the Forums at RA sometimes, as I still have friends from the good ole days. I posted the price increase and they edited my post to take that part out, lmao!!!! I can't run their new version 2.3, I could run 2.2, now I'm back to V1.4! They don't understand "if it ain't broke don't fix it"!!!!!!!!!!
    Don't worry about Strike Ball, I can live with it.
    I will be trying out Little Gods!!!!!!
    I made my first giveaway suggestion!!! Robbox: published by Realore Developer: Artfrost(Arthur Lohman Anatolievich) Release Date: 12/21/2006
    This is not an Arkanoid, but the first keyboard, or game controller game I really like!
    As far as I can find, this is the ONLY game this developer has done.
    They have it over at Fish too. I wish I could find some hints on it, as I am stuck on a level in the demo, I can't figure out how to pass. ie...they tell you what you must do, but then you have to figure out how, lol, love a good challenge.
    I would have bought it already, but am trying to lay low on the game spending.
    I have an 80 gig Dell Deaktop, made just for my gaming habit. I have another 320 gig internal hard drive set to go in, once my son gets some time to come over. LOL, I'm going to be a Grandma in April! I'm to young, I protest!!!! I don't care if the 50's are the new 30's, tell my body that!
    Well when you get some time, check out Robbox, as I value your opinion!
    Duty calls, just got in some new Betas (I don't just do RA's)!

    Suki

    Posted 4 months ago #

  13. sukibabe
    Member

    Love the Read Me: Starting the Game!

    Double-click on the LittleGods.exe and it should start after some sputtering and churning. That's the mystical goodness (goddess?) getting all shaken up so it's more fun.

    LMAO!

    Suki

    Posted 4 months ago #

  14. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    I've got Robbox; I bought it around a year ago for Callum, though I haven't really played it apart from a quick dip in when I first checked on it's suitability for Callum and Emily, though it was also given away about this time last year. I'll have to re install it as from the images I 've seen it looks really cool. (that's how bad my memory is at the moment :( ) Anyway, the offer of Stikeball is an open offer, so if you do get the urge, just ask. It's always available from my filefront account until you've downloaded it at which point I will delete it as then you'll effectively hve the licence as I've deleted all traces of it from my computer. I posted several tutorials there including SeeSoar, Magi, Snowy 2 and one of the Bubble Bobble games.

    Where are you stuck on Robbox?

    Posted 4 months ago #

  15. graylox
    Member

    Kaspersky did not find any baddy in Ploing
    I installed it, started it and got an error-message (again):
    Fatal engine abort E356
    Problem with WDL script
    No game possible. In the readme stand, that it is the 0.5 alpha version from 2000, and that there are some bugs - so...

    Posted 4 months ago #

  16. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    I have had this game working previously, so will try to find another source. I may have it on one of my back up discs so will upload it to filefront if necessary. But not this week. :)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  17. qb7894
    Member

    I am having major problems from games downloaded from GAME TOP. Installs fine but when you try to play it shows options menu. Not offer to open options but menu itself. no matter what I've tried it continues to reopen options dialogue. You click ok...then play brings up same dialogue no matter what...Un-installed, deleted file, rebooted, re-downloaded, reinstalled, same thing....any clue what I'm doing wrong??? XP 2nd all available updates. I even shut down anti virus and firewall, went off net and installed....Same stuff. I am at wits end...I know I don't know that much about computers, but I've read everybody's help file and can find no answer to this? I am just getting into gaming since I've become disabled and feel like I've wondered into another planet...

    Posted 4 months ago #

  18. qb7894
    Member

    sorry the specific games giving me same errors are

    ScaraBall aka GemBall (3D):

    A Ball aka Nuclear Ball (3D):

    Brixout (3D):

    Sawnoid (3D):

    Starball (2D):

    Posted 4 months ago #

  19. baraca
    Member

    qb7894 - I have downloaded all the games you mentioned and have had no problem with any of them. I am running 32-bit Vista on my PC. Try saving rather than running adn then opening the file after expanding any zipped files.

    Posted 4 months ago #

  20. qb7894
    Member

    Sorry...Thanks for input but I tried that....same stuff...
    I downloaded...expanded...ran all possible configurations and still connot get to run....

    First time I've had this happen and it is freaking me out!!!

    Posted 4 months ago #

  21. delenn13
    Member

    qb7894, I don't have a clue but it could be your video card since they are 3D. And what operating system you using?

    Posted 4 months ago #

  22. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    qb7894,

    Try downloading the demo of Gemball which is basically the same game as Scaraball and see if it does the same think (I'm clutching at straws here)

    It's probably going to be something to do with your computer though and the fact that they are Gametop games, though I've never had the same problem as you are getting.

    Maybe you could get in touch with the game top people. Send them a dxdiag of your computer as well as this gives them all the details of your computers hardware and how it’s set up, for example info such as how big your page files are (page files are used to store information temporarily while your running a program – very simply put of course) they may be able to tell you what's wrong. (to get a dxdiag document follow the steps below) Also try deleting all reference to the games in your registry. Though make sure you create a restore point first. I'll detail how to do these as well below. Other things you could try as well are to clean out your internet cache and windows temporary files. Right click on your internet icon and select internet properties, then delete your browsing history; warning though this will delete all your saved passwords etc. I think there is a function that allows you to be selective as to what you delete but I'm working off the top of my head at the moment. There are a few tabs to check out and possibly change, though I'd only do this as a temporary measure as those settings help to keep your computer secure. That is, click on the security and privacy tabs from the same window as you’ve got from right clicking the internet properties, and change the settings to have less security. (DO NOT forget to change these back after you've tried the games again).

    Creating a desktop report from the dxdiag tool:

    • Click on the Start menu
    • Click on the run command and type in dxdiag
    • Click on OK, which will bring up the dxdiag tool window
    • Click on the save all information button. A save as window will pop up allowing you to name the file if you wish and select the place to save it to. My documents or the desktop are probably the best places to save it to.
    • When Emailing the Gametop people include the dxdiag report as an attachment.

    Deleting registry keys:

    Please note you should always make a backup of your registry using the restore command which can be found by following the steps below:

    • Click on the Start Menu
    • Select and click on the All Programs button
    • Select Accessories – System tools – System restore

    (though if you installed the EAZ-FIX program from last week you wont be able to use the system restore tool, but EAZ-FIX does the same thing, it’s called Take snapshot instead, which can be found at the top of the menu to the left of the main window when you first boot the program from the task bar (icon looks like a wobbly green square filled with orange – lol)

    Anyway once you’ve created a restore point by whatever method follow the steps below:

    • Click on the Start menu
    • Click on the run command
    • Type in regedit – this brings up the registry editor.
    • Select the Edit button from the tool bar then click on find.
    • Type in the name of the specific game you want deleted from the registry and click find next. Each time it finds a key you can delete it by right clicking on the appropriate key. Click on F3 to continue the search until it say finished searching the registry

    I would suggest using the names of each of the games and more specifically all mention of Gametop from the registry. Make sure all the games have been deleted first though. Once you’ve completed the task, reinstall them; trying just one game first, to see if it has worked.

    The above are of course just possibilities. There’s nothing else I can think of that you could try other than perhaps installing the games to a different location than the default location, preferably on a drive other than the boot drive, be it an imaginary drive created by dividing your HDD into two or more partitions, (I think you’ll find a partitioning program in the freeware section of the project, or using the program that was given away recently called EASEUS Partition Manager – see below for a link to a freeware partition manager)or by using a another physical drive, assuming you have more than one HDD connected in your system.

    Cute Partition Manager:

    http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/freeware/2006/10/26/cute-partition-manager/

    If you do only have one physical hard drive that’s not been partitioned you could create a separate imaginary drive by using the freeware program above and then install the games on that one.

    I do hope you sort the problem out. If I think of anything else I’ll post it here.

    Nearly forgot to add:

    When you're using the registry editor, you must ensure that you start at the beginning of the registry for each search by clicking on the My Computer link which is at the top of the list. If you fail to do this the search (by using the find next command will start where the last search ended)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  23. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Good point Delenn13.

    You can check what sort of 3D emulation or indeed whether you have a graphics card and or a 3D emulator by using the dxdiag command I mentioned above. Once you've brought up the dxdiagnostics tool window, select the display tab; from there you can see what graphics card (if any) or onboard chip you have. (unless the computer is pre millenium you should have at least an onboard graphics chip) Also from the system tab it may tell you whether the cpu supports 3D. for example mine has the following added to the info about the cpu i.e. 3D Now

    Failing that update your graphics drivers. Your Graphics card (if any) is probably going to be an NVidia or ATI graphics card so just Google either of these to go to thir home sites where you can get the latest drivers for their chip sets. You can see what your present graphics driver is by looking to the right side of the display tab. for example mine says nv4_disp.dll which indicates it's an NVidia driver (dll = dynamic link library = driver)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  24. sukibabe
    Member

    Whabbit check this out! http://files.filefront.com/Mission+Whiterabbit/;9554599;/fileinfo.html
    Lt. Stephen Whiterabbit

    Suki

    No Strikes Yet............

    Posted 4 months ago #

  25. sukibabe
    Member

    Whabbit

    Stuck on level 6 in Robbox, the cube colors to get to the transporter. I clear the pink ones, but the green and blue are locked by 2 crates. I have only one Plasma left.

    Buying this for sure!!!!

    Suki

    Posted 4 months ago #

  26. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Okay, when I have time I'll check it out and see, not that i'm promising that i'll get any further than you lol..

    With respect to the link you've posted. That is indeed me. I beta test all of Hayabusa's maps (formerly known as Greenbud). He is naming some of his latest maps after Beta testers like myself who have helped him for quite some time. The map is for a game called Crysis that was released mid Nov 07, and is one of only a few DX10 games as yet to hit the shelves. (DX10 garphics are supposed to be the best yet, adding a realism to games that we've not seen before. Though you need Vista to appreciate the best bits - which i bought, but it's too full of bugs to run most things on my computers so it was deleted. So I needen't have spent arounf $300 on just a single graphics card. (yes I was that stupid) The game is fabulous, but requires a really fast computer and kick @@S video card to run properly. I actually build my last two computers around the specs for this game as I pre-ordered it nearly a year before it was released.

    I've actually got my name into several Battlefield 2 maps, either as a spawn point or as part of the story line, but that's only because I was very active (and still am) in the Battlefield community.

    Thanks for the link though. I'm actually supposed to have been executed by ememy soldiers and the mission is basically a search and rescue mission in which the guys have to come and find me so that I can be shipped off home, (as the marines never leave a man behind) lol.

    How on earth did you find that link?

    Posted 4 months ago #

  27. funkymom
    Member

    whiterabbit- that is so cool!

    sukibabe- thanks for posting that link.

    whitesukirabbitbabe- how do you become a beta tester? or is it top secret? (you could contact bubby for my e-mail if there is any info you could share)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  28. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    There's no secret to it. If you pop over to the Alawar site there's a link somewhere on the main page (or somewhere on the site) asking if you want to be a beta tester. I think you just have to subscribe to the newsletter and that's it. Oh yeah, just remembered, you have had to have bought at least one game from them in the past. Though with Real Arcade I think you can do it without buying. Though I started Beta testing after I'd signed up. I haven't beta tested for them in a few years now though.

    If you beta test for Alawar, you do get 30% off any game you beta test. As for beta testing maps, you have to own the game first, join a suitable modding community and just contribute to the forums. I started beta testing maps for several mappers after just asking. I'm also down for beta testing the game i mentioned in the forums a few weeks ago called World of Goo. Again you have had to buy the game before it's even come out to actually get accepted. I love the write up about that game an after trying out the freeware game Tower of Goo thought it was definitely unusual enough to please me. :)

    I think if you write to any game developer or game house and say you are interested you’d get the opportunity. It’s easy, and you get to see games before they are released. And it seems in some cases you get to keep the beta versions. Though with Alawar the best test is still time limited, which I’ve said in the forums that it’s just not enough time to properly assess a game and find bugs.

    p.s.
    funkymom, check your Email, Graylox passed on your mail to me. :)

    Posted 4 months ago #

  29. funkymom
    Member

    thanks for the info. i'll look into it. but, being the broke, jobless (hopefully not for much longer!), single mom that i am, i don't think i can spend money just to get the "opportunity" to test a game for free(?). and i don't really spend much money on games (yet), which is one of the reasons why i love this site.

    p.s. nada....??? :(

    Posted 4 months ago #

  30. Whiterabbit-uk
    Member

    Hi Funkymom, 'scuze my English above. I'd been up all night. As I said with Real Arcade you may not need to have bought a game, and there are other game houses that you could try and ask. Don't discount the oppertunity just because you can't afford to buy. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enought. Also that you are broke and jobless. Not great when you have children to look after as well. :( Take care. I'll Email you as I've got hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of games I don't even want anymore.

    Posted 4 months ago #

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