I began writing this days ago and have considered not posting it at all even now, but I will do so for what it's worth to the few who may get something from it. This is about directing you to some excellent free games, clean and without time limits, that have been made available on the website of a computer magazine. I would have tacked this onto an existing free game thread but it seemed rather bulky.
- The Offer
- The Games
- The Process
- Notes
THE OFFER
For some time now I've been downloading and testing the free casual games available at a German magazine site called Computer Bild. I'm on dialup so things are going slowly, but I figured I'd alert you folks to the goodies that are available. Some the games are truly excellent and well worth getting. Some of the games are free full versions, some are 'lite' versions with less content, but all are free from time limits and can be played as long as you like. Some are absolutely worth getting, which is why I'm bothering to write this (and if only one person gets enjoyment from this then I suppose it will have been worthwhile).
The site: http://www.computerbild.de/cb-Downloads-Spiele_465659.html?s_licence=8
The games are all German language versions but this will not be a problem if you're willing to click on things to learn what they do, and learn a few German words along the way. The fact is that most games are structured similarly in every language so it's easy to figure out the menu choices by trial and error (i.e. the bottom choice is nearly always going to be back [zurüch ] or exit [beenden]). This is often helped along by many words being similar enough to English equivilents so that you'll get the hang of it in no time (maus/mouse). Plus, casual games are generally simple anyway, and once you're in the game the language barrier is pretty much gone. Learning the core meaning of a few common words would be helpful though, like spiel/spiele/spielen (play, game/games/to play, etc.), or laden (load) and speichern (save), or bild (picture/screen), or ja/nein (yep/nope). Helpful translation links follow....
Automated translation, word by word:
http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/
Automated translation of full text or webpages:
http://translate.google.com/translate_t
http://babelfish.altavista.com/
Human translation:
I won't mention any names.
THE GAMES
There are many good ones available but I think there are about four games above all that are really worth getting: Bengal, Wunderland, Wunderbox and Planet Zet.
Bengal is a brilliant game in the Puzz Loop / Zuma / Luxor tradition. I don't know if it's the full version but I'm up to level 31 and it's still going strong, and it's well worth the download if only for that. It's really well made, with stellar gameplay and excellent visuals that the screen shots cannot hope to capture. The language barrier is not a problem since it has a simple menu system and few words to learn.
General game info in English: http://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/bengal_game_of_gods_review.html
Download: http://www.computerbild.de/programme/Bengal-_-Kostenlose-Spezial-Version_8622.html
Wunderland (Wonderlines) is a stunning lines variant that is a must-see. Both challenging and relaxing it's all about aligning three or more balls in a row on the board to make them disappear, there are various powerups along the way and different game modes to play. Beauty was obviously a key design element as everything about the game is gorgeous and serene, including the numerous screensaver-like animated backgrounds, which you can display free of clutter if you choose to. Gameplay is top notch and this is the full version. The language barrier is not a problem, but you could always try the English demo version if you want to familiarize yourself with the menus. Another fabulous free game in this style is Diamond Lines at gametop.
General game info in English: http://nevosoft.com/downloadable-game/en/games/wonderlines.html
Download: http://www.computerbild.de/programme/Wunderland-_-Kostenlose-Spezial-Version_8814.html
Wunderbox (Best Gift) is a superb, classic match 3 with a Christmas (gift) theme. With four game modes and brilliant eye pleasing visuals this full version game probably shouldn't be missed by fans of the genre. The language barrier is not much of a problem, though you might want to get a translation to fully understand the game types. If you download the English version elsewhere you can view the graphics or even replace the German ones.
General game info in English: http://www.dayterium.com/games/best-gift/
Download: http://www.computerbild.de/programme/Wunderbox-_-Kostenlose-Spezial-Version_8870.html
Planet Zet (Zzed) is an amazingly creative take on the bubble shooter style of game, I tend to think of it as a cross between bust-a-move and asteroids. You are able to move your launcher around throughout the game board, while shooting colored spheres (space debris) into others that are steadily streaming onto the screen, and there are some floaty physics involved that make the sphere interaction quite unique. Check out the links and screenshots and give it a try, the production values are top notch. This is the full version, with several game modes and a great variety of levels. There are text files installed with the game that you can easily edit to convert the in-game text to English if you like, such as changing "main=HAUPTMENÜ" to "main=Main Menu" or "audio=LAUTSTÄRKE" to "audio=Audio" (the clues are built into the files for the most part).
General game info in English: http://www.gametunnel.com/gamespace.php?id=256&tab=3
Download: http://www.computerbild.de/programme/Planet-Zet-_-Kostenlose-Spezial-Version_423959.html
The complete Computer Bild game list: (as of 2/2008)
http://www.computerbild.de/cb-Downloads-Spiele_465659.html?s_licence=8
- Super Nautica
A bubble shooter match 3 hybrid?
- Moorhuhn: Juwel der Finsternis
I dunno.
- Harry der Höhlenmensch
I dunno.
- Azteca
A rotational match 3 variant, very pleasant. 75 levels, lots of German text but simple menu system and easy gameplay. Good stuff.
Not to be confused with the different game of the same name at Gametop (Azteca/Inca Ball).
- Wunderbox
aka Best Gift (as well as Wonderful Gifts)
A superb, classy, Christmas (gift) themed match 3. Due to the theme I suspect you'll either love it or hate it.
- Fresko
aka Fresco Wizard, by Puzzle Lab.
An action mosaic puzzler like Charm Tale. A great many levels, if not the full version.
- Wunderland
Wonderlines. A stunning match 3 / lines variant that is a must see! Full version, beautiful game.
- Great Mahjong
Available in English at Gametop and one of the best jonggs I've ever seen.
- Little Piranha
I dunno. Available in English at Gametop, I think.
- Bubble Snooker
I dunno.
- Aqua Ball
I dunno.
- Beetle Ju
I dunno.
- Mad Cars
You know it, I think.
- Alien Attacks
I dunno. Available in English at Gametop, I think.
- Bengal
A brilliant game in the Puzz Loop / Zuma / Luzor tradition (like Azteca at Gametop)
- Hühner-Attacke
Arkanoid, lite version, 20 levels plus five bonus levels.
- Super Puzzle
I dunno. Available in English at Gametop, I think.
- Magic Ball 2
You probably already know this smile inducing breakout / arkanoid gem, this is a free 40 level version.
- Magic Labyrinth
I dunno. Available in English at Gametop, I think.
- Mahjong
An unsual jongg with several modes which include math and word building (english words). I didn't like it.
- Hühner-Rache
I dunno.
- Zokk Bloxx
aka Bloxxit, a superb jongg variant known as rivers (tiles can be matched if a line with no more than three segments can be drawn in the empty space separating them). I recommend it (although it's a lite version, with 15 levels in each skill level, which amounts to much more than it sounds like due to randomization of the tiles each time you play). I also recommend the English demo (Bloxxit) to view/replace some help textures.
- Jumping Jeff
I dunno. May be available in English at Gametop, I'm not sure.
- Mission im All
I dunno, an unsual arkanoid. Play 10 levels in each of the six episodes.
- 3D Pool Billiard
Available in English at Gametop, a fair billiards freebie.
- Feenzauber
aka Charm Tale, an action mosaic puzzler. Full version I think, but lots of text. A great game if you enjoy the genre. Pasting key sections of the text file deu_30.lng into the Google translator may be necessary to learn the powerups.
- Puzzle Prinz
aka Crystal path, an unsual match 3 / tangram hybrid. Lots of German text but easy enough to figure out I guess. Full version I think.
- Planet Zet
An extrememly well made and entertaining game, see review up above.
- Königssolitär
I dunno. Some sort of unusual solitaire.
THE PROCESS
The site: http://www.computerbild.de/cb-Downloads-Spiele_465659.html?s_licence=8
The category we're dealing with is "Spezial-Version (kostenlos)" (free, special version games), the link is to page one of two in this category. The downloads are safe and free of undesireable malware or DRM (this is a respectable magazine after all). The quality of the games is mixed, and some are already available for free on the English site gametop.com.
All of the games are installed along with a launcher called Game Center, but no worries. To quote: "GAME CENTER works OFFLINE. Therefore the GAME CENTER does not independently transmit or exchange any data online. There are no automatic updates, downloads or installations of new games unless you choose to do so. NO data exchange takes place!" - deutschland-spielt / screenseven
The game center is a lightweight interface that shows what games you have installed from the site, and displays links for getting more or registering and such. Each game that's installed will update the game center data with it's info. There are no file system or registry changes you need to worry about with any of this, it's all quite safe (I monitored it extensively but I'll refrain from cluttering this posting with the details). The games uninstall cleanly and so does the game center for the most part (Deutschland Spielt Game Center in the add/remove dialog). There is one annoyance however, the games all install to a root folder of your choice, but the Game Center always installs itself in Program Files (OXXOGames, about 10mb) and there is no choosing otherwise. And please note that uninstalling Game Center will automatically uninstall all of the games it's linked to.
A step by step overview of the download and installation process, starting with a visual tour with screenshots in sequence:
http://b.imagehost.org/0149/computerbild.gif
or
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/c6b9576709.gif
or
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7658/computerbildtz1.gif
Example:
1) Click the Bengal link on page one to get to the Bengal page.
2) On the Bengal page click "Herunterladen" to download (clicking the 'bilder' link will show screenshots).
3) When the download is complete click "bengal.exe" to launch the installer.
4) First you'll see the 'Willkommen' screen, click "Einstellungen" to choose the installation options.
5) You'll then see the 'Einstellungen' screen, click "Durchsuchen" to browse to the folder of your choice (It's Program Files by default), then click "Weiter" to go to the next dialog box.
6) You'll see the 'Nutzerlizenez' screen, click "Zustimmen" to agree to the license terms and install.
7) You'll see the 'Installiere' screen as the files are unpacked, no input required.
8) Finally you'll see the 'Abgeschlossen' screen indicating the installation is complete. The start game option box will be checked, click "Fertig" to finish.
9) If the start game box was checked the game will run, then after it closes the launcher will come up. If the box was not checked just the launcher will start. This is when you'll see if the launcher works well for you.
10) After all of this you'll find shortcuts to the game and the launcher on your desktop, and uninstall links for both in the add/remove dialog (but not the start menu).
Notes
Vista note: In my case the game launcher didn't work correctly in Vista, it would hang up and stay resident in memory, invisible, and needed to be shut down with the task manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del). Since the launcher automatically starts as the games exit it's definitely a problem, but I can't guarantee this problem will occur for all Vista users.
A word about Gametop
http://gametop.com/download-free-games/gametop/games/category/new/
At this time I highly recommend the games from there prior to Extreme Racers. Particularly Diamond Lines [like Wonderlines], Azteca (like Bengal), Great Mahjong, Galaxy Strike, Scaraball, A-Ball, Sawoid and Brixout XP -- all high quality games, all of which are full versions for free. At this time the files there are clean, meaning no spyware, adware etc. The only catch is that the games launch the home site in your web browser when they exit (just like the GOTD client), and the site and the ads on it are safe. It's good stuff! The license agreement is straightforward and the business model is solid. I was very skeptical at first but I've monitored and tested their stuff extensively and find it's all good. Just know that a program launching it’s home site when it exits does not make it adware. Launching the website in a standard manner gives you a chance to see what’s new there, but more importantly it exposes you to ads that can pay for the site’s ability to offer free stuff. Ads are involved in the grand scheme of things but that doesn’t make it adware in the accepted sense of the word.
This is basically my final posting anywhere on this site. Have fun.