I'm a little early with Thursday's games, but I wanted to give myself a few days break before the weekend as I'll be posting more games then to make up for the lack of a game giveaway. Also, I was a little excited at posting details of a game I've been playing with my son for nearly four months now, and it's still as enjoyable now as it was then. (However, it hadn't occurred to me to post it in the free games project for reasons that are explained below). My son plays it virtually every day and has created over 100 custom made levels for it so far. The latest updates have added loads more content to the game and he has already started on a whole new level set.
This game is actually still in Beta, but it’s almost finished and 'imho' well worth the effort of getting; though you will have to apply for a copy and wait for up to 3 or 4 weeks before they give you a password and unlock key.(and maybe longer depending upon the demand for it) Don’t let this put you off though because when you finally get the go ahead to download the game you’re going to get one of the best 3D action platform games I’ve seen for ages and with it comes a levels editor with an amazing number of objects and platform types to play around with as well as weapons, enemies and bosses. Because you won’t actually get the game today or at the very earliest a few weeks I have posted a few more game to keep you happy. These include a professional looking Pong clone and two breakouts, one 2D and one 3D.
Atmosphir,
When I first found this game I though it would be a really good one for the free games project, then I discovered that the only way you can get your hands on a copy is to sign up for Beta testing, which would immediately put many off bothering. Well, I did fill in the simple application and within a few weeks I received an Email saying I was accepted and that I could now download the Atmosphir beta, which I duly did. Four months down the line and several upgrades later I’ve amassed hundreds of free levels and my son has taken over the Beta testing and created some amazing levels, though I’ve never actually sent in any beta reports. There’s a You Tube video showing what you need to do to be able to download the beta.
It transpires that the game is one of those that is basically free, but you can buy extra content to make the game even better. I’ve since discovered that you actually earn points just for being there and these accumulate and can be used instead of cash to buy these extras.
I’ve since discovered that the game when completed will be a free game, but with the features mentioned above.
The game is very versatile and very easy to create levels. The main thrust of the game is to create levels with an intuitive levels editor, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. There’s literally hundreds (more like thousands) of very well made custom levels uploaded by the Atmosphir community, all of which are free to download. My son has had so much fun with this game and when I have had the time to play around with it to so have I, so I’ve decided to include it in today’s free games, though you wont actually be able to get a copy until you’ve signed up for the beta, and then you’ll have to wait for 3 o 4 weeks. In my opinion it’s well worth the effort. I’ll post several videos below to justify my belief that this is a worthwhile game to have. It’s a great family game. I’ve spend quite a lot of time designing levels with my son, and then we’ve played them together with my daughter.
The tools that come with the editor are being upgraded on a regular basis and new content is also being added so that more complex and interesting levels can be created. During the Beta stage you do have to use a user name and password to access the main game, and to download new content, though you can play offline and use the editor. All custom made levels made by yourself are available to play via the editor. You don’t have to upload any levels if you don’t want to and you don’t have to use the editor if you don’t want to.
The following link is to Atmosphir’s information page where you can read about the game and the editor.. I won’t go any more detail about the game as all the information can be found there
http://atmosphir.com/overview/
There’s versions for Windows , Mac and Linux.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSwcxnNjK2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGeNTbvZxy0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTB_xpHoKdE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLf-ab48DM
the last one of the above shows the new character skins. The first four are earlier versions of the game and really don’t do justice to the objects that are now available in game. You can set a good variety of enemies. Previously all you could do is run away from them; now you can stand and fight because you get a sword. There’s even bosses that you can add to whatever level you wish and a great variety of objects that spit fire at you or drop spikes down on you or trap you. The following two videos show how to get the Beta . apparently the game is nearing completion, but that was said a few months ago as well.
How to download the Atmosphir Beta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSwcxnNjK2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptvel4NYm7A
Images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/okaysamurai/sets/72157605319085698/
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Atmosphir&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squib Ball (5.54Mb)
This is a really well made game of pong. Not the pong that started the whole concept of computer games, but a very professional looking one that’s very hard to boot. I’ve avoided posting any more pong games after posting Plasma Pong, which was a psychedelically beautiful game to play, whereas this one looks like it was made for the serious player. You do need to have fast reactions for this one. It comes with its own installer and creates shortcuts on both the desktop and the start menu programs folder.
Do you dare to play a different pong game, with a lot of action and speed... where you will have to test your reflections to the maximum?
Squib Ball is based on the classic game of Pong but with lots of modifications and improvements, transforming it in an aggressive and challenging high-speed pong game that is entertained and very addictive at the same time, with several game modes (The Classic, Squib Mode and Pro-mode) and paddles to choose.
You will also be able to choose among several opponents with different characteristics and strategies depending on the situation in which they are (winning or losing) some of them can be more defensive, others offensive and so on.
Play friendly games 1vs1 against the computer or other player in the same PC, 2vs2 team games or the Championship that has several challenges so you can overcome them and win the cup!.
In Squib Ball you will be able to "record" your games and share with other people so they can watch them... The game already includes some pre-recorded games so you can see how each game mode is played!
Squib Ball is a new and different game that at the beginning it could be a little hard to play, but with a little of practice you won't take a lot in becoming a true professional of pong!
Requirements:
Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98
http://download.cnet.com/Squib-Ball/3000-7411_4-10742465.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clash Ball (12.6Mb)
This is a great free breakout game. The graphics are pretty low res, but the game play makes up for it. There’s some unusual differences to the usual arkanoid clones that make it worth downloading; especially if you're an arkanoid lover. The bat can be angles in one of three ways. There’s three difficulty settings, each with it’s own series of levels i.e. 30 easy levels 50 medium levels and 80 hard levels. The game is mouse controlled. You also get a levels editor, so once you've completed the generous number already supplied you can make your own. Unfortunately the game doesn’t come with an installer so you will have to manually place the game. You’ll find the game and level editor icons within the unpacked games folder.
Despite the low resolution graphics this game is quite nice and each level looks different from its predecessor, unlike some breakout games.
The game has everything you’d expect a game of this genre to have such as power ups, special effects and multi balls,
Controls:
F2 = insert coins
Enter = start game
Mouse = move bat
Left/right mouse button = rotate bat
Esc = back to menu / exit game
The download is from a Japanese site, but it’s obvious where to click for the download.
Download Link:
http://3580.net/products/clashball/index.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smash Set: (2.26Mb)
There are a few different modes to play. The main breakout game is quite different from anything I’ve seen before. What spoils the game a little is the ball physics. Initially you need to hit the ball with the edge of the bat to change the angle because when the game starts the ball initially travels in a line parallel with the games boards sides. One of the modes is a 3D pong game. Despite my initial qualms about this game, I still think it's a worthwhile breakout to have because it’s quite unusual.
To move the bat use the up and down arrows. The menus are a mix of Japanese and English, but there shouldn’t be any problems understanding the menus. There is an HTML document located within the games folder. It’s in Japanese, but there are some screenshots showing some of the boards. The game doesn’t include an installer and is keyboard controlled only.
Download Link:
