Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Dragonlair
   

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   Member

   I know a lot of the sites offering free games try to hijack your home page, insert ads or even just simply pop up your default browser to their home page. Some of these are less of a hassle than others. I don't mind the home page stunt but I won't install a toolbar (unless I can immediately remove it and then only once) and I won't accept the ads or have my home page hijacked.

   With this in mind, I know the freegamepick.com is safe (it just opens the browser) but what about doublegames.com? Does it hijack your home page, does it require a toolbar to be installed? Does it insert ads? Does it open your browser when you end? In other words, just how does this site operate. What are the strings or requirements of the games. Are they even the full games or just demos?

   Diane

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   BuBBy
   

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   Administrator

   Thanks for the idea Diane!

   How about we (meaning everyone else except me) compile a list of free game related sites.

   Sufficient just to give a URL to the home page - and perhaps a 1 paragraph description on what sort of liberties they take with your system for the privilege to play a free game or two.

   Mention any types of toolbars, advertising, homepage hijack, nonstandard plugins required, or surgical procedures required to be undertaken to install their software.

   Once we have something related to a useful list of sites and symptoms - someone will compile it into an easy to read guide/checklist.

   Diane, you can take the rest of the day off if you want!

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Terri218
   

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   Member

   Great idea. I know I would really appreciate it because I'm feeling overwhelmed with all this information.

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   thenameipicked
   

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   I don't know on double games, but I do know about Game House
   http://www.gamehouse.com/
   Advertising between levels/sessions/beginning/end

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   Dragonlair
   

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   Member

   I started this thread hoping this would happen! I'll make my contribution.

   http://www.freegamepick.com/ - The games have no ads. Upon termination of the game, your default browser is opened to their home page but it does not hijack your home page.

   However, they do pressure you to install a toolbar, both during install and each time you play (if you let them). Saying no at install is easy but their shortcut runs something in front to pressure you to install the toolbar and (at least for me on Vista 32) just hangs if you say no. Just find the REAL game executable and create a new shortcut from there and ignore theirs.

   Note - some games may not be so pushy after initial install. I had one not do that but I had downloaded it a while back and had forgotten to install it. It may be a newer "feature".

   Diane

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   Dragonlair
   

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   Member

   I still don't know about doublegames (anybody????) but I did check out GameTop at http://www.gametop.com and they came out OK.

   There is a point in the install to watch out for. It wanted me to set gametop.com as the home page. I simply unchecked the box and went on with the install. It does not give any options about the placement of the shortcut group and I'm guessing I've got a desktop icon to remove.

   It does open your default browser upon termination (as does FreeGamePick) but it does not hijack the home page.

   Also, there are no problems with toolbars - no questions and the shortcut they create can actually be used!

   My tests were using Vista32 Ultimate SP2.

   Now, I've contributed 2, anybody know about DoubleGames?

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   midori
   

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   Member

   Doublegames does seem to be a clear site... I've downloaded several of their games and scanned them, and all comes up clean. Thing is, the games I've downloaded are only 60 minute demos. Can't seem to find any "free" full games, although they say they're all free. Perhaps free to try, then you're free to buy it! Lol.

   Are we listing all safe game sites here? I guess anyone who's downloaded from Wrabbit, Wizzard, and rO know that http://www.caiman.us/ is a safe site... loads of abandonware and freeware that we've been directed to by our tireless crew here. :)

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   Dragonlair
   

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   Member

   Thanks, Midori. It does indeed appear to be safe but darned irritating! The game I tried did not appear to be limited in time. However, there was an ad (that I could skip) at the start and there are text ads down both sides of the window (no choice in sizing) AND you have to wit before you can start a game.

   It may be safe but I've got enough other sites to use. I'll stay away from this one.

   Next???? :)))

   Posted 4 months ago #

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