Tricks & Tips: CycloManiacs

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on November 4, 2009 – 11:51 am
Filed under Online Games, Tips and Tricks



CycloManiacs is just plain awesome! This game has everything you could ask for, from its crazy selection of 20 unlockable characters, to its perfectly balanced tracks set in 6 brilliantly illustrated worlds. Long story short: it looks good and plays even better! To unlock all of the secret goodies that this game has to offer, you not only have to play well, but you have to play smart. This is why I have come up with a few tricks and tips that may help you get your times down and your tires across the finish line first.

- Control is key when you are flying through the air and I have discovered that Sir Colon has a really tight flip radius which makes him spin a lot faster. This, my friends, can help you shave valuable seconds from your race time! I also found out that he is an ace when it comes to popping wheelies, which means more than just sticking sweet stunts — it can also send your score soaring. So give Sir Colon a try and see if you don’t start winning more races!

- Chose your upgrades wisely! When you get the opportunity to tweak your bike, focus on the important upgrades first. In this game, speed and agility rule, so upgrade your speed and spin first before worrying about other upgrades, like your brakes.

- Stay focused and keep your hands steady. Try not to anticipate too much, and instead, focus on the obstacle in front of you. A clear mind and steady hand will lead you to victory lane!

I hope these tips will help you unlock at least some of the game’s sweet extra features – and even more of its amazing potential. Keep on riding and racing and I’ll be back with more tricks and tips soon!

Play CycloManiacs

Carrie The Caregiver: Dads and Daughters

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Posted by Carrie on November 3, 2009 – 4:12 pm
Filed under Online Games

Is it just me or do grown-up men have a tendency to act like little boys when they’re sick… or when they don’t get their way… or when they’re hungry… or tired… or when it’s Tuesday ;)

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not complaining. I truly wouldn’t know what to do without my dear sweet Will, but lately I feel like he needs my guidance more than the kids do. (Darling, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t have it any other way!)

In a nutshell, the problem is David, Safi’s new boyfriend. Well, not so much David himself – he’s a great kid, no doubt about it – but rather the idea of him.

Ever since we heard about David, I’ve spent countless hours convincing Will to accept the fact that yes, his little girl is growing up, that it was bound to happen sooner or later, that it’s nothing to worry about, that we raised her right and we have to trust her, and so on and so forth. But he just doesn’t seem to be getting it.

My normally upbeat and cheery husband has been moping around day and night, dragging his feet, and sighing loudly for no reason. It’s putting all of us on edge… especially Safi. And the last thing I want is for her to clam up and stop talking to us about this. I keep trying to impress upon Will the importance of open communication, and finding the right balance as her parents between firmness and understanding, between offering guidance and fostering independence.

Honestly, I’ve never seen him like this before. David has seriously thrown him into a depression! He’s exhausted, he barely eats and he’s become totally forgetful about the chores. This morning, there was hardly any firewood ready for what we knew was going to be a really busy day. And when we get off on the wrong foot at the store, it can take hours to catch up.

If anyone out there has any ideas on how to handle this, please do share. Maybe I’ll get Grettle to talk to him, too… it’s not just me she has a knack for calming down!

Play Carrie The Caregiver Cross Roads

Coming Soon: Nancy Drew Dossier - Resorting to Danger!

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Posted by Justine on November 3, 2009 – 8:36 am
Filed under Coming Soon, Download Games

From the creators of the #1 selling-PC adventure games comes a new Nancy Drew story-driven casual series that is Fast Fun for Busy Detectives. Nancy Drew Dossier hidden-object games immerse you in a suspense-filled hunt to piece together concealed clues as you search and seek to crack the case. A bomber plagues the Redondo Spa! Can you defuse the situation? The annoying explosives are pranks, but it could drive away the Redondo’s clients and celebrities. Nab the culprit or you’re out of business!

More upcoming releases are coming to Shockwave. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy these great new games:
• 10 Days to Save the World
• Paradise Beach
• Insider Tales: The Secret of Casanova
• Enlightenus

We appreciate your feedback and game suggestions and want you to know that we read every single one of them. While we strive to respond to as many requests as possible, we will not be able to respond to everyone individually. Check back here next week, and we’ll post a response addressing the week’s most commonly requested games.

We’re Playing Monstrous And Spooky Games on Shockwave!

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Posted by Yelena Kozlova on October 30, 2009 – 6:51 pm
Filed under Community, Download Games, Events, Online Games, Uncategorized, What we're playing

Halloween is almost here and I’m spending my last moments before Trick or Treating (yes, I still go Trick or Treating) with all the Shockwave Monsters.  I’ve gathered them all up in one place where they’re waiting to shoot, hit and run and finally R.I.P. Whether you’re up for a grave shift, in the mood to pop some eye balls, or want to become The Pretender I’ve got you covered.

If you’re not scarred enough, there are some Spooky Download Specials.   I’m enjoying some legendary stories by the campfire, peeking into the Dracula Files and getting hooked on the spooktacular Fishdom sequel.

However, I must confess that my all-time Halloween game favorites are the special treats found in Daily Jigsaw and The Daily Diff.  Check ‘em out, ‘cause the special images and game trophies will be gone once the ghosts and zombies return to their graves.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Carrie The Caregiver: Girl Time

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Posted by Carrie on October 27, 2009 – 3:06 pm
Filed under Online Games

Hey everyone…hope you’ve all been enjoying the gorgeous fall weather as much as we have!

Everything’s fine with us… working, playing and generally just loving the season. One thing on my mind lately, though, is that the kids actually seem to be getting a bit jealous of all the time Will and I have spent together alone these last few weeks.

All I can say is that this NEVER would have happened back in Northwood, when we were all running off in different directions doing our own thing. Back then, getting the gang together for dinner was next to impossible… and now that’s something we do almost every night!

Anyway, I’ve been missing them too, so Will and I decided to divide and conquer. He’s got a ton of father-son stuff lined up this week with Peter – fishing, basketball, even some driving lessons. (Hopefully, that’ll include chopping some wood for the stoves, too!) That leaves Safi, Grettle, Pearl and I together for some serious girl time.

I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it… especially since I want the chance to hear a bit about Safi’s new boyfriend. Yes – it’s true! My little girl has her first serious boyfriend :) Of course, Safi being Safi, we had to hear about it from Peter. They met when Safi started working on the school paper last month – David’s the editor, in fact – and Peter thinks he’s a really great guy. He’s a tough brother to please, so that makes me feel a lot better.

I know Will won’t be thrilled that David’s a year older than Safi, but I doubt he’d be totally happy with any boy she would bring home. Nobody’s good enough for his girl, I guess!

Will let you know what I can find out… Gosh – I can’t believe what a meddling mum I’ve become :)

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Coming Soon: Kitchen Brigade

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Posted by Justine on October 27, 2009 – 7:00 am
Filed under Coming Soon, Download Games

Congratulations, you have been selected as a contestant for the TV show Kitchen Brigade! Over the next 66 days, you must successfully open and manage 7 different restaurants.

Manage your 3 chefs in order to serve your customers efficiently. When the orders start piling up, give your chefs a hand by playing cooking mini-games! Serve enchiladas, clam chowder, chicken satay, and over 50 other recipes! Build the perfect kitchen by adding grills, ovens, mixers, and much more! It’s up to you to win the Kitchen Brigade TV Competition!

If you enjoy preparing delicious dishes and tasty treat, check our Shockwave’s collection of cooking games.

More upcoming releases are coming to Shockwave. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy these great new games:
• The Conjurer 10/30
• Sally’s Quick Clips
• Save Our Spirit
• Zulu’s Zoo
• Night of the Scarecrows

We appreciate your feedback and game suggestions and want you to know that we read every single one of them. While we strive to respond to as many requests as possible, we will not be able to respond to everyone individually. Check back here next week, and we’ll post a response addressing the week’s most commonly requested games.

Shockwave is Vamping it Up

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Posted by Jessie on October 26, 2009 – 8:00 pm
Filed under Coming Soon, Download Games

Get in the Halloween spirit with The Dracula Files, a new vampire-themed hidden object download game coming to Shockwave on October 27. Vampires are all the rage–learn more about trends in vampire art and media in this blog article from our friends at MTV.com, featuring comic writer and Dracula aficionado Tony Lee.


Tricks & Tips: R.I.P

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on October 23, 2009 – 1:34 pm
Filed under Online Games, Tips and Tricks

With Halloween only a week away, I thought I’d help you get your ghouly game on with some tips for the game R.I.P. In this spooky puzzle game, lost souls represented as ghosts are trying to get to their final resting space. With the help of some spider webs and some scissors, you must guide them to their graves and set them free. The game looks easy enough, but trust me it gets tough. There is a lot going on, but I have a couple of tips that may help you get it all done just a little faster.

- Don’t pass up the scissors. When you collect a set of scissors and don’t use them in that level, they carry over to the next level. As you get further in the game, things get more and more tricky, meaning you may need those scissors to cut your way out of a mistake!
- Draw your lines up. Just because the souls are drifting down doesn’t mean you can’t get them back up to catch some bonus points! Shoot your lines up to make sure you cover the whole level. You will get higher scores for sure!
- More points means more rewards! To max out your tokens in this game, you’ll need super high scores, and the only way to get a really high score is to collect all of the bonus points. Leaving precious points behind can cost you in the end.

I hope you found these tips to be helpful! You should have all the help you need now, so I expect to see you haunting R.I.P’s high score board soon! Thanks for playing and have a Spooky and Safe Halloween!

Behind the Scenes - Nat Geo Games

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Posted by Justine on October 21, 2009 – 7:00 am
Filed under Download Games

Shockwave recently caught up with National Geographic’s Chris Mate, VP/GM of the Interactive Entertainment Group, to talk about their most recent game release; Lost City of Z. Keep reading for an insightful peek at what goes into making a true story of exploration and adventure into a captivating game around the history of the fabled exploration of Z.

The Spark: What was the inspiration behind Lost City of Z?
Chris: The story of the Lost City of Z dates back to 1753. The Lost City of Z was said to be an ancient Maya civilization that existed in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett and his son Jack disappeared in 1925 allegedly while searching for the lost city. This compelling back story along with the recent National Geographic Channel show following a modern day National Geographic Explorer on a mission to find evidence of the city and the fate of Col. Fawcett combined to convince us that the subject of Z would make for a great game.

The Spark: How did the game evolve over time?
Chris: Our head of development and Merscom, our development partner for Z, collaborated on a back story that incorporated this particular subject. From there we reviewed the research, assets and media Nat Geo has and from all of this information the teams crafted a viable game setting and detail relative to the location’s typography, indigenous population and native wildlife. A back story script was then written and the game began to take shape. The actual game itself remained true to the initial concept from inception to completion with the exception of the typical code and feature tweaks associated with this type of fast tracked development.

The Spark: What makes The Lost City of Z unique?
Chris: We try to create objects that are true to the period, relative to the game and location. Many of these games use the same object database and the developers know which types of objects most players favor so you will see those in every game. We do more customization in order to produce a more authentic feel. Lastly, because we operate a world renowned video production house we are able to incorporate high quality video into our games. This video helps tell the story and adds another unique game element to a Nat Geo Game. You will see more and more video – moving to a higher resolution soon - from us as file size restriction continue to lessen.
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Carrie The Caregiver: Just Us

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Posted by Carrie on October 20, 2009 – 4:58 pm
Filed under Online Games

I’m afraid my poor, dear hubby is going to fall asleep over the jam pot this morning.

Even though we just got back from our romantic anniversary getaway, we’ve both been pretty busy playing catch-up this week. Don’t get me wrong… the kids and Grettle handled things like champs while we were gone, but you know how it is – getting things back the way I like them takes a bit of time.

Anyway, because of all the hard work they did covering for us, Will and I decided to give everyone a few days off. Peter’s got an away game with his basketball team this week, and Safi’s up to her eyeballs in some big story for the school paper, so they definitely could use the time. Even Grettle’s got a lot going on these days, between the new photography class she’s taking and the fact that she’s insisting on bringing Pearl to a new “Grandma-and-Me”class at the local rec center.

So that just leaves Will and me at the store this week….which means I’m kinda hoping things don’t get too busy. And between you and me, I’m pretty pooped myself today. (Safi and Peter, you might want to avert your eyes for a moment…) Will and I were up really late last night, um, talking ;)

Ugh. Can’t stop yawning! Gotta make sure I visit the R&R shed this morning…. I’d hate to be snoring when I should be pouring!

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