Monthly Archives: August 2009

Inside the Game: Fashion Solitaire

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Posted by Justine on August 27, 2009 – 7:19 am
Filed under Online Games

Like all of us here at Shockwave, I am a huge fan of Fashion Solitaire, and was eager to learn more about the game and what makes it so unique among the many fashion games from which to choose.  I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Daisy Pilbrow, a Producer at Large Animal Games. Daisy and her team are responsible for all the releases of this stylish series, including Fashion Solitaire, Fashion Solitaire 2 - Summer Styles, and the new Fashion Solitaire 3 - Back to School.

Daisy had a lot of fun things to share with us and we are happy to share her stories with you!

The Spark: Hi Daisy, please describe your role at Large Animal Games.
Daisy: I’m a Producer at Large Animal. I manage a team of 2 to 5 people, including artists and programmers.

The Spark: What was the inspiration behind your game, Fashion Solitaire?
Daisy: We wanted to make a game that combined the popularity of fashion and “dressing up” with an easily accessible casual game mechanic. We eventually settled on a Solitaire mechanic (arguably the most wide-spread game in the world) which worked surprisingly well with the dress-up theme.

The Spark: How did the Fashion Solitaire project evolve over time? Read More »

Carrie The Caregiver: Keep It Clean!

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 25, 2009 – 5:23 pm
Filed under Online Games

Wow, things are nuts around here! Will and I can barely keep up with the customers… we really didn’t expect the store to have such a loyal following after just a few short weeks. If things stay so busy, we may have to recruit one of the kids to start helping out after school and on weekends. Safi, darling, if you’re reading this, here’s lookin’ at you kid ;)

I know I shouldn’t complain. As Grettle reminded us last night after a particularly busy day, we’d be way more stressed out if nobody liked our jam. But with everything going on in the store, it’s sometimes hard to keep it all straight. But being experienced parents has served us well in at least one regard: Keeping our hands clean.

As all you moms and dads out there know, sticky hands are a fact of life… and so is washing them. Picking fruit, chopping wood and painting pots means keeping our hands clean for cooking is an absolute priority! I find that getting into the habit of washing up regularly helps, whether they need it or not.

Anyway, there is one thing I’m really excited about lately despite all the chaos around here: I’ve been able to get plenty of good guitar time in. I try and sit out on the porch every night, rain or shine, while the kids and Will tidy up after dinner. For me, there’s no better way to unwind after a day of sticky hands, fussy stoves and long lines. Today one of our customers even asked me to play a tune for her! Will thinks I’m getting quite a reputation around here.

Gives new meaning to the term “jam session,” doesn’t it?

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Play Carrie the Caregiver Crossroads Part 1: Carrie’s Country Jam

Coming Soon: Aveyond - Gates of Night

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Posted by Justine on August 25, 2009 – 7:00 am
Filed under Coming Soon, Download Games

Aveyond: Gates of Night is the second book in the Orbs of Magic series. In this adventure, Mel must find artifact which can thwart the Vampire Gyendal from plunging the world of Aia into darkness. To do this, Mel must leave the mainland and explore mysterious lands across the great sea.

Solve dozens of adventure puzzles and explore an enchanting world. Aveyond: Gates of Night is packed with monsters, magic, and humor. Stop an evil vampire lord from plunging the world into darkness and enslaving humanity. Explore lush tropical forests, arid deserts, mystical woodlands and more. Soar to dizzying heights and descend to the depths of the Underworld on your adventure.

Aveyond: Gates of Night is coming to Shockwave on September 1st! Until then, play other games form the Aveyond series: Aveyond, Aveyond 2 and my personal favorite, Aveyond: Lord of Twilight.


Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy these New Releases on Shockwave:
• Righteous Kill: Revenge of the Poet Killer
• Sprouts Adventure
• Women’s Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon
• Cooking Dash®: DinerTown Studios™

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.

Club Shockwave’s Free Game of the Week: Tower Up

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Posted by John vanSuchtelen on August 20, 2009 – 10:33 pm
Filed under Club Shockwave, Events, New Features, Online Games

Have you been wondering what this Club Shockwave thing is?  Asking yourself “Why should I join?”.  Thinking that some of those exclusive games look interesting, but been wary of taking the leap into a full membership?

I’ve got good news.  Starting this week, we’ve decided to give you a glimpse into Club Shockwave with free access to some of our top Club Exclusive games.  These games are our pride and joy, and we really wanted everyone to have a chance to try them. We’re starting with our latest addition, Tower Up, but will be opening up some others over the coming weeks.  No strings, no commitments - just hop in and play.  Better still, if you have a free Shockwave account, you can win a bundle of tokens and use them for a chance at cash prizes in our daily, weekly and monthly sweeps.

What’s the catch?  Well, here’s the thing - Club membership does have its benefits.  One of the key features of Club Shockwave exclusive games is that every time you play you are working your way towards a chance at instant win prizes of up to $4,999/day or even the $25,000 Shockwave Golden Ticket.  If you’re not in the Club, you don’t get that chance.  Also, maybe you’ve noticed those slick trophies showing up on various Shockwave games?  You haven’t?  Well, here’s a look at one of my favorites from Tower Up… the Bronze Skyscraper.  Every time a Club member completes a building in Tower Up, they are making progress towards winning this trophy.  Once you win it, you can show it off in your own personal trophy case.  Take a look at mine.  No, I haven’t won the Skyscraper yet, but I’m working on it!

So, I hope you enjoy your free access to Tower Up, but also hope you’ll give Club Shockwave a whirl as a full-fledged member and enjoy all the other great benefits (here’s the obligatory list):

- Access to exclusive bonus content and full archives for our great daily games like Daily Jigsaw, Daily Diff and Word Roundup.

- Cash prizes (I already mentioned these)

- Hundreds of unique trophies to win and collect in dozens of games (Want to see which of your favorite games offers trophies?  Here’s a full list)

- No ad interruptions

- And most importantly, great exclusive games like Tower Up, Beach Towel Bingo, Mahjong Panda, Freestyle 21, Rainforest Slots and a whole lot more.

Ok, so how much is it?  As low as $2.49 a month, and you’re welcome to give the whole thing a try for 30 days on us.  Hope you enjoy Tower Up - it’s free until next Tuesday, Aug. 25th.

Until next time,

John, The Shockwave Product Guy
Profile: johnvs1

AddictingGames™ for the iPhone and iPod Touch

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 20, 2009 – 2:21 pm
Filed under Mobile Games, friends
Addictinggames.com on the go!

Addictinggames.com on the go!

Our good friends @ Addictinggames.com have recently released 3 new games for the iPhone! We thought we would help them get the word out by reposting their blog post on the Spark! These are some really fun games that you should have a blast playing! Check them out today!

ALSO: Daily Jigsaw ToGo is now also available as a lite version, or get the full thing for the new low price of $2.99!
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AddictingGames.com has been the online gaming destination for the coolest gamers on the net for a while now but you know we weren’t just going to stop there. We have finally taken our first steps into the world of iPhone / iPod Touch games bringing you 3 of our most addicting titles to your iPhone or your iPod Touch. The first 3 games we will be putting out are iPark It! , 50 States, and World Wars. These games use the iPhone’s features to the fullest giving you a whole new way to play on iPhone with AddictingGames on the go! Be sure to check out these titles and get ready because more are just around the corner!

iPark It!

Head towards the spot!

While parking your car doesn’t sound like the most intense game in the world do not be fooled! This AddictingGames classic has been keeping people pumped on parking since the beginning and now we have turned it into an iPhone game that even the DMV would be proud of! It sounds simple enough, guide your car to the glowing yellow spot but there can be many obstacles to get in your way. The coolest part about this game are the controls which use a touch sensitive steering wheel and throttle to keep you zooming around the lot. The screen center also comes in handy when wide turns might impair you view. Simply tap on the screen twice to center the game and park at will! You will get hooked fast and never look at a parking lot the same ever again!

World Wars

world-wars

Here at AddictingGames.com, World Wars has been keeping battlefield junkies fighting online and now that you can play it as an iPhone game, the fight for global domination has truly become portable! Using it’s classic dice rolling attack system, the game brings all of its great game play and fun graphics to your iPhone / iPod Touch. The best new feature for World Wars is the auto save option which works right away if you have to get out of the game by pressing the home button. Now if you don’t have time to conquer the eastern hemisphere, you can come back and do it later and without being glued to your home computer!

50 States

Can you find all 50?

Geography can be a tough subject, but at some point in your schooling you’re just going to have to know where the heck Kansas really is! With 50 States as your guide you will quickly learn where all of the states are with ease! Not sure where South Carolina is on a map? No worries! If you come across a state that leaves you baffled you can simply shake your device to get a new one. Impress your friends with your knowledge and have fun learning at the same time! That right! Learning can be fun!!

These 3 are just the start of a bright friendship between the iPhone / iPod Touch, and AddictingGames.com that is sure to grow and get very exciting in the time to come! All of the games are now available at the iTunes app store and on our web site right here! So get going and keep playing where ever you may roam!

I’ll keep you posted on new titles as we get ready to roll them out!

Stay tuned and keep on playing!

Carrie The Caregiver: A Girl Named Pearl

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 19, 2009 – 11:25 am
Filed under Community, Online Games


This week Carrie fills us in on the newest member of her family Pearl! Things are staying busy on the farm and there always seems to be something going on!
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A Girl Named Pearl
Well, this week should prove to be quite the challenge – Grettle has an old friend visiting from out of town, so she won’t be able to babysit as much. And since the big kids will be back at school, little Miss Pearl will be joining us at the store from time to time. How on earth am I going to handle looking after the baby and keeping the jam-fires burning?

Pearl!

Lately, it seems to be all mommy, all the time. Do your little ones also cry more for mom than for dad? I must admit, I’m sort of looking forward to her going through a “daddy phase” ;) One of the nice things about Pearl, though, is that if I tend to her right away, she settles down nicely and takes a nap, which should take the pressure off at the store.

Oh – and to make matters worse, the old kiln’s been driving us nuts… burning through fuel like crazy. We had at least a few cords of chopped wood stockpiled at one point, but now that production has increased too; looks like it’s time to add manual labor to our lengthening list of things to do :(

Fortunately, there is a plus side: Will’s biceps will be looking great in no time!
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Carrie the Caregiver Crossroads Part 1: Carrie’s Country Jam - Play The Game
Carries Facebook - Add her as a friend!
Carries Twitter - Follow her!

Coming Soon: Casebook Episode 1 - Kidnapped

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Posted by Justine on August 18, 2009 – 7:00 am
Filed under Coming Soon, Download Games

The Birchermann children have been kidnapped and it’s up to you to find the kidnapper. Detective Burton will help you in your hunt, but it’s you who will scour the crime scenes, find evidence of the crime, and bring those kids home. Collect hidden evidence in a range of authentic crimescenes, play intriguing forensic mini-games, watch the story unfold like a film and solve the crime before it’s too late.

Get ready to play this game on Shockwave, August 25th.

crime scene

Soon, you’ll also be able to enjoy these New Releases on Shockwave:
• Righteous Kill© 2
• Aveyond: Gates of Night

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.

Coming Soon: Spider Monkey Solitaire

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Comments
Posted by Justine on August 17, 2009 – 3:30 pm
Filed under Club Shockwave, Coming Soon

Add some precious primates to your trophy case! On August 25th, a new exclusive game will be added to Club Shockwave. Spider Monkey Solitaire pairs a familiar mechanic with adorable monkeys and a serene setting for a new twist on an old favorite. Music offers a soothing escape to the increasing difficulty you’ll encounter in each level–unless you make a wrong move, that is. Then, the once quiet monkeys quickly let you know who’s boss. Free bonus cells and 3 different levels of difficulty allow you to make this game as challenging as you choose, though for beginners I would highly recommend the “easy” level and some frequent use of the hint system.

Coming Soon: Drift ‘n’ Burn 3 World Tour

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 11, 2009 – 4:19 pm
Filed under Coming Soon, Online Games

There is something about race cars that have kept me hyped up for years. Starting out as a child with my toy cars, the thrill of winning the race has always been attractive to me. Of course we grow older and get behind the wheel ourselves but there is just no way I’d ever be able to power slide through hair pin turns in my 1999 Nissan Sentra. Thank goodness for video games!

To take it a step further, thank goodness for the Drift ‘N’ Burn Series on Shockwave.com. Collectively the first 2 games have shown hard core race fans how to do it right for a while but I am excited to announce that a third game is coming to Shockwave.com very soon and it’s sure to keep you revved up and running for a long time to come!

In Drift ‘n’ Burn 3 World Tour takes the already amazing franchise that is “Drift ‘n” Burn” and overhauls it for a super charged gaming experience like never before! With new modes, new cars (there are 100 to collect!), bigger weapons and super slick graphics, this is sure to be one of Shockwave’s best racers ever.

Everything is upgraded in this game from the exotic track locations to the improved steering and game play music. You won’t have to take my word for it for too long. This game will be live on Shockwave soon. So if you are a true gear head like myself, get ready for a game that will have you speeding for the finish line again and again!

Carrie The Caregiver: Ripe For Picking!

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 11, 2009 – 2:26 pm
Filed under New Features, Online Games



Well my great friends at Shockwave.com have decided to let me also feature my blog on The Spark. I am really excited to share my words with all of you and I hope you enjoy my blog as much as you do my adventures! Below is my most recent post! Thanks for reading and there will be a new post from me on The Shockwave Spark every week!
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Carrie The Caregiver: Ripe For Picking!

Phew! What a day… now I totally understand why they say moving is one of life’s biggest stresses.

The truck showed up late, we got lost along the way, and the new house is a complete and total mess… but at last we’re here and the worst is behind us. Thankfully, we had no trouble hooking up our Internet access. I don’t think I could handle country living without my lifeline to the outside world! By the way, please please PLEASE feel free to shoot me a line anytime you like – just knowing you guys are out there reading my blog and supporting me gives me strength! :)

Since Will and I need to put the store together A.S.A.P and start learning the ropes, I asked Safi and Peter to tackle the mountains of boxes over the next few days, while Grettle looks after Pearl. (She grabbed the baby the instant we arrived and wouldn’t let her go!). Just seeing Grettle with my kids warms my heart. My mom died when I was young, so she really is like a grandmother to them.

Boy, am I wiped out. Was going to play some guitar under the stars, but I think I’ll turn in instead… tomorrow’s going to be another crazy day. The berries are ripe on the but she’s and ready to be picked, so it’s now or never! Plus, we’ve got to get started on those jars… and they have to be pretty, too, so painting them is super-important. Hey – if I’m going to give Martha Stewart a run for her money, I better be prepared! ;)

First night in the new place… feels kinda weird, you know? Or maybe it’s just nerves… we’ve put it all on the line for this family adventure, and I’m not quite sure what we’ll do if things don’t work out.

Read More »

Take a peek behind the scenes of Shockwave.com at The Shockwave Spark, an online gamers blog that keeps you up to date on the coolest titles, the hottest deals, and other newsworthy and buzz worthy tidbits. Get the scoop on the latest in online games, you'll have the chance to ask questions, comment on recent posts, and chat with the rest of the gaming blog community.

Of course, we appreciate your feedback on our gaming blog, including all your game suggestions. But, there's a lot of it! So, while we read every single one of our members' comments, we can only do so much. We'll get to as many requests as possible, but usually don't get a chance to respond to everyone individually. This is one popular online gamers blog! Check back each week and we'll post a response that addresses the most commonly requested games.

For even more fun, check out Club Shockwave and Shockwave® UNLIMITED. As a member of Club Shockwave, you'll have access to exclusive versions of the best games around, including Free Cell, Mahjong, Bingo, Daily Jigsaw, Solitaire, and more. When you play games, you'll earn tokens, win trophies and have a chance to play instant win scratchers or enter sweepstakes for big cash prizes! With Shockwave® UNLIMITED you'll receive access to exclusive online games and downloads for a low monthly fee, unlimited play on all downloadable games, no ad interruptions on all games, and brand new Flash games each week. Plus, you'll have full access to all of the great online features of Club Shockwave, including multiplayer games like Bingo.