|
Let's assume, for example, that in my spare time I've been known to play massively multiplayer online games. Actually, I'll come right out and say it: on occasion, I still play Ultima Online. Hunting ogres, doing quests, the whole fantasy role-playing spiel. In between the latest version of Jewel Quest (more about that next week!) and whatever's shiny on my Xbox 360, of course. Where gaming is concerned, I am omnivorous.
Anyway, I was reading through a forum for this particular MMORPG last week, and happened across one player's description of a massive three-way battle between competing "guilds". He included screenshots of the fight, with all three groups struggling for the win: swords drawn, spells blazing, and fallen comrades all around. Truly, an epic description of a grand melee.
But I couldn't help noticing – down at the very bottom of each screenshot – the player's task bar. Next to his “hardcore” game, related applications, and screen captures. See it? Way over there on the far right side…?
That’s right. Just in case a three-sided multiplayer war isn’t challenging enough, he can always try to finish Diner Dash.
Busted!
On a personal note, I’d say the guild battle has got to be easier. ‘Cause the final levels in Diner Dash made me sweat.
Happy birthday MSN Games, redux
I’m still having a hard time getting my head around the fact that MSN Games is twelve years old. Just think, if it was a human being instead of a website, it would be in 6th grade already! Fortunately, we have everything necessary to throw the best birthday party a 12-year-old could possibly want:
Fun!
What kid doesn’t love mini-golf? Twelve years is a bit old for pony rides or Pin The Tail On The Donkey, but putting past the windmill or the giant dinosaur never loses its appeal. So the perfect party would start with a few holes of golf-like silliness. And then, just for the sheer mayhem factor, it might be fun to take the whole party bowling. There’s always one kid who tries to shot-put the ball, or aims for a neighboring alley.
If the parents need a break, perhaps there could even be a scavenger hunt. Kids don’t mind running all over the place in search of clues and trinkets. And then, once everyone’s finally worn out a bit, it’s time for…
Food!
Nobody packs away vittles like a party table full of tweens, so the perfect celebration would need pizza, and lots of it. Burgers and subs are also good party food, but really, pizza is the ultimate when kids get together. Since everyone’s sitting down at this point, maybe a game or two of UNO would be fun! (You could never use the cards again, though, since the assorted tomato stains on the backs would be quickly memorized by any enterprising child and used against you while playing.)
Since nobody’s keeping track of sugar intake today anyway, the kids had might as well enjoy some ice-cream shakes. (After all, if the parents of the birthday child have to deal with a hyped-up, sugar-fueled, babbling offspring all evening, why shouldn’t the other parents suffer as well?) And finally, of course, there would be cake. A party without cake just isn’t a party! Finally, our 12-year-old opens all the presents, and the other kids get something cool to take home…
Prizes!
Well, when I was a kid, one of the common party favors was a goldfish in a plastic bag. (I once won two of them playing lawn darts, and I remember my dad grumbling about needing to go buy a bowl. This is probably why kids go home with candy or small toys these days, instead.) But everyone gets a souvenir of the occasion, and the winners of the party games get something extra-special (just not a goldfish), and everyone remembers this as the best party ever. At least until the next one.
Oh, and if young Mr. or Miss MSN Games is really, really lucky, this might be the year that the biggest birthday box contains a puppy.
| |
| Tech Talk
Well, it’s not exactly a technical issue, but it is a real stumper, so I figured I’d use this spot for a quick tip on Build-a-Lot 2. Some of the levels require a seemingly impossible desirability level for your neighborhood! It was more than a little frustrating until I realized that success lies in the proper placement of parks. In many cases, you can even get away without landscaping your houses, as long as you have a few well-located parks.
When you first start a new level, take a look at the layout. Some lots are adjacent to each other; others are set a small distance apart from the rest of the neighborhood. If you can, build your support businesses (workshop, landscaper, and so on) in the secluded lots, so that they won’t affect any houses with their desirability loss.
Now for the parks. Since each one improves the desirability of housing on both sides, your best plan is to build a line of house, park, house, house, park, house. Since parks don’t create direct income, you can always leave an empty lot between two houses and place the park after you’ve built up some capital. Remember, you don’t need to have the target desirability level until you’re ready to end the level, so there’s no rush placing parks, painting houses, or landscaping yards! Wait until you’re ready, and then do everything as quickly as possible.
See you next time!
Ask Moxie!
Do you have a question or comment? I’d love to hear from you. Just email me at zmaster@microsoft.com and I’ll do my best to answer in one of these Coffee Breaks! Oh, please make sure to include your MSN Games nickname, so I know who to list here if I quote you!
(And if you have technical questions or problems with a game, we’ll cheerfully answer those as well. Just submit them through the support section of this site!)
More Moxie!
Need a bit more Coffee Break? Take a shuffle through our archives. | |
