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This is a brief look at a couple of items that you might find suitable for Father’s Day gifts. In case it’s slipped your mind it’s not that far away on the 18th June. Both these games are for older children or adults. The two games are Master Dater and Joking Hazard.
Both games are from a company called Cyanide & Happiness. Players vie for attention and also try to create perfect or horrible dates using a range of specific – and perhaps very unusual – interests. You need to match cards using the three packs of cards ‘Head’, ‘Body’ and ‘Interests’. The ‘Head’ and ‘Body’ cards are slightly larger than the more prolific ‘Interest’ cards.
Adding to its Maze of Realities titles, Domini Games has released Reflection of Light offering.
Reflection of Light is a Hidden Object Adventure game is available as a Collector’s Edition title bundled with a number of bonus items with the main game. While some of the bonus items grant immediate access, others such as mini games, Hidden Object scenes and videos, require you to have encountered them during main game play before accessing them in replay mode. In the case of the bonus chapter, the main game will need to be completed before it becomes available.
Skullcandy enhances the private listening experience.
News has just reached me regarding the forthcoming additional of a new member to the Skullcandy Crusher family franchise. This is the . This product comes with the promise of being designed to deliver a personalised customisable experience to suit all manner of listener. A number of new and enhanced features have been built into this latest addition to the Crusher family.
While hardly likely to win an award for stylist appearance, this DAB radio could make a useful present.
Back in what is sometimes referred to as the "Good old Days", radio broadcasts and its entertainment content was limited to a few channels - long gone are those occasions when you might need to sneak into the front room in order to listen to your favourite radio program such as Journey into Space on the radio. Now we have DAB radio following the BBC's discovery of multiplexing which allowed the transmission of several radio stations packaged together.
This is the latest A4 multi-function device to land in my hall. It is not that light and I think it has the most strips of orange tape of any unit I have reviewed. This is a colour laser unit and by default it prints double sided, unlike most units I have reviewed previously it lines things up correctly on the second side.
So after around twenty minutes of strong language I am ready to place it in its review position, I plug in the mains lead and then spend a couple of minutes looking for the on/off button which I eventually find under the large display. Around five minutes answers all the questions at the unit so then with CD in hand move to the PC.
Pets can be good at hiding thus making you search for them as revealed by this next title.
My Lovely Pets Collection’s Edition is a Hidden Object game. Developed by AVI Games, this title takes you on a trip to numerous locations where you are invited to find a variety of items concealed within the targeted scene. As the product’s CE designation implies, the title comes with a number of bonus items that include extra levels and puzzles plus wallpaper, a music player and access to a pet shop.
As if you had nothing better to do, your holiday could be spent looking for the right word.
I must confess to never expecting this next game format to be the main focus of a particular title. To me this type of game was little more than a mini game puzzle used as a distraction to accompany a more major game genre. But obviously Manicware, this game's developer, thought otherwise. The result is Word Search Vacation on which this review is based.
Rather than plunder ships, this band of pirates cooperate in the building of an amusement part.
Published by Denda Games, Match Three Pirates 2 is a game where its “2” designation indicates it is a follow-up offering. The original title, which I seem to have missed out on, was entitled Heir to Davy Jones and dealt with the adventures of a young boy called Bobby who needed to be rescued by his mother. If circumstances permit then I will try to review this original offering sometime in the future.
This is a new company to the UK, I recently reviewed one of their keyboards as well as a very advanced mouse. Here I am looking at a small set of on ear headphones that can also be used as a headset, they are unlike most others in that they are very light at only 99grams. Another of its advanced capabilities is that it can be linked to two devices at the same time. It also has a very long play time between charges.
Fully contracted there is 17cm from the base of the earpieces to the centre of the lightly padded headband, there is also 2.5cm of expansion on each side available. The boom microphone rotates from the top down 135 degrees in each direction to suit both left and right sided use. The ear pieces are 6cm round and sit comfortably on all but the smallest ears.
Take a trip to Ireland and solve a multitude of puzzles.
Developed by Tiny Little Lion, Puzzle Vacation - Ireland, as its title should clearly indicate, is a puzzle game which takes Ireland as its source of inspiration. While the puzzle aspect offers two distinct types of puzzle, with an array of settings, the Ireland contribution is more widespread and is made up of 135 picturesque scenes. Before delving into various views of Ireland, the game allows the player to make certain adjustments to the gaming environment.
If you are a compulsive traveller and fan of Hidden Object game play then Lazy Turtle Games hope you will try out its latest Amazing Vacation offering.
Those accepting this invitation of an Amazing Vacation will journey to San Francisco where they can check out 15 different locations as they test their Hidden Object searching skills. With options to create profiles to record the progress of different players plus adjustments to the volume levels for music and sound effects while viewing the game in full screen mode, this game has three levels of difficulty.
Technology can help keep an eye on your child through the use of technology.
The NickWatch, as its title might indicate, is a watch which doubles as a time piece, monitoring device and source of entertainment. This product has been developed by the Israeli start-up company named, not surprisingly, Watchinu (try saying it). Designed under a licence agreement with the popular children's brand of Nickelodeon, Watchinu feels the product should be suitable for the younger members of society aged between six and nine years.
This is the latest Smart Phone from a new company to me. POCO is the gaming arm of Xiaomi who I have reviewed phones from in the past. The M5 can switch refresh rates Video 30Hz or 60Hz, Gaming 60Hz or 90Hz and Scrolling at 30-60-90 Hz. Overall the cost of this POCO offing is not very much at all.
The POCO M5 smart phone measures 163x77x10mm in its supplied case that protects the back and sides, it weighs 222grams. Going around the outside has the volume rocker and the on/off button on the right side. The base has speaker and microphone with the USB 'C' charge point in between, this can also be an OTG device. The left side has SIM entry point. The top has 3.5mm socket for headphones or earphones and a further microphone.
Put on your detective hat and search for an elf with a potion to replace human blood when Vampires are hungry.
It is time to return to the Domini Games' developed Magic City. In this instance the case for you to solve, in your role as a detective, is that entitled Secret Desire. For those unfamiliar with Magic City, I should explain that this particular location is a place where normal humans and those with additional mystical abilities can exist side-by-side within the same environment.
If does help when searching for stolen treasure, if you can also catch the thief.
Detective Agency - Gray Tie is a Hidden Object Adventure game developed by AVI Games. My review is based on the Collector's Edition of the game which includes a number of bonus items. Some of the bonus items, such as Achievements, Wallpaper and a Music Player can be accessed immediately. However for replaying mini game puzzles and tackling bonus game levels, you will need to complete them first in the main game.
If you fancy a trip to a travelling circus then this next title could suit your needs but only is you can resist temptation.
Gloomy Tales - Horror Show is a Hidden Object Adventure title. This game revolves around a travelling circus that puts on a Halloween Festival to attract customers to its display of monsters. There could, however, be an ulterior motive behind the promised performance. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of this Domini Games developed product. Packaged along with the main game are a number of bonus items.
A hotel is like a world in miniature. It can hold many secrets but perhaps not ones as dangerous as the Final Journal.
When the local hotel bears the name "Final Journey", you can hardly expect it to be the ideal place to spend a restful break. In fact this place of residence is the chosen location for a battle between groups of monsters to see who will take over control of the human world. This is the premise behind Haunted Hotel: Eclipse, an Hidden Object Adventure game from the development team known as Elephant Games.
Most of us take a keyboard or a mouse for grantage they are just there and we use them. Often they are Wi-Fi sometimes they are corded and just occasionally Bluetooth. These from JLAB are all three. The mouse has an added plus in that you get a three month trial of TIDAL probably the best widely available streaming service.
This is not a small mouse, it is 12cm from back to front, between 5 and 8cm wide and 4cm tall. Apart from the normal two buttons and scroll wheel there are sic other programmable ones. Not finished yet as the left side has a thumb rest and indeed a OLED display showing the amount of battery remaining and indeed which mode you are in. The base has an on/off button and a mode change button with the infra red between them.
How do you continue a saga after the central character dies? Perhaps you involve Gods and Monsters.
The latest Match 3 offering to emerge from e-Funsoft continues the on-going saga of Helga the Viking Warrior or perhaps brings it to an end. Let me explain this apparent contradiction. In this third episode, entitled Asgardian War, our battle-hardened heroine is once again faced by over-whelming odds and, sad-to-say, Helga finally admits defeat. Her forces leave the battlefield as Helga lays dead on the ground. But wait, this is not the end for Helga.
While not regarded as standard estate agency skills, could you help provide a suitable domain for Count Dracula?
Laruaville 13 is the latest offering in the long-running saga of Match 3 game play from LGT SIA. In this instance the game is based around an anomaly concerning the activities of Count Dracula who, we have always been led to believe, was immortal and could not be killed. Yet despite his immovable grip on a steady supply of human blood, this central character of numerous horror movies was able to metamorphosis into a ghost and enter the domain of Laruaville.
All in One is something that normally relates to a printer-scanner-copier and possibly even fax unit. Here however it relates to a screen that also has a computer built into it, the only extras you need are keyboard and mouse and here even they are included.
This is a large screen measuring 71x47.5x2cm which gives notional diagonal imperial measurement of 31½ inches. There is a 3 inch area below the screen that houses the units speakers. The sides are only .5cm as is the top but there is a built in web cam that you pull up when required and this protrudes from the centre of the top of the screen by 2cm. It has a 13 Gen Intel i7 processor running at 1.4GHz. There is 16GB RAM and it has a 1GB SSD drive, this has 892GB free.
Another world, another problem, with flowers having a major role to play.
Developed by Domini Games, Maze of Realities - Flower of Discord is a Hidden Object Adventure game that is the focus of my next review. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the this title. Along with the main game, this product comes with a number of bonus items to enhance the appeal of the title.
Sometimes a contract with an evil spirit will require the payment of a true heart.
Connected Hearts - Fortune Play is a Hidden Object Adventure title developed by Domini Games. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of this product which comes with a number of bonus items to add appeal to the main game. These bonus items are accessible from a pictorial representation of a theatre stage. Areas of the stage are set aside for a bonus chapter, concept art, wallpaper, music, achievements, puppetry, video, mini games, puppets and Hidden Object scenes.
Tired of being cast in a single role, then this next title gives you a split personality as you become three different investigative agents.
Gather all Sleuths, whether of the amateur or professional variety, and join forces to tackle Elephant Games latest Detective United - Deadly Debt title. This is a Hidden Object Adventure game that is available in Collector's Edition format. Along with the main investigative game, this version of the product comes with a number of bonus items to stretch your gaming capability.
While good quality modern SmartPhones can take excellent videos and images they do need some help first a good quality Gimbal as however steady your hand may be a Gimbal makes all movements smooth. Second lights unless you are outside on a bright sunny day you need help and here Zhiyun has a range of offerings light enough for a single person to setup and still be able to take the images.
This offering called X100 Pro not only has the light itself but all the extras you are likely to need for a range of differing uses. The X100 itself weighs only 385g. You can of course just purchase the light but some of the ‘extras’ are things most people will need like a Diffuser. The actual light is 14.5x9.5x3cm, the light itself is circular at 8.5cm. It comes in a padded zip up container 25x22x12.5cm which also contains a charger and a battery, leads and a diffuser.
With 500 images to select from, this next title gives you plenty of jigsaw solving practice.
I note that those jigsaw fanatics at 8 Floor Games have been busy yet again. Their latest output is entitled 1001 Black Raven Jigsaw. As with their previous offerings, you can disregard the 1001 part of the product's title but can still look forward to plenty of jigsaw action as you will be presented with 500 images with which to practice your jigsaw solving skills.
Sometimes an "old wives' tale" can have a grain of truth in it as Friendly Fox reveals in this next gaming title.
There is an old legend which states that a mischievous fellow, known as a leprechaun, has a pot of gold which is kept hidden from human eyes. While many attempts have been made to relieve the leprechaun of its wealth, this can only be achieved on the eve of the Summer Solstice. But be aware that the leprechaun can call upon help from other mysterious creatures to protect what is his if you try to steal this pot of gold.
With this next game you can travel the world while sitting in front of your computer screen.
Developed by Seven Sails, Travel Along 2 is a Hidden Object game. As the "2" part of its title should indicates, this is a follow-up to the original offering. It follows the same pattern as presented in the original title with regards to the type of content and how the game allows you to set up options for individual players. Profiles can be set up so that different people can test their Hidden Object and other playing skills with their progress being recorded.
This is a range of small items that all do their jobs linked though a single Smart Hub. Apart from The Smart Hub I was sent three items a Motion Sensor, Temperature & Humidity Sensor and a Contact Sensor. You can then link extra such units so various door and windows are all covered so no chance of leaving with an open window. While the App is useful so is a in house sound and here both are available as the Smart Hub has a sound output.
Like so many things today you download an App to your phone and then you always know the conditions of the various items. Once downloaded select the model of your Smart Hub with Chime – it wants the part number in this case Tapo H100 found on the front of the box, setup an account and log in after this you just need to select any devices you have to connect to it. The Smart Hub is 7x4.5x3.
When plants take on the shape of people, you know there is trouble afoot and you will be called into action.
A Friendly Fox will take you on an excursion to the Redwood National Park. This educational trip comes in the form of Edge of Reality - Lost Secrets of the Forest. I have been checking out the Collector's Edition of this Hidden Object Adventure game. As usual with titles bearing the CE designation, this game comes with a number of bonus items to add extra appeal to its participants.
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