Games to Banish a Case of the "Mondays"

[Jon Westfall]

Well, its Monday again in much of our reading area, and along with Monday comes the sinking realization that the sometimes unending work week has started again. Gone is the relaxing bliss of the weekend, replaced with the increased workload only a Monday can bring.<br /><br />But it doesn't have to be that bad - because if you're reading this site, you most likely have a mini PC in your pocket capable of playing some of the most addicting and distracting games on the planet - just the thing to lighten up your work day (or week)! So, to start the week out right, lets post info on what game (or games) we've been addicted to or playing lately (With links if possible). <i>Maybe we can introduce each other to something new and interesting to get us through the week.</i><br /><br />Recently, I started playing with <a href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/arkaball/?en">Arkaball</a> from Spb. Its advertised as addicting, and once you start to get the hang of its fast paced action, it really is. The other day I sat on hold and played Arkaball, sat in class and played Arkaball, sat in a meeting and... well you get the idea! Check out the site for a trial version, and once you're hooked, you can get your own copy at <a href="http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productType=2&productId=46966">Handango</a> for only $9.95 (Affiliate Link).

[PDANEWBIE]

Pocket Everquest - is fun but can only be played for a bit at a time due to it becoming repetitive - Replay on it bites because it really is a linear story that well does not change no matter what character you play.

http://eqpocket.station.sony.com/index.jsp

Worms: World Party - What can I say but the fact that I have played every version of Worms since its inception back in the DOS days. Little worm explosions are sure to brighten anyones monday!

http://www.jamdat.com/JamdatWeb/Catalog/US/en/game/pocketPC/ProductDetailOverviewView/product-23282

Anthelion - An okay space shooter. I wish they had an opened ended version of this game that allowed you to run around and do your own "missions" other than that it is pretty well designed.

http://www.clickgamer.com/moreinfo.htm?pid=628&amp;section=

[Darius Wey]

I'd agree with Worms World Party. It's definitely a great port of the PC version.

And another is Arvale (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;productId=144121&amp;sectionId=0&amp;catalog=30&amp;topSectionId=-1) - addictive and nothing else. :mrgreen:

[SteveHoward999]

Virtual Pool Mobile - I was stunned when I saw the quality of the animation in this. It really is like playing the live game.

http://www.celeris.com/games/VPMobile/index.html

Mud Inc.'s Pocket Solitaire. I don't care that there is no help for the games - that's part of the fun! There's 234 different Solitaire games, but to be honest many of them are just minor twists on the same game. Great multiple undo feature for when you get tangled up in Freecell or similar.

http://www.mud.ca/soli/soli.html

[WyattEarp]

Yup, Arkaball is very addicting but my most addicting game is Bejeweled 2 (http://www.astraware.com/ppc/featured/bejeweled2/?skucode=0079-446-0167) which had me going since the original Bejeweled way back in my Palm days and has just gotten better with Bejeweled 2.

My second addiction is Warfare Incorporated (http://www.handmark.com/warfare/). Mainly because of the extra free downloadable mission packs :D created by other players or you can create your own mission packs and post them on Spiffcode's site for others to play. So it is always a new challenge and it doesn't get old.

[wocket]

Well i'm a fan of All-In Hold'Em (http://www.birdsoft.biz/holdem.htm) by Birdsoft. Solitaire of course ranks up there still..

[lonesniper]

My favourite game is from Oopdreams Software Inc and is called Jawbreaker by Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/about/tours/ppc/2003/jawbreaker.mspx) or Bubblets by Oopdreams Software Inc (http://www.oopdreams.com/ce/bubblets/). I am sure I got it for free from the Microsoft site as it is $15 from Oopdreams. It is very addictive and easy to play. I have even seen other people play it on the train from London.

I just downloaded the trial of All-In Texas Hold'Em and will give it a go. I was thinking of getting a new vice and maybe gambling is it.

[Jon Westfall]

Well i'm a fan of All-In Hold'Em (http://www.birdsoft.biz/holdem.htm) by Birdsoft. Solitaire of course ranks up there still..

When I first started using a pocket pc, I was absolutly addicted to Solitaire. For some reason, having it on the small screen made it all the more tempting! Kudos to whoever at Microsoft originally thought of putting Solitaire in Windows :)

[SteveHoward999]

Kudos to whoever at Microsoft originally thought of putting Solitaire in Windows :)


I think you'll find most employers have quite the opposite opinion :devilboy:

[R K]

Mine are all freeware titles.

<a href=http://www.valil.com/chess2/index.html>Valentin Iliescu's Chess</a>
Chess over the Internet, versions for Pocket PC, Smartphone, and desktop.

<a href=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E0A17AF8-B9FC-4E2F-A71E-C50726135CE7&displaylang=en>Cubicle Chaos</a>
Classic Breakout variant that old-time Pocket PC fans will recognize.
Smooth graphics, crisp sound effects, and fast gameplay.

The Nutcracker (http://www.intelliart.com/freepong.htm>FreePong</a>
What)
A Pocket PC classic turned freeware. If you like tactical strategy games like Metal Gear Solid, you'll like this as well. Great graphics, sound effects, gameply, overall a very polished game.

<a href=http://www.pocketblasters.com/GalacticAssault.htm>Galactic Assault</a>
Space Invader clone with vamped graphics and pumped sound effects.

<a href=http://198.78.130.210:8888/superbomber/superbomber.html>Super Bomber</a>
Great music, funny sound effects, random levels, classic gameplay.

[asims]

On the freeware side, I've enjoyed Valentin Iliescu's chess game (http://www.valil.com/chess2/); and pocketadventure.com's 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe is a fun game that can be played against the computer or with someone else (http://www.pocketadventures.com/games.asp).

I've enjoyed astraware's Super Bounce Out (http://www.astraware.com/ppc/default/superbounceout/?skucode=0107-000-0161).

Does anyone know of a good Freecell that is freeware I could download? I had it on my Jornada, but lost it when I went to the h2215. That used to take up a lot of my time!

[SteveHoward999]

Oh - and BF Mines, a free (and better in some ways) version of Minefield.

http://www.binaryfish.com/WinCE/Software/PocketPC/BFMines/index.php


I do miss the combined Left/Right-click from the PC that lets you 'explode' a complete 3x3 square at a time though ...

[edit] But I see from the forums that there are plans to release a version 2 that will add that feature :-)

[Dalantech]

A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away I use to play a star trek game on old DEC mainframes (dating myself badly here :( ). It was a game where space was divided into different grids, and you never knew what existed in a grid until you went into it. You moved by typing in the X and Y coordinates of the place on the grid that you wanted to move to. There were bases to doc with, Klingon's to fight, all of it with thrilling text based "graphics" (ASCII). If you took damage it would either take time for your crew to repair it, or you'd have to dock with a star base (you had to dock to get more photon torpedoes).

At some point someone ported it to the PC but with actual graphics for the space ships and docks, and it was just as addictive. Does anyone know if it was ever ported to the Pocket PC, or if there is a similar game.

[Jon Westfall]

Kudos to whoever at Microsoft originally thought of putting Solitaire in Windows :)


I think you'll find most employers have quite the opposite opinion :devilboy:

You mean that we're supposed to be working while at work? 8O

Great suggestions guys, lets keep them coming...

Another favorite of mine (And of my girlfriend (Its her only use of that beautiful v36 I bought her...)) is good old goes-by-many-names DopeWars (http://dopewarsppc.sourceforge.net). This version for PPC is not only freeware, but is also hugely customizable. Change the names, prices, and information on each drug, and the probabilities or chances of Officer Hard*ss coming after you.

Officer Hard*ss and 23 of his officers.... - Wish I had the funding of that police department...

[Atomb]

i've become a recent uber-fan of insanaquarium (http://www.astraware.com/ppc/featured/insaniquarium/?skucode=0054-000-0063) from astraware

[robert_biggs]

Here's a few free games I like:

Pocket Taipei (http://www.lenagames.com/ptaipei.htm) - fun tile game with great graphics. $12 for registered version, but free demo includes 3 tile sets and has no expiration.

Hot Death Uno (http://www.freewareppc.com/games/hotdeathuno.shtml) - great variant of a popular game. Also allows you to play original Uno game. Can only play against the computer, but it's free!

Kevtris (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=12848) - freeware version of Tetris with good graphics and sound effects.

And my favorite purchased games:

Age of Empires (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;jid=D55915XEEXX1A6DX21A55X73C3X5CX73&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;productId=49440&amp;sectionId=0&amp;catalog=30&amp;topSectionId=-1) - Owned it for over a year and a half and still play it all the time. Random maps make endless replay value.

Warlords II (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;jid=D55915XEEXX1A6DX21A55X73C3X5CX73&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;productId=90225&amp;sectionId=0&amp;catalog=30&amp;topSectionId=-1) - Loved this game on the PC, love it even more on my PPC. Random maps keep it fresh every time.

Virtual Pool Mobile (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;jid=D55915XEEXX1A6DX21A55X73C3X5CX73&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;productId=122742&amp;sectionId=0&amp;catalog=30&amp;topSectionId=-1) - Awesome graphics and feels like real pool.

[ctmagnus]

Lately I've been addicted to Aces Up, part of Patiences Gold (http://www.not-big-deal.com).

[Brad Adrian]

I've become addicted to doing crossword puzzles on my Pocket PC. I can download a daily USA Today puzzle or grab a bunch of them from the various Web sites. Of course, I like the versions that have the solutions built in and the ability to cheat -- er, check for the correct answers!

[winsquared35]

I've tried so many games and bought quite a number. Currently, any chance I get, I'd be playing Flux http://www.fluxchallenge.com/: it's a racing game through tunnels, with great graphics, music, very responsive on the Pocket PC. I get all pumped up trying to beat the field.

Another one that took a lot of my time is Podz http://www.acepocket.com/products.html[url]. Zuma is similar but came later, so I have not bought it yet.
I also like the PDA Mill game boxes: Gems,Solitaire, Asia for MahJong tile games [url]http://www.pdamill.com/

[winsquared35]

oops! I'm sorry, I didn't know how to create the links.

[Darius Wey]

oops! I'm sorry, I didn't know how to create the links.

Don't worry. I've edited your previous post so that the links now work.

[ctmagnus]

I've become addicted to doing crossword puzzles on my Pocket PC. I can download a daily USA Today puzzle or grab a bunch of them from the various Web sites. Of course, I like the versions that have the solutions built in and the ability to cheat -- er, check for the correct answers!

I've come this close (>| |&lt;) to downloading a crossword puzzle app several times, but I've found there to be too many and not enough reviews of them. Which one(s) do you recommend?

[juni]

I'm still waiting for an addictive game that displays in 480x640 resolution :(

[stevehiner]

Eeeeek.

All these suggestions and now one has mentioned Atomic Cannon and Acky's XP breakout. Am I the only person that's totally addicted to these games?

You can find both at http://www.isotope244.com

Atomic Cannon is a Scorched Earth clone (set the trajectory and power of a shot to try to blow up enemy tanks) but it has way better weapons.

Acky's XP Breakout is, obviously, a breakout clone but it's way better than Arkaball. Much better power-ups, better level handling, 150 levels in the first release with a free add-on pack with 50 more levels.

There's a new version of Atomic Cannon that's currently in beta. It's quite a bit better than the original version.

Both games support VGA resolution but I have a lowly iPAQ 2210 so I've never seen it personally. Both games also have great PC versions - I have both versions of both games. My 7 year old son LOVES Atomic Cannon on the PC, for a while I'd find him playing it every morning when I got up to go to work.

Do yourself a favor and try out the demo for both games. They're awesome.

[Brad Adrian]

Which one(s) do you recommend?

I use Mobile Crossword

http://www.binaryfish.com/WinCE/Software/PocketPC/MobileCrossword/index.php

and grab the puzzles from here:

http://thinks.com/daily_crossword.htm

[simonjfisher]

I just love Snowed in 3 which was free before Christmas from Handango (i think). I think it's a bejewelled clone but have never played bejewelled so can't be sure.

Scrabble is always good and you can play 2 players using the same device.

Just getting into Zio Golf 2 but putting is a bit fiddly.

Hot Death Uno is fun.

BF Mines is good but I find it a bit fiddly to flag the mines.

The problem I have with all these games being on my Pocket PC is that all the family love playing them!

[raeble]

Ooh this is a fantastic thread. I've just got a ppc and I was looking for some programs so that I could effectively use my ppc at work. :lol:

[Jon Westfall]

Ooh this is a fantastic thread. I've just got a ppc and I was looking for some programs so that I could effectively use my ppc at work. :lol:

Glad the thread is helping you out ;)

[Ratel10mm]

I find Links for PPC is the best golf simulator. http://www.jamdat.com/JamdatWeb/Catalog/UK/en/game/pocketPC/GamesHomeView;jsessionid=HGLKDBLADIKG
Mini golf challenge is also good, although a bit unstable on my HP5555.
Moon Child (Which was free from http://www.Clickgamer.com, I don't know if it still is) is a good platform game. But I got bored after I couldn't time my way through one section. (Not the game's fault, I have a very low diffuculty tolerance! :lol: )
Space Trader, Viking Saga &amp; Warring States are all good, although the latter 2 need VBruntime.
Sichuan Majong &amp; neotiles are both addictive variants on the tile-matching version of mah-jong.
I also like Monopoly, available from http://www.handmark.com