Product Description

There’s trouble in Bikini Bottom! Someone has stolen King Neptune’s crown and it appears as though Mr. Krabs is the culprit. Despite being passed over for a promotion by Mt. Krabs, SpongeBob and his faithful but dimwitted friend Patrick volunteer to make the perilous journey to Shell City (a place no one has ever returned from) to retrieve the crown and save Mr. Krabs’ life. Join our heroes on an epic and comedic quest to unexplored territory and see SpongeBob and Patrick as you’ve never seen them before.

Features:

• 3 playable characters: SpongeBob SquarePants, Plankton and Mindy (new)
• Adventure through huge 3D worlds all based on the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (non-linear game play allows players multiple paths in order to complete main objectives)
• Re-live the movie as you find helpful friends and face-off against powerful enemies, featuring authentic voice talent and special cameo appearances

Features

• Non-linear game play allows players multiple paths for completing main objectives
• Join SpongeBob and Patrick on an epic and comedic quest to unexplored territory
• 3 playable characters: SpongeBob SquarePants, Plankton, and Mindy (new)
• Make the perilous journey to Shell City; huge 3D worlds based on the movie
• Authentic voice talent and special cameo appearances

Reviews (3)

Would be fun if I was 2 and had nothing better to do
Sorry to say this title was one of worse games my family has played on the PC in a long time (and we buy and play about 1 game a week). I bought this for my 11 year old as she loved the other spongebob games. But after about 1 minute of "playing" this game, she gives me this look, "like you really don't still think I'm an infant do you?".
The basic "fun" of this game is point and clicking on various objects in bikini bottom and having spongebob say some cutish comment about them. This is interspersed with very simple puzzle solving and general walking around.
If you want to save your hard earned cash, avoid this one like the plague.

Warning:This is NOT the same as the PS-2 / X-Box versions
This games is based on the new Spongebob movie, and the official website advertizes this game as being available on PC, PS-2, X-Box and Gamecube. The trailer for this game shows 3D action like that of Spyro The Dragon, Jakk3 etc.

Installing this game on the PC revealed that PC users have been stiffed with a stupid 2D-eqsue "Monkey Island"-type puzzle solving adventure game operated by soley the mouse.

The previous Spongebob Squarepants game "Battle for Bikini Bottom" for PC is the same. The PC version of both games are NOTHING REMOTELY like the versions on action games for PS-2, X-Box, Gamecube etc. The website makes no distinction. The official website is totally misleading on this. The trailers for both games show Spongebob and Patrick in 3D action. This is severly not the case for either the PC version.

While this game is funny, it's a fizzer. Any kid can complete the game within a few hours, and will never play it again.

More of the same...almost....
Each and every Spongebob game has one major thing in common. Bikini Bottom. They are all placed there. I've played them all. And, at first, this game feels nothing more than familiar. However, not to far into the game something new happens. You get to play PLANKTON! (This statement is made in relation to the PC version of the game. The console versions may have applied this idea, but i am only a PC gamer.) This game took the best of the ideas from the past games (my favorite is Employee Of The Month) and then integrated an usused idea. You get to play this game from multiple perspectives and play various characters throughout Bikini Bottom while doing it! So, i believe this ranks up at about number 2 in the series for quality. It mightve made number one and gotten a five star if it weren't for one thing. Certain locales seem to have not been completely debugged. The mouse gets wacky while you're there and lip-synching gets off in that area too. But, after you leave, the other areas are just fine. I am a pro with my computer. I'm a 20 year user, and cannot determine how to stop this from happenning. But, the game never crashed or lost information. No lock-ups or anything like that. So, it was only a minor irritation. Worth a 1 star drop. Besides that, this is a fun and quite clever game. Enjoy! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Worms2 is a turn-based game in which up to 8 players can participate. You command a platoon of worms that inhabit a randomly generated terrain, and you must destroy the other worms with an assortment of devastating weapons. Each turn is limited to a set number of seconds. The time limit allows you to position your worm in a nearby safe place, collect one of the bonus items sprinkled around, or go to attack a neighboring worm. Battle continues until only one team of worms remains; otherwise, after 30 minutes of mayhem, death, and destruction, a draw occurs.

Each platoon of worms is given an assortment of weapons, tools, and utilities with which to dispose of the enemy in any way necessary. Players can reconfigure platoon weapons for each game to create war zones.

Use the Internet to challenge players in the next town, country, or continent. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

nice game to play with a friend
This is quite a nice game to play with one or more friends...
Its really humoristic and quite exciting to play if you and your friend are equally skilled. And its easy to learn: in about an hour you can learn the basics.
But worms 1 was far better... I gave away my worms 2 cd to a friend, but no-one touches worms 1 !

The best game ever!
This is a game that you can play over and over again without getting sick of it!You can play against the computer, against a friend over the internet, or be in the hotseat! You can also choose the map you want to play on.And you can choose the style of the map.Like hell, melted clock, and a few others. The graphics are good, and the sound is great.You play as worms, andcan use different weapons to kill the enemy worms.Like a bazooka, dynamite, an explosive lamb, a kamakazi, and more!It also has some humor in it.For example, in the game, the worms say different things at different times.So you can choose your worms accent!Like Australian, Scottish, and more!The original accent is a voice that sounds like someone who just inhaled helium!It's pretty funny. So if you like humor, and war games, then this cartoon game is right for you.In other words, I highly recommend this game!

worms 2
I like this game because it's funny yet challenging. For those who like a god laugh, a lot of action and hardcore army fighting this is your game.

Fun, Entertainment for hours on end
Worms 2 is a very addictive game. I learned about it when I played it at my friend's house. When she tried to explain what exactly happens, I thought it was really strange and sounded like the typical army game (nofun at all), but playing with worms and using wacky weapons. I was totallywrong. Worms 2 is fun to play, uses strategy and luck combined, and createslots of laughs. The worms actually look really cute too. It's worth themoney.

Best accident in a long time
My 7-year-old son picked out one of those bundled 4-packs of softwareat Costco recently. His decision was based on cool pictures on thebox, but no knowledge of the actual games. I was inclined to say "no", but. . . at that price I figured if even one of the four was halfway decent, it would be worth it.

Boy, did we score! The one of the four was Worms 2. My son and especially I are now hopelessly hooked, and I haven't been hooked on a computer game in years. It's imaginative, challenging, fun, and funny. My 10-year-old daughter is starting to get into the act. My wife thinks we're all nuts. Now I'm ready to go buy Worms: Armageddon (the sequel) even though it doesn't come with three other games. ... Read more

Product Description

Between cases, Nancy Drew has taken an internship as Deputy Curator at the Beech Hill Museum in Washington, D.C. Nancy soon discovers she will be doing more than learning about ancient Maya artifactsthere have been a series of thefts and the only clue left behind in a mysterious scarlet handprint!

AsNancy digs deeper into seemingly unrelated thefts, the know ledge she gains about the Maya culture makes her realize that she may have unearthed a larger plot. The Case: You, as Nancy Drew, have taken on a summer intern position as Deputy Curator at the Beech Hill Museum in Washington, D.C. The museum specializes in ancient Maya culture and has just won a heated bidding war for the rights to borrow and display a strange Maya monolith recently excavated in Guatemala. While preparing for the exhibit Nancy learns about Maya culture and artifacts. When a thief nabs a prized piece from the museum, Nancy realizes that the missing artifacts may have more in common than just the thief’s signature scarlet handprint!In Secret of the Scarlet Hand Nancy’s investigation will take her outside the museum walls and into the U.S. capitol where she meets characters at the Mexican Consulate, visits a hospital and takes the D.C. subway.

Will Nancy be able to put the pieces of this ancient puzzle together? Or will the mystery remain entombed forever? ... Read more

Features

• Immersive graphics and detailed audio clips
• Play as Nancy Drew and take on a museum internship as deputy curator
• Prepare a museum exhibit; solve a mysterious series of thefts
• Learn about ancient Mayan culture and artifacts
• Ride the D.C. subway; travel to the Mexican Consulate; visit a hospital

Reviews (2)

Secret of the Scarlet Hand
Although I am 35 years old, I thoroughly enjoy playing the Nancy Drew Games.Being able to choose between 2 or 3 different levels of difficulty allows you to make the game harder or easier based on your knowledge of how the games work.

This particular game is one of my favorites (so far).Although it was a bit slow-going at first, my interest picked up quickly to the point where I wanted to play all of the time.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoyed reading the Nancy Drew series.

Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Scarlet Hand
This game was good, but I've played all of the Nancy Drew games so far, and it wasn't my favorite. However, this game was full of interesting facts about the Mayan culture and history, and I did enjoy it. It was also challenging, which I liked, and it was also addictive and hard to stop playing. In my opinion, this game was the most informative. All in all, this game was fun and enjoyable, if not my favorite. ... Read more

Product Description

Say Goodbye to Gridlock with Microsoft’s Midtown Madness

Ever want to get behind the wheel and race like a madman through the streets of a teeming metropolis? Here’s your chance to careen your way through Chicago traffic that’s thicker than a deep dish pizza. Forget everything you learned in Driver’s Ed. Run every stop sign, drive the wrong way, or gun-it to jump a drawbridge. No-rules racing means doing whatever it takes to win. With five unique racing modes, ten unique cars, and wide-open, unbridled, pedal-to-the-metal racing, Midtown Madness is the only antidote for rush-hour blues. Now that’s racin’ Chicago style!

Features

• Smash through a mall; play chicken at the airfield; outrun police
• Tour the streets of Chicago as a high-speed racer
• Run stop signs, drive the wrong way, and do whatever it takes to win
• 10 true-to-life vehicles from roadsters to trucks
• 5 ways to race; customizable conditions (including weather and cops)

Product Description

2005: somewhere in the skies above Iceland. Ariane, a young reporter, is out covering a story for a leading discovery magazine. No sooner has her helicopter landed on a ledge of the Sneffels volcano than it is destroyed in a violent rockslide. Ariane is thrown clear, but the pilot is lost. She sets off to try and find help when suddenly the earth opens up under her feet... Several hundred meters below she finds herself alone on a subterranean beach. Ariane discovers the strangest of landscap ... Read more

Features

• Unique atmosphere enhanced by original soundtrack and sound effects
• Explore an unknown world hidden beneath Earth¿s surface
• 3D adventure game on PC with 30-40 hours of game play
• Interact with 30 characters in real-time 3D
• 300+ different views, 200+ objects, and 100+ puzzles to solve

Reviews (15)

Buyer Beware
Be sure to read all the reviews before you buy this program (I wish I had).It may be as fun as some people claim, I don't know.I couldn't get past the first scene.I would walk a few steps, and then my computer would crash.Over and over again.I tried all the fixes recommended (not by the developers, but by other annoyed and frustrated users) and nothing worked.I have a relatively new XP machine that exceeds all game requirements.Don't waste your money on this turkey.

Aaggghh...the agony!
Forget this one.This is a textbook example of a good idea that is poorly executed.It's a real shame, because the graphics are very nice and the story would be interesting...but I found myself purposely choosing the ending (of two choices) that would just end the agony rather than continue on with the story.


There are so many glitches in the game it is more frustrating than entertaining.There are puzzles in the game that have no earthly resemblance to the "alleged" clues and are virtually unsolveable without internet help. Often, the character is standing directly in front of (blocking) some object requiring interaction, and moving her is impossible.Also, it has far too much time-consuming repetition and LONG travel sequences. The clumsy glitch-ridden navigation drove me up the wall.There are even places in the game where your character can get physically stuck - not on purpose, but by faulty game design.


I'd love to replay this game if it were redone, but I wouldn't even sell my copy because it would be cruel and unusual punishment for the next buyer!

Engaging story, frustrating execution
I agree with some of the other reviewers that this game had potential, but the frustration level nearly outweighed any fun I experienced playing it. I love adventure games, so I tolerated the problems enough to finish it; but I can say I was glad when it was over.

The biggest problem was navigation--the cursor would indicate you could move off screen only 1/2 the time you actually could. This is misleading, and I don't enjoy games that force me to try things at random or run about aimlessly in order to determine exactly what they expect me to do. For example, at one point you need to pick up some sand. You're on a beach, so it's all around you. But of course you have to click in an exact spot to do it! Tedious.

I still think this game is worth playing, because of the engaging story (similar to Syberia 1 & 2), but be sure to have one or two walk-throughs handy.

What fun!
Sure, okay there were a few things in the game that made it a little hard to play.But over all it is a great game! and it's one that you can play with friends or family.My sister and I played it all weekend long, we just couldn't get enough of it. buy this game, or rent it.either way, you should really play it. :)

better the adverege...
This has to be on of the better adventure games I've played. The graphics are very beautiful amd immersive. I highly recomend this game for adventure fans. ... Read more

Features

• Multiple options and choices for an infinite number of mini-golf courses
• Includes 5 fully-made courses to play
• Challenge 10 different computer opponents - from amateurs to Elite Putt Masters
• Select the music, add ambient lighting and even the physics of your golf course
• Includes Mini Golf Master 2, with 18 additional courses

Amazon.com Review

The Close Combat series redefined World War II tacticalcombat simulations and real-time strategy games by giving gamers agritty game world that actually had some historical research behind it.No longer were real-time strategy fans forced to fight fictional alienraces on bizarre worlds. Instead, the Close Combat series givesgamers a chance to lead World War II infantry squads, tanks, and otherunits through missions straight from history's headlines.

Close Combat let us relive D-Day battles, but unfortunately itsshoddy graphics and limited play mechanics aren't aging too gracefully.The original just isn't in the same league as its superb successors,Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far and Close Combat 3: TheRussian Front. Both upped the graphical ante for war games, servingup beautiful terrain that becomes scarred with pockmarks from mortarshells and tank fire as the battle progresses. The computer opponent istough, and your own troops act in an eerily believable way. In a scenethat could have been taken straight out of Saving Private Ryan,we had a few squads occupying a building, shooting it out with someGermans across the road, when one of the enemy soldiers scored a luckyhit on the soldier carrying the flamethrower. The fuel tank on his backexploded, taking out half the squad surrounding him, and that was itfor the rest of the GIs in the building. No amount of cajoling couldget them to stop running away from the scene of the disaster, despitethe German machine guns chewing up the dirt around their feet. Momentslike this, both panicked and heroic, happen all the time in thesegames.

Some gamers are put off by this series because it doesn't let themmicromanage individual soldiers, and the morale model means squadssometimes do not follow orders. Those folks should stick to the sci-fireal-time strategy games. Anyone who wants a better appreciation forwhat combat was like in World War II (according to the accounts we'veread) will find that the Close Combat Trilogy is one of the bestbargains in gaming. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Games span three famous World War II battles
• Morale model makes this real-time game much more realistic thanother strategy games
• Sound effects for the newest titles are terrific

• Realistic morale model may frustrate some players
• The original Close Combat hasn't aged well

Reviews (20)

Realistic for the History Buff, Adictive for the Gamer
Close Combat provides a great interface for tactical combat in World War II.The first game depicts the Normandy scenario from the beach, through the hedgerows and beyond.CCII brings the Market Garden Operation to life with British and U.S. paratroopers slugging it out for bridges in Holland against the Germans in 1944.The third game portrays the Germans vs. the Russians on the Eastern Front.

I am a career infantryman in the Army and have served as a paratrooper in two different regiments that fought during Operation Market Garden.For me the single best aspect of all three games is their tactical realism.If you don't cover the movement of squads with smoke or suppressive fire, the enemy blows you away.The games allow for mechanized and light infantry combat, combined with indirect mortar fires.The developers did as good a job as could be done replicating the "fog of war" and I thoroughly enjoyed these games.

Highly recommended for history buffs and gamers alike.Several books and movies would enhance the novice's understanding of the games if unfamiliar with the history."A Bridge Too Far" (the book or the movie) explains Operation Market Garden, the most ambitious paratroop assault ever.Stephen Ambrose has written several good books about the Normandy assault, and "D-Day" is a solid pick.Read anything about "Operation Barbarosa," the German code word for the Russian campaign.

Great games.Realistic and Fun!

Bad Game....
....The graphics are good, but that is about it.There is no point in even playing this game against the computer because none of your commands are ever followed anyway.....I wasted numerous hours hoping that game play would improve, but it never did.The Command and Conquer series, Warcraft, or similar strategy games are 10 times better!

Extremely realistic and exciting!
It is an amazing adventure.It is one of the best games I've ever played.It's extremely addictive and awesome!I think it is one of the best games on earth.If you are interested in battling games, this is definitely the game for you.I also think the graphics and the realism is amazing.Great for people who love history and battles. ~ SnowEater11 from Weymouth Ma

Buy this for Close Combat II, one the best PC games ever!
Any fan of wargames should at least have one of these three great combat simulators.No other game comes close to these realistic "war is hell" games. The AI is pretty solid, and no game, even single mission, will ever be alike.Unlimited replay value.

Simply put, the best game in this whole series is CC II: A Bridge Too Far.It combines and produces to an extent all the things the first game missed and the third one forgot.I spend a lot of time reading about the European theatre of WWII, and this game is the most accurate I have ever seen.

A good book to read with this game would be "Road to Arnhem" by Donald R. Burgett.It displays an eyewitness account of what it was like to fight this battle the game simulates.

Like all good games, it will soon make its way to the bargain bin and then obscurity.Don't let this one get away.

What a tedious waste of time
What a waste of time playing this game.Do yourself a favor--buy CombatFlight Simulator if you want some action, buy a book like "War on theEastern Front" if you want some interesting history.This gamepackage is a complete waste of time and money. ... Read more

Features

• For 1-8 players (Internet connection required for multi-players games)
• Realistic auto-racing arcade game
• Includes NFSII: SE, NFSIII: Hot Pursuit, NFS: High Stakes, NFS: Porsche Unleashed, and NFS: Hot Pursuit 2.
• Realistic, detailed environments bring to life elements from the real world
• Includes exclusive and exotic cars from the world's most coveted licensors

Reviews (12)

Pretty good game!
This is a great game but is hard to use. I use an XP and the only game i can get to coroperate is NFS HP2. The other games are hard to work. If your are planning to save money, i wouldnt buy the colleacton (unless your useing a XP). But if your willing to take a risk, i would do it (even better with a 98).

This isAwesome.
I got this about a week after I ordered it. It is so cool. The Porsche Unleashed is easy to drive. Hot Pursuit 2 is very cool.High stakes is cool too. Hot Pursuit 3 has a lot of cool stuff. In SE, the graphics don't look too good, but it is ok. I recommend you get these games. It has a lot of cars and police cars to drive. Hot pursuit 2 has really good graphics.

The need for speed series.The collection.It has quirks
For the price you're getting a ton of good games need for speed high stakes is probably the best in the bunch for network play (that's if you can get it working on an XP system).I'll give a quick run down on my thoughts on each game.

Need for speed 2: a decent game.It introduced me to the McLaren F1, which is a beautiful car.Only problem is it doesn't utilize direct 3-DSo the graphics look pretty cheesy.

Need for speed 3: a decent game, introduced a hot pursuit mode, which is fun.When playing on a network with your buddies.This started to utilize some direct 3-DSo the graphics are slightly improved.

Need for speed high stakes: this game is great in network mode you a couple of your buddies as the police officers chasing down the bad guys.It is too fun.Only problem is getting it to run on an XP system.We've been having problems.

Need for speed Porsche unleashed: this game again is the newest of the bunch.Good graphics good physics systems on the cars.Great for helping young ones learn to drive, but no hot pursuit mode and limited network play.Not that great in my opinion.

Need for speed, hot pursuit 2: this game is botched huge!The hot pursuit mode is been totally nuked.You can't be the police officers with your buddies on a network.The graphics are standard for game only a few years old, runs good or older systems, but not having network play with a hot pursuit is just a crime.One of the most disappointing games I've ever played.

So there you have it.In conclusion, you can see the a bunch of games for the price.And if you divvy up the games give out the ones you don't want or even sell them.They are pretty cheap in the long run.But some of the games have serious problems and some of our older.So the graphics are that good.

One important point, Porsche unleashed is a great way to teach young kids to drive get a steering wheel.Make him practice driving no really helped her hand eye coordination.

Have some fun and get it done

NFS-4 AND PORSCHE DO WORK ON XP
two of the best driving games ever made are nfs-4 and porsche.
and are on this compilation disc.

despite what others have said, they DO work with XP. which makes this a MUST-HAVE.

to get them to work,
BEFORE installing just browse the cd intall file
(execute file) , and RIGHT_CLICK on it.
>>>>>enable windows XP compatability for win98<<<<

most older games in general that many say don't work with XP will now play fine.

good
Buy it then sell Porsche Unleashed. It is worth your money cause High Stakes is on their and you'll love that game buy it, and you'll be satisfied. But Hot Pursuit 2 takes up alot of room, so have a fast computer. It is well worth your money ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Now desktop golfers can play 10 championship Links LS courses and experience tournament play with Microsoft Links LS 10 Course Pack, Volume 1. Each of the 10 courses features tournament crowds and tournament objects, so you can play a realistic game--online or at your desktop.

You will find the following courses in "Links LS 10-Course Pack:"

Bountiful Golf Club
Castle Pines Golf Club
Entrada at Snow Canyon
Firestone Country Club
Kapalua Plantation
Kapalua Village
Latrobe Country Club
Pinehurst NO. 2
Sea Island (The Cloister)
Three Canyons Fantasy Course ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Just Like Being on the Course!!
The graphics are outstanding, but being a Mac user, I wish Microsoft would continue to carry Mac add-ons. If you're going to create a program, you should continue to maintain it.

Don't rely on the providedsoftware
While I found the graphics to be top-notched, mass confusion reigned trying to get there. Once registered the site wouldn't let me register software and related goodies I had down-loaded only 2 hrs. earlier, which you need to engage the system/game. After another 10 minutes of re-downloading, I again had trouble getting to where I had hoped to be. Finally having gotten back to the course, the game took off - without me. I'm sure the computer enjoyed the first 4 holes before I could getout.

Great Game!
I was really impressed by the game play of this game and the fact that the courses were very real.The game was easy to master all of the controls but i think it will take me a life time to shoot par on some of thosecourses!

Best part of this is you never have to leave home to play!
You have either Links LS 1999 or LS 2000 and you want more course to toughen the challenge of the game, so what do you do? Get a hold of the 10 Pack courses volume 1 and you will in links heaven with the number of newplaces to play and best of all you never leave home.

managing a LinksGolf League, this add-on package give my league a whole new set oftournaments to choose from and makes the excitement of the game even morefun to play. Also included with the cd is 4 bonus courses making the total14 in all.

Play Cog Hill, Bay Hill, Estrada, Firestone South course,Mauna Kea, Pinehurst Number 2, Sea Island and many more. The graphics aregreat and the sounds are also excellent. I was very impressed at the amountof course you get for the price.

About the only courses I would add areAugusta National and Pebble Beach. The only other change I would make isthe ability to choose 18 different holes to play, one or two from eachcourse. Other than that this is a great add-on to already impressivesoftware package.

details...
The "Links LS 10-Course Pack" contains 10 courses featuring tournament crowds, leaderboards, grandstands, and other tournament objects for realistic tournament experience, online or via desktop.

You will find the following courses in "Links LS 10-Course Pack:"----------------------------------------------------------------------Bountiful Golf Club Castle Pines Golf Club Entrada at Snow Canyon FirestoneCountry Club Kapalua Plantation Kapalua Village Latrobe Country ClubPinehurst NO. 2 Sea Island (The Cloister) Three Canyons Fantasy Course ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

For more than 17 years, Microsoft's Flight Simulator series has provided hours of enjoyment for veteran pilots and aviation amateurs everywhere. Although the past few versions disappointed hard-core fans, Microsoft's latest, Flight Simulator 2000 looks to reinvent itself with a host of new and improved features. With overhauled terrain graphics, a revamped flight model, and more than 20,000 worldwide airports, this edition is one of the most feature-packed flight simulations on the market.

Though Flight Simulation 2000 is compatible with all aircraft, scenery, and adventures from Flight Simulator 98, the new simulation features plenty of additions, including new aircraft, the Concorde and Boeing 777-300, and six new and graphically improved cities to explore: London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. Vastly improved weather effects complement the highly detailed terrain; Flight Simulator 2000 allows players to download current real-world weather conditions off Microsoft's online gaming service.

Microsoft also offers a slightly higher-priced Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition that includes even more features, such as two additional aircraft, six additional detailed cities, and a flight dynamics editor. With either simulator, you're guaranteed a much better simulation than its predecessors and one that performs admirably against the current aviation sim crop. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Not a review - just a heads-up
I got this game a few years back as a steal, thinking that my P4 wouldn't satisfactorily run "FS 2002", or that the differences between the two were minor enough to obviate the higher price of the "newer" game.With the release of the even newer version (ACOF), I got a bargain price on '02, and found it ran at least as nice as FS 2000, and had more fluid atmospheric effects (including - at last - movable waves).Add-On aircraft are more easily sorted on 2002 than 2000, and the old game gains less in of an edge in framerate on 2002 than it lost over FS 98.In short, by now any decent machine will run 2002 without hiccups.You don't need FS 2000 anymore.

An exciting, learning experience
I have long wanted to get into the left hand seat of an airplane, and MS FS does an excellent job of that. With even a rudimentary understanding of flight principals, I can get off the ground andget back down again. I find the tutorials are thorough and easy to understand. Like my son's and their games, I keep bypassing the tutorials and going right for the "fun" elements: flying a 737 into my home airport, attempting takeoff in the Concorde.THere are tremendous online resources where you can download additional aircraft, paint schemes, etc.

My only complaint so far: the Help section is absolutely the least intuitive and help-oriented I have ever seen for a MS product. Very little detail and drill down available.I guess I'll have to fork out the [money]and get the 3rd party guide.

Advice: get a joystick! A mouse or key commands are poor substitutes for a control yoke

Honestly, THE BEST OF THE BEST
I have just bought this game for only 30 dollars! and i get a $20 mail in rebate! what could be better than this. I started downloading and it took me about 10 minutes since the game has 2 disks. I went to start flying a plane and the graphics were ok. The beginning was a little tough since you have to get to know the game but after only 15 minutes it was pretty easy. You need a 500mhz computer or better to play the game.I have tried playing X plane and it wasnt better than FS200. So i strongly recommend Fs 2000 because its cheap and it teaches you like you were a real pilot. Did you know that pilots train with this game sometimes. And also i strongly also recommend a joystick.

Cool game but your alone.
Flight simulator 2000 is a very detailed game. The only things I don't like about are,

You are alone in the air, Theirs Very rarely any air traffic, and if their is it's only a plane or two.

Also if you plan your own flight by wsing the flight planner mode, don't even bother going through all the trouble finding the right nav, com, and transponder code because it's no use. The radios don't work at all in flight plan mode.

Also, I strongly recommend getting a joystick if you decide to get this game. Knowing from my experiences it is very hard to fly a plane yust using the arrow keys.

Don't get me wrong, this is a pretty cool game if your into flight sims.

Where is the Mississippi River?
I give Flight Simulator 2000 one star because it works.It only crashes my system after I exit the game and try to play something else.I am outraged at the poor quality of the game.Realism?Who ever heard of flying anything with the fuel pump turned off and instruments working with the Pitot Heat switch in off position?Graphics detail?Where is the Mississippi River? I can't find it and it should be 3 miles from the main runway at St. Charles County Smartt Field.It's trash and I am going to mutilate the CDs and ship the game box back to Bill Gates.I have my pride.

Sierra Software pioneered the flight simulator and for many years was quite successful with it.It's unbelievable that this product put Sierra out of the flight simulator business.Sierra's Pro Pilot 98 is miles ahead of Flight Simulator 2000.If you can find a copy of Pro Pilot 98, Pro Pilot 99 or any flight simulator other than this one, buy it. ... Read more

Product Description

Backyard Sports has 3 titles for 1 price! Football, Soccer and Baseball! ... Read more

Features

• Choose from 30 Backyard Kids and an all-star lineup, then turn them into hardball heroes
• In Backyard Football, you'll pick from any of your favorite pros -- kid versions of Jerry Rice, Steve Young, John Elway, Randall Cunningham, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe, Barry Sanders and more
• Set up your teams and go for 6 right in your backyard
• Fun graphics and animations when a Character scores or fumbles
• With Backyard Football, you can create a team of baseball superstars -Alfonso Soriano, Nomar Garciaparra, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and more

Amazon.com Product Description

The $100,000 Pyramid from Sierra provides an interactive experience true to the original gameplay mechanics. Players will appreciate the nostalgic depiction of the original Pyramid TV series that ran from 1973 through the early '90s. From the familiar pyramid kiosk of categories to the animated celebrities and fast-paced play, The $100,000 Pyramid from Sierra is sure to be a refreshing, nostalgic addition to any virtual game closet. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Celebrity Help!
For a lot of game shows that have came out for the computer, they've always seemed to have a little bit of a blind-slighted feel to most gamers. They always seem to fall just a dash flat for a full-feeling of being in the actual video game. Still, most of them are still willing to find that out one day at a time. With several revamped versions of game shows on P.C. like Jeopardy, Wheel Of Fortune, and other game shows, there is one that actually tries to stand out a little bit, Pyramid. With the success of Pyramid being revived with Donny Osmond, has been an unbelieveable exciting game, but the P.C. game still needs a little fine tuning.

The $100,000 Pyramid for the P.C. was released before Donny Osmond came on with the revival of Pyramid. The game features three different versions of Pyramid, Single Play, where you have to get a certain amount of points to get to the Winners' Circle, Double Play, where two people actually play the same way like it is on the game show. Still, it does fall a little bit, without proper speakers. The third version takes the cake however. The party play version, gives a little more of an interactive version that you play with other people, like you're actually on the Pyramid. For that one, you really need to see that, and play it with more than one version. If you get this game, get it for this version of gameplay only.

Still, it would be nice to see Pyramid updated with a newer version, based on the recent revival. I just really hope that happens soon. Still, you're better off playing the version from the television, whether Dick Clark, Bill Cullen, or Donny Osmond is the host. The $100,000 Pyramid is just a fraction of the fun it was suppose to be. Try getting this one used.

recommendations
I suggest you put in a pre-order for this game so that way your first in line to get this game

I Recommend users to try it out
This game has thinking skills very educational for kids I recommend that you users out there buy this product

Fun for Everyone!
This game is just like the show! I got it and I just loved it. It isn't that challenging so people of many ages can play. Great buy. a+++

Fantastic for new Pyramid game (2002)
This is an excellent game for people who plan to audition for the new Pyramid game with Donny Osmond.Although I'm extremely familiar with the older version with Dick Clark and its contemporary counterpart, I feel like I've drastically improved my chances of winning by purchasing this game.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

After Dark Games is a collection of 11 fun, challenging, and addicting games for the entire family. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

After Dark Games
This is an awsome game!!All the games in After Dark Games are great, I can play for hours and I love them.

Perfect to play when you get home from work or school
The hilarity of the After Dark screen-saver has always been one of my best sources of stress relief over the past few years, and the After Dark Games provide even more interactive entertainment.With cute graphics, groovy music, and lots of madcap humor--not to mention the fact that they install *really* easily and they only take up a tiny amount of hard drive space--these 11 games are the perfect way to take a quick break from your work when Minesweeper gets too tiresome.They're not made to drive you away from your friends and family, however, so if you're looking for deep, immersive gameplay, you'll be better off playing an RPG.

A few of these games are simply classics with an After Dark twist: "Solitaire" is the classic card game, "Mowin' Maniac" is a whimsical and often maddeningly difficult version of "Pac-Man" that takes place in someone's backyard, and "Moo-Shu Tiles" is just like the game "Shanghai", only with a few scathing twists (layouts include the shape of a piece of roadkill, and the winning fortunes affront players with statements like "You look like something the cat refused to bring in from the rain.")The only one of these remakes I don't really like is "Foggy Boxes"--a version of the famous "dots and boxes" game--and that's just because I win almost every time even in the Hard mode.

The puzzle games, which are my favorites, include "Bad Dog 911", "Fish Shtick", "Zapper", and "Roof Rats"."Zapper" has the best graphics and sound of all the games, and it consists of a bunch of very interesting (but admittedly useless) true/false trivia questions in a race against the clock.You get bonus points and extra time for three correct answers in a row, and then the Zapper jackpot increases.It's not really all that difficult (my highest score ever was 9750 and the jackpot starts at just 50 points)."Roof Rats" is much more difficult, and it's a game where you have to rescue tenants from the top of a large building by detonating adjacent rooms of the same color.I have managed to beat the "Hard" mode in this game only 5% of the time.

"Fish Shtick" and "Bad Dog 911" are both games in which you have to unscramble words in a limited time period.They're both very fun, but they each have two little problems with them: first, words are taken from unabridged dictionaries, so they may seem obscure to people who've never taken courses in molecular biology before.(For example, "otceyo" can be unscrambled as "coyote" or "oocyte".)And second, the clock continues to tick while you pause the game, so you are not allowed to look for a dictionary or other cheating device at any time during gameplay.

The last three games are arcade-style, and they're the most original games of the bunch."Hula Girl" is a platform game that scrolls from top to bottom, in which Hula Girl jumps down platforms, picks up desserts and extra hoops, and tries to avoid things that make her "yuckometer" go up."Toaster Run" features the famous flying toaster, and you control his flight as he flies through a dangerous house in order to get into the nursery and put "Baby Guy" into his crib.And in "Rodger Dodger", you take control of a little purple spheroid and pilot him around, picking up the green things and avoiding the red things.These three games are also very fun, but they're overall a little less difficult than the others.

These 11 games are all different in gameplay, so they should satisfy any gamer who just wants a little distraction--whether it's using reflexes dodging killer red pyramids, or using the old noodle and trying to solve words.The only real complaint I have with this package, as a matter of fact, is that it doesn't feature some of my favorite parts of the orignial screen-saver; I was disappointed to see that there was no game involving "Daredevil Dan", or a version of "Rat Race", or the all-time classic trivia game "You Bet Your Head".These were, in my opinion, the funniest forms of entertainment that the original After Dark screen-saver had to offer.But what we have in the package still works as a funny and thoroughly engaging little diversion that never fails to delight."After Dark Games" is extremely easy to get into and undoubtedly difficult to put down, and I highly recommend it for anyone who hates being an easily-bored person (come on, you know who you are....).

It's a lot of fun
After dark game is enjoyable, and my kids love it. but I do think they should have added spades to it. But and all It's a lot of fun.

after dark games the best games ever
i really enjoy this group of games,there is something for everyone. im hooked on this and so is my whole familythanks

Roof Rats
I played the demo on my laptop.Now I would like to purchase it but cannot find it anywhere.Is it available?

Ora ... Read more

Product Description

Experience a brand-new chess engine and play at the Grandmaster level! It delivers the most advanced opponent available on a home computer. An ideal introduction for the chess newcomer or a worthy challenge for the aspiring Grandmaster! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Biggest bargain for quality chess program
Got CM8000 for the absolute bargain of $9.95 Australian (approx US$6) as bargain priced "NEW" software. Nothing for even five or ten times the price remotely compares.

Also have chessmaster 10th edition (V10) which runs on my better 256 Mb computer. But CM8000 will even run on my dinosaur Win95 Dell with only 96MbRam and 200MHz chip.

The look and feel of CM 8000 in my view is much better than than the "trying too hard to be modern" look in V10. You can immediately choose lots of skins and boards in CM8000 which have a classical beauty about them. (V10 by comparison has fewer 2D skins but more resource hungry 3D skins and you must "obey chess fuhrer's orders without question" and play a minimum number of games before you are allowed to choose a new one.)

You can also play CM8000 without inserting a disc after installation. (V10 is a bit of a pain in requiring you to insert disc 1 every time you play but most software companies seem to be doing this these days.)

Other reviewer have said how good CM8000 is. In truth it does have some minor flaws as some reviewers have pointed out but on balance I believe its pros far outweigh its cons especially at its bargain price. It is probably as good as anything else on the market (other than a later Chessmaster) under $100. So if you are a kid with a limited budget,have an old computer, or are just starting out in chess as a casual hobby then CM8000 will give you the most bang for your buck.

XP compatible, Won't be dissappointed
If you have a lot of hard drive space and lots of RAM, do the full install(about 900 MB total), you'll love it.

Chessmaster 8000 has at least 2 bugs...
a) The program is biased against white side:
It gives white a more PLUS score in a SYMMETRICAL position. Indirectly it FORCES white to play for the WIN at some extra COST.

After 1 e4 e5, it took 1.29 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Nf3 with the score of .21. (Where 1.00 point is equivalent to 1 pawn.)

After 1 e3 e5 2 e4, it took 1.45 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2.3 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Nf6 with the score of .21.

After 1 d4 d5, it took 3.35 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.7 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Bf4 with the score of .20.

After 1 d3 d5 2 d4, it took 2.55 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.4 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Bf5 with the score of .20.

B) Search-depth extension has some bug:
Which causes the program fail to give correct or good positional evaluation.

--------------BK
----------BPBP--
----BB--BP----BP
--------WP------
------WPWP------
--BR------WKWPWP
----WBBQ--------
--WQ------------

In the above position, black just captured white rook at b3. It is white's turn to move.

After 1.31 minutes, search to a depth of 10 plies, and evaluated for 3 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score 0.98.

After 5.18 minutes, search to a depth of 11 plies, and evaluated for 11 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score -1.01.

First, the evaluation at 1 ply DIFFERENCE (from 10 to 11) caused a point-swing of 2 pawns! I EXPECTED a reasonable point-swing of 1/3 to 1/2 of a pawn. 1 point (or pawn) swing is too much, and 2 point swing is unreasonable. The search EXTENSION was supposed to extend when there is a LARGE point swing in an unclear position.

Second, at the standard rate of 3 minutes per move, the program could not detect this miscalculation. The positional evaluation is incorrect.

For this brief moment, white is up a pawn, but his king is exposed, while black king is secured. The harmony between black pieces wins the game, however is undetectable at a shallow search.

I have chessmaster 2000, 2100, 3000, 5000 and 8000. Their human interface are nice, more friendly than Fritz. But the two above BUGS cost chessmater 8000 one star.

Excellent
This chess software is superb.Josh Watzkin walking you through some of his classic chess encounters is one of my favorite parts of this game.You actually begin to understand what it takes to play chess at an elevated level.One part of this chess program I did have a problem with was playing computer players.Each computer player is rated and they play exactly at that level.What the computer cannot do, unlike a human can is make bad moves.The computer playing at a 1550 rated level plays it perfectly, unlike a player at rated at the 1550 level.A player at rated at the 1550 level may make a few moves at an 1800 level and then make a terrible move that a 1200 level rated player wouldn't even make.Humans make mistakes, whereas the Chessmaster does not.Except for this and the occasional crash (I am running the game on win2000, which is not a gaming platform) this game is excellent.I would buy it again if I didn't already own it.

Fine program, but still a work in progress
I have owned every Chessmaster since Chessmaster 2100, a charming little toy that ran on my old XT with an engine that played like a "D" player with poor positional judgment(!).Today's Chessmaster plays like something close to a Grandmaster.

It is a fine program with some annoying bugs, suitable for a wide range of players from beginners to master-level players.It is not, however, the choice of professionals.They prefer the elegant German-made Fritz since some of CM's features for the average player are of no interest to them.Unless you are a Senior Master level player however, in my opinion, Chessmaster is a better choice because of its many features.

Nonetheless Chessmaster 8000 is not much of an improvement on Chessmaster 7000.(You might want to read my review of CM7000 because some of the same comments apply here).In some ways CM8000 is a regression.For example, you can't run the program at all without the disk in your CD drive.Ouch!In CM7000 you could at least run the program for 14 days or 28 sessions before being required to insert the CD.Another problem is that the sight and music show after CM8000 loads always plays and you have to hit a key to get to the program.This is also a regression from CM7000 which allowed you to turn off this it-gets-old-fast "feature."A new bug occurs when you play a game at a fast time limit.The verbal announcement of moves is truncated so that CM's move is not announced.This is a bug that CM is aware of but hasn't fixed yet.Another regressive change is you can no longer pick the exact color of the chessboard.That feature has been eliminated, why I don't know.

The Think Lines window, though, has been improved.Now you can play over a game and see how Chessmaster evaluates the game without toggling between the Chessmaster mode and the player mode as in CM7000 and previous editions.Just click Chessmaster in the window and CM's thinking is always there.

The "mate in one" opening puzzle has been "improved" to offer avoid mate and find the pin and find the fork.This is still not anywhere near what it should be.At least a mate in two would improve, or even better, critical positions from master games could be featured so that the user could compare his or her choice with what was actually played.

The personality ratings are still a little high.One personality rated around 2200 on my machine often sac's a piece for two united pawns in the opening.Other personalities routinely give up a pawn and then some, but are also rated at around master-level."Natalie," rated 2296 on my machine, gives up at least a pawn in the opening and in general plays the opening like a "D" player, yet plays afterwards like a master.Not realistic!But as someone at CM pointed out, one of the interesting things about the personalities is that they have weaknesses that a human can discover and take advantage of.I think a little more creativity in creating the personalities would improve the program.I like eccentrics like "Vlad" who always answers almost instantly because he just doesn't search any further than about three ply.

The only player stats kept are those in rated games.Stats reflecting performance in EVERY game should be kept.It would required just the slightest effort on the part of the programmers to offer such a feature.And such a feature would be very revealing (and perhaps sobering) for the player.Every game should be counted as (1) Incomplete with CM's score given at the time of abandonment; (2) Won, lost or drawn.

An annoyance is that CM doesn't remember your place in the scroll windows.In other words, if you are playing through a long list of games it would be nice when you click "Load" for the window to open where you left off so you can just click the next game on the list.However what CM does is make you start all over again because it always opens the window to the first game on the list.

Another silly annoyance is when you're going from one mode to the other, the program ought to recall and use the chessboard and set that you have chosen.Instead CM uses its default and you have to choose all over again.

Here's what I think would be a significant improvement: Add some code that would assess a player's strength based on an analysis of every move played, so that a rating could be established with just a couple of games.To illustrate what I mean, consider that in any given position there are "x" number of moves.Of those moves, a certain number lose outright (let's say lose the equivalent of two pawns or more, all the way to possibly allowing checkmate).Some others give away somewhere between the equivalent of half a pawn to a pawn and a half.Still others keep the chances about the same, while others might result in an advantage.Since the program keeps a running "score" of the game, it could simply compare each of the human player's moves with a change in the running score and easily construct a hierarchy of achievement or lack thereof which could be converted into ratings.This could be turned into a feature that would assess a player's strength for just the current session.After all, we all have days when we are "on" and other days when we don't play so well.

I love the Chessmaster program perhaps because I am used to it and perhaps because when I was a young chess player there were no programs at all.It is a fine program, but it is still a work in progress. ... Read more

Features

• Uncover vast caverns and alien technology that will give your empire a victorious edge
• 6 new massive underground war zones; unique alien complexes to explore and conquer
• New underground environments from volcanic lava flows to ice caverns
• New ancient-technology vehicles and weapons which can be used by all Empires
• Head-to-head urban-style combat in subterranean cities

Reviews (11)

A year on and still no improvement
I first started playing Planetside about a year ago, deciding that after reading all the marketing blurb that this was the game for me! - great graphics (and they are great graphics), the lure of huge online battles and lots and lots of vehicles to throw around and do some damage with - oh yes!!

However, I soon tired when the huge battles failed to materialise and any major battles you did manage to find to get involved with was decided simply by who managed to turn up in the most numbers on the day. No amount of skill or tatics on your part part could make a difference - its all down to numbers.

Now if this was a game with some sort of goal, a common target which you and your allies were all aiming for and once achieved, was rewared in some way; then this wouldn't seem so bad. But Planetside is perpetual war; you join battle, kill and get killed, gain some experience points, respawn, start again and never really get anywhere. Just logon, join in with what ever struggle happens to be going on at the moment and then logoff, thats the game. And you pay for this too - yes, a monthly subscription applies.

With the lack of anything comparable (except Tribes2) I'm disappointed to come back after a nearly a year to find that even with an expansion pack, nothing has been improved. It still looks great, but is still a totallay unsatisfying experience.

Buy it at Outpost.com for $10
Find the cheap addition on Outpost.com (Fry's Electronics)

Good idea, poor implementation, horrible community
Whenever getting into any SOE game, beware. The community is the low point by far. SOE forums are known for laughing over the deaths of pets and even players. Recently when a player of planetside had a brain hemmorage and died, the customers thought it the funniest thing in the world. You would be horrified to hear their position on the death of a pet.

And that is usually the problem with SOE products. Although they have the technology and the financial resources to back up creation of top of the line products, they continue to fall far short in customer service and community management. In all internet forums there are jerks, the difference is that other forums (such as Atari's Unreal Tournament forum) actually get rid of the filth and manage the forums. The only things that disappear from SOE forums are posts that decrease sales of the product through exposing weaknesses in them.

As for the game itself, it is a great idea and poorly implements. Client side hit detection in the game is a hacker's paradise. Furthermore, the company seems more interested in slowing down the achievement of players than making an enjoyable experience. Their recent expansion, Core Combat, was yet another example of their incompetence.

There are many players in the MMOG industry. The days of the EQ monopoly are over and I suggest you check out their compeditors instead.

ok but still not worth the price, give it more time
I have played Planetside and have heard about the caverns. Basicly people tell me its:

The home of the snipers

Desserted

Has no affect on bases you own

The good points to it though:
The flail, capable of putting a base under seige from another base. That is approximatly 15 kilometers or so, depending on drive time at 60kpm. A note on the flail: it has immense firing power, can hover (don't believe it can go over water though) and has an insane firing range. Good with multiple when trying to weaken a bases defenses and keep them hiding inside.

Modules. These give your base, only one base, advantages. Such would be like the Health Module. This lets you respawn with 120 health instead of normal 100.

Pain module induces pain into anyone that enters the control room (the places that you must get into the hack the control console to thus turn the base to your empire) or even gets too close to the control room.

The shield module which is extremely usefull in keeping fire out of your base. Though tanks and such could shoot over your wall, the shield module puts up a shield at your base gates (two in a base) so that no enemy fire can enter, and no friendly fire can escape. Thus they must enter your base to actually attack you.

Modules can be countered by destroying them.

The weapons are also good. If you're New Conglomerate and don't like the short range of the JH (though MANY of players from opposing empires will tell you its range is still too strong at long range) you can get the maelstrom. I might be wrong, because I forgot the name. But it is only found in the caverns and allows you to shoot an energy type beam.

Basicly, at its current price I would say that there aren't enough good things about this expansion to encourage me or any of my friends to buy it. If there were more vehicles, more weapons, and could let you go higher in BR and/or CR, I would surely recommend it. But there aren't. I say the only good thing in this expansion is the Flail and the Shield and Pain modules. But since there are plenty of other people with the expansion, you don't need to worry about it. :-)

nope not for 30
The game itself was on it's way out because of the lack of content and buggy environment.Many servers there is difficulty find a battle other then the one cluster where all the worlds people are and even then it's not that much.

Core combat split that up further.With more place to go explore, and more things to dig up, it has improved the content... at over half again the game price.That's 10$ per new vehicle.Sorry but that is just not worth it, the game is on it's way out and the developer time seems to be going to Star Wars Galaxies, the fair haired child of SOE. ... Read more

Product Description

In this thrilling spy adventure, Barbie becomes a Secret Agent on a special mission to catch the mysterious thief who stole fashions made of top-secret fabric and stop the creation of an invisible suit. Girls will go undercover and solve mini-missions in five different locations. Using secret agent gadgets, players decode clues and puzzles and interact with various characters.

Features

• Five exotic locations include Paris, Egypt and Tokyo
• Action-packed mini-adventures
• Cool gadgets including pink-vision-glasses and a remote control spy-puppy
• Fantastic moves enable Barbie to run, jump, tumble and even blend into the environment

Features

• For kids ages 6 and over
• Track clues with Barbie in this thrilling spy adventure
• Go undercover and try to catch the mysterious thief
• Solve mini-missions in cities like Paris, Tokyo, and more
• Decode clues, solve puzzles, and use high-tech gadgets

Reviews (1)

it was fun
I had it when I was younger and I was hooked! But I didn't like that there is the same bad guy. It was VERY hard at first so you HAVE to let them teach you everything in that weird room(sorry, i forgot what it was called). I think that it would be for ages 3 1/2 - 8 .Hope i helped!!! :P lol ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Bruce Campbell, star of Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, and Xena: Warrior Princess, lends his superb voice-over talent to space fighter jock Jake Logan in Tachyon: The Fringe. As Jake, players assume the role of a badass pilot for hire in the 26th century.

The plot and setting of the game are perfect for a gritty sci-fi tale. Tachyon jump gates connect distant planets, enabling interstellar trade. Megacorporations hire contract pilots to protect space convoys and valuable cargo from pirates. Jake Logan, a veteran pilot battle tested from age 14, has built a reputation of skilled combat and quick decision making. Advance Ganymede Technologies, a starship design firm, takes notice and hires Jake for contract work.

For the most part, Tachyon: The Fringe eschews standard space combat simulation conventions by eliminating linear mission structure. Tachyon typically provides several missions, called "jobs" in the game, which the player can select in any order. Rewards for completing jobs include gaining the use of new technology, obtaining cash for purchasing new ships, weapons, and equipment, and advancing the main story line. Players decide how to equip their ships and spend their mission bounty. This freedom gives each new mission a fresh feel.

Bruce Campbell's infectious sarcasm and undeniable cool factor fit the grizzled space cowboy perfectly; often you'll want to complete missions or destroy enemy ships just to hear which one-liners Bruce says next. Missions jam packed with dialogue create short, exciting stories; soon, though, Jake finds himself embroiled in a larger plot involving a renegade colony fortifying its territory in an area of space known as the Fringe.

Tachyon's graphics look sharp, though inconsistent in areas. Star bases and fighters exude size and detail; however, bland hanger bays and the multicolored ship interface strike a contrast against the beauty of deep space and immense capital ships. Sound effects fare better with stellar voice acting, crisp weapon effects, and menacing deep bass as ships rush through space.

A solid entry into the space combat genre, NovaLogic's Tachyon: The Fringe dares to be different and succeeds. Free multiplayer action over NovaLogic's online gaming service NovaWorld extends enjoyment; compete with dozens of players online in deathmatch-style Arena Match or the team-based Base Wars. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Two words--Bruce Campbell
• Nonlinear mission style gives the player numerous choices on how to shape the story line
• Highly customizable ships permit weapon and equipment combinations to suit a player's specific combat style
• Free multiplayer component provides hours of additional gameplay

• The graphics, though good, aren't quite as impressive as in FreeSpace 2 or StarLancer

Reviews (30)

It's Great
I wish i had the full version of it..
I got the game demo as a demo bundle to the Video Card that i had bought a E-TNT2 64 AGPcard...

But the game is fun... the controls are pretty easy.. you gotta play around with it a little bit buts its really fun~
great story line and even better plot.
Good Graphics too

wanna buy me the game? lol

WOW 100,000,000% BEST SPACE SIM EVER!
This is the best game ever there are so many variables to adjust and so many options to change it is great. Not to mention the different; weapons, missions, regions, space sations, i could go on... Overall a good game and good weapons also the difficulty can ber changed any time in the game if you get boartd with the toughness of your apponetts also there is a battle between two rival factions and you get to choose sides and weapons (SUGGEST GALSPAN CORAPORATION GOOD TECH'S) GET THIS GREAT GAME!
JUST LIKE REAL LIFE DECISIONS.

Talk About Space Flight..........
This game has you thinking you're really there, flying and fighting in space.You control your role as the mercenary indepedent star pilot Jake Logan.Awesome weapons upgrades and powerful CPU updates keep you giving the enemy what they have to except.Search asteroid belts for cargo and beam valuable crates aboard your ship.Once you finish the game you'll be eager to play again, it is very addicting.It will keep you busy for quite a while.This just isn't a game, it's an adventure.Who ever designed this game was a total guenius.

huh
the game was cool, annd fun, and neat, and great, and CHEAP!!!!!

Things that make you go, Huh!
Tachyon is one of those games that intrigues from the mini-movie intro. The graphics and colour schemes are so dazzling that you will instantly get an adrenaline rush. This has to be one of the best rendered games I have come across. The gameplay is simple enough to grasp, there is not much of a learning curve here. Sound,despite the odd shrill female voiceover, is very well done. So why do I rate a mere three stars? I have one rule to playing games. I play for fun and not to be aggravated. Unfortunately Tachyon has a few elements that are sure to tick some (certainly me) off. The game is played out on the "Job Board" where you will be hired to complete contracts ranging from deliveries to disabling "Capital Ships". Some of these quests require the player to repeat multiple times before figuring out how to find the proverbial chink in the armour.Try disabling a Battle Cruiser that outguns you 20-1. Good Luck. That (repetition) gets boring real quick. Each time one has to return to base, rearm and take off again, usually passing through multiple gates before reaching the target. That is a whole lot of lost gaming time. The thrill of the chase and intensity of combat (assisted by the A1 graphics) makes up for the lag. But my biggest complaint is that I have encountered difficulties with the docking controls. On a few occasions I have had to spend up to an hour just trying to dock (despite the autodock feature) because the AI wouldn't acknowledge that I was there. Indeed I had to abandon one quest (Rescue the Persephone) because the auto dock didn't work. It's not just a thing that makes you go ,HUh! but is also very annoying. The quests simply lack the depth and sophistication (lasting little more than 10 min. on average) to overcome the deficiencies. Don't get me wrong I still think this is a great game, graphically speaking, but the repetition and bugs really spoil the fun. ... Read more

Features

• try to buy, outsell or outprice your competition, as you fight to become a recognized name the world of food!
• Go on a thrilling adventure in the culinary world, facing 18 realistic scenarios
• Choose from over 30 playable chefs, and get a feel for running a restaurant in Paris, Rome or L.A.
• Decide the strategy and tactics that will make your restaurant popular -hire the waiters, select the menu and even create the decor thatgets people inside
• Master nearly 200 recipes in French, Italian or American cuisine -- appetizers, soups, main courses & desserts

Reviews (1)

Resturant Empre: Bring on the food!!
I got this game a couple of days ago and it's really fun! You choose your chef, hire waiters/waitresses, pick what's on your menu, and off you go! Here are some pros and cons of this game.

PROS

You get to choose he kind of cuisine you want in your resturant.
You can have input on how to decorate your resturant and you can redecorate at any time.
The game is fun because there is no limit to the amount of resturants you build.

CONS:

It's so hard to make money!
There is only one scenario.(there may be more, but I've only found one!)
In sandbox mode, where you start from the ground up and build your own resturant, you can't enter the cooking contest!

If you like food, this is a good buy. For young kids this game would be very confusing. I am 10 and I still have trouble with it!This game is really addicting. Once you start, you can't stop! If you have lots of free time, this game is best. If you can only play for, say, 10 min., it would be hard to get into the game.

I'm done, and I hope I helped! ... Read more

Product Description

Players will control every position on their team, including three Chasers who try to score with the Quaffle, two Beaters who control the dangerous Bludgers, the Keeper who protects the goal, and the Seeker who chases the elusive Golden Snitch that must be caught to end the match. ... Read more

Features

• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Genre: Sports
• Mission: Take to the air in the game that allows players to experience the magical speed, power, and competition of Quidditch; the favorite sport of Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards
• Platform: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP

Reviews (23)

Lot's of fun
QWC is the only Harry Potter game that you don't have to worry about the story. It is only Quidditch. I think that World Cup is frusterating,but Hogwarts is extremly fun. Some of the special moves are really creative. There is a lot of stuff that you have to work hard to get. However, the quidditch cards can be annoying.

Pretty Good!
Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup has great animations. You can play as Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Japan, Geneology, Hoodlums, Boxers, ect. It is crap

Harry Potter Quiditch Easy World Cup
This game is kinda fun; in multiplayer. But the inadjustable AI level makes it to EASY. In perspective just unlock everything and then just play multiplayer.

BOTTOM LINE
Only buy this if you have relatives willing to play.

Good, but could have been better!
I was so excited when this game came out because I thought it will be very fun just like how quiddich should be but after I tired it at home it was just okay to me. I don't know about you but I am a huge HP fan so I don't know why this game wasn't so appealing to me as I thought it would be. I like the graphics and stuff in this game but if I were you, I would rather buy the Harry Potter 1, 2 or 3 computer game instead of this one. I mean, they have quiddich in them too just not so much like this one. It really irrates your eyes when you stare at the screen for so long chasing the snitch.

It's a good game but could been better.

An out of control game
This game is really fun and has good 3-D appearances, but sometimes when you are flying it sort of goes out of control. For example, you're flying up the field and you're aiming for the goal hoop opposite the keeper and you're about to shoot the quaffle through the hoop when you're player suddenly passes the quaffle towards the other team and the other team catches it without you controlling the pass. It just does it by itself. It can make you lose a game easily and instantly. ... Read more

Product Description

Need for Speed (NFS) is back and faster than ever in Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2! Engage in the next generation thrill of arcade racing with the spiritual successor to the highly acclaimed, award winning Need For Speed III Hot Pursuit.Drafting on its award-winning legacy, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2 stays true to the heritage of housing a stable of exclusive and exotic cars from the world's most coveted licensors including Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini... to name a few.Become the "Champ ... Read more

Features

• Over 20 of the most coveted licensed exotics
• Be victorious in over 60 different racing events to become the "Champion Road Racer"
• Dynamic lighting and real world reflections bring the cars and tracks to life
• Realistic, detailed environments bring to life elements from the real world - rain, brush fires, sunbeams and dust storms

Reviews (74)

awesome!!!!!
I bought this game about 2 weeks ago and I love it. It is awesome! I use along with it a logitech game controller. If you are looking for a fun racing game buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one botched game, what happened in network play
I wanted to post this just as an FYI for anybody who fell in love with the original hot pursuit.This game's hot pursuit mode is totally heinous.EA really botched it.You can't be the police and chase down bad guys with your buddies over the network.We bought a bunch of copies found this out and sold a bunch of copies totally lame.So just a heads up

Good, but maybe not perfect
I've had NFS III hot pursuit for years, so when I saw the newer version come out I decided to try it.Well... I definitely think it could have been better.The graphics are wonderfully detailed, and I love the 3D effects much better than those of the previous version.However, sometimes they are too much for my computer to handle, and everything gets so jerky it is hard to see what I'm doing.When that happens, the graphics tend to lose their effect.

I've found the system of earning the option to race more tracks to be pretty annoying.Even if I win everytime, it still takes a lot of races around the same old tracks to unlock something new, and that can get pretty discouraging.Also, there is not nearly as much control over car tuning as I would have liked.They all tend to handle about the same, so I really begin to miss the customization features of NFS III.

There are some definite high points, though.The graphics, when they work, are incredible.The music is also really nice - it fits the racing mood perfectly, and has plenty of variety.The cars are fairly highly detailed, and the hot pursuit mode works out pretty well (if not a little too easily for the racer on the run).Overall I would recommend this game, but definitely make sure your computer can easily handle the graphics and make it worth your while.

Great game
Recently I downloaded the demo of Hot Pursuit 2, and it persuaded me to go out and buy the game (should be coming soon :)) Anyways, I've played this at a friend's house and have found it excellent. I love the "Be The Cop" mode as well as the cars provided in the game. I find that this game (even the demo, in my case) has high replayability. The graphics for this game are nice, and it runs well on my computer (Intel 4 3.0 Ghz processor, 1GB RAM, and some sort of good video card :P) But as people have said before, all the tracks are practically identical. You might want to consider that before you buy it, but otherwise, it'll be worth your money.

underground is beneath this game
i stupidly sold this game to buy nfs underground.2 months later i sold under ground a bought this again. this game has great cars for any car finatics out there and the play, while not always realistic provided a lot of fun.it has the lotus elise, opel speedster, bmw m5 , bmw z8 ,dodge viper, ferrarri 360 spyder, 550 merronello , f50, and the mcclairen f1 just to name a few. everyone talks about dodging the cops but chasing speeders was even more fun. you can drop explosives, call for back up, and set up spike strips.this game is so much more than underground, which has crappy cars , poor performence, and horrid corses. please buy this and save a hell of a lot of cash ... Read more