My Exotic Farm is a real-time simulation farming game. You begin your exotic farm with a single ostrich. It is your job to build a big farm with happy animals. I found this game to be very annoying. Since it is in real time, everything goes extremely slowly unless you pump up the speed. Once your animals are fully fed and happy, there isn't a whole lot for you to do except wait for them to get hungry again. You can resell the animals once they grow a bit but I kept having to buy expensive food for the more expensive animals so it was really difficult to get ahead. Personally, I ended up just buying a bunch of ostriches. They lay eggs that you can sell in the market. Granted, they don't sell for a lot of money but it's enough to keep your animals fed for awhile. But, really, the game was just too boring to keep my attention for long. I'd rather spend my time on The Sims.
Game review: Family Restaurant
Family Restaurant is a restaurant simulation game that is similar to Cooking Mama. You are given a template for each dish and it is your job to match it with the ingredients at hand. The closer your food matches the template, the happier your customers are. While the game isn't difficult, it can get annoying. There are times that you, the player, swears that your food matches the template but you'll only receive a 60%. Since you're making the same basic dishes over and over, the frustration level rises with each dish. However, there are some dishes that are extremely easy to hit 100% every time. Luckily, the overall score for each level is an average of all your dish percentages so those 100%s even out the lower scores.
Game review: Vogue Tales
Vogue Tales is a wacky fashion-themed time management game. You play fashion designer Wendy. Her grandmother sent her a mysterious gift but before she could open it, a thief stole the gift and her favorite dummy. Wendy must raise enough money to go to London to get her stuff back. Once again, this is a game where the customers choose the type and color for the piece of clothing they want. Wendy takes the design to the fabric, where it is magically sewed, then hands the clothes to the customer. There isn't anything particularly difficult about the game. Though it can be a challenge to keep the customers happy. You can buy upgrades for help you keep their hearts full.
Personally, I'd like to see a little more variety in the time management genre. While the general themes are slightly different, the gameplay is exactly the same. I'm ready for something amazing to come along and make me love the genre all over again.
Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Maybe You're Right
Artist: Barenaked Ladies
Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar/vocals), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass), Kevin Hearn (keyboards)
Album: Barenaked Ladies Are Me
Release date: 9/12/06
Lyrics: It was often talked about It was often raised But nothing was ever done about it
To hear the way they talked about it No one could be saved But nothing was ever done about it
Shall I take back everything I've ever said And live my whole life in silence instead?
It was oversimplified It was underthought And nothing was ever done to stop it
Everything was fortified by All the lies we bought And nothing was ever done to stop it
Shall I take back everything I've ever said And live my whole life in silence instead?
Shall I take back everything I've ever said (Shall I take back all my attacks? All of my accusations?) And live my whole life in silence instead? (All my mistrust - we never discussed anyone's reservations)
There was a time When a crime was a crime Now I think I'm losing my mind
Or taking it all too hard Taking it all too hard Taking it all too hard
Shall I take back all my attacks? All of my accusations? All my mistrust - we never discussed anyone's reservations
Shall I take back everything I've ever said (Shall I take back all my attacks? All of my accusations?) And live my whole life in silence instead? (All my mistrust - we never discussed anyone's reservations)
Shall I take back everything I've ever said (Shall I take back all my attacks? All of my accusations?) And live my whole life in silence instead? (All my mistrust - we never discussed anyone's reservations)
Maybe you're right Maybe you're right Maybe you're right But I don't think so
Maybe you're right Maybe you're right Maybe you're right But I don't think so About the song: This is such an amazing song. Steve and Ed's voices meld so well together here. It really makes me think of an old Beatles song. (I think the chorus has the same tune to one of Paul McCartney's solo songs.) The background music starts out soft and delicate but then moves into something more robust. It usually takes me awhile to really get into new BNL albums. This song was a hit for me from the first listen.
Game review: Golden Hearts Juice Bar
Yet another restaurant themed time management game, Golden Hearts Juice Bar tries to change things up a bit by making the "restaurant" into a trendy drink bar. Unfortunately, the changes that make the juice bar possible makes the game annoyingly difficult right from the beginning. Of course, it doesn't get any easier as the levels go on. You play Kelly, a college student who is trying to each some money to continue her studies. So she takes a job at the local juice bar making milkshakes and strawberry smoothies. While this sounds like a great job, the game makes it extremely difficult by taking it out of a bar-typed setting and using a restaurant setting instead. As such, Kelly has to crank out as many drinks as she can while waiting on tables. Add in the fact that each drink takes a couple of seconds in the blender, it's not too difficult to end up with some cranky customers. You can make them happier with the house band but they seem to take an awful lot of breaks.
Also, the game setting teases you. There are things available that you can use but the customers don't want. So if you accidentally click on them, you are screwed. This includes things like lemon wedges for the drinks and slices of cake. They don't come into play until the middle of the second restaurant level.
I'm rather disappointed in the game. I wanted it to be really good. It's a great theme but it's just not used very well. If the designers had used the bar instead of seating the customers at tables, the game would be a lot easier and a lot more fun to play. I hope that they'll make a sequel to the game with a couple of minor changes. It'll be cool to have a bar-themed time management game. I think it'll bring back memories of the old Tapper games.
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
My latest reality television obsession is VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. I have loved Dr. Drew ever since Loveline was on MTV. In my eyes, the man can do no wrong. And Celebrity Rehab is another hit for him. For the show, a group of addicted celebrities gather to kick their nasty habits. The lineup consists of Family Matters' Jaimee Foxworth, Seth 'Shifty' Binzer from the group Crazytown, martial arts fighter Ricco Rodriguez, actor Daniel Baldwin, actress Brigitte Nielson, former pro-wrestler Joanie 'Chyna' Laurer, porn actress Mary Carey and Grease star Jim Conaway. Their addictions vary from alcoholism to cocaine to pot. Dr. Drew and his staff definitely have their hands full with this crew.
At first, I thought this show was going to be an absolute train-wreck. On the contrary, the show is not only entertaining, it's also very informative about what goes on in rehab. My father is an alcoholic and he has been in and out of various rehabs over the years. While I knew that they did things like "art therapy" since he always brought home weird pottery things, I didn't know that there are group sessions where the patients talk about things that may have caused them to turn to drugs or alcohol. It's interesting to hear about what these celebrities have gone through. Especially since the general public tends to think these people live glamorous golden lives. Instead, they are living with a lot of emotional baggage due to past emotional abuses.
I think that this show is something that everyone should watch. Not just to see "celebreality" but also to see the reality of rehab.
Game review: Jojo's Fashion Show
There has definitely been a sudden influx of fashion-based casual games. Few of them really had anything to do with fashion though. Well, things are different now. Jojo's Fashion Show is definitely about the fashion and nothing else. You play Jojo Cruz, a retired fashion designer. She's trying to come back to the fashion scene and it's your job to help her. The goal is to make the best outfit you can. You are given three models, a variety of clothes and a couple of themes. It is your job to create the best outfit for the given theme with the clothes you have.
Sounds easy, right? It's a lot more difficult than you would think! Sometimes you don't get the right clothes and you are forced to just throw something together before the model walks onto the runway naked. But sometimes everything comes together and you create the absolute perfect outfit.
This is definitely a game for those interested in fashion. I can't imagine someone who doesn't like clothes enjoying this. Clothes are the game. And this is most definitely the best fashion game I've come across so far.
Jdorama review: Taiho Shichauzo
Title: Taiho Shichauzo
Translation: You're Under Arrest
Broadcast date: 10/17/02 - 12/12/02
Genre: Police comedy
Cast: Ito Misaki, Hara Sachie
Plot: Based on the best-selling manga, this is the story of Natsumi (Ito) and Miyuki (Hara), two outrageous female traffic police officers.
What is good: The cast had pretty good chemistry with each other.
What is bad: Most of the episodes are boring.
Letter rating: C-
Overall: I watched this show in the hopes that Ito Misaki had the ability to play a character that isn't a shy, submissive Japanese woman. She definitely pulled it off here. Natsumi is the complete opposite of Ito's Aoyama Saori from Densha Otoko. The problem here isn't the acting. It's that the stories are fairly boring. The show starts off well with Natsumi and Miyuki kicking a lot of criminal ass but then it swerves away from that. Yes, they still get into fights once in awhile. They just aren't the same as the fights from the early episodes. And by the end of the series, Natsumi is using guns instead of her fists. Considering there are only nine episodes in the series, the transition from "wild girls" to "sweethearts of the police station" goes quickly.
If you're a fan of the manga or the anime version, you might enjoy this. However, don't expect anything particularly deep to come out of it. We never really get to know the girls beyond their deep friendship for each other. It would have been nice to get into why Natsumi was so violent or why Miyuki likes cars so much. Alas, we are left with the "because this is how they are" type of reasoning for everything. At least the studio didn't try to drag this out for 26 episodes.
Music review: Donald & Daisy Duck - Bicycle Built For Two
Artist: Donald Duck and Daisy Duck
Album: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse soundtrack
Release date: 10/3/06
Lyrics: (Spoken parts are bold) Donald: Hiya, Daisy! Daisy: Hello there, Donald. Donald: Would you like to go for a bicycle ride? Daisy: A bicycle ride? Why sure. Donald: Daisy, Daisy Give me your answer do (Daisy: What is it?) I'm half crazy All for the love of you (Daisy: Oh, Donald) It won't be a stylish marriage (Daisy: It won't?) I can't afford a carriage (Daisy: But you promised) But you'll look sweet Upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two Daisy: Well, a bicycle built for two is better than a bicycle built for one anyway Donald: You said it! Daisy: Now I have a question for you Donald Donald: OK Daisy: Donald, Donald Give me your answer do (Donald: OK) I'm half crazy All for the love of you (Donald: Awww) It won't be a stylish marriage (Donald: What?!) You can't afford a carriage (Donald quacks incoherently) But you'll look sweet Upon the seat Of a bicycle for two
Together: Yes you'll look sweet Upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two
Daisy: Oh, Donald
About the song: For those of you without kids, here's the rundown on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy and Pluto all hang out at the technologically advanced Clubhouse. Each episode has the gang solving problems with the help of "Mouseketools" - four different objects that will solve one of four puzzles in the episode. The opening and ending theme songs are sung by They Might Be Giants. The rest of the soundtrack is filled with songs by various Disney characters.
Bicycle Built For Two is a good song for young children since it has simple lyrics. However, that makes it fairly annoying for parents since it just repeats the chorus of the song. That usually means that parents will hear the kids singing it over and over and over. There are a couple of good songs on the soundtrack but this is not one of them.
Game review: Turbo Subs
Turbo Subs is a time management game where Rebecca and Robert from Turbo Pizza decide to open a sandwich shop. This time the shop is in New York City and is located on a train. The game plays much like every other time management restaurant game. You make food and serve it to customers. However, the restaurant is laid out a bit differently. Instead of having straight counters, these ones are in a circle. It makes it a little more difficult to click on the actual customers since now they stand sort of behind each other. Also, it's a little annoying that some of the food takes so long to make. The customers can request a toasted sandwich but then they start getting angry when the sandwich takes longer to make.
Overall, it's not a difficult game. Though it's not particularly interesting either. There isn't anything that sets it apart from any other time management restaurant game. A good game but not a great game.