Gaming For GIrls

Tasty Planet, by Dingo Games, is a rated E for everyone and is designed to be played on your PC. It is an interesting and fun game, in which you begin life as a tiny little speck of grey goo. This grey goo was created as a bathroom cleaner, but was then accidentally released into the world by two silly scientists. What other game can you play as a piece of grey goo? As you know, the grey goo was designed to clean bathrooms, which means its appetite for dirt and grime is never-ending. So it destroys everything in its path, and Earth is in its path. The first couple of levels see you as a teeny tiny 1µm (one micrometer) large glop of goo. In these early levels you play tutorials that help you learn how to control the goo’s movement by eating hundreds of microbes and amoebas in a row. You control your grey goo by using either the keyboard arrow keys or the mouse, whichever you prefer. The arrow keys give you a strict idea of direction, but many players have found they have more control using the mouse, like in various diagonal movements. You can also control the speed at which your grey goo moves, as well as how it reacts. So, if you choose high speed, even the slightest mouse movement will send it flying about, but at low speed settings, you will have a harder time getting it moving. Depending on your size, you will either eat up objects or be killed by them. Obviously, you will be able to eat up objects smaller than yourself, but things that are bigger than you will either kill or greatly damage you. When you are damaged, your diameter will be reduced. No matter what level you are in, you will have goals to meet and your diameter must meet a certain limit in order to move on. By the way, every level is timed. When you finish a level, you get a standard completion status or a gold, silver or bronze medal, depending on how fast you completed the level. The number of medals you receive during the game play will determine if you get certain cheats after the entire game has been completed. These cheats will let you have a much more interesting time next time you play and will even upgrade your grey goo’s appearance. There are sixty levels in Tasty Planet and they are not all easy to beat. As you advance, you move out of the laboratory, where you eat simple amoebas and red blood cells, to eating toys, cars, rodents and even people. What is so much fun about playing this game is that as you consume objects, the colour of your goo changes from grey to whatever you have eaten. So, if you eat a bunch of red cars, you will turn red. The visuals are simple, yet entertaining, but the sound effects are awesome. You’ll hear a lot of ‘yummy’ sounds.

Touch Detective is a video game for the Nintendo DS platform. It tells the story of Mackenzie, whose father passes away unexpectedly. When her father dies, she inherits the family detective agency and is plunged into a world of mystery and adventure. It is then that she will need to prove herself, as the title implies, as the Touch Detective. Mackenzie and her two trusty pals, Funghi, who is her investigative assistant and Cromwell, her servant, work to solve mysteries over and over. She has become a private eye in a very odd world; one filled with mechanical butlers, walking skeletons and much more. Throughout the game play, if you are to solve whatever mystery you have been assigned, you will need to gather evidence, use items to complete investigations and talk to witnesses There are four really strange cases, which range from finding a missing person to tracking down a stolen dream. The touch screen of the Nintendo DS, dual screen puzzles and fun graphics makes Touch Detective a dream to play. The people who made up this game really thought about the game console it would be used on, because it takes advantage of all the Nintendo DS has to offer. The Nintendo DS stylus helps you guide Mackenzie through all of her actions and adventures as she tries to solve the different crimes. Remember to touch mysterious objects, places and people to gather valuable clues to find answers to the mysteries at hand.

If you are not old enough to remember the original Tetris you are not alone. It was fun, interactive and exercised your brain like no other video game of its time. Tetris Worlds is a renewed and revamped version of this classic. Young or old, boy or girl, Tetris Worlds is a great way to pass the time, have some fun and work out your mind. The game not only features the original version of Tetris, but also new enhanced modes. There are actually seven modes of game play and seven different worlds. Tetris Worlds also has a couple of new challenges, called Connectris and Squaretris, which are great for when you have mastered the classic version. Tetris Worlds is an incredibly simply idea, you just have to build complete lines of blocks to earn points and progress to higher levels. This is a colourful and fun version of the classic and should be part of any gamers’ collection. Because it is a new spin on an old game, Tetris Worlds has plenty of new rules, lots of complex challenges and even faster and more difficult levels. The game can be played by up to four different players at a time, which makes it great for small get-togethers. It is also a great game if you want to challenge some of your best friends at their speed and mental agility. If you haven’t done so already, check out Tetris Worlds as soon as possible.

Released in July 2008, Order Up! is an adventure game for the Nintendo Wii, published by Zoo Games and developed by SuperVillian Studios. The game is rated E for everyone and is something the whole family, except maybe your little brother, would probably love. If you love to eat, you will love this game. In Order Up! you play the role of a talented new chef, living on Port Abello, a fantastic island. The goal of the game is to build your very own culinary empire and legacy, as well as a successful restaurant, from the ground up. Though you start off slow and humble, grilling up burgers in a fast food joint, you will soon be making meals from all over the world. Your palate will range from classic American fare to Mexican and Italian. Throughout the game you experience all the headaches and dangers of working in a restaurant kitchen, encounter dissatisfied customers, meet silly assistant chefs, deal with snobby food critics and even meet the requirements of the health inspectors. This is a fast-paced game, with lots of personality and challenges coming your way. Order Up! sells for about £20 and is well worth the money, as it is a game full of fun and excitement. It is also a game that totally breaks the mould of the cooking and food video game category. Order Up! Is a completely entertaining way to spend some time with your friends or parents and your beloved Nintendo Wii.

One of the most popular Barbie Diaries DVD movies is High School Mystery, which has inspired a video game, Barbie Diaries: High School Mystery. The game, like the movie, finds Barbie and her friends Courtney and Tia, in some sticky situations. Some real detective work is required to solve these problems. Players must help Barbie solve the mysteries by talking with classmates and teachers throughout her high school. These leads will help Barbie uncover the identity of the culprits who are causing problems and stealing valuable items from the school’s charity auction. There is a trail of clues that Barbie and her friends must follow, using high-tech tools and their mystery solving skills. The game offers more than nineteen different locations at the high school, including the cafeteria, the roof and even the principal’s office. Barbie Diaries: High School Mystery keeps things interesting and fun by throwing in a food fight, a wild soccer practice and even a gymnastics class. This video game also has the Barbie Diary Assistant (BDA), which includes a bunch of investigative gear, like an infrared viewer, mp3 decoder and a picture unscrambler. If you loved the movie, High School Mystery, then you will definitely want to play Barbie Diaries: High School Mystery. Unfortunately, if you want to play the game with a friend, it will be difficult, since it is designed for one player only. However, it is a great game to help hone your sleuthing skills and to pass the time.

Zen Fashion, a PC game by Boomzap, is probably not what you are expecting. It is more of a puzzle game than anything else. In fact, it is more of a ‘match three’ puzzle game, which can also be compared to connect the dots. The basic idea behind Zen Fashion is that you must connect at least three tiles, with the same image, to clear them from the board. You can connect diagonally, vertically or horizontally. All the control in Zen Fashion is done with the mouse. When you choose a tile, you just click it. You’re thinking, ‘That’s easy enough’ right? Then, you drag the mouse over the matching tiles you wish to make part of your combination to clear the board. With so many different connections possible, there is plenty of challenge. At this point, you are probably asking what the ‘fashion’ in, Zen Fashion, has got to do with anything? Well, the story of the game is based on a trip through Asia researching and finding out about traditional fabrics and clothes. There are twelve different areas in the game, with eight levels in each and every level shows us a lovely new landscape. When you get to certain levels you will need to unlock new outfits for your character. You will be unlocking certain parts of her ensemble, say a hairstyle, skirt, trousers or tops. Every piece in your wardrobe has a Zen power or two associated with it and these powers will help you when it comes time to clear the puzzle tiles. As you would expect, each puzzle gets harder and harder as you advance through the levels.

If you haven’t already played around with Brain Trainer mini, you really should. The Brain Trainer mini is completely unique and different from other handheld games out there today. It fits right in the palm of your hand, which means it is perfect for taking on long road trips, on the airplane or even to shove into your pocket or pack for lunch breaks at school. Although the regular size Brain Trainer is still super cool, one of the best things about the mini version is that it can slip easily into your pocket. Brain Trainer mini is a handheld video game that can help you build your brain muscle. You can improve your mental agility and increase your memory, just by playing a couple of games each day. It is said that when you play brainteasers and other similar games, you exercise your prefrontal cortex, which has been proven to improve your attention span, memory skills and reactions. Maybe if you play with the Brainer Trainer mini you’ll do better in your studies at school. The Brain Trainer mini is not very expensive, at £9.95 and can give your mind a real work out. Just like our bodies, our brains need plenty of exercise if they are to stay strong and healthy. The mini comes with four different games, Flash, Sequence, Catch and Blocks, and each game has five levels that also measure progress. Although it suggests that the Brain Trainer mini is ideal for ages six and up, kids of any age, even the grown ups, will enjoy it!

Even if you aren’t one of those ‘girly girls’, Cake Mania Deluxe really can bring a smile to your face. The game offers so much fun that it can be really hard to step away from it. It is filled with fast-paced, fun-filled action and tasty treats. If only we could actually eat all the treats we make on this game. Cake Mania Deluxe offers more than forty-five fast-paced months of baking, with more than eighty-four levels of baking fun. This is pretty hard to beat and makes Cake Mania Deluxe one of the most fun games a girl could ask for. The game features four bakery locations and some really funny seasonal customers. It is filled with all sorts of crazy fun and silly scenarios, all guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. The idea behind the game is that Jill, the main character, helps her family run a small bakery. Suddenly, Mega-Mart, a retail giant, moves into the neighbourhood and forces Jill’s bakery to close down. Gamers help Jill get her bakery back on its feet by bringing in new customers, baking delicious sweets and earning enough money to reopen the bakery her grandparents started years ago. Throughout the game you can upgrade Jill’s baking equipment and kitchen over the forty-eight levels of baking fun. Remember, as the levels increase, the customers and recipes get more and more difficult. The game is a bake sale of challenges, quick thinking and fun.

Zoo Tycoon is a game that allows you to take over and run an entire zoo. Whether you think this sounds like fun or not, you should definitely give Zoo Tycoon at least one shot. The basic idea behind the game is to give you total control over a zoo, which means that you and you alone, are responsible for creating all of the animal displays and habitats to draw in the crowds of people. Zoo Tycoon is an exciting simulation game in which you design and run your zoo, from start to finish. You will need to start by erecting the fences surrounding your exhibits, choosing the animals that will live in the zoo, providing food for the animals, ensuring proper care and carrying out maintenance. For the customers, you will need to lay down paths around the zoo, add food stands, rides, maps and even some waste-bins. If you are not sure exactly what you need, don?t worry. There are plenty of zoo advisors to lend their opinion on how to keep customers and the animals happy. You will also be able to talk to the customers and they will tell you what they think might be needed to improve the zoo. The game also helps you learn all about the different types of zoo animals. There is a lot of information provided about each and every animal that you could possibly have in your zoo, everything from the typical tiger to the Loch Ness Monster! You can have up to 100 different animals, with countless park embellishments and habitat set-ups. If you totally love Zoo Tycoon, you can even pick up the expansion packs, which include Marine Mania and Dinosaur Digs. These expansion packs will allow you to add dolphin shows, a woolly mammoth or even a great big T-Rex! But remember, all these creatures will all be alive, so you had better make sure that your fencing is up to snuff. You are sure to have a wonderful time building the zoo of your dreams and at the same time you will get to learn about what customers really want, by talking directly to them. In Zoo Tycoon, your job is so important that customers will count on you to build concession stands, take care of the animals and fix every problem. This game is as much fun as it is challenging and as long as you make the zoo great, the money will keep on coming in and your enterprise will thrive. But remember, without proper care and maintenance, your zoo might fail, so be careful. Zoo Tycoon is a great game to play with friends or even your parents. There are so many different possibilities it will be hard to stop playing before bedtime. Playing this game will open your eyes to the great big world of wild animals, managing a zoo, economics and how to provide good customer service.

The Wii Fit is definitely making waves. It is all over the news and the stores can’t seem to keep them on the shelves. The Nintendo Wii is one of the best selling video game consoles of all time and Wii Fit is just as popular. Many people think that this is a separate game console, but it is not. It is simply an exercise game that needs the Wii Balance Board, a Wii accessory. The Wii Balance Board is a very technologically advanced piece of gaming equipment. It actually measures your weight and knows where your centre of gravity is. The Wii Fit software can also calculate your body mass index, based on how tall you are. What this means is that the Balance Board can help you understand what your ideal weight is and can also help you achieve it. Wii Fit has more than forty different activities to help you keep in shape. There are many different yoga poses, push-ups and other exercises for you to choose from. What is even more impressive is that it will actually store and log your physical fitness progress as you use it. You can check on what your fitness levels were when you started and then compare them to where you stand now. The Wii Fit is so much more than a simple video game. Years ago, before most of us can even remember, Nintendo came out with a similar game, but for the original Nintendo game console and was nothing like as advanced the Wii Fit. As we mentioned, there are plenty of different activities to choose from when using the Wii Fit. There are four main categories, which include yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance games. All of these can give you a core workout and keep you in shape. Some of the yoga poses offered include the Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Warrior, Half-Moon, Downward-Facing Dog, Cobra and Spinal Twist. For strength training, you can choose from Torso and Waist Twists, Single Leg Extension, Jack-knife, Triceps Extension, Single Arm Stand and the Plank Challenge, to name just a few. To keep in shape using aerobics, there are also plenty of activities to pick from. There is jogging, step aerobics, hula-hoop and even rhythm boxing. Balance games include ski jumping, heading soccer balls, tightrope walking and balance bubble. This is by no means a complete list of all activities available on the Wii Fit. While there are many exercises to choose from when begin your work out, as you start to achieve certain goals, the game will unlock more challenging yoga poses and physical activities. This is not only helps you to achieve a goal, but is also a way to protect you from overexertion. Even though the Wii Fit has been on the shelves for the better part of the year, it is still hard to pick one up. There are waiting lists at almost every video game retailer, so if you want one, you had better get on that list.

If you are ready to be transported to the fun and totally funky virtual world of Terrapinia, get ready to have a blast, with an exciting game called UBFunkeys. Terrapinia is a funky, virtual world, which is home to some interesting little creatures, UBFunkeys. As you play the game, it is your job to collect lots of different sorts of these creatures. Every single UBFunkey that you collect will unlock new and exciting parts of the world that you have not seen before. So, the more that you collect, the bigger and better the world gets and we all know that helps make for a fun gaming day. As your world gets bigger and better, you will be able to collect more and more items. If you play each and every UBFunkeys game, you will earn coins. Coins make it possible to buy new cool items for your UBFunkey crib (house). It is important to deck out your UBFunkey crib, so that when you upload and share it with your friends you are the talk of the town. Be careful, though, as the evil Master Lox and his henchmen are just waiting to steal your coins and stop you from building up your crib. All through the game, you need to play the UBFunkey games if you are to defeat Master Lox, which is the only way to ensure peace in Terrapinia. In total, there are forty-two collectable UBFunkeys available today, with new games in each zone. As you customise your crib, be sure to share with your friends online. The UBFunkeys starter kit comes in two different varieties, one with Lotus/Deus and the other with Scratch/Twinx. Which of the UBFunkeys is your favourite will determine the starter kit you should get. The kit has everything you need to get playing right away. Regardless of which starter kit you choose, you will receive one installation CD, one instruction manual, a UB Hub with a USB cable and two UBFunkeys. This should be enough to allow you to start planning on how to defeat the evil Master Lox immediately. Remember, the starter kit is just an easy way to getting set up in the world of Terrapinia, so don’t forget to play all the UBFunkey games to earn as many coins as possible. As with any other computer or video game, there are minimum system requirements in order for the UBFunkeys starter kit to work on your PC. Your computer must be running Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME or Windows 98. Unfortunately, UBFunkeys is not compatible with Mac computers. You should also have at least an 800MHz processor, 1.3GHz is recommended; 256MB RAM, with 512 recommended and at least 1GB of free hard disk space available. Other requirements include a 32MB video card, 64MB recommended; a USB port, cable is included; a sound card, 8 X CD/DVD Drive, mouse, keyboard and Adobe Flash 9, which is included. The UBFunkeys starter kit generally sells for about £19.95.

Even though the Xbox 360 has very few games that girls can actually enjoy and are interested in, The Spiderwick Chronicles, is a pleasant surprise. The game is rated E10 for everyone 10 and over and was produced by Sierra and Stormfront Studios. Plenty of girls have seen the movie of the same name; so will have no trouble getting into the game, especially if they loved the film. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a story that features three children, whose parents get a divorce. Following the split, the three kids and their mother move into their uncle’s house. This uncle has been missing for quite some time and it is through the exploration of the children, especially Jared, that his secret lab and office is found, revealing the Field Guide book. The book is jam packed with all sorts of fantasy creatures, which actually exist in the house and surrounding area. The Field Guide helps Jared and eventually his twin brother Simon and sister Mallory, to learn how to communicate with most of the fantasy creatures, especially Thimbletack, the Brownie who lives in the house. However, they also learn that there is an evil ogre, who leads an army of goblins that are trying desperately to get their evil hands on the Field Guide and control the world. It is up to the children and you as the gamer, to stop them and also find out what happened to their uncle. The game play of The Spiderwick Chronicles is fairly simple and easy to understand. This is basically an exploration game, where you need to find objects and build things, in order to complete your missions. You have a journal that helps you set goals and depending on the goal, your character may change. You can be the Brownie or one of the three kids. Controlling the characters is super simple. They will all jump and climb on their own, when close enough to a ladder or platform, so all you really need to do is use the buttons to choose direction and interact with objects and enemies. Combat is also easy to control throughout the game. The game is really cool to look at and the makers did an excellent job in the graphics department, so watching the game play is much like watching a cartoon or animated movie. You will even see familiar scenes from the movie included in the game, which is a nice touch and is really exciting for true movie fans. The music and sound effects are also quite good, which makes the game play even more entertaining. The game is aimed at younger girls, but it will also fun for some older ones. For the advanced gamer or older girl, the entire game can be played in about six hours, while for younger girls it may take longer than that. Overall this is a fun and simple game that is almost sure to put a smile on your face.