Archive for August 2007

It doesn’t surprise me to hear about blog fatigue or burn out as Green Tea Ice Cream reports and admits to blogging fatigue. Having blogged for over seven years (not as regularly in the beginning), I go through abouts of burn out or falling into a rut. I almost always have a list of things to blog about, but the problem is I am not in the right frame of mind to do the topic justice (as Green Tea puts it).

Even ran into this issue yesterday. I started blogging about application features and complexity, but soon found the entry going too many places. I stopped myself and asked, “What point do I want to make with this?” Too many answers came up, so I shelved the entry.

When I’m in the right mood, I try to blog a couple of extra entries — but that’s rare since I need to focus on my clients’ projects and not blogging. Hugh MacLeod lets his art do the talking on why we blog less. I probably go back and forth on Stages 2 and 3 of the 5 Stages of Blogging. I can’t quit blogging — here’s why.

I fill out too many surveys, but I like to help. Usually they ask opinions on a Web site, product, application, service and so on. I noticed an ugly pattern in that many don’t have a “Back” link. Sometimes surveys don’t like it when you use the Back button on the browser because of data processing.

Humans naturally pick an item from a list, but sometimes realize a different choice was the better one as the proceeded to the next question. So what to do? No back link or button. Some surveys mess up if you hit the Back button on the Web browser. If companies or whomever is collecting the data wants it right… then it needs to have a *back* link.

As I was writing this entry, I came across Never Use a Warning When You Mean Undo, which talks about a similar issue.

I’ve been reviewing a lot of games and think about their usability in the back of my mind. One problem I see is that I accidentally click the screen while reading contain in a popup window or miss a message. I can’t get it back. Sometimes those messages or popups have important information, tips or help that I need. Either you have to start at the beginning or live without the information.

Maybe we need to make a new standard in all applications to “undo” the last action or “reopen” the last window.

When we hear about a new match three or color matching game, we don’t expect to see anything new — just a different story and theme. Be prepared for a wonderful gem full of surprises in ZenGems. It’s not what you expect from color matching games — in fact, sometimes you’ll do better if you don’t make an instant match. And the audio is good, too.

Furthermore, most games come with two modes: adventure (story) and arcade (endless). Arcade mode typically resembles adventure mode except you just keep playing the game until it’s over. Not ZenGems. This one comes with three game modes. You can’t play adventure mode until you’ve finished level one in arcade mode — an unusual move as it’s usually the other way around or you don’t need to unlock it. To unlock Survival mode, complete level two in arcade mode.

The two modes, in most games, have the same objective with the only difference being story vs. play until you die. In ZenGems, Arcade mode has a different objective from adventure mode. Part of the game grid appears under water and your objective is to destroy the balls above the water until all of them fall below the water line.

Adventure mode’s goal is to destroy all of the diamonds. No water comes in play in this mode. Survival mode resembles most games’ arcade modes where play for as long as you can. Instead of being limited to areas you’ve unlocked — you can play any world — another ZenGems original approach to color matching games. Survival’s the game play resembles Adventure’s.

In the story, players assume the role of Hoshiko, a young man who works to recover the stolen medallions of virtue. His grandfather guides him through his journey. The game adds a touch of humor in the banter between grandfather and grandson at the end of a level. A world contains seven levels and upon the successful completion of a level, Hoshiko earns a piece of the medallion. Finishing the seven levels makes the medallion whole again.

The game play involves a grid of multiple-colored balls and gems. A new ball appears at the top of the screen in which you launch to drop the ball in a column to make a match. Any time you match at least three of the same colored balls in any direction, they dissolve. Anything above them falls to fill the voids to create more matches or break gems.

Along the way, you get special balls. Some balls will have an arrow pointing left or right, known as Pusher Balls. These will move the ball below to the left or the right based on the direction. It takes time to get the hang of it, but it changes the dynamics of color matching games.

Another power up is the ColorBurst Ball which converts an area of balls to match the color of the Colorburst ball. Then there’s the Energy Ball that vaporizes all balls matching the Energy Ball’s color in a single column. If there’s a gem in that column, it might break depending how far it falls. Fireballs also vanquish balls and blocks — but not gems. That would be too easy.

Players also contend with the Yama-O-Rakas, two fellows sitting on the bottom left and right of the grid adding new rows of balls to push everything up. If a ball or gem reaches the top, the game ends. Players must balance reaching the objective with preventing objects reaching the top. The grid contains barriers to make it harder to access balls and gems. The barriers change with each level — adding to the challenge.

The only trouble with the game is distinguishing Energy Balls, Colorburst Balls and regular balls. After playing enough, you’ll figure out a way to do this. However, it’s easy to mistakenly think you have a Colorburst when it’s an Energy Ball. ZenGems is a gem — and the most original of color matching games in a long time.

Download and try ZenGems free

System Requirements: Windows

• Windows 2000/XP/Vista
• Pentium III 800MHz or faster processor
• 256 MB RAM
• 8 MB video RAMscreen resolution
• 800×600 SVG minimum screen resolution
• DirectX 8.0 or later
• Sound card
• Mouse

We shouldn’t be surprised at the flurry of beauty-themed games considering the industry makes billions from diet-related products and plastic surgery. Sally’s Salon takes a page from the Diner Dash manual replacing food and bussing with hair dos and eyebrow shaping services. The game does a fine job with its crisp graphics and the process of picking the right style for the customer.

I can’t help but compare Sally to Belle’s Beauty Boutique, another dash and serve game applying the beauty salon theme. Sally outdoes Belle by far especially in the area of selecting the right color and style for the customer. Belle made it a chore while Sally relies on pictures of the customer “trying on” the different styles and watching for the one with a big grin. That smile tells ya the customer likes the style best and that’s the one Sally should use. Whether or not it’s a good idea — we’ll keep our opinions to ourselves.

Although the process of selecting the customer’s style works, it also feels clunky. Since the game allows chaining — and does a great job of it by identifying each task as #1, #2, etc. — it messes up a player’s rhythm in having to stop and pick a style.

Customers come in all ages and shapes. Serve the prom queens and goths, coloring their hair anywhere from gutsy green and brave blue to bright blonde and basic black. Style hair from old-fashioned beehive and the ’80s mullet to the flip and liberty spikes. Your eyes must multitask by watching the little hearts beneath a customer to check the happiness level or else you could lose the customer and serious tips.

Who knew shaping eyebrows had so many methods such as tadpole and tapered? Then there’s the nail polishing station that carries lavender spring, blue moon and minty burst colors. When you get far enough in the game, you add spray tanning services. Well, at least, it’s better for your skin than the real sun.

Sally comes with upgrades including additional chairs, improved furniture, happiness items (such as coffee to ease the waiting pains) and employees who can do the hair washing, blow drying and coffee making. Keep earning profits and you’ll eventually upgrade everything — long before the game ends. Sally must have a boredom problem because she changes location every five days (each day is a level), but it offers a nice change of scenery as she works at a ski resort, big city, hotel, studios and in the hills.

Professional Flo’ers (Diner Dash star) might find Sally too easy to play while those with little or no diner game experience will find Sally’s Salon an easier experience than Flo’s restaurants. Personally, I found the gradual climbing of difficulty just right. Although offering little originality to the diner genre, Sally’s Salon is a classy and stylin’ one worth a look.

Download and try Sally’s Salon free

System Requirements: Windows

• Windows ME/98//2000/XP/Vista
• 500MHz or faster processor
• 128 MB RAM
• DirectX 7.0 or later

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Meryl Evans

Freelance Folder lists things to consider when you’re freelancing on the side and trying to decide whether to go full-time. I started freelancing in 2000 at the heightof the dot com boom. Initially, I aimed to work in Web design, but it didn’t take long to discover I had no eye or talent for design.

I entered a contest where you submit a Web design-related article and if they published it, you win Photoshop. I did. Of course, I didn’t decide right then I wanted to be a writer as I knew many people hoped to be writers. I didn’t want to be unrealistic about that. The work started coming in slowly — however, I didn’t consider that I could make a full-time living as a writer with many talented writers out there.

Financials and Health Benefits

Writing also made it possible for me to remain in my day job part-time when my husband got laid off shortly after our youngest was born. I knew if I switched back to full-time, the company would never let me return part-time. So the freelancing made up the difference.

After four years of “on the side,” I felt ready for “all the time.” Since we have three children — health benefits was a big thing especially with several of us taking pricey medicine. Paul finally landed a job with decent health benefits and I resigned about three months after he started (to ensure he wasn’t going anywhere).

My situation doesn’t apply to everyone. Some people may not need the kind of health benefits my family needs. A private insurance plan might work great for a single person.

Freelancing does make it hard to enjoy yourself when you’re not working. As not working = not getting paid. Whereas, working for a company = get paid every two weeks regardless of how slow things get or taking a vacation.

Isolation

As for seclusion, I never feel that way. I love the quiet of working in my office without neighboring speaker phones disturbing me. Hanging out with others isn’t an issue considering my family, involvement with non-profits like PTA, two tennis teams, and a weekly mah jongg game. An e-mail from a friend is more satisfying than a phone call for me.

Working in your own business “on the side” is the best way to get started in your dream business or working for yourself. Some people unrealistically risk everything and quit their “day jobs” for their dream job. While starting your own business means taking a risk — going cold turkey may not be the best way to start.

I referenced Yuwanda Black’s article in a past blog entry in which she shares her experience as a freelance writer, so I was honored when I saw an e-mail from her in my inbox. Sometimes when I link to others, they drop me a note thanking me — so I wasn’t completely surprised.

However, she not only thanked me for the mention, but also asked if she could interview me for her newsletter [pdf file] on how to start a freelance career. Though I’ve been interviewed a few times, it pleasantly surprises me whenever someone asks as I’m used to being the one who contacts people for interviewing — not the other way around.

Anyway, here is the interview. I hope new and future writers can glean something from the interview. If there are unanswered questions in the interview, post a comment here and I’ll do my best to answer them.

I loved doing tangrams as a kid especially when we students had the opportunity to play with them in class. It was more fun than solving math problems and working only with pencil and paper. With tangrams, your hands held the smooth wooden pieces while you tried to find the right place for them in a blank space on the board.

When a kids’ book club catalog showed tangrams for sale, I jumped in and order them for my kids. Instead of them getting into it, they added more clutter to the already messy game room. Doing tangrams at home instead of watching TV or playing games wasn’t as fun as doing them in class instead of worksheets.

Temple of Tangram provides tangram fans with the opportunity to have fun again without the clean up. Instead of touching and moving the pieces with your hands, the mouse does the work. Of course, there’s more to the game than just filling in the sillouettes. Computers have the power to do things we can’t do on a table.

For one thing, you’re on the clock as you work the puzzle. Unfortunately, you can’t turn off this option and the game doesn’t take long to up the level of difficulty. As you progress to the next level, the game play changes. In one level, the board disappears for a few seconds and reappears. In another, the pieces pop back out after so much time passes. The puzzle could continuously move up and down requiring players to work harder to get the pieces in place.

The tiles may need rotating to go where they belong. Turning the pieces takes a lot of mousework as the turning happens a little at a time. It would be easier if the turning would only take three or four clicks to do a full rotation instead of more.

You get a break from putting the puzzles together with the match three mini-game where you need to make the right matches to collect more tiles for the next Tangram puzzle. A level editor also becomes available after you complete 50 levels.

The canvas-style background and supporting landscapes add character to the game’s fitting Asian theme. Players can pick up bits of wisdom between levels. If the wisdom gets old or the music turns tedious, you can turn both off — I did. This is one of those games where some people will enjoy it and some won’t. The trial should be enough to help you decide whether or not to continue down the path to find wisdom, peace, and inner truth in finding the Temple of Tangram.

Download and try Temple of Tangram or buy the game.

System Requirements: Windows

• Windows 98/NT/ME/2000/XP
• 800MHz or faster processor
• 128MB RAM
• DirectX 7.0 or later
• Video card with at least 32MB RAM

Some sites use flags to represent a language thinking visitors will click the flag that represents their langauge to view the site in that language. Well, do you use Mexico’s flag or Spain’s flag to represent Spanish? I don’t recall seeing a site using both flags.

What about English? Some sites use the British flag and no American flag, so I select the British flag. But, not everyone knows what the British flag looks like or that flag’s primary language is English. Aside from that, British and American English have differences. Other languages also have regional differences.

Flag as a symbol of language – stupidity or insult? argues several points on the poor use of flags as a representation of language. My suggestion is to list the languages in their own language. A Spanish site would use “English” rather than “Ingles” to indicate the English version of the site. An English site, in turn, would use “español” instead of “Spanish.” I don’t know what the translation of English is in most languages, and I am sure most people don’t know the translation of their own language in other languages.

Like my tennis coach always says when referencing a simple stroke that turns into a nightmare: “We make things more complicated.” Keep it simple and reference the other languages your site has by using the name of the language in its native form.

“…in a morning everything suddenly changed. They came from the sea… the Barbarians. Thousands of them… with only one thing on their mind… destroy. They’ve take over us. Our homes… our children… our lives. But there will come a day and a leader will rise, uniting under his sword the faith of an entire nation. And will lead us to victory!” And so begins the story and the atmosphere of Words Kingdom.

Blend adventure and picturesque hand-drawn graphics with a Boggle-style game to unearth Words Kingdom. Travel back to medieval times to help a kingdom evade an invasion of barbarians that took over every region. Instead of battling the barbarians with swords and gore, battle them with brains and words.

To create a word, select adjacent letters on the board of 49 tiles. Either the letters must be next to each other horizontally or vertically — no diagonals allowed. The challenge comes in creating long words score, so you can score more points. One long word could outscore five short ones. However, time is ticking and sometimes you need to resort to building short words while searching for long ones.

Words Kingdom comes with the standard two game modes: campaign (story) and classic (not quite endless). In campaign mode, you battle the barbarians with words to recapture the land — one region at a time. In classic mode, make as many words as you can within three minutes to shoot for the highest score possible.

Conquering each region gets harder as the goal score climbs as you recapture a region and march forward. A map appears between regions so you can see your progress in saving the kingdom. Not only do you need to seek long words, but also keep the kingdom’s people happy for happily ever afterin’ or else…

The game’s dictionary is imperfect as it didn’t recognize some words, but it didn’t hurt the game experience. Thanks to the game’s simplicity, it takes little time to learn and start choosing your letters for battle. Words Kingdom‘s replayability depends on the success of recapturing the kingdom. If the kingdom’s people aren’t happy, players get motivated to try again until their people are happy. Once you reach happily ever after, you may not be inspired to play the game again.

It takes only a couple of hours to conquer all the regions in campaign mode depending on your ability to build long words to chase out the barbarians. Fans of Bookworm and busy people who love word games will welcome the challenge without worrying about Words Kingdom passing too much of their prized time.

Download and try Words Kingdom

System Requirements: Windows

• Windows ME/2000/XP/Vista
• 600MHz or faster processor
• 128MB RAM
• 8-16 MB video card
• DirectX 9.0 or later

We Americans like to do things different. Who knows why. Most countries have adopted the metric system and list the date, month and year when formatting a date as in 24 July 2007. This causes confusion especially in the first two weeks of a month.

Since my book, Brilliant Outlook Pocketbook, targeted the UK audience, I asked the editor if she wanted me to use British English spelling or do anything for the audience. She responded not to worry about the spelling, but to change Outlook to format the date in “12 August 2007″ style.

So when you use 08/12/2007, are you referring to the 8th of December in 2007 or the 12th of August in 2007? If the data automatically appears on your Web site and online applications, consider spelling out the date rather than the abbreviation. Most people can figure out that 24 July 2007 and July 24, 2007 are the same thing.

I’ve filled out forms for British Web sites where I didn’t realize I entered the date wrong. I didn’t even realize it was a UK-based site until mixing it up with the date format. For forms, consider using headings as in “Month,” “Date,” and “Year.”