This game is free from MyPlayCity but I would rather have the full licensed version this way. It may open the stupid window fore and aft of the game but it doesn't bother the browser. I'm uninstalling my MPC version to put this one in instead!
Thanks, Stevie! I kept asking them when they would fix the problem and the last message I got made absolutely no sense!
Well this is not about a new free game, just some info about Alawar I found on Gamezebo; couldn't find anything to this topic on the Alawar site:
Alawar removes Game Club, cuts prices for non-exclusive games
Alawar has discontinued its Game Club, the company confirmed this morning. An Alawar spokesperson told Gamezebo that the Game Club, which offered members a 30% discount on game purchases, was no longer needed since Alawar has reduced the prices on all non-exclusive downloads by the same amount as the discount. In other words, everyone now gets the games for the same lower price without having to join a club.
All non-exclusive games on Alawar now sell for $6.99, while exclusives are offered for $9.95.
Alawar's spokesperson also said that new loyalty programs would become available soon. We'll share more information with you as soon as we have it.
Other interesting facts about the casual games market :
http://company.alawar.com/
graylox
It only took them 3 months on the same game (that decided it didn't like me - from them, anyway) to change it. They claim "technical difficulties" an awful lot as an explanation for not being able to update the link on gamebox.
Can anybody access the Gamebox? It was fine yesterday although they still had not changed the free game of the "month". It was still "Delivery King".
Now I can't get it at all. After the first "waiting for server" message, I get an error message that Gamebox's server is not available. It makes a comment to be sure your firewall allows it. It worked fine yesterday but I did as suggested and explicitly allowed Gamebox to the Firewall. NO change.
I have emailed Alawar and I'm waiting for a reply. I'm just wondering if it's just me. If not, they've got a BIG problem. They want you to play all your Alawar games THROUGH the Gamebox and you can't even load it right now!
----- Edit -----
Alawar has fixed the server problem. They replied to my email that it would be fixed within a day. I checked right after that and it worked again. I guess they just needed to reset the server and didn't know it had hung until I told them. They need to check these things themselves routinely!
As I noted - they fixed it very recently. It was broke about 8:00 AM my time when I left to run some tests with Jungle Quest from JenKat Games (an OOOOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDD Alawar Game) and when I tried again about 8:45 AM, they had fixed the problem.
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru
I'd missed the laast few free games. Just posted elsewhere that there was a new game, but it seems that I was wrong. Still Delivery King. ah well. Still gonna contact then with peoples gripes as well as my own now (home page changing) Grrrr.
headcase
Member
I got same mess with game box telling you there is no connection and stuff like Dragonlair . Reinstalled it and same mess . But I can play the games that are in game box from start button .Has been going on for a few weeks now so might have something to do with being a beta I don't know . Used to work when I restarted puter and now as of today there is nothing but warnings so maybe they are not worth the trouble as I can get most of their games from a site that works .Did Dragonlair write to Alawar help page or some where else Have a great Holiday month . Steve
They fixed the "server" problem at that time but it does occur regularly now. It sounds like an overloaded server. That's stupid that they require internet access to play your local games! They have had the same "free game of the month" for almost 2 months now with no sign of changing.
If you have Vista, it has trouble knowing your "full" games are "full" unless you run in Admin mode. One it has the flag set, it's fine.
I ONLY use it to check for the freebie. Find where it puts your shortcuts and play the games without GameBox. That's what I did. It doesn't know all my Alawar games anyway and NONE of my others.
If you re-install GameBox, it loses the pointers to your games from the earlier installation and if you tell it they're there, it's not smart enough to realize they're Alawar games!
It's been in beta for at least 3 years. Just like Gmail's "beta". Don't look for that to change soon but it's just a cop-out for when their bugs show up. They don't seem to fix them, and don't always even respond to you.
headcase
Member
Understand big time what all you just typed Dragonlair . I've had lots of trying times with gamehouse support as well as other sites who just seem to look for the easy way out rather than making customers happy.. I think (like big business's) some sites just fill in an open spot till something they own from their site goes bad on their machine . Then they will fix it . kind of sad that some sites won't make an effort to better their product when they know it's bad..Guess there is just as much BS on the net as there is on the streets . Make a buck and if it breaks or comes broken too bad . some one will wise up and say we are loosing buyers because we sit on our thumbs all day hahahahaha anyhow Happy Holidays to all
sukibabe
Games Junkie
Happy Holiday's, Merry Xmas and Ho Ho Ho.....
Yes, what is up with them??? I have beta tested for them about a year now, don't get any discount notices!!!
Box is still delivering "Delivery King"
Another site that is just as bad is "Sandlot's Free Game of the Week", they are all re-runs, what a bunch of do do, rofl
Have a good one all, Suki
Suki,
Alawar is had "Delivery King" for the third month now! So much for their "game of the month". At least Sandlot does change it each week, even if it is to another repeat.
Considering the last one lasted at least 4 months, saying a free game a month is a JOKE! It was still Delivery King here this morning. I actually checked this morning although I don't every day. Also, they're supposed to change in the middle of the month - they TOLD me that. Have they shifted that?????
I think their behavior this past year or so has cost them a lot of credibility with their broken promises.
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru
Free is free, I don't see the problem myself. Personally I've always had good service from Alawar and will continue to purchase from them in preference to Big Fish and Gamehouse. (Each to their own I suppose). I am biased as I've received loads of free games from alawar after contributing to feedback for a frew years. They gave me a whole bunch of games a few years ago when I wrote to ask if they would reduce the proce because they were old games and that I could purchase them cheaper elsewhere. I only had to pay for one of the several I'd listed and even got a generous percentage of that one. I ended up beta testing for them and got a decent amount off each game i tested (previously got all games free that I tested but I think some of the activation codes that they gave away started popping up on peer to peer sites so they stopped the 100% free thing. Still 30% off all games was great.
Alawar is still one of the best developers to have contributed to the giveaway project. IMO, with loads of current games given away. they even gave away some new releases. :)
Finally, I like their activation method as there's no need for an online connection or a game manager. (though I realize once you've downloaded games from the likes of Big Fish you can play them outside of the manager now). Thing is if you need to reinstall from BFG you can't just transfer the installed games you have to go through BFG again. whereas the executable you get from Alawar can be used offline anytime. This also means you can always pass on your games when you've had enough of them as I've done here in these fporums. Again, this is all about personal preferences.
p.s. I don't mean to rant. I just think when free stuff is being given away there shouldn't be any griping, even if they don't keep to their promisesof one every month. Afterall free is free.
I wasn't griping about the free - just the statements of "monthly" that are no longer true. They want people to use Gamebox all the time and half the time you can't because their server is overloaded and it HAS to connect to the internet to load.
Their games (like BFG) can be played totally offline but they have that wrapper that pops up every time you play them (before and ending) that you can't circumvent as you can with BFG. Big Fish's only came up at the end anyway.
It's true that with the codes, you can re-install much easier and don't have to re-download to re-install plus you're not dependent upon their record keeping (what if they lose your games?).
There are pluses and minuses for everybody. My only complaint is they claim one thing and they do not live up to their claim. That's unfair and misleading.
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru
I've never had problems downloading via the game box???
As for misleading, yes you are right. They should just change it to free games occasionally. Maybe i'll write to the few contacts I have left at Alawar and suggest they change it as it is a little misleading. :)
p.s.
i wasn't meaning to have a go at you Dragonlair; i just think that when something is free, no matter how occasional it turns up we should be thankful.
sukibabe
Games Junkie
I must say I was getting a bit worried, but it still says beta, so I just kept checking, rofl
I finally got a beta testers coupon from Alawar! The game it was for I didn't like, so I decided I would try and use it on Stray Souls: Dollhouse Story CE, didn't think it would work and almost didn't! Plimus accepted the coupon, but Alawar didn't send the reg key, it was listed as "incorrect amount", so I now go back to Plimus who had posted it to my card, to try and undo it, had to dispute it and ask for a refund!
Later on in the day, Alawar came thru with the reg key, so they just went up another notch in my book!
I will have to use the Game Box to download it, because the Box is set to install everything to my F: drive!
If you go the other way, they is no option anymore on their games to custom install and they among a few other sites, are trying to push the "Bing Toolbar", lol
Dollhouse, was suppose to have been a collaboration with BFG, guess they didn't like the terms and released it themselves! I had beta tested the game for BFG, much improvement in the Alawar version...
~~~~~~~~~~~~and saying hi to all, I know I have been MIA
Suki
@Dragonlair
I just beta tested a new(how I hate to use these words)Game Manager for BFG! This one holds true for the version that is still running! On the manager at the bottom hit "options", select "about", there is an option for "Quick Exit", just check that, it only works for the games you have purchased! I also unchecked the nosy one for "Information Sharing", rofl
pavid
gamer extraordinaire & knowledgeable computer nerd who likes to argue, but is still a very nice guy
Hi Suki,
Thanks for the info about the BFG options. The quick exit option will solve one of my major annoyances with the BFG game manager. I hate having to close it every time I leave one of their games and you have fixed that for me.
sukibabe
Games Junkie
Thanks Guys!
I didn't realize it either until I had compared the 2, I installed the beta on my Desktop, and left the current one on my laptop, so I was looking at both! Usually the "About", is pretty much that, about nothing, rofl
The only thing I noticed in the beta, was they took out the large file warning, that's about it, other than they might have something up their sleeve, because they said in the email it could handle new features, well then why didn't you include them in the dang test!!!
They are getting so freaked out about piracy over on the forums, I think the new manager has something to do with it, but as we all know, they will find away around whatever BFG does, including the latest, installing progression blockers! That just makes the game for the legit buyers game buggy and they are really ticked about it!
Take care all!
P.S. Whabbit, I know you are very busy and all, but just once could you answer my pm, lol
Suki
At least they're changing it monthly (on time) this time. It's a good game but I've got it.
rta53,
The free game is ONLY available through the Gamebox. That is Alawar's Game Manager and you need to download and install it before you can see the free game of the month. It's totally free.
However, if you have Vista (and possibly 7), you need to run it in Admin mode for it to recognize your full games as full. That is only needed when you actually run the game for the first time. Once it's tagged as full, it stays tagged, even if you don't run in admin mode. It's a limitation they have never documented but I found.
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