PlayFirst Grapevine
New: Escape from Paradise
2007
by applesun
JUN
27
As you may have noticed, we have a new sim game up: Escape from Paradise. A fun thing - aside from controlling characters in a god-like manner, of course - is playing the mini-games. It's not just one type of mini-game -- it's a whole mash-up from all the genres. After all this fun I'm having in paradise, I don't know if I'd still want to escape... would you?
Don't forget to give us some feedback by filling out our survey. You still have until July 5, so comment away!
What a fine day...
2007
by XtL_
JUN
25
What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole...
Welcome back,
What do I do? Good question. To be honest, I'm not quite sure how to put my job into words. I have a weird hybrid position in which I dabble in online marketing and product management, so every day it's something different. On a typical day I come in, eat an English muffin, go to a meeting, talk to an engineer, eat lunch, then write specs for the rest of the day. If a game release happens to be near, I might have a meeting with the producers too. Fun stuff.
As for wanting me to talk about Diner Dash: Flo on the Go... I don't have much to say because honestly, I've never gotten past the first level... However, I do enjoy playing Zenerchi quite a bit, as well as Oasis. If you haven't tried those games yet, you should. Also, I was looking through the site the other day and I started playing Sveerz - it was surprisingly good.
One of the things I like most about our office is that it's pretty nerdy. On any given desk there's an assortment of odd foreign toys, or game related items. I'm thinking about buying the Power Glove to put on my desk but it's pretty messy right now, and I'm too lazy to actually go look for one. One of my colleagues has an Etch A Sketch Animator, I have no idea how it works, but it's pretty cool.
Keep asking questions, and I'll keep answering. Til next!
P.S. - Does anyone out there ever get a craving for chicken nuggets? I sure do.
Write In, the Lines Are Open
2007
by kismetPF
JUN
22
Hi everyone,
This is Kismet, signing in! I'm new to the PlayFirst website team, and I'll be working on some cool web features going forward. I also promise to stop by the forums now and then, just to say hello and answer questions.
Although I've only been here for a few weeks, I really want to tell you that the PlayFirst team is awesome. Everyone here works very hard to create top notch games, reply to customers, engineer new features, create unique artwork, and still try to get sleep! The atmosphere here is laid-back and friendly, but brimming with energy and enthusiasm. Between meetings and work, people also tell great stories and make hilarious jokes. I can't believe such a small team can get so much done so quickly. The ironic thing is, I love PlayFirst games, and I find myself struggling to make time to play!
Of course, PlayFirst succeeds largely in part because of our amazing user base, which is why we always want to hear your feedback. This week, we have designed a survey with questions that will help us understand what you want, to create cool new content. So...do you want a virtual world to explore? Do you enjoy having virtual pets or characters to take care of? Would you like more stuff to do on the website? How can we cater PlayFirst goodies to you?
Although we can't guarantee that all your ideas will be implemented, here's your chance to tell us what you like. Your opinions matter to us, and they can really make a difference! The lines are open, and we're all ears. (Or is that eyes?) Feel free to post your ideas directly to this blog, although you can get a free copy of Sweetopia or a $5 off coupon for filling out the survey. The lines do close on July 5th however, so hurry before it's too late!
Thank you for coming to PlayFirst, and we look forward to hearing your feedback, complaints, and suggestions!
New Games Galore
2007
by applesun
JUN
20
We have another load of new games for everyone this week! And yes, I do try all of them. I'm into the popper genre so it's no surprise that I liked Zzed. Sure, space garbage wasn't exactly appealing but it exploded satisfyingly all the same.
If you're like me and looking forward to a magic-filled July, Magic Academy is a good quick fix while you're waiting.
Other fresh games on PlayFirst.com: Charma, 10 Talismans, Treasure Island, Wonderlines, Pantheon
hello, my name is ______
2007
by XtL_
JUN
15
Hi, and welcome to my first blog here at PlayFirst.
My blog will be a bit different than some of the others on the site; a running conversation of sorts. I'm obviously starting this dialogue, and I'd like all of yall (I'm from the south) to feel free to leave comments and ask questions. I promise I'll read every question and make an attempt to answer them in a future post. Of course, blogging is not my full time job, so please show a bit of patience if I seem to disappear for a while. Also, unfortunately I cannot answer everything, as I either do not know, or I just can't comment on the respective topic. Thus, I am not ignoring you, just mainly trying to keep my job - I do have bills to pay, I'm sure you understand. Haha.
I remember when I was younger my parents dutifully informed me that playing games would not earn me a paycheck. How wrong they were. This is my second job, and I can honestly say I work way more hours here than I did in corporate America. Life at a startup videogame company is for lack of a better word - hectic. Running to and fro for meetings, trying to come up with quality content for you our gamers, doing REAL work, it's no wonder I'm too tired to play my 360 when I get home. When I do find time to play my console, it seems that work follows me home as well. Whether I'm looking at some feature in a game, or analyzing the game itself, everything seems to tie back to work!
Well, I must get back to my real job now, but thanks for reading. I think I'll continue this "blog series" about life at a videogame company for a while, so if there's anything in particular you want to read/learn about, do let me know!
- Happy gaming
Be enchanted by Dream Chronicles
2007
by applesun
JUN
13
One of my favorite PlayFirst games, Dream Chronicles, is finally out! We know you've all been dreaming about it too. Thanks to all promo participants! Check your email for your well-earned coupons.
If you haven't seen it yet, Dream Chronicles is an absolutely beautiful game with a compelling storyline to match. Once I started it, I was mezmerized into playing it late into the night. So much for getting a good night's sleep.
Once you're done spell-breaking, there are some other new games to try out too, such as the sleek hidden object game, Private Eye and competitive Merriam Webster's Spell-Jam. Have some card and board game fun with Ancient Hearts and Spades, Ancient Spiders Solitaire, Ultimate Dominoes, and Maui Wowee.
Honor your father with some games he'll love. Take a look at our manly game bundles for Father's day.
Facebook fanatics can now get Diner Dash on their profile. Get the application and share the fun with your friends!
On Masks (Part 3/3)
2007
by unknown_blogger
JUN
11
We were talking about lying on the Internets. Some people are naturally skeptical of claims made on the Internets. Not me.
Mostly I just take people at face value on the Internets. It's not that I'm naive. I know they're lying. I just don't care. So someone says they're a cheerleader who wants to share with me the elaborate details of what they're wearing? That's nice, but I've got work to do. Someone threatens to come to my house and beat my dog? That's scarier, but they don't know where I live. They can't know where I live if I don't tell them. If you don't want to be threatened, don't tell strangers personal details.
If someone asks, you're under no obligation to say. People will claim to work for the company whose site you're going through, they'll claim to be with the FBI, the DHS, the CIA, the NHL, the YMCA. It's all masks. They're lying. If some entity has the power to compel information from you, they won't come to you online. They'll come to your door and the doors of your neighbors.
So when someone asks me what I look like, I tell them. I'm six hundred feet tall, made of bronze and I have a nest of kittens in my hair. That's why I have a bag over my head. The kittens are sleeping. Happy Perpetual Halloween!
I let people have their fun and make their claims but I don't take it personally. People I only know online aren't friends, they can't be. They might be nothing like they seem, they might be multiple people sharing the same account, they might be one person conniving to try to trick me out of money or time or chocolate. But it's just talk. Keep your private details private and you'll do fine.
Pardon my idle, but I've got to get back to my job of painting serial numbers on the hamburger buns you get at your local fast food dive. Hey, would I lie to you?
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PlayFirst is the creator of Diner Dash, Chocolatier, Dream Chronicles and other award-winning casual games.
