sunshinej wrote:

stusue...Your mom sounds like one tough lady.  I hope everything turns out well for her and for you and your sister.

sandhan...I was thinking of trying a tm builder game and was looking at Gardens Inc. before.  Do you think it a good game for a beginner?  My husband might like the Viking Saga one as he likes all things Vikings. 

stusue...I knew I should have bought Shadow Shelter already.  I hopefully can pick it up on the cheap.

Sunshine, I have both Gardens Inc. games and love them both, although, of course, I haven't finished them yet.    I'd suggest you start with the first one and see if you like it.  If I remember correctly, they have untimed modes.    As a beginner, though, I'd suggest the 2 Gold Rush games (Alaska and California) as they're both very easy, especially in untimed mode, and they're fun!    All you can do is demo them and see how you go.  You should be able to get a good feel for the games and see if you like them in the demos.  I prefer the Gardens Inc. games but the Gold Rush games are easier (I've finished the first one and am halfway through the second). 

I loved the first Viking Saga but, unlike sandhan, I don't like the second as, like Anki, I found it more frustrating than challenging to have to continuously clear the snowdrifts and relight the fires on each level.  But the first one was great and I'd definitely recommend it!    There's also Viking Brothers (I have this one and it got 4/5 at BFG), Times of Vikings (I don't like this one very much and don't have it, and it only got 3.3/5), as well as both Northern Tales games (I love these and have both - the first one got 4.8/5 and the second one got 4.5/5).

I think Legacy Games had Shadow Shelter for $2.95 a while back and I'm kicking myself for not getting it then.    But how was I to know how much I'd love it?    I thought I'd just play it with my FunPass and that would be it.    I'll get it with a PCC from either BFG or GameHouse.

And yes, my mum sure is one tough lady!    She worked until she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 87.  She worked at the Sydney Opera House, at least 3 nights and 2 afternoons a week until she left.  She was an usherette and took patrons to their seats in the different theatres, running up down, depending on the theatre, up to about 800 steps per show!  At that was when she was 87!!!!    Then she had a mastectomy, followed by radiation.  She was going to go back to work afterwards but she just didn't have the energy following the surgery and radiation.  She'd also grown to love being home at night, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, when all the shows she liked to watch on TV were on.   

Now my mum has another battle with cancer on her hands but I don't know if the radiation will get rid of the cancer; we're just hoping that it can be kept in check and will stop growing and hopefully, if it hasn't already, not metastasise.  Initially they said there was nothing they could do but, fortunately after some more tests, they've decided that they'll go ahead with radiation.    But she still lives on her own, does all her own shopping, washing, cleaning, driving around to all the doctors, etc. and, because I'm always so sick, she always drives me around everywhere when I'm staying with her in Sydney!    Thanks so much for your kind words. 
 

stusue, I'm so very sorry to hear about your mom's setback but she sounds like a very strong woman with a strong spirit.  I will be praying for her strength and peace of mind as she goes through her radiation.  My mom is also 89 and has skin cancer.  A year ago Dec. one of the worst places was a crusted spot on the top of her head.  They took a biopsy and it showed cancer so they tried cutting it out but they decided she needed radiation. I debated for quite a while but decided against it as she has dementia and was often refusing to even go down the hall to get her hair done so knew it would be a battle to get her to appts.  Then she fell in June and was hospitalized all summer in rehab so her quality of life might have been compromised with the radiation.  She's holding her own, still has a bit of wit, and they all love her so for now, her life is good for her; she almost seems childlike, at times, which is not a bad thing.  I will pray for you and your family too, as any family tragedy affects others in a different way.

Anki, congrats on the job ~ a job is a job, no matter what.

Think I will move Shadow Shelter up to be my next game played ~ sounds intriguing ~ an old mansion with dark corners.

oscar66 wrote:

Stusue - it's Grim Legends.

Oscar, I had to go back to find out what I'd asked you.    Memory like a sieve and all.    But, yes, Grim Legends, the new one added to my top 3 fav games ever!   

I only hope that when you guys play the games I love that they live up to your expectations.  I just hope I haven't built them up so much that when you play them you're disappointed.    But if you like the games half as much as I loved playing them then you should have a fun time. 
 

Wow stusue!  Your mom has a lot going for her.  800 steps a night? At 87?  I agree with her -- quality of life is more important to me too.  Not all chemo has dreadful side effects and the anti-emetics are so much better than they used to be.  One caution -- if your mother has any neuropathy chemo would NOT be a good idea.  I'll pass on SHADOW SHELTER.  I know my limits. 

teeitup -- I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, too.  You and she will be added to my prayer list.  I think you probably made the right decision.

sunshinej -- I LOVE both NORTHERN TALES.  They can be played timed or untimed (guess which option I take  ).  The Vikings are little cartoon Vikings but the tasks and graphics are good.  And there is a fair bit of strategizing one must do.

Well, I've just finished Dream Hills: Captured Magic.  It'll get my rating - I had fun playing but nothing special, although I did like it more and more the more I played, especially once the HOSs changed from straight lists with no interaction at all, to some with silhouette's (they were hard) and the one where you put objects back into a scene in the correct place.  That changed the gameplay a little.  But it was a cute, easy, fun game and I'm not sorry I played it but I'm glad I didn't buy it.