Amazon.com lurks on the Web, ever dreaming of conquest. Their latest gambit is trying to sell you inexpensive, casual games for your PC, and wouldn't you know it, the first hit is free. I have to admit that Build-a-Lot, Jewel Quest II, and The Scruffs aren't exactly the titles I've been waiting for with baited breath (that would be Street Fighter IV), but hey, free games.
Well, not for me, since I don't have a computer that runs Windows, but for most of you out there, you can sample the casual gaming experience thrice over sans cash before you embark down the dark path of one-click downloads Pageant Princess or Paradise Pet Salon or my favorite, Mr. Biscuits – The Case of the Ocean Pearl. That cuddly Mr. Biscuits, he's always solving crimes!
So yeah, mostly it's kids games. But there are also the straight-forwardly titled Zombie Shooter and Alien Shooter games, the former of which offers you a chance to "fight through contaminated hordes," so I guess maybe there really is something for everyone. It's not quite like buying Left 4 Dead through Steam, but then it's also a lot cheaper.
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2009.