Games good enough to make you late for work 

Oh, how much time has passed since we talked about everyone’s favorite topic here in The Wire? It has been entirely too long since we discussed computer gaming issues, if my loyal readers have their say. I have received game-related e-mails in far greater numbers these days, a sure sign that I am not offering enough game content. I intend to rectify that shortcoming immediately.

Oddly, this column was a little late going in today for a game-related reason. On Wednesday evening, during the time period when I normally proofread my columns for Thursday submission, I divided my time between a fitful and agitated spell watching the Phillies fight it out with the Nats for 14 innings and calming myself down playing a new video game.

Video games can be an excellent source of relaxation, as anyone who has spent a few minutes chilling out with a hand or two of “Solitaire,” “Minesweeper” or “FreeCell” on their Windows PC knows. It has long been my contention that those games are one of the major reasons for the dramatic advantage in market share enjoyed by Windows over the far-behind Macintosh OS.

Gaming pleasure knows no petty platform envy. I can assure you through personal experience that there is a time-burning game that will run on virtually any computer you can get onto your desktop. Motivated by purely academic interests, I have carefully surveyed the latest batch of downloadable games that can easily be installed on most computers to enhance your leisure activities.

And now for all the marbles

First of all, let’s flash back to last night, when I was ducking the Phillies rollercoaster by playing games at my desk. Sure, I was well within earshot of the main television, and I could even see the screen reflected in my Macintosh monitor. Still, a few rounds of “Luxor” went a long way toward keeping me sane until they pulled it out in the 14^th.

Luxor is an exceptionally addicting computer game for Windows or Macintosh that will keep you up late, make you go into work late, and even make you miss your favorite television programs. I call that a successful game. At under $20, it is also a bargain.

The concept is similar to other marble-based games like “Tumblebugs” and “Giza.” A player is faced with a channel through which colored marbles are rolling into a goal. The object is to keep them from reaching their goal by shooting them out in groups of three or more. What could be more simple?

But it is not simple. The patterns are deceptively innocent, but have an insidious knack for taking away your key shot at the moment you need it most. Steady aim is crucial, lest a player accidentally place the matching marble between two other colors, making your task three times as difficult.

It gets worse, of course. Multiple queues of marbles run at once, and on some screens, they can run in two separate channels toward two goals. That one really calls for some hot hand-to-eye. The game is organized like a desert caravan carrying the player to his or her ultimate goal, the salvation of the Pyramids.

Players manage to get a little help from magical scarabs that can enhance their marble-busting potential. Gold coins help them buy more lives, and specially powered marbles can occasionally brighten even the darkest crisis. The ancient Egyptian theme is carried out well throughout the game, making game play more interesting.  Best of all you can try it online for free at www.mumbojumbo.com before buying it.

Try your hand running a restaurant

Have you ever just wanted to give it all up and open your own restaurant? Those of you planning to step out of the rat race are advised to play a few rounds of the affordably intoxicating “Diner Dash” before quitting your day job.

Poor Flo wanted nothing more to escape corporate life. Finally, she got the chance to open her own little café and found that restaurant life included all the stress and torture of an office job without the steady paycheck.

Flo starts out with a grubby little two-table greasy spoon. Slowly but surely she saves her tip money, bowing and scraping to snotty schoolgirls and slow-moving seniors. As the game progresses she buys some bigger tables, then a coffee pot. Soon she has enough cash to afford a new façade and even more tables. The more customers her joint accommodates, the more money she can make, but her workload seems to increase exponentially.

I am not cut out for restaurant work. I did nothing but annoy my clientele, making them wait in line until I could seat them at color-coded tables, then letting their food get cold while I cleared off another client’s mess. Still, I got better at the game and managed to advance.

“Diner Dash” features more than 40 levels of utter high-pressure torture for under $20. You can give it a try for free at www.bigfishgames.com before downloading your own copy. Once you are open for business, you may look forward to returning to work for a little rest and relaxation.

Unlock the secrets of the Titanic

If you really want to feel like King or Queen of the World, consider unlocking the secrets of the world’s most famous undersea edifice in the “Big Fish” downloadable challenge “Hidden Treasure: Titanic.” Don’t hold your breath while playing; this inexpensive clue-collecting contest will sweep you out with the tide for hours on end.

At under $30, the game offers 17 levels and 14 minigames of fun for the budding undersea explorer in your family. Players are instructed to explore different areas of the vessel, collect clues, and use that information to solve problems later. The concept is similar to their popular Mystery Case Files series, but may be a bit easier for younger players.

In addition to finding clues, players must collect lost gemstones along the way before running out of air. If you exhaust your time allocation, you can start the level over with an entirely new layout, making replay sessions just as much fun as the initial encounter.

“Hidden Treasure: Titanic” can keep young players glued to the screen for hours building observation and problem-solving skills. After bedtime, elder divers can take the plunge to see how they stack up to their younger competitors. If my personal experience is valid, you are likely to lose.

This is still a great time for affordable games, while many video gaming titles are approaching the $80 mark. A couple of high-quality downloadables can easily bridge the gap between the first day of school and the winter holiday gaming frenzy.

The good news keeps on coming this week. If your family enjoys these games, each of them comes equipped with an equally affordable sequel. Check them all out on my recommendation, then e-mail me your best scores at granese@juno.com.