"Monster Jam" is a Serious Letdown

A game that seeks to transfer the thrill of Monster Jam to pocket-sized screens? That's a tall order, and the intent behind the new game from GameMill that features a wide range of famous trucks going up against a handful of towing, freestyle and racing challenges. How well does the game deliver on that lofty promise, then?

The Good

Visually Monster Jam looks impressive, except for a few outdoor environments that suffer from framerate stutter. For the most part though, the arenas, outdoor environments and vehicles really sparkle on the small screen. There are plenty of the latter to unlock too, with an upgrade system that should keep you tinkering away at improvements for a while to come. You'll need a fair bit of cash to make those upgrades, but even the clumsiest hands should have no trouble grabbing a decent chunk of coins from each challenge.

The Bad

Everything that's good about Monster Jam is, sadly, seriously let down by a pretty rough physics engine and some even worse handling. You'll pull off some neat stunts from time to time, but rarely the one you actually intended to perform, and so the fun moments you have in the game feel entirely accidental. That part of the game's challenge is to perform specific stunts only compounds the problem, and the freemium business model limits playtime and practice. All round, it's a frustrating affair we're sorry to say.

The Verdict

It's a real shame that the generally high polish of the visuals, and the fun handful of gameplay types hasn't been extended to the core engine powering everything underneath. By all means dip into this free game to kill a few minutes on the way to work or school, but don't expect anything truly worthy of the real thing.

Score: 2.0/5

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Amazon gets serious about social games, calls out for developers

The Facebook gaming arena is about to welcome a new gladiator: Amazon. The household name of online retailers (and e-readers) is officially pulling out all the stops for its inevitable entrance into the space, openly and internally calling out for a team of designers and developers.

Since taking on veteran tabletop RPG (roleplaying game) designer Jonathan Tweet for a mysterious project, Reuters reports that signs have appeared in the kitchen of Amazon's Seattle campus that unveil a "Social Games Group." A poster in the kitchen area of the office reads, "The Group is growing fast! We're actively looking," according to Reuters.

It seems that Amazon is primarily looking for software engineers and Flash developers, most likely referring to Adobe Flash, the software through which almost all Facebook games are created. Amazon has reportedly been eying up social gaming since May of this year, calling out for senior level game designers.

Since Amazon hired Tweet for a mysterious project, that's all we knew about the upcoming social games effort from the company. Unfortunately, we still know very little, which leaves us with wild speculation (how lovely). While Amazon is looking strictly for software engineers and Flash developers, we have a feeling this project will be much larger than just pumping out a few games.

Amazon didn't become one of the largest Internet companies in the world without thinking big, so who's to say the company doesn't have equally lofty ambitions for its social gaming efforts? I mean, this is a company has enjoyed success and ubiquity that even the biggest name in social gaming aspires to. That said, it's entirely possible that Amazon looks to create a platform of its very own, complete with games developed in house. Call that an educated guess, or my wild dreams of slaying dragons attached to awesome deals on otherwise pricey cell phone cases and magazine subscriptions.

[Image Credit: Slacktory]

Are you excited to hear what Amazon is up to in social games? Do you think the company is working on its own platform to compete with Facebook and Google+, or just some good old games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.

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Adopting a Pet is Serious Business

If you are adopting a pet, you may want to consider the space, money and time involved in becoming an owner.

Space for a Pet

If your home is full of valuable carpets and upholstered furniture, then cats and dogs may not be appropriate. Cats are hard to contain in one room, can jump a fence and do not respond to being told no. Dogs, which can be contained by indoor fences, need different space according to size. Active dogs of almost any size need a dog yard. Also, the bigger the dog, the more indoor space it needs to be happy. Of course, dogs and cats return affection much better than other pet and can be wonderful companions.

If you are constantly worrying about damage, you might consider smaller animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or fish. For small animals, you will need an appropriate place for a cage. Small animals often carry viruses such as strep throat that can be communicated to children. For that reason, the cage should be in a family area not a child's bedroom. For fish, obviously you need an aquarium. Consider where it will be placed, what water could do to the furniture and how easily you can access it for cleaning. An aquarium -- or perhaps lizards in a terrarium -- could be in a child's room, if the child is old enough to be trusted with the temptation to play with the animals. Finally, if you are interested in birds, you will need to take into account the mess that most birds make. Bird droppings and food are tossed about by even the smallest birds.

Money

Each type of pet requires a different financial outlay. For those starting with a bird, fish, small mammal or lizard, the initial expense is the cage, aquarium or terrarium. Upkeep for these animals is generally limited to food and bedding, perhaps $15 a month. Aquariums need replacement filters of $10 or more each month.

Cats and dogs purchased through a breeder or a pet shop can run from fifty dollars up to a thousand for rare breeds. An average of $125 to $300 is a regular outlay for a popular breed such as a cocker spaniel or a golden retriever. Adopting an animal from a humane society runs $35 to $75, but generally comes with a free spay or neuter at a local veterinarian and the initial shots. Cats and dogs need a rabies shots. There is also a regimen of shots for each that can total a hundred or more with a veterinarian visit. These costs may be repeated yearly. It is important to consider these costs as you debate a pet purchase.

Time

Regular weekly, even daily cleaning may be needed for small mammal cages, bird cages and lizard terrariums. Aquariums need new filters monthly and often require cleaning. Dogs will need walks several times a day unless they have a dog yard. Cats tend to take care of themselves. A cat litter pan will need cleaning daily to avoid odors.

For more information on pets, visit http://petfinders.tv

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