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Filed under: Fun, Games, Kids, Time-Wasters, Web

Vector Conflict: The Siege is an old-school, Battlezone inspired Time Waster

Vector Conflict: The SiegeMaybe I'm old, but I remember back when arcade games were not powerful enough to do 3D video. Then one day along came a new technology called vector graphics, and 3D games became (sort of) possible. Instead of seeing a fully rendered 3D model of the various objects in the game, you instead would be presented with wireframe representations. Still, in its day vector graphics were amazing.

Fast-forward to today, and you can play a modern game based on classic vector graphics. Vector Conflict: The Siege is a shooting game where your goal is to protect your outpost from an ever-increasing onslaught of enemies. You are literally surrounded on all 4 sides, and need to carefully plan your movements between views (north, south, east, and west) to ensure that none of the baddies sneak up behind you when you are not looking.

Playing Vector Conflict is made quite enjoyable by the forgiving shooting mechanics. As long as you are aiming near an enemy, your weapons will lock on and make destroying it easier. If it sounds like the game is easy, think again. The sheer volume of enemies attacking will make sure that you are never bored.

Make sure you play Vector Conflict with the sound up, as it has one of the most engaging soundtracks of any time waster I've played. In fact, you can download the tracks if you enjoy them as much as I did.

Filed under: Fun, Games, Internet, Time-Wasters

JavaScript Space Invaders - Time Waster

Javascript Version of Space Invaders
Twenty Years ago Space Invaders ruled the video game world. It is easy to see why the formula worked so well: you are heavily armed and heavily outnumbered by the enemy. It is the same basic model that works so well for everything from 1942 to Mario to StarCraft to Halo. Peril is increased by the enemies moving faster and faster the more of them that you killed.

With this JavaScript version of Space Invaders you can relive the classic battles without having to download anything but a web page. The game uses the YUI and demonstrates how far JavaScript has come from the days of simple form validation and button mouseovers.

Filed under: Finance, Games, Internet, Time-Wasters

Satan's Hollow - classic Time Waster

Satan's Hollow - classic midway arcade timewasterThis classic 1981 shooter from Midway is the perfect way to spend down time between trick or treaters this Halloween (especially if you keep the candy within arms reach).

The addicting game play is pretty standard 80s arcade action. Even if you have never played Satan's Hollow before, the controls should be familiar if you've been around any of the host of similar shooters from the Reagan years. You basically move your tank around and shoot stuff: bats, fire breathing devil heads, pitchfork throwing devils, acid throwing devils, etc. You can upgrade your cannon by completing a bonus round and there is a special shield feature which gives you quick protection if the bad guys get too close. Watch out that the bats don't steal your extra life though.

Oh, and if all that wasn't enough, amongst all this carnage you'll have to steadily work on building a bridge across the lake of fire to get to each bonus round. It is down right biblical.

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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