Month: August 2007

If like me you’ve got a pretty bad memory, then you’ll take any help you can get to improve it. Simon is a mobile game that aims to increase the number of grey cells you’ve got and thus prevent you from forgetting anymore important dates or tasks. Even if you don’t find it helps you, it is hugely addictive despite it’s simplicity.

Simon is basically nothing more than an illuminating colour touchpad that plays sequences of flashing colours and then asks you to repeat the combination in exactly the right order. Using your stylus, you follow the patterns to the best of your ability. Of course, the harder the level, the faster the flashing lights.

There are three different modes – a two-player mode plus two levels divided between beginners and more advanced users. Unless you’re a Guinness world record holder, don’t even try the advanced level – it’s like trying to memorise a strobe light at a disco. So put down your Sudoku on your daily commute and let us know whether Simon genuinely helped improve your memory.

Now where did I put my mobile…?

While backing up data is important for everyone, some of you may need an extra security degree which can be easily achieved with FileHamster. This tool creates automatic copies of your files as you work on them in real time, so that not only have you permanently updated backup copies of documents, but you can also keep track of changes in a work project.

Remember the Amiga/Atari classic Sensible Soccer or Kick Off? Well Addictive Football is exactly the same and will bring back tons of memories for many who, like me, spent hours glued to their joysticks. Most importantly, the game has retained the playability that made the originals such classics of their time. It was never about the graphics with these games that’s for sure!

In Addictive Football, you can play 5-a-side rules on a variety of different pitches with 5 different game modes to choose from. These include a Knockout Cup and League style games as well as a Custom Game Mode where you set the team skills and names yourself. There are unfortunately only 10 teams to choose from but they all differ considerably in skills & abilities.

The game even features all the classic pitch surfaces like grass, astroturf, concrete, indoor, ice and a bizarre futuristic field. As a result, the ball acts differently when it bounces meaning no game between the same teams is ever the same.
The only other downside is that real team names and players have not been used, presumably because of licensing issues. However, in custom mode, you can rename squads and players to your liking so you can recreate all those classic encounters such as this one between Liverpool and Everton.

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