This is a great game, but has some serious flaws. Though the game is well designed with colorful graphics, puzzles, rewards, a store for powerups, and a interesting underwater back scape and concept, there are both logical and strategy issues.

I have experienced Runtime error shutdowns on numerous occasions as previously described on an XP machine. This is most annoying, but when the game is restarted, one can resume almost at the previous level.

The strategy issue is the killer. Games should be winnable, though difficult and should walk the fine line between being too easy and just doable with the training experience of lower levels. This game becomes something akin to impossible.

On this last point this game fails. In the upper levels (above level 3) the panels to be cleared are greatly increased while the time to clear them is decreased or remains to just under 3 minutes each.

What happens is that the player is forced into frantic click fests and all pattern skill recognition and player strategy (one of the enjoyments of this type of game) is minimized to the point of being lost. The once familiar "hourglass 10 second time bonuses" of previous levels, which might permit time extensions enough to allow steady progression through the levels, are nowhere to be seen.

***At these upper levels, the game needs an option of so many points buys so many seconds of additional play time or some such.*** It does not seem to have this feature.

In spite of "powerups," the time allotment is too short requiring many, many attempts on the same panel time after time after time. The game becomes very frustrating and ultimately boring as it is virtually impossible to advance any further.

At this point, the game becomes pointless and is soon abandoned for more rewarding pursuits.

At the higher levels, the game designers have crossed the line between playablity, skill, strategy and difficulty.

I love this game it's the first free that I like and play often. There's a bug when acheiving the higher levels. Sometimes it times out with an error. It doesn't happen enough to stop playing but too bad

I agree with Comment 73. I can't get past level 48. I see some of you have manged to get to higher levels. Any suggestions?






...................Moderator Comment..................

You're more likely to get a response if you post your request into the game discussion forums:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/forum/17

Sorry I ca't elp, but someone may be able to :lol:

I can't get past level 80 but love the game. Any suggestions?

I am stuck on level 97. I have played it over 100 times and can't get past it. I tried to start the whole game over but couldn't. Does anyone have any suggestions? Otherwise I love it.

RE: sound problems...

prior giveaway "Ghost In The Sheet" also had sound problems for Vista users & there were questions as to whether it was a Vista problem, or a GGOTD wrapper-Vista problem...

this giveaway both Vista & XP users reported sound problems...

anyone with the no sound problem try Whiterabbits suggestion of the Gametop download?...it may help the developer and/or GGOTD team in the future...

The game was fun until level 44 which is timing out too fast after trying all day. Can't get past it, too bad no 'easy' mode. Any tips? Otherwise I'm deleting it. Very frustrating.

My spyware Advanced syetem Protector is detecting your un-install file as a trojan by the name Trojan.tdss.aeqp
I am deleting the game for fear it might compromise my computer.
You should investigate this to the fullest to avoid damaging your reputation and people's computers


......................Moderator Comment.........................

If there was a problem there wwould be many community members reporting the same. As it is there are few, which would indicate a false positive. The game giveaway team test each game rigorously.

Oops, I mean I can't get past level 48, not 46.

Love this kind of game and this is a fantastic one. I like the garden puzzles at the end of the chapters.

I had a couple of problems.

First, the music comes and goes at will. I have to exit and restart for the music to come back.

Second, sometimes the 'resume, etc.' menu will swerve away from my cursor and I have to fake it out by placing the cursor over the PLAY button and waiting for the 'resume, etc.' menu to come back in place and then quickly move to click on it.

Third, (and I'm good at these games), is I can't get past level 46....46. Maybe someone can give me words of wisdom but even using all my powerups the timer just drains away quickly. I've tried this leve 40 times but gave up and went to bed. Will try again shortly but I feel like the timer is 'off', not working properly. This one drains much quicker than any of the previous levels and it's a tough configuration.

I like the game but i get NO SOUND... would love to hear the game play sounds... and maybe the music.

:( any1 know what could be the problem? I am running Vista Home Premium.

thx.

I too got the dreaded 'dv.exe has stopped working again and the program closes.' I just let it restart and away I went. Mind you it was around level 70 something. Now stuck on level 80, man that level is hard.

Installed fine on XP SP2. I had a crash around level 4. Can't recall the exact error but it had something to do with the exe file wanting to do something not allowed. I restarted it and have had no problem since. I have played it on & off all day (at level 44 mow). I also have no music, which is just fine by me :)

Managed to get to level 26 so far. Have had MANY crashes along the way, but it does restart at the level it crashed at (thank goodness!). Sometimes the sound goes as well but will start up again at next level or if you start game again. It's frustrating that this continues to happen, as otherwise it's a great game----certainly not for young kids as someone commented, gets harder as you go along.

Yes, lots of crashes. It would be very unusual for the problem to be the vc++ library. Since VC6, MS started using the SxS installers (side by side), which allows apps using different versions of the libs to install and load their own version. If an app does not install the correct version, the usual error you get is "the application will not run due to a configuration error. Try reinstalling..." Video drivers are more likely, but they are happening too often and for too many people for that to by highly probable. The crashes here are happening at various locations, and would appear to just be bugs. Judging by the frequency, not a subtle one(s), either. If the developer is here, they should provide directions for enabling drwtsn32 (try typing it in the "run" box) and get some application dumps to make it easier to debug.

Playing the game, thanks... its rather fun although its not very robust.
First time I ran it (barring probs when I forgot to clear it w/ the firewall) I had jumped around the screens a bit- to options and such several times, and it seemed to start slowing down and the sound went out, and then pretty soon the cursor starting leaving a trail and then locked up with some runtime error. I loaded it again and did as little nonessential screen-changing as possible and it ran better but eventually the sound goes away.. too bad because I was enjoying the sounds. I am running the "game booster" you recommended since I only have 1G, not much any more it seems. (Running XP on my machine).
Fun, but wish the sound would stay. They come back if I exit and reload but thats rather tiresome. It does get pretty challenging though, let me tell you! I prefer untimed games really, but its fun for a shorter stretch until it frustrates me- I prefer my games relaxing!

XPSP2, 32, MCE...

also had the no sound problem when installed, but after activation the sound was fine...

hadn't played this or the free Gametop one before, but the shimmering stones sure reminded me of "Glyph"...

a nice looking match three game with some variety + free wallpapers...

thank you, MadGears & GGOTD

p.s. lol @ WR...you don't play match three much other than the five you mentioned???...


...............Moderator comment..............

Well, okay I play a couple of the Atlantis ones as well plus finding Doggy (which is simila to 4 elements) as well as a few more. But I generally only play them for a few levels while taking a break from my bigger games. :lol:

re my post #57.still unable to activate. Nothing seems to work.

I have same problem as #58, absolutely no sound.


....................Moderator comment......................

Check to see if there's a Music folder inside the installed game. If there isn't I suggest you download the one from gametop and copy over the music folder :)

Went to copy MP3 file as suggested -- NO music folder!!!! :/

.........Moderator Comment...............

Create a folder named Music inside the main games folder, then put one of your MP3's inside the Music folder; or download the Gametop version, then copy the music folder over.

Installed and activated great! When I run it, the window minimizes and vanishes. I use a Windows 2000 Professional.

Any clue?

Downloaded and activated, go 60 mins. uninstalled, downloaded and ran setup,have 58 mins left, uninstalled, downloaded 3rd time, ran setup and then tried to run activate Still have 58 mins. Any suggestions?

I've got the same problem as 42 and 52... I tried downloading from the main site and mirror site (after uninstalling and deleting my first download), and it still keeps shutting down after a few seconds. I finally got as far as to enter my user name, but then it just shuts down. Also, there is no music or sound. If anyone has any suggestions as to why it shuts down right at the beginning, I'd love to hear them! Oh, and as someone else mentioned, I've got an ASUS 1000HE, so I was hoping this game would work. (Often times they won't work for me, I think because of the screen resolution, or something. Or maybe my computer's just too slow. :) )


....................Moderator comment......................

Sorry, I can't figure what the problem is, thogh I hae made some suggestions previously.

Downloaded, installed & registered just fine on Vista Home Premium 32bit. However -- NO SOUND!!!!!!! :o( Sound works fine in other games, proggies, etc.

Nice game so far, though. Haven't gotten as far as the Level 7 crash issue, so don't know if that's going to be a problem or not.


....................Moderator comment......................

Copy one of your favorite MP3's into the installed games music folder. That may work. Check to see if there is a file within though. Try the ametop version and see if you get the same sound issue.

downloaded and installed OK but whenever I try to activate it I keep getting a "Failed to connect. Please try again later" message. This has happened innumerable times. Heeeeeeeelp!


....................Moderator comment......................

When I get this problem (often) re-booting my modem and router often cures the problem, failing that clearing out the internet cache. Sometimes the cookies associated with Game giveaway get corruted which can cause problems with the page loading. Hence the failed to connect problem. for XP just right click on the internet icon and select internet properties. If you use firefox open up your browser and click on tools. I'm not sure of the steps from there, but it should be easy enought to find the internet properties. Delete all your cookies. Let us know if it worked. :)

Running Windows 7/64-bit. Game crashes system.

I have fixed this in similar situations by manually changing from full-screen to windowed mode in the control file, but I can't find one for this game.

"compatibility" suggestions were XP and admin mode, which didn't help.

(Getting pretty bummed that after upgrading to the latest and best of everything, I can no longer play humble match-three games.)

All I could find that was post-able is the log.txt file:

OS: Windows 5.1.2600
Memory: 1048575K total, 1048575K free

LOAD: data/defaults.cfg
LOAD: data.pak
LOAD: data/defaults.cfg
Dektop size: 1366x768
WM_CREATE event
WM_SIZE event
D3D Driver: igdumdx32.dll
Description: Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
Version: 8.15.10.1912
Desktop Mode: 1366 x 768 x X8R8G8B8

Mode: 800 x 600 x X8R8G8B8

LevelSet::Load data/levels.xml
LOAD: data/levels.xml
Loading texture data/gfx/mouse/cursor1.png
LOAD: data/gfx/mouse/cursor1.png
seems like texture file
LOAD: data/txexceptions
Loading font dsg_18.xml
LOAD: data/fonts/dsg_18.xml
Loading font bitmap from: data/fonts/dsg_18.png
Loading texture data/fonts/dsg_18.png
LOAD: data/fonts/dsg_18.png
seems like texture file
Font loaded in 41 ms
LOAD: data/powerups.xml
Window::InitRuby start
Window::InitRuby Window class creation ok
Window::InitRuby RootWindow class creation ok
Window::InitRuby done
Resetting D3D device


Any suggestions?

Thx!

Thanks wr. Here's another to do (level 80, it gits hard!)

Is it any good ? - probably, I haven't seen my wife all day !

thanx for your input on the games. i have played most of the games you've offered since early november, i think. only a couple i wouldn't play again. i usually try each day's offering to see what it does. i read the reviews and can usually avoid what others experience by taking heed to the advice given. thanx again

I have the same problem as the post at 42, the game shuts down a few seconds after booting up. Running winxp. Help please

showing dvruntime error,before the game even starts,can not even start to play game

In relation to my previous comment 39 I can start the game from both accounts on the same pc but somehow it is only activated/registered for one of them. Thanks for your help.

I downloaded the game & activated it fine, but when I tried to play it, it never came up. My screen went blank & stayed that way. I couldn't get the task manager up to get out of the screen & had to manually shut down my computer. I downloaded the gametop version & the same thing happened. All my drivers are up to date & hard drive is regularly defragged. I'm running Vista 64 bit. Any suggestions? Most other games run fine...I play casual games all the time on here & my daughter has recently played a large file game (overlord) without a hitch.


................Moderator Comment......................

It's probably going to be something to do with your computers configuration. If you're willing to spend some time changing settings maybe you'll get the game to work, but to be honest I'm at a loss as to what to suggest. Try changing your screen resolution and make sure you have the latest direct X version. Before you do any changes to the computers configuration I'd create a restore point.

You could also try stopping one background program at a time and then see if the game runs. The reasoning behind that would be to see if the game conflicts with one of the background programs.

This game is really only for little kids and that is all. I rate it Thumbs down. I have dial up and it toolonger to download the game then the 60 minutes of game play that they actually give you to play the game.

..........Moderator Comment.................

If you read the 'read me' or the comments above you'll find that this is a full version unlimited game. You'd see that you need to register the game using the activate module that’s also provided with the set up file. (It's the orange square icon with a stylized key on it). I think some adults who actually enjoy this sort of game will take offense at your comment saying that this game is really only for little kids. I very much doubt a little kid would be able to complete some of the puzzles and although the game is simple in design, threes more to just randomly clicking groups of blocks. This game can be quite challenging if you want to beat previous times and scores. :) Still, we all have different ideas as to what’s a good or a bad game. Personally, even though I don’t particularly play match three games much these days apart from Luxor 3 and its later release or 4 Elements, Treasures of Montezuma or Sky Bubbles.

ps - thanks rabbit. I don't know how to put the []things for it to
have shown on the page??


.....................Moderator comment....................

No problem Jake, It's quite a complex code for http (compared to posting images in the forums)

Thanks for the good game. But it is rather crashie. (crashes, freezes)

@ 24:

Thanks for your response. Nothing happens at all when I click the game. The time-glass shows for a sec, and then nothing. Tried the gametop, same there...Also tried nr.18, didnt help.... So I guess I cant find it out...But thanks anyway!

Moderator Comment 32 - it did help a little, but the freezing still occurs. It was handy as I ate my lunch because I could take bites and not have the timer running - lol

I downloaded twice, second time from mirror site, as soon as it asks me to put it player name, I start typing and then it closes down. What can I do to fix it?

Hey there...love the game. I too get a runtime error. I looked at the sites on comment 15. Those are for windows. I am be running Mozilla Firefox. Should I run the same for windows? I could just go ahead and run them but don't want to if I should be doing something different for firefox.

Also, for Deliah commenter #2..you should keep trying. This is a fun but differnt kind of match 3. You don't have to switch the pieces around like most match 3. just keep clickin and I think you will be able to beat the clock. I think I will love the game if I can get rid of the runtime errors.
Thanks White rabbit.....you are the bestest of the best!!!!!


......................Moderator Comment......................

I don't think it matters because IE is still tere behind the scenes. There doesn't seem to be a runtime libray specific to firefox, (but if there is please someone let us know). I suggest creating a restore point then installing the files anyway. If it doesn't fix the problem you can always then go back to pre install and then delete the downloaded files. Worth a try. Did you try the gametop version?

Looks like a great game. After reading all the comments I decided to download Game Booster first because I've had issues of sluggishness recently with some of mynewly downloaded games from BigFish. After installing and activating I used the Game Booster to shut down all necessary background stuff. The initial load screens were beautiful and ran smoothly. However, once into the game the fish swam rather 'jerkily' and my cursor movement was the same. All responses seemed slow and choppy. Played one level, exited, returned to 'normal mode' in Game Booster and tried it again. No change in performance. Everything was still choppy.My video card showed no update needed.

Oh, well, may play it anyway once in a while. Since it is stand alone, I may try it on a few other computers and see how it runs. Oh, I miss my Dell Laptop. It never gave me a single issue with any of the games I downloaded. Just can't afford a new motherboard right now so I'll just limp along with our dinosaurs for now.

Installs fine on vista 64 and works well. My concern is that once installed and registered on my account the game does not register on my other windows account on the same pc..


......................Moderator Commet........................


Once the game has been registered all you need to do is copy a shortcut to each of the accounts desktops.

Trudie, @ comment 16, Ignore the moderator advice to update internet explorer. dv.exe is not related to explorer at all. short for Deep Voyage.


..........................Moderator Comment..................

I had the Gametop name in my head at the time so didn't make the connection. Deleting that advice now. :)

Re Mod's comment, #16: dv.exe is the game executable itself, not something related to IE.

comment deleted.... sorry GMMan, althuough what you suggest is probable, such information about registration codes isn't allowed on the comments section. Sorry.

great game, downloaded fine, after I read your nots..thanks

I did the unzip, ran the setup and did the authentication. It still doesn't come up. I'm on Windows 2000.....does that make a difference?

this game wont unzip for me. Get the message that Windows cannot open the folder and that the zip file is invalid. Running Vista Home Premium. Tried downloading again and got same problem. Any suggestions anyone?



.......................Moderator Comment...................

I've had this problem from time to time. Download 7 Zip and try using that to unzip the file. also try clearing out your internet cache. there may be a corrupt page thats causing the problem.

You can get 7 Zip from the following link. Make sure you download the version thats appropriate to your OS:

http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

Thanks. Ok W7 Ulit x32. Glad for post pix of icon/key activate. That is often the default register method here. But upon first read I thought they meant to look within actual game for such a thing. Luckily I kept reading posts thinking in game was unusual.
Nice match game having sharp nice images. Level 4 stopped me first time til ran thru 1-3 again just going for the flashing squares to get a faster win time. Then 4 seemed easier to do. Had 2 tokens for some kind of upgrades but haven't gotten to any bonus screen.
Did do the C++ library install to be on safe side.
Oh on first play of level 4, after time expired, I tried to find a Menu or exit method. Tried my ESC key that is tied to a Hot Keyboard
action to close a screen (as is the Intellimouse action). Got a series of cursor arrows repeating across the screen. Finally got exited to desktop. Reran and the level was saved as a completed level ok. Haven't gotten up to that level 7 crash, crossing fingers.
At the first puzzle screen part. Nice change of pace in game is neat.
Appreciate the mod comments about how hard it would be to get a Grade A strategy, expensive, game. Servers and recession are the no no.
Til that passes these little guys are nice fast filler.

very pretty game, but it keeps freezing. not task manager freeze, but all action stops for a minute or so, then resumes. I'm on XP with maxed out memory, but my video card isn't particularly ripped - does this need a better video card?



...........................Moderator Comment.........................

You could try playing the game using Game Booster. A brilliant freeware program (from a reputable developer) that switches off all background processes that are not required to run the game. When you run the program you will be asked if you want to turn off processes from a list of background processes that you have running in your tool bar next to the clock. It will only show those programs that are not required, so its safe to turn most of them off. (If you're playing a game via a games manager don't turn the manager off though) You have to check the boxes for these. Once that's done click the 'obvious' button to start Game Booster.

When you've finished playing, just reverse what you did by opening up Game Booster again and clicking on the large button. All services will be turned back on. The program is easy to use and simple to install. You can get Game Booster from several outlets, but its best to get it from the developers site:

http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html

let us know if it worked. :lol:

W.R,

The "Shop" is nice too.

http://i48.tinypic.com/6nxms5.jpg

...........................Moderators Comment......................

Thanks for the image; I though it would be nice to have it show rather han have to leave the site. :)