Dear Connie

Try install the exe in safe mode!

Best regards

Sorry that my comment addressed an issue that seems to be not only common but answered repeatedly. Unfortunately I did miss this game but it happens I suppose. Thanks for the giveaways and for being so patient with all of us

First of all: this downloaded very easily without asking me to do anything about facebook. It opened in full screen. However, I'm usually a persistent sort of person and if I start a game I'll continue to the bitter end, but this one I've had to delete. It was so boring looking for seemingly invisible items. Even when I took a hint I couldn't see the item and having clicked for ages for about a cm around the hint something was found. I just gave up. Sorry!

I apologise for any bad comments I've made, it IS the security software blocking install, my bad, sorry.

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

I've deleted the inappropriate comment.

i commeneted on this as to the nasty comments this game has and he deleted it and i kept it clean the game had potential but with the half screen the small hidden objects and vertually no help this game should have not ever made this far so moderator you going to delete this again how about fixing the problem like games that crash when you are so close to the end

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

I always leave a message to community members who post comments unless it is spam, or an abusive comment, and even then, if I don't recognize the offending community member, they will get an initial warning not to post such comments again. I have not deleted any comments this week and for the past several weeks as the spammers that were infesting this comments section a few months ago seem to have gone now that the giveaway team have implemented a vpn blocker. also, comments are not moderated 24/7. I tend to be the only moderator operating most of the time so cannot be here all the time. I retired early last night, so your previous comment, may not have been moderated until this morning.

I use Avast and they seem to have added something new in the last couple of months. Like others I can activate but not install. Followed your advice of a few weeks back and was able to active just fine.

Now I don't seem to be getting very far. What appeared to be full screen chopped off the left side of the screen, blocking me from clicking on a couple of clues. Tried going to windowed and it is still chopping things off. Returning to full screen now everything is off to the right.

I am assuming that the screen resolution is the problem and I'd suggest that the developers advise the player of what resolution works best. I will try again later as I'd really like to play this.

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

Hi Lonni, hope you got the issue sorted. If turning off your security didn't work, try changing the screen resolution and compatibility mode. This game was made several years ago and may not work well on all newer machines. That said, it worked fine on my win 10 computer.

awful game, very little help and the comments made are very rude and un called for ban this game and creator from all future giveaways he has violated the keep it clean

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

I didn't see any comments in game that were inappropriate?

HI,

The game downloaded fairly quick on 8 and opened quickly. The graphics are good and game play is easy. At first it seemed run of the mill, do one activity and proceed. Going through the house was boring and had to figure out each next movement. Some of the hog items are are hard to find as they are blended in the backgrounds, but that makes it a little more challenging, which is good! As you progress you have to put things together to progress, again a little more difficult than run of the mill. You go back and forth checking for the hidden sections. i liked that you had to start and drive the car to proceed also. Thus, as I proceeded I liked it more. There could be more activity and little more updating computer wise, but I like it!! Thanks for another great game and have a good week all!

Thank you! Lee

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Thank you for your feedback Lee. :)

Hi,
The game will not install... Double-clicking the setup file brings up the "Activating" small window and then the "Successfully Activated" small window. Installation does not start. Clicking the "Close" button in that small window opens up a tab in Firefox (Crossworlds: The Flying City activated — what next?). Installation never starts...
Have retried a few times with always the same results...
Have downloaded the game a second time with the same exacts results. Installation never starts...
Have tried to install on a second computer with the same exact results. Installation never starts...
Please advise.
Thanks!
Serge

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Hi Serge

It's probably your security that is blocking the installation of today's game. since the Themida wrapper was introduced three years ago it's a common occurence. There are three ways (at least) that you can do to get the game installed. The easiest is to temporarily turn off your security until the game has been installed. The giveaway team have been giving games away virtually every weekend for over 10 years and in the first 18 months virtually every day and have never given away an infected game becasue they always thoroughly check the game before it can be downloaded using several decent security bundles. You can also try white-listing the giveaway files with your security or finally rebooting your computer in safe mode with networking, then install the game. Themida code can also be used to hide malware, which is why some security software blocks the installation. It is a false positive.

I had this game already. It's ok, but a long out drawn game. I got tired of it. Maybe take it up at a later time again. Thanks everyone for keeping the games free...

Received game via email. Unzipped and ran setup. Window appeared indicating game was successfully activated. No further info from setup ... no installation; nothing else happened. Ran twice with same results.

It's possibly your security that is blocking the game. It has done so for several of the games we've got recently for me and other community members as well. This is becasue the giveaway files are wrapped in a Themida based wrapper to protect the game from hackers. Unfortunately Themida can also be used to hide malware, though in this case it's not. As I've said many times the giveaway team have been giving away games for over 10 years virtually every weekend and for the first 16 months of the project virtually every day of the week, and have never given away a dirty game. They always check all games thoroughly with several anti malware suites to ensure they are clean.

There are three things you can try, the easiest is to temporarily turn off your security, install the game, then turn it back on, or you can try white-listing the giveaway files with your security software and finally reboot your computer into safe mode with networking then install the game. Each one should fix the issue. you may have tio do it with all of these games, but it is worth trying initially without doing them to see if it installs.

The giveaway team were forced to add the Themida wrapper about 3 years ago becasue it had become common knowledge how to rip off the executable easily and then be able to install the game at your leisure any time any where. Some community members were even posting details on blog sites and you tube showing how to do it. this was impacting on developers giving us games because their games were appearing on Peer to peer sites.

Am able to download and activate but it will not actually create a usable copy of the game. Says it is activated but then when I go to open and play it is nowhere to be found.

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

Please read the replies I made to Serge and Jerry, thank you.

D/l'd and installed and run in fullscreen fine on Win 8.1. As a major (some might say obsessive :)) fan of HOG/adventure/puzzle games, I always get a lift when I see a new one offered here. But while after playing for a little while I'm going to keep at this one, I do have some complaints and comments:

1. For me, having a map that indicates when there is (often new) stuff to complete somewhere is a great addition to these kind of games, since HOG scenes and tasks are always being added; when there is no map (as unfortunately seems more the case lately), at least I can use the hints to see where to go next. But in this one, not being able to use hints to see where to go next (the whole backtracking thing) with no map with indicators of stuff still to do is a big downer for me right there. I don't mind hints taking a while to refresh as I REALLY try not to use them, but for navigation, in the absence of a map, they are critical for me. How else to know that there's now a new HOG in a place I've already looked?
2. If correct, the dearth of puzzles that is reported in the review will make this a lot less enjoyable for me than it should be. HOGs are fun, but need to be broken up with challenging puzzles to really score with me.
3. Others have complained about poor graphics in this one, but honestly, so far, while defintely kind of mediocre, they don't seem all that bad. I don't mind unsophisticated, just hate hard-to-see and so far, there were a few that fit that complaint (i.e. the horse statue not being the obvious one on the desk but VERY blended into the window). But so far (may get worse) I wouldn't complain about the graphics.
4. I'm usually pretty savvy about figuring out how to play the mini-games, but I have to say the electrical wires one had me stumped until I finally, with the help of a walkthrough, realized what had to be clicked. And the wires in that one WERE very hard to see for me. If the other mini-games are as poorly explained, a big "boo, and thank goodness there's a walkthrough" :).

I have only played through a bit at this point, and since I'm enjoying it more than the review led me to expect, I will keep at it. But so far, I can see this isn't going to be a big thumbs-up; last week's Joan Jade adventure, while far from the top in this genre, beats this one easily.

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Hi neme

Excellent feedback, well deserving a Steam key. Make sure you let me know from the list of games I've posted what you want HERE

Not working, not working and not working, did i mention it's NOT working.
No excuses about different OS's

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

Apart from those who are having issues with security blocking the install, there are no complaints about the game not working. You don't make it clear what the actual problem is. did you manage to get it to install, then find it's not working, or are you having the same issue as Serge, Jerry and others. If it is the latter please read my reply to Serge and Jerry. Thank you. If it's the former, it's most likely an issue with the way you have your computer set up, it's definitely not the actual download as thousands of community members have already downloaded the game . If many of those were also having issues, this comments section would have been swamped with complaints.

Sometimes you know after a few minutes of play that this is not a game for you. This is one of those times. Nothing to add to the reviews by WhiteRabbit and Rosalind. As for the indiegala giveaway. When I activated brilliant bob it looks like it gave me 3 games. It mentioned Brilliant Bob, Why so evil and Why so evil 2. As I already had the last two I can't be sure 100% but the activation window sure seems to confirm my suspicion

I have downloaded and installed onto my Win7Pro 64 this game with no trouble at all. After about an hour passed (didn't realize the time) I had to stop. I do not leave comments but just had to for this game. Thank you GAOD for giving out this game today and thanks to My Play City too. This is the best HOG that I have played for a very long time. I love HOG and so glad I decided to try this one.

This one didn't appeal to me as it quickly became tiresome. I wanted to do something interesting other than interminable hidden object searches right at the beginning when you want to get into the story. The graphics were very outdated as well. As someone else commented the game can't be played full screen which isn't a big turn off if the story invites you in. However, struggling through long searches when you don't know whether the eventual pay off will be worth it doesn't invite the hopeful player in, either. There needs to be a sense of urgency in the beginning and the player heading somewhere on the road to adventure before the first hidden object scene is given. I want the focus to be on story, character and even some dialogue rather than pixel hunting. Cant comment any more as I've abandoned the game for now. I might come back to it later, though.

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Thank you for your feedback Wendy, appreciated.

Indie Gala Is giving away Brilliant Bob.

https://www.indiegala.com/dieyoung#giveaway

Scroll halfway down and and click on the "X" in the blacked out section.

Got church..Later....

Win10 64bit Home. I remember this game from way back. I couldn't get this to run in full screen even with all the Compatiabilty changes. Any ideas?

I have tried the game and it runs well on windows 10. I didn't enjoy playing the game because the hints took too long to recharge and sometimes it was difficult to tell where they were indicating when you pressed the hint button. The story line wasn't interesting and the graphics are rubbish. Consequently I am going to uninstall the game.

I have no FB account, co cannot download.
Enailed link doesnt work.

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

Contact the giveaway team with your issue. Though do check other emails you may have used to sign in previously because the first one used is the one kept on record and is the one used to send keys and links to. This is for security purposes and to stop community members farming keys and entering multiple times in competitions. You can contact the giveaway team HERE. Tell then what the problem is, and what email and name you used.

Please only post comments about today's game giveaway; other comments either inappropriate, or not about today's game will be deleted at the moderator or administrators discretion; however a little light banter among community members and with the moderator to keep this a friendly place to visit is acceptable and welcomed. All comments not specifically about today's game giveaway will be judged by the moderator and if deemed not appropriate, will be deleted with no explanation. Please see the end of this review for a link to more details about posting comments, other game deals and links to the teams contact form , moderation policy and the FAQ's thread, thank you.

Crossworlds: The Flying City

In Brief

Crossworlds: The Flying City is a Hidden Object game with a few puzzles thrown in.

Suggestions:

Whether you like or dislike Crossworlds: The Flying City please give some feedback about your opinion of todays game giveaway, for example, what you liked or disliked about the game, and how it could be improved from your point of view. If you don't like this genre at all, please explain why. What improvements would change your opinion? There are thousands of subscribers to the game giveaway of the day every weekend which makes this an ideal forum for giving developers ideas as to what their consumers (i.e you) would like to see in a game. For example, you could suggest extra content such as better or more original mini games, or a level editor that you would like to see that would make it more appealing to you. Maybe you think the graphics are a little dated and are in need of re skinning, or maybe you've just had enough of the genre and want to see something different or something with more originality? Giving such feedback instead of saying nothing or just saying this game is rubbish or good may bring more developers to the site, which could mean more and better games. Would you give away thousands of copies of a game (or extra content for a game) away to a community that complains all the time instead of giving useful feedback? It only takes a few moments of your time. This site could be transformed if only the community would be more forthcoming in their opinions of the games they are getting for free instead of complaining about the way this site has changed or that they don't like Steam games. If something isn't for you then move on to the next giveaway, or check out the extra's section at the end of this review; you never know, you may find something that interests you..

If you miss today's game giveaway it no longer seems to be available via MyPlayCity, but you can buy it via Big Fish Games HERE.

Installation:

Crossworlds: The Flying City downloads to a 198 MB zip file that unzips to three files, (a setup.gcd security wrapper, the set up file and a read me). Those with multiple hard drives are able to save games on any drive they wish. The newly installed game is 196 MB in size. The game installs to the following path by default, but can be changed by the user if you prefer:

C:\Program Files (x86)\MyPlayCity.com\CrossWorlds - The Flying City

Four shortcuts are installed to the desktop. three of which can be safely deleted (Play Online Games, MyPlayCity Games and shortcuts to a free online game which vary each week). Also, if you don't like icons installed to the quick launch task bar, make sure you uncheck the box when the additional tasks window appears (after the Select Start Menu Folder window)

Introduction:

Monica and her father, Professor Dumbdore, have invented a unique device, a teleporter that enables traveling though parallel worlds! Mysteriously, Monica’s father disappears and it’s up to her to track him down! Investigate the different worlds and meet interesting characters as you track down Monica’s father in Crossworlds: The Flying City, an exciting Hidden Object game.

Reference accessed HERE. 23rd April 2017

If you have a problem installing or activating or getting Crossworlds: The Flying City to work please visit the problems section, which I've now incorporated into the FAQ's thread, and which you can find HERE

The Game:

CrossWorlds: The Flying City is, at its best, your standard combination of hidden object and puzzle gameplay. At its worst, however, it is a game with muddy graphics, a horrible hint system, a very shallow and downright head-scratching story and an altogether far too difficult experience for what you get out of the game in return.

CrossWorlds: The Flying City follows Monika, a young woman with a scientist for a father. Her father creates a teleporter and uses it to head off on an adventure. Things go horribly wrong, as you’d expect, and your father is lost in another dimension. You must travel through the teleporter yourself to try and rescue him from the Flying City, but the story throughout your journey (and ultimately the ending of the game) makes little to no sense.

Gameplay here is fairly standard. You’ll travel from location to location completing numerous (too numerous) hidden object scenes (find items on a list), which each scene containing a single object that you’ll need to use elsewhere in the world. You’ll travel through three different dimensions (Robot World, River World, and the Flying City), that each contain just a handful of scenes, meaning that you’ll spend the vast majority of your time backtracking from one location to another, repeating the same hidden object scenes, albeit with a few different items hidden in different locations.

There are a few (emphasis on “few”) puzzles to complete along the way, in the form of jigsaw puzzles or tile-rotation puzzles. With so many hidden object scenes to complete, you’ll be happy to see these puzzles when they arrive, as they break up the monotony.

Technically, the game is far more difficult, and therefore lengthy, than it really should be. The graphics throughout the entire game are nothing to write home about, but the hidden object scenes in particular suffer from downright ugly graphics. It’s difficult to tell what you’re looking at amidst the chaos of items stacked two and three deep, and you’ll likely have to resort to using a hint to find many items. Unfortunately, the hint recharge meter starts from zero in every scene, and takes far too long to recharge, only adding to the frustration.

In addition, the gameplay is far from linear, due to the aforementioned backtracking. While backtracking definitely isn’t unheard of in this genre, most other titles include a hint system if you get stuck. Not so here, as you are forced to sometimes make your way back through the entire portion of your current world just to find a sparkling area signifying a new hidden object scene. There is no rhyme or reason for most of their locations, so it’s almost entirely unintuitive as to where you need to go next in these instances.

The story, as we said, makes little sense. Why you first travel to Robot World and River World before ever reaching the Flying City is never explained, and the Flying City portion of the game is the shortest of the three. In the few clues that you are given, you’ll learn that your father has apparently been a naughty boy on his travels, but whether or not his actions were his own (or that of some sort of a possessor) isn’t revealed.

The game ends with a cliff-hanger, as a creature resembling the devil screams at you for your actions in freeing a monster (weren’t we just trying to free our father?) who will now destroy every dimension in existence if you don’t stop him. This screams of a sequel, of course, but with gameplay as disappointing as this, and a story that is so off-the-wall, I’d personally be fine seeing the series end with this.

Ultimately, CrossWorlds: The Flying City is one to avoid unless, like today you are getting it for free and for HOG/puzzle aficionados. While there is some satisfaction to be had from deducing your next move with little help from the game itself, the frustration that can accompany this is too much to bare. If there were ever a game to try before you buy, this would be it.

Edited reference accessed HERE. Original review written by Brandy Shaul on 17th Jan 2011. Edited by Whiterabbit-uk 23rd April 2017

Other Reviews, Videos and a Walkthrough of Crossworlds: The Flying City:

You can check out community reviews of Crossworlds: The Flying City HERE and more information in the Big Fish forums HERE and HERE.

You can see some videos of game play HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. You'll also find a written walkthrough over on big fish Games HERE.

Conclusion:

HOG graphics have come a long way since this game was released, though there were beautifully rendered HOG's before this was released, for example the earlier Dreamscape games. I did find some of the hidden objects cleverly hidden, but overall I didn't enjoy playing this game. The graphics were sub standard and navigation seemed haphazard. Overall I'd rate this at the most a 5 out of 10 and I think that is being generous. I don't particularily enjoy HOG's anymore unless they are beautifully rendered, have a plausible story, excellent puzzles and well thought out hidden object scenes. This one was confusing at times and not very entertaining. I was playing far better HOG's fifteen years ago (the I Spy series) before they became as popular as they have become in more recent years.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MyPlayCity for giving away Crossworlds: The Flying City and also to the game giveaway team, as always, for securing other ways to get free games.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

The problems section that used to be posted here in the Game review is now included in the Game Discussion FAQ's thread; which you can find HERE.

I've updated the games section that used to be posted with the review. The thread is now called 'Weekly round up of game deals', formerly the games section of the weekly reviews. You can find the new thread (which I've posted in the sticky section of the game discussion forums to make it easier to find if you are perusing the game discussion forums) HERE.

The rest of the information that used to be posted here can be found in the forums HERE. I haven't had the time to update certain sections over the last few weeks due to my extended stay away from home (trying to catch up with stuff I should have finished weeks ago including sending out those steam keys to community members that are still owed keys. some members have still not responded. Please check the thread HERE to see if you are a winner. Most of the information posted is still valid and the links that take you to certain deals that no longer exit will still take you to the places where new deals are now live. If you've connected your Steam account to GOG via GOG connect and you own any of the Saints Row games on Steam you can add all four Saints Row games i.e. Saints Row II, Saints Row The Third - The Full Package, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell and Saints Row IV: Game of the Century Edition to your GOG account until Wednesday27th April. HERE. Saints Row II is no longer available for free either on GOG or Steam; the offer ended last night. Also available free from GOG at the moment (using the offer code quoted below) is Fantasy General, available via Indie Game Bundles HERE After clicking HERE, click another HERE on the Indie bundles page to go to the correct GOG page using the code FB200KGIVEAWAY (should be already loaded). Finally check out the Important Information section via the first link in this paragraph,especially if you have an account at DOT.emu, which is closing down in June