Downloaded, deleted, and downloaded again. Windows Vista, says all sound files bad. Norton did NOT give any indications. Don't know what gives here.

Thank you to all for your comments today. They are very much appreciated. :)

After reading the comments about avg detecting problems I double-checked the zip file, the setup file and the game file with AVG and with Malwarebytes - neither detected any problems at all. The game has fun little puzzles - I like that Gardenball allows you to choose your next move at your own pace (at least at the initial levels).

Sorry to hear you're still feeling poorly, Whiterabbit.

uh oh another drug reference,better fix it :O

Gardenball installed fine on my vista x64. Again a nice little game from Wheemplay. I played to level 17, so far pretty easy, but fun. Graphics aren't very spectacular, but ok to me since it's a brainteaser (& only $0.99). Didn't mind the music, but didn't really like it neither. It's nice they included a levels editor.

Thanks GOTD, Wheemplay and Whiterabbit hope you get well soon!

* None of my security software had any problems with Wheemplay and the game !!

Why do some anti-virus programs report a problem when there isn’t one? The answer is in the way they look for problems. Many anti-virus programs look for signatures, that is a specific pattern of bits (1′s or 0′s. If they find that pattern they report a problem. Other anti-virus programs are behavioral in nature. That is they look for specific viral behaviors and so tend to be less prone to falsely reporting a virus or trojan.

Unfortunately the sequential approach is somewhat simplistic. Here’s why. Let’s consider a pavid virus that has the bit sequence 1001001110001……01101001 and has been recently released. The signature oriented anti-virus programs will have that pattern added to their databases at some point in time via updates.

Along comes the game Whack-a-Rabbit. A close look at it’s compiled bit sequence shows a bit sequence of ….11100111001001001110001……01101001000111101110001…
As you can see, the pavid virus bit pattern is included in the Whack-a-Rabbit bit sequence. Sequence oriented anti-virus programs will see that pattern and warn you that there is a virus in the Whack-a-Rabbit code.

We already know and have been assured over and over that GOTD and GGOTD scan their offerings 6 ways from Sunday to make sure that NO GIVEAWAY HAS A VIRUS OR TROJAN OR OTHER NASTY. Therefore we know that the alert that Whack-a-Rabbit has a problem is likely to be a false positive. Furthermore since very few other people have that problem, the alert of a virus present in the giveaway is most likely false. Another way to tell that the report is likely a false positive is the fact that most of the people reporting a problem are using the same anti-virus. Finally, upon running Whack-a-Rabbit nothing strange happens to our computers thus serving as absolute proof that there is no virus present.

The moral of my story is that before you claim that a virus is present, make sure that there really is a virus present. In the many giveaways presented over the 4 or 5 years I have been coming to GOTD, I have yet to see a report of a virus being present in a giveaway actually be true. So please don’t report a virus being present in a giveaway because as I have shown you, signature based antivirus programs can lie to you. If you are that concerned that a virus might be present in the giveaway, run the giveaway in a sandbox program such as Sandboxie. Then, if there really is a virus or trojan or whatever present it won’t damage your system. Whatever you do though, please stop reporting that a virus is present in a giveaway when in fact there really isn’t one. Doing so frightens away a large number of people, which can jeopardize the success of GOTD and GGOTD and thus result in the loss of giveaways and in poorer quality giveaways.


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



Thanks pavid, you've made the point in a very succinct and erudite way. This is going into the FAQ's section. :)

My download was a file called "SpaceJumper". It's a very good game. Eset Smart Security blocked Whemplay's website, first time ever.

Per my avg report in 19, I think I was opening
wheemplay web page when I was downloading game,
and maybe it was the web page that has the Exploit
Backhole Exploit Kit! The game works though! Good game!

Thank you whiterabbit. You take care of yourself. I appreciate and look forward to your reviews whether short or long. I hope you are feeling better in short order! I've dealt with some pain and it's not funny and no one can feel someone else's pain for them.

Should be "Put" the ball in the hole. :)

Ok, I see the same virus warning in #2 and #4.

Scanned with AVG and Malwarebytes, both came up clean.

I see some folks don't like the music. I have to say, I do. I love solo piano, the more pensive the better! Mostly what I listen to. I found the sounds for the game relaxing and very pleasant.

#19, #24. I'm sorry to mention, but my up-to-date Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 has found Trojan-Downloader.JS.Agent in the following objects on Wheemplay website:

http://apps.wheemplay.com/gardenball/js/twitter.js
http://apps.wheemplay.com/gardenball/js/jquery.prettyPhoto.js
http://apps.wheemplay.com/gardenball/js/jquery-1.3.2.min.js
http://apps.wheemplay.com/gardenball/js/tipsy.js

Dido in comment #19 mentions 2 of these objects were detected by AVG as infected (see the pic in #19).
Rene in comment #24 just says that AVG detects 4 files as infected without details re their location.

It doesn't look like false alarm (though developer reassures us in #27). To catch the trojan or get an alarm from your antivirus software it's enough just to open the game's page on Wheemplay website.

I don't know about the game file itself, I just reported the website problem.

Oh, yeah! Great little game! If you ever played the original Azada, and liked the rolling ball maze puzzle, then you will love this. I loved that game, and that puzzle was one of my faves. AND this seems to have a level editor, though I haven't tried it. Should be fun. :oD

Speaking of Azada, if you liked the Robot puzzle, which I did, there's a new game like that called "Running Sheep".

It's not the game that has the problem, it's the website. Avast also claims something's wrong with the JQuery script they are using.

BTW, size comparison: original Flash file, decompressed and de-Wheemplayed (no extra Flash wrapper) is 2,443,428 bytes, while the original EXE is 10,566,020 bytes. It's around a 4.3:1 ratio.

I have to admit that my first reaction to seeing another Wheemplay puzzle game on GGOTD today was... yay! Honestly, I generally like them - they run in a small window and are good for taking a break from work to use one's brain in a different way.

No issues with installing the game (ESET NOD32 has no complaints) or running it on 64-bit Windows 7. Gameplay is serviceable - especially considering the game usually costs less than a dollar.

I would love to see some more details in the graphics (some flowers drawn into the background, for example, since it looks more like minigolfball instead of gardenball) and some better sound effects.

Thanks, Wheemplay and GGOTD for the game and thanks, Whiterabbit, for the heads up on the current sales. I am sorry to hear that you are still feeling ill - I hope you feel better soon.

...viz addictive as crack. Yes that's in bad taste, but even worse is the constant use of "addictive" to describe games. Chiché number one. It's so tired and worn out, can't it be retired?

Thanks for Mac version. Nothing more to add the above comments except it runs fine and is a welcome diversion.

Hey Whiterabbit, hope you feel better! I bought the Humble Bundle last week for $7.50 and I'm glad I bought it!

About the game, this is just like Winterball with a different color/skin.

Ok Win 7 x64 Ultimate. Opens small screen, can enlarge a bit. Can cut off music & sound. Little brain teaser that chess players and those who can think a few moves ahead will enjoy for what it is. Memory lane for this concept. Nice to see still has same sense of minor 'win'. Funny how Less is More still works.
Thanks guys for flashback. Get better WR this is such good weather to be laid up. More carrot juice!

I hope you feel better soon, Whiterabbit.

Dear users,

we have contacted Wheemlay team regarding AVG alarm. Here is the official response from their side:

"Hi gamers, thank you all for playing our small brain teasers. Let us assure you - all our work stations are antivirus protected and we don't have any viruses neither in our workstations, nor in our games. It is definitely a false alarm and we will notify antivirus developers about it."

Sorry for the inconvenience.

--
Regards,
GOTD team


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

Thanks for the support guys.

As Non-competitive, non-violent games go, this is good. It runs well on my WinXP-SP3 box. I will agree with others above that it is a *somewhat* addictive puzzle game. I believe it may also have uses as a component in vision therapy.

OH NO SORRY TO READ THAT YOU ARE STILL ILL WHITERABBIT< GET WELL SOON

My anti-virus software (AVG) found four trojans.

Is it a false alarm???

The game has been tested by the giveaway team and is 100% safe.

Downloaded, installed an runs fine on 32-bit XP Pro (SP3).

I really don't see any "Awesome" graphics, and the soft 'thud' of your hall ("hero"?) is almost inaudible at a volume level where I have to turn most everything else down.

Gameplay is EXTREMELY simple - set the ball off in a direction, and wait until it stops/falls down a black hole/hits an "enemy"/goes off the edge of the screen. I'd like to see the ability to 'turn' the ball part-way along its path. Some angled and curved obstacle would be nice, too.

I suspect the game itself will have a very short shelf-life, and may only survive if users really get into the level editor, and create some really fiendish and/or wacky levels (I wonder if the graphics can be altered?).

Once again wheemplay has given us a simple yet brain teaser type game, next to playrix, wheemplay is my favorite for these genre of games. Type of game if you like to kill some time, though the 1st 6 levels are easy, I havent played past that point. Like the fact it is in window mode and plays well with my netbook. Once again thanks ggaotd and wheemplay for the games every weekend. All ggaotders have a great weekend and enjoy a simplistic game.
To Stephen, Get Better soon mate, we miss your in depth reviews.

~wildspirit~

I like this game. It is challenging, but not too hard.

I agree the music could be changed, but that is about it.

I would not want a hint button as that would defeat the purpose of the game. If majority rules and a hint button is added, make it so you have to earn it (collect "x" number of stars?) and it just showed you the first/next move (not the whole path).

Overall, a good game to pass the time. I would love it on my droid.

I'm 54 and I really like this type of game. Easy on the mind. Thanks.

I have downloaded wheemplay from gotd
before and enjoyed them! I got avg free
antivirus and it put up threat dedected -
Exploit Backhole Exploit Kit!
http://i49.tinypic.com/33w2iyv.jpg
Kind of odd for wheemplay? The avg said
the all items resovled! I was able to play
the gamem so I guess it has healed by AVG,
which is good! Game is resonable good game to play!

Enjoyable little 30 minute Game. Thanks.

It looks like even I could manage this game, but the security setting informed me that the file(s) aare corrupted. It just won't open. Nehmah

this is from the read me txt: To start the program run SpaceJumper.exe i think they used wrong description .

I run the game but (despite clicking the "New Game" button while I hear the music) nothing happens... Any suggestions?

Thank You, Whabbit,

of course, all posts were in moderation because you're not feeling well. ( Hope it's a bit better now?)
It looks like people are repeating the comments about crack, but these were made while there were 'zero'-postings, so they are all individual comments.
And you have more powers than you knew, Whabbit! :)

I didn't realize that I was able to edit the actual giveaway page but tried and was successful. The reference to 'crack cocain' has now been removed. It was definitely not an appropriate comment on a site such as this.

I love these little Wheemplay games. They don't eat up a ton of hd space and they actually make you think before you make a move. Installed and works perfectly on Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that get you inexorably hooked, like playing tetris or smoking crack.
Smoking Crack? Is that a joke? If yes it is the most horrible i've ever read.
GGotD responsibles should check the text first before they put it on their site.

Wheemplay games are often simple and fun to play. The 'physics' utilised by some of them is also quite outstanding. However I have found myself getting bored fairly quickly despite wanting to see what the next level might have in store. The feel you get is always of an old-fashioned Shareware game. There seems to be something about the finish, or overall presentation, and there's a simplicity about the graphics. Having said that, there is always a temporary playability and a price tag of $0.99 is realistic.

As a betting person (which I am), I would be placing large wagers on the big number of comments during the next 23.5 hours about comparing your game to smoking Crack. For most of us, smoking Crack is something to be avoided. It's probably not the best strategy to use for marketing your product.

27 voets , predomanitly negative with no comment made

Quick install on Vista 64-bit

First, I would remove the crack reference from the description since most people can't relate to that and it's not really a universally amusing reference.

The piano music is a little too pensive for any game.

The colors could be a little brighter and more interesting. The appearance and music for this game is very drab. More energetic music, more colors, more flash. Just a little would go a long way.

Would like to see a hint option (if there was one, I didn't find it).

Level editor is a good idea.

Good sound effects, decent graphics for a self-proclaimed simple game, and the puzzles are challenging without being really difficult.

.99c is a really good deal for someone who likes this type of game, and with it being so cheap, anyone should give it a go if they enjoy puzzle games.

'As addictive as smoking crack'?
Why do they think that's a recommendation? :(
Never compare your game to a hard-drug, I say.

This is one of those cute games of Wheemplay, nice for some lost time and as always the first levels are very easy to get through.

The main menu improved and the graphics are OK

How can there be that many thumbs down just 7 minutes after the game was put online. Must be people that want to get rid of a lot of negativity, one advise to them: do it on some forum but not a nice site like GOTD.

Not amusing, at all: "...smoking crack"

Before installing tried to go to the website but avast antivirus blocked the action prompting for a possible trojan.
Tried on my laptop and Microsoft Security Essential did the same.
So decided not to install, something wrong with Wheemplay site, so maybe the game contain a trojan too.
Better not to take risks


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

The game has been tested by the giveaway team and is 100% safe. As I've mentioned many times the giveaway team have never posted a game that has contained any malware since the start of this project back in 2006.

Bad Idea comparing a game to smoking crack
(In the description of the product)

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

I agree. I was going to contact them about that, but am still ill, so never got around to it only saw the game was being posted yesterday.

I'll have to see if I'm able to edit the description.

When I went to this URL, my anti-virus software found four trojans ...



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

The game has been tested by the giveaway team and is 100% safe. As I've mentioned many times before, the giveaway team have never posted a game that has contained malware since the start of this project back in 2006.

I appreciate that you've posted this warning, but please don't let that stop you downloading this game, the game isn't the same as the website.

I wont be posting a review today; I'm still not 100% and I'm exhausted after my cross country visit to a pain management specialist on Thursday. I'll endeavor to moderate throughout the day, but it won't be as regularly as I usually moderate.

Today's game giveaway is a Wheemplay game; most of you know what to expect with these flash based and usually simple games. You get 40 levels of simple puzzles from a download of 7.14MB. This unpacks to the usual read me and a dual activation and set up module.

By default Wheemplay games install directly into the C: \Games\ folder with no folder of their own included. If this is the case today you can easily create one yourself by adding the name of the game to the end of the path during the installation wizards run.

i.e.

C:\Games\Gardenball\

There is a levels editor included with today's game so if you find this game entertaining you will be able to extend the game play by creating your own levels and maybe even sharing them with the giveaway community by posting links to your uploaded creations. :) (You'd have to upload to one of the free upload sites like Gamefront - formerly Filefront to share them with the community)

For those interested Steam has a Paradox Interactive sale on at the moment with 50% off all of their titles/franchises (Magika, Hearts of Iron II & III, Victoria I & II, Mount & Blade, Elven Legacy, East India company, Ship simulator Extremes, Cites in motion, King Arthur, Penumbra plus others. Most of their games are strategy or simulation games. At least one Franchise a day is 75% off. At the moment the Mount & Blade games are 75% off. Today's 24 hour deal is Hacker Evolution: Duality with 70% off.

Alawar has changed it's free game of the month to Land of Runes and Realores game is Turtle Odyssey.

You'll also find loads of sale items via the didimatic site (thugh there are a couple more sites that list even more games but I've lost the links):

http://didimatic.com/dd/en/about/


If you have any problems running the game please refer to the FAQ's over in the forums. you can access the FAQ's via the following link:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/11647

Have a great weekend folks. A more substantial game will be offered tomorrow that newcomers to the project should enjoy.