GameBox Classics
PDAMill
Price: $9.95
O/S: Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003
For Axim Users Dot Com
By RommelS
The last time I reviewed a PDA Mill game, they’ve reinvented an old Windows game to a more visually exciting game. Once again, they’ve reinvented classic games to a more exciting and graphically stunning game. Oddly enough, they’ve name the software GameBox Classics, so don’t get intimidated, they’re the same old arcade and MS-DOS games with a touch of 21st Century feel into it.
Installation:
Installation of the application is through ActiveSync. I’ve tested the application on both main memory and external memory, and I didn’t see any difference in speed when playing the game.
Features
When it comes to features, PDAMill sure does pack a lot of features. In this case, another set of games galore. The software comes with the following games:
• Aqua Blocks
This game is Tetris in water. Yes I remember getting crazy with this game when I played it on my Nintendo Game System in the late 80s.
• Aqua Blocks Plus
This game is basically Tetris with a degree of difficulty. Each block that goes down has one different color in its section.
• Jewel Master
Get your thinking caps going; this reminds me of Jawbreaker with a twist.
• Cannons
Hit your opponent’s tank with precise trajectory. This one really came a long way from its MS-DOS game counter-part.
• Snake
Yet another MS-DOS game, but our pet has reincarnated to bigger, bolder, and funnier snake. Did I hear that snake burp and expell gas?
• Fireball
Remember the game that Steve Jobs programmed for the Atari 2600 for $5000 – Breakout? That was the game that started it all. During the years, different versions of the game have appeared even up to now. The latest version is now in Pocket PC.
I don't recall how to play these games
Don’t be afraid. If for some reason you don’t remember the game, each game has its own information for you to refresh your memory
Wait, are you sure these are the same games I’ve played? They look so different.
Yes I’m sure these are the same games. PDAMill makes sure that their game isn’t only exciting to play, but also pleasing to the eyes.
Music ...I don’t recall playing these games with music in it.
That is the beauty of technology. Again give credit PDAMill for creating such a small application that’s has tons of games with added upbeat music to it.
Of course if you really want to feel nostalgic, you may turn of the background music.
How did the game fair with the Dell Axim Navigation Button?
Some of the games do require the Navigation Button extensively, but the button did respond properly.
Scores, it can track scores?
Of course as we all know, all games now can store your highest score, but PDAMill added the
Internet Synchronized Feature to GameBox Classic. This allows you to load your scores to PDAMill’s website for other players to see. The scores can be synchronized via the
PDAmill Highscore application on your desktop. The application requires ActiveSync running in the background.
Closing the application
TSR (Terminate Stay Resident), remember that term that you hardly hear now these days, but it was a very popular term during the DOS days? With GameBox Classics, the same with GameBox Solitaire, it unloads everything from memory when you quit the program.
Wish List
When is the next version coming out Mr. Balogh?
Conclusion
GameBox Classics is a game that I could recommend to everyone that has a Pocket PC. It sure could give you plenty of enjoyment. Although these are updated games based on classic games, PDAMill sure did a great job of keeping the object of the games the same. Thanks to the new facelift, and a few tweaks here and there, it will surely attract younger gamers out there - making the games truly stand the test of time.
Linear Mode
