Review: All the Best MacGames 2000

By: Kirk Hiner

Genre: Freeware/Shareware Collection

Format: 2 CDs

Developer: Various

Publisher: Lazerworks

General Requirements: CD-ROM, color monitor

Network Feature: No

3Dfx Support: No

Retail Price: $20.00

Availability: Out Now

My roommate my freshman year of college was Canadian. Actually, he was only my roommate for the last two quarters. After my first roommate moved out to live with a guy who didn't mind him juggling flaming tennis balls at four in the morning, I got Steve. He came from the room of my friends Willy and Scott, who agreed to give me a case of Barq's Root beer if I'd get the guy out of their room.

But Steve isn't the only association I have with our brothers up north. I own two Men Without Hats CDs, I firmly believe that--next to Monty Python--The Kids in the Hall are the best comedy troupe of all time, and I saw Alanis Morisette in concert last year. But I'll tell you what; those don't hold a candle to the volume of entertainment I now have courtesy of Canada. I'm in possession of 750 Mac games thanks to All the Best MacGames 2000.

Okay, so chances are that not all 750 games were made by Canadians. For all I know, none of them were. But the two CD collection was compiled by a company called Lazerworks, hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan. Lazerworks is comprised of the family Whelan: three girls, a boy, and mom and dad. And what do you get from such a family? Family oriented games, of course.

The premise is simple. Between the two CDs, you get 750 shareware/freeware games. The freeware titles are yours to keep, of course, but the shareware games still must be registered and paid for. In this manner, MacGames 2000 serves more as a convenience than anything else. If you're the type who spends hours searching for and downloading games, then this CD is a welcome blessing. However, that also makes it a curse. Having access to this many shareware games means you'll either be paying a lot more money to shareware authors, or ripping them off more...depending on whether or not you're evil.

At this point, let me make one thing clear; 750 is an awful lot of games. I mean, if you want some masking tape, and instead of going out and buying one roll you come home with 750, that's a lot of tape. Will you eventually use it all up? It's possible, but chances are that a lot of it will go to waste. Such is the case with MacGames 2000. Sorting through the volume of games to find some that are really enjoyable...it's almost overwhelming. Luckily, Lazerworks makes it a little easier on you.

Each CD is split into categories: cards, mind games, puzzles, space & strategy, etc. Some of these are split into subcategories as well. That's pretty much a necessity with twenty-one solitaire games, I'd think. Does the world really need that much solitaire? I guess that the first assignment students have in Programming 101 is to code their own solitaire game. Heck, there's more solitaire games on the net than there are drinking games at a Sig Ep party.

Back to the review, Lazerworks was also kind enough to label the games for compatibility. Games that can only be played on a Power Mac are flagged with a warning symbol, as are those that can't run directly off the CD. I found the latter to be exceptionally helpful, since I much to prefer to try out games without the bother of actually placing them on my hard drive. A word of warning, though; remember that most games dump files in your preferences folder. If you're just trying out a bunch of games, be sure to go in there and clean up all the garbage from games you won't keep. I find it helpful to assign a label to all the icons in the folder. That way, when a new file gets dumped, it's easy to spot because of the different colored icon. Consider that a free Hint from Hiner.

Lazerworks was also smart to use two sets of aliases to activate the games. Along with filing them by genre, the games are also filed by title. Quite helpful if you're looking directly for Squirt Derby..and aren't we all looking for a little Squire Derby sometimes?

So how are the games themselves? Listen, if you people thinking I'm going to review 750 games for you, then you're absolutely nuts. You know how it is with shareware/freeware. Some are great, some suck, and all of them are better than anything by Sierra.

Hard core gamers probably aren't going to go for this package. If only games such as Tomb Raider III and Age of Empires thrill you, then stay away from All the Best MacGames 2000. But if you're a more casual gamer who likes the occasional diversion or who prefers the simplicity of the games of yesteryear, then MacGames 2000 may be just what you need. At only $20, it puts an awful lot of material at your fingertips...sort of like getting the complete works of William Shakespeare in one volume. Sure, you have to pay more to keep playing some of the games. But if my dad was willing to pay $750 to buy the right to pay $400 to see the Cleveland Browns lose every home game this season, then I'm sure that most people won't mind the pricing scheme on All the Best Mac Games 2000.

Me? I'm going to go have a Barq's Root beer, put on some Men Without Hats, and play me a little Squirt Derby.

Hmm...maybe these games aren't all family oriented after all.

Oh, take it easy. It was just a joke.

.

February 08, 2012