Game Review: Carmen Sandiego

I haven't posted on here in awhile. We just got back from Pittsburgh, and not long before that, we went on a trip to Cincinnati. So, it has been pretty busy around here.

I was't exactly sure what to write about. I could tell about our trips, but I didn't get many pictures, and I don't think we did anything that would excite you all. So, I thought I would show you a little "preview" of my other blog, "Sammy's Reviews."

I know that I have told you about my other blog, where I post book/game/movie/music reviews.I don't post on it much. I can hardly keep up with this one. But it is fun to write reviews every one in awhile, so I thought I would review a game on this blog, so you can kind of see what the other blog is like. And maybe, you might want to follow that one also.

So, the game I am reviews today is...

   Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasure of Knowledge

This game came out back in 2001, but was updated in 2007. (I have the oldest copy) 

If you don't know who Carmen Sandiego is, she is a world famous villain, who will steal pretty much whatever she can get her hands on. She works for V.I.L.E., a group of thieves. You, on the other hand, work for A.C.M.E. The "good guys." Your job in all of the games are to find Carmen, and retrieve the things she has stolen.

I guess back in the late 80's-early 90's, there was a Carmen Sandiego television series. I personally, haven't seen it, but I did hear that in the next year or so, Walden Media is going to make a Carmen Sandiego movie. And I guess Jennifer Lopez is going to have some part in it. Who knows? Maybe she'll be Carmen. She does kinda look like her...

Anyway, I am getting off the subject. In this game, you are working with two ACME agents...Jules Argent-A smart agent who used to work with Carmen when she was with ACME, and Shadow Hawkins-A new ACME rookie who want's to think he is tougher than he really is. That is one thing I liked about the game. Jules and Hawkins don't get along to well at the beginning. But as the game goes on, they have to learn to work together, which helps them both.

Anyway, Carmen starts stealing things, and as an ACME agent, it is your job to find clues around the world in different countries to help you find the stolen objects. That is one thing in the game that was kinda "over the top." Jules and Hawkins just HAPPEN to go to the EXACT place in the WORLD to find what they are looking for. But I have to keep telling myself..."Sam, it's a kids game." 

There are several logic puzzles in this game, which are my favorite. But the main part of this game is geography. They never tell you exactly where you have to go. They will give you small hints, like, "The capitol of this county is Paris." Or something like that.

If you don't know the answer, you can use a game based database to search words or places, and it will tell you what county you are looking for. It come very useful in the game. You can also learn words and phrases in different languages. (That is mainly for fun)

There are eight missions in this game. Each mission you find something Carmen has stolen, and at the end, you find out the reason she stole the things she did. 

This game is meant for 8-12 year old's. I was about nine, when I first played this game. I did end up finishing it eventually, but it took awhile. It was one of those games that you really get into, then put it down and don't play with it for awhile. Just recently, I pulled the game back out to play it. There were a few places that I got stumped, but I eventually figured out what I did wrong. 

Altogether, the game is pretty corny. The graphics aren't the best, and it isn't quite up to date. (When in New York City, you can see the Twin Towers from your bedroom window) But I did enjoy myself while playing it again. I think one of the reasons I had fun, was because it brought back many memories playing it in our basement with my brothers watching me, and because I love the whole mystery/secret agent plots. 

You can buy this game on Amazon for less than $7.00. Depending on your personality, this could be a good or bad price. But if you want to learn more about the world geography, this game is defiantly for you. I learned so many facts by playing this game. And although it might not help you ace that geography test you didn't study for..It sure does make you feel smarter. And that is one of the best feelings to have.

A Very Long Day

Today was a long day.
I don't know if you really want to hear about what I did today, but I am going to share it anyway. :)

I woke up at 6:30am. Every morning, my mom and I will go down to the park down the street and walk on the path. We can walk 2 miles in less than 45 minutes. We like to go early, because we like the park to ourselves. :)

So, we went down there. We walked a mile when we decided we were going to stop. (It was really cold!) We thought later that day we would go back and walk the other mile. (But we didn't)

So, once we got back in the car, we drove to Sonic to get breakfast. I got a breakfast burrito, and I got my brother French Toast sticks. (My other two brothers and dad were at a camp out)

When we got home, we ate our breakfast, and then all of us got dressed in clean clothes, (Not sweaty workout ones) And we got back in the car and went to Hobby Lobby.

They were having a sale on Scrapbook paper, and my mom wanted to get some. (She has an obsession with paper.) lol Okay, not really...;) So, we got some paper, and I got a bracelet making kit.

Then, we went to Target. There was a sale on Sims 3 Games. Buy one, get one Free, which is a really good price! And my mom said she would buy one for me, so I could get the second one free. I ended up getting Sims Pets, and Sims Ambitions. But...I haven't played them yet. Why? (I will get to that later)

After we left Target, we went to Radio Shack, and got a purple cord for my ipod, (mine broke) and then my brother got some gadget for the computer, (I'm not sure what it is) And my mom bought batteries.

Then, we went home to drop Collin off, and then my mom and I went to the post office to send some bills, and my thank you cards for my party 2 months ago...:p

After the post office, my mom and I walked over to the Monroe 1812 Historical Museum to get information about renting costumes. (Apparently, you can rent costumes that look like outfits that people from 1812 would wear.) I need it for a school field trip. (I tell you guys about that some other time)

So...after that we went to Kroger, where did did a huge grocery shopping trip. And guess what I got? A lunch-able! I haven't had one of those since a 3rd grade Field Trip! :) My mom also bought 10 of the small Sunny D's for the kids that were camping out. So, after we were done at the store, we went to my brother's friend's house to give the kids the drinks.

And just to let you know...It is about noon now...

So, we stayed at their house for about an hour. I ate my lunch-able, and my mom talked to her friend, (My brother's friend's mom) Then, we went out to their chicken coop, and looked at the chickens. But I was really cold, so I went back to the car.

Once we were done there, we came back home. And do you know what I did then? I did School.

Yes I know! School on a Saturday! Does that seem wrong or what? Actually, I didn't HAVE to do it, but I wanted to. What to know why?

Well, do you remember when I said that I got the Sims3 Games, and I couldn't play them? Well, the reason why is this...

The only way my mom would buy them for me is if I finished ALL my school before I played them. And when I say all, I mean all. Not just for the day, or week, but the whole year. And let me tell you a secret...I'm really far behind...But don't tell anyone. I don't want people to know...

So, I sat down today and decided I was just going to do as much as I could. I decided to work on English, because I was the farthest in that. I was in Unit 6 of 9. (Crazy, I know) So, I sat at the computer, and worked, and worked, and worked, and worked, and worked for about 4 hours non stop. When my mom came back in the room, she asked how I was going. That's when I looked to see how far I had gone, and I was actually really surprised...

19 Lessons...19 LESSONS!!!

That was 2 units! I was now in unit 8!! I was actually really excited! So, when my mom and dad went out for dinner that night, I sat back down and finished 12 more...Another Unit!

So, on one Saturday afternoon, I finished 31 lessons, which equals 3 units. That means I only have one left!

15 more lessons, and I will be done with English for the year. I probably won't do it tonight, I am kinda brain fried...Plus, I need to clean my room before Mom and Dad come home.

Anyway, that was my day. It was very long, but it was a very good day. I would like to have another one like it soon...Very soon. :)

See you all later!!

Trail of the Twister Rocks!

Hi Guys! It's me! I am really excited to say that...

I SOLVED TRAIL OF THE TWISTER!!!!

Okay, so I know that many of you have no idea what I'm talking about. Well, I'll tell you.

I am in Love with this series of Computer games by Her Interactive. They are Nancy Drew computer games. There are 22 in the series so far, and they have been making the games since 1998. The newest game that came out, came out on June 29th of this year. And of course, I got the game the day it came out. :) That game is Trail of the Twister. Out of all the 22 games, I have played them all, own 19 of them, and have solved 14 of them. The games are full of puzzles and games. You have to question suspects, sneak around, and at the end of the game, confront who you think did it. In the games, you have second chances. Which means that if you do something that your not supposed to do, (Get in a car crash, fall off a ladder, or blow something up. Stuff like that) You can get a second chance, which means that you can start from just before you did that. You don't have limits to second chances. I remember the one I had the hardest part was in the game Secret of Shadow Ranch. You had to get up on a horse. But the only problem was, that I kept falling off the horse. I had no idea why. I probley got a second Chance about 20 times before I figured out why I kept falling off. (I didn't tighten the Cinch.) Pretty dumb of me, right? lol. So that's kinda what the games are like. I'm going to tell you a little about Trail of the Twister.


$100,000,000 is at stake in this competition to discover a formula to predict tornado touchdowns. But when equipment starts failing and crew members are injured, you as Nancy Drew, must join the team to keep them in the competition. Is it just bad luck that's plaguing the storm chasers or is someone sabotaging their chances of winning in Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister?

This is home base - always come back here if something goes wrong. But what do you do if the threat is coming from within the team?


TOUCHDOWN! Be careful when chasing storms or you'll wind up in the decimated debris!


A threatening cloud gathers over the homestead - is this an ominous sign of things to come?


Budgets are tights and with all the accidents, will the team run out of funding and chances?

We're not finished yet! Not it's time to Meet the Suspects!

Scott Varnell Leader of the Canute Storm Chasers and professor at the University. Although he might be in charge of the team, he's quick to blame others for all of the troubles they're having instead of taking responsibility. Is he trying to divert attention from something he has done?

Debbie Kircum
Debbie is eager, passionate, and dedicated to her work. As Scott's right hand, she handles the majority of the day to day operations of the team. At times it seems like she does most of the work but receives the least amount of credit, could she be sabotaging the team to show them just how important she really is?

Frosty Harlow
Toby "Frosty" Harlow is the team's media expert who earned his nickname from a close encounter with a large and dangerous storm. The nickname unfortunately went to his head and continues whet his appetite for fame and fortune. Would he go so far as to sellout his own team just to make his financial dreams come true?

Chase Relerford
As a meteorology undergrad student, spending his first season out in the field, Chase is a remarkably good mechanic. He is capable of fixing everything from computers to cars, and as far as he's concerned, "there's no saboteur, things just get broke and have to be fixed." If he's so good with machines, why doesn't he notice the sabotage, or is he just covering for his own crimes?

Pa
Pa runs the Ma and Pa Convenience Store and local oddity museum (donations welcome). He's got a lot of experience with Oklahoma weather and seems to think of the researchers as naive city-folk. But out here in 'the sticks', Ma and Pa's is the only place for a team to get supplies and gas. Would Pa stoop to sabotage to keep the storm-chasing clientele coming back for more?


Doesn't it sound like fun! The game was awesome! I loved that you could be a storm chaser and actually work on a team. I really enjoyed the game. The part that I didn't like about it, was that it seamed to short. I finished it in about a week. Which is pretty quick in solving a game. Anyway, if you thought the game looked cool, you should buy it, or one of the other games in the series. They sell them at Target (Where I got mine) Walmart, Gamestop, Amazon, and there website, www.herinteractive.com I have loved playing these games.

I played my first one, (Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake) When I was 7, (7 years ago) I was so freaked out by that game, I was such a scardy cat! But by playing these games, it's made me realize that you don't have to be a special agent or spy to be adventurous. The games have helped me look at things in life a different way. Before when I would hear a sound in my room at night, I would cover up under the blankets and cover my ears. Now, if I hear a sound, I will get up, and try to figure out what it is. The games have helped me do things that I would been to chicken to do before. I hope that you guys can try one of these games, and have fun with it. If you haven't played one of these games before, and you want to, I would recommend ether Danger by Design (#14) Or White Wolf of Icicle Creek (#17) If you are more into the scary games, then I would recommend Curse of Blackmoore Manor (#11) Or Haunting of Castle Malloy. (#19) Whatever you choose, please tell me what you think of them. I would love to know! And I promise that if you decide to give one a try, you won't be disappointed.

What your Music Says About You

Hey Guys, so I know I already posted today, but I just got tagged by Quinlyn, and I thought it was really cool. So I'm going to do it. But PLEASE read the other post I posted today. It's right under this one. Okay, so this tag is what your music says about you. What I'm going to do, it put my mix pod on shuffle (Already is) And then answer one of these questions with that song. This is going to be alittle diffrent for me, because all my songs are piano songs, but I'll do my best.

So here I go...

Q: What does next year have in store for you?
A. Serenade. Dose that mean that I'm going to be a piano player? That would be cool!

Q: What does your love life look like next year?
A. As the Deer. Um, I don't really know what that means. My love life will be like a deer?
Q: What do you say when life gets hard?
Never Alone. That make sence, because when life gets hard, I'll always know that I'm never alone.

Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
Thy Word. Um, the song Thy Word is from Psalm 119:105. And I like studying the bible, so I guess that's right.

Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
Lullaby. Well, I think I would think about that at night. Not in the morning.

Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
Angel Eyes. Um... Okay. I guess it's sorta a song for a wedding.

Q: Song that reminds you of your first kiss?
Dream Come True. Um... Lets go to the next one!

Q: Your favorite saying?
Over the Rainbow. Okay, I guess that's not to bad. :)

Q: Favorite place?
Lake Erie Rainfall. Well, since we live right next to Lake Erie, and I have been there hundreds of times, I guess that will work. But I don't think it's my favorite place. :)

Q: Most Missed Memory?
Shades of White. I have no Idea what that means. :)

Q: What song describes your best friend?
Joy. Haha! That is good! My friends are all full of Joy! But it would be even cooler if my friends name was Joy. :)

Q: What song describes your ex?
I need you to love me. Haha! That's funny. He is SO desperate for me! JK!!

Q: Where would you go on a first date?
Joyful. Um... Somewhere joyful?

Q: Candy of choice? (It said something diffrent that I'm not going to say on this blog)
February Sea. Well, February and Candy seam to go together pretty well. :)

Q: What song describes yourself?
Mirror. Is that saying that I care to much about how I look? (I'm not going to answer that)

Q: What is the thing you like doing most?
El Shaddai. I like speaking Hebrew?

Q: The song that best describes the president?
Woods. Does the President like in the woods?

Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
All I ever wanted. I will be living a life with all I ever wanted? Yes!

Q: Your love life right now?
Living in the Country. Well, I want to stay as far away from the country as possable! (To bad I'm living in it. :( )

Q: What is your state of mind like at the moment?
February Sea (Again) my state of mind is like a February Sea?

Q: How will you die?
Dream Come True. So, somebodies going to hate me, or I'm going to hate the world, and ether it's going to be a dream come true fro someone else that I die, or I will want to die because my life is horrible. (Hopefully nether)

I tag anyone who wants to do this! It was alot of fun, and I'm sure you'll have fun too!

~Sammy

How well do you know me???

Hey Guys! Here is a quiz to find out how well you know me!

And you better do good! JK!!! Anyway, here it is!!!


http://www.quizyourfriends.com/take-quiz.php?id=1004091524356205&a=1& (You might have to copy and paste it)

~Sammy

Regifting Robin Gives Me the Creeps!

This is So Creepy! My dad sent this to my mom, and then my mom let me try! It feels like this thing actually reads your mind! It's crazy! Try it out! You will be amazed! http://www.regiftable.com/regiftingrobinpopup.html

A little Mystery anyone?

Dose anyone play the Nancy Drew Computer Games by Her Interactive? They are SO much fun! You get to play as Nancy Drew, question suspects, and solve a mystery. Out of the 20 games made, I have played 17 of them and solved 10. The longest it took me to solve one is about 4 years, (I put of playing it for a while) and the shortest time it took me to solve one is about 3 days. (It was Super easy!) If you want to know more about them, go to http://www.herinteractive.com/.