Dilbert's Desktop Games - In-depth Written Windows 98 Review


Dilbert's Desktop Games
DreamWorks Interactive/Cyclops Software
1997

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*Game played on period hardware running Windows 98

When Windows was first gaining prominence it was primarily an application based affair. You went to Windows to be productive, then you dropped down into DOS to have fun. Windows was too much bloat to have many games of substance released for it. Direct-X would eventually solve the problems of running the more complicated games that had always required DOS, but prior to that most of the games that could run in Windows had a very simple nature to them. Aptly given the title of desktop games, for they ran on top of your desktop, there was no shortage of time wasted playing games like Solitaire or Minesweeper. Those classics were built into Windows, but plenty of third party developers threw their hat into the market as well, long after more in-depth options became available on the platform. ^Several different "games" to choose from

Dilbert's Desktop Games features around nine "modes" to it. The words are chosen carefully there, because I can't exactly call them all games. There's really only one fully realized game of any note in the package. Along with that are six other very simple games that are mostly knock offs, and finally two that could only be described as "things", not games. While that could read as negative thoughts on the package, I actually find most of what is here to be a rather fun, as long as you're keeping in mind the desktop nature of it all. ^Office Invaders, table hockey, my new series name?

The bulk of the games are made up of light hearted ripoffs of games like Space Invaders, the catch here is that you're dealing with characters from the Dilbert comics. Perhaps there's a bit of vicarious enjoyment to be had, seeing Dilbert show his coworkers his true feelings, wouldn't you like to do the same? Shoot 'em with lasers, cannons, or out through a slingshot. There's nothing overtly special about these games, but it's sure fun to waste some time with. There's a slightly more involved table hockey variant, where you want good items like donuts or cash to go into Dilbert's goal, while trying to get real work items into the opposing goal. In the non game category is a collection of stamps to plow into your very own desktop, and a tool that will spit your writings through a thesaurus. ^If only it were that easy

While not exactly a game, the "CEO Simulator" might actually take up the bulk of your playing time. Starting your new business in a small office you'll need to hire a couple of employees. Success involves keeping those working for you productive. Discipline them through use of a cattle prod then say you're sorry with the gift of coffee. Eventually your profits will rise and your office will get expanded. Hire more employees, rinse and repeat. It'll take you quite a bit of time to get through it all, but it's not difficult to win. ^The most enjoyable and involved game

The main attraction to the entire package is a game called "Techno Raiders". You control Dilbert inside of an office building. Four floors at a time, you set out to collect all of the donuts you can find. You can travel between floors through use of stairwells or elevators, and are always being pursued by your coworkers. Being forced to work by running into them will lead to your eventual death. The further you go up the office tower, the harder it becomes to avoid your obligations. I managed to get well over the 100 story mark in the game. The further I got, the more I became convinced that the game was nearing an end, yet it continued on. It was a highly enjoyable game that required a bit of strategic thinking as well as quick action. I was happy spending time with it, yet did not feel any desire to continue much past the hundredth floor to locate the exact end. ^Higher and higher we go

It's a series of mostly short games you can run right on top of your Windows desktop. The key to reviewing and recommending any game to others is to understand the genre as well as its intended audience. This game has made its way into my regular "I have no idea what to do right now" playlist of short desktop games. The game did not seem to rise to a level that would garner many magazines attention, only receiving a handful of reviews. Of the few the reactions were mixed. A 4/5 ranking, a couple in the 80%+ range, and a few that seemed to hate it so much it was put around 20/100. Wow, they must have been taking their job way too seriously there. It's just a simple collection of games to fool around with on top of your desktop, how could anyone look at that and compare it against some triple A game of the time? That's really the only way I could see someone giving it that low of a score. I, on the other hand, have no issues pointing to this game and recommending it for those who want a few simple games on their old retro machines that could conceivably bring a couple smiles to their face when they can't figure out what else to play.

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