Industry games for PDAs in general, and the Windows Mobile platform in particular, is rapidly gaining momentum. First, under these toy cars - most of the market, and, secondly, severe hardware possibilities. Take, for example, the first graphics accelerators for mobile devices that have come out of the WM-Warehouse - Dell X50v and HP iPAQ hx4700, or a great display of PDA - a resolution of 640x480 pixels. However, while game developers for Windows Mobile is not so much, and those who are able to produce hits, you can literally count on one hand - PDAMill, Hexacto, Handmark, Jamdat, ZIO Interactive and others. If you study the market more games for Windows Mobile, we can see that in each genre present their leaders, but their number is very small. Let's talk today about the games of the genre Quest or Adventure. Conditionally can be divided into the quests from the first and third person. In addition, there are several text quests, but those of the species of interest only to a narrow circle. Thus, among the games of this genre of first-person alone is worth Atlantis Redux, which came on a PDA with a PC. This is certainly a beautiful and exciting thing, but requires much 120 MB of free space. Also worth mentioning Fade, no less interesting game, but c an entirely different atmosphere. Quests from a third party is almost there. Comes to mind for just one Gilbert Goodmate, also ported to the desktop. The game repeats its PC-ancestor, right down to the music and the dubbing of the characters, which can be downloaded separately, in addition to the main distribution. Drawn quests always amazing beauty of the graphics, and in this case it saves a bit of a lengthy storyline. It is noteworthy that all of the above items are available only in English-language options language version peruse them yet. However, the quests that produce Specially for Windows Mobile, there is a real alternative in the form of a program PocketScumm (ScummVM). This application is an environment for running classic quests from Lucas Arts, such as Monkey Island, Loom, Indiana Jones and The Fate of Atlantis and many others. The project was born on November 22, 2001, but the version for Pocket PC - only in late 2002 - early 2003. ScummVM - an acronym which stands for Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion Virtual Machine (utility for creating a script for a virtual machine Maniac Mansion). As the name implies, the project was originally created to run only one game - Maniac Mansion. But then the author, Nicolas Bacca, had decided not to stop there. Now the number of games that allows you to run PocketScumm, is constantly growing. Below are lists of titles that work on PocketScumm, as well as their compatibility with the emulator. Tables are taken from the official website of the program. Game from Lucas Art:
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Games from Humongous Entertainment:
Other games:
On the project site can also find free distributions of the two well-known toys - Beneath a Steel Sky and Flight of the Amazon Queen, which were provided by developers specifically for ScummVM. In order to evaluate the possibilities of this program, try running them on cvoem PDA.However, how to work PocketScumm we will tell you the example of other no less worthy toys.
Broken Sword - The Shadow of The Templars
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In the opinion of your humble servant, the most addictive game from the list above - Broken Sword-The Shadow of The Templars ("Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars"). This - the first part of an exciting quest series, at one time caused a furore, and recognized by many gaming magazines best quest in 1996. Original and stylish exterior, with a fascinating story, well-balanced gameplay, amazingly detailed characters and just a great, but sometimes very cynical sense of humor, Broken Sword has found an echo in the hearts of many millions of people. The storyline of "Broken Sword" mesmerizing. It is unpredictable and mysterious, thanks to the bright characters with unique characters, sound effects, creating an atmosphere of unexplored, as well as through backstory, being built on the mysteries of the Order of the Knights Templar. Who are the Knights Templar? What is their history? What is the mystical background of this quest? All this and will find us in the process.
Complication of the plot
American George Stobbard, a simple tourist, enjoying his vacation in Paris, when his eyes twirled plot completely turned over his calm, measured life. It would seem that there were no signs of trouble. One autumn evening Dzhorzhd spent sitting at a table in a small cafe and slowly sipping coffee. He only occasionally glanced at the bystanders. Soon the cafe looked a visitor in years, followed by a blond waitress. Suddenly from nowhere a gust of wind brought grafted in the bistro of the new visitor, looking more than strange: it was painty rainbow clown in one hand, which had a bunch of balloons, and another - the accordion. He literally flew into the institution and as quickly left it, dissolving into the evening twilight. Immediately after the stranger had disappeared explosion, Americans dropped from his chair on the pavement, sprinkle pieces of broken glass ... When our hero George woke up from the explosion, he rushed straight to the cafe, where he found a dead stranger and wounded waitress who could not give a clear answer to his questions. Americans have virtually had no doubt that the explosion - the work of the suspicious clown. But what were his motives? Police quickly arrived on the scene, but it seems that methods of investigation were not very encouraged by Stobbarda, and he decided to find out what's what. At the exit from the restaurant, George was faced with a pretty French woman, who did the pictures on the site of the explosion. She was a journalist named Nicole Collard, and agreed to help our hero in a separate investigation, whose roots were much deeper than I could imagine if the curious tourist. Soon the mummers killer also add a secret of the ancient Order of the Knights Templar, their modern successors, and the enigmatic "Broken Sword", so George had to go through an exciting adventure around the world, deadly danger, of course, a romance with a charming Nico. A few words about the heroes. Every inhabitant of the world "Broken Sword": from the erudite historian Lobino to surly verzily named wicket - a personality that has its own unique and memorable character. They may comment on any subject, to show them George from his stock (other than those he used to, say, borrowed from his companion). Moreover, a comment that will match the level of culture, knowledge and outlook of the commentator. The dialogues in the game brilliantly written and peppered with subtle humor: the developers quest - from the English Revolution Software - mock not only the human weaknesses and vices, but also national peculiarities of some people (as George would have to travel a lot: he will visit not only in Paris but also in Ireland Syria, Spain and Scotland). Graphics Broken Sword also deserves the highest rating.At the time this game has revolutionized the market, and even now, during the 3D-technology, it looks really, really: a bright, lively and rich in detail. What to say a clear and realistic animation that makes walking the hero turned out such memorable:) Now a little about the gameplay. Puzzles in the game, medium and high levels of complexity, most of them are solved logically. There is a "broken sword" and moments when the act has to quickly and accurately, otherwise the character will die. This feature of the gameplay makes the whole process of particular urgency and makes you at times seriously worry about. Passage of game "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars" is comparable to reading an interesting book, a fascinating story that involves us headlong into the maelstrom. The developers managed to create an amazing illusion of a real adventure, which will long to hold your thoughts.
Run the "Broken Sword"
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To begin, we need the latest version PocketScumm, which can be downloaded as usual in our "Programs for Pocket PC." Distribution is only 1.3 MB. Program must be installed on a PDA. This is done as follows: distribution consists of an archive containing text files with annotations, and copyrights, and an executive file scummvm.exe (size 3.2 MB), which needs to be unpacked and put in any folder, preferably on a memory card. Attention! Do not put the executable file in one folder to run from the game - it can cause malfunction of the program! Next, you need distribution with a game-rip version (lightweight version without musical accompaniment, the dialogues sound characters and video inserts) which can be found in runet. You only need to unzip the file to your hard drive, which you will receive a folder BSword, which must be copied to a memory card. If you do not have a card reader, we recommend using the program Softick Card Export II, which allows you to turn PDAs into Checker flash drives and significantly speed up data transfer, compared with Microsoft ActiveSync. Usually, to save space from the rip-distribution removes musical accompaniment, the dialogues sound characters and video inserts. All this, in the presence of sufficiently capacious memory card, you can afford. If you want to enjoy video games inserts, you must download their special version that converted under the Pocket PC, from here and unzip into a folder with the game. Archive size - 31.2 MB. Remember, however, you need a powerful PDA, one of the latest models, as it is - quite resource-intensive task. So, proceed directly to run the game. Go to the folder where we copied scummvm.exe and run it.
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| The main program window PocketScumm |
Then press the button «Add Game ...» and agree to the automatic scanning.
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| Query window to automatically scan |
After being prompted to automatically scan select the game folder and click Choose.
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| Window select the folder with the game |
The program will automatically scan the game folder and find the executable file, then the short name of the game is displayed on the screen.
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| Games List |
To start the game you should select it by clicking on the name and press Start.
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| Appointment of Key Management |
Immediately before starting the game program for the designation of certain actions to hardware buttons on your PDA: - Right Click - to simulate a right mouse click
- Hide - in order to hide the panel Scumm, so that the latter does not interfere with gameplay
- Zoom up, Zoom Down - for people with not the best vision (for which read the subtitles in the game can be a problem).
After the appointment we need the functions for convenient buttons you can click "Ok" and start playing.
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| Start Playing |
The game runs well, and you get the point - just after an explosion at a cafe. For those who do not set video, we recommend that gather the necessary information to plot a little higher. Panel PocketScumm - a very necessary thing, because in it there is a button call the game menu (the leftmost button), click settings and turning the screen (we recommend only play in landscape mode), but during the game she did not need, so remove it by double-clicking click on Hide. Cursor control is carried out via the stylus. Moving it around the screen, you make the cursor move. Clicking the stylus on the screen, you are imitating click the left mouse button. In order to simulate a right click, you must move the cursor to the desired point on the screen and press the Right Click. When you point to different objects of the cursor changes shape. Finally, we give a few more screenshots that show the beauty of the gameplay.
Conclusion
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars - an amazing and exciting quest of the Virgin and Revolution Software. Graphic design games is beyond praise: excellent quality backgrounds, clearly traced characters. According to his style of "broken sword close to the old Disney cartoon. And in terms of plot - to the Hollywood movies of the genre "action": on the one hand, mysticism, murder and devious plans of conquest of the world, on the other hand, the humor with which the protagonist, George comes to the situation. He does not despair, in what would be a deplorable situation may be. Summarizing we can say that Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars - one of the best games, which is definitely worth a play on the Pocket PC. Thrills and vivid memories of the gameplay you are guaranteed. In general, we strongly recommend that you postpone this thing on the back burner and test capabilities PocketScumm right now.
