Natural Threat: Ominous Shores - New IHOG on BigFish

You can download Natural Threat: Ominous Shores here.



As always, please remember to come back and tell us what you think.

Happy Gaming,
Ana

Thanks, Ana. This game comes to us from Alawar and it looks pretty creepy. I'm going to check out the demo now.

I bought this game after playing the demo for a few minutes. Graphics are very clear. The game begins a little differently than most. So far a very enjoyable game. I even used a free credit. No idea about the length though.

thracia

Let us know how it goes. I'll be interested to hear about the length of the game, as well.

Marian,

I checked the forums to see how long the game was and saw that a lot of people are having technical problems with it...not the demo but the game. It's freezing for some, putting a 'dump' error icon on the desktop for others and quite a few say they have to start completely over when they buy it. Might be better to wait for a fix on this one.

Gil.

Thanks, Gil; after I posted my previous note, I did notice that this game was proving to be problematic for some. Right now I'm playing Surface: Mystery of Another World, anyway, but will keep an eye on the Natural Threat forum.

(The more I play Surface, the more I like it. In fact, I would go further and say it may be one of the best games of this type I have ever played. Preposterous plot? Certainly, but the rest of the game is outstanding.)

Lol! That "preposterous plot" was just for me, wasn't it, since you know how I like a game to make Sense!

Gil.

You betcha!

This looks to be a nice game. But I think I'm going to dump the demo and wait for an update to be released. Surprised that an Alawar game has technical issues. Will also be checking in with GB to see how things go.

P.S. I'm currently playing "Surface" as well. Just when I think I'm almost done, there's more to do. And since I got it with a punch card credit, all the more delighted.

When I closed my game for the night, I noticed that I had those those dump icons on my desktop. Is it safe to delete them? Will it affect my game.I have had no problems with the game so far.Its playing well.

thracia

I have never had dump icons on my desktop so I hesitate to say. Would you like me to move you to Glitches?

Ana

Good idea, Ana. I know about memory dumps but have never had them accompanied with desktop icons, so better safe than sorry.

Played most of the demo with no problems at all. This is a buy for me. I'm liking the game!

Well I dumped the dumps icons (deletet them), seems ok so far. Game is pretty long, having no problems so far. Really enjoying it.

thracia

Glad it's okay.

thracia, are you playing this game on win xp or win 7. Thanks
Richard

Marian, I have a question for you. Should I take a chance and buy this game and hope it runs ok on my xp? It's only 7$ not the end of the world. I played the demo and really liked it from what I read it's pretty long. Thanks
Richard

Have the problems been fixed?? I love the game and thought how lucky I WAS not to have problems. As of today I have the dump place and more problems. I uninstalled for now.

Richard, personally I am waiting to see if a new build of the game is released, before I play the game. One person said they avoided these problems by exiting the game periodically rather than playing for long stretches of time without doing that. You can always go ahead and take your chances (and get a refund if things don't work out). It's up to you.

Patsy, I don't see any new builds for this game as yet.

Thank you much, Marian, I'll wait

Kjos,I just finished the game, with no problems, except for those 2 dump icons that showed up on my desk top. I deleted them with no apparent problems (that I could see). I am playing on win7.I really enjoyed the game, it was a decent length as well. I did have to skip like 3-4 puzzles. Played it all weekend.

thracia

thracia,Started playing about a hour ago and no apparent problems yet. Really a nice game. Thanks for your response, Playing on win xp.
Richard

Uninstalled again! Sent email and told them my problems, just like everyone.

Good luck Patsy.

Ana

Good luck kjos, hope it continues to work for you. I played all the way through without any issues.

thracia

Played 5 hrs with out any crashed yet. Keep my fingers crossed.
richard

Sorry to be so dense but what are dump icons and memory dumps?
Kim

They are small bits of data created when the computer or program has a hiccup or crashes. I have never had one on my desktop though.

Ana

Apparently this game is kicking people out and they get taken back to the desktop; there may be some kind of a problem with the way this game uses memory/system resources. Sometimes a memory dump can result in the blue screen of death. This game seems to be leaving icons on the desktop for some people, with the computer "reporting" this problem. And that's my (amateur) explanation.

Thanks, Ana--just call me longwinded! I've never had any problem like this result in a desktop icon either.

Blue screen of death, Yikes

Been playing for about 2 days on and off and just finished it with no trouble. Game ran perfect. Really a long game really liked it, must have a god pc. Running win xp.
Richard

Very, very good news, Richard!!

I finally got my little laptop with xp and downloaded it again and so far so good. Before it would not even let me start over or get a new profile. The beginning I had never seen until today!

That is great Patsy!

Ana

I'm not having any problems with either.

Curious that there are a few who aren't experiencing technical difficulties. I'm tempted to go for it. But given the nature of the technical difficulties reported on BFG forum, am leery that the problem may not be the fault of BFG or the developer. Is it possible this may be a case of someone hacking BFG? Alawar is one of the most reliable developers. Can't believe they'd put out a game with such a major glitch. But hubby says that developers sometimes outsource some of their work and that an outside contractor may not be as reliable. Just hope BFG gets it all sorted out soon.

Another here that got the desktop dump file; this after I had crossed the giant lily pads and tried to take the path to the left. Tried to restart but set me way back to the shore and not sure it's worth going as far as I had and then find I get the black screen again.
Will check the forums on BF and/or ask for a game exchange.
Sad, since it's a good game.

I have read that the developers are working on a new build to address these problems, but I have no idea when the arrival date of that will be. I will certainly post here if I see an update.

Thanks Marian; went to the BFG forum of 13 pages relating the same problem since the game was first put out on Feb. 25.

I've been checking every day for an update.

I'm also playing on XP, and it dumped me to the desktop at the point where you get the two types of seeds. When I started it up, it began all over again from the beginning. All it remembers is my user name.

THat must be frustrating for all of you.

Ana

Bummer, Jenny.

I'm not even considering this game now until there's a new build. I've also been waiting to play Cinderstone Orphanage until the new build (to address the game not saving for some people) was released (the fix is now available). I just didn't want to take any chances.

Just read on BFG forum (in post by BFG staff on Technical Issues) that the game has been removed from the BFG website. It will be returned as soon as the technical issues are resolved. Why am I a bit nervous about this development?

That's interesting, Sparkle. This move is not unprecedented, though. One game I know that this happened with was The Chronicles of Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet; it was removed for a while as a "buy" option, and then made available again later on for purchase. I suspect that this is what will happen with this game too.

Thanks, Marian. Didn't realize that this has been done before. Makes sense.

Anyone remember Curse of the Ghost Ship? That one disappeared and has not returned.

I do remember that one, MrLipid; in that instance maybe the developers couldn't, or wouldn't, come up with a fix.

Oddly enough, I played the game through with no problems. All hail XP Pro SP2. Or something.

Really? I just finished it yesterday. The "fix" for me seemed to be not to play it too long without exiting the game. Exiting the game forces it to save. There were some glitches, like the journal reappearing on the ground late in the game. But at least I managed to finish it. Of course the situation may be worse with Vista or Windows 7. I was using XP.

I hope they're able to fix it. It was a fun game.

I hope they get a fix for it i've been checking everyday myself,and noticed it was taken off.I do hope they get it back

As I play a demo I might buy, I put shortcuts into a separate folder. When I tried searching BFG under the above name, it didn't come up. Am I missing something? Wanted to see the reviews before possibly buying.

Thanks.

THe game was removed from BigFish until they get a new build.

Ana

Thanks, Ana.

Alawar still has it on thier website the demo played fine for me,so I might buy it from them

The Big Fish Game Manager notified me that my Ominous Shores game has an update today. And I see the game is now listed at Big Fish.

Thank you very much for the heads up, Jenny.

Thanks Jenny!

Thanks, Jenny. That's great news. Have been sitting on a punch card credit waiting for this news.

Does anyone know the lock code to the glass door?

I tried to continue on with the game, after I closed it off, but it started right back at the beginning.

That doesn't sound good, Tammy. The new build of the game was supposed to fix these problems with the game not saving; have you downloaded the update for the game?

Did that. I'm not starting at the beginning again. I don't know what's wrong.

I don't either, unfortunately.

YOu need to clear your old files first. Uninstall the old game, then go search your computer for Alawar and delete the folder for this game. That will get rid of your old files. Restart your computer and download the game again.

Ana

Considering the initial technical issues with this game, I'm delighted that I was able to pick it up. A great game that could have been a CE.

BET - That did it. Game working okay now. Thanks for you help.

Ana gave you great advice, Tammy - glad it's working now.

I only downloaded this game on Sunday so it's the 'fixed' version which isn't fixed at all!

I've hit a major glitch later on in the game after I found the wooden knob for the cabinet. When I click on the cabinet I just get a frame & no close-up - the game shuts down & leaves memory dumps, as other players have reported, on the desktop.
Up until then I had encountered the same absence of icons on objects to be interacted with but got through by guessing & clicking on them anyway.(I'm using Win 7)

I'm sorry that the updated build of this game is giving you problems, chrissie; be sure to write to Customer Support about this.

Thanks Marian! I did get in touch with Customer Support & sent off a Dr Felix report. Expecting to have to wait for a couple of days I've just got a super quick reply back. It seems that some players are still experiencing problems with the new build & they just don't have a fix. BFG have given me a free coupon code - great customer service! but I'm so disappointed as I was really enjoying the game!

I'm glad you talked to them, chrissie, and am sorry that the game still has problems for some players. I also understand being disappointed for not being able to finish it. I hope you enjoy your free game, though.

Am at the part in the doctor's office. Just opened the safe? with the symbols. Now have to press typewriter keys in a certain order. w/t I'm using gives numbers that don't work. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry, was using wrong numbers!

Glad you got it.

Ana