Dark Parables on BFG

I know I should wait until our fabulous Mod has posted a new game post, but after a spate of time management games BFG have got this Collectors Edition and I got a little excited, but it won't download. I am confident BFG will get a fix if it is required, I just want confirmation that it isn't just me.

Mine has downloaded and played smoothly (Vista). Initially, after playing 40 minutes, I'm impressed. You need to move through multiple scenes (very atmospheric) in order to find pieces of objects, solve rather easy puzzles, and get into the castle to, presumably, awaken the Sleeping Beauty. The Strategy Guide does show inthe demo, although I'll likely wait for the full version next month rather than dropping 3 credits on it.

Robertson

This is a collectors edition for Club Members only.

You can download Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose Collectors Edition here.



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

Happy Gaming,
Ana

cris53 It is not just you. Won't download for me either...not on my PC or on my laptop. If you go to BF forums you will see that it is not only us but quite a few folks have been unable to download. I have never had an issue before, EVER. I have been looking forward to this one as I demo'd it so I bought it sight unseen.....and now I can't play. But I have to go to work anyway so I wouldn't be able to play until this afternoon and hopefully by then it will be fixed. I believe it's the game because I tried to download Potion Bar and that downloaded just fine....although I can't explain why there have been a few who have been able to download it. Lucky I guess. Anyway, I'm not too concerned.

Barbara.

I am also unable to download. Will try again later

Joan

Thanks, Ana

I just downloaded it OK...Plays Ok also..

I have downloaded this game and find it is very sluggish....runs quite slow. I am able to play the game regardless of the speed. I suspect it may be straining my system. I am on XP or I may need to update directx. Will go try some things before I pass judgement. There is a skip feature, the penalty for that is 5 miniute delay in the hint recharging. The game offers many nice features.

I've even tried sneaking up on it and pressing the download button when it least expects it. It's knows I'm there!!! Patience isn't one of my virtues.

I downloaded and installed the game right after it was released and I had no problems with the download whatsoever, so this is a strange problem that is affecting some folks and not others.

You're rubbing very course salt in my very open wounds now.

Did the try it version and that worked fine. Anyone read any of the briar rose novels? Just curious if they are good.

Downloaded and finished the demo, didn't have any problem. Interesting game, story, liked the mini games, not too difficult but entertaining. The only downside for me is looking for the parts of the objects, not my favorite type of HOG.

Someone with the downloading problem on the Big Fish forums just posted that it is now working for her. Try the download again now, and fingers crossed it works for you!

OMG! It's downloading. I think BFG have come to the rescue. I'd just taken Cards of Destiny out of it's cellophane and was ready to rock! Don't know what to do now... I hate not having a new game waiting for me. P.S. Thanks Marian

I played the hour demo, but now I can't buy the game. When I click on the purchase link it takes me back to the screen telling me that my demo time is up. Hey cris53, I just received my Cards of Destiny game today, and my Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island arrived last week, but I can't really get into playing it, so I guess I'll be opening up Cards of Destiny.I'm like you--can't stand to be "gameless".

Doreen

Finally got to buy the game. The servers must have been busy

Hi Doreen, finished the demo and the hour just flew by so I'll buy. I feel as though BFG deserves my pennies on the collectors editions from time to time. I too struggled to get into Ghost Pirates, there were too many places to investigate straight away. I had a peek at the walk through and realised you played as the character you started with, just using the inventory faces to obtain information from them and you didn't have to flit from person to person and it got better. I finished it this morning and enjoyed it. I did suffer from long loading times and stuttery cut scenes but that just may have been down to my computer.

The problem with the downloading, as it turns out, was a server issue at Big Fish. Whether or not you experienced the problem depended on which server you got directed to for the download; in other words, the luck of the draw.

This had happened to me before with a different game, where I and some people had trouble downloading and others did not.

I hope everyone enjoys the game.

Just finished the demo...

A very good game..Lots to do..Many places to investagate...

Looks like a long game also..

Glad the download issue has been fixed.

I finished the demo and got midway through Chapter 5 and am really enjoying it. Wondering how long this game is. The chapters are pretty short, however, I'm ready to buy it now. By the way, it has the morphing feature that everyone liked so much in the collector's edition of Dire Straits

Joan

Oh wow I loved the morphing feature in Dire Straits. That really made it worth the collectors edition price. So will this be the same in this game- is the morphing only in the CE edition? If so that will be a must buy. Besides, I agree BF deserves the extra money for CE's on occasion so they can conitinue to give us more of these fabulous games.

Margie

I haven't heard any mention of morphing objects in Dark Parables like in Dire Grove so far. I liked them too!

Ok ,Boomers ..You had me going nuts looking for "Dire Straits" On the BF website..

Does anyone know if the regular version of "Dark Parables" will be released by BFG because I downloaded and played the demo and really enjoyed it. If there won't be a regular version, I'll definitely pony up the $19.99 because "Sleeping Beauty" is one of my favorites (I have the movie on both VCR and DVD) and the game looks like a winner.

Thanks!

Susan

They are released generally 3 weeks later.

Ana

Hi, Ana!

Thanks, although I don't know if I can wait that long ! If my willpower holds out, I probably will use my free game credit because there is no doubt I'll purchase another 3 games before the end of the month.

Susan

Dire Straits- must have been a fruadian slip as all these great games are putting my wallet in Dire Straits! Anyway, reading the BFG forums there are morphing items (I think they recharge your hints) and it doesn't seem to be CE particular so they will most likely be in the regular version. But alot of people on the forum think the CE version is worth it for the extra levels, novels etc. I haven't finished the demo so haven't decided.
Margie

I'm really liking this game. Fun scenes and music too. Can't wait for the regular version. Gotta see how far I can get on the demo first. Neat.

I think the morphing feature only happens after you us a hint. It refills the hints right away. (So, now you know I used 2 hints when searching for that last piece of an object I couldn't find.) Apparently, there are 30 morphs in the game.

This one is fantastic. And I found several morphing objects while playing the demo.

Now the really hard part will be waiting for the regular version.......
Patience? What's that????

:StPats:

I'm in the same position as dorish. I downloaded and played the demo...loved it and can't buy it. Have tried to buy through my game manager and through the web site. I am a member and contacted Big Fish tech and they gave me another link to the cart to try, but although it lists the game, it then zeros the price and says it's not available yet. I also tried with a different browser as someone had found that had helped, but no luck. I've noticed a few people on their forums with the same problem. Might try to ask their tech dept. again; although maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

Have you tried un-installing the game from game manager before buying it?

No I haven't. Will try that now. Thanks.

I uninstalled the game manager, too.

No, sadly no success. I uninstalled it from the game manager and tried to buy it with no luck and then reinstalled it and tried to buy it again. Have sent another email to Big Fish tech dept. so will see. I really shouldn't be trying to buy it anyway as I have plenty more games on the go. Might try again when the ordinary version comes out.

I started my download last night but only got 50% of it done.

When I tried to continue this morning, it started all over again but I got it all!

I played the demo and have vista 32 home premium in case anyone wants to know, and hate to rub salt into open wounds but I also have had no problem playing or downloading it. I bought it because I recognized a great game when I see it. Congrats BFG you did it again! I hope everyone who wants to play this is able to download it now.

Awesome

Well worth the cover charge

Linda

I am at a puzzle with a horse and I solved the 4 puzzles but haven't solved the problem - where is the strategy guide that I thought was in/with the game please

**edit:
Never mind

I found the strategy guide and solution in the "main frame" of the game!

another moment!

Oops! I didn't realize mine was the last post when I came back - I wasn't on page 2! Sorry about not editing my last post.

Just had a reply back from Big Fish about my problems trying to buy the game. This is an error if you try to buy using Switch/Maestro and they are trying to sort it out and tell all those who reported problems.

Well, I finished the game last night! Never did find all the morphs but I must play the game again anyway!

Is the mention at the end for the next game in the series? I hope, I hope

The game wasn't overly long but it was fantastic and well worth the price-tag! I do hope there will be more similar games

I installed the game this morning and having no problem with it, so far. I'm only half-way through the demo. I may get this one.

The only other CE I have gotten is Dire Grove. I played close to half yesterday on the regular mode, found around 11 of the morphing items. I am really loving this game. I love the pieces to find, the HOG isn't hard and the adventure part is great. Love the graphics! Well worth the 20 bucks this time.

Koalanut

Me too Koalanut!

Like Dire Grove, any you missed you can find in the replaying but the ones already found, stay found!

Great game!! The bonus "chapter" was great too!!

Just finished the game. That was great and worth playing again.

raylinstephens

Did you use a new profile when starting the game over? That usually resets all the morphing objects. Now I am curious if they are really gone after you find them and replay again (on a different profile).

Kate

No Kate, I used the same profile for the replay.

I am not sure but I think the morphs I found the first time through are still found - but not counted.

I think on a new profile you would have to find the morphs all over again. You had to in Dire Grove too. Otherwise another player in your house would be "cheated" out of a lot of the fun!

I never did find them all on the first playing. I didn't even know to look for them in the early chapters.

I didn't see where they tell you what screens to go to either and hadn't noticed the strategy guide until I needed a shove! I guess I am not real observant but I still loved the game!

Linda
I can't wait for The Frog Prince!

What a fun game! I played thru once, on easy, and found a several of the morphing objects. When I finished and hit "Play" again, on the same profile, I started from the beginning automatically on Hard mode. No hints! And no skipping either. Wowza!
And the morphing objects were all needing to be found. I discovered that they didn't morph until a certain scene or objective was reached. I knew certain objects would morph but they didn't do it until I had reach a particular place in the story.
I think this made it more challenging because I have no idea what set it off!

Great game!

Ah! Maybe that is why some aren't morphing - I just haven't triggered the morph I thought one I had done in the first playing

Some of the puzzles are really difficult on Hard!

I bought this game today. I am loving it. I like having places to revisit and remembering where new inventory items may be used. Morphing items are fun too. Lots to do so this will not be a short game for me. Great game.

Along with Dire Grove, Dark Parables is one that I am satisfied with having paid more than the usual price. I still have the extra game to play and may play again because I didn't realize that I wouldn't have the chance to go back and look for morphing objects. I missed five.

The puzzles were amusing if a bit too simple for my taste. That's okay.

On the hidden object side, I liked the story and game play enough that I used hints fairly often when only piece of something remained obscure, and I wanted the story to move along. The objects themselves were visually pleasing.

One thing I've noticed about casual games in general is that fewer grammatical and spelling errors crop up. Another is that the people who decide what to call an object (do they have a job title?) now seem to be taking the time to learn a bit about armor and other arcane subjects. For example, halberds no longer are routinely referred to as axes, although they are, indeed, a type of axe. I look forward to being asked to locate a morion and in my ignorance clicking on the barbut, to mistaking a chimera for a griffin, and to mixing up flanchards with cruppers...all beautifully rendered.

A person assigned to carry a halberd is a halberdier. A person who assigns names or announces them is a nomenclator. That term would fit the job description. Nomenclator is a deliciously archaic usage from Roman Empire times so it has the right ring for someone who decides whether an object is a kris or scimitar.