Free Ride Games Blog

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is filled with many festive traditions embraced by millions of Americans each year.

So what is it that makes this holiday so special and loved?

Is it the travel?
Family members come from far and wide to be together on this holiday.  Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year!

Is it the food?
Traditional foods such as turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes pumpkin and pecan pies are popular Thanksgiving staples. Just typing these words is making my mouth water!  And if you like cooking, then making all of these scrumptious treats (or at the very least eating them) is also part of the Thanksgiving fun.

Is it spending time with family?
People make an effort on Thanksgiving to spend time with their loved ones, and often, it’s the only time during the year that families separated by long distances actually see each other.

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I’m always on the lookout for interesting articles and presentations to share with you about casual games and recently I came across a TED talk by Tom Chatfield titled “7 ways games reward the brain.”

Tom Chatfield – a longtime gamer and game theorist – is the arts and books editor at the UK current-affairs magazine Prospect.

The growth of the gaming industry and the reach of modern video and online-game culture is nothing short of mind-boggling, with gaming revenue recently overtaking that of more traditional media (it overtook music in 2008).

In his talk, Tom explores the power of computer games to influence the way we think and learn. According to Tom, “games are perfectly tuned to dole out rewards that engage the brain and keep us questing for more,” which reinforces the notion that playing computer games is more than just fun, it can also play an important role in improving your brain’s cognitive function and the way you approach our technologically evolving world.

If you’re already a casual games lover, then check out the video of this illuminating talk to get a professional’s perspective on how the games you play are actually doing your brain some good!

Watch “Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain.”

Then, when you’re done watching the video – do your brain some more good by playing some of our top brain ‘workout’ games! Try:

• 7 Wonders II (Genre: Match 3)
• Cradle of Rome (Genre: Match 3)
• Mahjongg Artifacts (Genre: Board)
• Atlantis Quest (Genre: Puzzle)
• Sudoku Quest (Genre: Puzzle)

Amazing Heists: Dillinger tells the exciting true story of the infamous John Dillinger, an American gangster and bank-robber who was at the height of his “career” in the era in which Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd and Bonnie & Clyde were on everybody’s “Most Wanted” list.

Dillinger robbed two dozen banks and four police stations and incredibly managed to escape jail twice! While doing time, he became resentful towards society and hooked up with other criminals, preparing himself to dive right back into criminal activities when he was released. The game tells the story of his life after being released from his eight and a half year prison sentence.

This hidden object game begins as you join the gang at their hide-out at Little Bohemia Lodge, looking at potential banks to rob and casing joints. Each level of the game has a different bank to rob but each bank robbery has the same structure:

• Casing the Joint
• Block the Egress
• The Robbery and
• Breaking the Bank.

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