Firstly we should say Happy New Year to all 1ManITDepartment readers, and with that in mind we thought we'd start the new year by looking back in time.  However, rather than look to last year, which let's be honest wasn't the greatest for many, we'll peer much further into the past to a time of monochrome monitors and 8" floppy disks.

Pong

     

When we think of assembler, we think of the joys of Intel 8086, Motorola 68000 and Acorn ARM.  If, however, you're not as old as we feel and you've never tried assembler, now is your chance.

But we're not talking assembly language, this Assembler is a flash based puzzle game. If that's too easy, try Assembler 2.  If that's still too easy, try 8086.  But don't say we didn't warn you!

     

No DRM, no installation, no 6 foot tall chipboard cabinet, just quality retro-gaming in your very own browser.  We're particuarly big fans of Galaga, but you can choose from Donkey Kong, 1943, Space Invaders, Pac Man and many more.

     

We can't decide if this is a genius use of technology, or possibly the worst case of unnecessary usage we've seen in a while.  Either way we can't get enough of it, try the puzzle of the day to get you started down the road of digital jigsaw addiction!

     

Let's face it, working in IT can be stressful but you already know that.  But do you know just how stressful?  Well if you take the BBC's Stress Test you'll have statistics to confirm your suspicions.  Although we wonder if sometimes not knowing is better...

     

Usually That Friday Feeling suggests ways to while away you lunch break with some sort of free online distraction. Today, however, we have something we enjoyed so much we actually spent our hard earned cash on it, and we recommend you do too.

World of Goo is a physics based puzzle game, the object of which is to build various structures to transport the "goo" to a collection pipe. Now while this sounds simple, it can be anything but. The level design progresses nicely from simple to head-scratchingly tricky but never frustrating.  The whole game wrapped in a delightful narrative, told in sign form by the mysterious "sign painter".

What particuarly appeals about this game, though, is it's so PC friendly; 2dBoy have made all the right decisions and we applaud them for that and hope you will too by way of your wallet. If that was too subtle, we're saying buy the game already! You won't regret it.

Don't you wish your favourite game came with NO DRM, was less than 70mb installed and available for Windows and Mac (with Linux coming soon)!

     

This week we take a break from the usual game related post, to consider our addiction to browser based games.  xkcd the excellent web comic, sums up flash games perfectly.

     

There's always one isn't there, that IT guy with the god complex who thinks the world revolves around him (or her!).  Well Orbit Runner is just the sort of thing they'd like, control the a sun to ensure planets orbit without colliding.