Computing is a "game" which sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. At times what worked yesterday may not work today - consequently this makes computing a "puzzle" in itself.
Put these notions together as Wrebbit, Inc. has done and you have "Puzz3D", a series of entertaining, interesting, and challenging CDROM jigsaw puzzles. These puzzles were donated to the collection during the 1990s.
There are five CDROMs in the series. The format of all is similar. Each offers a virtual 3D puzzle at four different levels - from a hundred or so jigsaw pieces at the first level to almost a thousand jigsaw pieces at the fourth level. A player uses the mouse to move pieces around on a "work-screen", rotate pieces, and join these either into small sections, virtual 3D assemblies, or large sections. There are sound effects, reference pictures, pop-up help, a timer, ability to change the view and size of pieces, and more.
Periodically as a reward for putting pieces together, there are multiple full motion sound films with actors in appropriate costumes and an historic plot line related to the puzzle you're working on. These films relate to additional games that become available during latter playing sessions - yes sessions! One is enabled to "save" current achievements for later sessions.
When a designated 3D section has been completed, it is placed on a "construction screen". When the 3D construction is complete - the world changes and you are in the "exploration phase" of the game. Here (using a mouse and keyboard) one wanders around in the virtual 3D construction, going from place to place. One encounters a range of other games "inside" - logic puzzles, painting games, music games, language games, manipulative puzzles, and more. Each CDROM is complete and includes all the software one needs to play. A helpful illustrated printed manual accompanies each disc.
For maximum playability, a contemporary computer, fast processor, lots of memory, fast CDROM drive, hard drive, sound system, cache video memory, and a relatively good monitor are important. The games are designed for MS-Windows or MacOS. Wrebbit, Inc.'s printed recommendations are minimal. The more free "computing resources" one has (near 80%) - the better everything works. This latter means while playing these games a user should close down other programs running in the background. But it is worth it with countless hours of pleasure and fun from playing these games - Notre Dame Cathedral, Neuschwanstein Bavarian Castle, Victorian Mansion, Orient Express, and Lamplight Manor.
Here is the Web linklink to the Wrebbit Company.
Last update April 3, 2010