Do they make any HOG's with magnifying glasses that can be called up from any search screen? Some things are just too small to see otherwise -- epecially if you are using a computer with a small monitor screen.

The only one I can think of offhand is The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes.

Some other HOGs give you tools after finding stuff to use a magnifier. Think Hidden Relics has one. Probably a few other ones but I can't remember right now. I actually found them kind of cumbersome.

Which games are you playing right now that you find are too difficult in locating stuff? It could just be the game iteslf. Are you looking for a game with objects that aren't that small or that well hidden? The Dream Day series is pretty good for not being too difficult (the best IMHO is the most recent Manhatten one).

ETA: Another option would be to buy a monitor magnifier.

More than one game I've tried has a few objects that I don't see at all and end up clicking by accident. I think it would help if the item were larger. Sometimes there will be a very confused-looking area that I'd like a better look at, and I wish for some kind of magnifier. When things are too tiny, and especially if most of them is hidden by other objects, I just can't see them on a computer screen. They may as well be invisible.

I think that's just the nature of the genre. Some games hide things more than others. Gogii games has a habit of making things really hidden or just a little bit peeking out from the corner.

Are you new to HOGs? If so, maybe stick to the easier ones for now. I know I got better at them with playing them more and more. I was awful with them at first.

Yes I'm new to them. I played my first one last week, when Titanic was free. I still think there is a difference between missing something because you haven't trained your eye to spot things and missing something because it was simply too small to differentiate from the part of it that was showing. I can click on these hard to see areas and a whole new object -- sometimes a sizable one -- will pop out of nowhere.

Most recently I had problems with a key that was hidden in the shadow under the edge of a plate. It was a shadowy area and even with my monitor brightness up it was only visible as a small, slightly lighter gray circle. Even without the shadow, the key would have been tricky to find.

Oh I agree that things shouldn't be totally obscured. As mentioned previously Gogii games has a habit of making things almost impossible to see. Really depends on the developer and their artists.

I have a mouse that magnify's some games it works in and some times I keep a magnifier next to my computer to help. I agree some games have too small items to find. Sometimes it is a speck.

Have you tried "Can You See What I See?" It has a magnifying glass but I still had to give the demo up after about ten minutes because EVERYTHING was so small. It made me mad!

WW

If a game is too hard to see or the timer can't be shut off, I do a printscreen and save the picture. You can then zoom in to the picture and find what you are looking for.

Ana

Well that's no good. It's no better than those games that make you search for stuff in the dark using a flashlight.


Hmmm....
Not quite the same as the game doing it, but something to keep in mind when stuck.

I think everyone has their own personal preferences. I had/have a hard time with Can You See What I See (haven't finished it yet) but I had a lot of fun with the flashlight scenes in MCF: Prime Suspects.

The good thing is, there's plenty of games out there to suit all of us.

Jenny100, there is a free magnifier available today on give away of the day. I'm going to give it a go because there are two games I'm having a heck of a time with.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/magic-lens-max-502/

ETA: Downloaded, installed (Win XP Pro SP2), activated and it works great! You have to use it when the game is in windowed mode. You can also selectively change the gamma and magnifying percentage. I already found a few objects in Treasure Masters and Yard Sale that I could not for the life of me see before.

Activation is a little different for this product so please read the instructions. You need to allow it to activate through GOTD and your internet connection but you also need to import the key file that comes with it.

Anyway, it's worth the download I think for us HOG fans.

Jenny100, Scrapbook Paige, a new HOG, has a nice magnifying glass feature in the game. The game is due for release on 9/17/08.

HI HOGgamer and to Gameboomers.

Cathy

Thanks HOGgamer and to GameBoomers.

Are you part of the development team?

Ana

Thanks. I'll check it out when it's available.

Hi Ana and Cathy. Thanks for the warm welcome. Yes, I am part of the developement team. This is our second game release so we are very excited about it. Our first game was G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor. Being our second game, Scrapbook Paige is more polished than GH and very enjoyable to play. The feedback we have received from the demo has been great so far. And just about everyone that has played it has commented on how much they love the magnigying glass feature. I'll be interested to see people's comments once it is released.

Mike

Good to have you aboard Mike. If I recall you are a husband and wife team right? I can't wait for your release of Scrapbook Paige.

Ana

Yep, we are a husband and wife team. I do most of the artwork and Heather is the programmer. We do hire out some tasks such as the music and the character art for Scrapbook Paige.

I hope you like the game. We are just finishing up some of the small details. It should be ready in about a week or two.

BTW, nice forum here. I didn't know about it until last week when my Google Alert directed me toward it. I'm happy to find it. Your forum has peaked my interst in Adventure games again. I use to play them often but found myself with no time over the past years. From what I read here, Scratches sounds like a great game and I'm going to give it a go. Thanks.

That is great to have a partner you can share your interests in Mike.

I will be keeping an eye out for the release, I have my fingers crossed it's on BigFish first. That is when most of us play the games.

Enjoy your stay here and don't get involved in too many adventures or you'll fall behind in your developments. Glad you found us.

Ana

HOGgamer, the screenshots to your new game look great! I haven't played GHOST Hunters yet but have the demo installed. Will take a peek soon. Can never have too many hidden object games.