I decided to try this demo for giggles and wow, what a surprise, this is a really cute game! I will probably buy it, but since I'm broke, it will probably be after my next credit. If you haven't tried it, I suggest you do! I thought this would be a time management type of game, and I guess it sort of is, but with a really unique twist.

THanks Patricia, I haven't tried it yet but if someone wants to try it out, it is an exclusive here on BigFish only right now.

Ana

Funny, I usually like food related time-management games, but I didn't like this one. I beta-tested it and just didn't find it very challenging. Maybe I'm just so used to playing other games?

Oh, you might also want to check out Hot Dish and Family Restaurant as well. Hot Dish is very challenging!

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out! Actually, I'm not a big fan of time-management games, so maybe that's why I like this one, it's not the "match-the-item-to-the-customer-to-make-them-happy" type game. You get to actually make food, etc. I also think my nephews would get a big kick out of if when they visit (anything to sometimes keep them out of my hair!). I wouldn't call it "challanging", I agree with you there, it's just fun, but maybe that's because I can't cook in real life?

How did you get to beta test it? I thought I was signed up for virtually every site that allows you to sign up for beta testing.

I just looked up those too games, DL'd the demo for Hot Dish, it looks promising, but the other one looks like too much of the same ole, same ole time management. Might try it one day when I'm really bored, lol.

Heh! Yeah, I think I just wasn't wowed by it because I am realy into the fast-paced time management games (Go Go Gourmet is my favourite). I definitely can see how it would be super fun for young kids though.

Family Restaurant isn't exactly like the same old time management. That screen where food is being served, is just a cut scene. You're not actually part of the dining room but you're in the kitchen preparing the dishes like in this screen. You do get to "make food", not to the extent of Cooking Academy, but it does get challenging very quickly. Definitely give it a go. I actually like it better than Hot Dish.

As for beta-testing, I signed up with Gamezebo here -- scroll down to the bottom of the page where the beta test sign-up is.

This game seems to be just like Cooking Mama for the Nintendo DS. I really enjoyed it on the DS

Well in that case, I'll try it too! Thanks for the info! I think I did sign up for that but I'll try again.

Let me know how you like Hot Dish and Family Restaurant. They are fun but extremely fast paced so you might not like them once they speed up. I do wish that Family Restaurant had a relaxed mode but oh well, I still have fun with it.

Tried Family Restaurant but it got fast paced really early on in the game. I'm not quite that good at multi-tasking lol, I would try and switch between orders while stuff was cooking but I basically burnt everything up. Will try Hot Dish tomorrow probably.

I did like how you could make your own recipe's though, that was fun.

I haven't been able to get past the 2nd restaurant in Family Restaurant but I still enjoy playing it though and it is fun "cooking" and making your own recipes. I get a little faster each play-through. Maybe I'll finish it one day soon!

I tried both now, but they just aren't for me. Now if they were combined somehow, such as you could create the food like in Family Resturaunt, but pick the menu like in Hot Dish, including maybe one with ALL you're own recipes that would be fun. Also, a relaxed mode too. Hmm, maybe someone will offer one someday.

Patricia, that would be an awesome combination in a game and something I'd definitely be interested in.

Has anyone here played Cooking Academy recently? It is a cooking simulation. You get to chop vegetables, slice bread, grill Kabobs, grate cheese, arrange sushi, assemble hamburgers, cook spagetti, and prepare desserts such as gingerbread man and strawberry shortcake, etc.

Are you enjoying it? I have nopt played it.

Ana

They have released a focus test version of Cooking Academy 2 on fugazo.com. Download and play the demo then fill up a survey form to tell them what you think. Cooking Academy 1 is very similar to cooking Academy although some activities are more difficult. It is easier to score an A+ for the food items in the sequel.

www.fugazo.com

Enjoying it? I am loving it!!! For Cooking Academy 1 that is. I love the chopping and dicing and deep frying. The second game is about making cuisines from chefs across the world. The demo only allows you to make several food items from a Chinese chef. The actual game should include chefs from other nations.

i don't think there is any other game on the market that is cooking simulation. The possibilities for the sequels are endless!!! Who knows, in a future sequel they may do a special edition on making desserts. Bombe Alaska, anyone?

Benedict, do you have a Nintendo DS? The Cooking Mama series for Nintendo DS only is a much better version of a cooking simulation. Actually I think Cooking Academy "adopted" a lot of ideas from Cooking Mama.

Is the cooking mama for DS timed like the ones for PC? I don't enjoy games where I have to rush against a clock, I've been afraid to buy the ones for the DS.

Yes, it's timed. It is a lot of fun though.

Thanks Misa, I don't do well on timed games. I get nervous and mess everything up.