Jay Is Games
Encyclopedia
Jay Is Games is a game review website that features daily updates and links to casual game
s, browser games and flash games of wide interest to casual gamers. It was founded on April 19, 2003 by Jay Bibby initially as a personal blog
, although it now has several contributors.
Several video game genres are covered; including escape the room
, puzzle and platform game
. The site is constructed as a blog
, and attracts a large community of commenters. Jay and the site's staff writers read over and filter the weblog comments, often commenting themselves. Comment threads often include hints and walkthroughs.
game.
Another notable feature is the "Favorites" application, an Adobe Flash
based application which allows users to store their favorite game on the site in a sidebar, for easy access. The data for the app is stored in a cookie
on the user's computer.
Recently, a 'Help Squad' application was added to the navigation bar of the site, allowing visitors to view the most recently commented on reviews, so that players in need of help on older games (and thus game on which the comment page is not actively viewed) can be helped. A Google
widget has also been added, so that users of iGoogle
(a Google home page) can see the most recently reviewed games on their Google home.
Cash prizes are given, and sometimes relevant gifts, such as an Adobe Flash
download. The main prizes are chosen by the site reviewers, however a unique Audience Award is also given. This prize is guaranteed "at least $200." Visitors must donate at least one dollar in order to vote (to prevent multiple votes), which goes to whichever developer the voter chooses.
for the contributors' ability to find games; "The signal-to-noise ratio on most gaming portals makes for a frustrating lunch break. This group blog finds the cream of the crop for casual players." Slate
's Justin Peters called the site "the Internet's undisputed leader in casual gaming information".
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
s, browser games and flash games of wide interest to casual gamers. It was founded on April 19, 2003 by Jay Bibby initially as a personal blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, although it now has several contributors.
Several video game genres are covered; including escape the room
Escape the room
Escape the room is a subgenre of point-and-click adventure game which requires a player to escape from imprisonment by exploiting their surroundings. They are usually created as a browser game for the Adobe Flash platform. Popular examples include "Crimson Room," "Viridian Room," "MOTAS,", "Droom"...
, puzzle and platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
. The site is constructed as a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, and attracts a large community of commenters. Jay and the site's staff writers read over and filter the weblog comments, often commenting themselves. Comment threads often include hints and walkthroughs.
Features
The site includes an IRC chat room where Jay and his fellow reviewers spend some time talking to the other game players and amongst themselves each day. The site does not feature adult content and gives the games it reviews an age rating. It also features a regular online pokerPoker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
game.
Another notable feature is the "Favorites" application, an Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
based application which allows users to store their favorite game on the site in a sidebar, for easy access. The data for the app is stored in a cookie
HTTP cookie
A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, or browser cookie, is used for an origin website to send state information to a user's browser and for the browser to return the state information to the origin site...
on the user's computer.
Recently, a 'Help Squad' application was added to the navigation bar of the site, allowing visitors to view the most recently commented on reviews, so that players in need of help on older games (and thus game on which the comment page is not actively viewed) can be helped. A Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
widget has also been added, so that users of iGoogle
IGoogle
iGoogle , a service of Google, is a customizable Ajax-based startpage or personal web portal . Google originally launched the service in May 2005...
(a Google home page) can see the most recently reviewed games on their Google home.
Competitions
Jay Is Games has also become known for its game design competitions. As of June 2010, Jay Is Games has conducted seven competitions, with an eighth in progress. Although the first competition was focused on producing simple puzzle games, recent competitions have had themes such as "upgrade" or "replay" that entrants could interpret into their games. This openness garners much creativity from developers and enthusiastic responses from visitors to the site.Cash prizes are given, and sometimes relevant gifts, such as an Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
download. The main prizes are chosen by the site reviewers, however a unique Audience Award is also given. This prize is guaranteed "at least $200." Visitors must donate at least one dollar in order to vote (to prevent multiple votes), which goes to whichever developer the voter chooses.
Game Design Competitions
- Game Design Competition #1 spanned from August 4, 2006 to August 25, 2006 and had the theme of "a simple puzzle game".
- Game Design Competition #2 spanned from January 5, 2007 to February 23, 2007. This competition also had the theme of "a simple puzzle game", but also had to incorporate an interpretation of "grow".
- Game Design Competition #3 spanned from June 13, 2007 to July 15, 2007. This competition's theme was "replay".
- Game Design Competition #4 spanned from August 6, 2007 to October 1, 2007. The theme of this competition was "ball physics".
- Game Design Competition #5 spanned from January 2, 2008 to March 16, 2008. This competition's theme was "upgrade".
- Game Design Competition #6 spanned from August 24, 2009 to October 18, 2009. This competition's theme was "explore".
- Game Design Competition #7 spanned from November 16, 2009 to January 30, 2010. Entrees in this competition had to be interactive fictionInteractive fictionInteractive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
games with the theme of "escape". CGDC#7 was also the first competition to be judged directly by the public. - Game Design Competition #8 spanned June 1, 2010 to August 1, 2010. This competition's theme was "sandbox".
- Game Design Competition #9 began on September 22, 2010 and continued until November 15, 2010. This theme of this competition was "friends".
Reception
The website was praised by the staff of Wired magazineWired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
for the contributors' ability to find games; "The signal-to-noise ratio on most gaming portals makes for a frustrating lunch break. This group blog finds the cream of the crop for casual players." Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
's Justin Peters called the site "the Internet's undisputed leader in casual gaming information".