Device Requirements
Any color Pocket PC with 500 to 700 KB free space for each game.

What’s Hot
Great graphics with awesome sound effects! The games are cartoon-like, and the movement is smooth. The games are also addictive, and will keep you entertained for hours on end.

Gotchas
The games take a while to load; the initial splash screens take about five seconds to get through. The sounds are just sound effects; there is no background music to spruce up the game.

Languages Supported
English.

Where to Buy
The Microsoft Games PocketPak is available directly from Microsoft. All five games are available in one bundle for $29.95 U.S. Currently, the Microsoft Games PocketPak is only available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada only. This is a download-only product.

Gaming Goodness
Rapture Technologies has put together the games that comprise the Games PocketPak. They are a wide mix of various games, but with one common background: they all have something to do with business.

All the games have a similar user interface: in the top left of the screen is the time left to complete the level (if applicable to the game), and the number of lives left. In the top center of the screen is your current score in the game. In the top right of the screen you’ll see a briefcase (to access the options screen), and a coffee cup (to pause the game). When you pause the game, you can go to the Start menu, then tap on Help to see the instructions for playing the game.

From the briefcase screen you can turn on and off sounds, select the number of players (one or two – the players alternate taking turns, there is no infrared play), start a new game, set the game speed (slow, medium, or fast), view and reset the high scores, and also resume play at an expertise level. To resume play at a level you have already achieved, enter the number on the briefcase combination (by tapping each number until you get the desired number), then tap on the New Game button.

I Wish the Work Day Were this Interesting…
There are five games that make up the Games PocketPak: Cubicle Chaos, Fire Drill, Killer Commute, Stock Scramble, and Task Master.

Cubicle Chaos
Cubicle Chaos (reviewed individually as Cubicle Chaos: Revenge Dilbert Style by Rob Borek) is a game similar to Arkanoid, where you have to try and knock down the cubicles with a ball. You have to try and keep the ball in play with a paddle, which you control with the stylus. Bonus items (some good, some bad) also rain down from the cubicles to make your life easier or harder.

Figure 1: Knock down those cubicles!

Fire Drill
Fire Drill (reviewed individually in the article Fire Drill: Some Like It Hot by Jason Dunn) is a game where you have to run around from cubicle to cubicle with a fire extinguisher, putting out fires. You have to pick up extinguishers to replenish your extinguisher level, and pick up health packs to replenish your health (when you are injured by touching fire).

Figure 2: Uh-oh! The office is on fire!

Killer Commute
Killer Commute is a game similar to Frogger: you must cross parks and streets without getting hit by dogs, birds, people, skateboarders, or cars. You are dropped off on one side by a taxi, and must successfully make it to your office building on the other side.

Figure 3: Keep from getting hit! It’s a ruthless world out there!

Stock Scramble
Stock Scramble is a game where you must collect up your stock options before you are caught by your bosses, who want their stock options back. In order to do this, you can create holes for yourself, either to drop through or to trap your bosses. Once you have all of the stock options, you climb a ladder to move onto the next level.

Figure 4: Keep the bosses at bay while you snatch up the stock options!

Task Master
In Task Master you must control your employees and get them to the house. You do this by telling them to build ladders, or to stop other employees from proceeding beyond them, and even instructing them to self-destruct. You assign the employees a task by tapping on the task you want to use, then tap on the employee you wish to assign to the task (you can get them to stop the task by tapping on them once more). You must keep them from evil bosses, tipping over water coolers, falling off floors. You must build ladders to get them over obstacles, such as photocopiers and water coolers. It is quite an involved game that takes strategy and skills to win the game.

Figure 5: Keep your employees on the straight and narrow.

Conclusion
The Games PocketPak is a great collection of games that will keep you interested for hours upon hours. Overall, the graphics and gameplay are excellent.

*The views expressed in the above article are provided by an independent third party and do not reflect any official view or endorsement by Microsoft.