Today's Deals

Today is the last day to take advantage of this KSO deals:

• Get $2 off an Amazon Favorites MP3 Album

There are several albums in the $5 (pre-coupon) range and if you are into Classical Music, there is one at $1.99 and another at $2.49 that are good choices.

A Drowned Maiden's Hair ($0.99), by Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz, is today's Kindle Deal of the Day. Looks like one you'll want in your library if you have middle grade readers in your household (or will have in the future).

Book Description
Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence. So when the charming Miss Hyacinth chooses her to take home, the girl is pleased but baffled, until she learns of her new role: helping to stage elaborate séances for bereaved patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing the "secret child," she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience. It takes a shocking betrayal to make clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this novel from Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz features a feisty heroine whom readers will not soon forget.

Mirage Men ($1.70 / £1.09 UK), by Mark Pilkington, is the Kindle Deal of the day for those in the UK (the US edition is $9.99).

Book Description
In Mirage Men Mark Pilkington explores the complex, symbiotic relationship between the US military and intelligence agencies and the UFO enigma itself, together with its attendant culture of researchers, enthusiasts, mystics and charlatans. Amongst them are the Mirage Men, a close-knit group of men and women whose careers span science, medicine, the military and the intelligence services. All believe that they have received parts of a flying-saucer-shaped puzzle whose final pieces lie tantalisingly out of reach. Yet for how long?

Many of the Mirage Men believe that official ‘disclosure’ – a government announcement about the extraterrestrial presence – is just around the corner.The catch is that the world of the Mirage Men may actually be the real world, or at least the world as it really is – it’s just that the rest of us haven’t realised it yet. If we listen to the Mirage Men, somewhere deep within the sprawling apparatus of US government lies the ultimate truth about UFOs and extraterrestrials. This is the Holy Grail that the Mirage Men are chasing.

Mirage Men is not your average UFO book: it is about UFOs, those who believe in them, and those who would have us believe in them.

Fifty-to-One ($1.99 Kindle, B&N), by Charles Ardai, is the Nook Daily Find, price matched on Kindle. This is the 50th book published by small press Hard Case Crime.

Book Description
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HARD CASE CRIME!

Okay, not really. But what if, instead of having been founded 50 books ago, Hard Case Crime had been founded 50 years ago, by a rascal out to make a quick buck off the popularity of pulp fiction? Such a fellow might make a few enemies – especially after publishing a supposed non-fiction account of a heist at a Mob-run nightclub, actually penned by an 18-year-old showgirl. With both the cops and the crooks after them, our heroes are about to learn that reading and writing pulp novels is a lot more fun than living them...

If you are a big football fan and like video games, you might want to check out this current deal: $10 Off Madden NFL 12 plus Get the Madden NFL 12 (Kindle Fire Edition) Free.

Game Description
Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. Featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and your favorite players in the league, Madden NFL 12 is true to the game.

All-New Collision System
Now maintain full control of players up to the point of impact - from tackling to blocking - providing the most authentic collisions in franchise history. This new system uses a player's momentum and over 100 new tackle animations, including 40 gang tackles, to provide more impactful hits, stolen tackles, and consecutive hit tackling.

Advanced Defensive AI
Over 100 defensive A.I. enhancements resulting in the smartest Madden defense ever. Players in zone and man coverage will properly recognize and react to plays, including the ability to break out of assignments when appropriate, resulting in a defensive team that truly works together.

Custom Playbooks
The #1 most requested feature by fans in recent years, allows you to build the ultimate game plan by modifying an existing playbook or creating your own by selecting up to 400 offensive or defensive plays from 75 different playbooks. Integrate your custom playbook into a game plan for use with the improved GameFlow system, which executes an authentic, situational game plan for you.

Broadcast Redefined
Experience NFL Sundays like never before with completely overhauled presentation, including 32 team-specific run outs featuring mascots and cheerleaders, over 500 dynamic broadcast cameras authentic to every NFL stadium, innovative "real" on-field cameras shot by expert NFL Films cameramen, and a network inspired new broadcast graphics package.

Unprecedented On-Field Authenticity
Hundreds of visual improvements across all areas of the game including: new player equipment, helmet stickers, pylon and ball physics, a player degradation system that affects uniforms and helmets based on weather and field surface, 3D grass, and new player specific animations that showcase the personalities of each NFL player.

Build a Franchise
Over 100 new features and enhancements for franchise fanatics that includes expanded rosters, cut days in preseason, an all-new rookie scouting system, a free-agent bidding system, player roles, hot and cold streaks in-season, and much more.

The Fine Print:
Until February 5, 2012 get $10 off Madden NFL 12 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or Wii plus get the Madden NFL 12 (Kindle Fire Edition) for free.

Simply add any version of Madden NFL 12 from the list below to your cart and proceed to checkout in order to receive the promotion. You will receive a $4.99 promotional code valid on Madden NFL 12 (Kindle Fire Edition) via e-mail within two days after your order ships.

• Valid when shipped and sold by Amazon.com, while supplies last.
• Shipping fees and taxes may apply.
• Amazon reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time.
• The promotion is limited to one per customer.
• Offer expires at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, February 5.

Free Game - Hamster Habitat (K)

Amazon has released Hamster Habitat, a new, free game for eInk Kindles.

Game Description
Hamster Habitat is an engaging path-building puzzle game.

Can you bring all your hamsters together?

In Hamster Habitat, your goal is to connect all of the pieces in the hamster cage using a limited supply of hamster tubes. You'll need to work around obstacles and plan carefully to solve puzzles of three different difficulty levels. For bonus points, find the path that not only unites the hamsters but rewards them with up to three treats!

Hamster Habitat gives you more than 50 puzzles to solve in any order, and includes a full tutorial, an infinite undo feature to make it easy to change your mind, and a Show Solution feature for those puzzles you just can't figure out. Hamster Habitat is fun for puzzle lovers of all ages.

Xbox 360 Kinect w/ Bonus $100 Promo Credit

Amazon has already started running hourly lightning deals as part of their Black Friday Deals Week and I saw this one coming up for 2PM Eastern (11:00 in Seattle): The Xbox 360 Kinect 4GB Bundle will come with a $100 credit (presumably for video games or any Amazon.com products, although I can't tell this early), while it is in stock and for one hour maximum. This is the same console bundle I bought last year (and also bought for my Mom for Christmas, which was a huge surprise), but I didn't get this huge credit!

I've programmed this post early, so in case I missed my guess on exactly which bundle is featured, you can look on the GoldBox page to double check the exact bundle included (there is a Holiday bundle with a couple of games, but I don't think it will be the one included in the deal). I also suspect this will sell out fast, so it's a bonus post for those that catch this online or subscribe to Twitter alerts. I've set the post to publisher 5 minutes before the deal goes live, to give you a bit of lead time to get the the GoldBox page and wait on it.

Book Description
The new Xbox 360® 4GB Console. Here today, ready for tomorrow with a brand new, leaner machine. Wi-Fi is built-in for easier connection to the world of entertainment on Xbox LIVE, where HD movies and TV stream in an instant. It’s ready for the controller-free experiences of Kinect – you don’t just play the game, you are the game. Xbox 360 is more games, entertainment and fun.

Built-in Wi-Fi: The new Xbox 360 is the only console with 802.11n Wi-Fi built-in for a faster and easier connection to Xbox LIVE. Stream HD movies and TV or download games from Xbox LIVE in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound from anywhere in the house. Compatible with b/g/n networks.

Xbox LIVE: Xbox LIVE brings a world of entertainment to you. Instantly watch movies and TV streaming from Netflix. In crystal-clear HD, or download game add-ons like new levels, characters, maps and songs. Easily jump right into online multiplayer fun and play along with friends around the world. Plus, get your favorite music from Last.fm, connect with friends on Facebook® and post Tweets on Twitter. Xbox LIVE is your connection to more games, entertainment and fun.

Kinect Ready: Featuring a dedicated, specialized port, the Xbox 360 4GB is built to connect seamlessly with the Kinect Sensor. Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways – no controller required. Easy to use and instantly fun, Kinect gets everyone off the couch moving, laughing and cheering. See a ball? Kick it. Want to join a friend in the fun? Simply jump in. Even control an HD movie with a wave of your hand.

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller features a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of up to 30 hours on two AA batteries.

More ports: Connect more accessories and storage solutions with added USB ports. Now with a total of 5, (3 back/2 front) you’ll find more places to plug and play. Plus, in addition to the standard Ethernet port and HDMI output, we’ve added an integrated optical audio out port for an easier connection to the booming sound of your A/V receiver.

Free Books from Vook (Kindle)

There is a new batch of free books from Vook today. You can check the search now, or check back here in a bit, when I get a complete list of new titles compiled with individual links.

OK! Here are the new titles that are free:

Health/Fitness [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]

1. Start Weightlifting: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato
2. Burn a Pound of Fat a Week, by Tony Donato
3. Circuit Training:, by Tony Donato
4. Body Sculpting, by Tony Donato
5. Get a Ripped Chest in Six Weeks, by Tony Donato
6. Get Shoulder Definition in Six Weeks, by Tony Donato
7. Hotel Room Workout, by Tony Donato
8. Plyometric Workouts at Home, by Gemma Quinn
9. DIY Organic Baby Food, by Gemma Quinn
10. Post-Workout Meals, by Tony Donato

Video Game Guides

1. Bulletstorm
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops
3. Call of Duty: Zombies
4. Cut the Rope
5. Final Fantasy III
6. Game Dev Story
7. Halo Reach
8. Infinity Blade for iOS
9. Mass Effect 2
10. Minecraft (repeat)
11. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
12. Plants vs Zombies
13. Superbrothers Sword & Sorcery

Animated TextVook [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]

1. Dermatology 101
2. Foreclosure Law 101
3. Mechanical Engineering 101
4. Semiconductors 101

31 Free Books from Vook (Kindle)

There is a new batch of free ebooks from Vook today. All can be read on any Kindle device or app, but any Enhanced Audio/Video content requires an iThing.
Fitness/Health

• Body Sculpting: The How-To Guide, by Tony Donato
• A Beach Body in Six Weeks: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Belly Fat Blaster: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Break Up Your Gym Routine: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• A Great Back in Six Weeks: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Massive Guns in Six Weeks: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Powerful Legs in Six Weeks: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Six-Pack Abs in Six Weeks: The Video Guide, by Tony Donato [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Teach Your Kids to Behave: The Video Guide, by Gemma Quinn [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]

History

• Hubble Telescope
• Apollo Moon Landings
• International Space Station
• Space Shuttle
• Mars Exploration

Animated TextVooks [Kindle Editions with Audio/Video]

• Neurology 101
• Calculus Differentiation 101
• Family Law 101

Video Game Guides

• Peggle
• Killzone 3
• StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Fruit Ninja
• Angry Birds
• Pokémon Black/White
• Total War: Shogun 2
• Dragon Age II

Repeats:

• Stay Organized and Get Things Done: The Sock Puppet School of Business [Kindle Edition with Audio/Video]
• Motivate Your Employees: The Sock Puppet School of Business
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Video Game Guide
• Shanghai: A Brief History
• Tokyo: A Brief History

Free Kindle Game - Jigsaw Words

Jigsaw Words, a new Kindle game from Amazon Digital Services, is free for those in the US (for those outside the US, Kindle games still can't be exported).

Game Description
Jigsaw Words is a word game that challenges you to combine groups of letters into words that match the clues given.

In each Jigsaw Words puzzle, you start with a set of 10 clues. You also have a set of randomly arranged puzzle pieces with letters on them. Your goal is to solve the clues in the puzzle by arranging the puzzle pieces so that the letters form the word that matches each clue. Start with the easiest clues first. As you use each puzzle piece, it is removed from play, making it easier to find the more difficult matches. You can also shuffle the grid of puzzle pieces at any time for a different perspective.

Jigsaw Words has 100 puzzles and each puzzle has 10 clues to solve. The puzzles are organized into 10 themed categories like Holidays and Animals, and you can use the theme to help you solve the clues.

If you enjoy working with words and patterns, try Jigsaw Words and test your ability to build words today!

New Kindle Game - POGO Hearts, Spades and More!

POGO Hearts, Spades and More! ($3.99), by Electronic Arts Inc., is a collection of five card games for Kindle. This is the seventh entry in the Kindle Game arena for EA and I suspect it's only a matter of time before I give in and get it - I have the other six and all are great implementations (and Monopoly got played here nearly every day for months after it came out).

Game Description
Play 5 popular card games: Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Gin and Canasta.

In Hearts, the object is to win as few points-paying hearts as possible or to win all of the points-paying cards at once. The winner is the one who finishes with the fewest points at the end of the game. In Spades, the object is to bid and win a specific number of hands, by playing the highest card by round or by playing the highest spade. The team that bids and wins the most hands, wins the game. In Euchre, the object is for you and your partner to get as many tricks per round as possible. You get tricks by having the highest trump card or highest suited card if no trump card is played. The team that scores 10 points first wins. The goal of Gin is to make sets of cards, based on runs in suit or matching rank. The player who can make the most matches earliest typically wins. In Canasta, you make sets of up to seven cards. The player who first makes sets of all his cards will make the most points and typically wins.

Learn and master each game through in-depth tutorials with rules and tips on how to improve your play and track your stats across all 5 games.

What game are you going to play first?

New Kindle Game - Doodle Fit

Doodle Fit (A Spatial Thinking Game) ($1.99) is the first entry in to the Kindle Game arena by Gamelion Studios. This one looks pretty interesting and should give your brain a bit of a workout, as well as giving you an activity you can fit into those odd moments waiting in line.

Game Description
Doodle Fit is a spatial skills game in which you need to fit a set of blocks into a given shape.

Select and move blocks of varying shapes and sizes into position in search of the layout that covers the whole shape. A level is complete when all blocks have been used and there is no more empty space in the shape.

Some puzzles have more than one solution, and some only have one. There is a Beginner's Pack to help you get started, but if you need a hint you can get one. Use your hints wisely; you earn one hint for every two solutions you find, and you may need to stock up on hints for the more difficult puzzles.

There are over 250 puzzles in nine themed puzzle packs like Winter Pack and Nature Pack. Each of the puzzles has a creative shape such as 'Old Ship', 'Alien', and 'Fox'. The more difficult puzzle packs are unlocked when all the puzzles in the previous pack are solved.

If you liked Tangrams or Tetris, you'll certainly love Doodle Fit!

New Kindle Game- Ultimate Math Skills Quiz

Ultimate Math Skills Quiz ($1.99 $0.99), by HandyX, was recently added to the Kindle store. It's currently marked half-price (thru Aug 29).

Game Description
Whether you are a student reinforcing your math skills or just want to have fun working your brain, Ultimate Math Skills Quiz is a great title for you.

Practicing math is always more fun when it's part of a game, and this application uses game play to help you test your mathematics understanding. Questions vary in difficulty from basic multiplication and division to topics like Algebra and Geometry.

Two different game play modes can be used test your speed and knowledge. Continuous Questions just keep the questions coming until you decide to stop, and Round by Round gives you questions in groups of 10, and you must answer 5 correctly to continue to the next round. Each mode can be played with or without a timer, so whether you want to play under the pressure of a timer or see how far you can get with multiple choice questions, this quiz has options that can inspire and build your confidence.

Ultimate Math Skills Quiz has 1000 questions covering the following topics: Algebra, Geometry, Data Handling & Charts, Fractions, Decimals & Percentages, Multiplication & Division, Order of Operation, Ratios, Powers & Roots, and Approximation.

Unleash your math genius with Kindle today!

New Kindle Game - Kids' Classic Card Games

Kids' Classic Card Games ($1.99), by Sonic Boom, a new Kindle active content game, has all the card games I grew up playing. With today's smaller families, this game will give your kids an opponent to practice on (and hey, I won't tell anyone that you are really playing it yourself!).

Game Description
Kids Classic Card Games is a package of games that includes War, Crazy 8's, Old Maid, and Go Fish; timeless games that will keep your kids entertained for hours!

If you don't know how to play any of these games, don't worry. Instructions and a fun tutorial for playing are included with this collection. You will be able to play with up to 3 other people or challenge up to 3 opponents played by Kindle.

War is a card game in which players compare cards in an attempt to win all 52 cards by having the highest card in each hand.

Crazy 8's is a game in which the object is to get rid of the cards in your hand by matching the number or suit of the previously played card.

The goal in Old Maid is to avoid being the player who ends the game holding the Old Maid, which is the Joker card. The player holding this card at the end of the game is the loser.

Go Fish is a matching card game where each player tries to collect matching cards. Once you have a complete set of a given rank, you may discard the set. You win by getting rid of all your cards first.

Get Kid's Classic Card Games for Kindle and let your kids enjoy these games on their own, or play together as a family.

New Kindle Game - Cluemaster Kakuro

Cluemaster Kakuro Volume 1 ($1.99) is the first entry into Kindle Active Content for Cluemaster.

Game Description
Kakuro is a logic puzzle that crosses Sudoku with crossword puzzles to produce a challenging and addictive number puzzle.

The aim of the game is to fill all the blank squares in the grid with only the numbers 1-9 so that the numbers you enter add up to corresponding clues, and no number is duplicated in any entry. When the grid is filled, the puzzle is complete.

This pack includes 100 puzzles - 25 Gentle, 25 Moderate, 25 Tough and 25 Diabolical. Your progress for all puzzles is shown in the menu and you can restart a puzzle and try to beat your best time. You can enter pencil marks to help you solve the puzzles and there is also an auto pencils feature which calculates the pencil marks for you automatically. You can also turn on auto check, which highlights incorrect numbers. If you like more of a leisurely puzzle then you can hide the timer.

Cluemaster supplies puzzles to numerous newspapers across the world including the Daily Telegraph and Chicago Tribune. All our puzzles are expertly graded to give you the best possible enjoyment.

Give Kakuro a try and you could well be hooked!

Game Deal of the Day - Kona's Crate

Kona's Crate ($2.49), by indiePub, is today's Video Game Deal of the Day at Amazon. Looks like a simple enough concept - all you have to do is deliver a wooden crate to the Chief! Without breaking it, of course, which is the hard part. The crate sits on a little jet-powered platform and you maneuver through the obstacles, all while not smashing the crate into a wall or dropping it (unless you quickly catch it again). Even if you don't get the game, go over to Amazon's website and watch the second video attached to it, Kona's Crate Video, as it's just hilarious; I want one of those iPad like tablets that he uses to play this game, as it is PC only, at least in this version (but I searched the Android App Store and found a lite -- and free -- version for my phone).

I'm downloading the trial for game now, but have one concern - it says there is a "One-Time Delivery Charge" in the description, but other than the cost of buying it from Amazon, I don't see any type of pricing info (perhaps they just want you to know there is not any month fee to play it? or maybe it just refers to how the game plays on each level?). There also seems to be some discrepancy between the number of campaigns and levels, in the two sections that describe the game at Amazon.

I've played thru several levels, using the free trial (and on novice, at any rate, you can let the crate fall a long ways and bounce to the chief and still get credit) and there is no mention of a "delivery charge". The best part - laughing at how badly I am driving the little platform and still managing to deliver the crate. I still have more than 20 minutes on the trial, so will play it again a bit later today, before deciding to buy (but, decide today, as the price goes back up at Midnight in Seattle).

Game Description

• 4 Campaigns, 80 Levels
• Engaging Physics-Based Gameplay
• Beat The Best - See how you stack up on OpenFeint driven leaderboards
• Challenge your friends - post your best times to Facebook and Twitter

One-Time Delivery Charge
The task is easy: transfer a crate of unknown contents to Chief Kona before he becomes angry. Using a jet-powered platform as your vehicle, deliver the crate before it's destroyed. Much harder to control than your average box, use your stellar maneuvering skills to thrust the crate through a maze of destructive elements. Adjust the gas of the platform with a sensitive touch as this crate is much more antsy than you think. But beware, the Chief can become mighty spiteful and will withhold the contents of the crate from you if you do not complete his task in a timely manner.

Blocked, Blasted and Banned
It begins as a simple mission but progresses into a challenging assignment. Maneuvering through 85 plus levels in a variety of graphically rich locations might seem easy, but floating blocks, steam geysers and TNT will block your path. Squeeze through the chief's twisting hallways and turn sharp corners at blinding speeds using your reflexes to earn time and skill-based awards along the way without upsetting the Chief – the most destructive force of all.

• 5 campaigns featuring 85+ levels with additional campaigns, levels and other goodies coming soon
• Continues support with free content updates
• HD-Quality graphics
• Engaging physic-based gameplay
• Easy to pickup controls
• Unlockable levels and achievements

Half Price Kindle Games/App: Crosswords and Yoga

All six volumes of the NY Times Crosswords, by The New York Times, are half price in the Kindle store until August 8, which means they are now selling for $0.99 to $2.49 each.

Game Description
Each volume of NY Times Crosswords, comes with a unique bundle of world famous easy or challenging puzzles handpicked by The New York Times and edited by Will Shortz.

You can solve unassisted or get help using the 'reveal one letter' or 'reveal entire answer' functionality. You can even check your work for errors.

Enjoy the gold standard of crossword puzzles on your Kindle!

My Yoga Studio ($1.99 $0.99 Kindle), by Nickel Buddy, is half price in the Kindle store until August 8.

App Description
My Yoga Studio is like having a personal yoga teacher on your Kindle.

There are many benefits to practicing yoga. Done properly, yoga can help you increase your strength, flexibility, and balance. It can improve your posture as you become more aware of your body, and it can help you relax, even in the midst of a stressful environment.

My Yoga Studio will guide you step-by-step through a series of poses illustrated with a picture and a text description. As you move through the routine, a timer will count down, showing you how long to hold each pose before gently transitioning to the next. 25 different poses are included. You can use one of three included routines (Sun Salutation, Stress Melter, or Balance & Peace), do poses individually, or create your own custom routine. Exercises are designed to strengthen your core, and do not require any special equipment. As you can do these exercises anywhere you have floor space, My Yoga Studio is a perfect companion for frequent travelers or home use.

My Yoga Studio is ready to be your personal guide anytime you want to steal a few moments to center yourself.

New Kindle Game - Picture Cross Volume 1

Picture Cross Volume 1 ($0.99 Kindle), by puzzle.tv, is a new game in the Kindle store.

Game Description
Picture Cross Volume 1 is a puzzle game where you use logic to reveal a picture.

Starting with a grid of empty squares, Picture Cross gives you clues in each column and row with which you must work out whether each square in the grid is black or white. Find all of the black squares to reveal a themed picture.

Picture Cross Volume 1 includes 100 unique hand-made puzzles, each with an imaginative theme. Puzzles come in grids of various sizes, with 20 each of: 8 by 8, which are nice and easy, 10 by 10, 15 by 15, 20 by 20, and 25 by 25 which are very challenging!

Full and detailed instructions and helpful tutorials are included, and a hint feature is available if you get stuck. Work towards completing the whole set! After that, you can reset each puzzle so you can replay as many times as you like.

If you love logic puzzles, you'll love Picture Cross on Kindle!

New Kindle Game - Red Hot Sudoku #1

Red Hot Sudoku #1 ($0.99 Kindle), by Puzzazz, is a new game in the Kindle store.

Game Description
If you prefer challenging Sudoku puzzles, then this first edition of Red Hot Sudoku is the title for you.

Every one of these 33 carefully constructed puzzles has been calibrated to give you a significant challenge. Sure, you need to know the rules of Sudoku, but you better have a few extra tricks up your sleeve if you want to tackle these puzzles!

You will appreciate features like in-cell notes, that help make solving these puzzles as easy as it is on paper. You can move to another puzzle at any time without losing the progress on your current puzzle, and come back to that puzzle whenever you like.

If you're looking for Sudoku puzzles that are hand-crafted specifically for players who enjoy difficult puzzles, then pick up Red Hot Sudoku!

New Kindle Game - Ultimate Shakespeare Quiz

Ultimate Shakespeare Quiz ($1.99, by HandyX, is a new game in the Kindle store.

Game Description
Whether you like Shakespeare, are interested in history or just love a good story, this game challenges you on all things Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's works come to life in this engaging title where you can match lines with plays and plays with lines, fill in missing words to famous quotes, identify characters, and guess plays from clever clues. And it's not just about lines and plays. You will also be asked questions about life in Elizabethan England, and even some questions about modern interpretations of Shakespeare's classic plays.

Filled with 1000 questions, you can just dive right in and start answering them, or you can play Round by Round, in which you must get at least 5 of 10 questions correct to move on to the next round of 10 questions. You can always come back to a game in progress, and the Quiz Progress screen will let you know your highest round cleared and how many of the 1000 questions you've answered correctly. So whether you long for a challenge and want to play under the pressure of a timer or just a beginner seeing how far you can get, this multiple choice quiz will inspire and entertain.

Test your knowledge of the Bard on your Kindle today!

New Kindle Game - Hidden Expeditions: Amazon

Hidden Expedition: Amazon ($4.99), by Big Fish Games, which was briefly (and mistakenly) free in the Kindle store, has now been officially released and is available to all. Or, at least all in the US, who have a physical Kindle, of the proper version (just like all the Active Content for Kindle). The graphics are like nothing you've seen before with Kindle games and you end up using the five-way controller quite a bit (or, I did), but the game plays well for gray-scale eInk (I've played several hidden object games on full color monitors and the difficulty in finding the objects seems about the same).

Game Description
Hidden Expedition: Amazon is a hidden object game set deep in the jungle.

Featuring a story never before told in the Hidden Expedition franchise, you join the Hidden Expedition Team in search of a professor lost in the Amazon rainforest. You get to explore cities, temples, and ruins while unlocking the secrets of the professor?s groundbreaking research. With a tattered passport as your only clue, embark on an adventure and investigate 19 beautiful levels and 4 brain teasing mini-games.

You can invite up to 3 your friends and family to create their own profiles so they can play without disturbing your own adventure. Take advantage of the dynamic Hint system whenever your search becomes too difficult. Enjoy a scene? Replay any level as many times as you wish with the Chapter Select feature and pursue randomly selected items in that scene.

If you seek adventure, lush landscapes, and a good challenge, journey into the wonderful world of Hidden Expedition: Amazon.

Free Kindle Game - Every Word: Crossings

Every Word: Crossings, by Amazon Digital Services, a new game in the Kindle store, is currently available to download for free.

Book Description
Every Word: Crossings is a word game in which you try to unscramble letters to fill in as many words as you can on a crossword style grid.

You are given five to seven scrambled letters with the goal of finding as many words as you can. When you find a word it gets added to the crossword style grid, which gives you clues about the words that intersect with the word you just found. You score points by filling out the words in each empty spot on the crossword grid. When you find a word that uses all available letters, you can move on to the next level, or keep at it until time runs out or until you fill up the board. The more words you make, the higher your score!

Every Word: Crossings has 10 levels of difficulty and as you progress through them the puzzles become more and more complex. Level 1 gives you 5 letters to work with and a relatively small grid with about a dozen words to fill in. Level 10 gives you 7 letters to work with and more than 30 words to find.

There are thousands of unique puzzles to play -- if you like word games, you'll love Every Word: Crossings.

Please note: Every Word: Crossings may contain content inappropriate for children.

New Kindle Game - KenKen Vol. 1

KenKen Vol. 1 Presented by Will Shortz ($1.99), by Gameblend Studios, is a new logic puzzle game in the Kindle store. It looks quite similar to Sudoku, but with the added challenge of mathematical operations, and you get 50 levels to play.

Game Description
KenKen is a puzzle in which you combine simple math and logic to fill in a grid of numbers.

Presented by New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz, KenKen is a challenging follow-up to Sudoku. As in Sudoku, KenKen requires that you fill in a grid with numbers without repeating a number in any row or column. In KenKen, you are also shown heavily outlined sets of squares called cages, each of which has a target number and a mathematic operator (addition, subtraction, multiplication or division). The numbers in each cage must combine to produce the target number in the cage using the mathematical operation indicated. Easy cages are made up of one or two squares and are in just one column or row. More difficult cages can cross multiple columns and rows and are made up of many squares, requiring creative thought as you figure out how many different ways you can create the target number with one operator!

KenKen Volume 1 contains 50 puzzles ranging from Easy to Expert, with grid sizes between 3x3 and 9x9. You can use the inline notes feature to help you jot down potential solutions, and if you get stuck, you can always get a hint.

Give your brain a workout and have fun with KenKen!

Amazon Video Game Deal Day

If you are a gamer, you may want to keep an eye on the Gold Box and Deal of the Day page at Amazon. The first main deal of the day and the first Lightning Deal are first person shooters for the XBOX/PS3 and it looks like there will be different games all day, mostly action/shooters this morning (including a Marine sniper and Star Wars sequel game), then some type of exercise game in the afternoon (Pacific time), along with what is surely a Raving Rabbid, from the hints given.

Brink is today's Gold Box deal, marked down to $19.99 (from $59.99 retail).

Game Description
Brink is an immersive first-person shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character whether playing alone, with your friends, or against others online. You decide the combat role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind’s last refuge. Brink offers a compelling mix of dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system that will keep you coming back for more.

STORY:
Brink takes place on the Ark, a man-made floating city that is on the brink of all-out civil war. Originally built as an experimental, self-sufficient and 100% “green” habitat, the reported rapid rise of the Earth’s oceans has forced the Ark to become home to not only the original founders and their descendants but also to thousands of refugees. With tensions between the two groups growing, Security and Resistance forces are locked in a heated battle for control of the Ark. Which side will you choose?

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is the first of the lightning deals today and is marked down to $39.99 (you only see that price on the Lightning Deals page).

Game Description
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a third-person action game that ups the ante in the series' ongoing battle between Autobot and Decepticon. Designed as a companion game to the major motion picture of the same name, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is intended as a prequel to the events of the movie and contains a variety of game features such as: the new Stealth Force hybrid, a form that combines the weapons and firepower of robot mode with the agility and maneuverability of vehicle mode; the ultimate Decepticon assassin, Shockwave; the ability to play as either Autobot or Decepticon Transformers; three distinct character class chassis and more.

It has been three years since Megatron and the Decepticons last threatened the world. Earth's leaders believe that Megatron has fled the planet in defeat - but Optimus Prime knows better. An alien transmission is intercepted, exposing Megatron's plan to spread chaos and fear among the humans, and unleash the ultimate Decepticon assassin: Shockwave. The Autobots must hunt Megatron, neutralize Shockwave, and save their new home from total destruction at the hands of the Decepticons.