I used to buy my games through Real Arcade but don't like to have to use the arcade program to run the games and can't install it to a portable hard drive to play the games at work (don't tell my boss about that). I have checked out Big Fish games but am looking for some other places to buy games online. Thanks.
Kristine
I do apologize if this is not a good place to post this.

Kristine, I've been using the Big Fish Game Club for quite some time now & I've been really happy with it. You can get 3 different types of memberships, with game prices from $9.99 - $6.99. There's no special programs like RealArcade, and if you use the Big Fish Toolbar you get games a day earlier than the internet release. I was thrilled to see VV2 as the New Release on my toolbar & it was even better to get it for just $6.99!

I used to use PopCap, and Shockwave... then I found BigFish. In my opinion, it's the best there is. They have a new game every day and with thier game club, I can get everything for $6.99.

I occasionally buy games straight from the producer, like PlayFirst and Sandbox... but mostly I just get things from BigFish these days.

BigFish is what I use too

I'll never use Big fish again! They put a tool bar on my browser without my permission! I really hate that. Cant use the words I would like to use here. Now that I had uninstalled big fish tool bar I can no longer play my game V V 2!

Narasan,
I have installed 3 games from Big Fish and don't have a tool bar. Have you tried to reinstall VV2? I am really careful about looking for all the add ins companies try to install along with the program. Usually there is a check box you can uncheck so those type of things don't get installed.

Narasan, it sounds like you may have uninstalled more than just the toolbar. I've uninstalled mine before and it didn't affect any of the games on my system, whether purchased from Big Fish or other sites.

If you are having trouble getting the game to run after you uninstalled BFG's toolbar, PM Carla. We will make sure you have a working copy of the game.

i always buy from big fish ive never had a problem with them in the install programme box u can uncheck big fish toolbar before you actually download the game

I normally get my games from GameHouse, wish it was available there to get. I really prefere either getting my games from people I trust and the developers instead of having to signup for yet another place.

I LOVE BIG FISH GAMES! Whenever I have a problem with a game, I email them and I get a response within a few hours. Also, when a game wasn't working, they gave me me credit without my asking for it. I pay $6.99 plus tax and I get almost all of the really cool games. I try every game for an hour before hand so I never buy a game I don't like. I can't tell you how many times (before finding BIG FISH) I bought games at Best Buy for $20 each and I was bored senseless!
I love my Big Fish Game Club!

I buy my games from Big Fish and Shockwave. I think they are the best around. I have never had a problem with either of them, and chose no when asked if I wanted to install the toolbar.

I always get my games from Big Fish Games....I have only gotten one other game somewhere else and that is a game I got from the dell website when I got my new dell...it is called "Fate" and I really like it too. Haven't played it any since I found VVI and VVII....seems like all my time is taken up with my little children and their tribes.

I have never had any problem and I personally love the tool bar. I go right to Team Bingo...it is much faster.

Virtual Villager: The Lost Children is only my 3rd game ever to get from online. The first two games, which just happen to also be LDW games, are Virtual Villager: A New Home and Fish Tycoon.

I bought Virtual Villager: A new home from Arcade Town.
Fish Tycoon I got from LDW, and Virtual Villager: The Lost Children I got from Big Fish.

I much prefer having the CD and so try and wait for the games to be released to retail on CD. However, the one hour trial play of Virutal Villager was not enough and I had to have this game. I was hooked. Upon finding the LDW homepage and Fish Tycoon, well what can I say, LDW makes fun addictive games, I couldn't wait for them to come to CD.

I can't say that I won't purchase anymore online games, but for me they would have to rival the LDW games. So far LDW has blown away any competition they might have had and so the chances of me buying more online games only depends on when LDW comes out with Plant Tycoon and the next installment of Virtual Villagers

Big Fish has the exclusive rights to VV2 is the ONLY reason i bought from them, i had to take out 3 things they tried to put into my computer just for buying that one game, they are the worst i've ever used for adding in unwated stuff

Mary obviously you never tried AOL or had to deal with getting rid of all sorts of hidden junk from it. At least Big Fish gives you the option to uncheck items when you download. That's far better than many sites, gaming or otherwise. Also, alot of the game sites these days seem to give you the "more games" icon, but it's easy to get rid of it if you don't want it on your system.

I'll never buy from Big Fish again. And I do hope they'll give me money back for this so I can buy it later from somewhere else. I cannot get the game to authenticate and Big Fish's fix includes adjusting my security settings which I don't want to do and I've never had to do for any game I've purchased in the past (including Fish Tycoon and VVI). That and their toolbar which you can opt out of, but just feels like spyware to me. I can't even run the demo anymore because any new download just tries to authenticate and then hangs up.

I'll definitely never buy from Big Fish again.

Rach

Check out my response to your other post about Big Fish Games.

Thank you, Barbara!

Rach

I always buy from Iwin because their prices are really good. They don't have VVII yet, but say they will in a couple weeks.

I buy from Big Fish, cant beat 6.99, and ive never had a problem with their games, ive gotten i think 8 games so far including vv1 and vv2, fish tycoon, moon tycoon, mystic inn and westward, i love big fish and i will continue to buy from them, and no i have never had a problem with any toolbars, in fact its never even asked me to install it, first time i heard of the tool bar was the day b4 vv2 came out and somone was in the shout box saying they were allready playing the game, slightly annoying, but i got over it.

I get my games from Big Fish and Real Arcade and I've never had any problems with Big Fish - especially no toolbar showing up. - and they've always been very helpful.

I DO have a problem with Real Arcade though because I have two hard disks which I partitioned so that my C: drive should be only for Windows, my firewall and virus checker and other really essential utilities and the other three hard drives are for graphics, games, other utilities and stuff which doesn't fit into any other category. I find though that Real Arcade gives me no choice as to where I want its programs to go, but insists on installing them all on my C: drive so I have to move the game program folder to the appropriate drive, make sure the program FILE is returned to the "My Games" folder on my C: drive and then add a shortcut to Real Player so I can run it through "Added programs" otherwise I can't play my new game.

I find Big Fish is the best!
I had a problem with onegame that I purchased from them, and they letme have another game instead.They send no spam, and they listen to you!
I am presently (with their help) trying to download two "Lost Children" games (purchased separatly) to my computer so they will be independent of eachother.
I really like them!

Can you buy virtual villagers in the stores?

You can buy the first one, Virtual Villagers: A New Home in retail stores. The second one, Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children, is available only from game sites right now.

Ok thanks.
Do you know here you can get any free trials for longer than 1 hour for number 1 and 2?

1-hour trials are standard for downloadable games.

Ok. I was just wondering because my brother told me there is a place that does 24 free trials.

is there a way to find out what stores sell Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children

I have bought most of my games through Realarcade, mainly because their support used to be better than most others. I was not content with how RA suddenly and with no explanations withdrew several games and boards last year, including VV1. Apparantly they had an issue with Bigfishgames. So I left.

I bought VV2 through Bigfishgames because that was the only alternative since I did not want to wait. I am not so fond of Bigfish because their support has never answered any of my questions. Also they have that stupid toolbar and other spyware options I don't like and although they are optional, it is the act itself that makes me suspicious. Why trying to force it upon people when they could have done it otherwise, e.g. let those interested download it separately?

There is a gamesite, however, that promises to be free from spyware and such things: It is named gamestodownload.com and I would have bought VV2 there if it had been available.

I am not a buyer from internet so I am anxiously awaiting the cd to come out in stores. Is there a release time for VV2?

It will be awhile yet. You can see Arthur's answer by clicking here.

I agree with you all, Big Fish Games is awesome! Get into the Bigfish Game Club, $6.99 per game... and I STILL buy additional games besides the 1-per-month required of the Game Club. LOL!! Lemme tell you though, there is no better game than Virtual Villagers 1 and 2 !!

Note: The preceding LDW kudo was not paid for nor endorsed by LDW. It is the opinion of one of their loyal fans.

that a bummer about big fish being the site you can buy vv 2 from. Becuase it not my normall game site

I purchased VV1 from Big Fish but since their Game Club is only for pc and they don't allow any game coupons or gift certificates for Mac titles, I won't be purchasing from them again. Will probably purchase VV2 from LDW.

I purchased VV1 from IWIN. They are pretty good at helping when there is a problem. And if your dissaisfied for some reason they do what they can to fix it.
I lost my VV1 because my computer lost all my files for some unknown reason. So I repurchased it through spintop games.
And I purchased VV2 through Big Fish.
To be honest.I think that they all are about the same.

I got my VV1 from Shockwave. I got VV2 from pogo.com

i get my games from pogo.com.. Its EA people so i trust them to not take any extra money from my bank!! :p

Thats as may be, however, I was able to get it from Pogo.com That is where I go for games. (It is also my homepage.)

The Big Fish Games exclusive is only for a couple of weeks or so, when our games are first released. After that, they become available "everywhere."

As soon as it came out, I was able to get it through Pogo. I know that it was just released, because I got an e-mail, and then went to Pogo and got it.

I have a Shockwave Unlimited subscription and for the one low fee each year there are usually at least two new downloadable games each week as well as other online games to play. There are no extra fees to pay....EVER. I have been with them for three years now and have never had a problem. As long as your subscription is active you have unlimited access to all the games, currently two or three hundred, maybe more.

I saw an advert for VV1 and clicked on it. It must have taken me to Big Fish Games since I have a BFG-branded version. I don't remember going to their site, however.

I get my games from reflexive. No toolbars and no other problems.

I got my VV1 from Bigfish, but since i got VV2 (from LDW) each time i go on to my VV1 it lets me play for a few minutes then closes down. Anyone know what is happening? I wish i'd got it from LDW too. Have had no problems worth mentioning for VV2 so far. Jane

The installation of VV2 shouldn't have affected your VV1 game at all. Is it closing because it's no longer activated and has reverted to trial mode?

I thought it would'nt have but had to ask (sorry). I dont know if thats what has happened. But as i bought the game should it do that? Should i get in touch with Bigfish or can i sort it out myself.... With help from you or some body here.

I opened my VV1 just now & it closed, but i got these pics for you to see if you know what it is that may be causing it to happen. Hope you can help. Jane

I think the best thing for you to do is to go to Big Fish Games and download the VV1 trial and reinstall it. Something has happened to your game, and a reinstall should fix it. You game should remain registered, since that information isn't deleted when you reinstall the game. If you want to back up your savegames first, see this post, which provides the location and file names. Copy those files to a safe place until you have finished reinstalling VV1.

I was getting my games from Pogo.com, because i have a premium pogo membership, but now that I have read all your posts, i feel dumb. I haven't bought this one yet, but the first one i bought right away, and I paid 19.99!!

Thanks LadyCFII, tried what you said & fingers crossed VV1 village has been running for more than 30 minutes so far. Hope this has done the trick. Thanks again. Jane

I buy and run my LDW games through Steam, which is very handy to have installed on your computer because you can run almost any program through it!! =) Which also means I can play my games on any pc I happen to be using without the need to cart every disc around with me!!

I am a member of shockwave,so i download games,and play them as long as i want.When i buy games i buy them ay Walmart.

hi again, been off line for a couple weeks while we moved. i bought vv1 through incredigames, then vv2 through big fish then vv3 direct from ldw, happy with them all. but most of my other games i get from big fish, lots of them free, with the coupons. and if i delete one of them i can always go back to big fish and reinstall, no problems with tool bars or popups. iwin has the most popups, always and every time i turn on my computer, there is one. so annoying.
also have a new email, didn't know i'd lose it when i moved, duh.anyways nice to be back gene

I bought VV1 through Big Fish. When I found I needed some help I searched and found these forums. I now have FT, PT, VV2 and VV3 as well, all direct from LDW.

playfirst games is also a great place.

I always buy my games straight from the company who made it. Basically, on the Apple downloads site, it has all the games developers submit and links to their site, so I go and download a whole bunch of trial versions, and then if I like them, I buy them from the developers, not other sites because I believe that the people who make the games should get 100% of the profits, and not have to share 30% (or thereabouts) with game selling companies.

I use Wildgames from Wildtanget.Guess nobody else uses that!

I just purchased V V3 today but did not receive a key code number to unlock the game. I have received the confirmation from Plimus that my card was charged and the purchase is complete. How do I go about getting the key code? thanks in advance!

Sometimes the email containing the activation code ends up in junk or spam folders (or is caught in spam filters at your email provider). Whatever the reason, you can get help by following the procedures in this answer in our Support FAQ.

I buy them through Big Fish Games or throught this website.