Awem

Awem Studio

Type	Private
Industry	Computer software Casual games
Founded	Mogilev (2002)
Headquarters	Mogilev, Belarus
Key people	Oleg Rogovenko, CEO
Employees	47 (2010)
Website	www.awem.com

Awem Studio is a casual games developer based in Mogilev, Belarus. Awem studio games are distributed by key game portals such as RealArcade and Bigfish games.Besides on-line distribution, games are available on CD in the United States, Germany, Austria, Russia, Poland.

Puzzle games

Cradle Of Rome (2007) is a match-3 puzzle game. The player needs to link three or more similar tiles by clicking on the first piece and dragging the cursor over the adjacent ones. Certain types of matches bring resources that may be spent on erecting various structures, each gives the player an advantage for the upcoming challenges. Cradle of Rome was nominated for "People's Choice Award for Best Puzzle Game of 2007" in the Zeeby Awards, 2007^[1] and was one of the top 20 games during the three years (2007–2009) according to CasualСharts statistics.^[2]

Cradle Of Persia (2007) is a similar puzzle game set in Ancient Persia. Prior to its release it won the "Best Production Values" award in the CGA Europe East awards, 2007.^[3]

Cradle Of Rome 2 (2010) is a match-3 puzzle game sequel to Cradle Of Rome. Gamezebo rated Cradle Of Rome 2 4 out of 5, finding the gameplay and design to be almost identical to the first but deeming it to be just as addictive.^[4]

Cradle Of Rome 2 for Mac was nominated as Best Match 3 Game Of 2010 in Big Fish Games’ Customer Favorites Awards for 2010^[5]

Cradle Of Rome 2 for PC was nominated as Best Strategy Game Of 2010 in Big Fish Games’ 2010 Customer Favorites Awards^[6]

Shoot 'em ups

Alien Stars (2005) is a shoot 'em up which received a Silver Award from Game Tunnel. It was compared to Crimsonland, with fun and simple gameplay, but the lack of content was criticized.^[7]

Star Defender is a series of four side-scrolling arcade-style shoot 'em ups. Gamezebo rated both Star Defender 3 (2007) and Star Defender 4 (2008) 3 out of 5. Star Defender 3 was described as a spiritual successor to Galaga with an appeal to retro gamers. It was otherwise felt to be "merely average" amongst more addictive titles in the casual genre.^[8] Star Defender 4 was praised for its variety of enemies and power-ups but criticized for some game balance issues and overall difficulty.^[9]

Hidden object games

Awem produces hidden object games.

Romance Of Rome (2009) is set in the Roman Empire with a romantic storyline. Venessa Carter of Gamezebo awarded Rome 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the hand-drawn artwork and the difficulty level of the hidden-object sequences. Some objects are semi-transparent or hidden behind other objects, for which Carter commented "It's actually a rather exhilarating challenge for a hidden object pro, but could be quite daunting for someone looking for a more relaxing game. "^[10]

Golden Trails: The New Western Rush (2010) has a wild west theme. Venessa Carter of Gamezebo awarded Golden Trails: The New Western Rush 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising the addition of a badge-hunting objective to the usual item-searching gameplay. However, Carter criticized the nonsensical storyline, haphazard "sherrif investigation" sections and terrible voice acting.^[11]

Golden Trails 2: The Lost Legacy (2011) - the sequel to Golden Trails: The New Western Rush has a pirate theme. Venessa Carter of Gamezebo awarded Golden Trails 2: The Lost Legacy 4 out of 5 stars. She criticized the "baffling" story and "painful" voice-acting, but praised the addictive trophy-hunting mechanic, fresh, eye-catching locations and varied searches.^[12]

Letters from Nowhere (2010) was awarded 3.5 out of 5 stars by Tawny Mueller of Gamezebo. She praised the balanced difficulty, solid gameplay and unlockable bonuses, but criticized the vague, short storyline and repetition of scenes and objects.^[13]

Letters from Nowhere 2 (2011) the sequel to Letters from Nowhere was awarded 3 out of 5 stars by Brandy Shaul of Gamezebo. Brandy marked out the similarity to the first game. Letters from Nowhere 2 is a hidden object game, though it lacks overall variety.^[14]

Simulation games

The Island: Castaway (2010) is an adventure/simulation casual game. Bryan Lufkin of Gamezebo awarded The Island: Castaway 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the detailed graphics, long list of items and extra challenges and overall polished feel. Nevertheless he criticized the gameplay which "reverts to item delivery" rather than survival simulation, and sub-par voice acting.^[15]

Other games

• Aquitania
• Bombardix
• Cosmo Lines
• Dream Big: Reverie Manor
• Pacboy

External links

• Awem home page
• Official Awem studio Page on Facebook
• Official Awem studio Channel on Youtube

References

1. ^ "CGA Europe East 2007". http://gamemile.com/editorials/content/view/2007-10-26_08-00-13/. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
2. ^ "Casual Сharts Cradle Of Rome". http://www.casualcharts.com/games/detail/cradleofrome.html. 
3. ^ "CGA Europe East 2007". http://gamemile.com/editorials/content/view/2007-10-26_08-00-13/. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
4. ^ "Cradle of Rome 2 Review". Gamezebo. Dec 3, 2010. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/cradle-rome-2/review. Retrieved 2011-01-18. "It's hard to blame Cradle of Rome 2 for sticking close to what made it popular. Sure, they could’ve deviated from the formula but being different just for the sake of being different isn’t good enough. Cradle of Rome 2 offers up the same addicting gameplay we grew to love with the first game, and just gives us more of that to enjoy here." 
5. ^ "2010 Customer Favorite Awards for Mac". Big Fish Games. Jan 10, 2011. http://www.bigfishgames.com/blog/2010-customer-favorite-awards-for-mac/. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
6. ^ "2010 Customer Favorites Awards". Big Fish Games. Dec 29, 2010. http://www.bigfishgames.com/blog/2010-customer-favorites-awards/. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
7. ^ "December 2005 Indie Game Monthly Round-Up". Game Tunnel. January 24, 2006. http://www.gametunnel.com/december-2005-round-up-article.php. Retrieved 2010-02-17. 
8. ^ "Star Defender 3 Review". Gamezebo. Jan 30, 2007. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/star-defender-3/review. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
9. ^ "Star Defender 4 Review". Gamezebo. 04/07/2008. http://www.gamezebo.com/games/star-defender-4/review. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
10. ^ "Romance of Rome Review". gamezebo. 13 Oct, 2009. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/romance-rome/review. Retrieved 2010-08-06. 
11. ^ "Golden Trails: The New Western Rush Review". gamezebo. 30 May 2010. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/golden-trails-new-western-rush/review. Retrieved 2010-08-12. 
12. ^ Carter, Venessa (1 June 2011). "Golden Trails 2: The Lost Legacy Review". gamezebo. http://www.gamezebo.com/games/golden-trails-2-lost-legacy/review. Retrieved 2011-06-28. 
13. ^ "Letters from Nowhere Review". gamezebo. 8 Oct, 2010. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/letters-nowhere/review. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
14. ^ "Letters from Nowhere 2 Review". gamezebo. 8 March 2011. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/letters-nowhere-2/review. Retrieved 2011-03-08. 
15. ^ Lufkin, Bryan (2010-10-01). "The Island: Castaway Review". gamezebo. http://www.gamezebo.com/download-games/island-castaway/review. Retrieved 2010-10-06.