I don't agree....what more excitement do you want? All games have to end, and just getting there should be enough in an action-packed game such as this! I wasn't thinking of getting the Windows version of VV as I've got Village sim on my PDA, but fortunately for me, my daughter (knowing my proensity for LDW's games) bought the Windows version for me and WOW, I think it's even better than VS for handhelds. The villagers are nothing short of cute and the whole playing experience promises to be more addictive than ever. Even though I sort of know the ropes, I'm still hooked to the play! I only wish there were a way of minimising the full screen in play, without having to quit the game when one wants to do other things. or perhaps there is...?? Otherwise, no complaints ! Congratuations to the team!

Hit the - button at the top right hand side of the game window. It will minimize it and let it run in the background.

When you want to go back to the game, just click on the virtual villagers button in your start bar.

Thanks Madonnaearth!

I agree 1000% with you, HappyTxGirl. It was good and I expected it to continue at least staying good, if not getting better, but I was sorely disappointed. Maybe one of the developers got sick or fired or....? But for the future, they should make games a lot less anti-climactic.

I loved the game, and so many people love the game i feel they should make virtual cowboys or ranchers, virtual hospital, virtual students, virtual shoppers, any and every type of lifestyle would fit into it's own game and with all the enthusiasm they would all sell too. Look at how other companys are selling so many forms of diner dash and people play them all, it should be done i would play them all.

I was disappointed with the ending, i really wanted to meet the thing with the eyes but i do want to try out the sequel as soon as it's out.

I really enjoyed putting those little eyes behind the boulder, but I see that they probably promised hidden content, when they were intended to hint at a sequel. Oh well live and learn!

As always, thanks for all the kind words, everyone.

Here's the review I've been posting at various gamers blogs etc. I wrote it quickly, so it's TOO chatty, but here ya go.

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I am QUITE pleased with this game. It's a "casual" downloadable game -- not meant to be MYST-like in complexity, time or skill. It's what I call a "little" game, and for little games, it's very fulfilling. Think of all those "put three in a row and free the [fill in whatever]" games. Anyone must admit this is FAR more complex and intelligent.

Two main complaints are the speed of the villagers and the anti-climactic ending. I'll just address those:
VV is a real-time game and not meant to be played constantly for months. Think about it in the real world. Nobody could move all those rocks them all while cooking/eating dinner. Early in the game how many villagers are working on it? (And you know how "independent" they can be, so they probably relax, eat, exercise, tell jokes, explore -- oh! That [censored] curiosity! -- tell stories, mate, try other skills, and goodness knows, doing laundry, etc unless you are there to drag them back on top of the thing every time they wander off.) It would take a small group of REAL people a LONG time to move the rocks (especially all the way across the village.)

I'll agree on the anti-climax, but in a slightly different way than others. The one "key" solves too many of the milestones and, as a bonus, is annoying as heck. I named my first "Paris Hilton" <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> It felt a bit like a cop-out on the developer's part. The beginning takes time to figure out, but the final milestones happen lickety-split. I didn't mind so much that it ended WHERE it did. I did mind that solving ONE milestone, in effect, solves most all of the rest without any more brainpower/work from the gamer and the villagers.

However, I've found other ways to still enjoy. My first game is still running, though I've now removed everyone's chosen skill and don't ever give them new ones. I did this to see how inbred their talents are (not as inbred as they are;) Population is still quite good, even though I've not "taught" several generations of villagers a single thing.

My current game started with me renaming my villagers Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel and so on. I'm not to the New Testament yet, so I'm not solving the milestones. You may guess when I will allow the "key" to appear...(think Messiah.) I'm also learning that women weren't named much in Jesus' lineage. It's very very very male-centered.

Back to VV. Here's my advice: Be creative -- this game can be played with MANY different goals in mind. They don't have to come strictly from the creators of the game. Make up your own. Don't rush through on 2x speed. Learn to just "check in" and fix what needs attending to (put them all back to work) and maybe you can do something else in between.

I look forward to the next chapter with great hopes that it will be possible to do an "add-on" or an "upgrade" to the current game I already have (with an apprentice sniper for Paris Hilton.) Simply an addition to what's already happening would be so terrific!

And it's well worth the price -- certainly when you compare that to popping bubbles, matching tiles, stacking falling bricks or other similarly categorized games.

4 stars from me -- Ella

Here is PC GAMER from October 2006 (Gamut Minis Section, page 108):)

I like this Game its Awesome

But i you should have more then 90 peoples

I am so addicted to this game, but I will admit that I was very dissapointed in the "ending", but I couldnt stop from starting all over again... and when i found out there would be a 2nd I wasn't so dissapointed anymore... I can't WAIT for the 2nd! This game is awesome