You may have heard that Google is planning on rolling out super high-speed internet to one or more medium-sized communities around the country as part of an experiment in building open fiber networks. Well, I just read today that Saratoga officials are submitting their nomination to be included in this project. If it means cheaper or faster internet service, I'm all for it; here's hoping that Saratoga is selected!

Tuper Tario Tros. is a unique game. At first, it looks like a standard port of Super Mario Bros., but there is a twist. I don't really want to ruin it for you, but it adds a new challenge to an old game. Although for me, it makes the game too challenging, and even after a dozen or so attempts, I'm still unable to beat the "boss" at the end of the first level. If you make it past, let me know what happens!

Here's a fun game I found this week called Alphabet Shoot. Not much to say about it really; you control cannons that shoot letters which can only destroy blocks of the same letter. There are some neat physics puzzles in there, plus they limit your shots, so some of the levels are quite difficult. Good luck.

The last few games have all been sort of similar, so this week I've got something totally different. Mr. Bounce looks like a standard ball and paddle game, but there are a few things that make it stand out. First, the ball is affected by gravity instead of traveling in a straight line, which gives it an interesting trajectory. On top of that you can control how high it bounces, which offers a strategic challenge, especially in some of the later levels. Luckily, you can enable a temporary slow-motion mode if you get into trouble. The game also features a catchy soundtrack which really complements the sound effects, so make sure you have the sound on for this one.

I'm returning to the tradition of posting downloadable games on the first Friday of the month. This month we have Spelunky, a retro-inspired cave exploration and treasure-hunting game. The levels are randomly generated so the game is different each time you play, but I've found that they are always rather difficult. The art style is crisp and charming and the controls are tight, if a bit complex. It's definitely the type of game that could keep you busy for a very long time.