Fugdale’s Funhouse

Nutshell: For all those office workers who ever wanted to do “IT”, I dedicate this video to you.

Review: A hilarous and poignant video depicting a candid looks at office workers who have gone off the deep end largely due to nagging routines and outdated equipment. While the actions of the people in this video obviously come out of sheer frustration with their jobs, they represent what many many people in the world feel about the world we seem forced to live in. When you watch these angry, trapped people destroy their computers and attack other co-workers you want to cheer for them. Notice how the people around the office in the background usually react with shock, but then just return to what they were doing as if events like this were bound to happen and as if they must preserve their jobs at all costs. Too bad all the workers couldn’t be that frustrated all at the same time. There may be a revolt in corporate America.

As someone who is facing the prospect of returning to an office environment for work, I find this video a haunting warning. You see, I rarely feel like throwing my guitar across the room. Maybe I should consider a Bohemian lifestyle.

Object: Sink your golf ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes possible.

Review: I’ve seen quite a few clever golf games online, but this one definitely has some extra appeal. This game of mini-golf includes 18 holes. You can play the front 9, the back 9 or all 18. The unique aspect of this game lies in the fact that the courses exist on the desktops of various office workers. The edges of the desk and various office supplies, such as pencils, envelopes and keyboards all provide the boundaries of each course. Cliboards and envelopes provide some ramps and spilt coffee and soda create a few water and sand traps. Additionally, various other objects, like cellphones and mice (computer mice and actual mice), move about each course creating moving obstacles.

The game allow up to four different players to compete and each player gets his own choice of initial ball placement before the first swing. The play mechanism feels very easy and intuitive to use–perhaps a bit too easy. Just click and drag the cursor back and an arrow will form. The longer the arrow, the harder the hit. Making par on most courses won’t give you too much trouble, although the pesky obstacles sometimes make you have to settle for 7 strokes or more on a course. Despite the fact that some levels may challenge you, the game plays very quickly. You can make it through all 18 holes in little over 10 minutes…so, no worn out feet or aching shoulders here.

Although the game doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more indepth golf games (such as Tiger Woods or Super Monkey Ball Golf), it does provide an enjoyable atmosphere in which to kill a few minutes and it will certainly appeal to anyone who has ever gotten bored at the office and created a little course to distract themselves.