What is downloading?

"Downloading" a file from a web-site means to transfer a copy of the file from its location on the web-site to the desktop or another folder on your computer. The usual way to make a download happen is to click on a web-link that has been created for the purpose. Instead of taking you to another web-page, as ordinary links do, a download link tells your browser to begin the file transfer. The download pages for our games (such as this one, for Santa's Secret Valley), all contain clearly marked download links.

What happens when you start a download? Your browser will give you an opportunity to select the folder in which the downloaded file will be placed. (It is important to remember this information, so that you can do something with the file afterwards.) A "progress window" will let you track the transfer from start to finish. If the downloaded file is a program, such as one of our games, the next step would normally be to install the game by double-clicking on the icon or file name of the downloaded file on your desktop or in Windows Explorer. After the installation is complete, the downloaded file has served its purpose and can be archived or discarded. The whole process is described in detail in our First Download tutorial.

What are the pros and cons of downloading?

Once you have decided that you would like to obtain a particular file, downloading is the quickest and cheapest way to get it. Depending on the speed of your connection, it may take no more than a few moments from the time when you first learn of the availability of a file to the time when it is sitting on your hard drive waiting to be used. The cost involved is generally negligible or nothing at all: it consists of your Internet connect charges during the time when the download is actually taking place.

Time required for downloading: The main drawback of downloading is that it can take considerable time (from minutes to hours) if the file being transferred is large and your Internet connection is slow. With files up to say a megabyte in size, the speed of the transfer probably won't be much of an issue. With larger files, or when multiple files must be transferred, users with dial-up connections will have to decide whether the download time is acceptable.

What about viruses? Downloaders should also consider the question of whether the file they are obtaining is safe to use. Could it contain a computer virus or other malicious code? The best protection here is common sense. Files obtained from reputable sites like Family Games are trustworthy. (We create our software on secure computers and double-check it with a commercial virus detection utility to make sure it's safe for you to use.) You must always use your best judgement regarding the safety of any site you download from. The best way of protecting yourself against rogue software, however obtained, is to do what the pros do: equip your computer with virus detection software and keep it updated. Fortunately, modern virus checkers are not terribly expensive, and have automatic features to make updating easy.

What about the Family Games CD?

Although downloading is an excellent option for many users, we've seen that it does raise some issues that you have to be aware of. In contrast, obtaining our games by purchasing the Family Games CD is extremely simple. The main advantages are that you get all our games at once, without the hassle or inconvenience of downloading; and that you retain an "off-line" copy of the games so that you can uninstall and re-install at will without having to keep a copy of the installer program on your hard drive.

Minimal install feature: If you are trying to conserve hard drive space on your system, our CD has the handy feature of being able optionally to install only the minimum files needed for each game (the main trade-off with this option is that you need to insert the CD each time you want to play the game).

CD drawbacks: And the drawbacks associated with the CD? Apart from the minimal cost of the disc itself ($12.50 Canadian, a little more than $8 U.S.; 40% less if you register one of our games at the time of ordering), you'll have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery. Also, if we release new games, or an update to one of the old ones, you'll have to either download it or buy an updated copy of the CD.

CD-related links: Please click here if you would like more information about the Family Games CD, or here if you would like to order it now.