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"How can I get lockpicks in Oblivion? I keep running into chests I can't unlock because I keep losing lockpicks. Is there a way to buy lockpicks or a secret stash somewhere?"

One key to making use of lockpicks is to boost your security skill whenever possible, because you'll gradually be able to open harder locks. Sometimes you can find lockpicks when you're looting dead monsters, but for the most part you really need to build up a stockpile by making a purchase here and there. There are two easy ways to track down lockpicks in Oblivion, with a cash transaction, of course.

Last Day of Work continues to hit it out of the park with their Virtual Villagers series. In the 4th installment, The Tree of Life, we find the village chief concerned about the state of life on the island. He sends a group of islanders on a quest to save the Isle of Isola. Of course, if you're going to help the islanders, you may need some help along the way, which is where this guide comes in handy. Read on for tips and tricks for solving the puzzles on the island and be sure to download Virtual Villagers 4 to get you started.

Tribal Trouble 2 takes the Oddlabs viking crew online for a multiplayer experience a bit like World of Warcraft. Like many other free MMORPG titles, Tribal Trouble 2 provides gaming advantage to the players who purchase additional points. You build up viking hordes to conquer rivals and capture treasures, gaining points for upgraded facilities and a stronger fighting force, but the advantage goes to those who spend money on points. If you're not planning to spend money and want to play for free, you need all the help you can get.

Civony is another of the increasingly popular massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) available for free. The game looks a great deal like Age of Empires II with a little live-action Settlers of Catan thrown in for good measure. The object of Civony is to build up the civilization in your town so that you can invade other towns and grow your empire. One of the most compelling reasons to play Civony is the price - the game is promised to be "free forever", although I suspect that the option to buy additional coins with your real world funds will be more popular if the game gets traction with a large audience of players.

Amazon launched a new Game Downloads store this week. In honor of the occasion, you get three free games. The only requirement is you need an Amazon account. Free games are only available for 7 days, so don't delay in grabbing your freebies.

Download 3 Free Games

The Mystery Case Files game series is by far the best of the hidden object game style. I was a fan of the original Ravenhearst game when it came out several years ago, so it's great to see a sequel. This time around Emma's ghost delivers a dire warning — evil still lurks in Ravenhearst Manor. Return to Ravenhearst puts a new spin on the spooky theme of the old game, adding immersive adventure-style game play to the hidden object challenges, along with a surprisingly great original soundtrack. Feel the floorboards creak as you move from room to room solving puzzles and seeking out clues in over 150 detailed scenes. Download the strategy guide if you get stuck. Get a discount of 50% using the code RAVEN50 when you register Return to Ravenhearst before December 27, 2008.

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Save money with a discount coupon code good for 40% off Virtual Villagers: A New Home, Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children, or Virtual Villagers: The Secret City. Follow any of those links, add the game to your cart and enter coupon code BACKTOSCHOOL to save. If you've previously purchased the Virtual Villagers games, the coupon code is good for hundreds of other arcade games, card & board games, mahjong solitaire games, puzzle games, and word games. The catch: the coupon code expires on September 3, 2008.

I realize that 2007 is long gone by now, but if you haven't tried the 2007 Puzzle Game of the Year, here's your chance to get it for a song (assuming you already pay .99 for music). All you need is the discount code AZADA99 when you checkout for a great deal on a game that normally costs $19.99. The premise of Azada is the adventurous Titus is trapped in a haunted room by his great-uncle. Titus needs your help to release him from the magical spell. To do this, you must solve the most mysterious puzzles of Azada. A little cheesy, yes, but the puzzles are a great challenge and you really can't go wrong for $0.99. The catch, this offer ends on August 15, so the clock is ticking.

You can see a video demo of the game before you order, or you can order the game immediately. The order page is a little confusing, you actually want to choose the $19.99 option, click next, and then enter AZADA99 on the next page.

And if you get stuck, you can always get the Azada strategy and walk-through guide.

The hidden object game goes underwater for a deep sea adventure in 10 Days Under the Sea. Search for lost treasures and other hidden objects amongst ship wrecks, coral, and lost underwater cities. The setup for the game is you're helping Little Carrie find her spirit. She had it stolen by the ghost of a mysterious old man, which sounds a bit like the plot of an Austin Powers movie. When she finds an ancient compass, she sets out on a quest to restore her spirit, but first she needs to locate some missing parts to the compass, which is where you can help.

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Want the thrill of Gordon Ramsay pushing you to the limits of your culinary skills without actually being a chef? Just like the show of the same name, Hell's Kitchen puts you through a series of kitchen and dining room challenges designed to test your skills. You`ll need to master each Time Management test to progress to the next level of competition. Each meal is scored by a virtual Gordon Ramsay. While playing a game will never measure up to the demands of really preparing food in a working kitchen, Hell's Kitchen is one of the more entertaining games I've played in the "beat the clock" genre. It also includes some recipes you can try out in your kitchen at home, making this much more than just a game. And if you're not up to date on the latest season, you can watch episodes from the show for free online. Do you have the talent to be a "five-star" chef in the hottest kitchen in town?

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