Halloween Games: A Murder of Scarecrows
October 22nd, 2008 by John Wolfe
As I was checking out the website My Pet Skeleton today I came across A Murder of Scarecrows created by Vincent Marcone. It is one kick butt game for Halloween enthusiasts. I could play it for hours, but that will have to wait until after Halloween. Here’s how it works: three scarecrows are being attacked by a murder (flock) of crows…notice the double entendre for the title of the game. 
It’s up to you to shoo off the birds by aiming seeds at the scarecrows. The seeds’ purpose is to reanimate each scarecrow.
Seeds are launched by clicking on their positions in the trees. You must then drag each seed’s tail to determine the length of the shot. When the scarecrows are awakened, they swipe and grab at the crows, chasing them from the field. You have to keep an eye on the roots growing under your scarecrows, since it represents their life system. When the crows attack, it depletes the root system. When the roots are gone, the scarecrows die.
While the game play is fairly simple, it’s the dark ambient graphics I’m enthralled with.
A Murder of Scarecrows image source.
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
I’m barely awake right now, checked your new blog, saw a GAME on here, had to check it out. For the first 3 minutes, I sucked! New games, gotta get the feel for it. After that, however, I got the hang of it real fast and though I didn’t score in the 600 range, I did better than I thought I would. It’s different than most because you usually have to AIM a straight line at what you need to shoot. This one reminds me of archery in that you have to think of the trajectory and not so much the target. Really great find John
Yes, AFTER Halloween……might I request after you have had time to catch up on WindoftheSoul as well 
Hmm, might I, Hmmm? TeeHee…..as is, T and I are gonna play this at work.
1.5 weeks now or less than 10 days! It must be insanely busy in the Wolfe’s house, INSANELY busy! Can’t wait to read about it, hear about and see it on video/photos in November. Oh, I’ve done an experiement with the “metal” thingy….rather interesting results I’ll share with ya in November. Better run, I have a 15 hour work day today. Keep up the great work John!
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
You’ve created a monster John…..Treva! So get this….SHE CAN PLAY THIS, she’s 3 years old. She’s got a great eye for the roots/lifeline for the scarecrows and her aim is “just about” as good as mine. Yikes, what’s that saying about my aim. She’s got such a quick eye and takes it all in rather fast. She especially likes it when the bell rings, as do I–NEW scarecrows, AND when the scarecrows slam their arms down and make the whole ground shake. This is cool “in the moment” fun, thanks! Better check on that spaghetti and garlic bread….yumm!
Oh THANK YOU, I just sent this as a comment from work but I didn’t have my email address filled in and after hitting submit, then ERROR, thank goodness I was able to back track and just add in the required areas! Don’t you just hate losing your typed work out to cyberspace…arg! Thankfully you have this nicely rigged that such a thing doesn’t happen. I thank you GREATLY kind sir
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Glad you and Treva are enjoying it! It took me a few minutes to get the hang of it too. One of my favorite parts is when the scarecrows hit the ground and shoo off all the crows!
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
One of our not so favorite parts is when you have 2 scarecrows down to a limb underground and not only do the trees NOT have seeds, but the seeds are NOT growing. T and I have lost many of games thus far because for some odd reason it reaches a point where NO seeds are born and you have to watch your scarecrow die. We even had the bell one time but without somethiing to hit the bell, kind of hard to ring it and bring back the dead. Today, with her in school, I broke our 250 mark and was 40 points away from the 400 mark. Not sure how I did it but it was a nice little jolt of surprise for me when I did. You’ll make the 500 mark in no time I’m sure
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Oh my heavens, how COULD I forget my all time favorite kick off OF Halloween, other than the season of fall and Apple Hill officially opening, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!! Yes, laugh if you must, at my age I STILL make a point every single year to watch that Charlie Brown episode. This has been a 30+ year love affair with that 30 minute cartoon. I just love the feel of it, the 2 of them out there under the dark sky sitting in the pumpkin patch just talking. I can’t believe I forgot to mention that, LoL! Now I need to check and see when it’s on cause it’s coming up. I’m so glad I remembered. How bout you John? Have any Halloween classic cartoons that put you in the mood, not like you NEED to be PUT into the mood mind you
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Yeah, I haven’t had an opportunity to play it a lot, but when I was playing I noticed the same thing about the seeds being slow to replenish. I learned quickly you have to become more accurate with the seeds that are on the tree and make every shot count or else you’ll come up short when you need them.
I was just thinking about the Charlie Brown Halloween special last night. PBS was airing a special on Charles Schultz when I got home. It should be on next Monday or Tuesday (I think).
The Charlie Brown Halloween special has always been a tradition for me. I remember watching it back east (New England) as a kid and seeing the Peanuts characters advertising for Dolly Madison confections! After leaving the northeastern part of the country, I never saw those commercials during Peanuts Halloween again.
Another tradition was watching reruns of the old Warner Bros. cartoons from the thirties and forties. They had some vintage Halloween themes to them.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:20 am
First, allow me to say “synchronicity” in a huuuuge way. No kidding? Just last night? I was reminded of my favorite Halloween cartoon late this morning. LoL, wow, thanks for the thought last night so I could be reminded of it today in my OWN mind. Amazing, love this time line we’re living in right now! Synchronicity ON!
Secondly, WOW, vintage Halloween cartoons? From the 30-40’s - fantastic, I’ve GOT to look that up. I adore the vintage older movies from the early 1900’s - 1930ish or so. We’ve all seen the vintage Mickey Mouse of course, but even that cartoon sparks up those wonderful “antique” feelings. Thank you for sharing that, I’m gonna hunt some down tonight.
Thirdly, and perhaps lastly, I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers Charlie Brown and SNOOPY around this time of year. Snoopy is the man, errr dog!! That’s my kind of “keeping it real” sort of dog I would have and the Red Baron sky scene is wonderful set to a dark night outside! So you find it brings up those old….I guess comfort feelings when watching this as a kid? Not so much of being a kid at that time but the feeling of escape, even if for 30 minutes, into another world of fantasy for just a bit.
Oh, and I must note here, loved the 1987 photo of you!
A Wolfe…hey 
I remember that era well only in that year I graduated from high school. Yikes, 20+ years??? Really??? Wow, sooooooooooo much has changed in me. I would never chose to go back to any age. I cherish and appreciate the wisdom I have right now and how much further that is going!!
It’s been fantastic to see such a creative variety in what you share and present on SeasonOfShadows John, truly!
I’ve visited other sites and though they have great stuff too, YOU are the only one who has that unique variety on your Halloween site. It personalizes your website much more than others that rely on the number count for the day. Your count is for how much creativity was expressed that day/night and for that, I thank you kindly dear friend. This time last year, Halloween came and went as I never noticed and ya know, I felt like something was missing from fall 
This year, it’s been my pleasure to visit with Halloween again through the likes of you. Couldn’t get any better! Sorry again for this long post 
October 24th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Real fast — The game — I use those seeds most sparingly and practically keep the scarecrows moving at all times. What happens though is when the scarecrows slam down onto the ground and shake everything, they shake the remaining seeds clean off
Then your just sitting there, watching the dark crows suck the energy clean out of your long built up scarecrow and you can only watch in “horror” 
I suppose most would be hitting their keyboard, as if that helps, but I’ve always been the type to fully understand that some things are just out of your control and the seeds dropping from the trees when the earth is shaking is one of them 
Others have gotten to the 600 mark so there must be a way of doing it!! I’m SURE you’ll be the one to find it