iOS Gaming December 2015 | F2P is frightful, but the sales are so delightful

We published another game, this time developed by Sticky Studios.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

An endless runner based on the Fox movie and book series. Similar to the first Maze Runner game we released last year, but with squad management and gear/crafting.

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In the last week, we have also released minor updates for Tap It Big : Casino Empire and Turbo FAST. We have Breakneck and a major Into the Dead update being released next week, as well as our second Apple TV release next week.
 
Mario said:
We published another game, this time developed by Sticky Studios.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

An endless runner based on the Fox movie and book series. Similar to the first Maze Runner game we released last year, but with squad management and gear/crafting.
Click to expand...
Aw yessssss, I still play the first game, one of my favorite runners. Downloading this immediately.
 
Fuu said:
Aw yessssss, I still play the first game, one of my favorite runners. Downloading this immediately.
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Great.

Would be interested in your feedback. The Sticky team is still building a lot more content for it for later levels. I'm especially interested to know if the early stuff is too grindy feeling.
 
Very noteworthy release:
Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead - Free, with one iAP for sound effects
It's a massive and massively complex post-apocalyptic roguelike. Think Brogue, but post-apocalyptic. Games like this are few and far between on mobile. Rock Paper Shotgun recently named it one of the best free games on PC
One of the most complex and initially intimidating games in existence, Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is also one of the best, should you be able and willing to navigate the learning curve. It’s the post-apocalyptic survival simulator that games like DayZ aspire to be, packed with the unexpected and terrifyingly complex. You can repair a car and mow through crowds of zombies but you’ll also need to keep an eye on your supplies of food and drink. Cataclysm is a full-featured life simulator that just so happens to take place when there’s little life left in the world.
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Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest is out, with what seems to be a new update for the launch.

***Smarter AI and More Challenging Encounters will force you to adapt your strategy***

New Features
Quick Match: Defeat the deck of real players and top the leaderboards.
All opponents now have special abilities triggered from Planeswalkers gems.
New languages supported: French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Russian and Chinese.
Inventory: Enjoy your spells, creatures, and artifacts in the new Inventory section. Use filters to get clear insight into your collection.
Collect new spells, creatures, and artifacts using your Mana Runes and run the chance of looting new and better cards.

Improvements
Advanced AI: smarter AI doing better matches and playing cards properly.
Objectives 2 & 3 of all encounters have been tweaked and are now more challenging. You will now need to tinker with your deck and/or choice of Planeswalker in order to earn those additional rewards!
New Deck Edit & Deck improvement: it is now easier to edit your deck (new interface & filters)
Earn Mana Runes when replaying the same encounters again.
All cards are now functional. Some cards have been redesigned based on your feedback.
Major Bug fixes
Click to expand...

Any comments on the update, Pitta?
 
Wow, playing through the MtG Puzzle Quest tutorial.

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Who knew there could be so much strategy in a match 3 game? This could get dangerously addicting.
 
Heel said:
Wow, playing through the MtG Puzzle Quest tutorial.

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Who knew there could be so much strategy in a match 3 game? This could get dangerously addicting.
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Yeah...as soon as you tweak your own deck it's really addicting.
I'm now getting the most out of the game in the pvp games with my level 50 Nissa, they are really really fun.

I wonder how is progression now, I hope it's consistent as in the first beta when I could level up everyone, never wait and having just fun whenever I wanted.
I really hope the freemium aspects don't ruin the final game.
 
Anilones said:
Pitta: should we be spending premium currency on new characters or do they unlock through progression?
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I do not recall anything unlocking via progression, but stones (basically the XP you can buy planes walkers and level them up with, and now I saw even boosters) and gold, which only purpose is to buy boosters.

My advice is to get familiar with the game, see which planes walker you like more....then concentrate on that only (to level up).

I'm not a competitive guy so I played the characters I would play in, let's say, a RPG....so basically I play just with Nissa (more creatures) and Gideon (the fighter)...I'm not that into mages or necromancers.
But I could level up everyone anyway (keep in mind I had MILLIONS of stones before the update where they lowered like 1/10 the level up requirements so I could level up to the max everyone).

I'm curious to know how is progression now.
I remember that at the end of chapter 1 I was about level 5 or 6.

Of course...if you try to buy and level up everyone you will just scatter your XP and be underpowered.

It really depends on which cards you unlock too...it's a pain wanting to play Nissa and unlocking just Chandra super cards (been there, done that)....but this is something typical for every CCG.
 
So far I like this one a lot more than Marvel PQ. The only issue I've seen so far is that on my phone the little popups that show you the abilities gets cut off on the side of the screen, which screwed me up a little on that final tutorial fight. I could guess what trample does cuz I'm familiar with the physical game, but what does "Renown" do?
 
stephencottontail said:
So far I like this one a lot more than Marvel PQ. The only issue I've seen so far is that on my phone the little popups that show you the abilities gets cut off on the side of the screen, which screwed me up a little on that final tutorial fight. I could guess what trample does cuz I'm familiar with the physical game, but what does "Renown" do?
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Weird...the problem was addressed some time ago and now it's back :)
I guess you mean that tapping on the abilities in the RIGHT part of the screen cut them off.

There aren't a lot of abilities like those but it's annoying in the first phases when you are still learning.

Renown means that the creature gets +1/+1 (or something like that) AFTER the first successful combat...basically he gets famous and his stats improve.
Others I recall: the bow thing means you can shoot to flying creatures.
Flying creatures can't be blocked if opponent doesn't have reach (the bow).
The tower means its a defender so it will get the first damage your opponent does.
Berserk means the creature will attack opponent creatures FIRST (then the planes walker).
Regen is obvious.

These are the ones just out of my memory, but maybe I'm missing something else.
 
PittaGAF said:
It really depends on which cards you unlock too...it's a pain wanting to play Nissa and unlocking just Chandra super cards (been there, done that)....but this is something typical for every CCG.
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I just played part of the tutorial and the game already looks fantastic :) gonna make a Liliana deck somehow :)
 
So, yeah...Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest

I'm sorry Hero Emblems, but you have finally been dethroned

Hero Emblems may be more flashy and have more of an RPG structure, but the sheer depth and the card game/match-3 blend of MtG: PQ makes it the best match-3 I've played...well since Hero Emblems
 
More_Badass said:
So, yeah...Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest

I'm sorry Hero Emblems, but you have finally been dethroned

Hero Emblems may be more flashy and have more of an RPG structure, but the sheer depth and the card game/match-3 blend of MtG: PQ makes it the best match-3 I've played...well since Hero Emblems
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I tried it during soft launch and, I don't know, maybe it's too deep for me. I just couldn't get into it.

So Hero Emblems is still king for me. Not to say MtG is a bad game at all. Just not for me.

I also think I just dig the RPG structure.

----

Can't remember if it was Frost or Pitta, but didn't one of you have issues during the iOS beta where you couldn't delete apps?

I'm having that issue with iOS 9.2. I can go into the storage menu and delete them from there but not on the home screens. The little X's show up and apps shake but cannot do anything and eventually my mini 2 crashes.

Storage is a work around but I keep doing it by accident being used to the normal way. Was there something you did to fix it?
 
More_Badass said:
So, yeah...Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest

I'm sorry Hero Emblems, but you have finally been dethroned

Hero Emblems may be more flashy and have more of an RPG structure, but the sheer depth and the card game/match-3 blend of MtG: PQ makes it the best match-3 I've played...well since Hero Emblems
Click to expand...

Well, I totally agree but it's a bit unfair toward Hero Emblems which still deserves a lot of praise.

First, Hero Emblems is a full fledged RPG blend, with a story, characters, dialogues and of course it's premium (huge plus).
I've heard it's the best game in the AppStore in Asia (as opposed to Lara Croft GO in the west) and it's well deserved imho.

Magic the Gathering : PQ is basically just fights, no story or anything, and it's freemium (yet to be determined if now it's hampering the progression or anything).

But that said....it's based on a HUGE world, incredible art, years of tweaks in the cards...and yes...imho it's so much fun and deep, if you want it to be.

I really hope the freemium part doesn't ruin a great game.
I wish I could direct battle against friends tough, the PVP is random as far as I saw so far.

But yeah...it's been long since I had so much fun with a match 3.
 
Oh, Hero Emblems is definitely the better overall game, due to the story and the cohesion between the RPG aspects, progression, etc.

But gameplay/depth-wise, I'd say MtG: PQ blows it away
 
awp69 said:
I tried it during soft launch and, I don't know, maybe it's too deep for me. I just couldn't get into it.

So Hero Emblems is still king for me. Not to say MtG is a bad game at all. Just not for me.

I also think I just dig the RPG structure.

----

Can't remember if it was Frost or Pitta, but didn't one of you have issues during the iOS beta where you couldn't delete apps?

I'm having that issue with iOS 9.2. I can go into the storage menu and delete them from there but not on the home screens. The little X's show up and apps shake but cannot do anything and eventually my mini 2 crashes.

Storage is a work around but I keep doing it by accident being used to the normal way. Was there something you did to fix it?
Click to expand...

I had this problem as a side effect of the Gamecenter problem that affected many iOS 9.1 users.
Couldn't delete any GC game because everything froze at the 'do you want to delete from GC too?' Prompt.
But since iOS 9.1 something I never had the problem again.
 
The End of the World:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/end-world-by-sean-wenham/id1043714288?mt=8

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mVb5JGxHA0

The End of the World is a side-scrolling exploration game for the broken hearted. Set in Newcastle, England, you play a lonely man in a world that ended when he lost his love. By living day by day and in the past you unravel the circumstances that led to the end of the world, and maybe a way to move on. Essentially this is a break up game.
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PittaGAF said:
I had this problem as a side effect of the Gamecenter problem that affected many iOS 9.1 users.
Couldn't delete any GC game because everything froze at the 'do you want to delete from GC too?' Prompt.
But since iOS 9.1 something I never had the problem again.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't get the GC prompt so don't think it's the same issue. Oh well, just gotta remember to go through the storage management menu to delete stuff.

---

Also wanted to say if anyone was thinking of picking up Dungeon Time, I'd hold off. There's quite a few bugs and I'm not liking the auto aim in it. If you read the TA thread, even the dev admits it needs work and they probably took a step back with the game, being their first 3D effort. Pains me to say all that because I've loved all the other Mooff games.

I also picked up Power Hover and, just now, Mechanic Escape (read one review that it was like Super Meat Boy combined with the polish and level design of a Rayman game and I was sold...and only $1.99???).

Haven't played either yet, but will post imps when I can.
 
protonium said:
Thanks for the update. I was about to ask you for first impressions because the screenshots looked interesting. I haven't heard of Mooff before.
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I'd check out Blackmoor, Maximus, Toon Shooters and Super Boys - The Big Fight if they look good to you. They're all free ATM. They have IAPs but they aren't really needed, although Super Boys is a bit more freemium than the others (and is always free).
 
protonium said:
MtG Puzzle Quest, login with a Facebook account or play as a guest? Fuck right off.
Click to expand...

Just do a fake account as a repository of the save games for these games that are multi platform (you can play on Android and on iPad with all synced).
Alternatively....just set your preferences granting no permission to post anything to the app.

I guess as Android picks up in gaming, this type of thing will be more and more common.
 
jon bones said:
RE: mtg pq

whats the best way to heal my Planeswalker? do they heal over real time?
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If you mean during the fights, there are spells and powers that heal yourself.
If you mean between fights, you have 5 'potions' to completely refill your HP and you regain them overtime (never been out of potion actually, despite playing non stop for hours).
On top of that, some planes walkers (maybe all, surely Nissa) gain various levels of 'regen' leveling up (can't remember the exact levels)....so if you wait a bit you can be at full HP after a fight in no time not even using the potions.
For example...my Nissa has 80 HP....let's say I just won a fight and I'm 40 HP....I think in 15 minutes she is back at full health.
Usually the time I take to tweak the deck.
More often than not I just use a potion and don't care...they refill fast and usually much faster than I die in game.

The only exception during the beta was in chapter one, but I had to wait 10 minutes at most.
 
protonium said:
MtG Puzzle Quest, login with a Facebook account or play as a guest? Fuck right off.
Click to expand...

PittaGAF said:
Just do a fake account as a repository of the save games for these games that are multi platform (you can play on Android and on iPad with all synced).
Alternatively....just set your preferences granting no permission to post anything to the app.

I guess as Android picks up in gaming, this type of thing will be more and more common.
Click to expand...

I always hated games that used Facebook logins, but more recently I tried a few and every single one of them Facebook said allowing access "would not allow the app to make posts to your account." And usually just want basic public profile info. So even though I don't like it, I've given in.

I just always feared people seeing stupid game posts from my name. That hasn't happened. Can't say that's the case with every game though. And I'm sure their are some of the nastier F2P games that do want to make posts.

----

Just a few quick impressions.

Power Hover is excellent "sand boarding" game. Cool level design that is reminiscent of Journey but more of an arcade game with a story about the list of energy and getting it back. The controls may feel too loose but I think they are spot on with giving that field of surfing where you can't just make instant, quick turns. Great game.

Mechanic Escape is a very polished platformer that does kind of blend styles of games like SMB and Rayman. It's far from the brutal challenge of SMB though and is generally a pretty safe platformer. That may change as I get further. Still, it's fun and recommended for fans of the genre.

Sheep Dreams Are Made of This, on the other hand, is a very original platformer. You collect colored boxes as you traverse the world and, missing jumps, you fall to other levels in the game (sometimes to levels you already played) or pass through doors to other levels. The other twist is that those levels can be on angles or even upside down. You also don't appear to have any way to die. The object is to get every colored box on each "level" and if you reach the end, you start over again and try to get those you missed. This is not a quick fix game (unless you have incredible luck). You keep playing until all boxes are collected and the object, it seems, is to beat your best time each run. Pretty neat idea. It's also free with only an IAP to remove ads (and I have not yet seen one in the short time I've played).
 
ok MTG PQ is really dope. it's starting to capture the feel of MTG very well, loving this blue draw deck... hopefully will be able to turn into discard/counter style annoyance.

thanks pitta
 
jon bones said:
ok MTG PQ is really dope. it's starting to capture the feel of MTG very well, loving this blue draw deck... hopefully will be able to turn into discard/counter style annoyance.

thanks pitta
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Your welcome, glad the final game is holding up.
Actually, the type of deck you mention is the one I hate the most :P
Like...I have all these cool monsters and support all set up....then my opponent cast a spell that put all them back in the deck, or transform all them in 1/1 frogs or destroy all my supports....

I hate it :P (in a good way).
 
protonium said:
MtG Puzzle Quest, login with a Facebook account or play as a guest? Fuck right off.
Click to expand...

I've found linking my games to my facebook account to be pretty awesome. Allows me to go from device to device, from android to ios, pretty easily and quickly.
 
nicoga3000 said:
iPad Air 2 is $125 off at Best Buy. Guess I'll go get a 64GB model today!
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Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually looking to get an ipad, but just not sure what model is right for me. GF wants a pro but only god knows why.
 
Holy crap! Icycle just got a big update with new levels. Never expected that. Looks like I'll be redownloading that game.

For those that don't have it, it's a great, wild and unique platformer with brilliant artwork. Nothing like it on the App Store.
 
awp69 said:
Holy crap! Icycle just got a big update with new levels. Never expected that. Looks like I'll be redownloading that game.

For those that don't have it, it's a great, wild and unique platformer with brilliant artwork. Nothing like it on the App Store.
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+1
 
Do you all play any of the Butterscotch Shenanigans games? I know this is December thread but I heard they are releasing in January.
 
So, I just started MTG and checked out the FB log in, you can choose what information they get from your Facebook Profile, so I simply disabled friendslist and email details, all they get is my public profile and that is quiet empty due to security settings.
 
Really addicted to Power Hover. It's just an utter joy to play. It has influences from games like Race the Sun and Journey (and a touch from Dune :) ), but the art style is beautiful, graceful controls and a wide variety in the stages that increase in challenge with land and water, dizzying perspective changes and ever changing obstacles (both physical and enemies). Easily the best "runner" type game in a long time.
 
Holy shmooples Transistor is a blast! The game is utterly gorgeous and I am loving the combat so far (have only reached Goldenwall(?)). Can't wait to delve deeper into this, really loving the obtuse storytelling perspective.
 
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