Intro
It's 2013! The world didn't end and some great games came out in December. Expect a ton of more stuff coming out in the coming weeks, and be sure to take advantage of the numerous sales going on for all games and apps trailing off of Christmas and New Years (more on that in the section below).
-Tunesmith
What's happening?
So what's going on? Every month a member of the iOS GAF community will start a new thread for the chronicling of new releases, rumours, discussion and petty personal attacks that have come to define the fast moving world of iOS gaming. What's really new here is that the OP will also contain a list of all the best new releases for that month as they come out. This way we get to keep tabs on the best games and you (yes you), the mythical unicorn known as the iOS Novice will have an excellent resource to look back on to find games you may have missed. As months go on, Community members can also use their turn on the OP to pimp their favourite games and genres. I know we're all looking forward to the eventual Kairosoft special!
January's Games!
Pixel People | Free, Universal
Trailer
Table Top Racing | $2.99, Universal
Note: This game hasn't been vetted by GAFers sufficiently yet to whole-heartedly be included here, read impressions or buy at your own risk.
Trailer
Little Inferno | $4.99, iPad
25 minute Gameplay Trailer
Might & Magic Clash of Heroes | $4.99, Universal
Originally developed by GAF-friends Capybara Games (of Swords & Sworcery, Critter Crunch fame) and nicely ported to iOS by Tag Games -- already a GAF-favourite.
Note to our IAP-allergic members; this game has IAPs but they're solely optional "shortcut unlocks" to directly unlock factions for play in multiplayer. Factions which you otherwise unlock normally while playing through the singleplayer campaign.
20 mins gameplay trailer
Momonga Pinball Adventures | $1.99, Universal
PINBALL WITH A TWIST
Join Momo in the first episode of an epic adventure to save his tribe. A band of owls turned the momonga village to ashes. The owls took the momongas and vanished. Momo barely survived the attack. After the raid, Momo was found by a wandering panda in the outskirts of the village. A scar went deep from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. The panda, a Lorekeeper, took up the task to save the creature.
Trailer
Temple Run 2 | Free, Universal
The sequel to the stupidly popular Temple Run where one runs, jumps, turns and slides around while navigating perilous cliffs, zip lines, mines and forests.
Joe Danger | $2.99, Universal
Race, ride and defy death as you jump buses, dodge giant mousetraps, leap tanks full of sharks and reclaim your title of Master of Disaster! Swipe Joe to pop a wheelie, flick obstacles out of the way, tap to jump, hold down to crouch and waggle to fight sharks!
In 10 words or less Joe Danger is:
"Excitebike meets Mario meets Sonic meets Trials meets AWESOME" - Dragnet
"Rayman Jungle Run on a motorbike. With chimpanzees." - McBacon
Hundreds | $4.99, Universal
Made by the developer of old GAF-hits Canabalt and Gravity Hook comes a new puzzle game is simple in concept, deep in design, a puzzle game that requires quick fingers and deep thinking.
"The goal of Hundreds: Grow at least 100 points between the circles in each puzzle. Circles turn red and volatile while being grown and if they collide, it's game over. It's that easy."
Initial GAF impression in this thread is very positive! Plays better on an iPad than an iPhone/iPod though due to fat fingers-syndrome in later levels!
Trailer
Notable games discovered by GAF from the tail end of 2012!
Penny Arcade The Game: Gamers vs. Evil | $4.99, Universal
Popular with our boardgames community, haven't played it myself so here's part of the official blurb!
Space Agency | $0.99, Universal
Including this in December's haul as it was just recently discovered here on GAF, even though it technically came out in June. Build rockets, launch satellites, create a space station, explore the solar system! This is smaller in scope but similar to Kerbal Space Program that's available on PC. GAF-certified hit!
Gameplay video from Scott Manley (a big Kerbal Space Program Youtuber)
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition | $9.99, iPad
The stuff of legend now available for the iPad! Play the original game and be ready to import your character to the epic RPG, Baldur's Gate 2, re-releasing next year for the iPad. Dangerous wilderness to explore and evil 'round every corner. Don't forget to save often and gather your party before venturing forth! -Minsc
Seems like a decent port with it's share of bugs (as with the original version), but the team seems dedicated to keep patching it. Get it here or on pc or w/e. it's Baldur's Gate yo!
The Grading Game | $0.99, Universal
A surprise release that is pretty freaking awesome. Fix grammar errors and typos has never been so fun! Who'd thought?
Cook, Serve, Delicious! | $2.99 (Sale price until Jan 6th) iPad - PC/MAC also available
Probably my favorite game of the 'restaurant genre'. Fast, hectic with tons of upgradables and customization. The writing is quite witty as well. If you don't have an iPad, get it on PC (will run on the shittiest ones. I checked!)
Giantbomb QL (PC Version)
Battle of the Bulge | $9.99, iPad
A war-gaming board game has never been so fun!!!
Play the famous battle as Axis or Allied, against 4 different AI (2 for each side) or challenge your friends via GameCenter async multiplayer or Pass&Play.
If you are into wargaming, get this game.
If you are not, get this nonetheless to see how an iPad app should be made.
Pure slickness. -PittaGAF
It's an Unreal powered Star Fox like space shooter. Fun stuff, and only a dollar.
Puzzle & Dragons | Free, Universal
(English version is US exclusive for some reason)
Game OT here
Match 3 or more Orbs of the same color to attack your enemies. Unlike most puzzle games, you can move an Orb as far as you want. Match the mystical Orbs and watch your Monsters attack. Collect tons of unique Monsters and assemble the best possible team. Quite addictive and quite charming. Need an online connection though.
These products are most likely available from other places than the ones linked, please use your own judgement when or if you want to purchase an accessory.
iCade Arcade Cabinet | $65.99, iPad
- Retro-styled tabletop arcade cabinet for your otherwise useless iPad, controls via Bluetooth.
- A non-exhaustive iCade games list: http://www.thinkgeek.com/icadegames/
A couple of video reviews (thanks Alextended!)
iCade hardware
Blazing Star
Shogun: Rise of the Renegade
Gridrunner
ElectroMaster
Enborn-X
Midway Arcade
Vectrex Regeneration
AirAttack HD
Temple Run
Gameloft Duo Gamer | $79.99, Universal - currently on sale at $39.99
- Only works with certain Gameloft games (Asphalt 7: Heat, Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front, Modern Combat 3, N.O.V.A. 3, Order & Chaos Online, NFL Pro 2013 and Wild Blood)
- Features two thumb-sticks, a D-pad and four front buttons
Q - Should I buy this newly released EA game?
A - Nope, most are hot garbage and will probably be a dollar/euro during a frequent sale.
Q - I just got an iPhone/iPad. What are the best games?
A - Best iOS Games Ever v1 / Best iOS Games Ever v2. You're welcome.
Q- For gaming, should I get the iPad mini, or iPad 4?
A- Both have their pro's and con's. Mini is cheaper, and arguably a better grip for gaming, but the screen isn't as great and the device is less powerful than the 4. Most games these days all run fine on it, but I'm not sure about in a year.
Q- I'm a new iOS user, what non gaming apps should I get ASAP?
A - This thread would be a great place to start. Asking here wouldn't hurt either!
Q - How do I back up my game saves for games that do not support iCloud save games?
A - Use a file manager program such as i-FunBox (PC/Mac versions available) - It's free and requires no jailbreak.
i-FunBox has a ton of different features, but for the purpose of backing up save games you would simply want to do the following:
- Click the iFunBox Classic tab
- Connect your iOS device, either via WiFi or USB, it should then appear in the Connected Devices list on the left side of the UI.
- Under User Applications, navigate to the game you want to back up save games for.
- Select the Documents folder and copy it to your PC/Mac - this will copy the folder and all the contents. This contains your save files and settings for the game (a bunch of .lua files).
- Under User Applications, navigate to the game you want to restore save games for.
- Select the Documents folder and choose to copy from PC/Mac
- Navigate to where you saved the backed up Documents folder on your PC/Mac, open it and select all the files within it and open them. This will copy the folder and all the contents back onto your iOS device.
- Restart/fully close the game itself and your saves should be back!
Ensure that the file structure of the game is GameName > Documents > .lua files after you're done (no Documents folder within the Documents folder!), otherwise the game will not recognize your restored saves!
Q - How do I hide my Real Name on Game Center?
A - Ever since iOS 4.3 your real first and last name, taken from your Apple ID, will be shown to your GC friends. If you value that information and want GAF's leaderboards to show your proper GAF nickname instead, here's how you do it:
- Open the standalone Game Center app.
- Go to the Me tab and tap the yellow ribbon that has your email written on it.
- Chose View Account and you'll be prompted for your password.
- Scroll down to the Edit Account Info section and tap on the Apple ID profile.
- Change you First and Last name (you must enter both) to whatever you like (e.g. First Name: Tunesmith, Last Name: GAF)
Done, now that's who you're going to be listed as on your friend's Game Center leaderboards from now on. This will affect Game Center *and* your Apple ID. If it's the same account you use for App Store/iTunes (like me), you will still be able to use it for iTunes/App Store's purchases (you can still buy whatever you want like you could before) *BUT* in the receipt it'll show your nickname or whatever you chose as First Name and Last Name when you changed those fields. The first time you will use the modified account on App Store/iTunes, you will be asked to verify the account by re-entering the 3 digits code of the credit card's CCV security code (if you make your purchases using a credit card, like I do).
A summary of other, current, iOS/iOS device related threads!
iOS Online Boardgaming Megathread (Carcassonne, Everything Playdek, & Many More) - highlighting as this is massively popular
December 2012 iOS Gaming |OT| Santa touched me somewhere weird.
November 2012 iOS Gaming |OT| A Bold New Era!
Game OTs:
Puzzle & Dragons |OT| gogogo
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iOS Apps |OT|
iOS Jailbreak/Unlock |OT|
iOS 6 |OT|
iPhone 5 |OT|
The New iPad |OT|
iPad Mini |OT|
How to Become an Official GAF iOS Game Center Member
The List
updated: daily (mostly).
#RULES: How to get on the list / Update your profile / Add friends
- Send Fuu a PM if you want to be added or taken off the list, following this text formatting:
GAF Name = Game Center Name / iOS Device(s)
- When you add someone, add FROM GAF to the friend request and your NeoGAF name so to easily tell who's who.
- Also send Fuu a PM if you are already on the list but want to update your profile with more info like iOS platform(s) owned (it's cool to know who has an iPad for all the games with separate SKUs), or to just change your existing GC profile.
- We are on the list and, if you are too, it's ok to add us even if we're not best buddies; don't be shy: we enjoy having more GAFfers challenging us on the friends leaderboard.
- Don't just wait for others to add you first you should at least add some of the profiles posted above yours if you want to get the ball rolling... It's really up to you. Ideally the last member of the list will be the one to add the profiles above his, and so on and on with each new member. Or maybe just add whoever you like, that's also an option.
- Remember: your real name will be visible to your GC friends
Thanks to Fuu for handling the community list and chickdigger802 for having done December's haul, plus another small thanks to (me) Tunesmith for the banners and graphics!
Have a great start to 2013!
