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The Official iPhone/iPod Touch Gaming Thread
- Thread starter Matix
- Start date
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60_gig_PS3
Banned
the pole position remix demo is surprisingly fun
not sure if I would pay $5.99 for it though :lol
not sure if I would pay $5.99 for it though :lol
sonikokaruto
Banned
60_gig_PS3 said:
I DID'T LIKED IT
IS IT TODAY ALL CAPS DAY?
THANKS
60_gig_PS3
Banned
dude it's pole position what's not to like?
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Replying to both the guy in the thread and the guy who PM'd me about blocking ads in games:
I haven't managed to block ads in ngmoco
games yet (partially because even if I block the asset downloading for the ads, the games keep a local cache of advertising to display; which is kind of impressively evil when you think about it), but I have blocked ads in most other games.
By far the most popular service for mobile game advertising is AdMob. Their ads are served from mm.admob.com. So, what I did was edit the iPhone's hosts file and redirected that domain to localhost.
Full instructions:
1. Jailbreak iPhone--you should be doing this anyway. There is no real downside and many Cydia utilities are awesome (particularly Mobile Safari AdBlock and Poof)
2. Install OpenSSH via Cydia. This essentially allows you to remote connect to your iPhone.
3. Use an FTP client to connect to your iPhone. The address will be your iPhone's IP address (Settings ->Wifi -> Details -> IP Address). The username is root. The password is alpine. You want to be in SFTP mode. You'll also have to have your iPhone on the same network as your computer, so I guess you'll need a wireless router.
4. You should be in /private/var/root/. Change directory to /etc/. Download the HOSTS file to your computer. There is no file extension.
5. Add the following line to the end (including the extra line-breaks):
127.0.0.1 mm.admob.com
6. Save the file. Make sure you don't add a file extension. Upload it back to the iPhone. Replace the file. You're done.
7. Consider uninstalling OpenSSH both for security reasons and because it's a battery drain. The entire process took me maybe 5 minutes.
Some apps are smart enough to detect that you're using an ad blocker and will not boot. If you are using one of those apps, they will generally prompt you "HEY GUY YOU ARE AD BLOCKING THAT MAKES ME MAD EVEN THOUGH YOU BOUGHT MY PROGRAM YOU DON'T OWN IT PLZ DISABLE AD BLOCK". I haven't come across any games that do this, just a few apps--BossPrefs/SBSettings from Cydia. It also interferes with the Categories Cydia app.
Also note that you can use the hosts file to block any server. ngmoco uses assets.ngmoco.com to serve advertising assets--I just need to figure out how to destroy the local cache as well. After work today I will take another stab at it.
You can also block servers like doubleclick.net to block ads in Safari and elsewhere--but I recommend Mobile Safari Adblock for that purpose (note: MSA does not have a manual whitelist, so if you're the kind of guy that blocks ads in general but allows them for trusted sites like GAF, don't run it)
Stumpokapow said:Boy do I really hate ads that appear in games that I've bought. ngmoco
I haven't managed to block ads in ngmoco
games yet (partially because even if I block the asset downloading for the ads, the games keep a local cache of advertising to display; which is kind of impressively evil when you think about it), but I have blocked ads in most other games.By far the most popular service for mobile game advertising is AdMob. Their ads are served from mm.admob.com. So, what I did was edit the iPhone's hosts file and redirected that domain to localhost.
Full instructions:
1. Jailbreak iPhone--you should be doing this anyway. There is no real downside and many Cydia utilities are awesome (particularly Mobile Safari AdBlock and Poof)
2. Install OpenSSH via Cydia. This essentially allows you to remote connect to your iPhone.
3. Use an FTP client to connect to your iPhone. The address will be your iPhone's IP address (Settings ->Wifi -> Details -> IP Address). The username is root. The password is alpine. You want to be in SFTP mode. You'll also have to have your iPhone on the same network as your computer, so I guess you'll need a wireless router.
4. You should be in /private/var/root/. Change directory to /etc/. Download the HOSTS file to your computer. There is no file extension.
5. Add the following line to the end (including the extra line-breaks):
127.0.0.1 mm.admob.com
6. Save the file. Make sure you don't add a file extension. Upload it back to the iPhone. Replace the file. You're done.
7. Consider uninstalling OpenSSH both for security reasons and because it's a battery drain. The entire process took me maybe 5 minutes.
Some apps are smart enough to detect that you're using an ad blocker and will not boot. If you are using one of those apps, they will generally prompt you "HEY GUY YOU ARE AD BLOCKING THAT MAKES ME MAD EVEN THOUGH YOU BOUGHT MY PROGRAM YOU DON'T OWN IT PLZ DISABLE AD BLOCK". I haven't come across any games that do this, just a few apps--BossPrefs/SBSettings from Cydia. It also interferes with the Categories Cydia app.
Also note that you can use the hosts file to block any server. ngmoco
uses assets.ngmoco.com to serve advertising assets--I just need to figure out how to destroy the local cache as well. After work today I will take another stab at it.You can also block servers like doubleclick.net to block ads in Safari and elsewhere--but I recommend Mobile Safari Adblock for that purpose (note: MSA does not have a manual whitelist, so if you're the kind of guy that blocks ads in general but allows them for trusted sites like GAF, don't run it)
Diablohead
Member
I reinstalled win7 the other day and this time thankfully did the correct sync to get my ipod items onto my pc without losing it all like I did moving from my old pc.
I head off on holiday this tursday for a good week and will need to go spend a few beans in the store for games I keep thinking about, something to play for the journey and other app's to play while i'm NOT in the large swimming pool
I head off on holiday this tursday for a good week and will need to go spend a few beans in the store for games I keep thinking about, something to play for the journey and other app's to play while i'm NOT in the large swimming pool
I hear alot about the 3GS' improved App loadtimes but not much about actual rendering performance improvements. There are a number of 3D games I've bought for my 3G that have been pretty dissapointing framerate-wise; Sims3, Hero of Sparta, katamari and lets Golf to name but a few.
So to the Gaffers that have upgraded are you seeing better framerates on the new iPhone?
So to the Gaffers that have upgraded are you seeing better framerates on the new iPhone?
60_gig_PS3
Banned
jonnybryce said:Has anyone been playing Bionic Surfer?
Youtube Video
iTunes [free version]
I just tried the demo and it's surprisingly fun. It's kinda tacky and cheesy in it's presentation, which adds to the awesome level in my book. The gameplay is definitely fun platforming and you have different guns like a gravity gun to move and stack items and some enemies.
I'll pick it up in the near future since I'm attempting to sort out and play all of my many games. Anyone playing this?
yeah the demo is pretty fun. Way btter than I expected.
truth-lasers
Member
This looks interesting.
DrawRace ($0,99) from Redlynx (Trials 2: SE for Windows and the upcoming Trials HD for XLA as well as the "not really good" Monster Trucks Nitro for iPhone / Touch):
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320231609&mt=8
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWSzuClc1o
DrawRace ($0,99) from Redlynx (Trials 2: SE for Windows and the upcoming Trials HD for XLA as well as the "not really good" Monster Trucks Nitro for iPhone / Touch):
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320231609&mt=8
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWSzuClc1o
Diablohead
Member
Bionic Surfer reminds me of a 1989 Megadrive game, that realistic yet odd looking style, like Toki, Altered Beast and such.
Stoney Mason
Banned
Snowball said:
No. There is no website that I'm aware of that tracks releases in a schedule format because most devs don't provide that information outside of the very biggest titles. If you want to stay informed on the app game scene the best site as always is Toucharcade and the toucharcade forums.
jonnybryce
Member
That race game could be super fun or a failure. I'll pick it up in a few weeks. It's a cool idea, just not "gotta have it!" I wonder how easy it is to come in first everytime by drawing what would obviously be the quickest, tightest route on the tracks. Hopefully it wouldn't be super easy.
:lol
I have a few friends who always complain about wanting an iPhone but won't switch to AT&T. One of them will ONLY text me from one of those annoying text for free apps on the Touch. So I have a different 009090290 code in my texts everytime they text me, it's infuriating. You do not have an iPhone, stop "texting" me from your iPod and cluttering and destroying my SMS menu. Also, stop complaining unless you switch to AT&T like the rest of the country had to do. Obviously you don't want it bad enough, so stop!
::annoyance::
Masklinn said:
:lol
I have a few friends who always complain about wanting an iPhone but won't switch to AT&T. One of them will ONLY text me from one of those annoying text for free apps on the Touch. So I have a different 009090290 code in my texts everytime they text me, it's infuriating. You do not have an iPhone, stop "texting" me from your iPod and cluttering and destroying my SMS menu. Also, stop complaining unless you switch to AT&T like the rest of the country had to do. Obviously you don't want it bad enough, so stop!
::annoyance::
Right now maybe, but OS 3.0-only games will probably start being released within a few months. Plus P2P and in-app purchase are only available on 3.0, I think.rezuth said:
Can't they just buy a full-price phone, unlock it and use it with... wait no I forgot Verizon and Sprint were CDMA not GSM/UMTSjonnybryce said:
Stoney Mason
Banned
There are already many new games that require 3.0 although of course it's to a devs benefit to support the older versions to increase the potential user base.Masklinn said:
I'm meh on the subject personally. It's 10 bucks. It is what it is. Pay it or not, I don't really care as long as people don't overly derail with their said bitching in this thread.
truth-lasers
Member
jonnybryce said:
I've completed the five first courses now. It's fun, Flight Control mixed with Super Sprint. The AI isn't the hardest to beat, at least not yet, but I think this will really shine in local multiplayer (up to 3 players), where you take turns drawing your race line and than sit together and watch the race play out. Will try that out later.
You really have to be quick when you draw the line though, being careful and doing perfect lines means that your car won't drive as quick around the course. And drawing five (good) laps in a continous motion, without stopping, isn't really as easy as it sounds.
Stoney Mason
Banned
Masklinn said:
Warpack Grunts says it require 3.0 in the notes on the bottom of the app description unless I'm misunderstanding the context of that message which is possible I guess. I assumed it might work on earlier versions but that message probably indicates the lack of their need and liability to officially go back and make sure it works perfectly on older os versions.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Pole Position is really damn nice, but I'm not sure if it's $6 nice. For that you can buy NFS which is unquestionably more impressive and more expensive looking game. Still, PP is a really nicely done remake (not just a port) with very slick but faithful retro look to its visuals, even though all the graphics are re-done. The nostalgia factor is strong with this one, but the demo alone might be enough to satisfy that.
It's not a new OS. It's a firmware upgrade and there's no established logic for them to charge $10 for them. Imagine if Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo charged $10 every time they came out with somewhat major firmware upgrade for Wii, PSP, PS3 or X360? I cannot imagine that would be going over really well. I don't like piracy in any shape or form, but pirating the firmware upgrades for Touch is so trivially easy that I'm surprised everyone is not doing it to be honest. Also, I'd be fine if they charged you one lifetime fee for upgrades, but they keep charging over and over, it's stacked up to $30 at this point.rezuth said:
The improvements in existing games are about 2-3x faster performance, no joke. 3GS is a beast.Surfheart said:
jonnybryce
Member
truth-lasers said:
Oh, thanks for your insight, it sounds better now. I'll pick this up sooner than I thought, it sounds really fun to play with friends (so far the favorite game has been Steppin', but I see this overtaking it.)
Stoney Mason
Banned
Derek Yu has his first game out on the iphone and it deserves more support and more love if only because we want more of his games on the platform but also because it happens to be a good game. Port of his PC game Diabolika 2. It's going up in the recommendation thread probably next time I update it. A simple chain reaction puzzler game.
Diabolika
Itunes Link
Video
Video Review
Interview
Diabolika
Itunes Link
Video
Video Review
Interview
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
To be fair, you saved some money on Grunts at least. The game is an example of underpriced, if I've ever seen one.Flunkie said:
jonnybryce
Member
Update from Touch Arcade on why Rolando is being taken out of the App Store (in response to the speculation a page or two back].
Kinda stupid. I know there are times where I discover a franchise and then pick up all of the titles. If I got my 3GS and Rolando 2 was already out, I would pick up the newest one and if I really enjoyed it I'd definitely get the original after. But maybe that's just me.
Kinda stupid. I know there are times where I discover a franchise and then pick up all of the titles. If I got my 3GS and Rolando 2 was already out, I would pick up the newest one and if I really enjoyed it I'd definitely get the original after. But maybe that's just me.
Stoney Mason
Banned
jonnybryce said:
They want all sales to be directed towards the new title so that it climbs up the chart and therefore gets the advertising and exposure to get even more sales and casual people aren't accidentily diverting sales toward the original.
While I don't necessarily agree or think its an overly effective strategy I understand it to a degree. They supported the first Rolando pretty well with updates and I'm sure it will be back up in the store in a few months.
Diablohead
Member
Woah no idea warpack grunts was out at super cheap, brought.
As for rolando, dunno if I will ever buy it. I want it before it's removed just so I don't feel as odd moving into the sequel, if I decide to buy that. It would also be my first plus+ compatible app.
As for rolando, dunno if I will ever buy it. I want it before it's removed just so I don't feel as odd moving into the sequel, if I decide to buy that. It would also be my first plus+ compatible app.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I understand why they're doing it, but it's pretty fucking lame to reap the business-benefits of digital distribution while denying consumers the consumer-benefits of it. Not that I should be surprised that companies are interested in maximizing profit, and particularly not from the company that has in-game advertising in their for-pay games.
Limited availability of any digital product is a total chump move.
Limited availability of any digital product is a total chump move.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Rolando 2 strategy is an interesting one indeed and it might just work. Most other devs just drop their originals game price down when the sequel comes out, but that can actually cut into their new game sales, if too many people just decide to pick up discounted first game.
It is however a crappy move somehow, if anything because it shows how easy would it be for a DD game to disappear from availability forever.
It is however a crappy move somehow, if anything because it shows how easy would it be for a DD game to disappear from availability forever.
Diablohead
Member
Well Rolando 1 is around until tues night / wed morning so I have grabbed the lite and will give it a go, looking at both games side to side they done a huge improvement with the 3d stages, it's very impressive.
Stoney Mason
Banned
Ultimately I agree which is why personally from just a gut level I don't like the move. I guess because I think the app store is such a zoo, I'm more willing to understand why they would find it necessary to do such a thing.Stumpokapow said:
Stoney Mason
Banned
Perhaps they are doing it this way based off sales data from doing it the Topple 2 manner although in this case it's slightly different because both games would cost while Topple was free.Rlan said:
Digital Chocolate does it the other way as have most other devs. Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 is up along with the first. Same with Dizzy Bee 1 and 2 or most sequels.
IT IS a new OS no matter how you feel about it. Its not some trivial firmware update its a fully new version of iPhone OS. Just because it have few cosmical changes does not mean its just some small update. Would you rather pay 50 bucks a year like with Xbox Live?Lord Error said:
Still, no one is putting a gun to your head. It is upto you if you want to do it or not.Masklinn said:
The 3.0 upgrade cost was being discussed on this week's MacBreak weekly.
This is from memory, but basically they were saying that OS updates used to be a lot cheaper, and the reason touch users pay and not iPhone users is down to Apple's accounting system. The reason it's jumped to $10 is because they want to make it "a profit item". that's the gist, listen to the ep for the exact discussion if you want.
Maybe the cell carrier companies subsidise it on the phone side?
This is from memory, but basically they were saying that OS updates used to be a lot cheaper, and the reason touch users pay and not iPhone users is down to Apple's accounting system. The reason it's jumped to $10 is because they want to make it "a profit item". that's the gist, listen to the ep for the exact discussion if you want.
Maybe the cell carrier companies subsidise it on the phone side?
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Its no more a new OS (in fact it is *much* less so) than NXE update for X360, and that was free. PS3 and PSP also got some very major additions through their firmwares (PSP got a browser, online store, RSS podcast, and many more, PS3 got a whole new store, whole bunch of new apps and functionality) Nothing really different than what Apple is doing, and in case of MS you got even a whole system redesign. You get those firmware updates for every device in existence for free, and you don't have to pay XBL subscription to get them either.rezuth said:
jonnybryce
Member
I updated Edge and my game data was still there for two additional sessions after. Then, the third time I went to play after the update, the data is gone. Isn't that weird, I don't get it. Oh well, I'll play again.
It comes with a good amount of charge to use it for a few hours. You don't need to run it all the way down, but you should deliberately do this once every 30 days to calibrate the battery meter. Not too much to worry about, just enjoy your new iPhone and a lot of guides are out there to do cool things, like view and sync your Yahoo or Google calendar onto the iPhone as separate or merged, so look around and find some cool stuff that interests you and enjoy.
Meier said:
It comes with a good amount of charge to use it for a few hours. You don't need to run it all the way down, but you should deliberately do this once every 30 days to calibrate the battery meter. Not too much to worry about, just enjoy your new iPhone and a lot of guides are out there to do cool things, like view and sync your Yahoo or Google calendar onto the iPhone as separate or merged, so look around and find some cool stuff that interests you and enjoy.
Diablohead
Member
When I brought my 2g touch in jan I had to actiate it or something by connecting to itunes for the first time, I think that I played around with the device for a few minutes then let it charge, I don't see a reason to completely run it flat, I never do so with my devices as batteries today are a much better quality.Meier said:
Obviously i'm also going to say buy real racing and squeel in shock and awe as you play an awesome racing game with tilt controls on a phone!
PhlivoSong
Member
DodgerSan said:
I heard that conversation as well and they were wrong. The only other time they charged touch users for an upgrade was on 2.0, and it was also $10 then. Regardless of what Apple says about accounting, they want to make a bit of profit on touch users. I sort of believed they *had* to charge, but as someone pointed out - this is no different than Sony updating the PS3/PSP.
I'm going to assume you mean the price of the 360, because I've never paid for a day of Gold.rezuth said:
There's no reason this OS update should cost money. But it's only ten bucks, so even though I think it's dumb, it's... only ten bucks.
P.S. You'd think by 3.0 they'd bother adding some fucking support for sorting music by album artist. Ugh.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
And the gaming thread has turned into a bitch/whine fest about 3.0 upgrade costs and a debate on why they charge..
Yay..
Do it or Dont..
Anyways..
I think some of the GAFers here should collectively come together and make a site about iPhone/iTouch gaming.. I mean.. We seem to always be on the ball on a lot of items and are very well opinionated!
Yay..
Do it or Dont..
Anyways..
I think some of the GAFers here should collectively come together and make a site about iPhone/iTouch gaming.. I mean.. We seem to always be on the ball on a lot of items and are very well opinionated!
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