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The Official iPhone/iPod Touch Gaming Thread

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minx88 said:
Is or bad that I refuse to buy a game unless it on sale for 99 cents? Although I might have to bight down and get Zenbound for full price. The lite version really impressed me.
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Buy it and support the crazy demosceners from Moppi Productions who made it. More importantly, it's a very high quality game, one of the best on Iphone.

Dreamwriter said:
Hmm, I know the original programmer of Tyrian who owns all the rights to it, I wonder what he'll think that someone is profiting off of his work...
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Thre's a description when you launch the game the fist time that it's open source, GPL code, or something like that.
 
TurtleSnatcher said:
Wait .. Why is Field Runners suddenly a "Dont Buy"?

I heard it was like Tower Defense game of the year and I don't even own a Tower Defense game yet.. but want one!
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It is definitely NOT a "Don't buy". One of the best TD games on the iPhone (right up there with GeoDefense IMHO). I should know, I own almost all of them.


It's the only (as far as I know) TD game on iPhone that lets you build your own path for the creeps. I like fixed path TD games ok, but there's just something so satisfying about building your own 'maze of doom'. Fieldrunners is one hell of a polished game.
 
drmcclin said:
It is definitely NOT a "Don't buy". One of the best TD games on the iPhone (right up there with GeoDefense IMHO). I should know, I own almost all of them.


It's the only (as far as I know) TD game on iPhone that lets you build your own path for the creeps. I like fixed path TD games ok, but there's just something so satisfying about building your own 'maze of doom'. Fieldrunners is one hell of a polished game.
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Totally bought. Thank you!
 
Stumpokapow said:
Whether it's bad or not, that's the way the cookie crumbles. Developers don't get to do this whole price rollercoaster thing and not expect savvy consumers to figure it out. I just add every app I'm interested in to PandoraBox and wait for it to notify me that the stuff has dropped.
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How can I let PandoraBox notify me?

BTW: Also bought iSR and rated it.
 
Played a little Topple. Not really into it. I don't think I like the 'stacking' genre. Id' much rather be blowing the stacks up, ala' Jungle Bloxx.
 
Xater said:
How can I let PandoraBox notify me?

BTW: Also bought iSR and rated it.
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If a game you have set as favorite is on sale, it will show the little "1" notification on the Favorites button. I assume that's what he means, at least
 
Xater said:
How can I let PandoraBox notify me?
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As mentioned, if you add an item to your favourites and it is price dropped, you get a little notification bubble inside the app. Unfortunately it's not a full push notification thing yet, but I'm sure the app will be updated for 3.0 at some point.

Either way, I don't find it a big hassle to boot up PandoraBox once a day to check.
 
Stumpokapow said:
As mentioned, if you add an item to your favourites and it is price dropped, you get a little notification bubble inside the app. Unfortunately it's not a full push notification thing yet, but I'm sure the app will be updated for 3.0 at some point.

Either way, I don't find it a big hassle to boot up PandoraBox once a day to check.
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No it's not. I was just confused by the statement. I thought I missed something in the app. :lol

Push would be great though.
 
Xater said:
No it's not. I was just confused by the statement. I thought I missed something in the app. :lol

Push would be great though.
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I wasn't aware of the feature and it's not obvious based on looking around the menus.
 
Rolando 2 review. Should be out tonight or tomorrow night depending on when they trigger it.
Exclusive: Rolando 2 Review
Is this the iPhone's first killer franchise?
by Levi Buchanan

June 30, 2009 - Hand Circus struck gold with the original Rolando, a crazy-cool puzzle-platformer with all the style of a LocoRoco wearing a Paul Frank t-shirt while rolling through Notting Hill. But it wasn't just panache that made it so smashing. The puzzles were both curious and clever, the tilt controls were spot-on, and it was supported for months after its release with regular extra stage downloads. Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid has all of the above... and more, such as the inclusion of little vehicles for the Rolandos. All of it boils down to essentially this: if you do not like Rolando 2, then you do not like videogames.

The story moves from the pop-up book Rolandoloand to a mystical island where you must seek out the fabled Golden Orchid. This plant is the only cure for the ailment that has struck the Rolando sages following your triumphant return from faraway lands. (See what gallivanting around the world will do?) And so you and a host of personality-laden Rolandos -- there's a lumberjack, a stuffed shirt, pirate, royals, and more -- must scour across the island, pushing to the top of the peak where the Golden Orchid grows.

So, if Rolando 2 is technically a better game than the original, why does it not share the same score? Frankly, as amazing as Rolando 2 is, it lacks the ZOMG discovery of the first game. Rolando 2 feels familiar. However, the trade-off for lacking shock and awe is refinement. Rolando 2 is better tuned than the first game, thanks to stages that are even more intelligently designed and better controls for selecting the Rolandos.

If you missed out on the original game -- and it's not too late to check it out since ngmoco reversed its plans to pull it from the App Store when Rolando 2 launched -- the concept is winningly simple: you must roll the roly-poly Rolandos to an exit, avoiding troubles and traps. As you tilt the iPhone to roll the Rolandos, you can interact with bumpers and spinners with your finger, helping out these little folks like the benevolent god we all aspire to be. Royal Rolandos are not under your control and must be nudged or guided by smaller Rolando friends. Comamndo Rolandos cling to any solid surface and can roll around rocks, cave ceilings, and more. You are graded on how many Rolandos you get to the exit (each level has a requirement) and how long it takes you to do so.

In Rolando 2, though, you now also have crystals to collect while rolling through the stages. Most of the crystals in each stage are obvious. However, Hand Circus gets pretty devious about hiding one or two of them in a stage as you get deeper into the game. Collecting all of these within the time limit will not be easy, but you can always replay stages to grab the crystals and earn the associated medal. Each stage has three medals for meeting goals: crystal collection, time limit, and getting the required Rolandos to safety.

Vehicles and special fruit are also new to Rolando 2. The vehicles are simple ways to get your Rolando through sticky spots, such as a fast-moving cart. Fruit also perform special functions, like rolling bombs that blast blocks and cannibal Rolandos (including a variant that climbs walls) and plants that grow into new ledges. Arrow turrets blast nasty natives. The new floating Rolando (chilies seem to make it a wee bit gassy) lets you temporarily take to the air to save the crew, too. Mercifully, none of these new mechanics are added just for the sake of differentiating a sequel. These are organic developments that serve to build on the core concept from the first game as well as add extra challenge that some felt it was lacking.

Some of my favorite stages are those where you must get the king to the exit. Because you cannot move royal Rolandos (as if the king would take an order from the likes of you), you must instead rotate the entire stage. These sequences are like the bonus stages from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, full of pinball elements that bounce the king around the screen.

I described the first Rolando game as a balance of "twitch and thought." That holds true for this sequel. To complete a stage in time, you have to really move. Very rarely did I ever finish a stage on my first attempt under the time limit. Rather, I had to replay it while bouncing between Rolandos and manipulating objects as fast as I could to get the coveted time medal. But because each stage is a smart, solvable puzzle (only once did I ever get a Rolando stuck in a crevice and have to restart a stage), replaying for that extra medal never felt like a chore. I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when I finally "unlocked" that speedy combination of, well, twitch and thought. That's the mark of an awesome game -- your reward is actually just playing it.

Earning medals is also a great way to boost the score on your Plus+ account, which is ngmoco's iPhone answer to services like Xbox Live. Rolando 2 makes use of Plus+ so you can post scores on online leaderboards and issue challenges to friends. Can they beat your run through a favorite stage?

Rolando 2 continues the cool look of the original game. These little Rolando fellas are pure pop art, loaded with personality. Their dialog is expertly written, inching up to the border of "too clever by half" by not stepping over it. The big visual bump between the two games, though, comes from the new 2.5D look of the stages. Though the Rolandos are still flat discs, the stages have depth that is revealed by a moving camera. It looks dynamite. The blisteringly colorful art direction is enhanced by this effect.

However, perhaps even more groovy than the look of Rolando 2 is the music. Created by Mr. Scruff (Trouser Jazz, Ninja Tuna) the Rolando 2 soundtrack is the hippest I've heard since Jet Set Radio Future on the original Xbox. It sounds like Mr. Scruff was listening to everything from Boards of Canada to Bobby Womack and just synthesized it all for this game. You can listen to the soundtrack within the game's interactive music menu, which also includes links to buy the tracks directly from iTunes.

Rolando 2 was reviewed with version 1.0.

Closing Comments
Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is just a cool, cool game. Hand Circus built on everything that was wonderful about the original, but did not add anything that didn't fit just for the sake of making a big sequel. ngmoco priced Rolando 2 at a premium $9.99 -- but that's entirely appropriate for this premium-quality game. You get what you pay for, folks, and here you get multiple hours of puzzle-platforming with gonzo art direction. Plus, ngmoco plans to support Rolando 2 with additional stages over the coming months, just as it did with the first Rolando. So don't think you'll escape the cute clutches of the Rolandos anytime soon. And, after playing for just a few minutes, I doubt you'll ever want to.
IGN Ratings for Rolando 2: The Quest for the Golden Orchid (iPhone)
Rating Description
out of 10
9.0 Presentation
Clever, smart menus. The entire game is stylish and hip, but never annoyingly so.
9.0 Graphics
Gorgeous art direction, loaded with personality. The new 2.5D is a winner.
9.0 Sound
Brilliant soundtrack from Mr. Scruff. And you can buy it right from the game.
9.0 Gameplay
Marvelous mechanics and great controls make Rolando 2 a treat to play. Excellent level design.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
Dozens of stages to play (and replay) and ngmoco says more are on the way. Plus+ challenges add life here, too.
9.0
Outstanding OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)
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http://wireless.ign.com/articles/999/999726p1.html
 
the Doom rail shooter game is pretty fun, though, I wish they had the MGS touch controls as an option. The motion aiming wouldn't be so bad if they had the calibrate button there on the gameplay hud. Every time I chance the way I'm holding it, the aiming is thrown way off.
 
Diablohead said:
A.D.D lite is hard but funny :lol great pass around game with some mates I think.
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Thanks for the heads up. My iPhone has become a main attraction lately with my friends and family, mainly with Draw Racing and Steppin, so I'd like to expand my social games. Also, seems like a cool game for just me anyway.
 
Rolando 2 sounds great and would be my 2nd full priced app if I buy it, first one being Real Racing.

Just a question on Plus+, does it have a "gamerscore" total? I thought it was just a global buddy list with achievements, did not realise it had points to earn for each game too.
 
So, I'm not gonna lie: I bought Jungle Bloxx because the logo has 3 images that, when looked at without my glasses on, made it look like there might be boobs in this game.

There are not.

BUT, the game is pretty awesome.
 
ha1f said:
So, I'm not gonna lie: I bought Jungle Bloxx because the logo has 3 images that, when looked at without my glasses on, made it look like there might be boobs in this game.

There are not.

BUT, the game is pretty awesome.
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wineapp.png
 
wow pandorabox is very responsive and well designed considering it's free. i've been a longtime AppSniper user but it's gone to total shit. is there some kind of notification when a price drop has occurred on a "Favorite" app?
 
Ok, must.eat.birds is sooooooooooo addictive!
And the art direction is AMAZING.
Now i need to stop for awhile, i bought 3 games in like 4 days!

I'm VERY happy with all of my purchases though, Knights Onrush, iSR and must.eat.birds. all deserve your money guys!
 
Stoney Mason said:
Rolando 2 review. Should be out tonight or tomorrow night depending on when they trigger it.

http://wireless.ign.com/articles/999/999726p1.html
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Awesome, can't wait to buy this. Im' really looking forward to checking out the + features. :D

Everyone make sure to post your + info in the online matchup thread, so we can add each other and send Rolando-something-or-other challenges, etc. Looks like only a few people posted their info so far; if you have Star Defense or get Rolando 2, sign up!

Also, looks like DOOM is front and center on the "New" tab of the app store, and quickly getting good user-reviews. Seems like with that kind of exposure it should really help sales. If both DOOM and Rolando 2 sell well at the $10 price-point, maybe that will be the confirmation devs need to greenlight more expensive projects, like that Carmack interview touched on.
 
I really don't like Tower Defense games. The first and last one I played was some flash Desktop Tower Defense version.

However, I just downloaded the geoDefense demo and I'm really liking it.
I think the graphics are great and the mechanics work fantastic for iPhone but it's probably way too damn hard. Do you think I'd dig Star Defense?
 
RPS37 said:
However, I just downloaded the geoDefense demo and I'm really liking it.
I think the graphics are great and the mechanics work fantastic for iPhonem but it's probably way too damn hard. Do you think I'd dig Star Defense?
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Can't speak to Star Defense, but GeoDefense does become a lot easier once you figure out how to effectively use each weapon. Basically, the game forces you to only use the weapons in their 'maximal' positions. Meaning, you have to put lasers at the end of straight corridors so they can shoot directly down a path, only put green turrets where they will have at least 180 degrees of fire, etc. The game is just very strict in that sense; you HAVE to maximize weapon placement, or you will get destroyed. Its less forgiving than other TD games in that sense, at least based on the few I have played.
 
You can take a screenshot of anything on your iphone by pressing the top (standby) button and your home button simultaneously.
 
I haven't really enjoyed Star Defense. It's a really pretty game, and I'm really excited about the Plus+ stuff, but I don't like the game at all.

The changes that were made from the "standard" TD formula are worse, IMO, than the standards - the inability to see the whole field, the inability to accurately place towers (sometimes, being off by a few pixels will basically destroy your strategy), and the 3D graphics, while pretty, cause a LOT of slowdown on a 3G.

If you're already not a TD fan, I can't see why Star Defense would be appealing to you, unless your primary complaint is that TD games don't tend to be 3D enough for you. Even still, I can't recommend it... :(

seppo

EDIT: Sorry, my other main complaint is that some enemies are simply invulnerable to certain weapons, and it destroys the game, for me. To have a 30th wave in a 50 wave sequence be made up of enemies that are completely invulnerable to the weapons you have on the field doesn't seem like, "Hey, adapt your strategy," - it's more like, "Ha! F**k you!" Functionally, it's poor level design, and incredibly, incredibly annoying.
 
helava said:
I haven't really enjoyed Star Defense. It's a really pretty game, and I'm really excited about the Plus+ stuff, but I don't like the game at all.

The changes that were made from the "standard" TD formula are worse, IMO, than the standards - the inability to see the whole field, the inability to accurately place towers (sometimes, being off by a few pixels will basically destroy your strategy), and the 3D graphics, while pretty, cause a LOT of slowdown on a 3G.

If you're already not a TD fan, I can't see why Star Defense would be appealing to you, unless your primary complaint is that TD games don't tend to be 3D enough for you. Even still, I can't recommend it... :(

seppo

EDIT: Sorry, my other main complaint is that some enemies are simply invulnerable to certain weapons, and it destroys the game, for me. To have a 30th wave in a 50 wave sequence be made up of enemies that are completely invulnerable to the weapons you have on the field doesn't seem like, "Hey, adapt your strategy," - it's more like, "Ha! F**k you!" Functionally, it's poor level design, and incredibly, incredibly annoying.
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I see. I might jump on geoDefense if I decide I'm man enough for it.
 
I'm going to buy these games this week. Play them on the weekend. Looking forward to them:

iSR (the dudes avatar has sold me on it already)
DOOM (the videos look terrible but the impressions seem good. And I'm a diehard id software fanboy)
EDGE (excellent visual style, even though I'm not into puzzlers)
 
I would recommend GeoDefense as well, but again, as long as you know what you're getting into. The game's crazy hard.

Picked up DOOM - while Doom + Rail Shooter isn't necessarily what first comes to mind, DR's actually really a good, solid use of the device. It looks great, it feels like Doom, and even at $10, I feel like it's worth the $$, even knowing it'll almost certainly drop in price in the next few weeks.

IMO, I know this may be sort of strange, but I'm sad to see the focus shift to these really resource-heavy games. From a developer's perspective, the window where people had the ability to build something with a really small team seems to be slamming shut really quickly as EA, iD and even Firemint (Real Racing = staggering) keep upping the bar.

I hope the platform continues to allow for smaller, quirkier games where people can take risks with the game, and have it still find an audience.

Self Aware's next game is a couple weeks away from being done - it's totally, totally different than Taxiball (whose 1.1 update is STILL stuck at Apple - it's been almost a month!). The best part of it is that it's going to cost the players a whopping $0.

It's not a "Lite" version of a game. It's complete, it's multiplayer, and it's free.

I can't wait to let people know what it is, but due to some legal & bureaucratic stuff, it'll have to wait just a little longer.

seppo
 
helava said:
I haven't really enjoyed Star Defense. It's a really pretty game, and I'm really excited about the Plus+ stuff, but I don't like the game at all.

The changes that were made from the "standard" TD formula are worse, IMO, than the standards - the inability to see the whole field, the inability to accurately place towers (sometimes, being off by a few pixels will basically destroy your strategy), and the 3D graphics, while pretty, cause a LOT of slowdown on a 3G.

If you're already not a TD fan, I can't see why Star Defense would be appealing to you, unless your primary complaint is that TD games don't tend to be 3D enough for you. Even still, I can't recommend it... :(

seppo

EDIT: Sorry, my other main complaint is that some enemies are simply invulnerable to certain weapons, and it destroys the game, for me. To have a 30th wave in a 50 wave sequence be made up of enemies that are completely invulnerable to the weapons you have on the field doesn't seem like, "Hey, adapt your strategy," - it's more like, "Ha! F**k you!" Functionally, it's poor level design, and incredibly, incredibly annoying.
Click to expand...

Not being able to see the whole map is not so much a change for the better, but I don't think it's bad either. It's different and adds challenge. My complaint is exactly what you said, I don't think enemies are balanced well. I can have tons of upgraded guns that guide me effortlessly to 45 waves and then on 46 to 50 everything goes wrong and I lose. Only for this to happen again and again with new strategies and placements. It's such an uneven game. I have tons of slow guns upgraded to 2 and 3, why the fuck are the birds still flying so fast to my shields, passed all my endless level 3 bullet, fire and lightning guns. HOW DO I WIN!????

I want to love it but it's not looking too good. Ngmoco is cool but they're hit or miss. Controls in Dropship are a disaster, I can't even play it.
:'(
 
helava said:
I would recommend GeoDefense as well, but again, as long as you know what you're getting into. The game's crazy hard.

Self Aware's next game is a couple weeks away from being done - it's totally, totally different than Taxiball (whose 1.1 update is STILL stuck at Apple - it's been almost a month!). The best part of it is that it's going to cost the players a whopping $0.

I can't wait to let people know what it is, but due to some legal & bureaucratic stuff, it'll have to wait just a little longer.

seppo
Click to expand...

I second what this man says on geoDefense. Game is Awesome/Hard!

Also can't wait to see what you guys have coming next!
I Love Taxiball!
 
helava said:
Self Aware's next game is a couple weeks away from being done - it's totally, totally different than Taxiball (whose 1.1 update is STILL stuck at Apple - it's been almost a month!). The best part of it is that it's going to cost the players a whopping $0.

It's not a "Lite" version of a game. It's complete, it's multiplayer, and it's free.

I can't wait to let people know what it is, but due to some legal & bureaucratic stuff, it'll have to wait just a little longer.

seppo
Click to expand...
:OOOO
 
From Firemint's blog:
We're thrilled to be showered with such praise, and it got us wondering what we can do on the new hardware. Real Racing has up to six cars on the track at any one time. Since the game uses a high fidelity physics engine, adding cars is a good test for pushing the hardware. We started our tech demo with 8 cars on the track, then 10, 12, 16 and 20, and the 3GS still didn't break a sweat. We finally stopped when we got to 40 cars on the track at the same time, still with no perceptible drop in frame rate. We think the results are mind blowing.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7SnwkdHO2o
 
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