• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

The Official iPhone/iPod Touch Gaming Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
mrklaw said:
I want an advance wars game on ipod touch. Isn't there anything remotely similar??

there are clones, but what's special about advance wars is how finely tuned it is, from character abilities to units and terrain. you can tell the maps are tuned right down to the last tile.

which is similar to geodefense, enemy strength, speed, finances, weapon power, path layout etc all tuned to perfection.

two simple games on two small platforms but I've had the most epic battles on them.

anyone feel the same about other iphone games? geodefense is the only one which does it for me.
 
Awesome, been checking for weeks for geoDefense Swarm. Expected it to be around $5 at launch, so to see it up for $1 is a welcome surprise.

And of those Advance Wars clones above, I think Mecho Wars is the best of the bunch. I'd guess Uniwar has more depth and creativity, but I found it lacking in polish, which Mecho Wars had plenty of.
 
kaizoku said:
there are clones, but what's special about advance wars is how finely tuned it is, from character abilities to units and terrain. you can tell the maps are tuned right down to the last tile.

which is similar to geodefense, enemy strength, speed, finances, weapon power, path layout etc all tuned to perfection.

two simple games on two small platforms but I've had the most epic battles on them.

anyone feel the same about other iphone games? geodefense is the only one which does it for me.

The problem with your (and, I'd imagine, many of the posters in this thread) situation is that a fine level of tuning in a game takes time and money, neither of which are in a large supply when it comes to iPhone games. There have been a couple of games that are well tuned because those developers are just smarter than the others.

Not coincidentally, these few well-tuned games are usually the best and highest-selling games on iPhone. Some examples are Fieldrunners, Galcon, Geodefense, the Rolandos, Drop7, Space Invaders InfinityGene, Spider, etc.

The problem with the App Store as a whole is that there are basically four possible paths and outcomes you can take when making an app (I find this true of all sections in the App Store)

1. Come up with an innovative idea and make a good app for that idea.
Result: Profit!

2. Make your app $.99 and hope it becomes a success by getting on any area of the store with visibility.
Result: (very rare) Profit!

3. Come up with a decent idea and do an OK job on the app.
Result: Your app got buried in what I call the App Store sea of mediocrity. Congrats, your pocket is now lighter!

4. Have no talent and make an app that is immediately lost in the sea of mediocrity (80,000+ and growing!)
Result: This would be embarrassing if anyone had any idea that you made an app in the first place. No one will remember your name when you die! Yay!

Although Apple has made some slow progress with improved user ratings, in-app purchases (which, at this stage, only makes the successful apps even more so), and the ability to search for highest-grossing apps, it still doesn't change the fact that for gaming and game development, the iPhone hasn't really made any significant inroads except for the extra power on later models of the iPhone/iTouch line.

Basically, if Apple is serious about iPhone gaming, they will need to create a separate area for gaming where there is more visibility for individual titles and the ability to price apps higher so that indie developers can actually stand to make a significant investment and have it pay out in the end. As it stands now, only big established publishers can make any sort of investment on individual apps to justify a larger cost, and they haven't exactly been making great games because the iPhone is still just a curiosity to many of these big publishers. If Apple gave that power to indie devs that are actually willing to make great iPhone games, the average quality of games would explode.

In the end, we don't need thousands of bad games. We just need hundreds of good ones.
 
It's all I play, man!

Anyway, Touch Arcade just posted some new info on Beneath a Steel Sky, and one of the tidbits has juuuuust about ruined my excitement for the game..They completely ditched the cursor and instead every usable item now has a blue dot on it for you to tap.

Christ, it's going to be so easy
 
geoDefense Swarm is great. Still hard as hell, and appears to be well balanced and polished. You can tell there are numerous ways to approach each map, and it allows, at least so far, for a lot of player creativity.
 
Acid08 said:
I got my code from that Define the Shift website. Got $10 to spend....thinking of Spider and not sure what else.


If you are a Dexter fan I would go for that.

On a side note I don't think I will ever get my code :(
 
Acid08 said:
I got my code from that Define the Shift website. Got $10 to spend....thinking of Spider and not sure what else.

Yeah, I got mine, too.

Probably a dumb question, but how do I spend it? I redeemed it, says I have 10 bucks credit, but I bought Swarm soon after and it charged my default credit card.

Edit: Weird. My card's still charged, but now iTunes says I have 8.93 remaining. o.O
 
It originally came out at $2.99 and I remember they had "40% OFF LAUNCH SALE" or something so it was meant to be $4.99 all along...they just never actually went to $4.99 until recently.
 
Screens and Details of 'Beneath a Steel Sky' for iPhone - Touch Arcade

TouchArcade reported back in July that the classic adventure Beneath a Steel Sky was making its way to the iPhone. The 1994 classic received very high praise at the time of its release and is widely considered to be one of the best adventure games ever created.

OnSoftware published the first screenshots from the iPhone version of the game as well as some details about the iPhone-specific modifications.


The game features touch controls with the elimination of the traditional pointer found in other Scumm games.
There is no cursor on the screen, blue dots show points of interest instead. Although I played around with a beta version, the game certainly feels right. It translates well to the small screen and feels more effective than ScummVM’s interface on iPhone.
The game features enhanced cut scene artwork by Dave Gibbons, high quality music, and a new hint system.


OnSoftware reports the game should become available in about a month.

bass3.png

bass5.jpg

Not a lot of new information... But I can't wait for this! Since completing monkey island, I've been hankering for some more point and click action on my iphone.
 
Preview: Beneath a Steel Sky for iPhone

Welcome to the Gap
Fifteen years ago, I was 15 years old, ambitious and filled with dreams. Most of these entailed the creation of those fictitious worlds that sucked me in. Adventure games presented me with both worlds of magic (far, far away), as well as dystopian, grim representations of OUR world. Beneath a Steel Sky (1994) belongs to the latter category.



With references to Nietzsche, Huxley and Orwell, BASS came packed with intelligence, leaving us disconcerted by… hiatuses of thought. Of course back then, in The Netherlands, all we got from our English reading list was Watership Down. Don’t get me wrong: I felt sorry for those rabbits. However, I felt even sorrier for those who did not get their hands on a copy of Beneath a Steel Sky.

Your quest
The game takes place in a post-nuclear world, divided in an outside - the Gap - and an inside - a hierarchical city. Or is it the other way around? Robert Foster is a child of both worlds: he finds himself growing up in the Gap, yet feels something from the inside pulling him in.



What or who this is and what happens next, are catalysts in Foster’s quest. Find out who you are, where you come from, who put you there and how exactly that fits into the bigger picture. Kind of like ordinary life, wrapped up in a shiny iPhone port of a classic adventure.



This remastered version features new artwork by Dave Gibbons, a unique user-interface and high quality music. Unlike previous versions, you can use an extensive hint system to help you out.

Getting stuck is out of the question.

Full control
The new controls are unique: point-and-click has become tap-and…tap. There is no cursor on the screen, blue dots show points of interest instead. Although I played around with a beta version, the game certainly feels right. It translates well to the small screen and feels more effective than ScummVM’s interface on iPhone. Let’s be honest: if you found this blog post you probably played the game under the popular engine.



Beneath a Steel Sky flirts with visual styles that remind you of Metropolis and Blade Runner. The game was a huge success back in 1994 and seems reminiscent of that time. Revolution Software nailed the controls and fixes the ‘point’ issue (who needs cursors nowadays) which may pave the way for adventure gaming on the iPhone.

The game should hit stores, one in particular, in about a month. Until then,

BE VIGILANT

bass4.png


bass2.png
 
LaneDS said:
Awesome, been checking for weeks for geoDefense Swarm. Expected it to be around $5 at launch, so to see it up for $1 is a welcome surprise.

And of those Advance Wars clones above, I think Mecho Wars is the best of the bunch. I'd guess Uniwar has more depth and creativity, but I found it lacking in polish, which Mecho Wars had plenty of.
i agree with that. Mecho Wars is much more enjoyable than Uniwar.
 
I just recieved an email from Apple about the new touch prices, the 8gig 2G Touch is now £149, so that's £20 down from the old RRP. Most stores also knock off £10 so you should be able to easily find one now for a good price brand new, worth it IMO. The 8 and 16gig models do not have the VR chipset but they do have a noticeable MHZ boost over the iPhone 3g.
 
mrkgoo said:
No problem!:D like I said, logic and elimination.

I really liked this game and wish they'd update for more levels or at least include an editor or sand box mode.

I heard that an update for more levels is in the works...
I think the online flash version has a level editor or something... otherwise, how would those fan-made ones exist?
 
What's the consensus of Geodefense Swarm? I've got $4 left from my giftcard and I'm trying to maximize my value :P. I bought Spider and iSR so far. 5 starred iSR as well :D
 
Acid08 said:
What's the consensus of Geodefense Swarm? I've got $4 left from my giftcard and I'm trying to maximize my value :P. I bought Spider and iSR so far. 5 starred iSR as well :D

It's a brilliant way to spend one of your four dollars.
 
dk_ said:
Just got an IPhone. Could someone post the top 10 of GAF, please? I already have Flight Control. :D

My favorite games are (in any order):

- Civilization Revolution
- Blades of Fury
- Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor
- Space Invaders: Infinity Gene
- Word Ace
- Geodefense Swarm
 
dk_ said:
Just got an IPhone. Could someone post the top 10 of GAF, please? I already have Flight Control. :D

Games I really, really like:

Edge, Space Invaders: Infinity Gene, DDR S
Flight Control, The Creeps, REal RAcing
Tetris, Scrabble, Yahtzee Adventure, Word Ace
Geo Defense, Geo Defense Swarm


Highly recommended:
Civilization Revolution, Peggle, Twisty Text, Dungeon Scroll, Geared Electric Box.
 
I keep hearing podcast dudes (1upYours this time) talk about iPhone gaming when they're on the toilet.

Am I the only one who sees the inherent risk involved here? You don't have to be a klutz to drop a cellphone in a toilet on accident. All I'm saying is, the closer your iPhone/iPod Touch is to a toilet, the chances of it hitting the bowl increase exponentially!
 
Axion22 said:
I keep hearing podcast dudes (1upYours this time) talk about iPhone gaming when they're on the toilet.

Am I the only one who sees the inherent risk involved here? You don't have to be a klutz to drop a cellphone in a toilet on accident. All I'm saying is, the closer your iPhone/iPod Touch is to a toilet, the chances of it hitting the bowl increase exponentially!

ACtually, you do have to be a klutz to drop the phone in the toilet.

Anyway, it appears the controls for Duke Nukem are alleviated from the inadvertent sticking and firing. Maybe it's just me, but the game feels slower and choppier too, but I guess it ran to fast before. Analogue controls are now properly analogue.
 
Axion22 said:
I keep hearing podcast dudes (1upYours this time) talk about iPhone gaming when they're on the toilet.

Am I the only one who sees the inherent risk involved here? You don't have to be a klutz to drop a cellphone in a toilet on accident. All I'm saying is, the closer your iPhone/iPod Touch is to a toilet, the chances of it hitting the bowl increase exponentially!

I use it every single time I'm on the pot (multiple times a day sigh), and have never had even one close call.
 
Acid08 said:
I bought Spider and iSR so far. 5 starred iSR as well :D

48e9b27345a9f.png


GAF is the best! :D

btw, we're submitting our update (version 1.004) in the next day or so.. Things have been a little slow going on iSR because we're nearing completion of our second game. I'll give you guys the 411 when we get closer to release.
 
It's been an update onslaught today. The Deep & Wild West Pinball got their updates, woohoo for full screen pinball table. Duke Nukem 3D also got it's update finally. And literally 7 other apps I have on the phoen were updated too.
 
Psy-Phi said:
It's been an update onslaught today. The Deep & Wild West Pinball got their updates, woohoo for full screen pinball table. Duke Nukem 3D also got it's update finally. And literally 7 other apps I have on the phoen were updated too.

Just Duke for me today.
 
No its not extremely hard its just the most well balanced TD game ever. Just like the original. There are just very specific uses for each tower and you have ot figure out the best method to use them. Its the only TD game that I feel upgrading is balanced with number of towers as well.

Did you play the original? I feel like playing and getting the hang of Geodefense has really helped in Swarm.
 
lawblob said:
Is geoDefense Swarm insanely hard, or do I just not get the strategy for this kind of TD? Stage 5 is killing me.

By this kind of TD do you mean create-your-own path or fast paced? For level 5 I
made a route that made the creeps go north and south across the whole level about 4 or 5 times before the end...

You have to be quick about your placement, it is much faster than a normal TD game. I like GD more... I love the fast paced aspect.
 
bdouble said:
No its not extremely hard its just the most well balanced TD game ever. Just like the original. There are just very specific uses for each tower and you have ot figure out the best method to use them. Its the only TD game that I feel upgrading is balanced with number of towers as well.

Did you play the original? I feel like playing and getting the hang of Geodefense has really helped in Swarm.

I got a perfect score on almost every level in the original geoDefense, but I've never played this type of TD game. I just don't know how to approach these open path games.
 
got to ask - at what point does the copyright infringement hammer start getting slammed down ?

i mean - i'm enjoying picking up straight up clones of games and all that - but as the iphone grows surely someone somewhere is going to start some hot litigation?
 
lawblob said:
I got a perfect score on almost every level in the original geoDefense, but I've never played this type of TD game. I just don't know how to approach these open path games.

maximum violence immediately
 
WhiteAce said:
got to ask - at what point does the copyright infringement hammer start getting slammed down ?

i mean - i'm enjoying picking up straight up clones of games and all that - but as the iphone grows surely someone somewhere is going to start some hot litigation?
Pretty sure it's when you use actual assets like graphics or the actual engine like Aquatica did. When you've made a clone or tribute it's all good. Gaming would be nowhere if it was any different when you think about it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom