iPhone/iTouch app and game thread

[hepcat]

Ghost Stories, the great board game from Repos, is now available.

[jztemple2]

Just picked up an iTouch. I've been trying several games and oddly enough my favorite right now is Oregon Trail. Any more out there like this?

[Bullwinkle]

Yoinks!  I off-handedly mentioned getting an iPad 2 to the wife last night at our anniversary dinner.  A quick trip to the mall, and I have it sitting beside me!

I'm going to pick through this thread, but where should I start?  Where does the iPad discussion begin?

Also, what apps should I get?

What's the best Weather app?

hep, I just finally ordered Ghost Stories yesterday (the physical board game).  I read that there are some problems with the iPad version, though.  Have you tried it yet?  I got Neuroshima Hex and Ticket to Ride already and will probably pick up Carcasonne and maybe Catan.  Any other board games?

I'm Bullwinkle_J on Gamecenter.

[hepcat]

I'm sure there are more than a few issues with Ghost Stories on the iPad.  That's par for the course, to be honest.  However, apps get updated a lot so I'm fine with just playing around with it until it's perfected.  Especially since it's about 6 bucks.  

Neuroshima and Ticket to Ride are just dream apps.  I play those two probably the most. Get NS Puzzles, too!  Carcasonne and Catan are also really, really good.  I would say all of those are required gaming on the ipad.

I would also highly recommend:

Avadaon - Great RPG

Army of Darkness HD Defense - Ignore the in game store and just have fun with what they give you in the initial purchase.

Battlelines - a great card game

Small World is a great board game port.

Ascension - great port of the deck builder from Gary Games.

Civ: Revolution - needs no introduction

Puzzle Quest 2

Zombie Dice - addictive

Bang HD

I would avoid kingsburg as it's a really crappy port for the ipad.  the text blurs all the time and it just looks...meh.

Also, keep checking boardgamegeeks iOS board game news for info on upcoming games.  Puerto Rico is due soon and GMT games has a bunch of iPad ports coming out soon...which means I'll be out of touch for a few weeks if Washington's War is one of the first.  

[jztemple2]

What's the best Weather app?

I like WeatherBug myelf. Free and has a nice set of features.

Would you please mention to your wife that I'd really like a Ferrari 458 Italia? Thanks.

[wonderpug]

WeatherBug and AccuWeather seem to be the best weather apps; I've become more partial to WeatherBug.

[leo8877]

Holy shit, Battleheart finally got updated!  2 new char classes added too!

[mytocles]

Holy shit, Battleheart finally got updated!  2 new char classes added too!

Good grief - don't tell me that - I'm still playing Dungeon Raid, lmao!  For me, DR is a lot like Tetris or Dr. Mario, it never gets old.   

[Dante Rising]

Is there an actual ipad version of Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer? There is an ipad itunes page, but it lists as the same price as the iphone version , and the requirements say itouch or iphone. Usually ipad versions are more expensive. Is that an actual HD version of the game, or is it just a pixelated iphone version that can be played on the ipad?

[Harkonis]

I'm pretty sure it's a universal app and works properly on both devices.  I know friends that play on the iPad and they say it looks great.

[shon]

Bought a ton on IOS games this weekend.

Ticket to ride - Pretty fun app that I wish had local mutiplayer for 2 Ipads.  Had to create a gamecenter ID for my girlfriend so we could play that way.  It does have pass and play which was okay but def better with 2 ipads.
Ascension  - It's universal and it looks great on IOS.  I really couldn't get into though, need to spend some more time in it.
Fabled Lands 2 HD -  It's a gamebook adventure with some great artwork.  The sound effects are nice but they cut off unexpectedly.  It's like a choose your own adventure book RPG.

Neuroshima Hex -  Best game of the bunch for me.  A great strategy title that is easy to learn but has a ton of depth.  I won a 3 person battle but have yet to win a 1 on 1 vs. easy mode so I have a lot of learning to do.
Still a little confused on the way some battles outcomes take place.      

Groove Coaster - Almost forgot about this one, another great music rhythm game that plays a little like the Elite beat agents meets audiosurf. 

[Dante Rising]

Bought a ton on IOS games this weekend.

Neuroshima Hex -  Best game of the bunch for me.  A great strategy title that is easy to learn but has a ton of depth.  I won a 3 person battle but have yet to win a 1 on 1 vs. easy mode so I have a lot of learning to do.
Still a little confused on the way some battles outcomes take place.      

Holy %^$$ is this game addictive! Insta-buy

[Bullwinkle]

Since we just got an iPad last week, I've been piling up.  I have to say that AppShopper is just freaking awesome.  And painful, as things I want are constantly popping up for $.99.  Game Dev Story just hit last night, BTW.  And I played it for something like an hour and a half straight.  And I don't always like those kind of games.  And I'm over iPhone games on the iPad already (though I do wish there was an iPad version).

I'm not going to list all the games I picked up (as that would be epic and embarrassing), but here are some that I really, really loved so far:

Ticket to Ride
Neuroshima Hex/Puzzle (I'd played the board game, but having the computer figure out all the moves when a battle hits is genius)
Small World
Bumpy Road
Dizzypad HD - Beautiful game where your frog jumps from lillypad to lillypad
Gears
Space Miner HD
Coin Drop - Fun Peggle-like game with lots of goals, but it's hard to get them all in a round
Frisbee - This game is phenomenal.  If you haven't tried it, go get it now
Lead Wars
Robotek HD - Another phenomenal game.  It's a slot-machine robot battle, but it's even different from other slot games I've played (can't believe that's a category).
Dice Soccer
Par Out Golf & Super Stickman Golf - I wanted one good golf game, and I got two great ones, both different than what I had in mind, but both crazy fun.
Dead Space - Bought it full price the day before it dropped to $4.99.  Great game, though.
Super Brothers Sword & Sorcery - Wow.  Just, wow.
Army of Darkness HD
Death Worm/Mega Worm

There are a handful I haven't even tried yet.  And there are other really good ones, that I didn't mention because either they've had enough attention (Cut the Rope) or I didn't get to them enough (Battleheart).

I actually haven't played on any console or the PC since we picked this thing up!

[Bullwinkle]

I picked up Jaws HD.  It looks great, but I'm having a really hard time with it.  It took me a dozen attempts to get past the first level!  It sometimes seems like if Bruce targets your swimmer, no amount of flicking can save him.  Am I doing something wrong?

On a similar note, has any one tried the Hungry Shark Trilogy?

[kathode]

Neuroshima Hex -  Best game of the bunch for me.  A great strategy title that is easy to learn but has a ton of depth.  I won a 3 person battle but have yet to win a 1 on 1 vs. easy mode so I have a lot of learning to do.
Still a little confused on the way some battles outcomes take place.      

Get Neuroshima Hex Puzzle.  It will teach you everything in great detail.

[Bullwinkle]

What's the best program for using Microsoft Office (or just Word, even) on the iPad?

[kathode]

What's the best program for using Microsoft Office (or just Word, even) on the iPad?

Can't say first hand as I don't use mine for that, but everyone seems to say Documents To Go is the one to get.  It's also a universal app.  The other one I see people mention a lot is QuickOffice.  Here's a thread comparing the two - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=935226

[Bullwinkle]

Thanks for that.  I figured it was between those 2.  I don't have the iPhone, so the Universality of it doesn't matter much.  I'd prefer the ease of use and better looking, frankly, so I'm leaning toward QO.


Another newbie question: Are there must have apps for my 8 year old daughter?

[dobberhd]

My 5 and 7 year old can't get enough of Plants vs Zombies.

[Exodor]

Dizzypad HD - Beautiful game where your frog jumps from lillypad to lillypad

If you like Dizzypad then check out Pocket Frogs - it's got that as a mini-game with a whole "Frog Breeding" game around it.

[Bullwinkle]

Dizzypad HD - Beautiful game where your frog jumps from lillypad to lillypad

If you like Dizzypad then check out Pocket Frogs - it's got that as a mini-game with a whole "Frog Breeding" game around it.

I got Pocket Frogs, but I didn't connect with it.

[Misguided]

Is there an actual ipad version of Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer? There is an ipad itunes page, but it lists as the same price as the iphone version , and the requirements say itouch or iphone. Usually ipad versions are more expensive. Is that an actual HD version of the game, or is it just a pixelated iphone version that can be played on the ipad?

The little + sign in the price widget means it is universal. It works great on both (easier on iPhone if you already know the cards) and is totally awesome IMO. One of my favorite games.

Bullwinkle, Lego Harry Potter would be a good one if she is into HP. And for you, check out Pinball Tristan, Pinball HD, and Pinball Dreaming HD

[wonderpug]

Final Fantasy should be hitting this Thursday, and the rumor mill is putting the price at $16.  As long as I hear reports that they did a good job with the touch interface, I'm fine with the Squeenix tax, especially considering I almost re-bought a PSP just for this game.

[Gratch]

Final Fantasy should be hitting this Thursday, and the rumor mill is putting the price at $16.  As long as I hear reports that they did a good job with the touch interface, I'm fine with the Squeenix tax, especially considering I almost re-bought a PSP just for this game.

There's a good look at the revamped version here (it's the Japanese version, but you'll get the idea).  The touch screen controls look fantastic, being able to actually rotate the board to an exact angle is a huge positive, and the lack of slowdown on spell effects is a very welcome change.  It looks like this really could be the definitive version of FFT...can't wait to give it a spin this week!

[wonderpug]

SOLD! 

[Purge]

Nooooo!! stop posting compelling links. My wallet can't handle it.

[rittchard]

Nooooo!! stop posting compelling links. My wallet can't handle it.

Damn I was going to try to wait for the iPad version, but Gratch's evil link/post made me realize I was just kidding myself. 

[Gratch]

Nooooo!! stop posting compelling links. My wallet can't handle it.

If it makes you feel any better, I just paid to get this game on PSP...which they released 2 days before announcing that the iPhone version was completed.  Shrewd work on their part, but does piss me off a bit.

[Misguided]

Wow...I HATE the way that the camera swings around by itself every time there's a spell effect going off. I'm interested in this, but won't buy it unless that can be disabled.

[skystride]

I finally got Death Rally and I'm hooked just like I was a long time ago with the PC shareware game.

[Gratch]

Wow...I HATE the way that the camera swings around by itself every time there's a spell effect going off. I'm interested in this, but won't buy it unless that can be disabled.

It does that in the original too.  Spent 100+ hours with FFT, and have never even noticed that until you mentioned it.

[kathode]

Aside from FFT iPad, this is the game I'm most anticipating: http://www.starcommandgame.com/



It's like Star Trek + Game Dev Story.  Seems like it's a few months out, but can't wait!

[wonderpug]

That's pretty much a day 1 purchase just based on that one screenshot!  Nice find.

[KC]

Aside from FFT iPad, this is the game I'm most anticipating: http://www.starcommandgame.com/



It's like Star Trek + Game Dev Story.  Seems like it's a few months out, but can't wait!

I take it that the absence of "red shirts" means that none of the crew members will meet a violent untimely fate.

[Bullwinkle]

Neuroshima Hex -  Best game of the bunch for me.  A great strategy title that is easy to learn but has a ton of depth.  I won a 3 person battle but have yet to win a 1 on 1 vs. easy mode so I have a lot of learning to do.
Still a little confused on the way some battles outcomes take place.      

Get Neuroshima Hex Puzzle.  It will teach you everything in great detail.

It just dropped to $.99!

[Bullwinkle]

PopCap recently released Allied Star Police, and if you haven't tried it, give it a go. 

It's a free app, but more importantly, it was designed by a fourth grader through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  It was supposed to be just a thing where the kid, Owain, came to hang with game designers, but he showed up with a full Powerpoint presentation for a game.  They hit the ground running, created a demo in a week, and then once the week was up, liked it enough to keep going and make a full game out of it.  Read the story here.

And the game is damned good, too.  It's a little like Plants Vs Zombies, but the plants are fully armed vehicles that don't just sit around, they get rolling and kick enemy ass.  It's a little like Swords and Soldiers or the Army of Darkness Defense game, too.  Really, it's a lot of fun.

[Bob]

FFT for $16. I'll probably get it, but need to see at least 1 review first.

[wonderpug]

A new Cut the Rope game should be hitting today, too.  Cut the Rope: Experiments, I think.

[shon]

Neuroshima Hex -  Best game of the bunch for me.  A great strategy title that is easy to learn but has a ton of depth.  I won a 3 person battle but have yet to win a 1 on 1 vs. easy mode so I have a lot of learning to do.
Still a little confused on the way some battles outcomes take place.      

Get Neuroshima Hex Puzzle.  It will teach you everything in great detail.

It just dropped to $.99!

Thanks, I almost bought it last night but didn't have my Ipad near me.  $2 is $2.   

[wonderpug]

Reflexive property