iPhone/iTouch app and game thread

[Suitably Ironic Moniker]

You mention the 13th Skull. I think it's nice that you can try out the gameplay before you purchase. It's not really a hassle as long as the full version can be accessed by the app you already downloaded. I do hate having to dl a separate app once I buy it from w/i the game.

[wonderpug]

edit: the non-snarky response is that generally anything with lite in the name is shareware

Seems like there are fewer and fewer 'lite' labelled apps these days compared to the early app store days.  Now, more and more games have limited introductory content, and then an in-app-purchase to get the rest of the game, i.e., the full game. 

Ghost Trick is one example.  No lite version, and you have to get to the 7th paragraph of the wall of text description to see that only chapters 1 & 2 are free.  How much does it cost for the whole game?  Can't tell from the description.

[The Grue]

I think the reason there are fewer Lite versions is because that was how people dealt with doing demos back before in-app purchases were possible.  Now with in-app purchases, there really isn't much point in releasing two versions and probably is a lot less work for them to just put out one version now and charge for full content through the app.

[MonkeyFinger]

You mention the 13th Skull. I think it's nice that you can try out the gameplay before you purchase. It's not really a hassle as long as the full version can be accessed by the app you already downloaded. I do hate having to dl a separate app once I buy it from w/i the game.

Pretty much everything from Big Fish has a trial version, on the PC you can play for 60 minutes before you need to quit or pony up the dough, assume it's the same on the iPad.

[MonkeyFinger]

Boo, I really despise that "It's free! (except that we don't mention that this is really a shareware version)" practice.  It's a cheap trick.

A lot of times the "top in in-app purchases!" headline helps you spot which apps are only pretend free, but yeah, I agree with you.

I usually notice that kind of thing but for whatever reason this one completely slipped by me. 

[Hetz]

So, Marvel vs Capcom 2 is out today for $2.99. Anyone biting? I love the game....but I worry about the controls. Still, for $2.99 it can't be that bad.

[Jimmy the Fish]

So, Marvel vs Capcom 2 is out today for $2.99. Anyone biting? I love the game....but I worry about the controls. Still, for $2.99 it can't be that bad.

Downloaded it to my iPad2 and gave it a quick try. The controls feel similar to the various Street Fighter games on iPhone/iPad. The touch controls are never going to give the satisfaction of a regular button/pad controller, but it's still very playable. There is an easy assisted mode where the the special moves are executed by single button presses. While MvC2 is a universal app, on the iPad the graphics are still look like a pixel doubled iPhone game. Haven't dug deeper into all the various modes yet but it seems to be a faithful port of the game.

[Cragmyre]

Has anyone heard of Codea?  It looks very interesting, though I'm a sucker for all things game-maker   Looks like they even came out with a game that was made with Codea itself called Cargo-Bot

[raydude]

Has anyone heard of Codea?  It looks very interesting, though I'm a sucker for all things game-maker  Looks like they even came out with a game that was made with Codea itself called Cargo-Bot

That looks pretty neat. It may just be my gateway to convincing myself to buy an Ipad. It probably would require investment into a bluetooth keyboard though. I've tried typing with the Ipad keyboard and I don't see myself using that for anything more than 1-2 lines before going bonkers.

[Crawley]

Pinball Arcade added two new tables at some point this month: Medieval Madness and Bride of Pinbot. Can play Medieval Madness for free (with ads).

[Cragmyre]

Both Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim and The 7th Guest are free today!

[Jarrodhk]

Pandemic 2.5 is out on IOS. Adds features (that I don't remember exactly) over the flash version. Is universal I believe. http://appshopper.com/games/pandemic-25

Create a disease... kill off the human race...

SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING!

For .99 cents.

[Harkonis]

Pandemic 2.5 is out on IOS. Adds features (that I don't remember exactly) over the flash version. Is universal I believe. http://appshopper.com/games/pandemic-25

Create a disease... kill off the human race...

SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING! (except Madagascar)

For .99 cents.

fixed that for ya

[Jarrodhk]

So far in this version, the Caribbean and Greenland have been the most consistently resilient.

[Gratch]

Tower of Fortune is an absolute blast.  Throw an Rogue-like RPG, a slot machine, and a Gameboy in a blender together, and this is the ridiculously addicting result.

[rittchard]

Tower of Fortune is an absolute blast.  Throw an Rogue-like RPG, a slot machine, and a Gameboy in a blender together, and this is the ridiculously addicting result.

Hehe Gratch, I was just about to create a post about this game.  Totally addictive gameplay, and the Gameboy-esque nostalgia graphics are great.  I was a little confused at first, couldn't figure out how to actually start the adventure, you have to touch the piece of the tower you want to go in.  Might have been obvious to anyone else but I thought I'd mention it.

[Gratch]

Man, gold gets ridiculously hard to come by at the higher levels.  Trying to unlock The Bridge, but have been stuck in the $2K range for ages.

[Cragmyre]

In case anyone is interested, Gamebook 6 - The Wizard from Tarnath Tor by TinMan Games is on sale today for .99.  Sales on these books only last a day or two and they are normally $4.99

[Gratch]

Luxor Evolved is a very fun take on the Zuma (i.e. marble shooter) formula.  My only gripe is that it seems very touchy...I often end up firing marbles unintentionally when things start moving fast.

(Go ahead...make the joke)

[wonderpug]

Ooh... Neuroshima Hex asynchronous multiplayer is out for certification.  This could be dangerous.

[Gratch]

Juggernaut:  Revenge of Sovering is a free to play RPG that's quite fun.  I hear there's a pretty massive IAP wall towards the end, but I've certainly had lots of fun without paying a dime so far.

[Gratch]

If you're even a casual soccer fan, you need to check out Score! Classic Goals for a buck.  It's basically a soccer puzzle game where you recreate classic goals from international competition using a line drawing system.  It's all kinds of awesome.

[rittchard]

Luxor Evolved is a very fun take on the Zuma (i.e. marble shooter) formula.  My only gripe is that it seems very touchy...I often end up firing marbles unintentionally when things start moving fast.

(Go ahead...make the joke)

Premature emarbulation!!!  Chortle snort chortle!!! 

I'll have to check that out, though the original Zuma is already out and plays really well...

[Crawley]

Pinball Arcade released 2 new tables for the app. Cirqus Voltaire, which you can play for free now (with ads), and Funhouse. I hadn't played Cirqus Voltaire before and wow that's just a fantastic table. Would love to play the real table. Funhouse I've played from the Williams Collection and it never clicked with me - still got it. Both tables are $3 individually or you can get both together for $5

The company is also starting a Kickstarter to help fund making the Twilight Zone table. Basically the licensing required for that table is crazy expensive, $55,000, so the Kickstarter is just funding that portion of it . Can read about it on their kickstarter page here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1067367405/pinball-arcade-the-twilight-zone?ref=live

I think I've played the table once or twice back when I didn't really get pinball so I'll put in $10.

[Harkonis]

Rebuild is pretty awesome and on sale.  Zombie survival strategy

[Jag]

Apple starting free app of the week program.

http://toucharcade.com/2012/05/24/apple-starts-their-own-free-app-of-the-week-promotion/

This week is Cut the Rope: Experiments

[Cragmyre]

Today Rimelands : Hammer of Thor went on sale for .99 - I heard it was a really good turn based RPG.  There is also a lite version for those that want to try it first.

[Gratch]

Today Rimelands : Hammer of Thor went on sale for .99 - I heard it was a really good turn based RPG.  There is also a lite version for those that want to try it first.

I really enjoyed Rimelands.  Hopefully they fixed the completely broken ending.

[Gratch]

Dungeon Village from Kairosoft has finally hit iOS.  It takes the Game Dev Story formula and applies it to developing a medieval village.  Feels a bit like Majesty in that you don't have any direct control over the heroes but set their general direction.  I'm a bit baffled on many of the gameplay mechanics though, and the lack of any sort of tutorial makes for some tough sledding.  Still, it's awfully addictive and looks like it has a ton of potential...assuming I can figure out what the hell I'm doing.

[Crawley]

The company is also starting a Kickstarter to help fund making the Twilight Zone table. Basically the licensing required for that table is crazy expensive, $55,000, so the Kickstarter is just funding that portion of it . Can read about it on their kickstarter page here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1067367405/pinball-arcade-the-twilight-zone?ref=live

They met their $55,000 goal but have added an additional incentive. If they double the goal they'll also do the Star Trek: Next Generation table.

[Gratch]

Dungeon Village from Kairosoft has finally hit iOS.  It takes the Game Dev Story formula and applies it to developing a medieval village.  Feels a bit like Majesty in that you don't have any direct control over the heroes but set their general direction.  I'm a bit baffled on many of the gameplay mechanics though, and the lack of any sort of tutorial makes for some tough sledding.  Still, it's awfully addictive and looks like it has a ton of potential...assuming I can figure out what the hell I'm doing.

I've been lukewarm on previous Kairosoft titles (Game Dev Story, Oh Edo Towns, etc.), but Dungeon Village has jumped into my top 5 favorite iOS games of all time.  It's such a simple concept, but is so brilliantly executed that I simply cannot stop playing.  If you have even a passing interest in their formula, this one is an absolute must-buy.

[Gratch]

Random thought:  how in the world have the Heroes of Might & Magic games not made an appearance on iOS yet?  Porting over the first 3 HOMM games seems like the biggest no-brained ever.

[Suitably Ironic Moniker]

Uplink is now available for the IPad. It's still just as much fun as it used to be, even if it isn't so futuristic, taking place in 2010.

[wonderpug]

I never played the PC version of Uplink, but I'm really enjoying the iPad version so far.  Are the versions much different?  I almost want to double dip and get the Steam version, too.

[Suitably Ironic Moniker]

They are identical, aside from the touch interface. I don't believe there is any new content.

[Jag]

Padd Trek is free today. Remake of those old trek games us elder folk played on mainframes.

[Harkonis]

I thought there was a newer version of Uplink on PC. I shall check!

edit: I may have been thinking of Hacker Evolution, more digging required!

[kathode]

Uplink is quite good and has sucked up an inordinate amount of my time since it was released.  Never played it on PC so I'm enjoying this a lot.  The permadeath with no warning is pretty hardcore and annoying though.  Gotta work harder to cover my logs!

RealMyst is coming out on Thursday for ipad 2 and 3.  Really looking forward to it.

[wonderpug]

I'm fine with the permadeath--and it seems like a key ingredient in making those trace countdowns feel nail biting tense--but I really wish the death screen gave you more insight into how you were caught so you could better learn from mistakes. Maybe even make it so your next character had to hack the company that ousted your last one to find the records on how they found your previous guy.

How similar is Hacker Elite to Uplink?

[Harkonis]

I'm fine with the permadeath--and it seems like a key ingredient in making those trace countdowns feel nail biting tense--but I really wish the death screen gave you more insight into how you were caught so you could better learn from mistakes. Maybe even make it so your next character had to hack the company that ousted your last one to find the records on how they found your previous guy.

How similar is Hacker Elite to Uplink?

quite similar yet pretty different.  I definitely suggest trying a demo for one of them.  It also drastically changes from Hacker Elite to Hacker Evolution Duality.