DJing as an activity is just something that I have never truly been able to wrap my brain around.  Just because you can successfully mix two or more pieces of music together simultaneously without it sounding like a garbled piece of garbage, that suddenly qualifies you as a musician?  Some would just call that glorified trial and error in front of an audience!  Trust me, I have heard my fair share of horrible DJs in my day, so when I heard there was going to be a new DJ game on the iOS, it would be safe to assume that I was fairly skeptical.

Fortunately this skepticism was quickly washed away when I heard that the newly released DJ Rivals was from Booyah Inc., which are the brains behind last year’s hit, MyTown.  The game attempts to combine RPG mechanics set to a backdrop of mixing music.  Here are some of the standout features:

• Battle at real places in your neighborhood
• Win game cash from other players in location-based battles
• 4 Chapters with hilarious cinematics
• Dozens of quests
• 9 bosses with unique abilities to counter
• 50 Moves to master
• 50 Collectibles to find
• 10 Hit songs
• Highly replayable with hours of content!

For this release Booyah will be employing the micro-transaction system that they successfully used to perfection in MyTown.  Be sure not to let the free initial download fool you, because the game will no doubt try to bilk you for every dime.  However, this doesn’t mean that you have to give into this temptation, as long as you are willing to be patient and let the game develop organically.

As a person who has always been an instant gratification kind of gamer, I can totally understand why this method of sale has been so successful.  Ironically, for the exact same reason I am terrified of games like this, simply because of my lack of any form of will power.

If you are willing to proceed despite the risks and already know how to work the cross-fade to perfection, this may be just the game for you.  Give it a look and let us know what you think in the comments.

FREE!

DJ Rivals

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-03-10 :: Category: Games

Facebook developers are taking over the world.  There, I said it.  With developers like Zynga recently getting valued at over ten billion dollars, and numerous others rapidly building and expanding on their stable of social friendly games, it was only a matter of time before we started to see the growth bleed over to the iOS.  One such developer looking to make further inroads on Apple’s baby is Booyah, the team behind the immensely successful MyTown.

Booyah’s next foray is actually an attempt to build on an audience that they have developed in their Facebook franchise, Nightclub City.  Instead of invading the platform with their existing game, they have decided to just use Nightclub City as a backdrop for a new and interesting game genre: Rhythm-based Role Playing Games.  I know it sounds kind of farfetched, but the upcoming Nightclub City DJ Rivals will attempt to turn this unholy hybrid into a reality.

Playing as a newcomer to the DJ battling scene, you will get the chance to face off against some of the biggest names in Nightclub City’s apparently budding underground.  As you succeed in sticking it to the man as much as musically possible, your notoriety will grow, eventually making you one of the biggest names in the city.  This is just the beginning, however, as there is an well flushed out multiplayer system that will also encourage you to show off superior scratching skills to win perks, unlock items, and even leave an impact across the city.

Keep an eye out for more details on the game, which is scheduled to launch in the March/April window of this year.  Until then, check out this trailer below and see if it makes you want to indulge your inner spinster.

The town is on fire! No, wait, that’s just San Francisco. Congrats, Giants. Don’t expect to be so lucky when you meet the Rangers again next year.

On This Episode:

Who We Are:

Music:

“Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)” by The Eternal – Download on iTunes here:

How to Listen:

Apps Mentioned on This Episode:

$0.99

Robin Hood - Archer of the Woods

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-10-14 :: Category: Games

FREE!

MyTown

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-11-30 :: Category: Entertainment

It seems that everyone theses days is checking into every location that they go near, whether they enter or not. While I understand that getting people into stores is a store owners dream, the real goal, which is what MyTown would like to exploit, is to have them pick up and buy products.

“Location is just a way to drive them to the store, but ultimately people want to actually be able to sell products, so this is one step away, getting closer to the finish line to point of sale.” Booyah’s founder Keith Lee says. “And that’s really where we want to go in terms of validating activities that you do in the real world.”

To validate products, the new update makes MyTown the first location based check-in app that includes a barcode scanner like the one that you see in RedLaser. Using the iPhone’s camera, users can scan codes and instantly unlock any points or promotions that the item has stored.

Ultimately, Keith Lee wants users to be able to walk into places like Wal-Mart and see various coupons that the store offers. The company doesn’t have a full set of retail partners involved yet, but a few have jumped on, as well as a “very large mystery consumer products company” that will be announced in August.

Someday, Lee envisions companies starting scavenger hunts and treasure finds to drive the MyTown gameplay even further. With 2.5 million users, there probably won’t be any shortage of companies that will be looking to MyTown to drive their products of the future.

There is no release date set for this update, but I’m hoping that it comes out fairly soon. The release is out now, so go get it, it’s free!

[Source: TechCrunch]

FREE!

MyTown

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-11-30 :: Category: Entertainment

Booyah’s MyTown took iPhone users by storm when it launched earlier this year, quickly soaring to the top of the charts. A free location-based app that could only be called a “game” in the loosest sense, it hooked users into building up virtual “cities” by pouring hours and hours into checking into locations and managing their towns.

Of course, the problem—as Chris put it—was that users eventually woke up and realized that they had simply exhausted what MyTown had to offer, and were just repeating the same tasks. (In his words, like “bums.” He was speaking of himself, I think.) Addictive though MyTown was, most users eventually tired and moved on.

MyTown’s 4.0 update aims to both lure old users back and ensnare new users by adding lots of new content. The update adds a revamped user interface and some new abilties—such as item creation and trading with friends. Locations can now create items (food at dining locations, for example) and in some cases you can even combine items to make others. You can also swap these newfound items and cash with your friends.

Also, perhaps in a bid to stop people from “cheating” by checking in at a location over and over again, check-ins now recharge over time (until you reach level 70, anyway). Additionally, checking-in can yield a Collectible (now called a Stamp), which may have a special ability.

These changes are certainly welcome for a game that, though quite addictive, was somewhat lacking in substance when Chris reviewed it back in February. If you’re willing to be sucked into MyTown’s addictive vortex, go on and check it out—if you dare. With the new additions, MyTown is almost guaranteed to suck still more productivity from the lives of iPhone owners everywhere.

FREE!

MyTown

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-11-30 :: Category: Entertainment