Tag: Free App »

MochiBits' SwipeTapTap is a surprisingly engrossing game despite its utter simplicity. Following on-screen prompts involving (what else?) swipes, taps and various combinations as quickly and accurately as possible is one of those things I'd never have expected to keep me entertained for very long, but it does just that. Not only that, it keeps things from getting stale by including a total of four game modes. And it's free at the moment, did I forget to mention that? Nah, I'm pretty sure I did.

Each of the four modes uses the same basic mechanics in different ways. Classic is all about inputting the correct gestures as they scroll across the screen in a timely manner. Take too long or screw up too often and they'll fill the screen and it's Game Over. Memory is more like a classic game of Simon, only with a touch screen interface. Speed is a race against time, requiring almost super-human-like reflexes at the higher difficulties. Finally, Endurance is one big continuous level with no end in sight and steadily increasing speed. Losing isn't so much a question of "if" but of "when."

And yes, for a limited time (in conjunction with "OpenFeint's Free Game of the Day") this finger-flexing homage to Simon is completely and totally free. All of the games modes. No money down. Zero dollars. There's absolutely no legitimate reason not to check it out.

2010 is shaping up to be the year of Tron, with Tron: Legacy set to hit theaters near the end of 2010. While it is still five months away, Disney is getting the hype train for Tron: Legacy started up immediately, and one part of this push is the release of a Tron app for the iPhone and iPod touch. While the standard features like movie trailers and information on tie-in products are included, there is one huge and compelling inclusion to the app - the Tanks Arcade game.

This is a reimagining of the Battle Tanks mode of the Tron arcade game as something more resembling a dual-stick shooter. There's a singleplayer mode that gives you 15 levels to play through that teach you how the game's mechanics and upgrade system work, as well as providing a reasonable challenge. The real meat here is the online multiplayer mode, which lets you take part in 2, 4, or 6 player deathmatches. It isn't strictly a free for all, though - you choose from a blue, green, or red faction, and in online games, people of the same faction are your teammates, and the kills you accumulate go towards your faction's overall progress. It's a great mechanic for an iPhone game, and makes it more than just a random deathmatch game.

What hasn't been mentioned is that this app, with the Arcade Tanks game and all, is free to download. Disney also promises more features (both free and premium) to come as Tron: Legacy nears release. As well, for those attending San Diego Comic-Con this week, the app will unlock features for those who show up to the ComiTRON booth (Aisle #3172) and use the app. Disney will be showing off a lot of Tron: Legacy related content at the convention, which we hope to show off to you (as well as anything else iOS related) as it happens at SDCC.