For those who like Atari’s modernized iOS remakes, such as Asteroids: Gunner, but would rather just buy an app once and have all the content unlocked, they are now in luck. Asteroids: Gunner+ is now available from the App Store. This is the same gameplay as Asteroids: Gunner, which is the classic Asteroids gameplay reimagined as a dual-stick shooter, but now with all content unlocked upon purchase of the app, instead of having to unlock through in-app purchases. This includes 8 ships, 3 galaxies, and a total of 150 waves of enemies. The game is still universal, and still has consumable IAP for buying crystals for ship upgrades. Note that this may not be a pass for future content as well; the similar Breakout: Boost+ recently received an IAP level pack, but as this game has launched at $4.99, and Breakout: Boost+ at $0.99, the strategy for future content may be different between each. For fans of Asteroids: Gunner who are also wary of purchasing content through IAP, this may be a viable option for them.
For the sake of clarity, some of these ‘apps’ are simply added to the RunKeeper service (e.g. Clever Run. Though some are standalone, iPhone apps, like Cycle Log and, of course, the official RunKeeper app.
The new apps have ranging functions from a coaching app for both the coaches and their athletes, like Coachya, to turning fitness into a game, like Fleetly and Nexercise. Many of the apps track some sort of activity. CleverRun tracks running-related items, Cycle Log is a comprehensive cycling tracker and companion, Pedometer Ultimate is self-explanatory, Scosche myTREK keeps an eye on the user’s pulse, and Weighty keeps track of weight and fat percentage. Vitogo is a personal trainer app that creates a workout program tailored to the user.
RunKeeper and its apps could be beneficial to a fitness-related New Year’s resolution. Go to RunKeeper.com to sign up for the service and click the “Apps” link to see the 45+ apps including the most recent nine.
Chillingo keeps digging through the App Store, with new games frequently bubbling up, and this week, their games are about both digging and bubbles!
First up is Diggin’ Dogs, a game where three precocious puppies dig their way through levels, collecting coins and bones on their way to getting the golden treasure at the end of each level. Players use their finger to cut through the dirt, creating paths for the dogs to travel, swipe upward on the dogs to make them jump, and tilt left and right to move the dogs, as well as maneuver treasure. There are over 60 levels in this game for iPhone and iPod touch, available now.
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Games
Next up is Bubble in Paradise, a word game where players try form words by popping bubbles that contain letters. The bubbles come in various sizes and point values, and they must be popped before the screen becomes overcrowded with bubbles and it’s game over. The game comes with four modes: Normal, Blitz, Endless, and Battle, which is playable against an online opponent. The universal app is available for $0.99.
One of the concerns with 60beat’s GamePad has been whether the device would see enough support from developers to make it worthwhile. As promised by 60beat back when it was announced, February has rolled around and some titles are beginning to support the 60beat.
Both Alien Space and Alien Space Retro from Owens Rodriguez have been updated to support the 60beat. Given the number of dual-stick shooters on iOS and the lack of analog joysticks on the external controller frontrunner, the iCade, dual stick games could spearhead 60beat support thanks to its unique-to-this-platform functionality.
Katana Jack, a game that claims to have had its graphics hand-painted on the iPad, has also been updated with support for the 60beat. It also supports the Gametel controller, the iCade, and iControlPad, so this free app is a must-download for anyone with an external iOS game controller, if only because it supports them all.
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-17 :: Category: Games
There’s also No Gravity, a game which started life way back in the days of PSP homebrew development, before seeing legitimate releases on PSN, and now on iOS. Both the Lite and full versions of the game support the controller.
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-16 :: Category: Games
There are likely to be more titles that support the controller, and its particular advantages may prove to be a boon to developers looking to support external controls in their games. The total list of games that support the GamePad is available here.
Nitro Games have announced an iOS spinoff of their pirate-themed PC game Pirates of Black Cove, Sink ‘Em All – and they have an entertaining trailer to go along with it. This will take the ship combat gameplay of the PC version and make it the featured element, essentially a naval isometric shooter with cannons to fire, and booty to plunder. Well, at least this is an arcade-styled interpretation of the whole process – that ship is clearly traveling faster through water faster than any real ship would. Also, while pirates may be heavily mythologized by our society, I’m pretty sure none of them used “Fart Bombs” in order to fell their foes. I’m no historian, though, so maybe they did. Their trailer, embedded below, shows just how this game’s combat system would apparently work in an office environment, or at least one where conflict resolution comes through the launching of cannonballs at one another. Pirates of Black Cove: Sink ‘Em All is coming soon, and will be free to play.
EA and Firemint’s Spy Mouse has an update out now that’s designed to be more appropriate for this time of year, with Valentine’s Day coming up. Love is in the air, and while the cats in Agent Squeek’s life are still out to keep him from getting his cheese, everything is a lot more lovey-dovey. The app icon shows not a stern and focused Agent Squeek, but a more charmed Agent Squeek, presenting delicious chocolate for a willing suitor. The whole menu is now Valentine’s-themed, which means that it’s more pink and heart-filled. In-game, the cheese crumbs that give bonus points are now hearts. As well, those cats now get hearts over their head when they spy Agent Squeek, broken heart icons when the try to grab him and miss. Plus, when they do get him, it’s now a heart-filled dust cloud. Okay. This alternate interpretation of Spy Mouse update is available now for both iPhone/iPod touch and iPad versions of the game.
Popular PC digital distribution service Steam has launched their official mobile app for iOS and Android. What this app offers is not necessarily the ability to play Steam games, but instead access to many features of the Steam frontend. The store can be browsed from the mobile app, games can be added to the wishlist, and games can even be added to the Steam cart; it is not immediately apparent if games can actually be purchased from the app yet, which may not be the case because of Apple restrictions, in particular. However, considering that Steam regularly offers sales, this could allow for those who want to partake in these sales but aren’t necessarily at their computer to get a head start before they get back to their computer.
The app also offers access to Steam’s social features; users can chat with their friends on Steam, and receive notifications of new messages. They also have access to the latest news on Steam games, just as in the desktop version of the app. Notifications could also hypothetically be used to alert of new sales on the store.
The only problem with the Steam app at this point is that access into it is very limited; it is in a closed beta, and Steam is only handing out codes to get in on an occasional basis. This means at the moment, the app is of very limited utility, but for those interested, signing in to the app does “show interest” to Valve for getting into the app, the necessary step toward getting that beta access code. Limited access to the interface does seem to show that Steam may be using a similar HTML5 wrapper around their iOS and Android apps, particularly with a similar slide-out menu to the Facebook app on both platforms. This may make it easier for them to update the app as necessary. Steam Mobile is available now for free.
Namco has released a new app that is a collection of several of their arcade games compiled into one app, appropriately entitled Namco Arcade. The games included come from Namco’s vault of 80′s arcade titles: Xevious, The Tower of Druaga, Motos and Phozon.
Xevious is a shoot ‘em up that has players shooting enemies not just in the air, but on the ground by using bombs. The Tower of Druaga is a proto-action-RPG that has players navigating mazes, killing enemies, blocking magic, and trying to collect a key to unlock the next levle of the tower. Motos has players controlling a bumper car in an arena, trying to knock their enemies off without falling off themselves. Finally, Phozon is an action-puzzle game where players collect items called moleks in order to try and match the shape in the center of the level, while avoiding the hazardous Atomic that kills upon contact.
The games can be played in one of two ways. First, they can be bought with in-app purchases outright, for prices from $1.99-$4.99 depending on the game. This unlocks them permanently, and unlocks their leaderboards and achievements functionality. The other way is to play them with Play Coins. This is similar to an actual arcade, where one coin gets one play of the game. Thankfully, Play Coins are going for less than quarters are nowadays, as $0.99 buys 10 coins. The player also gets one free Play Coin per day that can be spent on any game. This setup is similar to an app that Capcom put out last year.
While these aren’t exactly games that are the pinnacle of Namco’s arcade catalog, these are games that have been reissued at times in other collections, including the Namco Museum series of games on the consoles. There also is the potential for more games to be added; the requirement for 4th generation devices or later seems to indicate that these are straight-up emulations, not port jobs, which would make adding new games a hypothetical breeze. This is also a universal app, unlike the Capcom app. Namco Arcade is available now as a free download.
Disney’s physiscs puzzler Where’s My Water has gotten a new update that adapts the familiar mechanics in new ways with the new Cranky’s Story levels. The goal of these levels is to help out Cranky, the alligator who tries to thwart protagonist Swampy in the main mode. Now, he’s hungry, and being an alligator, he is content to eat things like safes. However, he is not content to eat them when they’re covered in moss. So, the player must get the moss-killing purple water to Cranky’s food so he can eat it.
The mechanics are still the same – use a finger to cut through the dirt and navigate the fluids through the level. It’s just that now the purple water is the one that needs to get to the goal point, and this changes the dynamic of the game. Suddenly, the water becomes the substance that needs to stay away from the rubber ducks lest they are made to disintegrate upon contact with a non-grimy surface. Of course, the purple water still reacts with the other fluids in the same way, but the levels are designed to take advantage of the mixed-up dynamics.
Also in the app are the new Cranky’s Challenges which are difficult new challenges that require Swampy’s levels to be played in different ways, like trying to collect three of the cranky ducks with purple water while still filling Swampy’s tub with blue water, or trying to get rid of all the blue water in a level without even a single drop reaching Swampy.
5 of these levels and 3 of the challenges are available for free; the rest are locked away as a $0.99 IAP, containing 50 regular levels and 16 challenge levels in total. The game will still receive free Swampy updates, and possibly even more Cranky levels in the future. This update is available now for iOS.
The International Mobile Gaming Awards committee, including notable members of the press such as our own Jeff Scott, have announced their nominees for the best mobile titles of the past year. Over 500 titles were submitted for review, and thirty titles in six categories have been nominated for the awards to been announced on March 1st in Barcelona, Spain. Here are the titles in the 6 categories.
Best Casual Game
These titles have been nominated for their excellence in being accessible to gamers of all kinds, while maintaining quality experiences.
The votes have been tallied and the people have spoken. Jetpack Joyride is 2011′s Best App Ever.
Halfbrick’s latest title was one of the most-hyped iOS games of the year: we were reporting on it back in March when the game was originally known as Machine Gun Jetpack. Back then, the concept was the same: Halfbrick protagonist Barry Steakfries flies at a high speed through tunnels on a jetpack that fires bullets so quickly that it propels him upward. It’s the kind of concept that’s completely ludicrous but instantly intriguing. After all, when it was just a powerup in Monster Dash, it was entertaining enough, but now a full game is built around it? That’s exciting. Afterward, the game became more extensive, adding a variety of new jetpacks and powerups along with the eponymous jetpack.
This is why the game was so extensively covered on the site, making a pre-release post announcement, and then running a 5-star, Editor’s Choice review on launch day when the game came out. The game was talked about on The Portable Podcast multipletimes, with glowing praise. Finally, we named it one of our top games of the year.
So what made Jetpack Joyride such a hit? Maybe it is that the game is extremely easy to get into. The controls require no real explanation, just tap to go upward, let go to go downward. No virtual buttons were necessary at all, just tap anywhere on the screen. It works perfectly on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
But it’s also the way that it compels players to keep playing that makes it so addictive. The objectives compel players to play the game in a particular way, and to make a specific session have a goal to it, from trying to skim so many red lights, to running on the ground for so long. They introduce variety to a game where the goal is the same each time out: get as far as possible without dying.
Jetpack Joyride‘s use of currency is also especially modern: gaining coins for upgrades and new costumes is something that a variety of games are doing now, but is one that Jetpack Joyride excels at. There are the different levels of items to buy, from the simple costumes and jetpacks to buy (who doesn’t love a Fruit Ninja-inspired jetpack?), to upgrades for the powerup vehicles, to finally the extra-distance bombs and second chance lives for high rollers. These generally require money to purchase reliably, but they can be earned in the game itself through the tokens collected and used in the slot machine.
In many ways, the game is about luck, as sometimes a high score requires that a second chance be earned in the slot machine, or a powerup be earned at the right time, or even just that a laser barrier show up a pixel later in order for the player to not die. It can be frustrating, but the fact that luck could easily turn back in the player’s favor is part of what makes chasing that high score so gratifying.
But if all these secondary elements were taken away, if there was only one jetpack and no upgrades, no coins, nothing but pure skill involved, then it would still be one of the best games of the year. It’s just that simple to get in to, and that desire to play just one more time, dive into just one more session is based not just on a desire to earn more coins, it’s because the game is fun at the heart of it. Plenty of games have snazzy costumes and upgrades to unlock, but they aren’t as addictive as this one is.
In many ways, the success of Jetpack Joyride is exactly like how Fruit Ninja has succeeded from a gameplay standpoint. Both are games that are not limited by the touchscreen, as both use direct input for control. Fruit Ninja has 1:1 actions with the tracing finger on the screen, and Jetpack Joyride responds whenver the finger is on the screen. They are not held back by the need for virtual buttons, and that direct user interaction is part of why the games have been such smash successes, and why people voted Jetpack Joyride 2011′s Best App Ever.
In fact, the success of Jetpack Joyride is currently resonating throughout the App Store. Games like Sea Stars and Seal Force both take obvious direct inspiration from Jetpack Joyride in not just gameplay but in structure. The endless runner is certainly very popular nowadays too, as Temple Run‘s current success attests to.
I personally have had great experiences with the game. I first got to play it about a week before it released, which was also a day I had jury duty on. Jury duty was not very fun, but getting to play Jetpack Joyride during any chance I had to take a break? My growing addiction to the game was probably more memorable about that day than being selected for a long trial. It’s the power of gaming, and it’s the fun that a game like Jetpack Joyride can provide that can be memorable, and it’s why it is a worthy choice as Best App Ever of 2011.
Gamelion has launched a new free to play shooter called Monster Shooter. The title is something of a double entendre: it is both a game where monsters are being shot, as well as a game where a monster is shooting. How can this be?! Players control the monster who is shooting, as it tries to rescue its beloved kitty who has been kidnapped by other monsters. Or perhaps they’re aliens, as they escape with the kitty to the moon. The original monster follows along, because it has a spaceship too, and once it reaches the moon, it starts killing those other monsters. Using dual-stick controls, players exact some vengeance for the theft of this monster’s kitty, shooting enemies in either a level-based story mode, or in a survival mode. Temporary perks can be earned by killing enemies, adding skills such as faster fire rates and laser sights. The game is free to play, and players can acquire MonsterBucks through either gameplay or in-app purchases to buy new weapons, ammo, health packs, and permanent upgrades. It’s also a universal app, so monster shooting by a monster can be accomplished on the iPad’s big screen. Monster Shooter is available now.
Posted January 23rd, 2012 by Carter Dotson Our Rating: :: LIGHT SMASH
Smash Cops puts players behind the wheels of a police car in America's most brutal police force, chasing down suspects so fearful of the violent police that they'll cross state lines in order to escape this very long arm of the law.
Infinity Field HD released last year with promises of a remote control mode in the future; the future is now here, thanks to everyone’s favorite general-purpose iOS remote control app, Joypad! By loading up the app, players can use their iPhone or iPod touch to play the dual-stick shooter remotely. The dual joysticks work a lot better than many games, because it’s easier to note the position of the joysticks without looking at the remote device’s screen because of the direct feedback as to firing or movement direction versus trying to locate virtual buttons. However, the most exciting feature of the update is that this is the first Joypad-enabled game to support multiplayer! By loading up two iPhones or iPod touches with Joypad on the same wireless network, the game’s multiplayer mode can be enjoyed on the iPad, or on the TV when connected to an external display with mirroring. As well, this update brings a new game mode to play, Hammer mode, where the only weapon is a familiar constantly circling the player’s ship. This mode is available in both single and multiplayer modes, and the free update is available now.
It may be a new year, but Chillingo isn’t forgetting about their previous releases, as they have announced an update for one of their games, and a new free version for another.
Parking Mania now has free versions for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. These are full versions of Parking Mania, where the goal is to park cars in tricky and tight spaces. Parking Mania Free features ads that can be removed, purchasable level packs, and a golden car that will allow players to not fail when they reach their last life. However, even with all these purchasable items, the game still comes with 60 levels of intense parking action! It’s more fun than actual parking is.
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-01-09 :: Category: Games
The world’s favorite game involving tossing ninjas throwing shurikens at targets, Ninja Throw, has been updated with a new level pack, Master of the Dojo, containing 15 new levels. The game is also on sale for $0.99 for both the iPhone/iPod touch version, and universal iPad version. I’m no genius, but the latter sounds like the smart money option.
Now that the NBA season is in full swing, the NBA has released NBA Game Time 2011-2012, an app that gives users access to tons of NBA features anytime and anywhere an internet connection is available. Many of the basic features are free, like game alerts from your favorite teams, stats, scores, play by play reports, news, and video highlights. There are also two subscription level available for users who want to access more of the app’s premium content. The NBA Game Time Plus subscription give users access to video highlights from in-progress games, full game video recaps, an advertisement free experience, and live radio feeds (both home and away broadcasts) of games. An NBA Game Time Plus subscription costs $7.99.
For $39.99, users can subscribe to the NBA League Pass which includes all of the features above as well as live streaming of all NBA regular season games, a full archive of all the season’s games, and live in-game stat overlays. Some users may already have an NBA League Pass subscription through their cable or satellite provider and are able to use their account information to log in via the app and gain access to all League Pass content.
Currently, NBA Game Time 2011-2012 is compatible with all iOS devices running version 4.0 or higher, but it isn’t optimized for the iPad.
This week at 148Apps, Tweetbot was on a roll, a new storybook app joined the fold, and - oops - apps broke the Super Bowl. There's more to read, so get to it!
Chillingo keeps digging through the App Store, with new games frequently bubbling up, and this week, their games are about both digging and bubbles!
Next up is Bubble in Paradise, a word game where players try form words by popping bubbles that contain letters. The bubbles come in various sizes and point values, and they must be popped before the screen becomes overcrowded with bubbles and it’s game over. The game comes with four modes: Normal, Blitz, Endless, and Battle, which is playable against an online opponent. The universal app is available for $0.99.
:: A BLAST
:: NEW RETRO
Popular PC digital distribution service Steam 
Gamelion has launched a new free to play shooter called Monster Shooter. The title is something of a double entendre: it is both a game where monsters are being shot, as well as a game where a monster is shooting. How can this be?! Players control the monster who is shooting, as it tries to rescue its beloved kitty who has been kidnapped by other monsters. Or perhaps they’re aliens, as they escape with the kitty to the moon. The original monster follows along, because it has a spaceship too, and once it reaches the moon, it starts killing those other monsters. Using dual-stick controls, players exact some vengeance for the theft of this monster’s kitty, shooting enemies in either a level-based story mode, or in a survival mode. Temporary perks can be earned by killing enemies, adding skills such as faster fire rates and laser sights. The game is free to play, and players can acquire MonsterBucks through either gameplay or in-app purchases to buy new weapons, ammo, health packs, and permanent upgrades. It’s also a universal app, so monster shooting by a monster can be accomplished on the iPad’s big screen. Monster Shooter is available now.
Infinity Field HD released last year with promises of a remote control mode in the future; the future is now here, thanks to everyone’s favorite general-purpose iOS remote control app, Joypad! By loading up the app, players can use their iPhone or iPod touch to play the dual-stick shooter remotely. The dual joysticks work a lot better than many games, because it’s easier to note the position of the joysticks without looking at the remote device’s screen because of the direct feedback as to firing or movement direction versus trying to locate virtual buttons. However, the most exciting feature of the update is that this is the first Joypad-enabled game to support multiplayer! By loading up two iPhones or iPod touches with Joypad on the same wireless network, the game’s multiplayer mode can be enjoyed on the iPad, or on the TV when connected to an external display with mirroring. As well, this update brings a new game mode to play, Hammer mode, where the only weapon is a familiar constantly circling the player’s ship. This mode is available in both single and multiplayer modes, and the free update is available now.
Parking Mania now has free versions for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. These are full versions of Parking Mania, where the goal is to park cars in tricky and tight spaces. Parking Mania Free features ads that can be removed, purchasable level packs, and a golden car that will allow players to not fail when they reach their last life. However, even with all these purchasable items, the game still comes with 60 levels of intense parking action! It’s more fun than actual parking is.
Now that the NBA season is in full swing, the NBA has released 
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