Meanwhile, for iPhone users, Gameloft has also announced that three of its popular titles; Modern Combat Sandstorm, Dungeon Hunter and Skater Nation will all be available for the discounted price of $0.99 for a limited time, so grab 'em while they're cheap.
To find out more, check out Gameloft's homepage
GT Racing: Motor Academy HD allows you to start playing immediately, if you wish, via the Arcade Mode, but if you're new to playing this type of racing game, it's probably best to start in the Career Mode. Similar to console games such as Sony's Gran Turismo, you must first get a lower-level license, then buy a car before attempting to win races and money. The beginning license trials serve as an excellent tutorial for the driving mechanics in the game, as you are required to accelerate fully, then stop in a predetermined area, or make a sharp turn without going off of the track. Given the control scheme of the game, these simple tasks are not particularly easy at first, so it's good to get quite a bit of practice in before tackling an entire race. As you add licenses, you unlock other races and cars, so there's a good motivation for playing the career mode for quite a long while.
Once you've gotten comfortable with the game and have advanced considerably in your racing career, you can use your Gameloft Live account to test your skills online versus multiple opponents. While it may be tempting to jump right into the online mode from the outset, I recommend against it. Unless you enjoy having your hat handed to you repeatedly, you need to get some considerable experience offline before taking on actual humans. Once you're ready for it, however, you'll find that online multiplayer works very smoothly, and plays just as well as its offline counterpart.
GT Racing: Motor Academy looks good, though not quite as good as its nearest competition - Firemint's Real Racing HD. While the car models are generally well done, don't expect hyper-realism by any stretch - collisions won't change the look or feel of your car. Also, while the graphics themselves aren't sluggish, there isn't much of a sense of speed when racing. True to the earlier Gran Turismo comparison, GT Racing is more of a sim-style racing game than an arcade racer, so the rush and sensation of speed in the game is not as prevalent as it might be in a more arcade-focused offering. The focus here is more on the subtle driving variables that can influence the outcome of a race.
The in-game sound effects are workmanlike, but if you don't like the music provided within the game, you can always pull up your in-car stereo (nicely represented as an Alpine system) and play playlists from your iTunes collection. So if racing while listening to the likes of Pavoratti is your thing, GT Racing has you covered.
Ultimately, it's the developers' choice to create a sim-style racing game that impacts whether or not you're going to enjoy the game. Those who are looking for an arcade-style game that they can jump right into will be sorely disappointed, if not altogether frustrated. Unlike many iPhone/iPad games, GT Racing: Motor Academy HD is not a game you play in quick sessions. True to its roots, it's a long-form game that requires patience and a fairly deep and abiding interest in auto racing. Sim racing fans will be comfortable with what they find in the game, and will be glad to see a wealth of options and customizations available for many of their favorite cars, right from the comfort of their iPads.
:: MATCH THREE
:: SHOOT TO THRILLNow EA Games has to go and mess things up with NCAA® Football by EA SPORTS HD. Guess what? It's an iPhone 4-exclusive title.
Does your head hurt yet?
Look, EA, we get it. Your football game has fancy graphics that take advantage (nay, require!) the iPhone 4's Retina display. And I know that you're a gigantic company, but big companies have to follow the rules, too. And the rules of the App Store, informal though they are, state that the "HD" moniker is reserved for iPad titles.
This does bring up an interesting point, though—how do we differentiate between all of these platforms? We have apps for iPad, for all iPhones, for iPhone 4's; and then we have universal apps, some of which are optimized for the iPhone 4's Retina display and some which aren't. And what about the next iPhone and iPad? My guess: other than "HD" for iPad, we'll have to rely on app descriptions, unless Apple steps in.
Still, EA, as it stands now "HD" signifies an iPad release. You're doing it wrong!
:: EXTENDED PLAYI make no bones about it. Real Racing is my favorite iPhone game ever. I've always been a fan of racing games. Real Racing just hits a chord with my by making the game fun, very well made, and not crazy complex (and boring) with car customization options.
While I haven't seen it yet, this is a preview you know, Real Racing HD looks to be everything that I love about Real Racing, but on a much bigger screen.
“We’re all very excited about the launch of iPad, and Real Racing HD really shows off the new possibilities that come with this breakthrough device," said Firemint CEO Robert Murray. "Real Racing is all about authentic pack racing action. iPad is incredibly immersive and personal so playing the Real Racing HD App will be an adrenaline-fuelled rush.”
One of my biggest concerns with Real Racing HD, and any racing games on the iPad is how you will control it. When a racing game was shown at the iPad launch I was initially excited. Then I started to think -- who wants to hold a 1.5 pound $500 device as a steering wheel controller? Not me for sure. Not only is it heavy, but seems like the risk of dropping it is increased greatly with rapid gameplay. Luckily it looks like Firemint have put some thought into this problem and implemented some iPad specific control schemes.
In addition, Real Racing HD adds some ghost racing options, and the ability to customize your car skin by importing an image from your camera roll. Real Racing HD is available now in the App Store -- even if you don't have an iPad to play it on!
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Words With Friends is a multiplayer Scrabble-type word game currently available on the iPhone. Info came in last night that Newtoy will be releasing Words With Friends HD on the iPad at launch. Newtoy were kind enough to send us over some screen shots. Take a look at those below. No amazing new features announced, just the same great multiplayer game we know and love, but easier to play on the larger iPad screen.
Newtoy let us know that they will also be hanging out with fans at the Stonebriar Mall in Fricso, TX this Saturday from 9am-Noon to celebrate the Words With Friends HD and iPad release. (Hint: They'll have free t-shirts and Words With Friends HD promo codes!)
More pictures after the jump.
