Seriously, it’s hard to go an entire day without some movie tie-in or other on the iOS App Store. Today’s odd adventure is a little app called TDKR: Gotham City’s Most Wanted. The app brings a familiar face masking mechanic to the world of the soon-to-be-released film from Warner Bros., The Dark Knight Rises. Say it with me, now, “I’m Batman.” No, say it grittier.

The final chapter of Chris Nolan’s ultra-gritty Batman saga is coming to theaters July 20, and to promote the movie, the devs have created an app that allows you to put your face in a Batman-flavored mask. You can become Batman, Catwoman, or villain Bane using the iPad camera, then share your image via Facebook, Twitter, Email, or the “Worldwide Fan Activity Map,” interestingly. Maybe it’d be good to know where other masked folks are hanging out?

It’s odd that Warner Bros. decided to only release this on iPad, as it seems like the perfect fit for a camera enabled iOS device like, oh, say, every iOS device. Anyway, it’s available now for free on the App Store.

FREE!

The Dark Knight Rises FX HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-07-03 :: Category: Entertainment

While fans await the opening of The Hunger Games movie this weekend, the iOS and indie game world was awaiting The Hunger Games: Girl on Fire, thanks to the all-star list of talent working on it, spearheaded by the talented Adam Saltsman of Canabalt fame, who’s also working on the fascinating upcoming game Hundreds.

It’s an auto-runner, but also an action game. It’s not an endless runner though, as there is an actual end to the game that comes once the first section ends. Players control series heroine Katniss Everdeen, who’s running through the forest, hunting down the giant hornets called tracker jackers that can hurt her. When she gets hit by a projectile or by hitting one of the hornets, she gets stunned and slows down, but doesn’t die, though if she gets hit again while damaged, it’s game over. Players can swipe up and down to switch between the two levels, and tap on the edges of the screen to fire in that direction at the hornets.

The controls work very well – I felt very confident that my inputs meant what they were supposed to do, which is very important for a game with gesture-based controls. The art sets a great mood, and the animation from Paul Veer is useful, as when Katniss’ next arrow is ready, there is a clear animation to show it, which can serve as a clever timing mechanism. Danny Baranowsky’s soundtrack is great as well. The game has a lot of depth to it – there’s timing involved in level switching, and in making strategic decisions for which enemy to attack.

Not a lot is actually explained – why are some enemies worth more points when killed than others? What triggers the switch from the forest section to the industrial one? While the game seems content to let the player discover on their own, it is somewhat confusing. I would love to see the concept expanded out a bit, as there’s definitely room for additional modes and/or challenges. It is more complex than Canabalt which was a ‘simple’ game, so this complaint may be a bit silly. Some of the graphical elements don’t look as good when scaled up to the iPad or the iPod touch Retina Display, such as the score display.

Of course, this is a free movie tie-in game, but it is a darn good one. It’s free as in beer too, no in-app purchases here, just some promotional links to other Hunger Games material. The expectation was that this game would be a cut above the average movie tie-in, and the odds were in our favor. This is definitely worth the download.

As part of the promotional build up for J.J Abrams’s latest blockbuster Super 8, a Super 8 camera emulator app has been released on the app store.

The film – coming out June 10th – focuses on the tale of a group of friends who witness a mysterious train crash in 1979 before noticing increasingly strange things occuring around their small town. The hype has been ever growing and it’s not surprising considering Abrams’ past successes with Fringe, Star Trek, Cloverfield and of course the phenomenally successful Lost.

The Super 8 app aims to tap into the 1970s feel to photography with users able to make their own vintage movies in the typical Super 8 style that kids of the 70s will fondly remember. Users can add different lenses with the choice of seven different effects ranging from black and white, chromatic to x-ray or infrared appearance. They can add one of three animated filters as well as the good old creepy thriller movie staple: the shake effect. Adding a scratch and dirt overlay is also possible providing a great aged feel to the experience. Once the video has been created, users can then arrange clips and scenes just how they want, as well as add their own credits if they so wish. It makes for a great amateur movie kind of feel.

Once the video has been finalisd, users can then view their movies from within the Super 8 projector room, or they can export it to their PC or email it to friends. There’s even unlockables to acquire with users able to reveal missing frames from the Super 8 editing room film by playing their movies back a sufficient amount of times.

It all makes for a pretty cool interface that also happens to produce some great results.

Super 8 is a free app download available for iPhone 3Gs and upwards, 4th generation iPod touches and the iPad 2.

$0.99

Super 8™

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-05-09 :: Category: Photography