Conservation International (CI) and Disney are using the free version of Where’s My Water? in an awareness campaign to education people on the value of fresh water. Disney Friends for Change and the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund are making a $50,000 donation for the “Every Duck Counts” campaign. Now through the end of February, anyone playing the free online or mobile versions of the physics-based puzzle game featuring Swampy the Alligator will learn about fresh water facts, water saving action items, and species that depend on fresh water in CI’s project areas. They will also be encouraged to collect as many ducks as possible within the game to to raise awareness for the accessibility of clean water and its importance on a global scale. The tally of the number of ducks collected so far can be found on Disney Mobile’s Facebook page.

The donation is specifically for supporting freshwater ecosystems that support more than 126,000 species as well as more than 500 million people. This isn’t the first time Disney has been involved in such a program. In 2009, they teamed up to fund two forest projects in Peru and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as supported CI freshwater projects in South Africa and Cambodia. More information about the programs can be found here.

FREE!

Where's My Water? Free

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-20 :: Category: Games

Everyone loves a good iOS port, right? It seems like App Store shoppers are always clamoring to have versions of their favorite PC and console games on their phones, pads and pods. I know I’m certainly no exception. Enter the original Inertia: a nifty gravity-manipulating platformer that took home the SMU Guildhall grand prize for non-commercial games back in February. The title’s creators have since joined Red Fly Studio, and will be bringing a “console gaming experience” spiritual successor of sorts to iOS and Android devices shortly.

Inertia: Escape Velocity requires players to use their wits, as well as plenty of finesse, in order to navigate each level successfully. Bouncing, gliding and floating will be essential for scooping up scrap (to repair a damaged ship, naturally) which will grant access to even more levels. Touch controls are the standard, but there’s also an option to use accelerometer to make things a bit more intense. Of course, players can opt for even more intensity (that’s “Intense x 2″ for anyone doing the math) by jumping into the “Inferno” versions of each stage.

Inertia: Escape Velocity is set to release next month, December 1st, for $1.99 (iPhone/iPod) and $2.99 (iPad). Keep a sharp eye.

Some princesses are content to sit around and wait to be rescued. They don’t mind sitting in their tower/castle/fancy chair until a prince shows up to rescue them or sweep them off their feet. Princess Punt isn’t that type of girl. She goes out and does the looking for herself.

Trajectory-based games are nothing new to iOS devices, be they medieval, automotive or avian in nature. The practice of knocking down ramshackle structures with an odd assortment of objects is a popular one, but not many of them involve giving armored soldiers the boot. Much less booting them into all manner of large (and vicious) beasts. Different “weapons” have different effects that can be triggered when the screen is tapped, while shot placement (trajectory, strength, point of impact, etc.) can mean the difference between “teh phat lewtz” and utter failure. It’s a weird concept that seems just insane enough to be awesome.

But don’t take my word for it. Anyone looking to dropkick noblemen into scaly monstrosities can check out Princess Punt in the App Store right now for absolutely free.

FREE!

Princess Punt

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-11-02 :: Category: Games

Okay, I’m obviously kidding but the inclusion of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum wouldn’t be all that out of place in Escape to Earth. Someone’s been captured by aliens, then somehow miraculously manages to escape their captors and hijack a ship. The only problem is they have to get out of the mothership before they can taste real freedom. Or smoke those cigars. Last Independence Day reference, I promise.

So players will find themselves in control of yet another space-faring vessel, however things aren’t as derivative as they might initially seem. It’s true that they’ll have to blast away at many an aggressive extra-terrestrial along the way, but Escape to Earth is about more than just blowing stuff up. In addition to the other-worldly armaments (i.e. a laser and missiles), players also have access to a tractor beam and “repulser” which are needed to solve a number of physics-based environmental puzzles. So if they ever want to see Earth again, they’ll have to use both their brain and their trigger fingers.

Those interested in fighting (and puzzling) their way through this interstellar labyrinth can do so right now. Escape to Earth is already on the App Store, and it can be had for the low/standard price of one dollar.

$0.99

Escape to Earth

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-27 :: Category: Games

Remember Sprinkle? That super-awesome water physics puzzle game about aliens defending their homes from meteoric garbage? Well it’s just been topped-off with more content.

Mediocre Games has just released an update with 14 new levels. That’s probably about 3 lifetimes worth of gameplay, assuming one plans to aim for the maximum rating in each one. Seriously, getting the highest rating for the later stages in this game is hard.

But the real reason I wanted to talk about this has to do with Sprinkle‘s “controversial” in-app purchase option to unlock later worlds. Essentially it wasn’t necessary, as metalcasket mentioned in our review‘s comments. The feature has since been removed, but Mediocre has been gracious enough to offer up 6 new levels (in addition to the previously mentioned 14) to these early in-app purchasers. How cool is that?

Sprinkle is still just $0.99, and now features 36 levels (42 for the in-app folks). And there’s no time like the present to strap on that adorable little extra terrestrial firefighter’s helmet.

$1.99

Sprinkle: Water splashing fire fighting fun!

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Our Rating: :: WET & WILD
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-08-25 :: Category: Games

When a pair of cats gets split up into pet carriers after their family begins the arduous task of moving to a new home, they’re understandably pretty bummed. Being torn away from a loved one like that is certainly no picnic, which is why it’s up to iOS users to set things right. Not in a conventional, “let the kitties out of their cages” kind of way, but in a more game-like fashion. Oh yeah, I’m talking physics puzzles.

Crazy Cats Love, by WolfGames, is a slightly less common kind of gravity game. Rather than clearing a screen, launching objects or swinging stuff, players have to strategically remove blocks in order to get the two to meet up. This includes, but is not limited to, creating ramps, timed displacement of moving platforms, using stationary gadgets such as fans and even flipping switches.

The game is split up into six areas, each one representing a leg of the family’s journey to their new home, and includes bonus levels to keep players interested. Just in case the plight of two love-struck animals wasn’t enough of an incentive to keep playing. Those interested in helping the hapless fuzzies out can download the game from the App Store right now for $0.99. Or they can try out the free Lite version, user’s choice.

$0.99

Crazy Cats Love

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-08-25 :: Category: Games

JellyCar surprised a lot of folks with its sudden appearance and bouncy automotive hijinks. So much so that it spawned two well-received sequels. Now JellyCar 3, the most recent of the bunch, has a free trial. Just in case the dollar seems a bit too steep.

Now the incredibly frugal, or those without access to electronic funds (i.e. young-uns) can sample 10 of JellyCar 3‘s levels for free. That’s 10 levels of “squishy goodness” for the same price as lunch when someone else is paying. Of course, if a player were to find the size-adjusting, wiggly, loopy, special ability-having, secret exit filled, car-customizing extravaganza to be irresistible, it’s not exactly super-expensive.

So why not give JellyCar 3 Lite a try since it’s free? It’s not going to cost anything but a bit of time, and chances are it’ll be considered time well spent. I mean, the original was a lot of fun, right?

FREE!

JellyCar 3 Lite

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-09-07 :: Category: Games