Retro gaming and God complexes: two great tastes that taste great together. And in the case of 148Apps Editor’s Choice app The Sandbox, that’s exactly what gamers get. Now, though, the fun expands to the magical iPad screen (including full retina display support), providing a universal experience on either iOS device. Reviewer Rob Rich had this to say about the game: “Sometimes a game’s title just fits. It does a perfect job of getting the point across without bombarding the reader with unnecessary words…games like The Sandbox do titles right. It’s pretty much dead-on about what players can expect. Which is to say it’s a sandbox. A glorious, pixilated, element-manipulating sandbox.”

This latest update from developer Pixowl and Bulkypix does more than just make The Sandbox universal, it also adds 11 new tree species, 7 new backgrounds, 8 glowing gems and 30 missions to solve. That’s enough to keep any budding godling busy.

More additions are on the way, including new ways to bring lifeforms to your creation, so get in The Sandbox, start playing and ‘unleash the pixel artist dormant in you.

FREE!

The Sandbox

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-15 :: Category: Games

We loved Junk Jack at the end of last year. Its rather cute take on the Minecraft formula ensured its place in many gamers’ hearts. That’s how much fun it was.

As Rob greedily but understandably stated, it could have done with “more stuff to mess around” with. Fortunately, developers Pixbits has acknowledged this with a new and huge update that has just been released.

The update is big enough that we haven’t got the room to discuss every single improvement. However, key points to take in are that it’s now an Universal build, has new rare weapon drops and new mobs in the form of Stone Golems, Mummy Pharaohs, Carnivore Plants, Blue Scarabs, Frogs, Headless Zombies and Zombie Head.

That’s not all, though, with the addition of new color dyes, new recipes and a cooking pot and cooking ware craftable addon, also included. Farming fans can enjoy the option of plantable fruit, vegetables and trees, also.

It’s a huge update for Junk Jack and that’s not including the huge number of enhancements and fixes that come included. Without further ado, get downloading Junk Jack and watch your productivity and free time vanish!

$2.99

Junk Jack

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-07 :: Category: Games

Holy crap. No, seriously, holy crap. Pixowl Inc, in collaboration with Bulkypix, are poised to unleash something major on the App Store. It might look like a simple toy at first, but make no mistake: The SandBox is packing some seriously intense concepts behind that cute facade.

When The SandBox first caught my attention, I thought it looked like a nifty little pixelated world-building game. In a way, it kind of is. However, I was thoroughly unprepared for just how many different aspects of this created world could be manipulated. Water will flow down hills, erode stone into sand, turn dirt into fertile soil, evaporate in extreme heat and freeze in extreme cold. Flowers and trees can grow. Weather will develop based largely on the environment. Players can even make rudimentary circuits to do anything from heating to creating light.

The SandBox is still very much in beta at the moment, but that’s no reason not to get excited. What’s already implemented is pretty amazing, actually. A lot of specifics are still up in the air, such as the final number of “story” levels (currently around 20), price and release date. It’s kind of a shame because this is all so cool, but then again it’s probably best not to rush things. Although the super-curious or anxious can try to get in to the beta. No guarantees, though. Regardless, be sure to keep an eye out for The SandBox whenever it does hit the App Store.

Gameloft continue to tease us with a new trailer and set of screenshots to advertise the forthcoming release of Gangstar Rio: City of Saints, a mere six weeks after the last trailer. There’s still no sign of a release date but it’s continuing to intrigue with its Grand Theft Auto style gameplay.

This trailer depicts some cool looking sights such as flying helicopters, tanks to take control of, cool cars to drive and er exploding footballs to contend with. The screenshots offer similar prospects plus it looks like players will be able to fly planes and maybe even steer yachts. That’s not forgetting the ultra violence we’ve all come to expect from sandbox gangster titles like this.

Looks like Gangstar Rio: City of Saints will be great fun when it hits the App Store.

While we all wait for further news of the release date, take a look at the Gangstar Rio: City of Saints mini-site on Facebook and, also, check out the trailer and screenshots below.