Posted August 10th, 2012 by Rob Rich Our Rating: :: ROAD TRIP FOR YOUR LIFE
Organ Trail: Director's Cut might just look like an Apple 2 classic with a "fresh" coat of Zombie Paint, but it does more than simply re-skin a classic gaming gem.
This week at 148Apps.com, writer Carter Dotson explored all things Zombie with his Favorite Four list. He writes, “May is Zombie Awareness Month. While pop culture seems intent on making us aware of zombies on a regular basis, this is the special month for zombies. May is almost over, but that doesn’t mean there’s not just enough time left to celebrate with some zombie-themed apps.”
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-27 :: Category: Games
Meanwhile, everything over at GiggleApps got dotty, as Amy Solomon reviewed Dot Collector, saying, “Dot Collector is a very nice universal app for the youngest children with simple game play, wonderfully bright colors and soothing sounds that babies will enjoy. This app is utterly intuitive to use as players need to simply drag moving dots into a black dot, clearing the board. A new dot is added to each additional level, adding to the game play.”
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-28 :: Category: Education
Finally, Kevin Stout on 148Apps.biz reported on the increasing numbers of young children using smartphones. Stout writes, “There’s no such thing as to young when it comes to smartphones and tablets. When keeping in mind the younger audiences when developing apps, even the youngest of children have a high percentage of exposure to mobile devices. An infographic released by Schools.com has reported that 38% of 0-8 year-olds have used tablets or smartphones.”
That’t it for this Memorial Day week. Summer’s here, so keep your eyes on 148Apps.com, our Twitter and Facebook feeds to make sure you get the latest app news, reviews and contests. See you next week, tovarish!
May is Zombie Awareness Month. While pop culture seems intent on making us aware of zombies on a regular basis, this is the special month for zombies. May is almost over, but that doesn’t mean there’s not just enough time left to celebrate with some zombie-themed apps.
Zombies, Run!: Rule #1 of zombie survival? Cardio. What better way to get that than with a fitness app/game that has players trying to outrun virtual hordes of zombies? Missions can be done and survival accessories completed by jogging. There’s even a “Zombie Chases” mode that turns interval training into having to occasionally go faster when the zombie horde nears. Custom playlists can be used, with in-game audio occasionally cutting in to advance the story.
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-02-27 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness
Zombieville USA 2: The best way to survive a zombie infestation is by sticking together. Thankfully, Zombieville USA 2 comes with multiplayer options, including online over Game Center for 2 people. Ever see a man in a trucker hat with a shotgun ward off zombies together with a goth girl using a katana? Zombieville USA 2 players have.
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-27 :: Category: Games
The Walking Dead: The best way to understand the enemy is to read about them. Also, to learn from the mistakes of those who tried to survive before. This app lets users buy issues of the groundbreaking comic written by Robert Kirkman, and read them on iPhone and iPad. The app features all the latest issues, as well as collections of past issues.
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-10-22 :: Category: Books
Zombie Gunship: After trying to survive the zombies, why not eliminate them? This shooter has added new environments to kill since its original launch, but the goal remains the same: take out hordes of zombies from a hovering gunship, while keeping them away from the humans’ stronghold. After years of zombie media where frantic and panicked survival on limited resources was the focus, being able to blow zombies away with deadly weaponry is just satisfying. Also satisfying? The game’s AirPlay Mirroring support, for watching zombie guys going everywhere on the big screen.
Ever wonder what to do in case of a zombie outbreak? I know I have. I’ve got the plan all lined up, ready in case of attack. Living in a country where guns aren’t easily accessible limits my options but I have backup ideas, even if they are rather inspired by Dead Rising. Even better, soon there’ll be a way to simulate what would happen during such an outbreak.
Zombie Outbreak Simulator is the app I’m talking about. Previously a website, its aim is to track just what would happen if zombies emerged and started attacking humans.
As it’s a simulation, interaction is quite limited. Like on the website, users can adjust certain parameters then it’s just a matter of watching to see the action unfold. The preview build I checked out seems pretty complete and offers plenty of variables. Civilian numbers can be adjusted between 100 and 4000, with up to 1000 zombies available to unleash. Armed civilians can be assigned, along with police numbers. In both cases, accuracy can also play a vital role in their chance for survival so that can be adjusted. Any fan of zombie films knows that zombies react differently so infection time and speed can also be changed.
Together, this makes a pretty comprehensive spectrum of situations. The red dots representing zombies and green dots of humanity then descend upon the Google Map image, with users able to zoom in a bit further to see some of the action. Only one map was available in the preview build but I’m hopeful that the full release will enable Location Services so that players can check out how things work out in their local area. The website offers similar and it’s fun to see what happens.
No one would expect just watching action unfold to be quite so entertaining, but it is. I’m not sure how long the novelty will last but for now, it’s fun to see how adjusting certain numbers can change things so drastically. Even if, all too often, humanity appears to be doomed in this scenario.
Zombie Outbreak Simulator is set for release next week. We’ll be sure to give it the full review treatment nearer the time.
Telltale Games has released its third episode of Playing Dead, a video series discussing its new game based on the hit comic book and TV show, The Walking Dead. In this episode, gameplay footage is released as well as an interview with The Walking Dead creator, Robert Kirkman.
Here are some highlights from the interview and gameplay footage:
The game doesn’t follow Rick from the comic books or TV show, but is set in the The Walking Dead universe. The game will give people some information on some of the other characters like Glen before the known story of the comics and TV show. I also noticed Hershel in the gameplay footage.
Like Mass Effect, different choices create a different storyline experience. So players will be able to replay the game with different choices and end up with different outcomes.
The gameplay footage shows the player doing tasks such as feeding children, repairing a radio, fighting zombies with hammers, and talking to NPCs. Dialogue choices seem to be a big deal and remind me quite a bit of Mass Effect.
The PC and Mac versions of the game are already available for preorder and will be released in late April. It hasn’t been explicitly announced, but we can hope that the iOS version is released at the same time as the PC/Mac, XBox, and Playstation 3 versions.
Check out the interview and gameplay footage in the episode below.
No matter how many times you put them down, zombies just won’t stay dead. Activision has launched their latest update for Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies and this one is a doozy. The team has ported over the popular “Ascension” map from consoles and added enough goodies to keep you blasting away at the undead hordes for hours.
The new map is set in a Cold War-era cosmodrome overrun with zombies and teeming with traps. Even more dangerous than the typical enemies are zombie monkeys which can swoop in and steal your perks as they maul your face off. Just remember that these monkeys are evil and you should have no trouble pulling the trigger.
The good news is your arsenal is getting an upgrade, too, and now you can deal death with the Thunder Gun, Matroyshka dolls, and Gersh Device. Players who like to really get up close and personal will also enjoy the inclusion of the Sickle. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have defending Mother Russia from reanimated rotting corpses.
Japanese developer GREE has been looking to make a splash in the US, and today we just learned about the company’s first US-developed game, Zombie Jombie. The title will be a card-based game featuring zombies and humans but with a unique twist; this time the zombies are the good guys.
According to GREE players will build a deck of cards which they can use to battle evil human bosses and their friends while completing quests in levels based on major US cities. Players can upgrade their decks by finding treasure chests, trading with friends or even fusing cards together to enhance their powers. GREE is promising an exceptional amount of customization as well as the promise that no two decks will be the same.
GREE is positioning the game as “made in the US, for a US audience,” so we’ll soon see just how in tune they are with this market’s sensibilities. We’re excited to see how the launch goes and are looking forward to trying Zombie Jombie out for ourselves.
Posted February 20th, 2012 by Rob Rich Our Rating: :: DEVOURS FREE TIME
The gritty, almost awkward presentation in this zombie apocalypse strategy game might cause some hesitation. Make no mistake, however, it's one heck of a Must-Own for genre fans.