Tag: $6.99 »

SoMaGa Inc will finally be releasing the long-awaited 'Version 2' update for Lunar Silver Star Story Touch in the near future - and adding iOS7 controller support and refined graphics as well.

For the improved graphics, artwork adjustments have been made that allow the game to provide widescreen 'retina' graphics to devices that support it. If players wish to play in the original 4:3 ratio from before, that option has also been preserved for them.

Lunar Silver Star Story Touch is available on the App Store now for $6.99. No official date for the Version 2 update is available yet, but SoMaGa Inc has stated that it's submitting the new build to Apple this month.

Fans of the visually stunning Infinity Blade III will be interested to hear that they can now create custom 3d printed replicas of their characters. ChAIR has partnered with Sandboxr, a 3D printing development company, to make creating a customized model possible. This is offered as an in-game service, making it a very unique feature.

Donald Mustard, Co-Founder/Creative Director for ChAIR said, "The ability to take something from the virtual world, customize it, and push a button to transform it into the physical world is magic. We're excited to introduce collectibles that allow fans to create what they decide is the ultimate expression of their character. We can’t wait to see all of their amazing Infinity Blade creations."

According to their site customized characters start at $19.99 for a 3.5" model to $89.99 for 5.5-6" models. You can check out the collectibles website or download a copy of Infinity Blade III for $6.99 from the app store today to start creating.

For the first time since its release (which has thankfully been a much shorter window for iPad players than their PC counterparts), Blizzard’s wildly successful Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft CCG is sporting some brand new content: the single player “adventure” mode, Curse of Naxxramas. Based on the World of Warcraft raid dungeon of the same name, Naxxramas is divided up into various themed quarters: the Arachnid, Plague, Military, and Construct Quarters, and ending with the Frostwyrm Lair. Naxxramas’ Arachnid Quarter opened up this week and I brushed back the cobwebs to peek inside.

The three challenges of the Arachnid Quarter come in the forms of the Spider Lord Anub’Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlina, and the giant spider Maexxna - sure to give anyone with arachnophobia a severe case of the creepy-crawlies. Each boss has their own special 2 mana “class” power, from summoning minions (Anub’Rekhan), to sending random minions back to a player’s hand (Maexxna), to firing randomly assigned magic damage based on how many cards the player is holding (Faerlina). There are also Heroic versions of the same fights, where the dungeon bosses start off with a massive 45 life to the player’s paltry 30 - while also sporting enhanced versions of their powers. Summoning a 4/4 minion for 2 mana? Yeah, that seems incredibly well-balanced. Good luck!

There are also two Class Challenges, where players are pitted against Naxxramas’ bosses with pre-built class-specific decks. Rogue and Druid are the two classes on offer this time, with the Rogue facing Faerlina while the Druid takes on Maexxna. Other Class Challenges will unlock as the weeks roll on, of course. It would be nice to see these with their own Heroic variants too, but in some cases that could get dangerously close to overkill.

All of the battles in this wing of Naxxramas feel fresh and interesting. The new graphics for the playing area feature fun little interactive elements and there's a ton of new voiceover work, including new lines for plenty of existing Hearthstone cards. In particular, the running commentary between matches from Naxxramas’ resident Lich Lord, Kel’Thuzad, is funny - almost at odds with the presumed tone of the new area. Then again, Hearthstone has never been afraid to be light and goofy. A lot of the new cards on display bank heavily on Battlecry and Deathrattle effects (SO many Deathrattles!). Also, with a number of new Beast subtype cards, Beast-themed Hunter decks have just received a huge boost.

The other wings of Curse of Naxxramas begin opening, one by one, starting next week with the Plague Quarter. Each wing costs $6.99 (with bundles available at a discounted price) or 700 in-game gold - but, sadly, no bundles), so you’d better start farming those daily Quests for gold now. However, keep in mind Quests only advance via Play or Arena mode - time spent in the depths of Naxxramas doesn’t count toward their completion. So what are you waiting for, adventurer? Get back out there and sling some cards!

You can't keep a Dark Angel down.

The new Dark Angels Chapter Pack for Warhammer 40,000: Carnage from Roadhouse Interactive, has players taking on the role of the Dark Angel Space Marine on his path to reap revenge after being captured, beaten, and left to die in a ruined temple.

The new chapter comes with a lot of exciting additions. Players can equip the Plasma Gun and fight their way through Arena Combat gameplay featured in the new missions. Roadhouse Interactive has also included Wargear Supply Caches in which players can find the most powerful Wargear on Mithra. The supply Caches can be bought using gold or found on missions.

You can buy Warhammer 40,000: Carnage on the app store for $6.99. Once you have it, the Dark Angel Chapter Pack can be unlocked for gold in game.

Being a pretty big fan of Mojang's Minecraft, I was very excited to hear that Minecraft – Pocket Edition (PE) was receiving a large update. The previous version, Minecraft PE 8.0, had seemed a bit claustrophobic to me. The edges of the world were clearly visible and one only had a space about the size of an island on which to play. I found that the lack of trees, paired with the flatness of the space made the oncoming night less scary. Creepers and spiders were visible from far enough off that I could keep a good distance and there were few enough of them that I could fight them without being overwhelmed. The size issue also made finding materials to work with frustrating. I was frequently crippled by a lack of coal. Lightless, bereft of any cooked meat, and unable to cobble together even a pair of leather shoes, I wandered my small island with nothing to do except contemplate its emptiness.

The Minecraft PE 9.0 Update is a significant upgrade. It is much more in-line with the PC version of Minecraft, with its infinite maps and more densely populated environments. The first time night fell, I was terrifyingly aware of the fact that I was standing in a forest and I could not see further than a few feet; the sound of hissing growing closer and closer. The landscape is certainly more robust. Where I spent an hour looking for coal in the previous release, in 9.0 I had no problem finding a bevy of ores, including newly-added blocks such as: Diorite, Granite, and Andesite. The variety of biomes that are now included also add to the feeling of wondrous exploration that the PC version captures so well, but which the 8.0 PE edition was lacking. I climbed a high hill one morning to find a small village just a short distance from where I was beginning to build a fort for myself. I ran towards the village and was delighted to find villagers. That moment of discovery was exciting, and speaks to the heart of the Minecraft experience.

It is amazing how much the presence of NPCs changes the feel of the game; no longer am I a stranger carving out a life in solitude. Unfortunately you cannot interact with them yet in any meaningful way except to attack; trading with villagers has yet to be implemented. However, to further banish loneliness, wolves can now be tamed; loyally following you through thick and thin.

 

I am really happy that Mojang is continuing to make the app more robust. Minecraft – Pocket Edition 9.0 has come a long way from its alpha release back in 2011, and with all the new content that has been added, Minecraft PE is finally living up to its namesake.

Hearthstone players will be excited to hear that the next leg of the game will center around the infamous Naxxramas. Curse of Naxxramus will feature 5 wings of the necropolis, with one section opening each week (Arachnid Quarter, Plague Quarter, Military Quarter, Construct Quarter, and Frostwyrm Lair).

To get into the first wing for free, just log on during the launch event coming up next month and begin fighting those undead nasties. The other wings will be 700 gold ($6.99) per wing, or you can purchase them in a bundle for $24.99. The event will include some old fiends from Warcraft: Anub’Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlina, and Maexxna. Once you beat them all you can challenge yourself with Heroic Mode and gain access to a new card back for your collection.

So start hoarding your gold in Hearthstone as the Undead approach!

Mojang has dug deep and announced the 0.9.0 update for Minecraft: Pocket Edition. This is their biggest update yet with infinite worlds, abandoned mineshafts, villages, caves, and an insane amount of new blocks and items including Monster Eggs and huge mushroom blocks. Mojang has also added biomes from the PC version including mesas, jungles, swamps, and extreme hills. The biomes will have the new feature generator that makes lakes, vines, and the always exciting monster rooms.

Players will be able to tame wolves and fight new mobs including Slimes, Endermen, Silverfish, and the diabolical Mooshrooms. Alongside a bunch of bug fixes, the interaction button has been revamped so you won't accidentally sucker-punch your new wolf companion.

Will all these additions and so much more packed into the 0.9.0 update, now is a great time to pick up Minecraft: Pocket Edition. The game is available on the app store for $6.99.

Nomad Games, has just released Version 3.4 of Talisman. The update includes a new game setup screen, new font, Language and text fixes, the 'View Board' option, and the Gambler character pack. The Gambler has the special ability to tempt fate by rolling 1 die and add his Craft against another player he lands on. If the gambler’s score is equal to or higher than the other character's score, he gains 1 fate. Otherwise, he must choose to lose 1 fate or 1 life. He can also discard fate after a die roll to reduce the odds.

Recently Nomad also gave us the Frostmarch expansion pack. It included 4 new characters (Necromancer, Leprechaun, Warlock, and Ogre Chieftain), 84 Adventure Cards, 20 Spells, 24 Warlock Quest cards and new alternative ending rules.

You can face the Ice Queen and her frozen minions for $4.99, and snag the Gambler character pack for $0.99.