Tag: Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies »

It's easy to look at mobile and see it as a wasteland for content; particularly with all the casual, free-to-play games, and especially the ones that seem to de-emphasize actual gameplay in favor of stronger monetization. That's only if you're not paying attention. Serious, core games - some even free-to-play - had a great year on iOS.

Oceanhorn was hyped for a good reason: it was beautiful and ambitious. That ambition didn't entirely pay off in my opinion, but for the game to have succeeded financially is a huge step forward for gaming on mobile.

It also felt like the barriers between mobile and PC/console games started to blur a bit. Frozen Synapse, Mode 7's highly acclaimed PC strategy game, landed on iPad at last. Limbo received an excellent port. Leviathan: Warships brought cross-platform online play - and the best trailer of the year. Space Hulk was not perfect, but it made for an exceptional transition.

But perhaps few did it as spectacularly as XCOM: Enemy Unknown. That game proved that it was possible to take a massive console and PC title - a fantastic modern take on one of the greatest strategy games of all time - and put it on mobile without losing any of the experience. Firaxis also absolutely stuck the landing with Sid Meier's Ace Patrol and its Pacific Skies followup; original games that went to PC later.

The week is almost over, and the holidays are that much closer, but those gifts won't find/buy/wrap/give themselves now will they? Thankfully there are people like us putting together handy-dandy holiday shopping guides for you! Whether you’re looking for new hardware and accessories, or just something a bit less impersonal than an iTunes gift card, we’ve got you covered.

Other 148Apps Holiday Gift Guides: for [Heath Nuts] [Socializers] [Creative Types] [Power Users]

Today’s guide centers around iOS gamers. These are the folks who love their portable games and spend most of their morning commute matching pieces of candy or fighting immortal titans. If you’d like to make the gamer(s) in your life have an overall more pleasant and convenient gaming experience, or simply get them some really cool stuff to play, check out our list below for some ideas.

MOGA Ace Power Gamepad

The MOGA Ace Power Gamepad ($99 - iPhone/iPod Touch) has several distinct advantages over the other controllers in this list: it’s collapsible so it’s easy to carry while still acting as an extension of the iOS device, it’s the first official MFi gamepad for iOS devices, it uses dual analog sticks in addition to buttons and a D-pad, and it comes with its own battery that will help to extend the amount of time iOS gamers can play things while away from home - or at least a charger. The noticeable downsides are that it’s rather heavy thanks to the internal battery, and it doesn’t support portrait orientation. [Our Review]

While you're considering the MOGA Ace Power Gamepad, you should probably also think about software to go with it. I'd recommend Oceanhorn ($8.99 - Universal), Dead Trigger 2 (Free - Universal), and Silverfish ($1.99 - iPhone) since all three are not only good games in their own right but also confirmed to be compatible. I'm sure there are plenty of other games out there that will work with it as well, but if you're trying to put some sort of package together it would probably be best to stick with what you know will work.

MOTO TC Rally

There’s also the option to mix things up and use and iOS device as the controller for something else, rather than attaching a physical controller to it - hence the MOTO TC Rally ($99 - iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch). This is more than just a RC car with an iOS controller: the free app used to control it adds quite a few gaming elements to the physical racing. Users can race their friends and cause virtual damage -that actually affects performance- through special impact sensors, use power-ups, customize their car’s performance and more.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit ($349 - iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) is another great option for those looking to venture a little off the beaten path. I mean it lets users basically build whatever the want, then control it with their iPhone or iPad. How cool is that? It's got the universal LEGO appeal, the remote control angle, and taps into those creative juices for potentially limitless amounts of fun. [Our Review]

iKit NuCharge Battery Case for iPhone 5

The iKit NuCharge Battery Case ($89 - iPhone) is certainly something to consider for the iPhone 5 or 5s gamers in your life. The lightweight case doesn't block any ports, and it allows users to recharge their phone on the go. Perfect for lengthy trips or holiday visits with relatives where someone (not naming any names here) inevitably forgets to bring their charging cable. [Our Review]

What games go best with a phone-charging battery case? Battery hogs. There are a fair number of them out there and they can usually be picked out by their super-pretty graphics. A couple of great-looking (and just plain great) games you might want to consider are Warhammer Quest ($4.99 - Universal) and, of course, Infinity Blade III ($6.99 - Universal). However, XCOM: Enemy Unknown ($19.99 - Universal) is by far the biggest battery-muncher and would definitely benefit from something like the iKit NuCharge case.

Mophie Juice Pack Pro

The Mophie Juice Pack Pro ($129 - iPhone) may not be the most elegant-looking case, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in functionality. This is one very durable charging case that will keep batteries going longer and protect the phone from minor splash, dust, and more serious impact hazards. It's a good fit for camping trips or gamers who are particularly brutal with their devices. [Our Review]

The Mophie Juice Pack is another charging case, sure, but it's also quite durable. So it should be able to stand up to a little punishment when you toss your phone across the room after a particularly rough game of Tilt to Live 2 ($2.99 - Universal) or Pivvot ($2.99 - Universal), and will let World War II turn-based airplane strategy buffs like our own Andrew Stevens keep playing Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies ($4.99 - Universal) through just about any harsh weather conditions.

Ultimate Ears Mini Boom

Doubtless we all know at least one audiophile, and the Ultimate Ears Mini Boom speaker ($99 - iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) is definitely something to consider for them. It's easy to connect to any device via bluetooth, is durable, a good size for travel, and produces some impressive sounds even by itself. It's a great way to enhance anyone's iOS gaming experience. [Our Review]

Of course if you're looking to get some nice speakers, you may want a game or two to go with it that put the enhanced sound to good use. I'd recommend The Last Door - Chapter 2: Memories ($1.99 - iPad) for those who love a good scare as it's a ridiculously creepy game without any audio enhancement whatsoever, so you can imagine what some high-quality speakers will do to it. Home ($2.99 - Universal) is another excellent choice for the same reason. LEGO Lord of the Rings ($4.99 - Universal) is another good option because, come on, who doesn't want to hear that epic score and the official movie dialogue on something more substantial than their iPhone/iPad speaker?

Feel free to peruse our Editor’s Choice selections for more top-rated game ideas.

Players will soon be able to fly over the pacific in over 180 missions as Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies is set to release on November 7. It's been given a price of $4.99, which isn't bad for all the content that will surely keep players in the skies for hours! Get ready to hop into one of thirty aircraft as it's surely set to be another treat.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out our interview with Sid Meier, disucssing the upcoming Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies.

I'm a huge fan of Sid Meier's Ace Patrol, and was excited to learn this week that Sid Meier and the team at Firaxis is hard at work on a follow-up title, Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies. With that announcement, it was clear that I needed to take a moment to ask Sid Meier himself, lead designer & gameplay programmer, a few questions about the upcoming title.

148Apps: Did you learn anything from the release of Ace Patrol that will help Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies when it launches this fall?
Sid Meier (SM): We got a lot of great suggestions from our players, we listened to the feedback they gave us, and we looked at how they played the game. For example, we found that most of the people who purchased content in the game preferred to buy everything, and so we’ve specifically designed Pacific Skies around the idea of charging a lower price than what the full slate of IAP would be, and giving players all the content from the start. There are also a number of new mission types.

148Apps: How similar are the two games in terms of gameplay and what makes Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies different from the original Ace Patrol?
SM: They’re very close by design. The specific details of the aircraft have changed, and the higher power of the real-life aircraft means we could put in some tighter turns. Experienced players of the original Ace Patrol should be able to adapt pretty easily: The Japanese aircraft are more maneuverable but more fragile, and the American aircraft are faster and tougher.

148Apps: Did you have any plans for Ace Patrol that didn’t make it into the game but may have made its way into Pacific Skies?
SM: No, the plan from the beginning was to make the original Ace Patrol with a clearly defined scope, which let us move onto Pacific Skies, incorporating feedback from the players.

148Apps: How many missions can we expect from the game at launch and are there any new mission types?
SM: There are about 180 missions, including some new ones including dive bombing, torpedo bombing, and ground attack. We also have a category of special missions, which have unique objectives or high-risk, high reward possibilities.

148Apps: What’s the presentation going to be like this time around with the mission briefings and visual presentation?
SM: The presentation is a bit different from Ace Patrol. You no longer get your choice of three missions, the game provides you with the next mission in the campaign at random. At the start of each battle, there’s a defined situation between you and the enemy. You might be at an island base with the enemy approaching from sea. The game then looks at the pool of missions it can draw from for this situation, and chooses one of these. So while you can’t pick the specific mission, it will give you a different challenge each time you begin a new campaign.

148Apps: What’s the best World War II aircraft? Is the P-51 just as beautiful in-game as it is in real life?
SM: My favorite is the Hellcat. A long time ago, one of the first games I made was called Hellcat Ace. The rest is history.

148Apps: How many types of aircraft are available in Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies?
SM: Thirty – four each from the US Army, US Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy, and Imperial Japanese Army, as well as bombers, torpedo planes, and recon aircraft.

148Apps: What’s been your favorite moment in the creation of the Ace Patrol series?
SM: It’s hard to say! For the first Ace Patrol, it was the first time the game was working and playable on phones. That was pretty amazing. For this current game, it was getting the shiny metal USAF planes into the game, and how the artists were able to get that effect.

148Apps: What excites you most about Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies?
SM: Really my favorite part is getting to be the lead gameplay programmer, and coming in every day to make a game. That’s always been my favorite part of this job, and the chance to work with a small group to make a game that has all of the depth and gameplay of a triple-A title is wonderful. Working on the Ace Patrol and defining this new category of game has been great.

148Apps: How many enemy aircraft have you shot down? You’re the ace, right? Let’s hear it!
SM: Well, since I have access to cheat commands, I shoot down every plane.

148Apps: What do we need to know most about Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies?
SM: I did want to mention the reworked AI this time around. It considers the entire situation and the mission objectives before it chooses a move, so it’s harder to fool than before. I also wanted to thank our players who gave us such great feedback from the original Ace Patrol. We appreciate what they have to say and we’re always listening to them.

Thank you, Sid Meier, for taking the time to answer my questions!

It's almost time to take our planes back up into the skies, flying over the pacific, as 2K and Firaxis Games have announced Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies. This is a sequel to the popular and mightily fun strategy title, Sid Meier's Ace Patrol, which we (I) gave Editor's Choice back in May.

Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies takes players to the Pacific Ocean during World War II where they'll be able to battle at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guadalcanal. Once again, players are also able to unlock special skills, upgrades, and maneuvers that will be very useful during battle.

I definitely can't wait to take on these new missions with those beautiful World War II Warbirds! Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies will be available on iOS this fall.