Tag: Carter vs. the Developer »

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

Christian Whitehead, aka "Taxman," did not work on the original version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but through years of research as a die-hard Sonic fan and from his work on the remastered edition of Sonic 2, he might know the game better than anybody. I, however, spent some of my formative years behind the wheel of the Sonic series, so I decided to challenge Christian to a couple matches of Sonic 2 through the online multiplayer he added to the mobile port. Who will win? Watch and find out.

Sure 148Apps is known far and wide for its diverse array of app reviews, but we also love to spotlight some lesser-known developers, review the occasional piece of useful hardware, and challenge developers to duke it out in their own games. Here's a look at some of the highlights from the past year:

Developer Spotlight: 11 Bit Studios

Jennifer Allen:What’s your favorite thing about iOS development?
11 Bit Studios: We are producers of PC and console games too, and iOS development is pretty different. The entire design process begins (after typical dev brainstorm for game’s main theme is over, hehe) with thinking about how to make touchscreen gameplay enjoyable in the project. At least that’s our way. We believe this particular gaming platform is based on the controls in the first place. PC games may be pad-controlled, keyboard-controlled, mouse-controlled or even be turn-based in a model where controls are totally less important comparing to story. That, of course, does not mean we are not putting attention to story, visuals et cetera, but there’s something in the statement, that iOS development is very controls-oriented. And those controls are all about tapping and finger-swiping.

Developer Spotlight: Dragonhead Games

Jennifer Allen:What was the inspiration behind Zombies & Trains?
Tor Martin Kristiansen: We actually weren’t that interested in making a game about zombies, since it seemed like every other day, someone made a game about them. We were focusing on coming up with an idea that sounded cool when you shared it with other people. At some point, almost as a joke, we started discussing ways of disposing of zombies that hadn’t been used in games or movies, and the idea of a train blasting through a zombie-horde came up. It immediately struck us as an idea that we just had to try, and we made a simple demo that was so much fun to play. And it was incredibly challenging, something we liked!

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

On this edition, Carter takes on Michael Bean of Pixelocity Software at the classic turn-based racing game, Disc Drivin'. Squaring off on one of the game's new mirrored tracks, the victory condition is simple: whoever crosses the finish line first wins. Game on, gentlemen!

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

This episode does things a little backwards. It turns out Whitaker Trebella, creator of Pivvot, isn't the best at Berserk mode in his own game. I have a higher time than he does! So, after trying to beat his score on video almost instantaneously, we decided to flip the script. Trebella takes the helm and tries to beat my record time in what should be rightfully called Developer vs. the Carter.

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

Leonardo Etcheverry of Kalio puts forth a formidable challenge to me in Ring Run Circus: can I beat level 4-3 with three stars in under 39 seconds? I'll have to be quick on the ring switches and character swaps, and Leo's tips might just help out.

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

Kevin Ng is the madman behind the high-flying Impossible Road, featuring a rolling ball on a difficult-to-survive course. I try to beat a pre-determined score of his, and then try to tackle his record for most gates jumped. Along the way there’s plenty of helpful tips, and a trick for experts that even I didn’t know going in to the game. Watch!

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

Chi Dire of Spacehopper Studios must not have known what was going to hit him when he put the ghost racing feature in Delta-V Racing. I try to beat his ghost time on what he calls one of the more challenging tracks in the game, albeit early on. I take ten minutes to try and top his time. Can I do it, or will the pressure be too much? Along the way, valuable hints on how to max out one's own times at the game will be given!

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

Mike Meade, one of the namesakes of Mikey Hooks, the game he co-created with Mike Gaughen as BeaverTap Games, is a speed-running champion. He's dominated the leaderboards on games like Super QuickHook. So I'm up for a formidable challenge as I try to beat one of the best in the world at the game they made! I have ten minutes to top Mike Meade's time on level 4-1 of Story Mode. Do I have the precision turning ability to beat his time?

I have a reputation for being able to go toe-to-toe with developers at their own games, beating their best times and high scores. This is Carter vs. the Developer.

I take on Kevin Pazirandeh's (Auxbrain, Inc.)high score in Zombie Highway: Driver's Ed. With the agreed-upon rules of starting at level 7 in experience with the second upgrade for all vehicle parts and the first popper upgrade bought, Kevin set a high score of over 110,000, which you can watch for yourself. I have ten minutes to best that score. Can I do it? Watch me try below.