Tag: Controls »

Yee-haw!

On This Episode:

Carter speaks to the developers of CreaVures about bringing their title from PC to iOS, specifically in making the controls work on the platform.

Carter discusses new free-to-play first-person shooter Bounty Bots with MunkyFun, creators of games like Archetype and My Horse, in particular discussing how to balance the free-to-play elements.

Episode Cast:

Host: Carter Dotson

Guests: Howard Tsao (Team Lead) & Conrad Kreyling (Lead Developer) – Muse Games

Guest: Nick Pavis – MunkyFun

How to Listen:

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Apps Featured On This Episode:

We've got it under control.

On This Episode:

Carter and Blake discuss how some of the best and most popular games on iOS have eschewed virtual controls, how The Blocks Cometh's control issues negatively impact the game, and a variety of physical control solutions for iOS gaming, including impressions of the JOYSTICK-IT.

Carter speaks to Alex Kuptsov, developer of Dungeon Raid, about his match-3/RPG hybrid, , and about some ideas for potential updates.

Who We Are:

Host: Carter Dotson

Co-Host: Blake Grundman

- 148Apps, Games Are Evil, The EvilCast

Guest: Alex Kuptsov, Fireflame Games

Contact The Show: Email | Twitter

Music:

"Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)" by The Eternal - Download on iTunes here:

"Nanocarp" by The Eternal

How to Listen:

Click Here to Subscribe in iTunes:

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Listen on WRGT Radio every Friday at 4pm Central

Listen Here: [powerpress]

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Sure, Apple is dead to Jason Calacanis but we think the old rainbow fruit might still have a little life left in her -- therefore, here's the latest iPhone app store news.

[caption id="attachment_15656" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Duke Nukem 3D"]

[/caption]Duke Nukem 3D is awesome and disappointing. Today, Richard takes a look at Duke Nukem 3D. He's a lot more generous with the app than I think I would have been. Such is the way with reviews. While it's amazingly cool to see Duke on the iPhone screen, that excitement was greatly diminished once I started to play it. The controls are just awful. To me they just show a complete lack of understanding of the platform. Something you'd expect to see of an amateur developer but not from a developer with this much experience. They must have just had to rush it out for some reason. Also, seems as though they aren't limiting the speed properly. On a 3GS, the movements are extremely fast. Oh well, it's still cool to see. Let's hope the controls get fixed up soon. For nostalgia's sake I'd love to actually be able to play it rather than just show it off.

[caption id="attachment_15674" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Galcon Looking Great!"]

[/caption]Galcon 1 year anniversary brings a facelift. We've heard from Galcon creator Phil Hessey that he has submitted an update that gives it "shiny real-game feel instead of a made in some guy's basement feel." While we think the original looks fantastic, take a look at this sample image to see what awesomeness is to come. The update marks the 1 year anniversary of Galcon being in the app store.

If you're not familiar with Galcon, it's a great single / multiplayer real time strategy game. It's a fantastic game if you like a little strategy with your arcade, check it out. The update has been submitted and is a free upgrade to anyone who has bought the app. It should be available soon.

SlingPlayer Mobile 1.1 to work over 3G -- outside the US. So if AT&T has no say in what apps get approved, why is AT&T the only carrier who's customers will not be seeing an update to Slingplayer to allow streaming of content over 3G? Viewing content over 3G is just one of the features planned in this rumored release recently submitted to Apple. Other purported features in this update include 16:9 viewing and an updated user interface for Dish Network users. Via TUAW.

eTextbooks may finally be here. CourseSmart have released an iPhone application that interfaces with their online textbook rental service. According to their site the usual rental is for 180 days and is about 50% the normal cost of the book. The downside is of course that there is no trade in value. So in the end it's about the same as buying and then selling a textbook yet considerably more convenient. The app is free and requires an account from their site to use.

USAA bank brings virtual check deposits to the iPhone. USAA have updated their mobile banking app and included a new feature they call Deposit@Mobile. The feature allows their customers with iPhones to take a picture of the front and back of a check to deposit it. Once that's done and it's verified at the bank, the check will appear in your account just like you deposited it at an ATM. It's a pretty big advancement and one that's sure to see some scrutiny from security experts. But, it's a step in the right direction.

I was both excited and nervous about reviewing this application. I have played quite a few games that follow this trend: Take a successful game with an avid and loyal following from years ago, and bring it to the iPhone. Yeah, winning formula right? Well, plenty have gotten it wrong, and miss the mark by a mile. I can't put my finger on it, but Sonic delights me!

Here are some of the great things about Sonic:

When you click the icon to launch the game - it does exactly that! You pretty much go straight into the game play, you just need to click the screen. Really quick loading. I love that in a game, especially if you are just stealing a few moments to play it.

Also, the music is true to the original and just as cute & perky as always. Let me ask you, is there anything more satisfying than the little jingle ring sound that it makes as you collect them? I think not.

Although the controls of the game do not take into consideration the iPhones accelerometer I didn't mind that. It seemed really natural to play by using the control pad on the left and the jump button on the right. There is the option to play in arcade mode, which essentially gives the game the arcade look. However, this means a smaller screen and larger control area. I can not think why they have or who would use it. Apologies if you do but I don't want a smaller screen when I'm gaming.

The controls are very responsive, more so then what I have used in other games which makes this really playable and takes away the frustration of delayed moves / actions.

The game play is fast, as it should be. At times it did leave me wondering if I actually only moved my little sonic forwards and did nothing else, would I still succeed. It seems that you can. So don't try it.

The graphics are crisp and colourful and there is a nice range of monsters. There are ones you need to avoid on the ground, flying ones, ones that are still and drop down on you, shooting ones and bosses to name a few. There are also a great variety of loops, springs, spikes, platforms, bridges and other areas to negotiate to keep it interesting. (Oh and some totally fun swirly tunnel things where he really picks up speed!)

I played on it until I felt car sick (I wasn't driving) and in the end I did find a few things frustrating.

When all my lives were gone and I had to start again, I wasn't able to continue where I left off. I realize a lot of games are like this but I think maybe for the iPhone platform where game play seems to be more 'dipping in for a play', that this is becoming essential feature in a game. You can continue at the same place if you have to pause or come out of the game so that's good.

There are seven zones for you to play. You get green hill as your first and others include labyrinth. There are also bosses to fight, which I will admit I found a bit disproportionately difficult compared to the journey of getting to the boss.

The game is called Sonic 1 when you have the icon on your device. I am curious to find out if this means that we will be given several incarnations of the game. Will these be as updates, or as separate games to download & pay for? Note on the icon is that it is nice although I would like to see of a bit more iphone'd up. (I want a shiny Sonic.)

Be aware also of the amount of battery life this little cutie chews through. If you're going to be sneaking at work or meetings, be sure you have an extra source of charging with you.

I also feel like Mr Sega corporation should give us all a break and charge us a bit less for it. So many new & upcoming devs are giving us free or low cost apps and I wish the corporates would show us some love too.

Overall I really liked this but there's no one really hardcore selling point other than "Hey - it's Sonic". I guess this might be the true test of a games standing within the universe, that porting it to other platforms and other generations and it still works like magic. It's fast and fun. I like having it on my phone, and in some ways I feel it justifies my geekiness.