Tag: Steel media »

Another week has flown by here at Steel Media towers. It's been busy for everyone. Some of the editorial team have been at our regular show in London, Pocket Gamer Connects. Some of us haven't. We've all had our noses pushed right into the grindstone though.

So here's a small slice of the amazing content that you might have missed out on across the SM empire. If you see some stuff you like, make sure you keep checking back on all of our sites. We're pretty damn good at what we do, and no mistake.

Occasionally you'll see us use AppSpy's videos here on 148Apps to support an article we've written.

That's because we're part of Steel Media, and AppSpy is Steel's video arm, so we're all part of one happy family.

If you've ever watched one of the videos and thought "this is good" then consider popping over to AppSpy's Patreon page, which has just launched right this second, and chucking a dollar or two their way.

There are ace rewards for supporters, and you'll be directly helping to make the best mobile gaming videos on the Internet.

So head on over, and tell them your pals at 148Apps sent you.

Pocket Gamer has announced its second Pocket Gamer Connects Global Mobile Games Conference, which will be held June 16 -17 in Helsinki, Finland.

The event, which is highlighted by "A Very Big Indie Pitch," packs in networking opportunities with two content tracks: East meets West global publishing stage and the Indie Rock Stars game creation stage. There will also be world class speakers, interactive workshops, an exhibition area, and a Pocket gamer Party amongst other events and displays.

Host company Steel Media's chief, Chris James, is clearly excited. "Pocket Gamer has spent 8 years doing everything in its power to help the mobile games industry grow and to help the amazing people inside it to achieve the respect and success they deserve," he says. "PGC2014 is the next natural step in that journey and I think it’s going to be the best thing we’ve ever done.”

Interested persons and parties may register now at the conference website; prices start at $75 for students.

If you are interested in speaking at PG Connects, please contact [email protected].

Today PocketGamer.biz has begun to roll-out an all new site design.

Keith Andrew, the Editor for PocketGamer.biz, broke the news to everyone earlier today. This new look is just the beginning of a series of changes that are planned and will continue to crop up in the coming weeks, and users are encouraged to report any errors you might find while browsing around as these things tend to happen when websites go through big changes like this.

So, what do you think of the new PocketGamer.biz?

148Apps and Android Rundown (both via Steel Media) are holding a 2014 reader survey for the week, and taking a couple of minuted to answer some basic questions will give you a shot at winning an iPad Mini! Just go here and fill out the necessary info.

You can also check out the terms and conditions here if you're so inclined. If you're interested in entering I'd suggest hopping to it sooner rather than later as the survey will only be going until March 4, 2014. Telling us we're awesome isn't a requirement of course, but we love compliments all the same.

The Pocket Gamer guys are at it again, creating a new guide for the Where's My... Games. The Pocket Guide to Where's My... Games includes guides for Where's My Water? (Swampy, Cranky, and Allie), Where's My Perry?, and Where's My Mickey? So, if you ever need help with those games make sure to check out the expert video guides and walkthroughs for them. It even has a breakdown of the basics, hidden items, secrets, and achievements.

No longer will you be asking "Where's My Help?"

The Pocket Guide to The Room – iPad edition is designed for Fireproof Game's point-and-click title, The Room. The Pocket Gamer teams provides an expert guide on how to make your way through the game with step-by-step walkthroughs. Also, it features a making of series so that fans of the game can learn more as they get the help they need to progress through the game.

Don't get stuck during any segments of the game, download the app and get the help you need!

Pocket Gamer has released a new interactive guide that provides players with tips and walkthrough strategies for commanding a squad of itty bitty soldiers. The Official Guide to Tiny Troopers 2 – iPad edition has been created by the experts at Pocket Gamer with the help of the developer of Tiny Troopers 2, Kukouri.

The guide features level-by-level walkthrough strategies and tactics, details on the complete arsenal in Tiny Troopers 2, and a breakdown of all the essentials; including operations & missions, command points, medals, multiplier, collectables, rank, achievements, and more!

So, if you are having some small issues with your tiny troopers, make sure you get some big help by checking out this free guide.

Issue 8 of Swipe Magazine has arrived, bringing the iOS fan even more information on the world of app gaming. This month's issue features XCOM: Enemy Unknown on the cover and has 20 key tips within to help players have better luck against those alien invaders. Issue 8 also focuses on the best titles from this year's E3, letting people know of what they have to look forward to. Over 80 games are featured in this month's issue, packed with reviews, videos, and more!

The Official Guide to Star Command HD is the official interactive guide by Pocket Gamer, giving you all the ins and outs of space combat. You'll find all the information and tips needed, which has been put together by the experts at Pocket Gamer, along with input from Warballoon Games. Aimed for beginners, you'll have access to tactical information and a mission-by-mission walkthrough, along with a breakdown of the crew, ships, rooms, and more!

Pocket Gamer has launched the first issue of iTips Magazine, a helpful guide that provides hints, tips, and walkthroughs for every one of the current top 40 titles available on the iPad. Should you not know some of the games, each title in the magazine also features a review by Pocket Gamer. iTips Magazine gives you an interactive digital experience for your tablet and can be downloaded now for free.

✔ 40 of the biggest and most popular iPad games
✔ Comprehensive hints, tips and walkthroughs for guaranteed gaming goodness
✔ Don’t know a game? Don’t worry. Every title included is accompanied by a Pocket Gamer review to help your decision-making
✔ World-class editorial content from one of the top iOS gaming sites, combined with Steel Media’s renowned design and production ethos

Swipe Magazine, the interactive digital publication from Steel Media (our parent company), has just released Issue Five, which contains all sorts of great game news and reviews from the best iOS app sites out there, including 148Apps. Give it a look today.

Here's a quick bullet point guide as to what's included in Issue 5:
A preview of Real Racing 3
An RPG review extravaganza
An interview with the developer behind Anomaly Korea
Hints and tips guide to Hundreds
iPad Basics: because iPad ownership is only easy if you know how...
The usual selection of hardware/apps roundups

'Twas the week before Christmas, and as everyone knows, Jeff Scott listed sale apps and watched that list grow: "As another year draws to a close, millions of people will find iOS devices and iTunes gift cards waiting for them under the tree. That means lots of people looking for apps and games to download and that means it’s time for a HUGE sale. This year does not disappoint with tons of apps and games on sale and a ton going free for Christmas week.

If you enjoy this list, feel free to tweet or share this post on Facebook.

Here are our picks from the best of the best apps and games on sale. And as a reminder, you can always find the latest apps and games on sale at our iOS Price Drops page."

Read the full list at 148Apps.com.

Then away to GiggleApps we ran with a dash, and checked in with Amy Solomon, who had this news flash: "The Night Before Christmas presented by One Hundred Robots is a personal favorite retelling of the classic holiday story of the same name.

If one were to check iTunes, one could find multiple apps adapting this traditional Christmas story, and this app is a top choice of mine for a few reasons.

Although I am not always a fan of computer generated animation, especially when it boasts a 3D effect.
I do, however, love the bright, colorful and wonderfully stylized look of this computer-generated app, with interesting photographic elements and textures along with a 3D look for a very interesting visual experience. There is a wonderful use of perspective, and the placement of that would be the camera if one were shooting live action as well, as quick camera movements highlights the benefits of working with computer graphics."

Read Amy's full review at GiggleApps.com.

Then at last we arrived at AndroidRundown, to see what was new in KickStarter-town: "Stands for smartphones are a very usual kickstarted project because they are all generally very simple and relatively cheap to make. We have done a few here for this blog post, and I was trying to stay away from them, but after seeing the crazy look of this week’s KickStarter Spotlight project I had to do it. This week I am showing off Simply Amplified’s Symphony Shells. They are 3-D printed phone stands that are shaped like real-life oceanic shells. They come in three separate forms, the urchin; small and spiked, the murex; arched and pointy, and the nautilus; square and twisting. All can be done in a very colorful and ornate tie-dye pattern or simply come in a solid or di-chromatic color scheme. My initial favorite is the nautilus simply because of its epic size and crazy spiky, square spiral. These really are very beautiful designs and any of them would display a smartphone with style and aplomb."

Read more about Symphony Shells at AndroidRundown.com.

So rest and relax, and don't even flitter - you can always find us on Facebook and Twitter. And when you wake from your drowse and your long Christmas naps, don't forget to check in with 148Apps.

Are you a huge Galaxy on Fire 2 fan? If so, you need to know that the official Guide, published by Steel Media, is now available on the iPhone.

• Dive into the only official Galaxy on Fire 2™ guide, covering GOF2, as well as the Valkyrie™ and Supernova™ add-ons
• Make the right choice with our comprehensive profiles of all of the weapons available in the GOF2 universe
• Get to know the complete GOF2 fleet with our rundown of the complete set of official stats and info
• Be on first-name terms with the games’ vast range of equipment and plan your upgrade path according to your play preferences


• Maximize your profits by learning where to buy and where to sell every commodity with our handy taptastic breakdown
• All of the GOF2 Blueprints exposed: know their location, learn the recipes, enjoy your creations
• Tour the GOF2 universe and its Jumpgate network with our intergalactic sat-nav
• Go behind-the-scenes thanks to exclusive in-depth interviews with the minds behind the Galaxy on Fire 2™ games

Oh, and the iPad version is also available for $1.99

This week at 148Apps.com, we turkey trotted our way into Thanksgiving and the holiday season with a tremendous list of apps for sale, courtesy of site founder Jeff Scott: "Black Friday is the biggest sale day of the year for the big box stores. And the same is true for the App Store. But the good thing about the App Store is there’s virtually 0% chance of getting trampled while trying to get that $39 laptop everyone is racing for.

This week and into Monday we’ll likely see hundreds of iOS games and apps on sale at some really great prices. We’ll be updating this post frequently through Monday with the best of the sale apps and games."

Want to know more? Read our full Price Drop list at 148Apps.

The holiday spirit continued at GiggleApps.com, with Amy Solomon's review of Wombi Toys: "Wombi Toys – a toy workshop for kids is a new interactive app that my son is really enjoying.

My son always get so much out of immersive role-playing apps, be it mini-games or more open-ended adventures which allow my son to cook for animals, plant a garden, pretend to be a doctor, fix a car or play tea party.

For those parents who know exactly the genre of app I am talking about, it is worth getting to know Wombi, a Swedish developer with a wonderful sense of style.

They have developed a series of really fun jigsaw puzzles of different themes and other apps that I have also enjoyed, so I was super-excited for the release of Wombi Toys – a toy workshop for kids which allows children to play toy-themed mini-games, building or fixing a very nice variety of toys such as wind-up car, painting alphabet blocks or using a hand pump to inflate a ball as each of these games are cute and fun, tactile as well as intuitive."

Get your child into the toy workshop and read Amy's full review at GiggleApps.

Finally, AndroidRundown.com writer Carter Dotson shared some unfortunate news: One of the biggest names of the early days of touchscreen mobile gaming is about to finally fade away: parent company GREE is shutting down OpenFeint, effective in December.

OpenFeint may not be as fondly remembered on Android as it is on iOS. It was the first real service to provide leaderboards and achievements, a much-desired feature. However, the platform failed to expand upon that core functionality once Game Center kicked in and became ubiquitous; while features like cloud saves were implemented by OpenFeint (and seen in games like INC which provided cross-platform saves) they never took off with developers or the public. However, the service was still purchased by GREE, and has been languishing recently as it transitions in to the GREE Platform."

Read Carter's full report on AndroidRundown.

And, as the tryptophan kicks in, we bid you a fond adieu this week. But make sure you keep track of all the latest sales, contests, reviews and news items by following us on Twitter and Facebook. See you next week. Gobble gobble.