The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/N64 emulator for jailbroken iPhones on the way?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/n64-emulator-for-iphone-on-the-way/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/n64-emulator-for-iphone-on-the-way/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/n64-emulator-for-iphone-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's an exciting announcement at All Tech Related this week that has us saying, "We can't wait!"

ZodTDD, the developer behind GpSPhone (a Nintendo Gameboy Advance emulator for the iPhone and iPod Touch), announced the development of an N64 emulator for the iPhone and iPod touch. Zodttd believes that the current generation iPhone and iPod touch have the graphic CPU horsepower necessary to run those games. "...I can't promise it will run games top notch just yet, as things are too early to say. There's hope though, with a 3D accelerated graphics plugin, as well as an ARM dynarec."

As iPhone Savior points out, the toughest challenge could be fitting the controls onto the screen in an unobtrusive yet usable way. That was my main complaint about Resident Evil for iPhone [iTunes link] -- my hand is often in the way of what I'm trying to see.

Note that this will require an jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch.

[Via iPhone Savior]

N64 emulator for jailbroken iPhones on the way? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)N64 emulator for jailbroken iPhones on the way? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3g3gsemulatoriphoneipod touchIpodTouchjailbreakn64nintendoDave CaoloWed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:00 ESTSurvey: Less than half of touchscreen users prefer touchscreenhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/survey-less-than-half-of-touchscreen-users-prefer-touchscreen/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/survey-less-than-half-of-touchscreen-users-prefer-touchscreen/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/survey-less-than-half-of-touchscreen-users-prefer-touchscreen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Here's a few interesting stats from a survey recently conducted in Europe. These aren't specifically about the iPhone, but given that smartphones relied on buttons almost exclusively before Apple's handheld came along (and nowadays, everyone's bragging about their touchscreen technology), a temperature-taking on what people think of touchscreen controls is more or less a referendum on what people think of Apple's influence.

At least in France, Germany and the UK, reactions are mixed. While 38% of those surveyed say they were planning to get a touchscreen on their next mobile phone, only 47% of people who already owned a touchscreen said they would get another one. In other words, less than half of touchscreen owners thought they'd stick with the technology on their next purchase. Apple remains an anomaly -- both HTC and Apple have a higher amount of current customers planning to stick with their touchscreen interface (with the full numbers being released at a conference later this month), but the fact remains: current touchscreen users aren't anywhere near 100% on living button-free forever.

Especially as a gamer, that makes a lot of sense. Touchscreens are great for a lot of things -- they allow for limitless flexibility in the kinds of interfaces on offer, and especially with multi-touch, a lot of the controls on the iPhone are extremely intuitive (you automatically know now that pinching equals zooming, and so on). But as nice as touchscreen is, there are a lot of functions on mobile phones, from adjusting volume or changing music tracks on a phone out of sight in your pocket, to hitting exact button controls while twitch gaming, that work much better with tactile feedback. Steve, as he always does, made a big deal about the iPhone being a one-button interface, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see future iterations of the iPhone include either a few more buttons, or, even better, a few more haptic interface technologies.

Survey: Less than half of touchscreen users prefer touchscreen originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Survey: Less than half of touchscreen users prefer touchscreen originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applebuttonscontrolseuropeanfrancegermanyhaptichtcinterfacemultitouchpocketsurveytouchscreenukMike SchrammWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:15:00 ESTEliminate now available on the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ngmoco's Eliminate has been building up buzz ever since it was announced, and now the first-person shooter is out on the App Store to try for yourself. As you can see above, it offers some relatively basic FPS gameplay when compared to shooters on other platforms (I've been having a lot of fun with Borderlands lately), but given that this is the iPhone we're talking about, this kind of twitch 3D gameplay is actually pretty impressive. You can play online over 3G or Wi-Fi, and as you play, you can earn credits and level up, which gives you access to more weapons and better gear. The game itself is free, but it's all based around a microtransaction system where you buy "energy" which allows you to earn those aforementioned resources. You get a certain amount of energy per day on your own, and if you use it up, you can't progress any further unless you get out the wallet or wait another day. And the game uses ngmoco's own Plus+ social interface to track leaderboards and accounts. Interesting plan, and we'll have to see if players vibe with it or not. Some have already voiced strong concerns about the in-game pay-to-play microtransaction system.

If that doesn't vibe with you, and you'd rather play some old-school (and old business model) FPS gameplay instead, id's Doom Classic also got released on the App Store last weekend. That game comes at a cost of $6.99, but then again, with old-school Doom, you know exactly what you're getting into. And you won't have to buy any extra energy to charge your BFG and slay any demons you happen to come across.

Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3gapp-storecostdoomdoom-classiceliminatefirst-person-shooterfpsgamesgamingidmicrotransactionsngmocoold-schoolplussocial-interfacewifiMike SchrammTue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 ESTGamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We mentioned Gamesalad's plans to bring their publishing system to the iPhone earlier this year, and now they've done it: for $99 a year, they say that you'll be able to design games on their game creator development tool, and then publish them straight out to the iPhone's App Store. If you don't want to bother publishing the games yourself, you can create them and have them "viewed" through the Gamesalad Viewer (which we couldn't find on the App Store quite yet), or you can export them out as full applications and publish them as your own iPhone apps (Flutterby is in the store right now as an example of a Gamesalad Creator game).

There's also a $1999 membership service that lets you customize every aspect of your games, and provides you with direct customer support, which is supposed to be for "elite users" (like, we guess, actual game companies). And truthfully, I've developed a few apps using just Xcode, and it's not too big a deal (though I've never had to go through an actual release or worked with end users, which I'm sure is most of the battle anyway). But if the thought of using professional coding tools to develop your little game idea sends you into panic attacks, and the Gamesalad creator seems more your speed, this might be a nice viable way for you to turn your gaming idea into App Store gold.

It costs nothing to download and try out the creator, so if the idea interests you, you can work on putting a game together, and then pay later when you decide you've got something you want published on the iPhone. And hey, if you do put a game up, be sure to send a tip and let us know -- we'd love to see the end products of this process.

Gamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Gamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>creatordevelopmentgamesgamesaladgamesalad-vieweriphonepublishingtiptuawviewedxcodeMike SchrammMon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 ESTOfficial Settlers of Catan out now on App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Just in case you missed it, I got my wish from a while back: there is an official version of the classic board game Settlers of Catan, called just Catan, on the App Store right now. I'm still playing Kolonists, the unofficial knockoff that got kicked off of the store for infringement, but if you've got wood for sheep, this official version should get you your portable fix. If you're unfamiliar with the Catan juggernaut, check out this thorough piece from Wired.com.

There's hot seat multiplayer gameplay (I assume you just can't cheat by looking at what resources other people have), or a few AIs to tangle with if you don't have friends at hand, and the game includes a scrollable board to play on, game stats to track, and a tutorial for those of you who haven't rolled the dice and tried to build the Longest Road yet.

The game is created by United Soft Media, a German company that's also ported the game to the DS, and while it's not quite as shiny as the Xbox Live port (my personal favorite version of the game, outside of the real thing, of course), the reviews on iTunes say it gets the job done, at least while you're waiting for the next board game night (and while we're talking about board games, can I recommend Dominion? Best table game I've played in years). The game is $4.99 and available right now. Anyone have any ore?

Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeboard-gamedominiongamegermaniphoneipod-touchkolonistslongest-roadsettlers-of-catanunited-soft-mediawood-for-sheepMike SchrammFri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 ESTThe dark side of Skee-Ball for iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/the-dark-side-of-skee-ball/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/the-dark-side-of-skee-ball/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/the-dark-side-of-skee-ball/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I won't make any excuses, and I won't beat around the bush: I'm addicted to Skee-Ball [iTunes link], at least to the very-entertaining iPhone version from Freeverse. In fact, the reason I haven't written about it until now is that every time I get ready, I decide a little more "research" is in order, and I find myself on another Skee-bender. It's getting ridiculous, annoying my friends and upsetting my home life. I'd like to say, "I can stop whenever I want to," but I keep coming back to the warm glow of the LED scoreboard and the comforting sounds of wooden balls racking up just for me.

What makes Skee-Ball so entertaining for me is the realism of the gameplay. It sends me right back to my childhood; carnivals, arcades and Chuck E. Cheese's. The physics of the game are bafflingly realistic, with each roll responding to every nuance of the stroke or swing that launches it. Velocity, top and side-spin, friction... even the effects of bouncing off of the sides of the ramp or the edges of the cups feels natural. The prizes you can purchase with the tickets are reminiscent of the "big scores" of my youth: vampire fangs, bubble gum, fake moustaches, and glitter pencils. There's the occasional oddball prize, too (a banana, a robotic dog, a duck), presumably to remind you that it is, after all, just a game.

Continue reading The dark side of Skee-Ball for iPhone

The dark side of Skee-Ball for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The dark side of Skee-Ball for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>freeversegamegamesiphoneskee ballskee-ballSkeeBallBrett TerpstraWed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTiPhone app claims 95% piracy ratehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With all of the success stories coming out of the App Store, it's been pretty easy to forget the problem of piracy for most developers. Not so for Fishlabs, who've posted over on the Touch Arcade forums that their latest game, Rally Master Pro 3D, is experiencing a 95% piracy rate. You read that right: supposedly 95% of the people playing the game on the iPhone haven't paid for it.

There's probably a multitude of reasons why that is -- the app is $7 with no trial version, it's not a super-popular app quite yet (so one pirated copy on a popular message board is probably traveling farther than the copies coming off of the official App Store), and there are probably at least a few other factors in the mix that we don't know yet. Still, 95% is obviously pretty darn high for a platform that's supposed to only deliver software through Apple's official store.

Now, fortunately Fishlabs doesn't sound litigious -- they're not pulling the old "piracy = lost sales" fallacy that many companies in this situation would do. They are lowering the price on the app -- they expected it to be worth more, but apparently their consumer base seems to disagree. They tell Mobile Entertainment that they'd entertain the idea of providing content only through Apple's in-app purchasing service (presumably, that would prevent piracy by locking down the extra content), but they also say that's a gamble they've tried and missed on other platforms before.

Of course, it'll take more than one post on one message board to make hay out of the problem of app piracy -- it definitely happens, but on the other hand, there certainly are apps selling well, and there are also apps not selling well that don't have this level of piracy going on. Apple already has lots of authentication and validation processes in place, but if app piracy is this big a problem for everyone, they may need to look at more.

iPhone app claims 95% piracy rate originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone app claims 95% piracy rate originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeapp-store-piracyforumsiphonelost-salesmobile-entertainmentpiracyrally-master-pro-3dtouch-arcadeMike SchrammWed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTGeoMaster makes geography fun - yes, reallyhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/geomaster-makes-geography-fun-yes-really/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/geomaster-makes-geography-fun-yes-really/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/geomaster-makes-geography-fun-yes-really/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The French developers at Visuamobile make exceptionally well-designed apps. They sent me a promo code for GeoMaster [iTunes Link], and I wondered aloud how they would make geography attractive, both visually and as a game. Guess what? GeoMaster is pretty fun. If you know absolutely nothing about geography, then OK, this is like playing a strange guessing game. But I have to say it starts easily enough, so much so that you may be surprised what you DO know.

The game play is simple: countries, states or capitals appear on the screen, and you must point as close to them as possible on a map within a time limit. You can choose from US cities or states, countries by continent, world capitals or French departments. In the case of cities, accuracy earns extra points.

That's really about it, other than some high scores and an excellent amount of finish. This would make a good learning tool, I think, but it's also a fun casual game. Currently going for US$1.99 on the App Store, this is a good buy for parents and geography nerds, or anyone tired of the traditional puzzle games littering the space. Check out the gallery for shots of the game in action.

Gallery: geo master

Continue reading GeoMaster makes geography fun - yes, really

GeoMaster makes geography fun - yes, really originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)GeoMaster makes geography fun - yes, really originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-reviewgamesiphonevisuamobileVictor Agreda, Jr.Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:00 ESTDigital Chocolate: We're owning single-digit search on the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/digital-chocolate-were-owning-single-digit-search-on-the-app-s/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/digital-chocolate-were-owning-single-digit-search-on-the-app-s/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/digital-chocolate-were-owning-single-digit-search-on-the-app-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've mentioned Digital Chocolate and their App Store releases before, of course, and we've even mentioned just how prevalent they are -- they've been extremely prolific in releasing new titles, and as a result, they've posted on their website that they are more or less ubiquitous in search results. They say on their official blog that any search of a "single digit" on the App Store search window has about a 20% chance of pulling up a Digital Chocolate release. If you search for "D," "H" or "3," they're the number one hit. I don't actually know anyone that searches "D" anywhere ("You know what I really want to play tonight? A 'D' related game!"), but it just shows how many releases they've got out there.

That does get them plenty of downloads -- they also say that they're number one in downloads on the platform as a whole, with 40 million downloads already of their software, with 1.5 million reviews (!) total -- but I think it says more about the App Store in general, and that we're not quite as far along as it might seem. If one company could so easily own, say, Amazon's search, you'd just say that Amazon needed a bigger catalog, no? 85,000 is certainly a lot of apps (especially in the realm of mobile software), but in terms of the platform's progress as a whole, it's still in its infancy.

So we're definitely in for more growth. Even Digital Chocolate sounds a little surprised that they're so prevalent, and I think as the App Store ecosystem grows and we get more and more companies with popular titles in different areas, we'll see the search results become more diverse.

Digital Chocolate: We're owning single-digit search on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Digital Chocolate: We're owning single-digit search on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeapp-store-downloadsapp-store-searchappsdigital-chocolatedownloadsiphoneprolificreleasesMike SchrammTue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTDestroy the Death Star from the comfort of your iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/destroy-the-death-star-from-the-comfort-of-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/destroy-the-death-star-from-the-comfort-of-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/destroy-the-death-star-from-the-comfort-of-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wanna blow up the Death Star? There's an app for that! At least there should be soon.

StarWars.com has word of the upcoming iPhone and iPod Touch game "Star Wars: Trench Run," letting players do the cool stuff Luke Skywalker did in Episode IV (minus the whining), namely: blow up the Death Star.

Developers say "Trench Run" uses simple motion controls, relying on a player's command of the iPhone's accelerometer to avoid walls, other ships, gun turrets, and inexplicable solid beams laid across the trench (video). Manage all of that and they can take their shot at the Death Star's exhaust port and send the Empire reeling. Why did they never cover that port, anyway (YouTube)? If blowing up a space station the size of a small moon isn't a player's cup of tea, they can engage in dogfights with TIE fighters over the Death Star instead.

The game's pitch promises music, sound effects, and clips from the movie for immersive gameplay, varying degrees of difficulty (from Easy to Jedi), and Leader Boards to let pilots see how they rank with other would-be Jedi from around the world.

As exciting as blowing up the Death Star may be, the game screams for in-app purchases. Can pilots buy "Battle of Hoth" expansions down the road? And fly against the second Death Star? Can we?!? I mean... can they?!? Please?

Until then, "Star Wars: Trench Run" has a price set of $4.99. No word on when the game will hit the App Store but it needs to happen soon. The Death Star must be stopped!

[via starwars.com]

Destroy the Death Star from the comfort of your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Destroy the Death Star from the comfort of your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>death starDeathStargamesiphoneiphone gameIphoneGameipod touchIpodTouchstar warsStarWarsstarwars.comKen RaySat, 24 Oct 2009 11:45:00 ESTStoneLoops! pulled from App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/stoneloops-pulled-from-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/stoneloops-pulled-from-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/stoneloops-pulled-from-app-store/#commentsFiled under: ,

StoneLoops! of Jurassica is one of those iPhone gems that everyone needed to try. It was a beautiful port of an existing desktop game and one of the cases where the iPhone version blew its desktop sibling out of the water regarding graphics and playability.

That's why, with a genuine cry of dismay, I read the very sad news from Maciej Biedrzycki, co-founder of Codeminion Development Studios, that StoneLoops! was pulled from the App Store today thanks to complaints from MumboJumbo, creators of rival game Luxor. Charges levied against Codeminion include copyright infringement, "confusing customers," stealing the look and feel of Luxor and their source code.

One of the most ironic facts? Codeminion offered StoneLoops! to MumboJumbo initially. The company declined to pick up the game and did not cite any sort of copyright infringement then.

In addition, the original StoneLoops! desktop game was released three years after the first Luxor game to little fanfare. However, when it came to the iPhone port, StoneLoops! was several months ahead of Luxor. It was enjoying immense popularity when Luxor finally debuted in the App Store in late August. It was only then that MumboJumbo launched its complaint against Codeminion.

Yes, both StoneLoops! and Luxor have similar formats, bonuses and goals, but so does Zuma from PopCap Games. One imagines what would happen to time-management games if PlayFirst decided to go after every Diner Dash clone, for example. There is room for both games on the App Store, and I hope Apple reconsiders its decision. If not, PopCap better gear up for a battle against MumboJumbo should it decide to port Zuma to the iPhone.

Thanks for the tip, dubbs!

[Via AppAdvice]

StoneLoops! pulled from App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)StoneLoops! pulled from App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeapp store rejectionapp store removalAppStoreAppStoreRejectionAppStoreRemovalCodeminionLuxorMumboJumboStoneloopszumaMegan LaveyFri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTReport: iPod, iPhone to take over growing handheld gaminghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/report-ipod-iphone-to-take-over-growing-handheld-gaming/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/report-ipod-iphone-to-take-over-growing-handheld-gaming/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/report-ipod-iphone-to-take-over-growing-handheld-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a bold report released this week, DFC Intelligence states that if current sales and development trends continue, the iPhone and iPod could surpass both Sony and Nintendo in the fast-growing handheld gaming market in as little as five years.

Now, DFC isn't describing the number of units sold. They expect the Japanese companies to retain that lead. Instead, they expect the iPhone/iPod's growth rate to expand while PSP and DSi sales have plateaued. In other words, DFC predicts that the iPhone and iPod touch will be the only portable gaming devices still seeing significant growth by 2014.

It's interesting because Apple has never paid much attention to gaming... until the most recent press event where they went overboard to promote the iPod touch as a gaming platform. I play games on my iPhone and my original PSP and while it's a different experience, they're both enjoyable.

Of the apps you own, how many are games? If you own either a PSP or a DS plus an iPhone/iPod touch, how would you compare the three platforms?

[Via Electronista]

Report: iPod, iPhone to take over growing handheld gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Report: iPod, iPhone to take over growing handheld gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>gamingiphoneipod touchIpodTouchnintendosonyDave CaoloFri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 ESTFree music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tap Tap Revenge 3 is apparently going gangbusters over on the App Store -- Tapulous has gotten in touch with us to let us know about two different free promotions they're doing lately, as well as give you readers a chance to win their entire catalog for free.

First up, the free stuff for everybody. Today, October 22, they're giving away the great song "Fireflies" by one of my favorite new music acts, Owl City. It just happens to also be the number one song in iTunes today as well, which is a pretty big deal for Tapulous -- it's the first time they've been able to pair up a TTR track release with a #1 on the download charts.

To get that free song, just sign in to the application and pick it up. Additionally, if you don't have the app yet, buying the app before this Friday can get you a free premium two-pack -- all you have to do for that is email your iTunes reciept (or a screenshot of it) to "freemusic AT tapulous DOT com" and put your TTR3 username (and only your username) in the email subject line.

And hey, if that's not enough free stuff, keep reading -- here at TUAW, we're giving away licenses to TTR3's entire premium catalog (the whole thing, from A Perfect Circle to Robbie Williams) to three lucky commenters.

Continue reading Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3

Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>contentcontestdlcdownloadable-contentfirefliesgiveawayiphoneowl-cityprizestap-tap-revenge-3usMike SchrammThu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 ESTRock Band on iPhone is a hithttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/rock-band-on-iphone-is-a-hit/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/rock-band-on-iphone-is-a-hit/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/rock-band-on-iphone-is-a-hit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Disgruntled TUAW commenters, I'll save you some time: "OMG Mike of course a game powered by EA and one of the most popular franchises of all time is a hit. Try reporting some real news!" But not so fast -- Rock Band, which hit the App Store top 10 and conquered the Top Grossing list just days after its release this week, is actually a more unlikely hit than you think. For one thing, it sold at a price of $9.99 only -- no free versions, no trials, no pricing sales or schemes that have become the rule rather than the exception on the App Store lately. And for another thing, it had a comparable competitor in Tap Tap Revenge 3, selling for just 99 cents. TTR3 is a hit as well -- it's topping the list of paid apps that Rock Band is on -- but many people figured consumers would pass on the $10 app for the 99 cent one, and many people were wrong.

In short, even though, yes, Rock Band has EA's power behind it and it's based on an already popular game, it actually has bucked what we've seen so far: prices racing to the bottom, and tough chances of making a hit game, much less a profitable one, at the $9.99 price point. We don't yet know whether the game is profitable (or how either Rock Band's or TTR3's microtransaction models will do in the future), as it's just too soon.

But Rock Band is already seen as a game that stands as a shining example of what many were thinking wasn't true: big publishers with big name titles can put out big games at (relatively -- $10 is still cheap when you're talking about Rock Band at large) high price points and see them sell.

Rock Band on iPhone is a hit originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rock Band on iPhone is a hit originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeappscontenteafree-versionshitiphonemicrotransactionspricingrbrock-bandtap-tap-revenge-3top-grossingtrial-versionsttrMike SchrammWed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:00 ESTTUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL"http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Aurora Feint was one of the iPhone's first big games, way back in the early days of the App Store. Since then, the company behind that first hit has added on a few different games in the same universe, each with their own separate features and focus, but all in the same vein of puzzle-based RPG. Today, Aurora Feint, Inc. has pulled back the curtain just slightly to reveal their very first original effort since that initial App Store release. The game is only codenamed so far -- they're calling it "VSL" -- but the developers at Aurora Feint plan to turn it into a "showcase" of what's possible with Apple's new policy of allowing free apps to provide content on demand.

Above is the very first screenshot of the yet-to-be revealed game, and TUAW got a chance to talk exclusively with both Peter Relan and Jason Citron of Aurora Feint about the new game, what it'll be like, and how it'll integrate with their growing social gaming platform, OpenFeint. Click the link below to read on.

Continue reading TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL"

TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleaurora-feintchatcodenamecontentexclusivegamingin-app-purchasesinterviewiphoneipod-touchjason-citronmicrotransactionsopenfeintpeter-relanpuzzle-based-rpgsocial-gamingtuawvirtual-goodsvslMike SchrammTue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 ESTRock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrillhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The good news is that EA has released Rock Band for the iPhone and iPod touch, and you can pick it up from the App Store right now. The bad news is that it seems like a pretty tough sell -- despite the relatively high price tag (Tap Tap Revenge 3, a similar music game, is currently 99 cents and headed for free), there's not much new here.

Sure, there is four-device Bluetooth multiplayer, and that's something that Tapulous' game has never had. But other than that, it seems like this is basically EA's cash in on the tapping concept -- the draw of Rock Band has been getting together with your friends and jamming out the hits on those fake instruments, and touching a button-less screen by yourself doesn't have the same effect. Singing is included, but you're still just tapping out notes for that -- it seems like they missed a lot of potential fun there. And even some of the fun things from the console version like the drum fills for overdrive and the character avatars are missing here.

If you don't like the 20 songs included with the game, you can download others at 50 cents (in two-song packs for a buck each), but most people probably shouldn't even bother at that price -- just stick with Tapulous' game unless you really love Rock Band and its aesthetics (even then, I haven't seen my much-beloved Harmonix mentioned anywhere with this port, so I doubt they're even involved. Update: They are listed on the game's splash screen, however, according to our readers).

Even if you want to try this one, wait for the inevitable price drop -- if the game really lived up to its name as the premiere music experience you'll find on the consoles, it might be worth it, but all indications are, unfortunately, that it doesn't.

Gallery: Rock Band iPhone / iPod Touch

Rock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storedownloadable-musiceaea-mobileharmonixiphoneipod-touchmusic-gamereleaserock-bandtappingMike SchrammMon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 ESTDevs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase changehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It was just yesterday that Apple announced they would allow free apps to enable in-app purchases, and developers are already jumping on the "get the app for free, buy the content later" business model as quickly as they can. ngmoco came out swinging, as Touch Arcade reports, with both a free intro version of Rolando 2 out for purchase, with later chapters of the game as add-ons. They've also been working on a shooter called Eliminate, and we're now told that title will be free as well, with extra content to buy later.

The creators of Urban Rivals, an app that is based on a virtual trading card game, have let us know that they too plan to go the free-with-microtransactions model as soon as their app is released, and though we haven't actually heard from Tapulous, Andrew Lacy told us outright that the only reason Tap Tap Revenge 3 had a 99 cent price tag on it was because of Apple's limitation, so we'll expect that app to go free as soon as it can.

Clearly, there's a drive for this model on the developer side, but the question will be just how much this echoes with consumers -- certainly the "download a trial, buy more later" model has worked well on other platforms, so we can expect it to work here on the App Store as well. But on the other hand, just as when the App Store first opened for business, it's a very "wild west" moment -- everybody and their brother is offering up in-app transactions, and they're all of varying prices and quality.

My guess is that we'll see a few "hits" -- a few free apps that everybody buys content for (Tap Tap Revenge 3 is a good guess; considering that because you know most of those songs, there's much less guessing on what the quality of the transactions will give you). At the same time, there will likely be apps that everyone agrees aren't worth the in-app purchase (it's the old story of "horse armor" when Xbox Live started doing microtransactions). Until we find a good balance, where quality meets price, odds are that it'll be tough for consumers to know just what's worth it, and thus tough for developers to convince them that their content is.

Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>andrew-lacydeveloperseliminatefreefreewarehorse-armorin-app-purchasesiphoneipod-touchngmocorolando-2tapulousurban-rivalsMike SchrammSat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTPachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's been just over a year since we officially noticed that Apple was pushing towards gaming on the iPod touch, and while their advertising hasn't stopped pushing, the actual push hasn't quite gotten to a shove. If you look at this holiday season, certainly the iPod touch is a popular device, butt kids are still asking for the PSP Go and the Nintendo DSi, handheld units meant specifically for gaming. If Apple wants to trounce gaming the same way they've trounced the smartphone market with the iPhone, they've got a long road to travel.

But don't count them out yet, says analyst Michael Pachter -- he says the iPod touch is the "most dangerous thing that ever happened to the [major video game] publishers, ever." Apple's main handheld gaming device is $200 this Christmas, but he says next year it'll be $149, and the year after that, maybe $129. When, in the future, you can put down $99 and walk away with an iPod touch, says Pachter, then "every nine year old kid is going to have one of those instead of a DS or a PSP, and if you train kids that this is the game that you want to play... How about Tetris? Why would you pay USD 20 for Tetris when you can get it for USD 6.99 or USD 3.99 on iPod touch?"

Interesting point. It's true that console manufacturers have been hesitant to lower prices on their products (in fact, Sony's latest version of the PSP actually had a price increase), while Apple seems committed to pushing the prices on iPods ever cheaper. And yes, as long as companies keep releasing the same games on both devices for $30 on the DS and less than $10 on the App Store (and why shouldn't they -- no packaging, no distribution costs), people will go for the cheaper one. I don't expect to see the iPod touch as a huge winner this year (as a gaming competitor, I mean -- of course it'll sell by the truckloads), but Pachter seems right: wait until the prices drop, and the iPod touch might have traditional gaming devices shaking in their D-pads.

Pachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Pachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeapplecompetitiongamersgamingiphoneipod-touchnintendosonyMike SchrammSat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTRock Band coming to the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/rock-band-coming-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/rock-band-coming-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/rock-band-coming-to-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


It's true -- as leaked earlier this week and confirmed yesterday, EA is bringing Harmonix's Rock Band to the iPhone, and it's about what you'd expect: notes come down the screen set to popular music, you tap in certain places in time to the beat, and get a score based on how well you do. Truthfully, I'm a huge Rock Band (and Harmonix) fan in general, but this doesn't excite me much -- the big draw of Rock Band is actually playing with those instruments, and while yes they're plastic and tiny, when you get four people in the same room together playing them, it actually feels like you're jamming in a band.

Fortunately, the iPhone version will have both online and bluetooth multiplayer, so you will be able to jam with people, but the gameplay is simply reminiscent of Tap Tap Revenge, which you probably already know about and/or have. It looks like they've gotten most of their songs from the actual Rock Band game; twenty songs with the purchase (no price yet), and then there will be 99 cent packs of two songs each coming out soon. The app's been submitted and it should be out in the store next week.

Rock Band coming to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rock Band coming to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>contenteagamingharmonixin-app-purchasesinstrumentsiphonemultiplayermusicnotespacksrock-bandtap-tap-revengeMike SchrammFri, 09 Oct 2009 09:00:00 ESTCanabalt makes running for your life funhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/canabalt-makes-running-for-your-life-fun/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/canabalt-makes-running-for-your-life-fun/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/canabalt-makes-running-for-your-life-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pitfall + War of the Worlds = Canabalt. [iTunes Link]

The result of a 5-day coding session with the Flixel framwork, the free, web-based Canabalt quickly acquired fans and was soon ported to the iPhone. It's a fast-paced, great-looking game without complicated combinations or controls, and I can't stop playing.

Gameplay

The premise is this: Our hero's city is being destroyed by enormous, laser-wielding robots, leaving him with only one option.

Run.

Tap the screen and he starts off down the hallway of an office building and leaps through a window and onto the roof of the next building (and the next, and the next). You'll encounter obstacles along the way like boxes and bombs. Just tap the screen to jump over them. A quick tap executes a quick jump; press hand hold for a long leap. The longer you run, the faster he goes.

Some buildings are taller than others. Some collapse as you run across. Others are steel cranes. You must make split-second decisions about when to jump to make it onto the next building successfully. Don't bother making a mental map, as the order of buildings is random. Each time you play, it's different.

Look and feel

It's greyscale and blocky, but Canabalt looks great. Flocks of startled birds take flight as you run past them. Crumbling buildings shake and send chunks of concrete into the air. Huge spaceships rumble past and marauding robots can be seen wreaking havoc in the background.

The music sounds like a KMFDM album and is perfectly suited to the game's frantic pace.

Other goodies

You can compare your previous top score (measured in distance run before death) and brag on Twitter with the tap of a button.

Canabalt is just the type of game you want to have in your pocket. Uncomplicated, quick, playable with one hand and fun. It's perfect of a physician's waiting room, long train rides and so on. It's a great fit for the iPhone.

Canabalt makes running for your life fun originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Canabalt makes running for your life fun originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app reviewAppReviewcanabaltgamesiphoneDave CaoloThu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST