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Monday, December 29, 2008 |
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Three Fun iPhone Games
The iPhone application and gaming scene has exploded. There are literally thousands of programs to choose from, many of them very well made, useful and / or entertaining. I regularly use the iPhone's AP Mobile News, Facebook, Shovel and IM apps, for example. But, of course, there are also many, many, many games available for download -- some free, some for a price. And it seems like dozens more become available every week. Apple executives have already spouted off once or twice about the iPhone and iPod Touch becoming major competitors in the handheld games space. I think a lot of DS and PSP snobs are quick to write the iPhone off for a couple of reasons. Nintendo and Sony have a lot of experience making games. Not so much for Apple. And iPhone / iPod Touch don't have buttons; everything is touch-screen or accelerometer-controlled. Not ideal for gamers born and raised on traditional controllers. But I think a handful of games have already begun to make the most of the hardware and I also believe there's still great room for improvement. It's just a matter of time until some developer really nails it -- and frankly, I think that's going to happen sooner, not later, especially since some companies have made a killing on the app store. If there's money to be made, talent will follow.
At the time of this blog update, I own 30 iPhone utility applications, from the ones which shipped with the device -- SMS text, Photos, Camera and Maps -- to Google Mobile, IGN reviews, Pandora, NetShare and Flixster. I also own 14 games. Many of these titles are shallow affairs. Labyrinth is a simple title that challenges you to twist your phone around to maneuver an on-screen ball through a series of obstacle courses.Snail Mail is a racer. JellyCar is a physics-based driving game. Tetris needs no explanation. LineRider is basically the same game you'll find on Wii or DS. Then there are Maze Finger and Topple, neither original, but both polished.
None of these games are amazing. They provide quick, simple diversions for gamers on the go. But a handful of iPhone developers are starting to take advantage of the system. These are three games I really enjoy for very different reasons:
Toy Bot Diaries Trilogy (Free Trial; $3.99 per episode)
I've written about the Toy Bot Diaries games before. You control a little robot through a series of 2D obstacle courses, moving him by tilting the iPhone and touching context-sensitive areas to slingshot out his magnetic grip. This series has not received nearly the attention it deserves. Like most iPhone games, controls take some getting used to, but once you do you will find some really clever puzzles inside. And the best part is that the designers have opted to give you no guidance whatsoever -- it's up to you to figure your way around puzzles.
Retro ($4.99)
Retro is a fitting name for a game that harkens back to the simple designs of some true classics. The goal is simple. Pilot a ship controlled by thrusters around cavernous terrain and rescue stranded scientists. Tilt the iPhone left and right to set your thrust angle and then merely tap anywhere on the screen to activate your thrusters. Easy. But it gets pretty damned hard as the levels progress and the terrain transforms into twisty passageways that you must carefully navigate in order to succeed. The game has an excellent art style and ambient music, too. Dropship, another iPhone game, is a worthy alternative.
Rolando ($9.99)
Rolando was to be iPhone's holy grail. The game that singlehandedly proved the potential of the handheld as a gaming platform. Now that it's out and the hype has died down, I don't know if all of its ambitions have been met, but regardless, it's a showpiece for the system and one worth checking out. The title dons a visual style very similar to LocoRoco, but the mechanics are a little different. You tilt the screen here and there to roll the balls around the terrain while solving puzzles. But you can also interact directly with the world, using your index finger to manipulate levers, activate springboards, to select different Rolando characters, and so on. Some of the controls still feel a little wonky to me, particularly when you're trying to maneuver a party of Rolando beings, but this is still a fun iPhone outing. It's also an expensive one at $9.99.
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008 |
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HD Video in the Palm of Your Hand
My wife and I open a present apiece on Christmas eve. This year, I got her the Flip MinoHD camera, a sleek little device that fits snugly in the palm of your hand, but still shoots surprisingly good HD footage. It's not only stylish, but exceptionally simple -- perfect for my wife, who doesn't plan to shoot her own video documentary any time soon, but sure wouldn't mind being able to pull the camera out of her purse during a party.
After my wife opened up the Flip and started playing around with it, I decided I might have to get one myself. It's a damned cool camera. A little shorter than an iPhone, nearly as thin, and much lighter. Glossy black front. Glowing white lights. A big record button. And touch-sensitive buttons that only illuminate when necessary. For instance, if you're shooting a picture, the left and right arrows will fade to black, but when you're done, they'll reappear.
One of the greatest parts about the ultra-intuitive camera is the so-called flip option: press a button and a USB dongle pops out. You can literally shoot 1280x720 HD footage, plug into your laptop via the USB dongle, copy over the files and watch them on the bigger screen in about a minute. The fact that all video is compressed in H264 as .MP4 makes this the perfect solution for Mac owners, too.
Obviously, the video quality doesn't compare to sophisticated HD cameras, particularly where low-light scenes are concerned. However, for $200, you can record an hour of pretty good looking 1280x720 HD footage to the tiny camera and copy it to your laptop in about a minute. The camera also ships with some software that apparently allows for one-button publishing to sites like YouTube, although I haven't tried this out yet.
Click here to learn more about the Flip MinoHD camera
If you want to treat yourself to something cool after the holiday, I highly recommend this bad boy.
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008 |
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I Will Watch This Movie
Clicky
Freelancers
I'm looking for several freelancers to help the IGN Nintendo team review the ridiculous amount of Wii and DS games releasing on a regular basis. Qualifications for positions:
1. You must be 18 years-old or older
2. Able to write well
3. Able to critically assess the goods and bads of games and back up your opinions
4. Possess a strong knowledge of the Wii and DS and their software libraries
If you have previously written for a fansite or a blog and can point me to sample works, that would be great. Also, do yourself a favor and make a good first impression. Rest assured that if you submit a lazily conceived cover letter riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors, I will trash your e-mail without a second's hesitation.
I'm looking to fill positions immediately. IGN Nintendo team freelancers will by no means be able to retire, but you will receive a steady wage for your contributions -- specifics in that regard can be discussed over the phone after the selection process.
Send submissions to feedback_wii@ign.com. Please use the subject Nintendo Team Freelancer.
Thanks, guys!
Matt
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Tuesday, October 07, 2008 |
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Get Your Money Ready
These things change all the time, but the word is that World of Goo hits WiiWare next Monday. I've had the good fortune to play the finished WiiWare title for the last week and I just want to tell you, get those Wii Points ready. This is far and away the best WiiWare game I've played. In fact, it stacks up to some of the great Wii retail releases.
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