Tag Archive for ‘games’
As if the world really needs more reason to be excited for the iPhone. Apple’s brand is so famous and marketable that they have managed to sell an otherwise tech-spec impressive handset based mostly on the brand name alone –and if anyone is willing to argue that a large percentage of the 1.7 million people who bought the handset actually care about the specs, then Google’s Android should have been selling almost just as good.
In any case, it seems that the geniuses behind the Tap Tap Revenge iPhone game are now going to be teamed up with folks from the most iconic animation studio in the world, Disney.
That’s right folks, the Disney has “acquired” Tapulous, the company that is probably the single most successful app developer for the Apple iTunes store –and by successful, we mean a developer with paid apps that get downloaded a lot. Thanks to the easy to learn game, intuitive controls and vast music library of the Tap Tap series, it is not a surprise that so many people play their games.
And now, Disney will be jumping into the mix. At this point, nobody knows what the folks at Disney Interactive Media are planning by getting into the iPhone app market –but it is one gaming platform they cannot afford to ignore. While it is hard to determine if Steve Job’s majority shareholdings in Disney have been influential in this move, it is an undeniably smart move for Disney to choose Tapulous.
According to recent reports, Tapulous was last working on a social networking game –if Disney joins in the development of this, they will not only be able to provide Tapulous with the resources, but also present a much larger market demographic. And Tap’s founders know this. In an interview, Tapulous co-founder Bart Decrem stated that he is excited to be working with Disney.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone, apps, Disney, games, Google-Android, Steve-Jobs
The new Microsoft mobile platform focuses heavily on making phone functions smooth and dynamic. A recent video demonstration showed how easy it is to link from one phone functions to another in a smooth comprehensive manner.
The process often starts with the contacts list, from there, any contact can be emailed, messaged, called or just reviewed depending on the available contact information. When tied up to a social networking account or a Windows Live account, instant messages can be sent and the most status updates can also be seen. From there, users can opt to share Facebook content, leave a comment and more.
The calendar is also connected to various functions of the device as well. Users can create an entry that not only provides the time and name of event, but they can also specify a location which will be integrated to the map function. This allows a person to easily check a schedule, reference an event location on a map then make plans to visit nearby places of interest.
For the most part, the entirety of the Windows Phone 7 is expected to work in this same way. Many believe that the number of things a person can do in contacts will increase as more functions get added in. Sending specific files, inviting people to play games and other functions are expected to be available once the final product rolls out.
According to gamers, there is still not much to look forward to on this smart phone since there is still no lineup of games for the Xbox Live Service which has been announced months ago. With this, many might want to pass up on getting Microsoft’s new mobile platform and focus their budget on other products such as the MS Kinect or even better, Sony’s Playstation Move.
With many new games and accessories coming out later this year, Microsoft will be hard pressed to convince gamers of the value of their new mobile platform.
Tags: calendar, email, Facebook, games, Microsoft, social-networking, Windows-Phone-7
There were plenty of impressive games that were released for the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (also known as the Super Famicom in Japan). While most of these impressive titles are stored in cartridge format to be played, there are various PC accessories that would allow owners to store backup copies of the ROMs to their computer.
This little feature is taken full use of by the Android operating system. With many apps that allowed the smart phone to run emulations of old game consoles; these ROM backups can be played once again –providing the Android with a large library of impressive game titles.
Lucasart’s Metal Warriors is one such title. While the game itself was not so well known, the small circle of fans that have been able to try out the game will attest to its well made storyline, impressive gameplay and high replay value. Sadly, since the Google Android SNES emulation’s two player options are limited, it is hard to make full use of the game’s extended feature of letting to players duke it out.
The story mode however, remains fully intact. The game places players in control of a mech pilot, able to run up to six types of robot battle machines that are found in the game. While the pilot itself is a fragile little human armed with only a pistol, he can be made to pilot any empty mech found in the game –and this is where Metal Warriors truly shines.
Each of the 6 machines has their own unique forms, strengths, capabilities and limitations. Being able to pilot each properly takes practice and effort –but is ultimately very rewarding. The graphics are also very impressive. The sprites are well detailed and the mechs take battle damage in the form of dents, paint damage and eventually, loss of parts before it is fully destroyed.
Tags: apps, emulation, games, gogle, Google-Android, SNES
If you plan on giving your child a smart phone with internet access, you might want to check into the latest Norton Family Report to be able to know what you need to do to prepare the child for access to the internet.
According to the annual study, children these days are more likely to encounter “negative experiences” when browsing the internet. Not that the internet has always been clean, but access to various content that contains violence, profanity, nudity and other similar material is now made easier. Norton states that at least 60% of children will encounter this content when they go online.
The initial solution for many parents is to control what their children can and cannot access. This usually entails placing firewalls, passwords and family filter protocols to determine what goes through the router and what cannot. However, shielding does not actually prepare the child for anything; it is simply delaying the inevitable.
A generation ago, it would have made sense to keep children away from such materials until they are at an age where their level of understanding and level of maturity is able to cope with the ‘negative content’. But given how integrated the internet is to our society (and how the material can also be found offline –on the telly and on other media), it is actually more important for parents to know and understand the value of educating their children properly.
The internet will not wait for your child, and keeping a child away from social networking, games and the internet in general would be akin to deprivation. What is important is to give the child discipline, confidence and awareness of what the internet truly is what can be found there.
With smart phones now considered to be a basic necessity for many modern families, this is one crucial step that parents cannot afford to miss.
Tags: firewalls, games, Internet, smartphones, social-networking
Fans of the first Madera and Figaro game for the Apple iPhone will be happy to know that the app that features the two lead characters is now out for the Android smart phone.
The Madera and Figaro series is not really made for adults but for folks living with children (who are old enough to not damage a smart phone). This is an excellent way to keep children entertained and teach them a few useful lessons at the same time.
App developer Lyn and Line has been making plenty of child oriented apps –practically adding a new way to deliver a storybook experience with the help of smart phone technology. Many game designers have already tried making interactive children’s storybooks for desktop computers, but the medium simply does not translate well to children who are not too apt to tinker around with a keyboard and mouse.
The touch screen user interface on the other hand is completely intuitive, which makes the smart phone an excellent platform for digital interactive content aimed at children.
The new Madera and Figaro game focuses on the intrepid duo’s attempts to track down Ginger, the missing cat owned by Mrs. Applebottom. Donning their superhero costumes, the two lead characters transform into Carbon Girl and Adhero (which is basically a play on their characters as Madera is a monkey and Figaro is a frog).
Children will certainly enjoy the puzzle based gameplay which provides a wide variety of visual tasks. There is a combination of basic finger dexterity challenges and some simple brain teasers that will tune positively at a child’s inquisitive nature. The images are simple and easy to understand, and parents will certainly enjoy the educational value of the app.
A second Madera and Figaro title has also been released as well; the new game places the two lead characters in and new story with new puzzles and challenges.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPhone-3gs, apps, games, Google, Google-Android
If you have tried playing this game, then the first thing you might think is that it’s a port of Space Invaders. Actually, it is not. Radiant is a completely new game from Hexage and is a major tribute to the old arcade shooters in the style of Space Invaders, Centipede and Galaga and more. What might throw players off are the blatant duplicates of the Invaders from Space Invaders, but aside from that, this game delivers plenty of original space shooting graphic bliss.
Playing Radiant is easy; simply steer your ship around while shooting down aliens, UFOs and giant space rocks while pickup up the power up items that appear along the way. In terms of skill, the first few stages are easy to breeze by, but later parts of the game will make newbies cringe in horror at the oh-so-expected bullet hell waves. Still, there is nothing in Radiant that cannot be beat without a little practice and the game is made in such a way that repeated playthroughs do not feel so bad.
One interesting aspect about this game is that players can actually upgrade the basic spaceship. This means that handling the later and larger waves of enemies and tougher bosses can become easy if player plan their upgrades carefully. Of course, the best upgrades to get are those that suits one’s play style.
The only downside to this game title is that it does get a little straining on the eyes. The bloom and glow effect of the play ship and the enemies (as well as the laser effects and other things) tend to burn the eyes –especially when playing in dark areas. The audio also gets a little bland, but the sound effects are strong and crisp –with the rewarding explosions for every alien ship you bring down.
Tags: Android, Android-apps, games, Google, Radiant
Thanks to the prevalence of smart phones in society, more and more people have access to games and other media anytime, anywhere. The question now is: what do people prefer to do when they are on the road?
According to game developer PopCap, people prefer to play games when they are commuting. While this statement is something that many of us in the tech industry could already predict, it does have a bit more clout when the statement is backed by research data that verifies the claim.
Anyway, the survey encompassed a total of 1,500 adults who were asked regarding their mobile phone usage patterns and preferences. As it turns out, people on the move prefer to have a good game to play over having a good book to read. While it may seem like people prefer the transient and less ‘intellectually’ stimulating task of playing games, the matter is more of time management and convenience than it is a statement about the decreasing lack of interest in literary culture.
The big issue here is that people who were asked were commuters, and when commuting people do not necessarily have the frame of mind and the time to focus and appreciate a book. Reading a small news article would be okay, but digesting the events of a whole chapter is different. While there are people who are comfortable reading a book, this is a feat that is not common to most people. Had the study taken into account people who are travelling very long distances, the number of individual that would appreciate a good book would certainly be more.
At the same time, the statement can also be misleading in the way that it also generalizes games as being less than books as a medium. What people fail to realize that not all games are casual; in many ways, there are also games that are not suitable for quick rounds of play –though these titles can only be played in home consoles and desktop computers.
Tags: ebooks, games, phone-usage, PopCap, smartphones
