iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch game recommendations

[CraigGrannell]

OK, quick story. I went to an EA event last year, having been convinced by a PR that it'd be some kind of amazeballs for mobile gaming. I got there early, and then ended up sitting through a bunch of turgid LOOK AT THE POLYGONS videos on TV consoles, before the first mention of mobile.

The game was FIFA and it was demoed on the Vita. The guy on-stage was talking about innovation and how the touch controls had been built to enable you to do exciting and new things. Lots of people in the audience quite clearly groaned, at which point demo guy quickly said what amounted to: "But don't worry, because we really mostly paid attention to PROPER controls, and this touchscreen crud is just added on—PHEW!"

We all know non-tactile touchscreens aren't perfect for certain kinds of gaming, but one thing perceived limitations did was force developers to think outside the box. (And I say 'perceived' on the basis that iOS always had multitouch and an accelerometer, and it now also has a gyro, hence it hardly being lacking in terms of potential control mechanisms—you just lack a D-pad and buttons.) Had iOS included third-party traditional controllers from day one, we'd have gotten a lot of ports and traditional games and much less innovation on the platform. Like with the DS and the Vita, some innovation would have of course crept through, but it would have been slower to arrive and more cautious in nature. And so while I do side with the "we want an API" crowd these days, I'm not surprised Apple didn't do this in the early days, nor am I surprised it's not terribly bothered about doing so today.

In other news, I'm told my iCade demo units are on a van and winging their way here today, so it'll be interesting to see how they fare.

[CraigGrannell]

No longer on a van…

[sscott]

No longer on a van…

What's the difference compared to the standard iCade then?

[CraigGrannell]

iCade: retro mini-cab; separate stands for each orientation; instructions under lid; 80 quid.

iCade Core: single slot for both orientations, which sits lower; less stiff buttons (compared to my iCade); stronger rubber feet; 50 quid.

iCade Mobile: designed for iPod/iPhone, not iPad; four 'face' buttons—other four are on shoulders; 50 quid.

Also, my original iCade's buttons are not labelled. No idea if this is the case on newer versions.

[sscott]

iCade: retro mini-cab; separate stands for each orientation; instructions under lid; 80 quid.

iCade Core: single slot for both orientations, which sits lower; less stiff buttons (compared to my iCade); stronger rubber feet; 50 quid.

iCade Mobile: designed for iPod/iPhone, not iPad; four 'face' buttons—other four are on shoulders; 50 quid.

Also, my original iCade's buttons are not labelled. No idea if this is the case on newer versions.

Yeah, the orientations is certainly something more convenient, partlcularly for iMame and such.

[DreamcastRIP]

... Had iOS included third-party traditional controllers from day one, we'd have gotten a lot of ports and traditional games and much less innovation on the platform.

Great point.

Warts and all, iOS has consistently provided the most fun I've had playing video games since Dreamcast and then the Speccy before it.

[Antiriad2097]

iCade Mobile: designed for iPod/iPhone, not iPad; four 'face' buttons—other four are on shoulders; 50 quid.

That needs a big price drop to succeed.

[CraigGrannell]

I think the Core's well-priced. Arcade sticks for other platforms are usually way over the 50 quid mark. The mobile… I'm inclined to agree that it's too expensive, but I wonder by how much. Although you can get extremely cheap controllers for TV consoles, the official wireless/Bluetooth ones tend to set you back 25–40 quid, and so ION's extremely niche product doesn't seem too insane price-wise. Personally, I'd like to see both the original iCade and the Mobile drop by about ten quid each.

[psj3809]

Alright fellas ! Hope all is well, nice to be back.

Bought a fair few games the last few weeks but PLEASE take a look at this gem...

Score! Classic Goals
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=134920

Only 69p, you recreate classic goals from the 00's, 90's and 80's. I'm not normally into swipe games but this works sooooo well, its brilliant, please give it a try, a few friends who arent into football are surprised how much they love it.

Hope all is well, cheers

[ivortheinjun]

Alright fellas ! Hope all is well, nice to be back.

Bought a fair few games the last few weeks but PLEASE take a look at this gem...

Score! Classic Goals
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=134920

Only 69p, you recreate classic goals from the 00's, 90's and 80's. I'm not normally into swipe games but this works sooooo well, its brilliant, please give it a try, a few friends who arent into football are surprised how much they love it.

Hope all is well, cheers

Got this last night. Very impressive.

Tons of scope for individual season, league, country and club versions as well. They could be on a goldmine with that one.

[psj3809]

Totally agree. Talk to the premier league, release top 100 premiership goals. It'll sell like crazy

Currently got a few left to do for the 80s. Love the app

[Antiriad2097]

I think you need to like football for that one. Its taken what can be a fast and fun videogame and slowed it down too much. Too stoppy starty for my liking.

[sscott]

Totally agree. Talk to the premier league, release top 100 premiership goals. It'll sell like crazy

Currently got a few left to do for the 80s. Love the app

Love Flick Kick Football so will download this!

[DreamcastRIP]

Thanks for the heads-up on Score! Classic Goals, psj. Just completed the first set of stages and loved every minute. It's fiendishly difficult, but yet still possible, to three star each stage but I'm determined to get there!

Yet another quality iOS game for 69p (less for me, thanks to the discounted voucher ) to go along with the other eleventy billion I already have!

The only next-gen handheld I'm interested in buying? iPhone 5.

[Misery]

Thanks for the heads-up on Score! Classic Goals, psj. Just completed the first set of stages and loved every minute. It's fiendishly difficult, but yet still possible, to three star each stage but I'm determined to get there!

Yet another quality iOS game for 69p (less for me, thanks to the discounted voucher ) to go along with the other eleventy billion I already have!

The only next-gen handheld I'm interested in buying? iPhone 5.

I agree.

I'm baffled that many would want the bloody Vita or 3DS and their 40 dollar games that are often ports/clones of other AAA games already on the consoles, as opposed to one of these and the PERSQUILLIONS OF GOOD GAMES for very low price. Granted, even with there being persquillions of good games, there's.... er..... an even bigger number of CRAP games that you have to sift through, but..... Nintendo customers should be used to doing that at least, right?

Hah, I couldnt resist that one.


Either way, yes, not buying either of those bloody gizmos. Just need the iPad 3, thank you, that'll do just fine.

Now if only it didnt cost so much. Or, I guess I should say..... now if only I didnt keep blowing money on random shiny things, I might have bought one by now....