iPad Games (and Apps) Catch All

shoptroll wrote:
troubleshot wrote:

I just finished the first run though on Star Command, 4hrs, now have a new ship and due to 'amnesia' we are back at the start of the same story. Not sure ill make it all the way through another run despite having a new ship. Must add this, the 'story' is quite bad, and not that I'm a master of it myself, but the English in this game is very poor. Did they not get someone to proofread this? There really isn't much dialogue, they could at least get it right.

Seems to me the big question with this game is whether or not they'll manage to polish it with future updates. They're developing on platforms where that's possible, and I've seen titles like Magicka come in as a hot mess and those first time devs managed to beat it into submission over time. On the other hand, I've seen titles like Orion: Dino Beatdown crash and burn on launch and fail to really fix things with additional updates.

To be honest, if I'm to go from what I've played, I can't see updates bringing anything too exciting to the table here for my taste. Just looking at the simplistic combat there isn't THAT much to do. I guess it's a bit tough given I'm comparing it to FTL, but the combat in that was so much more fun, and the options much wider in FTL than in Star Command and in FTL the options worked in concert whereas here they just don't.
Given how pretty Star Command is, I've gotten my $3 out of my four hours play. May put in an hour or two more but that will probably be it.
Funnily enough, as cute as the sprites are in Star Command, I was more attached to my many FTL crew members than I was with the thirteen members I ended up spending those four hours with.

TheCounselor wrote:

Can you use the Skype app on the iPad to voice chat while in game?

Excellent point. I don't see why you couldn't, so long as you didn't mind having a red bar along one side of the screen. ...actually, doesn't the Skype app only allow one-to-one conversations, unlike their desktop app that allows larger parties?

And wouldn't a bar on one side of the screen cover up some UI elements of Eclipse? They use all four screen edges to dock info and panels.

Free today:

Space Agency by Nooleus
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spac...

Sent from my iPad

Wouldn't be quite the same as voice, but there is in game (typed) chat in Eclipse.

So, Leviathans was re-released for the iPad. I bought it before it was pulled, and seeing it back is great, but I'm unsure. It looks like the tablet servers are seperate from the PC/Mac servers.

Does anyone have any experience with the multiplayer?

Whoa, I thought it was supposed to have pause-and-resume cross-platform support. Did I just make that up in my head?

LiquidMantis wrote:

Whoa, I thought it was supposed to have pause-and-resume cross-platform support. Did I just make that up in my head?

It's async, and supposedly cross platform. I'm reading that the servers might not actually be configured for it.

I haven't tried an actual multiplayer game yet (because I fear my inevitable beatings at the hands of competent players), but having double dipped on this I can confirm that signing in on one platform instantly signs you out of the other. That would strongly imply unified servers.

Many games have login servers/functions separate from matchmaking/gameplay. Jus' sayin

Get your woot on:

We got word from developer Mode 7 Games that the iPad version of Frozen Synapse will be released on May 16

bgg

Written preview over at PocketTactics

Sid Meiers Ace Patrol is out. Nice WWI air strategy game.

SpyNavy wrote:

Sid Meiers Ace Patrol is out. Nice WWI air strategy game.

Checking it out right now.

SpyNavy wrote:

Sid Meiers Ace Patrol is out. Nice WWI air strategy game.

Looks good. Read a good review on it. Surprised to see it free, but it looks like there's in game purchases. Probably to gain more skill sets etc.

Donan wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

Sid Meiers Ace Patrol is out. Nice WWI air strategy game.

Looks good. Read a good review on it. Surprised to see it free, but it looks like there's in game purchases. Probably to gain more skill sets etc.

.99 USD for British Campaign, 3.99 USD for the other 3 campaigns
Ace pilots are .99 USD each, or 4.99 USD for the 8 of them.

There is an consumable IAP to instantly revive pilots after a failed mission. Apparently, it's so not needed, the guys over at PT have yet to actually use it.

EDIT: Ok, now that I have the app open - IAP pricing follows:

Campaign IAP

  • British Campaign: .99 USD
  • German Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • American Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • French Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • German+American+French Combo Pack: 3.99 USD

Aces IAP: There are a total of 8 (2 per nation) at .99 USD each, or all 8 for 4.99 USD

The Consumable IAP is .99 USD per use. It looks like there are 3 of them.

This is Sid! Fun, addictive and informative. All laid out beautifully. (and alittle replay to boot!).
Initial reaction after 3 missions...oh my!

Btw there is 'Hot Pad' and network MP options. That could definitely be a kick.

Carmageddon is free at the moment.

Played my first game of Eclipse last night after reading the in-app rules and doing the tutorial. It was a real beating: passive AIs 30+, me ~10. I took over too many crappy systems early, including two one of the AIs scouted, and never researched the two extra-influence techs, whereas they did, so I was only performing one or two actions per turn to their three to five.

I've read the actual rule book now and gone through the bgg faqs so will be sure to have a closer game in attempt #2.

So, I bought Eclipse. I'm clueless, but it looks like lots of fun. I just don't know that I'll ever have the time to learn.

My wife does have plans with her mom and sister tomorrow night. Maybe I'll sit down to learn it then.

athros wrote:
Donan wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

Sid Meiers Ace Patrol is out. Nice WWI air strategy game.

Looks good. Read a good review on it. Surprised to see it free, but it looks like there's in game purchases. Probably to gain more skill sets etc.

.99 USD for British Campaign, 3.99 USD for the other 3 campaigns
Ace pilots are .99 USD each, or 4.99 USD for the 8 of them.

There is an consumable IAP to instantly revive pilots after a failed mission. Apparently, it's so not needed, the guys over at PT have yet to actually use it.

EDIT: Ok, now that I have the app open - IAP pricing follows:

Campaign IAP

  • British Campaign: .99 USD
  • German Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • American Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • French Campaign: 1.99 USD
  • German+American+French Combo Pack: 3.99 USD

Aces IAP: There are a total of 8 (2 per nation) at .99 USD each, or all 8 for 4.99 USD

The Consumable IAP is .99 USD per use. It looks like there are 3 of them.

I just picked this up because it is free - well the first three missions.. Anyway it is cool! Very cool. I have only put in a few minutes but it just feels fun. I can't wait to see how big battles play out.

Go pick it up...it is free...really go pick it up

TheCounselor wrote:

So, I bought Eclipse. I'm clueless, but it looks like lots of fun. I just don't know that I'll ever have the time to learn.

My wife does have plans with her mom and sister tomorrow night. Maybe I'll sit down to learn it then.

Is there a tutorial? I was going to buy it soon, but you're kinda scaring me right now...

There is a tutorial. It's less impenetrable than Le Havre was, but there is a lot going on that I still have no idea what it is. Going to read the manual over the weekend methinks.

PaladinTom wrote:
TheCounselor wrote:

So, I bought Eclipse. I'm clueless, but it looks like lots of fun. I just don't know that I'll ever have the time to learn.

My wife does have plans with her mom and sister tomorrow night. Maybe I'll sit down to learn it then.

Is there a tutorial? I was going to buy it soon, but you're kinda scaring me right now...

Honestly, it's not that bad. Play the tutorial plus a game on peaceful and you'll be golden.

Keithustus wrote:

Played my first game of Eclipse last night after reading the in-app rules and doing the tutorial. It was a real beating: passive AIs 30+, me ~10. I took over too many crappy systems early, including two one of the AIs scouted, and never researched the two extra-influence techs, whereas they did, so I was only performing one or two actions per turn to their three to five.

I've read the actual rule book now and gone through the bgg faqs so will be sure to have a closer game in attempt #2.

I came in 2nd in my first game, but, I learned a lot. I have a feeling that it will take 3 or 4 more games to really get the hang of it.

PaladinTom wrote:
TheCounselor wrote:

So, I bought Eclipse. I'm clueless, but it looks like lots of fun. I just don't know that I'll ever have the time to learn.

My wife does have plans with her mom and sister tomorrow night. Maybe I'll sit down to learn it then.

Is there a tutorial? I was going to buy it soon, but you're kinda scaring me right now...

The tutorial isn't very good, but the rule book is available online and that helps a lot. Also, just playing the game helps immensely.

I would say Eclipse is no harder to learn than Power Grid, rule wise, certainly not as much nitpicky stuff as Le Havre and all its buildings. Learning the strategy, though, that I can see taking awhile. (I've completed two games). And the tutorial explains almost everything that's in the rulebook, which doesn't cover strategy anyway. If you've played ANY 4X games (Civilization, Galactic Civ, Sins of a Solar Empire, etc.) you'll be fine. And by playing an iOS board game you don't have to worry about learning the game mechanics and rules completely wrong as with tabletop editions.

Cragmyre wrote:

Carmageddon is free at the moment.

Cunning stunts FTW!

Ace Patrol is essentially Red Baron Lite, for those who remember the old Avalon Hill Games Company. Or, if you like, turn-based Knights of the Sky, another Sid Meier hit. Fun and fast-playing.

Keithustus wrote:

Get your woot on:

We got word from developer Mode 7 Games that the iPad version of Frozen Synapse will be released on May 16

bgg

That looks great.
I have had that game for ages on my pc but never actually got around to playing it. A game like that belongs on ipad.