iPad Games (and Apps) Catch All

Pages

I'll be getting mine, hopefully, tomorrow. I'm buying it effectively for two functions: Comics & Games.

Let me be really, SUPER clear: just like the iPhone games and apps threads, feel free to move on if your sole contribution is going to be "I can't believe you bought one you idiot" or anything along those lines. The purpose of *this* thread is to share our experiences, deals, surprises and disappointments.

I'm on the clock to review the most promising games available at launch by Sunday night. I'll post initial thoughts here before I get down to real writing.

I won't be getting one at launch, but I'm sure I'll eventually talk myself into it. I'm intrigued by the possibilities for magazine-like content, as well as comics and games.

The problem I have is the only version that seems worth it to me is the one with 64 gigs and the 3g connection. Otherwise it's just a bigger version of my phone without the benefits.

Netflix has its Instant Watch application up (as does ABC). Regardless of how well it works, I want to know where the iPhone/iPod Touch version is.

rabbit wrote:

I'm on the clock to review the most promising games available at launch by Sunday night. I'll post initial thoughts here before I get down to real writing.

I want to hear your thoughts on the X-Plane program. I've got a friend considering the iPad, and I suspect X-Plane could push him over the edge. I'm amazed at the quality of the games I've seen so far. Is it more powerful than the Nintendo and Sony portable game platforms? Should we expect games beyond what we see on those (especially Sony's system)?

I think I will be buying Plants vs Zombies for the 3rd time (OSX, iPhone, now iPad). Also the Marvel Comics app is supposed to be awesome, it is based on the engine written by a guy over on the Ars Technica forums.

I have noticed devs are pricing things higher, for example PvZ is $10 vs $3 on the iPhone, FieldRunners is $10 also. I hope that demo/lite versions are still ubiquitous like they are for the phone/Touch.

I will also probably pick up the Apple office suite for $30.

LeapingGnome wrote:

I think I will be buying Plants vs Zombies for the 3rd time (OSX, iPhone, now iPad). Also the Marvel Comics app is supposed to be awesome, it is based on the engine written by a guy over on the Ars Technica forums.

I have noticed devs are pricing things higher, for example PvZ is $10 vs $3 on the iPhone, FieldRunners is $10 also. I hope that demo/lite versions are still ubiquitous like they are for the phone/Touch.

I will also probably pick up the Apple office suite for $30.

I think you're going to see more fully featured games, and thus higher prices. The iPad won't be a "pick up and play for five minutes" kind of device, like the iPhone is. It'll be something you sit down with and spend a half hour or so playing a game. And, with more screen real estate, developers can do more.

$10 is still cheaper than your average DS or PSP game.

I'm mostly interested in it for reading and storing comics. I haven't decided for sure if I'll pick one up, I definitely can't afford it right away but maybe down the road. It'll likely hinge on whether Marvel starts putting new releases on it, and which other publishers put their books out on it.

I'm eagerly awaiting impressions of Geometry Wars, Civ Rev and Small World. I also can't wait to hear about Marvel Comics, Netflix and Tweetdeck... Dammit! Why did the developers have to make so many amazing apps off the bat? Don't they know I'm trying to hold out for the 3rd gen?

Other thing on my list: command and conquer, gamebox, UNO, scrabble, real racing, just to name a few.

iPad specific Kindle app is up.

We just inked a deal with the founder of musicnotes.com this week to service all our sheet music through them as a preferred vendor, and they're supposed to have their iPad app out by the end of April. I don't have the money for one right now, but anyone who's into music, I'd love any feedback you have on this once it's out.

Also, this is basically a bookmark.

Amn wrote:

It's a day-1 purchase for me, but that means April 24 here in Canada. It's going to be tough following the iPad coverage for the next few weeks without have my own to lovingly caress.

Likewise. The end of April cannot get here soon enough. I contemplated making the hour trip south to pick one up in the US but I'm trying to be patient. Emphasis on the word "trying".

Have they announced pricing for Canada yet? For only an hour drive I would go get it, but I drive that far all the time.

Civ Rev, C&C, etc... have they announced iPad specific versions of these? Or are you just planning to play the upscaled version of the iPhone games?

I expect to get an iPad within a year or so. I would love to get one tomorrow, but I just don't have cash that I feel comfortable spending on it right now. But I am anxious to see how users feel about it, and what kind of things it becomes really good at.

From the article linked by Amn:

The iPads are literally chained to the desk with steel cable and a lock. Apple comes by the office with a suitcase, installs the iPad in a bolted case, chains it to the desk and locks it there. And they they do occasional surprise visits just to make sure it’s still there.

My God, Malor was right!!!!

Totally on board. Already bought Small World, Comic Zeal and Mu (I know Mu was already out for iPhone, but the ipad pushd me into it).

TheCounselor wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

I think I will be buying Plants vs Zombies for the 3rd time (OSX, iPhone, now iPad). Also the Marvel Comics app is supposed to be awesome, it is based on the engine written by a guy over on the Ars Technica forums.

I have noticed devs are pricing things higher, for example PvZ is $10 vs $3 on the iPhone, FieldRunners is $10 also. I hope that demo/lite versions are still ubiquitous like they are for the phone/Touch.

I will also probably pick up the Apple office suite for $30.

I think you're going to see more fully featured games, and thus higher prices. The iPad won't be a "pick up and play for five minutes" kind of device, like the iPhone is. It'll be something you sit down with and spend a half hour or so playing a game. And, with more screen real estate, developers can do more.

$10 is still cheaper than your average DS or PSP game.

I'm not so sure. The App Store hasn't changed. The reason apps are cheap is because you need to sell a lot to get onto the Top 100, which is the only way to get exposure in an extremely crowded marketplace. The reason that apps aren't feature rich is because they need to be made for cheap to sell for cheap. The iPad doesn't really change these dynamics of the App Store. You may play different types of games on the iPad, but I think they're still going to be underpriced and of the same quality you see on the iPhone.

This is, of course, barring any major changes to the App Store.

0kelvin wrote:

I'm not so sure. The App Store hasn't changed. The reason apps are cheap is because you need to sell a lot to get onto the Top 100, which is the only way to get exposure in an extremely crowded marketplace. The reason that apps aren't feature rich is because they need to be made for cheap to sell for cheap. The iPad doesn't really change these dynamics of the App Store. You may play different types of games on the iPad, but I think they're still going to be underpriced and of the same quality you see on the iPhone.

This is, of course, barring any major changes to the App Store.

We'll see how the market develops, but I sure hope that developers realize that the iPad isn't an iPhone with a bigger screen. If there aren't full-featured portable style games on the device, I'll be disappointed.

TheCounselor wrote:
0kelvin wrote:

I'm not so sure. The App Store hasn't changed. The reason apps are cheap is because you need to sell a lot to get onto the Top 100, which is the only way to get exposure in an extremely crowded marketplace. The reason that apps aren't feature rich is because they need to be made for cheap to sell for cheap. The iPad doesn't really change these dynamics of the App Store. You may play different types of games on the iPad, but I think they're still going to be underpriced and of the same quality you see on the iPhone.

This is, of course, barring any major changes to the App Store.

We'll see how the market develops, but I sure hope that developers realize that the iPad isn't an iPhone with a bigger screen. If there aren't full-featured portable style games on the device, I'll be disappointed.

As a developer, I can say that at least some of us certainly recognise that the iPad is different than the iPhone, and games that work on one platform won't necessarily work on the other. Different experiences are suited to each platform. But the reality of the situation is that none of those differences allow us to justify a longer development schedule. In fact, with such a smaller install base, getting a return on the development of an iPad exclusive game will be even tougher than with the iPhone (which unfortunately means you'll probably be seeing mostly cross-platform games with an iPad-enhanced mode at best).

I hope you're right, though. I'd love to be making feature-rich, high quality games worth spending $10 on.

TheCounselor wrote:
0kelvin wrote:

I'm not so sure. The App Store hasn't changed. The reason apps are cheap is because you need to sell a lot to get onto the Top 100, which is the only way to get exposure in an extremely crowded marketplace. The reason that apps aren't feature rich is because they need to be made for cheap to sell for cheap. The iPad doesn't really change these dynamics of the App Store. You may play different types of games on the iPad, but I think they're still going to be underpriced and of the same quality you see on the iPhone.

This is, of course, barring any major changes to the App Store.

We'll see how the market develops, but I sure hope that developers realize that the iPad isn't an iPhone with a bigger screen. If there aren't full-featured portable style games on the device, I'll be disappointed.

I hope this cuts both directions. I've watched the past two weeks as a number of iPhone-centric websites have gone full-tilt into iPad app love. I think they are two different systems, given screen real estate and I hope everyone remembers this. Especially so we non-iPad users don't suddenly start getting cut-down versions of iPad apps.

My take: prices are higher because regardless of the price, people are going to buy launch apps. They are being heavily promoted all across the net and when folks buy the iPad, they will want to buy something to play on it. Once the initial launch excitement settles down, I expect prices to settle at a price that is still higher than iPhone app price, but much lower than the current app price. $14.99 I fully expect to become $7.99. My guess is $9.99 will be the realistic upper price limit for the top tier games (non-gaming apps have a different price dynamic, IMO).

The problem of getting your app noticed will still exist, and (as mentioned) getting your app into one of the top 100 lists (global, by region, by category, revenue, etc) will still be the dominant driver of sales.

Michael Arrington just published an extremely positive review of the device:

http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/02/the...

It's a day-1 purchase for me, but that means April 24 here in Canada. It's going to be tough following the iPad coverage for the next few weeks without having my own to lovingly caress.

iPad acquired. Typing this from it now. Trying to retain my objectivity and not devolve into fanboy glee.

Mine showed up too. Plants vs. Zombies is very pretty.

LeapingGnome wrote:

Civ Rev, C&C, etc... have they announced iPad specific versions of these? Or are you just planning to play the upscaled version of the iPhone games?

I don't know about C&C, but I did see that Civ. Rev. was being redone with higher res graphics and a better interface for the iPad. If they'd port Civ IV to the iPad, I'd jump right away!! As it is, I may simply get one for my wife...

rabbit wrote:

iPad acquired. Typing this from it now. Trying to retain my objectivity and not devolve into fanboy glee.

It's a slippery little sucker if you're not careful. And surprisingly heavy.

My son has been Playing dungeon hunter on it for the last hour. Not sure I'll ever get it back.

Posting to subscribe and live vicariously through rabbit's thoughts and the rest of you. The videos I saw of Small World are almost enough to tip me over the edge, despite the board game being a tenth of the price and no reasonable role for a tablet in our home's digital ecosystem. Got a big tax return, but also got a wedding to pay for. But holy crap, it's Small World on an iPad! If Fantasy Flight starts putting games on it, then it's all over.

LeapingGnome wrote:

...Also the Marvel Comics app is supposed to be awesome, it is based on the engine written by a guy over on the Ars Technica forums.

Gizmodo has a review up.

http://gizmodo.com/5508756/ipad-app-...

I know it's not the same thing, but I've been playing around with the Marvel iPhone app this morning. On the smaller screen, it works fairly well, and I imagine it will look much better on the larger iPad screen.

My biggest beef with this app is the cost of the individual comics-- $1.99 each! I know they're in a tough spot, because undercutting the actual cost too much or offering brand new releases is going to piss off the comic store owners (which, thanks to the direct market system is their only source of real income), but still. $2 for older comics that have no physical production costs OR collectability really seems steep. Hopefully they'll offer some sort of "graphic novel" or pricing structure like Apple does for music albums ($1.99 per issue, but $9.99 for 10-12 issues).

The Netflix streaming app seems like a "killer app" sort of thing, although people have told me the iPhone/Touch version of the app is supposedly coming soon.

Wow, Small World looks fantastic. My techno lust grows.

One thing I have been wondering as I look at the ipad, possibly for a later in the year purchase is if it has a gyroscope in it? My favorite iphone games have been things like Rolando.

Here's a site to keep an eye on:

Gizmodo Live App Review Stream

Pages