iPad Games (and Apps) Catch All

For those of you also having insomnia issues like myself, try out Dreambot. I've had no troubles sleeping these last days with the sound of waves crashing on a shore or the sounds of a forest at night whispering on my nightstand.

The infamous VLC player has been released as an iPad app (and it plays most AVIs!). Genious! Finally a chance for me to catch up on my weekly TV shows using the iPad.

Loving this thing more and more each day...

I wasn't impressed with VLC. You can't delete from within the app, if it doesn't like a file, the app crashes on launch, and it hasn't played a few things that I threw at it.

I'm a big fan of an app named Side by Side, a multi-pane web and doc browser.

Catan HD is out, for you Settlers fans! $4.99.

Tilt to Live HD is FREE! If you have an iPad, you MUST own this game. I've spent hours and hours playing the iPhone version.

Edit: D'oh, I lied, the app is free, but you only get to play one mode by default, and you can unlock the rest of the game modes as an in-app purchase for $3.99. Still highly recommended, even just for the classic game mode.

I decided to install the gold master of iOS 4.2 for Ipad which is in the wild now. There is good and bad; the folders are a godsend, and I am sure that multitasking will be when apps are updated, but the change of the lock orientation slider switch to mute is a big mistake, and completely pointless, since mute can be achieved by holding down the vol down key already.

The orientation can be locked with a software switch in the task bar, but that is a double tap of home, 2 swipes left and a tap. Not exactly convenient. There is no option for the user to change it.

I really hope that Apple get their heads out of their backsides and fix this soon. I have never been tempted to jailbreak my iPad, but some way to reverse this is a must.

Otherwise, I like the update, but would not recommend installing it, due to the fact that you have have to install a buggy beta of iTunes 10.1 to do so. It crashes when I try to manage my apps, every single time.

I just installed the Gold Master, too. I'm actually not sure how handy folders will be for me -- the different screens actually worked pretty well. Hate the new orientation lock -- such a stupid change. Multitasking might turn out to be handy.

FWIW, I was able to rearrange apps via iTunes without a problem.

Anyone know if the iPad version of Civilization Revolution a better version than the iPhone version?

Anyone play Settlers on the iPad?

Greg wrote:

Anyone know if the iPad version of Civilization Revolution a better version than the iPhone version?

Anyone play Settlers on the iPad?

I have not played Settlers, but Civ Rev is awesome. The iPad version is not different than the iPhone in gameplay, only the graphics and screen size have been improved. That said, it is definitely worth the money and a significant improvement over playing the iPhone version in zoom mode.

ThatGuy42 wrote:

...but Civ Rev is awesome. The iPad version is not different than the iPhone in gameplay, only the graphics and screen size have been improved. That said, it is definitely worth the money and a significant improvement over playing the iPhone version in zoom mode.

Sold! I can't think of a better way to spend a flight to the West Coast.

Thanks.

ebarstad wrote:

I just installed the Gold Master, too. I'm actually not sure how handy folders will be for me -- the different screens actually worked pretty well. Hate the new orientation lock -- such a stupid change. Multitasking might turn out to be handy.

FWIW, I was able to rearrange apps via iTunes without a problem.

I had a lot of screens! I am finding it far easier with folders. The lock switch thing is really annoying me, though.

Did you use the 32-bit or 64? I used the latter, and a fresh install leaves me with the same problem.

ebarstad wrote:

I just installed the Gold Master, too. I'm actually not sure how handy folders will be for me -- the different screens actually worked pretty well. Hate the new orientation lock -- such a stupid change. Multitasking might turn out to be handy.

FWIW, I was able to rearrange apps via iTunes without a problem.

I had a lot of screens! I am finding it far easier with folders. The lock switch thing is really annoying me, though.

Did you use the 32-bit or 64? I used the latter, and a fresh install leaves me with the same problem.

Settlers is good but the AI is terrible. I have yet to lose in dozens of games. Seriously.

spider_j wrote:
ebarstad wrote:

I just installed the Gold Master, too. I'm actually not sure how handy folders will be for me -- the different screens actually worked pretty well. Hate the new orientation lock -- such a stupid change. Multitasking might turn out to be handy.

FWIW, I was able to rearrange apps via iTunes without a problem.

I had a lot of screens! I am finding it far easier with folders. The lock switch thing is really annoying me, though.

Did you use the 32-bit or 64? I used the latter, and a fresh install leaves me with the same problem.

64-bit.

I only have three screens (not full) of apps. I've put all of my work/writing apps in a folder and taken the others out -- like it much better this way.

Dang. It's either my laptop or my library that's having problems then. I'll have to wait for the official release, and see what happens. I guess.

I want my orientation lock back.

Kurrelgyre wrote:

I want my orientation lock back.

Amen.

ebarstad wrote:
Kurrelgyre wrote:

I want my orientation lock back.

Amen.

Double-click the home button, slide the popup menu to the right, the orientation lock is the button on the left.

But yeah, they should have left it where it was, on the physical button.

3 weeks on, it is still annoying me.

Serengeti wrote:
ebarstad wrote:
Kurrelgyre wrote:

I want my orientation lock back.

Amen.

Double-click the home button, slide the popup menu to the right, the orientation lock is the button on the left.

I know but I still want the button back too.

edosan wrote:
Serengeti wrote:
ebarstad wrote:
Kurrelgyre wrote:

I want my orientation lock back.

Amen.

Double-click the home button, slide the popup menu to the right, the orientation lock is the button on the left.

I know but I still want the button back too.

That plus the new function (mute) a) doesn't even work on some iPads and b) is pretty pointless, since holding the "decrease volume" key for 2 seconds will do the same.

There is a jailbroken solution for the orientation lock thing... I think it's called "NoMute." Might be worth it if it annoys you.

For any Canadians on the forum, try out the new Global Video app for the iPad. http://bit.ly/f472iM Sure, this is a bit of self-promotion since lead the team that built it (and I even wrote a little code), but you can catch a lot of GlobalTV shows on your iPad, so some people will certainly find a use for it. We're currently #1 among free apps, so it should be easy to find. Fingers crossed that we stay there for a few days.

Hey, are there any new strategy games worth trying? Things I'm looking for:

A. Something with the scope and weight of Civ Rev
B. Something along an ASL or battalion level strategy/tactics games
C. Similar to B, but more on the Memoir '44 light level

Anything that fits into either A, B or C?

Also:
Land Sea Air Warfare looks decent more is an RTS and I'd like something on a slower timescale. BUt have you played this? Is it good?

What about Battle for Wesnoth? I get a very strong Heroes of M&M sense. Any body playing this?

I'm sure this has come up and after looking around in the Tech section and gaming section I thought I throw out the question here (and if I missed it for I'm a bit surprised that a thread hasn't appeared yet, so if I indeed missed it, please give me a link).

Anyway, I have got a hint that someone might be giving me an Ipad for Christmas. Deal is money is tight, and I've heard rumors that a new Ipad may be coming in a few months. I get electronic tech newsletters an one (C/Net; ZD Net...?) that answered the question on wether one should buy one now or wait. He said that the February rumor is probably false and it will probably be April. Lighter, thinner, faster, with a camera for 'Face Time'. His rule of thumb is to wait if less then 6 months. Sooooo, I'm wondering if I should make it known about this and hint to the person to give it a pass and wait (although it will kill me to do so for I sooooo want one).

Any thoughts on this 'rumor' and if it's really worth it to wait (I'm not a 'power user'. More about email and browsing and some games. Face Time is fun on Iphone, but don't see it as a real clincher for Ipad for this very reason. But more bigger cpu might be something to wait for if it really helps).

Thanks

I''d imagine a new one is coming next year, and since the iPad launched in April, that's as good a bet as any. Plus, that'll mean new iPads in April, iPhones in June/July, iPods and Macs in September. Seems like a good rotation to me.

Yeah, I would think the new iPads are no more than 6 mos away -- probably sooner. A lot of rumours are suggesting it will have the new retina display, like the newest iPhone. Between that and the faster processor, it's probably worth waiting for.

For those of you who like Bejeweled style match-3 games, I found two over the weekend that my wife and I really enjoy: Rise of Atlantis HD and Fishdom HD. They're both by the same company and are very polished. Fishdom is a little more addictive in a way because there's a "purpose" to keep you playing -- the more games you play, the more money you make to set up your fish tank, adding more fish and items to the tank. Rise of Atlantis is the more difficult game, but the demo (Lite version) is very long. Both are definitely worth a try.

I really, really like Sim City Deluxe HD (iPad version). I picked this up for 99 cents during the EA sale. Last night 3 hours literally vaporized.

I played a lot of Sim City and Sim City 2000, but dropped it after those versions.

So I am discovering the joys and frustrations of Sim City all over again. Trying to remember how to generate cash, and the dealing with the huge frustration of low property values. It is an old school game. Although the city advisors will give you hints how to do these things, they rarely work. However, I think some of that has to do with the simulated year. Fun simulation in which most of the game is actually figuring out how the simulation works.

I know that there are some complaints about the small map or lack of variety in transportation options, but I think it is an excellent hand held version of the game, and better than any console version that I played.

I haven't bought Yoot Tower yet, but I know that will devour my time for at least a month. Sim Tower was an obsession back in the day.

casktapper wrote:

For any Canadians on the forum, try out the new Global Video app for the iPad. http://bit.ly/f472iM Sure, this is a bit of self-promotion since lead the team that built it (and I even wrote a little code), but you can catch a lot of GlobalTV shows on your iPad, so some people will certainly find a use for it. We're currently #1 among free apps, so it should be easy to find. Fingers crossed that we stay there for a few days.

sh*t! I think we met each other a few weeks ago in a professional capacity.

Hey guys, I've just bought an iPad off my London-based cousin. While I'm waiting for it to arrive I've read through most of this thread, harvesting links, so that should keep me occupied for a while

1. Do you have any recommendations for blogs about iPad-only apps and games? Or even better, something that would have nice "top X" lists for different categories of apps/games.
(Only gaming site that I read is toucharcade.com but I used to skip everything concerning iPad until now and don't really feel like clicking that tag and going backwards through all that stuff)

2. Offline reading: are there any apps that can sync with google reader and download stuff for offline reading? I already use Read It Later, but I guess it's better suited for single items and to download something I have to go through my Reader and mark every interesting item.
(btw: Do things like Flipboard download items for offline reading?)