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Like Word Games? Ivanovich Games Is Holding An Online Letris 2 Tournament Tomorrow

Brett Nolan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:00:05 +0000

Ivanovich Games has just recently published an update to their word puzzle game Letris 2 that allows them to organize online tournaments!

While I’ve seen this kind of thing happening in the Console space fairly often, it is still a bit of a rarity in the iOS/mobile space. There is no charge to enter the tournament and the (universal) Letris 2 app is available to download at no cost as well.

So why not join in for a little free, friendly competition?!

For those of you not already familiar with Letris 2, it is a word game “where you must build words in order to keep the screen clean and tidy as long as possible”. Simple in concept, but challenging in the execution. The game is a sort of mash-up between Tetris and Scrabble, with lettered tiles constantly falling into the game area from the top of the screen. You must use these lettered tiles to form words in order to remove the tiles from the board (making room for more tiles). Letters do not need to be adjacent to be used in the same word.

If you already have Letris 2 installed on your iOS device, you’ll just need to make sure that you download the updated version and touch the “Tournament” button to participate. Ivanovich Games is currently seeing an average of more than 200,000 players per day Letris 2, and they are hoping that a large percentage of those daily players will participate during the one hour tournament window currently scheduled for 4:29:59 PM (EST) tomorrow, February 4th.

How will the tournament work?

Here are the rules (as they appear on Ivanovich Games’ website).

Press the “Tournament” button in the game to see when the next tournament will be held.
At the time and date indicated be prepared to enjoy an intense 60 minute online tournament and press the “Tournament” button so that the system can randomly search for your first adversary. This is how your first qualifying level will begin!
If you manage to win your match you will move on to the next round, you will be given a password which you can tweet to demonstrate your achievement and you can carry on playing, but this time, facing only players who are on the same round as you.
If you loose a match: No problem! You stay on your round and you can keep playing matches within the same round as many times as you like until the 60 minutes of the tournament are up.

When the 60 minutes are up, the winner will be the first person to tweet the password from the highest round. So it’s not about who gets the highest score, it’s about having fun and playing the game with players from around the world. The winner will receive $40 iTunes gift card.

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Post tags: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Ivanovich Games, Letris 2, tournament, Universal

SALE REDUX: TODAY ONLY – Apple iTunes Codes Are 20% Off At BestBuy.com

Brett Nolan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:44 +0000

Best Buy has repeated their sale from last month, with today’s Deal of The Day.

They have iTunes credit codes on sale for 20% off, with FREE digital delivery!

Apple® – iTunes $15 Code – For Only $12
Apple® – iTunes $25 Code – For Only $20
Apple® – iTunes $50 Code – For Only $40
Apple® – iTunes $100 Code – For Only $80

or click here for more details.

No Best Buy Store near you?
No problem, because this deal is ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, but quantities are limited, so if you need to top off your iTunes balance then I’d jump on this ASAP!

Ticket To Ride Pocket Gets Asynchronous Multiplayer Mode Via Game Center

Brett Nolan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:01:39 +0000

Some of you may recall that the only negative I mentioned in my review of the iPhone release of Days Of Wonder’s boardgame app Ticket To Ride Pocket was that “the lack of online multiplayer is a bit disappointing”.

Well…happy day!

Prepare to turn that frown upside-down, because Days Of Wonder has just released an update which adds an all-new asynchronous, turn-based multiplayer game mode exclusively to Ticket To Ride Pocket. While this is not the real-time multiplayer mode the iPad release has, I think this new ‘Multi Mode’ is a clever choice.

Ticket To Ride Pocket players will still be able to have local real-time multiplayer games over Bluetooth and local Wi-Fi, and take on A.I. opponents in the local single-player mode, but the new ‘Multi Mode’ allows you to challenge your Game Center friends worldwide and make your moves whenever you have time.

The really cool thing is that this new mode will allow you to have multiple simultaneous games going against up to 3 friends (in each game). ‘Multi Mode’ is limited to the “Pocket Edition” of the game so don’t go looking for it on your iPad release. This was by choice in part due to the technical issues involved with getting two different apps (with different SKUs) to talk to one another nicely through Game Center.

“This is the update Ticket to Ride players have been clamoring for since we released Ticket to Ride Pocket.” Said Eric Hautemont, Days of Wonder Founder and CEO. “We love online gameplay, but faced a challenge: ‘how do you create a great online experience on a device like the phone that is constantly being used for other functions?’ We needed to build an experience where players could come and go as they please yet have something meaningful to do when they played; the thought of having multiple games going at once was what convinced us this could work. With Multi Mode, we’ve given players what they want without compromising on the gameplay that made Ticket to Ride so popular to begin with.”

When I read the news, my initial concerns were that since moves in Ticket To Ride can be really quick, you may often end up waiting a while for the other player(s) to make their quick moves and games could last a really long time. However, then I got to thinking that this is pretty much the case in just about every asynchronous, turn-based online multiplayer game.

Earlier this morning I loaded the new update. I immediately was able to find a random opponent for a two player game. Since both I and my adversary were making our moves right away, we had what equated to a real-time multiplayer game. So if the server (and your opponent’s) response time is fairly quick, you could potentially achieve a near real-time game anyways, even though this is meant to be an asynchronous multiplayer mode.

I’m excited about this new way to play this amazingly fun game, so feel free to send a challenge my way (OTGGamer). While I can’t promise real-time play (I have a job after all), I can offer some friendly competition.

Ticket To Ride Pocket is available on the app store for $1.99.

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Post tags: App Update, Asynchronous Multiplayer, Game Center, iPod Touch, Ticket To Ride, Ticket To Ride Pocket, Update

AppAddict.net Has Joined The Ranks of The Qualityindex

Brett Nolan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:08:28 +0000

Before the folks at meta critic decided to follow iOS apps, several smaller sites opened up in this niche market.

One of my personal favorites of these meta score sites is Qualityindex.

I’m proud to say that our site’s review scores are now being included as part of Qi’s meta scores along side some really esteemed company including 148Apps, Slide To Play and Pocket Gamer.

Qi believes that “by carefully selecting and then combining critical viewpoints and organizing them in a logical way they provide app consumers with an indispensable guide to making their purchasing decisions. However, although the Qualityindex provides an invaluable point of access, it’s not intended to replace the in-depth critical opinion.” To that end they include links to the full reviews from every page for those who want to dig deeper.

We are honored to be a part of the Qualityindex’s meta scores and highly recommend that you check out the site.

New At Eleven : Golden Retrievers, Gorillas And Power Slides

Brett Nolan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:35 +0000

This week it seems to be all about the FREEMIUM.

Over half of our featured Thursday new releases are free-to-play titles from CAPCOM, G5 Entertainment, Big Pixel Studios, Everplay Interactive and even Chillingo.

Big Pixel Studios’ Off The Leash is a one-handed tilt controlled game where you are a dog trying to out-run the cops and evade capture, while at the same time attempting to rescue as many of your ‘doggy pals’ as you can. The game features Big Pixel’s signature blocky-bit graphical style and is sure to please the casual crowd. Next up is Chillingo’s space-themed tower defense game, Spice Invaders. You control an invading pirate force, and must ‘protect them as they mine the Earth’s resources for the precious mineral, Spice’. Meant to be played online, this multiplayer game features some nice visuals, challenging and a massive amount of upgrades, this title will keep you busy for a while.

G5 Entertainment is back with a new hidden object adventure title called Royal Trouble: Hidden Adventures. >GHOST TRICK: Phantom Detective is CAPCOM’s stylized looking interactive mystery adventure game based on the critically acclaimed Nintendo DS game. You can check out the first two chapters for free, the rest are available as IAPs. Speaking of mysteries, this last ‘free’ title is a bit of an enigma. From the screenshots and description, Everplay Interactive’s Terra Noctis: Free Dreaming looks identical to the platformer game Terra Noctis that was put out by Bulkypix last December. It is unclear if this is a lite version of that game or what, but it is free.

Now onto the pay for apps…the first of which is Fly With Me, a level-based arcade platformer (of sorts) from EA. Guide birds through trees with a constant tap of the finger to keep those wings flapping. The goal being to “cruise through tree holes and dodge moving obstacles, like spiders, Venus fly traps, geysers, and more and chomp evil bees from small to large for a bug feast”. FreakZone’s platformer AWESOME Land looks very Super Mario-esque. However, instead of a plumber, the game’s hero is Manley, an approriately gruff looking man who’s motorcycle has been stolen by evil aliens and it’s up to you to help him ‘kick some alien hide and claim it back’.

Electric Pixel Factory’s debut game Gorilla Gondola features the unlikely pairing of a silverback and a ski gondola. Navigate the ski-lift-riding Gorilla through dangerous levels, jumping, stomping and tilting to avoid all manner of obstacles while collecting bananas and powerups. This once looks like it could be pretty fun and challenging.

Finally, we come to perhaps my most highly anticipated new release of the week, Reckless Racing 2. This is the sequel to Polarbit and Pixelbite’s great mudslinging, fast-paced, top-down racing game, Reckless Racing. This time the title is self-published and a universal app featuring the same great graphics and gameplay, but with a “selection of 18 highly detailed cars, ranging from small dirt buggies to fast supercars, and 24 routes in a variety of flavors make this a racer for all tastes”. Yeehaw!

So which of these new releases are on your “must buy” list?

Off The Leash Big Pixel Studios Free	Spice Invaders Chillingo Ltd Free	Royal Trouble: Hidden Adventures G5 Entertainment Free	Royal Trouble: Hidden Adventures HD G5 Entertainment Free
Terra Noctis: Free Dreaming Everplay Interactive Free	GHOST TRICK: Phantom Detective CAPCOM Free	Fly With Me EA Swiss Sarl 99¢	AWESOME Land FreakZone $1.99
Gorilla Gondola Electric Pixel Factory Ltd $1.99	Reckless Racing 2 Polarbit $4.99

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Post tags: Chillingo, Deceased Pixel, ea, G5 Entertainment, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, New Releases, Polarbit, Reckless Racing 2, Universal

Check Out These Trailers For Upcoming Thursday New Releases Kids vs. Goblins & Reckless Racing 2

Brett Nolan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:15:27 +0000

Check out these trailers for the new games from Stolen Couch Games/Crescent Moon Games and Polarbit/Pixelbite hitting the app store on Thursday.

First off, Polarbit and Pixelbite will be releasing Reckless Racing 2, the sequel to their awesome top-down racer. The graphics, once again look amazing!

According to Polarbit’s twitter feed, the price will be $4.99, ~~but it is unclear as to whether or not the game will be available in separate releases or as~~ and the folks at Polarbit have confirmed that it will be a universal app.

Another big Thursday release will surely be Kids Vs. Goblins, which is developed by Stolen Couch Games and published by Crescent Moon Games. It is a tactical action RPG which promises “intuitive controls and a compelling story”.

“Each hero has a unique set of magical spells that are yours to control. Every situation requires different spells and tactics, so choosing the right combination will prove very important once you enter the hostile area. There are 60 different spells for you to master and combine and unleash the devastating effects on your enemies.”

While Kids vs. Goblins will initially only be available for iPad 2. Universal support for iPhone and iPod Touch is planned to arrive soon in a future update. Watch the trailer below for a sneak peak.

Watch for even more Thursday new release announcements in our weekly “New At Eleven” post.

Update

Unfortunately it appears that ‘Kids vs. Goblins’ will not be releasing on Thursday as originally planned. It is being rescheduled for another release date which is still to be determined. Our thanks to @dosch033 for the heads up.

©2012, AppAddict.net. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Crescent Moon Games, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kids Vs. Goblins, Pixelbite, Polarbit, Reckless Racing 2, Stolen Couch Games, trailers

David vs. Goliath: Does Zynga Have Diplomatic Immunity When It Comes To Apple’s Ban Hammer?

Brett Nolan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:21:07 +0000

Last week Zynga decide to test the waters in the Canadian App Store with their latest game, Dream Heights.

It is a game where players build their own skyscrapers, “Open cozy apartments for your citizens. Discover dozens of amazing stores.” If the concept sounds familiar, it should, because the game is a complete and total ripoff of NimbleBit’s Tiny Tower.

This is not the first time that Zynga’s lack of creativity has come to light. The obvious choice is Words With Friends vs. Scrabble, but earlier this year the developers of the Pokerist.com app wrote to let us know that Zynga completely copied their UI when they redesigned their Poker by Zynga game.

I think NimbleBit’s David Marsh put it best when he tweeted, “Pretty sad when a company of 2,789 people can’t even come up with their own game ideas. What a large scale failure of imagination!”

Several years back Apple removed a wonderful Zuma-like game called StoneLoops! of Jurassica, because developer MumboJumbo claimed that the game infringed on their game Luxor’s copyright, “confusing customers, stealing Luxor’s look & feel”. StoneLoops (despite being a better game) hasn’t been seen since.

While in that case, MumboJumbo’s true motivation may have been fueled more by money (and the fact that their app wasn’t selling as well) than actual protection of intellectual property, however the precedence still stands. NimbleBit should be able to get the same satisfaction and get Zynga’s (obvious) Xerox job removed from the store. I’m not sure what legal action the 3-person NimbleBit team has taken (or will take) against the much larger Zynga. So far NimbleBit has taken the high road, with David Marsh writing in a later tweet “I don’t wish Zynga any ill will, I just think it’s depressing for all the devs at Zynga that don’t have creative freedom”.

The folks at NimbleBit came up with this excellent open letter (of sorts) to Zynga, clearly illustrating the extent to which Zynga has copied their game.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for competition and even derivative works, but outright theft of an indie dev’s original and creative idea by a big corporation is just plain wrong. I hope this can be resolved quickly in the NimbleBit team’s favor.

©2012, AppAddict.net. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: App Theft, apple, iPhone, iPod Touch, Nimblebit, Tiny Tower, Zynga

Looking For Some Directions? We’re Giving Away Free Copies Of CoPilot Live & Dynavix GPS Apps

Brett Nolan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:00:43 +0000

The folks at ALK Technologies and Dynavix have generously given us some promo codes to giveaway free copies of their GPS apps to our readers.

Dynavix USA GPS Navigation is the newcomer on the GPS app scene. Also a universal app, bringing navigation to your iPhone or 3G-enabled iPad, this title offers iOS users clear and accurate turn-by-turn navigation with its “Clever Route” technology, along with the latest maps on-board (inside device).

CoPilot Live Premium HD USA was completely redesigned from the ground up last year, and this HD release transforms your 3G iPad or iPhone into an in-car GPS navigation system. This is a great GPS app (which has been on my iPhone since its release). Boasting an all-new clean and intuitive UI CoPilot Live has never looked better.

The CoPilot Live team are doing a giveaway of their own, giving away free passes to the Macworld-iWorld 2012 event in San Francisco later this week. To enter THAT GIVEAWAY, Apple fans just need to visit the CoPilot Live USA Facebook page and click ‘Like’. Full details on this giveaway are here.

Either of these fine GPS titles will get you where you need to go whether it be across town or across the country.

So how can you win a copy of CoPilot Live Premium HD USA or Dynavix USA GPS Navigation?

Terms and Conditions

Follow @OTGGamer (or @AppAddictnet) AND tweet the following message :

Hey AppAddict.net, I need some directions! http://adct.me/WinAGPSApp @CoPilotLive @Dynavix #iPhone #iPad #gps #promocodes #aagps

Note: Tweeting multiple times WILL NOT increase your chances to win, only your first tweet will count toward the contest, so no need to spam your followers.
Leave a comment below, saying why you’d like to win a copy, and which app you’d prefer (if you have a preference).
“Like” the AppAddict.net page on Facebook AND leave a comment on the post for THIS contest letting us know why you’d like to win (and if you have a preference, which app you’d like to win). While you are at it, why not get some good karma and ‘like’ CoPilot Live and Dynavix Facebook pages as well.

Each method above will earn you one entry into the contest for the promo codes, regardless of method of entry, you are only eligible to win one promo code per person. Don’t worry, your email address is not visible to anyone but us and will only be used to contact you regarding this contest.

The giveaway will run until 12:00 PM EST on Thursday January. 26, 2011.

Winners are selected at random using random.org. Since this giveaway is for the US versions of the Apps, US residents only please.

Telltale Wants To Help You Curb Your Spending In The New Year With A 99¢ Sale

Brett Nolan — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:00:20 +0000

Telltale is trying to help you curb your spending in the New Year by having a 99¢ sale.

Now through January 29th at midnight, the selection of games below are just 99¢ for both the iPhone and iPad.

Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢	Wallace & Gromit The Last Resort for iPad Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢	HECTOR: Ep1 HD – We Negotiate with Terrorists Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢
HECTOR: Ep2 – Senseless Acts of Justice Telltale Inc $4.99 -> 99¢	HECTOR Ep2 HD – Senseless Acts of Justice Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢	HECTOR: Ep3 – Beyond Reasonable Doom Telltale Inc $4.99 -> 99¢	HECTOR Ep3 HD – Beyond Reasonable Doom Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢
Puzzle Agent Telltale Inc $4.99 -> 99¢	Puzzle Agent HD Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢	Puzzle Agent 2 Telltale Inc $4.99 -> 99¢	Puzzle Agent 2 HD Telltale Inc $6.99 -> 99¢

©2012, AppAddict.net. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: 99¢, Hector: Badge of Carnage, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Puzzle Agent, sale, Sam & Max, Straandlooper, Telltale Games, Wallace & Gromit

Gameloft Celebrates The Chinese New Year With A 99¢ Sale

Brett Nolan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:58:20 +0000

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, Gameloft “has baked some really special fortune cookies filled with awesome games on sale”!

For a limited time, Gameloft has dropped the prices of a number of their most popular titles to just 99¢

Grab these deals while you can.

Silent Ops $6.99 -> 99¢	BackStab $6.99 -> 99¢	Fast Five the Movie: Official Game $4.99 -> 99¢	Fast Five the Movie: Official Game HD $4.99 -> 99¢
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®: Shadow Vanguard $6.99 -> 99¢	Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®: Shadow Vanguard HD $6.99 -> 99¢	Splinter Cell Conviction™ $4.99 -> 99¢	Splinter Cell Conviction™ HD $4.99 -> 99¢
Spider-Man: Total Mayhem $6.99 -> 99¢	Spider-Man: Total Mayhem HD $6.99 -> 99¢	James Cameron’s Avatar $4.99 -> 99¢	James Cameron’s Avatar for iPad $4.99 -> 99¢
Assassin’s Creed™ – Altaïr’s Chronicles $4.99 -> 99¢	Assassin’s Creed™ -Altaïr’s Chronicles HD $6.99 -> 99¢	N.O.V.A. 2 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance $6.99 -> 99¢	N.O.V.A. 2 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance HD $6.99 -> 99¢