TouchDown - Issue 1

By Nigel Wood, UK
for www.touchgen.com

Published: November 11, 2009

Welcome to TouchGen’s TouchDown, if you’ve missed any news or the big releases of the past week then this is the place to get the highlights on recent developments in iPhone and iPodTouch gaming…

In this issue: Apple Celebrate 100k App milestone; Eliminate; What ever happened to…. 8lb Gorilla; Ace Combat; Jelly Car 2; Ghost ‘n Goblins; Skater Nation; TouchPets; iControl Pad… plus our Review round up…

Apple Celebrate 100k App milestone

There’s no denying the success of the AppStore. The SDK gives unparalleled control over content creation, allowing a sole developer to go head to head with the big boys and succeed. Granted, not all those 100,000 Apps are games, and an even smaller amount are going to be worthy of picking up. But if nothing else, then it has at least given us gamers a wide variety of choice, which tailor to an even greater variety of budgets. Now, if someone could only develop an app that sifts through all the crap!

Eliminate mayhem

It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement surrounding last weeks release of ngmoco’s Eliminate - the first decent foray into true online multiplayer FPS’s. But to give them credit they have done a stellar job, as our very own Nacho states in his recent review of the game. However, and as the review says, it doesn’t come without out it’s problems. In a recent interview with id’s John Carmack, he told me that the reason DOOM doesn’t support online multiplayer, specifically over 3G, is that it just wouldn’t be an enjoyable enough experience and just a gimmick. A comment that many couldn’t believe judging by the success of Eliminate… However, these are the words of not only someone with a huge amount of experience in this field, but also a complete perfectionist. So, while to us the experience in Eliminate over 3G and sometimes WiFi is good enough… to John it’s not even an option… not right now. I myself have had some pretty laggy games over 3G, with constant drop outs from me or other players, much to the grievance of people with Energy to spare.

Which brings me onto the energy issue. While as a business model it makes a lot of sense and will no doubt give ngmoco a huge pile of cash… I can’t believe how obvious a cash-in it is…. and it must be putting off some players from delving deeper into the experience. It’s a tricky one… get a free game and pay for energy (which could cost you $100’s in the long run) or pay $10 straight up, and pay for the odd new suit or weapon here and there… hmm, I’m still undecided.

Of course there is a new FPS that will steal the thunder… and it’s called Modern Warfare 2. Yes it’s not on iPhone… but any gamer worth their salt will be swapping their iPhone’s for Xbox controllers this week. Myself included.

What ever happened to…. 8lb Gorilla

The mini developer startup, safe under the wing of the 800lb Gorilla EA, promised small game releases on a monthly basis. But since the release of Zombies & Me it’s all gone quiet. Has anyone seen a small furry ape anywhere?

Highway to the danger zone!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. No it’s not another Top Gun game… although Dave as been looking forward to a session of Naked Hairy Men Beach Volleyball 2009 on his white iPhone!

No, this is news of the impending release of Ace Combat Xi: Skies of incursion from Namco Bandai. At its unveiling at September’s Tokyo Game Show, lucky punters got their first taste of what’s in store. With its launch only weeks away, a trailer is planned to show how the game will push the graphical capabilities of the hardware to its limits.

In the game, players can immerse themselves in scenario-based first-person flight sim mode, or crank up the Gs in third-person flight action mode. Both modes feature HD graphics, multiple HUDs, and real satellite topographic imagery from Japan Space Imaging Corporation.

Developed by the team responsible for all the console versions of Ace Combat, so expect something special.

Keep your eyes peeled to the skies!

Disney likes Jelly!

Jelly Car 2, the sequel to Jelly car from Tim Fitz-Randolph has jumped (or wobbled) straight to the top of the paid charts. However this time it’s been picked up and distributed by Disney. Don’t expect any Disney like maker-overs, it still looks the same but now with more than 30 new levels, new power-ups and three new modes. Jelly Car 2 also features a new custom level editor for creating your own puzzles complete with ramps, wheels, levers and more, in addition to new Sticky Wheels for driving up walls and a Balloon Ability for floating out of trouble. However it’s good to see Disney supporting the smaller developers with it’s obvious might… and will be bringing several more games based on original IP’s later this year, including Breakspin and Luma.

Bring on the Ghosts… ‘n Goblins too!

Halloween might have been and gone, but that doesn’t stop Capcom from releasing Ghosts ‘n Goblins Gold Knights. An update to their popular franchise that has graced pretty much every platform over the last 24 years. It looks to borrow from the PSP update dubbed Ultimate Ghosts ‘n Goblins, but with some notable differences including being able to choose from two characters to play, and additional downloadable content, and even some cheat options such as unlimited lives, rapid fire and weaker enemies.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins is out now for $2.99

Skater Nation update

We posted a hands on with the game back in September. Well, it’s been a while but Gameloft have released footage of the game in motion in their latest Vodcast:

Who let the dogs out? ooh ooh ooh

Well it was ngmoco! TouchPets dogs was finally released giving iPhone and iPod Touch users something to bark about… but will it cause Nintendogs to whimper in the corner? Probably not, unless Apple bring out a pink device! Not content with their FPS getting all the DLC glory, TouchPets is also free, but relies on buying downloads to advance your dogs development. Of course, you can decide not to pay-to-play, but then you’ll only get a limited play time with your pup going to sleep if no food is available.

Once again an interesting idea as a business model, but one that people may grow weary of. TouchPets is out now for FREE (or is it?)

iPhonetendo

As posted by our resident control pad lover Matt Dunn, is news of the iControlPad latest prototype. You can check out Matt’s post and a video of the pad in action. I have my doubts about such a device being a success with out widespread support, however in our John Carmack interview {link} he did say that if a device did exist and he was emailed the code to support it, he might include it in id’s games line-up.

Then again, I’m all for anything to help me win in Eliminate!

Review round up

In case you missed them here some highlights of the games reviewed over the past week. Click on the titles to read the full review.

Dead Panic

A survival game combining the mechanics of tower defence with barricade defence, offering a good time with the newly implemented Survival Mode.

Command and Conquer

An accurate and updated version of the hot game, but it doesn’t come without it’s problems. Fans beware!

Eliminate

Despite some shortcomings, Eliminate offers an adrenaline pumping, finger twitching, frag making, trash talking good time for any FPS fan.

Hyakki Yagyo

If you are interested in playing a hypnotic game set in a lovely Okami like world then we can recommend it. If you are looking for a shooter that challenges you intensely Hyakki Yagyo is not the right game for you.

Earth Dragon

A short and sometimes frustrating experience, that despite it’s shortcomings should be experienced purely for it’s unique control style

Bowman Defense

A Patapon looking castle defense game, that lack originality.

Zombie Attack: second wave

If you enjoyed the original, it’s a safe bet that you will like Second Wave… it keeps what was good, and adds a bit of new content.

DOOM classic

id release their FPS Horror classic, and like a fine wine this vintage seems to get better with age…

Rock Band

A disappointing entry into the best selling franchise

The End

Stay tuned for the next installment of TouchDown, and please let us know if there is something you woul dlike us to cover by leaving a comment below, or emailing us through the contacts page above.

Review disclosure: Any games reviewed on this page may have been provided to us by the developer for the purposes of this review. Note: the resulting review score is never impeded by this fact, all opinions are that of the TouchGen reviewer and not the developer. This is in keeping with our O.A.T.S oath. Read more about O.A.T.S here

2 Comments on "TouchDown - Issue 1"

legend.inc on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 5:49 am

This is ggoooooooooooooooood. specially cause i havent been online for a long time.

zhoomcar on Wed, 11th Nov 2009 6:56 am

far outt i bought rock band when it was on sale prior to reading review and now im unsatisfied D: