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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Halfbrick’s Jetpack Joyride, Formerly Machine Gun Jetpack, Releasing September 1st

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Halfbrick’s latest original game for iOS, Jetpack Joyride, finally has an official release date. The game will release worldwide on September 1st, next Thursday. This is still technically a summer release as was originally promised when the game was announced. Halfbrick has also renamed the game from Machine Gun Jetpack to Jetpack Joyride because they felt naming the game after just one type of jetpack was now inaccurate as the game has grown and expanded past just the machine gun jetpack. This endless game has players using their various weaponized jetpacks to avoid airborne perils and take out enemies on the ground, collecting tokens that go toward upgrades and new jetpacks.

While the formerly eponymous machine gun jetpack is still in the game, it is no longer the focus of the game, as a wide variety of jetpacks have been added. A jetpack that shoots rainbows? I do not jest! It is one of many different types of armaments that players will have access to in the game, and can be purchased in the game. The game will feature a mission system where players get more tokens for completing certain tasks, as well as online leaderboards through Game Center and stat tracking of players’ performance over time.

Jetpad Joyride will be available on September 1st for $0.99 with universal app support. The video also goes in to what they do to make the game look nicer on the Retina Display and the iPad, particularly the smoothing of the pixel art on the higher-resolution displays. This smoothing may be necessary due to a lot of the source artwork being from Age of Zombies, a game originally released on lower-resolution screens. Check out a new developer diary video below featuring footage of the final game, as well as some new screens of the upcoming title.

About: Halfbrick’s Jetpack Joyride, Formerly Machine Gun Jetpack, Releasing September 1st is a post from 148Apps

Carter Dotson 24 Aug, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/news/halfbricks-jetpack-joyride-machine-gun-jetpack-releasing-september-1st/
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Daily Routine Review

at 7:06 AM

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Daily Routine Review

By Phillip Levin on August 24th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: FUNKY BUT CONFUSING
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

This one favors looks over functionality, unfortunately.

Developer: Jaysen Marais
Price: $2.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone

iPhone Integration Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Re-use Value Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.17 out of 5 stars

For those looking to better organize their life, Daily Routine offers the hope of being able to do just that.

The app, designed by Jaysen Marais, features a funky-looking interface – a mish mash of colors that morph as users scroll through the app – doesn’t attempt the same-old, boring, Excel-esque approach to productivity that so many other apps on the App Store do. Within seconds, its obvious that its designer wanted the process of using the app to be one that’s fun and enjoyable.

Daily Routine allows users to create their own “routines” – or a time-slot-based schedule of tasks for the day. Creating a task is as straightforward as specifying a time slot for it and creating a name for each activity (such as “work” or “go to store”). But the app allows room for plenty more customization. Users can choose from a huge list of icons to represent that routine, change each routine’s color, set notification reminders and even e-mail a PDF version of the routine to themselves.

There’s also a calendar feature, enabling users to assign routines to specific days. They can even set up pattern-based calendars. For example, users can create a routine that repeats only on weekends, a routine for weekdays and so on. Definitely a useful feature.

There’s one big problem with Daily Routine, though, and it goes back to that funky-looking interface. While it’s eye-catching and the use of colors and geometry make the experience an eye-pleasing one, the mechanics of the interface aren’t as functional. The interface is just kind of confusing and takes time to learn. It’s not intuitive, and at times, it just feels overly complicated. For an app that’s purpose lies in productivity, this kind of shortcoming is nothing short of a crime, truly.

While I love the look and feel of Daily Routine and many of its features are useful, its steep price — $2.99 is just a bit too much for this kind of app – makes it a difficult app to easily and broadly recommend across the board. Depending on user’s needs, it may be worth the cost of admission. But for many, the price probably won’t be worth the product – one that offers useful features marred by a visually-appealing but clumsy and far-from-intuitive interface.

Daily Routine

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99

Our Rating:

:: FUNKY BUT CONFUSING
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-08-13 :: Category: Productivity

Apps mentioned in this post: Daily Routine

About: Daily Routine Review is a post from 148Apps

Phillip Levin 24 Aug, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/reviews/daily-routine-review/
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Help Agent Squeak, SPY Mouse Solve The Clues and Win

at 6:33 AM

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If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ll have been awaiting the release of the next hit from superstar developer, Firemint. They’ve recently been acquired by EA, and are putting some of that marketing muscle behind their upcoming release (this week!) with a brand new contest.

Spy Mouse: Solve the Clue is game in which entrants must help protagonist Agent Squeak solve clues on a daily basis, using Twitter. Simply head on over to the game page and click on the “solve the clue botton.” A question will be posed, after a quick sign in to Twitter, and each daily correct entry will be entered to win a copy of SPY Mouse, Dead Space, The Sims 3 or Real Racing 2 for the iPhone and iPod touch.

But wait, there’s more. The kind hearted Firemint folks have also given two other chances to win, with a second Twitter entry button and a Facebook like contest – tweet disdain for the easy clues on Twitter and Like the SPY Mouse Facebook page for two more chances to win.

The contest continues through August 26th, a day after the purported release of SPY Mouse on iOS, so get while the getting is good!

Apps mentioned in this post: The Sims 3

About: Help Agent Squeak, SPY Mouse Solve The Clues and Win is a post from 148Apps

Rob LeFebvre 24 Aug, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/news/agent-squeak-spy-mouse-solve-clues-win/
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Solitaire by Backflip Review

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Solitaire by Backflip Review

By Rob Rich on August 24th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: ACES!
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Backflip Studios’ take on the virtually timeless classic may just be the best iOS iteration yet, and it’s free!

Developer: Backflip Studios
Price: Free
Version: 1.0

Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Playtime Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 4.38 out of 5 stars

How does someone go about making Solitaire more interesting? I don’t mean to imply that it’s no fun, because it’s been enjoyed by… billions, probably. For quite some time. It’s just that, in order to get noticed among all the other iOS iterations out there, a developer would have to figure out a way to stand out. And in order to do that, they’d have to jazz it up a bit.

Anyone who’s played Solitaire at any point in their life ever will be instantly familiar with Solitaire by Backflip. It includes both the regular and Vegas versions of the game, as well as one and three card draw rules, so players shouldn’t have a problem finding one they’re most comfortable with. For me it’s the standard, three card rules.

The jazziness comes into play with Backflip’s presentation. The visuals are nice and colorful, if a bit standard. But then, there are only so many ways to depict playing cards on a green table, right? Of course it’s also possible to buy new themes (and even cheats) with coins earned through play. Those coins make up the other half of the stellar presentation. There’s just something instinctively pleasant about placing a card and seeing a small shower of coins erupt from the counter at the bottom of the screen. These coins are carried over from game to game, so even losses are still worth something.

I did come across a little slowdown, most likely thanks to the ads, but those can be turned off with an in-app purchase (naturally). A more persistent problem I’ve encountered is the failure of the app to recognize my intended finger placement. It’s never caused serious problems, save the occasional pop-up asking me if I wanted to cheat because the game thought I was attempting to do something I very much wasn’t, but it’s there and it’s mildly annoying at times.

Solitaire by Backflip just does Solitaire, and even freemium, right. The sights and sounds make each game satisfying, and the constant acquisition of coins more-or-less removes the sting of constant losses. The deluge of coinage that pours out when a game is one and Auto Complete is pressed doesn’t hurt either. Sure it’s possible to pay real money for more coins, but in all honesty it doesn’t take too terribly long to earn them. It’s 10,000 to buy a theme, but after a mere hour or two of play I’d already amassed close to three grand. This is one freemium title that doesn’t punish the cheap.

Solitaire by Backflip

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating:

:: ACES!
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-08-18 :: Category: Games

Apps mentioned in this post: Solitaire by Backflip

About: Solitaire by Backflip Review is a post from 148Apps

Rob Rich 24 Aug, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/reviews/solitaire-backflip-review/
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Win Stuff And Play Games With Play2Win

at 1:05 PM

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Play games and win prizes for doing so? Surely that’s the dream right? It was certainly my dream back when I was a kid that hoped I could somehow get away with a lifetime of playing video games.

Play2Win won’t quite pay for a mortgage or buy me holidays in the sun but there are some pretty cool prizes in there. Three games are available in all. They might not set the world on fire in terms of gaming innovation with the likes of a roulette wheel game depending more on luck than anything else amongst others. But then again it’s a free way to win things.

Prizes range from the likes of dry cleaning vouchers to massages at local spas or IKEA gift cards as well as a plethora of discounts too. The app promises that everyone’s a winner too with anyone participating at least winning a voucher for the relevant retailer. Users can browse such retailers according to what’s near them.

It certainly makes for an interesting concept. With nothing to lose, why not give Play2Win a shot? It’s free after all.