Professer Layton-A Former DS Exclusive Is Coming to iOS

TechCruch is reporting that Professor Layton, the hit puzzle series from Nintendo DS is coming to iOS in a  new game named Layton-Brothers:Mystery Room. With over 10 million copies sold on the DS, it has become one of Nintendo's hit series. While no release date was set and details are slim, this is still  huge news for fans of the series. Also, does this mean that we could see more Nintendo exclusive games coming to iOS in the future? Sure, we probably won't see Mario on are iPhones but could we see games like Harvest Moon that are developed and published by third-parties come to iOS? This could also just be a one-time thing with Level 5 reaching the end of their contract and wanting to try and develop for other platforms. Only time will tell.

Grand Theft Auto 3 is Coming to the App Store and Some Android Devices

While not a big fan of GTA myself, Rockstar games has announced that they will release GTA 3 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the game. Sadly, they have announced it will only run on A5 devices, which means you better whip out your shiny new iPhone 4S or iPad 2.  It will also run on these    android devices  : Droid X2, HTC Evo 2, LG Optimus 2, Moratoria Atrix, Samsung Galaxy S2, Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 This is potentially huge news to GTA fans. You can see the original announcement here .  

This Week's Mover and Shaker Games in the iDevice World

Starbase Orion

This space-based 4X game looks like a huge step forward for iDevice strategy games. It features 5 unique races and even a race builder to create your own unique race. Plus it features turn-based multiplayer(iOS 5 only) and a single player game. With the added bonuses of iCloud support and being universal, this app has the potential to be amazing.

Advena

This side-scrolling action RPG by Gamevil features 5 playable party members that you can switch between at any time.  It also features multiple classes and multiplayer modes. This game could be interesting as it seems like a cross between Battleheart and Gamevil's own Hybrid   .

Siegecraft

Published by Crescent Moon games this game displays stunning visuals along with a single-player campaign, endless mode, same device multiplayer, and even online multiplayer with iOS 5 for the low introductory price of $0.99(regular 2.99) . It's gameplay consists of slinging rocks and arrows towards the enemy via catapult and crossbow, which leaves its gameplay feeling less like a strategy game and more like hit the target.  This game could be interesting to those who like this style of gameplay.

Warm Gun

A unreal engine FPS. It features a prominent online multiplayer player mode along with a single player bot mode. When it was first released earlier this week it was riddled with bugs and crashes, although the developers have released an update aimed at fixing them. If your in the market for an unreal engine shooter, this is pretty much the only one in the App Store as of right now.

Descend RPG

An old-school RPG with modern day graphics. It features first person grid style turn-based gameplay.  If your want to remember the good-old days of gaming maybe this app will provide a nitch between new and old.

Danger Alliance:Battles

This TBS features a skirmish mode and a hot-seat multiplayer mode. While this might seem like the game is a little light on game modes, the developers have promised online multiplayer and a campaign if they sell enough copies. Even if the game doesn't get the updates, the gameplay seems like a interesting mix of Final Fantasy Tactics and Great Little War Game.

Scribblenauts Remix

Some of you might recognize the name Scribbenauts . This puzzle game has finally made its way to iDevices. With 40 levels from past games and 10 original levels for this version of the game, plus a sandbox mode, if your a fan of Scribblenauts you might want to check it out.




 

iOS 5 Is Now Live -A How-to-Install and Feature Review All-in-One

iOS 5 is now available as a free download from iTunes. It is compatible with the iPhone 3GS,  the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S, the iPod Touch 3rd and 4th generations, the iPad, and the iPad 2. It adds iCloud support, Newsstand, iMessages, and Reminders, and more than two hundred new features.

To get this update on compatible devices:

1.Download iTunes 10.5
2. Sync your device with your computer.
3. Press update on the device summary tab.
4. Agree to the licensing agreements.
5. Let the iTunes download the update.
6. Click Update when the pop-up window comes up.
7. Let iTunes backup your device and install the update.
8. Once installed, go try the awesome new features.

Note: If you get an internal error, try restarting your computer and idevice. If this does not work check the article here.

Another Note: If your download has stopped, or you are getting a server error it may be that Apple's servers are overloaded. There is really nothing you can do but sit and wait.


iOS 5 adds the powerful new iCloud. This service stores all your data on your idevices in the cloud(on the internet). This allows you to transfer documents from your iPad to your iPhone or even to your PC. It also allows developers to develop games with online capabilities much easier than before, so you may see a lot more apps with online mutiplayer.

iOS 5 also adds iMessage, which replaces Messages on an iPhone but is totally new to iPad's and iPod Touches. This app allows you to send free text messages and  multimedia messages between idevices. If most of your friends and family have idevices it could save you a pretty penny each month. Also, iOS 5 brings a new app called newsstand, which is basically  ibooks for newspapers and magazines.

The last major thing that iOS brings to the table is the Reminders app.  This app allows you to set reminders for yourself and can be programmed to remind you at a certain location, which is useful if you are at home and want to remind yourself to do something at work. This update also brought many other changes too such as the new Notification Centre and minor changes to Gamecenter. So, if you can actually update without getting errors, I seriously recommend you do.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline Review- Gameloft's Newest Burnout Clone

Asphalt 6 is Gameloft's newest addition to the Asphalt series.  The Asphalt series are arcade racers which lean heavily on console games like Burnout.  It offers fast-paced gameplay that will have you doing insane drifts and nitro-boosting out of corners, while all the while trying to total your competition  and not get hit by oncoming traffic. The game comes packed with a career mode featuring 8 game modes, 12 tracks and a muti-player mode which offers 6 person racing online and local wifi.

If you ever played an game in Gameloft's Asphalt series before, you'll know what to expect out of this game as it leans heavily on it predecessors. Many of the game modes like Beat'em All and Elimination have appeared in past games and game modes like collector take a lot from previous games.  The star scoring system is also inherited from previous games, but the addition of secondary tasks to get 2 addition stars is welcome, as it gives you something other than the main task to aim for. Also, with the most recent update the game has brought an IAP that allows you to purchase stars, upgrades, and in-game money. While the IAP is not needed to advance in the game,  it allows players to progress faster and unlock cars without playing career mode, which may turn some people off of this game.

While the career mode offers lots of tracks and game modes,  the career mode seems to get repetitive after the first few cups when the events start to repeat. Also, the game somewhat forces you to finish career mode and get one of the better cars if you aren't going to purchase IAP, as in muti-player you'll be left in the dust if you're using a starter car.

One of the most welcome additions to this game is that unlike its predecessors, the car you last unlocked is not always better than the car before it. For example, the car you jut unlocked might have better handling than the previous car, but it might not have as great a top speed.  Also, the game allows great customization of a car's appearance, allowing you to both chose an exact colour from a slider and adding one of a great number of decals.

The muti-player in this game allows for 6 car races, which  may not seem huge compared to Real Racing 2's 16, but offers good nitro-boosting filled fun. The game also has a leaderboard to track best time, number of races, and total experience earned if your into becoming number 1 in the world.  What threw me off about muti-player was the lack of game modes. While racing is good fun, I wanted to total other players in Beat'em All or face off one on one in a Duel.  Also, games took a while to get enough players and start, which is pain if you want to play one race right after another.

Also, on an original iPad the game seemed to freeze at times and then start somewhere else on the track in the same position I was before.  While not game ending, this bug was annoying and I hope it gets fixed in future versions.

This game might not be as realistic or as eye-catching as Real Racing 2, Asphalt 6 is has a nitch of its own. Its on sale currently for $0.99,  which is a steal, but was also previously free, so you might want to bid you time.  If you're the type of person who likes to cause havoc by crashing into other racers, traffic, and even lamp posts, and then use nitrous to quickly accelerate this game is for you.


Rating:

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick Review

What would life be like if an EMP hit us and billions  died, leaving only the really young and the old survived. Add to that the fact that anyone between the ages of 12-65 might not totally die, but become a zombie-like cannibal . Seems a bit unbelievable, but unique, no?  Well, this is the premise for the book Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.

Ashes follows Alex, a seventeen year old who has terminal cancer and is hiking out in the woods. Ashes  is a book that gets off to a fast paced start, and by page 30, the "Zap" has happened, leaving Alex with super-smell, and 8-year Ellie's grandfather dead.  Even though Alex doesn't like Ellie, she can't leave her out in the woods by herself, so the unlikely duo sets off towards the ranger station.

Along the way, the pair comes across two teenagers who are feasting on a woman, and the duo runs away.(Who would blame them?)  This leaves both Alex and the reader wondering what caused the teenagers to act this way.  If this isn't enough, the get attacked by wild dogs and an twenty-year old war veteran who's name is Tom has to save them.

Although I liked the pacing and characters in the first half of the book, I didn't understand how a seventeen year old, who had been in the hospital a lot,  knew everything there was to know about surviving the wilderness. Also, she was able to name everything about the types of guns, and give a description about them, which I don't think many seventeen year olds would know about.

This is a very minor gripe compared to the one I had to the second half of this book. The action slows down, almost to the point of non-exstience,  when Alex gets to the town of Rule. Its seems like a pretty crazy town, ruled by a Council of Five and filled by a bunch of people who tried to linch her when she stepped into town. At first, she thinks about escape, but she never attempts it. Instead, she works as a doctor's assistant and falls right in, even though she needs an escort wherever she goes.  The ending was a cliffhanger, making it kind of love or hate. Giving no clue on what will happen to Alex, the ending wanted me wanting more and waiting for the next book in the series.


So,  lets recap.  The first half of this book had was great, but the second half was kinda...Huh. Overall, I think this book is worth your time and I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

My Rating: