http://www.do-it-mobile.com Your Source for Social News and Networking Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:40 EDT en http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=how-to-gift-an-ipad-app The iTunes store has a lot of entertaining, useful apps and awesome games in store for everyone, but did you know that iTunes also has an built in app gifting tool where you can pay for someone’s download and send them a link to receive their app? This is perfect for gifting on holidays, especially if that someone is passionate about apps and games.
Out are the days of the iTunes cards and in is the age of app gifting!
 
How to Gift an App? Let me Show you!
First, you should go to the iTunes page of the app you want to gift. For obvious reasons, you cannot gift free apps.
Next, tap on the GIFT THIS APP option on the page.

 
iTunes will ask for your iTunes username and password, so please tap on continue and supply the needed information.
iTunes will give you information about the app, click continue and you will be prompted to supply the recipient’s information, such as name and email, plus a personal message, just in case you want to say something sweet. Tap on Next.

 
You would just have to confirm the purchase on the next page. Click Buy Gift.
After that, the recipient will receive an email with the unique link for the download. ]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:40 EDT play Game Apps 65 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=how-to-gift-an-ipad-app http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=mittens-review-whats-new-pussycat If Mittens [$0.99] - from its seemingly detached concept to its unexpected existence - has you skeptical, you're not alone. Heck, in our TA Plays for the game, Brad drew some early conclusions about the way that the experience seemed like it was playing things disappointingly safe both from a mechanical and creative standpoint. Having now cleared through all of the game's levels and its available bonus pack, it seems that like its in-game collectibles, this one might just be a gem after all. As with the title's titular feline, though, players may go through ups and downs along the way.

The thing is, where Swampy brought with him not only a novel concept but a slew of memorable levels - each of which felt like it had a distinct theme and purpose - Mittens meanders much more on its way to eventual greatness. As with any physics puzzler, the basics are covered in the first few levels of each zone, with the core concept revolving around the need to swipe and tap our brave kitty to safety on a quest to impress his true love. Unfortunately, this introductory mindset seems to bleed into a large portion of the game's first fifty levels, with many of them feeling like indistinct, unmemorable versions of one another.
You know that sense you get when a new level in a three-star puzzler feels vaguely like a rearranged version of the one you played just far enough back that the game thinks you forgot it? Yeah, it's that.  All the trademark elements are in place, including sliced ropes, last minute drops onto bouncy objects, and risky collectible snagging - painted with a Disney polish that ensures everything feels smooth and precise. Yet for all its emphatic not-badness, there's a lingering feeling of ho-hum in the first two zones that's hard to shake. A sense that Disney might be trading in slightly on its newly minted supremacy in the genre, doing far less than they could to justify a purchase.
The yin to this more reserved yang, however, comes in the form of the levels that appear towards the end of each zone, as well as almost the entirety of the game's third area. Reassuringly, Mittens does eventually step out of the genre's comfort zone to deliver a much fresher take on a well-trod play style. First appearing as five bonus levels that are unlocked as you collect gems, these more complicated stages feel like a wonderful mix between Amazing Alex [$0.99] and Cut the Rope [$0.99]. Each one  departs from the "tap here, swipe this" feeling, instead forcing you to navigate landscapes already full of motion, and piece together the perfect timing needed to play your role as the little furry cog in a miniature machine. Better still? They tie together wonderfully and make up for the feeling of detachment prevalent throughout earlier levels. My particular favorites are the five final circus big-tops of the second zone, that culminate in a brilliant level full of tightropes, cannons, and miniature cars.
And while the last zone and the game's much tougher (and more imaginative) harbor zone continue this trend, I can't help but wonder why it feels like it takes almost half the game to get there. Drawing further attention to the game's design foibles is a seeming lack of effort in  - of all areas - production values. Mittens' is completely without stage music save for a repetitive chime at the end of a level, and the cut scenes that exist to punctuate play pale in comparison to the subtle, endearing storytelling achieved in Where's My Water? Except for grating meows when you fall into blackness or foul up, the titular kitty lacks all semblance of a personality, and it proves nigh-impossible to invest in the game beyond the compulsive desire to beat its levels.
This, perhaps, is the predicament I'm having with Mittens. You'd be hard pressed to call it bad by any stretch, and about half way through, it manages to take off in ways not hinted at in our TA Plays video to become a pretty wonderful take on the physics puzzler. At a dollar, and with a future that will doubtless be filled with more content, fans of the genre would be hard pressed not to pick this one up. At the same time, however, it's more than a little disheartening that Disney seems to have followed up their return to form with a return to safety, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more than a competent time-killer from a studio of their pedigree.

Like a top notch student handing in a rush job, Mittens sags not under the weight of what it does wrong, but all that it could have done much better.
App Store Link: Mittens, $0.99
TouchArcade Rating: ]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:26 EDT tutorial Game Apps 27 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=mittens-review-whats-new-pussycat http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-star-wars-facebook-tournament-level-5-week-17-%E2%80%93-apr-12th-2013 to leave a comment below; however, don't just post your score via the comments. Tournament walkthroughs are added weekly as new levels come out, so be sure to check the walkthrough page. ]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:11 EDT software Game Apps 62 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-star-wars-facebook-tournament-level-5-week-17-%E2%80%93-apr-12th-2013 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=the-hills-are-greener-the-next-nexus-7-and-why-google-may-be-unwilling-to-prevent-hardware-fragmentation Consider why the Nexus 7 was such a great device: it became the reference standard for the Tegra processor, created by Nvidia. Now, for gamers this has been a good decision as the company has used its chops as a gaming company to get more gaming content – not to mention exclusive deals. Also, it’s made the device a reference one for developers, and several gaming-focused machines have used the processor in their specifications, especially the OUYA.
But as well, there comes the challenge for developers: after having one processor to be optimized for, now a new processor is coming along to add a new wrench to development? Sure, that sounds lovely. Just more fragmentation, more weird errors that will be caused for developers. Because it isn’t hard enough as it is.
The argument with this is that Google could be moving to what they find is best at the time, which rapidly changes with Android, but even then, there’s something to be said for consistency. As well, the idea of limiting power consumption on a device built for entertainment, instead of using what could be the best processor for gaming and entertainment, seems silly. Perhaps I’m wrong here, but it just seems silly to switch.
Even considering that the US Samsung Galaxy S IV will have a Snapdragon processor, and the Nexus 4 boasts a Snapdragon as well, this is still a problem for a worldwide market. Google should be fostering consistency with their devices. Maybe this is where it starts, but there’s hardly any guarantee of that, now is there?
Say what you will about Apple: they’ve at least been a lot more consistent than Google has with their own Nexus devices. Google wants to have a line of flagship devices? Well, they need to stop changing course every year. Perhaps it’s time to actually use that Motorola partnership and have them making Nexus devices.
So, until some consistency does get developed, the fragmentation problem for developers will continue because even Google isn’t willing to put their best foot forward to prevent it. There will always be different form factors and resolutions, but with many differences still popping up, is Google even trying to solve this problem?
The Hills Are Greener: The Next Nexus 7, and Why Google May Be Unwilling to Prevent Hardware Fragmentation is a post from: Android Rundown
]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:03 EDT gaming Game Apps 30 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=the-hills-are-greener-the-next-nexus-7-and-why-google-may-be-unwilling-to-prevent-hardware-fragmentation http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=war-balloon-gamess-star-command-is-only-30-of-the-original-vision The Colorado-based developer has used the same Kickstarter update to emphasise how hard it's been working, and to apologise for the promised features that won't be in the game when it warps onto the App Store.
In fact, a... ]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:29:53 EDT gamer Game Apps 57 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=war-balloon-gamess-star-command-is-only-30-of-the-original-vision http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=super-lemonade-factory-review-simple-yet-refreshing Super Lemonade Factory: Simple yet Refreshing!
Tired of your sword slaying, strategic level up and mind puzzling games?  Try this simple yet refreshing game from the App Store (launched March 15, 2012). I love retro games and Super Lemonade Factory ($1.99 via iTunes, universal) caught my heart. It gives me a refreshing break from the usual RPG level up games in my iPad.  The visual presentation is so classic (reminds me of our all time favorite; Super Mario Bros.).

Game Story:
Meet the characters of the story are Andre and Lisolet. Andre will take over his father’s lemonade factory, he has some strength like carrying and breaking big boxes and crates. Lisolet is Andre’s wife. Andre needs to meet the workers and tour the whole factory with his wife Lisolet before he can take his father’s lemonade factory.
While Andre can break big crates and boxes that blocks their way, Lisolet can jump and reach perches that Andre cannot reach. Lisolet is also has the ability to speak and get attention from the workers. It is really a perfect team up. Each one’s strength accompanies one’s weakness.
The story might sound plain but as you play it you will see that there is something fishy going on. It seems that there are traps that are really meant to hurt or kill Andre.
 

 
Having Fun: How to Play the Game
Playing this game is really simple. The on screen controls are really easy to use. Make the characters run, jump and dash is not as hard as you might think. But do not over tap the controls you might mis-tap the buttons, like swapping Andre with Lisolet (remember Andre can’t jump high).
The game has dialogues; Lisolet needs to speak with all the workers so that she will earn achievements. You may find the game a bit plain (I did find it little boring when it comes to the visuals)
I already played lots of classic games. I agree that sometimes this type of game is a bit boring. Pushing, breaking and jumping are a bit childish but I bet that you might find this game a bit interesting. There are some levels that are not that easy as you think. Besides from pushing and breaking crates you also have to avoid spike traps.
 

 
The pixilated graphics added to its classic looks, and its background music adds up to it. I mean the game is pretty simple, for me it is like a desert after every meal. I like to play this game whenever I get tired with the usual level up games (for a change). One thing more I like in this game is kids will also enjoy it, because the controls are so easy to use and besides they don’t usually see this type of games.
Super Lemonade Factory, has some things to work on to but it doesn’t stop them to make us have fun while playing. The game is simple but makes me enjoy playing it and it is really easy to recommend.
 
Game Cost: $1.99
Download Link: Super Lemonade Factory – Shane Brouwer
Related posts:
Box Cat Review – Frogger Gets His Revenge
Swordigo Review: Get that Zelda Feelin’
]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:03:50 EDT play Game Apps 46 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=super-lemonade-factory-review-simple-yet-refreshing http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=le-vamp-review-this-endless-runner-bites-but-thats-a-good-thing From first-person shooter to endless runner, High Voltage's Le Vamp [$1.99] puts you in charge of the safety of what may be the world's cutest prince of the undead. Having just escaped from his crypt, the titular character charges headstrong out into the big wide world, obliviously looking for someone to play with amidst the dangers of sunlight, other monsters, and enraged townsfolk. Naturally, it falls to you to keep him out of harm's way...unless you're the real monster, because seriously: who wants to see this adorable baby vamp bite the dust?

Unlike Jetpack Joyride [Free], where the game world buzzes around you to make you feel like you're doing a whole lot, while only tapping the screen, Le Vamp asks you to have a stake in the environment itself...pun fully intended. Much akin to Kirby's Canvas Curse on the DS, success here means juggling control over the dangers all around you, including the need to pluck up obstacles, cut down enemies, and create bridges over water. Meanwhile, long term survival depends on keeping your blood quotient topped up, flicking hearty pigs into Le Vamp's hungry maw, while tossing garlic-filled oinkers out into the distance. Tantalizing coins and power-ups round out the mix, hovering on the screen to be nabbed quickly as you stalk along.
It's clear that High Voltage has studied the genre before making a run at it, as Le Vamp's play style feels wonderfully familiar while managing to add substance to a space more prone to imitation than innovation. Each danger and perk is characterized by a distinct action - swipe up to pluck evil potatoes up from your path, down to drain "le wurst" sausages, tap to collect coins and activate power-ups. They flow together with ease and thoughtfulness, giving each round that flurry of co-ordinated finger movement that defines the best mobile time-killers. Power-players might feel like the difficulty curve stagnates the fun after the 1,500 "kilometer" mark, with some imprecise hit boxes making it feel impossible to keep up with the dance of dexterity required.
That said, Le Vamp mitigates this pretty well with a stable of power-ups and upgrades that avoid feeling stale by playing to the game's environment and mechanics perfectly. Whether it's the time-slowing "jitterbean," the bat wings that help you soar above obstacles for a limited amount of time, or my favorite, bacon cologne to keep pigs from running away, each one feels worth unlocking and upgrading. High Voltage skirts that fine line between locking away abilities for challenge and keeping them hidden to encourage in-app purchases; rounds get noticeably easier and more diverse with each purchase, but it always feels like skill is the tool that gets you there. With the notable exception of a 3400 coin "swipe" power-up that forces you to buy the ability to collect coins intuitively, the balance here is spot-on.
The mini mission style that pervades the genre makes an appearance as well, to mixed results. While a majority of the missions set goals that straddle rounds intelligently, and help carve out purpose for each play through, there are a host of item-driven combinations that feel poorly thought out. Fighting enemies while using a specific item, for example, is a repeat task that seems doable enough, but which clashes with the game's randomness to make levelling up feel like chore now and again.

Just like with its vampiric star, though, Le Vamp proves endearing enough to make up for its foibles. Like Disney's Haunted Mansion (the ride, people, not the terrible movie), the game uses horror conventions to delight and amuse rather than to spook, and feels like the 90s cartoon version of a 30s black-and-white scary movie. It's a shame that the promised "charms and curses" section of the shop hasn't opened up yet, as I have a feeling they would have added even more flavor to the mix, but I'll definitely be looking out for them in a coming update. Tip for those long bus rides, though: the "remixed" Translyvanian tune that underscores each round can get a little grating, so think about turning off the sound.
Whether in your own crypt before you go to sleep, or at a family dinner with ghoulish relatives, Le Vamp is a charming, clever runner worth checking out. If your last flirtation with the genre was with something like Punch Quest [Free], this may just be one worth sinking your teeth into.
App Store Link: Le Vamp, $1.99 (Universal)
TouchArcade Rating: ]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:03:44 EDT tutorial Game Apps 47 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=le-vamp-review-this-endless-runner-bites-but-thats-a-good-thing http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-facebook-pig-tales-level-15-walkthrough to leave a comment below; however, don't just
post your score via the comments, as that's what the Facebook leaderboard is for. ]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:03:38 EDT software Game Apps 61 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-facebook-pig-tales-level-15-walkthrough http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=gdc-2013-moga-introduces-their-pro-controller Where gamers and Android users should care is that the controller is based off of the Fus1on Tournament Controller design, which the company claims is used by professional gamers worldwide in high-stakes competitions. Even for the mediocre gamer, this controller will do well – the joysticks had a great resistance to them, the triggers felt great to use as I killed zombies in Dead Trigger, and it’s increidbly ergonomically-friendly. There’s a rubber finish to where the player grabs the controller that makes it feel comfortable, and the controller has enough weight to it so that even a Galaxy Note 2 won’t make it feel lopsided. It also comes with a stand for the tablet devices that will work with it.
There are over 50 games that support the MOGA controllers through the company’s SDK, which they claim is the best way to implement controls as developers can easily tweak the controls for their button layout and joysticks. But with the wealth of Android games that support gamepads, often in secret, the MOGA Pro will still work with them, as an HID mode that works theoretically the same as when an Xbox controller is plugged in is also available through a switch on the controller.
The MOGA Pivot app is available to see which games are available on Google Play that support MOGA controls; this isn’t a separate store, but just a hub for seeing which games support the controls for Google Play. Plans are in the works over the long term to bring it to Amazon Appstore and Kindle Fire HD as well.
The MOGA Pro will be made available in mid-April, and is available at retail in many places such as Toys R Us and all major cell phone carriers.
GDC 2013: MOGA Introduces Their Pro Controller is a post from: Android Rundown
]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:03:37 EDT gaming Game Apps 38 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=gdc-2013-moga-introduces-their-pro-controller http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=play-as-the-iconic-iron-man-- Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:03:28 EDT gamer Game Apps 51 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=play-as-the-iconic-iron-man-- http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=freebie-alert-ant-raid-feed-the-dragon-and-more Through one of my favourite sites, I found a few good games that went free today, here are some of them:
 
1. Icebreaker Hockey

Icebreaker Hockey is an arcade style where you control a single characters with no team mates. The goal is to score a… er… goal while  dodging other hockey players that are trying to knock you down.
Icebreaker Hockey™ – NaturalMotion
 
2. Ant Raid

I am excited about this. I have read a lot of good reviews from different sites about this one and am ecstatic to download a copy for free. The game is an RTS game where you comman you army of ants to defend the home anthill while deploying others to attack. Much like command and conquer! But with bugs. Not the glichy ones.
Ant Raid – Prank Ltd.
 
3. Feed that Dragon

This game is very much like Fragger, it leads me to believe this one was inspired by the Miniclip game. The premise is to bounce the dragon food off things and over traps, to the dragon.
Feed That Dragon – Miniclip.com
4. Ancient War

Castle defense made in the age of the Flintstones!
Ancient War – Triniti Interactive Limited
5. Mad Chef / Food Ninja

In Mad Chef, you open up a restaurant and you throw knives at ingredients to make the food. The better you do, the more customers you get and more in game money!
Food Ninja – Foursaken Media
 
via STP
Related posts:
Freebie Alert! Mirror’s Edge, Minigore, Muffin Knight and More!
Dragon Eggs for iPad Review
]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:03:31 EST play Game Apps 64 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=freebie-alert-ant-raid-feed-the-dragon-and-more http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=final-fantasy-all-the-bravest-review-a-cowardly-cash-grab You'll find no story (other than a generic intro narrative screen), character development or meaningful interaction in All The Bravest. Instead, players bounce from stage to stage set in one-screen locations vaguely reminiscent of overworld locations across various Final Fantasy games. Each stage typically consists of several rounds of enemies also extracted from a wide range of previous games in the series. Players battle those enemies, earn experience, gain party level-ups and also earn gil, although there are no gil-based shops to speak of. While this description alone feels suspect for a Final Fantasy, this is only the tip of the iceberg for ATB's troubles.
Gameplay in FF:ATB consists of tapping (or sliding) your finger across party members, which activates their attack on a random enemy. There are no move choices, enemy selections, or party order; each member has its own attack bar and you're free to tap on them for another attack when it's filled. Win the battle and you're rewarded with experience which goes towards your party level and occasionally bestows an extra party slot for your team. Eventually your party becomes huge, with tons of characters constantly attacking and lots of battle bars to keep track of. Battles also occasionally award weapons which increase character attack powers but really don't add much in the grand scheme of things.
While the concept of large, hectic, simplified battles seem intriguing, the large parties coupled with randomized attacks lead to a game that has very little strategy in it whatsoever. Seriously, the most important thing you'll plan is how fast you're going to slide your finger across the screen. Even worse, the fact that all attacks are random lead to some frustrating scenarios where you have a baddie on the edge of defeat but your party keeps attacking all the other enemies (letting that one stay alive and attack). It's a far cry from the actual Active-Time Battle system that the game subtly references.
As if the above bastardization of Final Fantasy's classic battle system wasn't enough, ATB goes even further with a ridiculous IAP system complete with a freemium-esque scheme of encouraging players to wait or pay. In addition to the 20 default character classes that are unlocked during play, players have the option of purchasing 35 additional 'Premium' characters at a buck a piece. These premium characters are actual cast members picked from all FF games (such as Lightning from FF13 or Yuna from FF10) and come with their own unique (and typically powerful) moves.

Unfortunately, you don't have a choice as to which premium character you buy, as the game will randomly unlock a character for you with your purchase. This last point feels absolutely ridiculous and completely outweighs any potential intrigue some might have with seeing what some of the recent FF characters look like in pixel-form (besides, how would you know if you'd even get one?). Meanwhile, completionists will balk at the fact that character lists will remain unfinished until every character is bought and used. There are also additional worlds to purchase, they offer nothing more than 'what-if' 16-bit views of later games.
Some may wonder what happens if you lose all your party members in an intense battle. Well, you restart the entire round, wait for your party to regenerate at a rate of one member every three minutes, or use an hourglass that instantly revives your party but is only available for purchase via IAP. Truth be told, there's no reason for the hourglass mechanic to exist other than a blatant attempt to sell hourglass IAPs.
In addition, as you progress and get larger parties, the natural rate of party regeneration goes from annoying to intolerable as the worth of each party member plummets (since your total party increases in proportionate to enemy strength). The worst part is the fact that you WILL encounter boss battles that no amount of reasonable grinding will solve, forcing you into long waits for party regeneration and fever, or simply shelling out for hourglasses.
I have no problems with games that are little more than fan service. If a developer releases a game that simply gives its loyal fans "more of what it wants," it's typically a win-win situation for most parties involved. Final Fantasy: All The Bravest, while featuring a lot of bits and pieces of nostalgia, is not fan service.
Such games typically give something back to its community in some form or fashion. FF:ATB instead wants to extort from its fan base, which is easily apparent in its lackluster presentation, non-existent "gameplay," and ridiculous IAP scheme. ATB was disappointing enough in the fact that it's not a real RPG, but it's downright appalling when you think about the fact that it's simply a cash-grab. For everyone but the most stalwart FF fans (and I implore even them): this trip down memory lane isn't worth it.
App Store Link: FINAL FANTASY ALL THE BRAVEST, $3.99 (Universal)
TouchArcade Rating: ]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:03:12 EST tutorial Game Apps 35 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=final-fantasy-all-the-bravest-review-a-cowardly-cash-grab http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-star-wars-facebook-tournament-level-5-week-6-%E2%80%93-january-25th-2013
]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:02:56 EST software Game Apps 9 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=angry-birds-star-wars-facebook-tournament-level-5-week-6-%E2%80%93-january-25th-2013 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=the-hills-are-greener-why-smaller-tablets-aren%E2%80%99t-just-physically-smaller Now, while eventually it was sorted out, the point is this: the Android tablet market is largely defined by cheap devices. The Nexus 7 got its start, after all, as a low-cost 7" tablet from Asus that was highly-powered, but concessions had to be made to get it down to the $200 level. There’s a general feel that it is less sturdy than say an iPad, though its rubbery grip could be the cause of that. Still, it’s something that pales in comparison to Apple’s hardware design – one may not enjoy Apple products, but their craftsmanship is very high, even on their relatively low cost ones.

It’s not just Google that’s doing it: Amazon and Nook are pushing low costs on their tablets too. And that’s not to speak of the many nameless manufacturers trying to cut below even them. The market has spoken, and in the 7“ range at least, people want cheap tablets. And there’s a chance that in getting them, quality is going to suffer at least a little bit. And while the 10” market is a bigger unknown – the smaller 7–8" range is the hot market now with the iPad jumping in, and the Galaxy Note 10.1 is certainly well-advertised, but finding out just how many units its sold is not an easy endeavor, while Samsung touts the sales of the entire Galaxy Note line. The Nexus 10 is sold out on Google Play, but who knows how accurate that is. Maybe only 10 Nexus 10s were made. The fact that the Nexus 4 is still out of stock is still suspicious as compared to how fast they should be produced. Who knows.
The point is this: the 7“ market is the clear winner for Android, but people should not expect to be getting the absolute latest and greatest because of the demand for low prices. And a similar phone market is unlikely to develop long-term because phone subsidies on 2-year contracts bring prices into the range of 7” tablets. Heck, even Apple is underpowering the iPad Mini compared to the full-size line. That says a lot about what this market really is.
The Hills Are Greener: Why Smaller Tablets Aren’t Just Physically Smaller is a post from: Android Rundown
]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:02:42 EST gaming Game Apps 18 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=the-hills-are-greener-why-smaller-tablets-aren%E2%80%99t-just-physically-smaller http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=first-episode-of-new-rpg-vacant-sky-awakening-funded-on-kickstarter Created by a team of avid gamers and RPG enthusiasts, the episodic Vacant Sky: Awakening follows the story of a saucy young nobleman who quickly becomes the most hated man in history.
Vacant Sky's narrative spans a period of seven years... ]]> Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:02:18 EST gamer Game Apps 48 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=first-episode-of-new-rpg-vacant-sky-awakening-funded-on-kickstarter http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=kickstarter-spotlight-impulse-game-controller There are Bluetooth remotes out there and most games of this genre are compatible with these. The problem here is that it really negates the mobility of a smartphone. The biggest selling point from the gaming aspect is that the phone is with you 24/7 and is able to be quickly taken out and enjoyed while waiting in line or on the train. By introducing a giant controller that has to be consciously packed into a bag or purse, the mobility is suddenly constricted. No more can the phone just be complete in the pocket of a jacket; these full sized controllers cannot be comfortably thrown in a pocket because they are just too big.
Like all KickStarter blogs I do here, I now present a solution to this problem. Welcome, iMpulse, a tiny rectangular controller that is small enough to comfortably fit on any keychain. iMpulse was specifically designed to go onto keychains because they are with the player constantly. Anytime they leave the house their keys must go with them along with the phone; meaning that at anytime, gaming with a controller is possible. At about the width of an average palm iMpulse is small but it does not seem too small where it would be frustrating or unusable. Oh, and did I mention that it will help locate lost keys? For me, as forgetful as they come, this is almost more than worth the price of the whole device, gaming notwithstanding.
The only thing that makes me leery of the iMpulse is the lack of a second analog stick. The whole device basically is a 4 button NES controller with an analog stick in place of the traditional d-pad. Being a person who owned the older PSP for a number of years, I can attest to how hard it is to play a FPS without dual analog sticks. I am not quite sure if or how the design team plans on marketing the iMpulse but from their video they do not seem too concerned with marketing to the FPS crowd as most of the games they demoed were more traditional, less complicated mobile games.
If the iMpulse sounds interesting be sure to check out their KickStarter page for more information and possibly donate to the cause and get a pre-order for a pretty generous discount.








KickStarter Spotlight: iMpulse Game Controller is a post from: Android Rundown
]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:37:25 EDT gaming Game Apps 100 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=kickstarter-spotlight-impulse-game-controller http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=facebook-continues-its-mobile-charge-with-app-install-ads-facebook




If you use Facebook on your phone or tablet - and science says that there’s about a 95% chance that you do - you may have noticed something different lately. And no, we’re talking about the fact that the app is finally working. Rather, the social networking giant recently stepped up its mobile ad program from featured news stories to include a select pool of game developers.  Starting today, that pool will be a whole lot bigger.

]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:37:16 EDT games Game Apps 68 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=facebook-continues-its-mobile-charge-with-app-install-ads-facebook http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=old-skool-saloon-shooter-mad-dog-mccree-blasts-onto-the-nintendo-eshop
Released on Laserdisc (it's like a massive CD, kids) back in 1990, this laughable, yet lovable live-action shooter casts you as an unnamed gunslinger charged with rescuing the sheriff's daughter from the t... ]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:36:26 EDT gamer Game Apps 94 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=old-skool-saloon-shooter-mad-dog-mccree-blasts-onto-the-nintendo-eshop http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=plants-war-review-in-every-war-there-will-always-be-a-hero Plants War (Free via iTunes) game is closely related to War Craft and DOTA, so if you love playing those games you will also appreciate this fun game from Gamevil.com.  In a way it is similar to the games mentioned a while ago but this is the single-player version. You can test your strategy in leading your troop in defeating some beastly animals in the Dryad Forest.
Help Leafy and his troop in protecting their home and Dryad Forest.  Lead your hero, learn special skills and upgrade your champions and most of all enjoy the game.
 
Plants Wars: the Game and How it Works
Before starting your journey you will be asked to choose your champion. Your hero can be upgraded as you play the game or you can purchase it in the App Store but the first hero will be for free. After selecting your upgradable characters, then you are free to build an army to lead on your battle.
You have to unlock some units in order to proceed and what would you expect, like in any other games you still have to make another purchase in order for you to reach your quotas of gold and green leaves fortune.  The more plants and slots you have the greater chances you have in getting these gold and green leaves. But mind you it is not an easy one to collect the numbers of leaves you need for your upgrades.

Now that you have your troop to lead, with or without those additional purchases you can lead them to destroy your enemy’s base. (You have to make it quick or else they will blow up your base instead)
Leafy (our main character, the hero of the war) has four skills. In order to use each skill you have to collect certain points to have those skills be activated.  As your level advances you will have the chance in putting more points into Leafy’s special skills.
The game is not as complicated as the others but it is really fun. You need good strategic plans in order to reach victory. Create combinations of plants in blowing up you enemy’s base. It is easy to learn this game. Kids and parents can enjoy playing this game together.
This game is really fun to play but I think it can be better if it can be a multiplayer. It will add up more fun and excitement when this can be played with friends.
 
GREENS:

Controls are simple and easy to learn
Zoom and zoom out options
Visual presentation is great
Cute game
Upgradable Heroes with great skills

REDS:

Targeting the enemies is a bit difficult
You get the game for free but there is a catch
No game center (maybe it will be nicer if there will be a game center for this game)

 
Game Cost: free
Top In- Cost: $ 0.99 – $ 49.99 (ranges from 40 leaves to 3000 leaves)
Download Link: Plants War – GAMEVIL Inc.
Related posts:
Army of Darkness Defense Review
The Bard’s Tale Review – Anti Hero Story
Shadow Era Review
]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:38:52 EDT play Game Apps 73 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=plants-war-review-in-every-war-there-will-always-be-a-hero http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=true-skate-review-a-skating-simulation-tailor-made-for-the-touchscreen Well, it's finally come, as True Skate [$1.99] is exactly the kind of skateboarding game that I've always wanted. Rather than being heavily mission- or story-based like the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series or EA's Skate series, True Skate is more of a sandbox toy that lets you shred around a well-designed skatepark doing whatever you feel like. There's a short list of missions to complete, and there's plenty of potential to flesh out the entire experience further, but on release True Skate is simply an excellent physics-based skateboarding simulator that's only real limit is your imagination.
Unlike other skating games, True Skate doesn't have you playing as a person skating around the open world, rather you control the skateboard itself and your fingers act as the skater. Inevitably it will draw comparisons to Touchgrind [$4.99 / $7.99 (HD)], as that's really the only similar title on iOS that's ever made any sort of splash, but it's important to note that the two games are quite different from each other.
Touchgrind had a strictly top-down view that made it very difficult to see what you were doing or where you were going. As such, you were mostly stuck with trying various flatground flip tricks or the occasional attempt at a grind or slide if you were lucky enough to line up with the object correctly without knowing exactly where it was. Touchgrind was neat to be sure, but quite limited, and it failed to give me the feeling of actually skating around a real open skatepark.
In True Skate the view is pulled back to basically a 3rd-person behind-the-board camera angle, and it changes everything. Now you can see where you want to go and what objects you want to hit up, and when you land something you can just continue on to the next thing and string together a nice line of tricks. It feels like the whole park is at your fingertips and it's really up to you on how you choose to tackle the terrain. It's a very liberating feeling, playing True Skate.
Control-wise, True Skate works very similar to Touchgrind, using various swipes and flicks to perform tricks with your board, and everything is based on how the physics of real skateboarding works. Tap down on the tail to pop the board up and then quickly level it off to perform a nice ollie, and like real skating every other trick branches out from there. Ollie and flick the side of your board to kickflip, or scoop down on the tail in sort of a "U" shaped swipe to do a varial.
Likewise grinds and slides are simply a matter of ollieing and positioning your board over the object properly and pushing down in the correct spot on the board. For example, ollie at a slight angle over a rail and push down on the front of the board to lock into a crooked grind, or ollie at 90 degrees over a ledge and push down on the tail to perform a tailslide.
It can be tricky, and will take some practice before things start to click, but eventually they do and you'll be surprised with how many different tricks are possible by combining the various flips and grinds in the game. True Skate does a better job than any other iOS game that I've played at making you believe you're really manipulating a little virtual object with the touch screen.
And this is really where True Skate shines. It offers the kind of freedom to do whatever the heck you want just by giving you the core tools you need and letting you loose inside its sandbox world. There's something almost dangerously compelling about this for me, and I find that I can't help but play True Skate whenever I have a free moment. The physics engine and controls are strong enough that even a skateboarding neophyte will be busting out cool tricks with ease once they grasp the mechanics.
Where I think True Skate will really hit home, though, is with people like me who are actually into skating. There's nothing more satisfying than thinking "I want to kickflip over that pyramid and land in a backside tailslide down the rail", and then actually doing it. Oh it might take you dozens of tries, but I assure you it's possible and when you finally pull it off it'll be tough not to let out a yelp of victory. It's moments like this that are a pure rush, and True Skate is filled with endless amounts of them for those dedicated to really explore what's possible.

I could go on and on about how much I'm enjoying True Skate, but the fact is that it falls more in the "toy" category than the "game" one, and that might not be enough for some players. There is a handful of missions to complete, but they mostly feel like tutorials since they walk you through various things that help you get in tune with the gameplay. A much more robust mission system would be welcome for those that like their games to have specific goals to complete, and it sounds like that's something that will eventually be expanded upon in the future.
Another big feature I feel is missing is some sort of replay function. It's an incredible feeling to pull off some cool trick, and it's the sort of thing you'd want to be able to save and relive or show off to your friends. There's already a slick rewind feature built in so if you mess something up you can just backtrack and retry, but there's currently no way to rewind and re-watch something you just did. The ability to upload these replays to YouTube would also be nice, to make sharing your moments even easier.
Also, there's just the one skatepark environment in True Skate. It's a great park, with a great flow and mix of different obstacles to hit, but it's bound to get kind of stale skating in the same place all the time. I'd also like some sort of board customization, as you're currently limited to just the generic True Skate board. More boards with different attributes and an upgrade system could really kill two birds with one stone, offering a way to reward mission completion with XP that then goes towards upgrading your collection of boards. Just a thought, but that goes to show just how much potential the solid base of True Skate has, and it sure sounds like True Axis is on board with plenty of ideas of their own if the game is popular enough to warrant frequent updates.
In the end, True Skate's list of back-of-the-box features leaves a lot to be desired. You get one park, one skateboard, and a handful of different goals to complete, which really won't take very long at all and mostly serve to get you acclimated with playing the game. But that's the thing: once you are acclimated, the game instantly opens up with near-limitless possibilities, and that's what I've enjoyed most.
Some gamers aren't interested in sandbox-style experiences, and you might want to hold off and see how True Skate evolves over time. But even if that's the case, for a couple of bucks this is one of the most unique games in the App Store, and a real showpiece of what a touchscreen device is capable of. That alone is likely worth the small price of admission for most.
True Skate is clearly something special. It feels like the kind of game that our touchscreen devices were made for, and looks gorgeous to boot. If you're into skateboarding already I'll just tell you flat out: buy this game, you will fall in love. If you're not heavily into skating then chances are you'll like True Skate a lot too, as long as the lack of structured goals isn't a deal-breaker for you. For me, it's the sheer act of playing that keeps me coming back, and players in our forums have been loving it as well. I have no doubt that True Skate already bests all other skating games on iOS, and has the potential to grow well beyond its stellar foundation.
For another look at True Skate in action, make sure to check out our recent TA Plays video of the game.
App Store Link: True Skate, $1.99 (Universal)
TouchArcade Rating: ]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:38:23 EDT tutorial Game Apps 62 http://www.do-it-mobile.com/story.php?title=true-skate-review-a-skating-simulation-tailor-made-for-the-touchscreen