Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Football Manager 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/iphone-it-in-football-manager-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/iphone-it-in-football-manager-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/iphone-it-in-football-manager-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ask any sports fan and they'll tell you about the importance of stats. Beneath all of the flash and cash, an athlete is only as good as his or her numbers. And in Sega's Football Manager 2010 on the iPhone, math is pretty much the entirety of the game: Calculating salaries, player skills and tactics -- all in an attempt to put the odds in your favor.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Football Manager 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleFootball-ManagerFootball-Manager-Handheld-2010iphone-app-storeiphone-it-iniPodSegaSimulationSportsSports InteractiveSportsInteractiveMon, 19 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Final Fantasy I and II]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/iphone-it-in-final-fantasy-i-and-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/iphone-it-in-final-fantasy-i-and-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/iphone-it-in-final-fantasy-i-and-ii/#commentsI won't bother to review Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II on iPhone in terms of the content of the games. Chances are, you've encountered at least the first Final Fantasy, or at the very least you have an idea of the kind of early turn-based RPG it is. (Final Fantasy II, which never made it outside of Japan until 2002, is a bit of a different story. It's old-school, but also really weird.) The gameplay is pure NES vintage, the stories are as barebones as ever, and the graphics are identical to the recent PSP remakes.

What is important to review for the iPhone port of any console game is the interface. And Final Fantasy is the rare console game that can make the transition to an iPhone control scheme intact. Not only that, the new interface is actually pleasant to interact with.

Continue reading iPhone It In: Final Fantasy I and II

JoystiqiPhone It In: Final Fantasy I and II originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-iiiphone-it-iniPodremakerpgsquare-enixSun, 07 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Call of Duty: Zombies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/iphone-it-in-call-of-duty-zombies/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/iphone-it-in-call-of-duty-zombies/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/iphone-it-in-call-of-duty-zombies/#comments I'm a big proponent of games you can play with single taps on the iPhone and, as such, I was pretty skeptical about how well Call of Duty: World at War's zombie mode would make the leap to the diminutive platform. Though I've played FPS games that technically worked on iPhone, they're very rarely something I find myself returning to.

Call of Duty: Zombies cleverly skirts the issue by providing so much help with aiming, you're able to focus on what makes the mode so much fun on consoles.

Gallery: Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Call of Duty: Zombies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionAppleCall-of-Duty-World-at-WarCall-of-Duty-World-at-War-Zombiesiphone-it-iniPodWed, 17 Feb 2010 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Orbital]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/iphone-it-in-orbital/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/iphone-it-in-orbital/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/iphone-it-in-orbital/#comments I'm what you'd consider a pretty hardcore iPhone gamer (I know, does not compute). I probably have 30 games on my phone, and that's whittled down to my personal "best of the best." Near the top of that list is Orbital, a game that, like Canabalt, I can play anytime, anywhere I get the urge. Although unlike any of the other quick pick-up games I own, Orbital has a tendency to make me forget what I was doing, find somewhere comfy to plop and play for ... a really embarrassingly long time.

Part of that's the game's simple concept -- a "cannon" continually pans left and right at the bottom of the play field, and tapping the screen fires a projectile. It ricochets off the top and sides of the screen based on your aim, then expands until it touches the edges or another sphere. Each of these orbs in space starts with three "hit points;" hit it that many times and it explodes. So, the goal is to ricochet your shots in a way that they hit multiple orbs and create longer and longer destruction combos -- all while avoiding the game-ending mistake of your shot going off the bottom of the screen.

Oh, and then there's Gravity Mode.

Gallery: Orbital

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Orbital originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebitforgeiphone-it-iniPodorbitalThu, 04 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Crush the Castle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/iphone-it-in-crush-the-castle/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/iphone-it-in-crush-the-castle/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/iphone-it-in-crush-the-castle/#comments We talk about a wide variety of iPhone games in this feature, but we're increasingly in support of games like Canabalt which require just a single touch to play. Call us lazy, but one-thumb tapping seems to be the exact amount of interaction we need on our phones, and Crush the Castle, our latest iPhone addiction, delivers on just that.

You play as a sentient trebuchet attacking an increasingly intricate and fortified series of castles filled to the brim with royalty and their servants. With a single touch, you'll start the firing arc, with a second tap to choose the exact moment to release your (increasingly potent) ammunition. The fewer shots it takes you to bring down the castle, the greater the reward, in the form of bronze, silver and gold medals.

Gallery: Crush the Castle (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Crush the Castle originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applearmor-gamescrush-the-castlefeaturediphone-it-iniPodThu, 28 Jan 2010 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/iphone-it-in-phantom-mansion-the-red-chamber/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/iphone-it-in-phantom-mansion-the-red-chamber/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/iphone-it-in-phantom-mansion-the-red-chamber/#comments More than any other feature on Joysitq, iPhone It In is a meritocracy. If I or some other member of the staff finds themselves unable to stay away from a game, it makes it into this feature. The end. And it just so happens that this week, I can't keep my thumb off of Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber.

It's an utterly simple puzzle-action game, presented via a top-down view of several rooms in the titular mansion. You'll control a little dude named Hector as he wanders from room to room using the keys within to collect all the skull-shaped souls in each, manipulating boxes, switches, etc. to navigate past pitfalls and the mansion's skeletal denizens.

The weird thing is, I don't know why I can't stop playing the thing.

Gallery: Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applegimme5gamesiphone-it-iniPodphatom-mansionWed, 13 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: A Christmas Santa]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/iphone-it-in-a-christmas-santa/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/iphone-it-in-a-christmas-santa/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/iphone-it-in-a-christmas-santa/#comments You're going to think I'm messing with you, that this is some sort of holiday gag, but I assure you that it is not: I can not remember ever being as addicted to a game as I was to A Christmas Santa. For a full calendar day it absolutely ruled my life, and then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

You think it's easy to type these words and admit that as you sit there all smug and judgmental? Well, it's not. But give me a chance to explain myself and I'm hopeful that you'll walk away -- if not convinced, perhaps just a bit more tolerant.

Gallery: A Christmas Santa (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: A Christmas Santa originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-christmas-santaAppleblue-windcasualchristmasholidayiphone-it-iniPodWed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Cobra Command]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/iphone-it-in-cobra-command/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/iphone-it-in-cobra-command/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/iphone-it-in-cobra-command/#commentsThe iPhone is the best thing to happen to FMV games since ... well, I can't think of anything good to happen to FMV games in the last ten years or so. Basically, the iPhone is one of the first portable platforms able to store and play the high-quality video that games like Dragon's Lair are known for -- and FMV games usually have uncomplicated enough control schemes to survive the transition to the iPhone intact.

Cobra Command is actually a bit more complex than your average Dragon's Lair type game, but it works just fine with the iPhone's controls. It's also the most '80s thing you'll ever experience.

Gallery: Cobra Command (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Cobra Command originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecobra-commanddata-eastfmviphone-it-iniPodrevolutionary-conceptsMon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: bitFLIP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/iphone-it-in-bitflip/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/iphone-it-in-bitflip/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/iphone-it-in-bitflip/#comments I first heard about iPhone pseudo-puzzler bitFLIP from the game's developer, Metamoorephosis Games owner (and JPAG member) Josh Hernandez. I'd be remiss to not mention upfront the hesitation with which I approached reviewing said game for iPhone It In, given the development source being a Joystiq reader and podcast listener.

It was a convenient delight then when I first loaded the game up on my 3G and had a thoroughly enjoyable time playing it. Though a truly egregious boot time put me off from playing bitFLIP during my every free moment over the two or so weeks I spent with the game (that time was reserved for Canabalt), I was still anxious to play it when my free time was longer than a scant few moments. Mixing interesting puzzle mechanics, great music, a truly unique (and often beautiful) visual presentation, and a variety of gameplay options, I can confidently say that there's more than enough enjoyable gaming to be had here to warrant your two bucks.

Gallery: bitFLIP

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JoystiqiPhone It In: bitFLIP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebitflipcanabaltiphone-it-iniPodjpagmatch-3metamoorephosismetamoorephosis-gamesmusicpuzzleWed, 25 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Canabalt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/iphone-it-in-canabalt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/iphone-it-in-canabalt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/iphone-it-in-canabalt/#comments Canabalt is a 2D side-scroller where you control a gentleman continuously running across rooftops and cranes, gradually building up speed while avoiding various objects which will either slow down or kill him. Rather than "score" or "points," developer Semi Secret Software measures your success by the distance you manage to cross, even allowing for instant bragging via Twitter in-game. It's a simple premise with a surprising amount of depth.

And it's exactly the kind of game I want to pick up and play on my iPhone. Canabalt is perfect for the device: the gameplay comes in short, addictive bursts, it loads up quickly, and it employs the touchscreen in an intuitive way. Though a vast wealth of quick and addictive games now reside on my phone, I find myself constantly returning to Canabalt's rooftops and blaring techno music whenever I have a spare moment.

Gallery: Canabalt (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Canabalt originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2dApplecanabaltiphone-it-iniPodplatformersemi-secretsemi-secret-softwareside-scrollertwitterWed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Dexter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/iphone-it-in-dexter/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/iphone-it-in-dexter/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/iphone-it-in-dexter/#comments Some iPhone games offer a simplistic getaway for gamers on the move, while others throw everything at you including the kitchen sink. Dexter: The Game manages to combine a lengthy story based on the television program's first season with a slew of mini games, and while some of the tasks are strangely incomprehensible, Dexter's video game debut is a solid overall experience.

Gallery: Dexter (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Dexter originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appledexterdexter-the-gameicarus-studiosiphone-it-iniPodmarc-eckomarc-ecko-entertainmentThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Wolfenstein RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/iphone-it-in-wolfenstein-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/iphone-it-in-wolfenstein-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/iphone-it-in-wolfenstein-rpg/#comments I've come to expect a certain modicum of brevity in games played on my iPhone. Games like Doom Resurrection and Worms proved problematic, taking far too long to get into and out of games, or simply pushing my little 3G's processor to the limit (and being choppy as a result). Meanwhile, smaller titles like Drop7 and Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D excel due to their size.

Wolfenstein RPG shocked me in this respect. I thoroughly enjoyed the deeper experience that the RPG elements offered (a leveling system and well-rewarded exploration), while save-anywhere functionality and short load times encourage quick gameplay sessions. In so many words, it offers the best of both worlds: a deep experience with jump in/jump out functionality.

Gallery: Wolfenstein RPG (iPhone/iPod Touch)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Wolfenstein RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppleidid-softwareiphone-it-iniPodwolfensteinwolfenstein-rpgMon, 31 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Rope 'n' Fly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/iphone-it-in-rope-n-fly/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/iphone-it-in-rope-n-fly/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/iphone-it-in-rope-n-fly/#comments
There are deeper, more engrossing, better crafted experiences on the iPhone than Robert Szeleney's Rope 'n' Fly, but you'd be hard pressed to find many that take advantage of the platform so well.

It is, basically, a Spider-Man game. No, of course it's not called that, and (after a recent update) the main character is no longer clad in Spidey's trademark red and blue, but there's no doubt that the game's trying to simulate the feeling of tooling about as the world's favorite wall-crawler.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Rope 'n' Fly originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleiphone-it-iniPodrope-n-flyspider-manMon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Space Invaders Infinity Gene]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/iphone-it-in-space-invaders-infinity-gene/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/iphone-it-in-space-invaders-infinity-gene/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/iphone-it-in-space-invaders-infinity-gene/#comments Space Invaders Infinity Gene sounds like a complete retread of Space Invaders Extreme: a new shooter made by mixing retro-style graphics with techno music and brightly-colored, swirling visuals.

But Infinity Gene, ported to iPhone from Japanese mobile platforms, is a very different game, with little relation to either Space Invaders Extreme or the original game outside of a few visual shoutouts. And as such, Extreme's brilliance doesn't make this new reimagining redundant.

Gallery: Space Invaders Infinity Gene (iPhone/iPod Touch)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Space Invaders Infinity Gene originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleiphoneiphone-it-iniPodshmupspace-invadersspace-invaders-infinity-genetaitoTue, 04 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Worms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/iphone-it-in-worms/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/iphone-it-in-worms/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/iphone-it-in-worms/#comments There isn't a whole lot to say about my six or so hours spent with Worms, and as such, this won't be one of the longer iPhone game reviews you read anytime soon. In fact, if you've played past Worms games, then you're going to find some pretty glaring issues to complain about here and not much of anything new.

The game looks great, has tons of content (near equivalent to the recent XBLA release, Worms 2: Armageddon), and doesn't cost a whole lot of money ($5). There are, however, a handful of niggling complaints that could be made about the lack of precision control necessary for a time-based game, as well as long load times strewn throughout the game's menus. Unfortunately, these little issues add up to a much bigger one -- they make me not want to play the game.

Gallery: Worms (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Worms originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppleiphone-it-iniPodteam-17Team17Team17-SoftwarewormsWorms-2007Worms-HDWed, 29 Jul 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Drop7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/iphone-it-in-drop7/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/iphone-it-in-drop7/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/iphone-it-in-drop7/#commentsBonus: Joystiq is giving away Drop7 download codes! Details at the end of the review:


You know what, I'm just gonna say it: I love Drop7. I've been evangelizing the game since I downloaded the free "Lite" version two weeks ago -- and subsequently bought the full version for $2.99 -- trying desperately to explain the game's "Tetris meets Sudoku" concept to anyone who'll listen.

Forget about your Super Monkey Balls and Metal Gear Solid Touches -- Drop7 feels built from the ground up with the iPhone (at least sort of) in mind, and easily warrants the same praise that games like Rolando and Word Fu have earned. It's easy to jump into a game and play for as little (or as long) as you'd like, just the way I like my phone-based gaming.

Oh, and before you jump all over me for not playing the game earlier, I'm quite aware that the game came out all the way back in late January, which is like ten thousand internet years. It doesn't matter though, because Drop7 is timeless.

Gallery: Drop7

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Drop7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeApplearea-code-entertainmentdrop7iphone-it-iniPodjoyswagsudokutetrisTue, 21 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/iphone-it-in-baseball-slugger-home-run-race-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/iphone-it-in-baseball-slugger-home-run-race-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/iphone-it-in-baseball-slugger-home-run-race-3d/#comments
I'm sure we lost a good percentage of you with the title of the game alone, both for its connection to sports and its inarguable terribleness. Honestly, it's probably best, if only to stave off the complete stoppage of the world economy. It may seem like hyperbole -- OK, it is hyperbole -- but that's just how addictive I found BS:HRR3D (you know, I'm just gonna call it Slugger).

Gallery: Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebaseball-slugger-home-run-race-3dcom2usiphone-it-iniPodsluggersportsMon, 13 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Doom Resurrection]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/iphone-it-in-doom-resurrection/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/iphone-it-in-doom-resurrection/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/iphone-it-in-doom-resurrection/#comments
What's the most you would spend on a game for your iPhone? Not a port, mind you, but a brand new game based on a classic franchise, developed specifically with the iPhone's control system in mind -- $5? $7? How about $10? Try as I might, while playing id Software's latest Doom iteration -- Doom Resurrection -- it was near impossible to shake the uneasy feeling that $10 is just a bit too much money for the experience.

Truth be told, the game is "big" -- Doom Resurrection could easily be ported to gaming-specific handhelds -- though it weighs in under 100 MB. The problem with the scope of the game, however, is the resultant long load times and an occasionally choppy framerate -- the length of time it takes to jump into the game make it something I don't want to play on my way here or there (full disclosure: I'm using an iPhone 3G and it may run significantly better on the 3GS).

Gallery: Doom Resurrection

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Doom Resurrection originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appledoomdoom-resurrectionescalation-studiosid-softwareiphone-it-iniPodTue, 07 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Guinness World Records]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/iphone-it-in-guinness-world-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/iphone-it-in-guinness-world-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/iphone-it-in-guinness-world-records/#comments
Some iPhone games are the picture of simplicity, honing a premise down to one, bite-sized gameplay idea. There are others though that take a kitchen-sink approach, seeing just how much stuff they can jam into Apple's portable. Guinness World Records, a reworked version of the Wii/DS release, is firmly in the latter group, but it thankfully manages to hit the mark more often than it misses.

Gallery: Guinness World Records (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Guinness World Records originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleguinness-world-recordsiphoneiphone-it-iniPodwarner-brosMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: The Sims 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/iphone-it-in-the-sims-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/iphone-it-in-the-sims-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/22/iphone-it-in-the-sims-3/#comments
I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm not embarrassed by how enthralled I am with the downsized version of The Sims 3 that EA released for the iPhone. But the fact remains: I'm hooked, and I figure if I pass the addiction on to you, I won't seem like such an oddball.

I haven't played the new Sims release, so I don't really have that as a frame of reference. What I do know is that all the tropes of the series seem to be here: Create a person, meet their needs and help them get a family, career, the whole bit.

Gallery: The Sims 3 [iPhone]

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JoystiqiPhone It In: The Sims 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleeaElectronic-Artsiphoneiphone-it-iniPodmaxisthe-simsMon, 22 Jun 2009 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Soul Trapper]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/iphone-it-in-soul-trapper/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/iphone-it-in-soul-trapper/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/iphone-it-in-soul-trapper/#comments
When people are surprised by how excited I am for the iPhone as a platform, Soul Trapper is the kind of game that I bring up. It's odd and it appeals, I imagine, to a pretty small sliver of the market, but if you want a game like this, you're not going to find it anywhere else.

Think of the game as an interactive radio play. You take the role of Kane Pryce, who has two edgy names, so you can imagine the kind of edge we're talking about here. Extreme-itude aside, Kane has one other quirk: A magic box (the titular Soul Trapper) than can suck up ghosts and allow Kane to interview them, or even send them over to the Other Side.

Continue reading iPhone It In: Soul Trapper

JoystiqiPhone It In: Soul Trapper originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleiphoneiphone-it-iniPodrealtime-audio-adventuressoul-trapperWed, 20 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Top Gun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/iphone-it-in-top-gun/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/iphone-it-in-top-gun/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/iphone-it-in-top-gun/#comments
Listen, as the writer of Joystiq's only iPhone-related column, I do my fair share of playing licensed garbage. For example, I played a Land of the Lost-themed game that makes "Punch the Monkey" look like The Orange Box. I'm not even going to link to it, for fear that you'll play it. Seriously, it was the game equivalent of watching my immediate family die in a house fire.

You can imagine my confusion then when I say that Top Gun is shockingly good. No, don't laugh, it's true.

Gallery: Top Gun (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Top Gun originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flightfreeverseiphone-it-inparamounttop-gunTue, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Mafia Wars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/iphone-it-in-mafia-wars/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/iphone-it-in-mafia-wars/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/iphone-it-in-mafia-wars/#comments
We're a little embarrassed at how much time we've sunk into the iPhone port of Facebook favorite Mafia Wars. At its heart, it's not really much of a game. But damn it if we can keep from compulsively tapping the thing every 15 minutes or so.

As a low-rent thug, you'll work your way up the ladder by completing jobs and then buying new weapons with the cash you earn. There is, however, no risk.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Mafia Wars originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleiphone-it-iniPodmafia-warszyngaTue, 05 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Catcha Mouse]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/iphone-it-in-catcha-mouse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/iphone-it-in-catcha-mouse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/iphone-it-in-catcha-mouse/#comments
We put a lot of focus on iPhone games that are complete and rich enough to fit on handheld consoles like the PSP and DS. But this week, we thought we'd look at the sort of small, quickplay game that the platform already does better than any other. Because this week, we're addicted to Catcha Mouse.

Yeah, OK, stop snickering, it sounds kind of silly. And the game's premise is goofy enough to match: As a mouse tries to escape through holes in your floor, you have to lay out traps to stop it.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Catcha Mouse originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecatcha-mouseiphone-it-iniPododasoftWed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Word Scramble]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/iphone-it-in-word-scramble/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/iphone-it-in-word-scramble/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/iphone-it-in-word-scramble/#comments
This is the sort of game that makes writing about the iPhone platform daunting, but exciting. Just a week after I heaped praise on Word Fu, I discovered Word Scramble, a game with a similar premise that I actually enjoyed a lot more.

Just like in Word Fu, you're given a selection of letters (this time a standard grid rather than cubes) and you have to make as many words out of them as you can in a few minutes. It lacks the power-ups of Word Fu, which robs a little bit of excitement, but it also makes you feel like you only have yourself to blame for low scores.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Word Scramble originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleiphoneiphone-it-iniPodscrambleword-fuword-scramblezyngaTue, 14 Apr 2009 12:34:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: geoDefense]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/iphone-it-in-geodefense/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/iphone-it-in-geodefense/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/iphone-it-in-geodefense/#comments
I'm not proud of the fact that if you saw me madly poking my iPhone during GDC, I probably wasn't communicating hawt scoops to the homebase. No, I was probably playing geoDefense, the bastard love child of Geometry Wars and tower defense that my productivity wishes had never seen the light of day.

As in most TD games, you'll fend off an ever-increasing army of creeps by strategically placing different towers to defend your homebase. Your towers have a range of attacks from a standard shot to a missile with splash damage, and you'll have to pick the right one to deal with the range of enemies, which vary in strength and speed.

Gallery: geoDefense (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: geoDefense originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecritical-thought-gamesgeodefenseiphoneiphone-it-iniPodTue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: iDracula]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/iphone-it-in-idracula/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/iphone-it-in-idracula/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/iphone-it-in-idracula/#comments
I'll be the very first to admit that iDracula is a really, really bad name for a game. It's bad in a fun way that makes me laugh to myself when I turn it on, but still, bad. It would require a Herculean effort of diversion to get me to recommend a game with a name like "iDracula," and that's exactly what you're going to find here.

iDracula is a twin stick shooter, or maybe "twin dial" would be more appropriate. By rotating the left dial with your thumb, you're able to turn and move in that direction -- ditto for the right dial and shooting. I know, I know, it sounds insane, but it works better than it has any right to.

Gallery: iDracula (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: iDracula originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chillingodraculaidraculaiphoneiphone-it-invampiresMon, 16 Mar 2009 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Word Fu]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/iphone-it-in-word-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/iphone-it-in-word-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/iphone-it-in-word-fu/#comments
It may seem like Word Fu is just a cute name to accompany the martial arts trappings of this word creation game, but it's a surprisingly accurate descriptor. For one, it requires concentration the likes of which most iPhone games never approach, and many of its techniques don't reveal themselves without a lot of study. Also, when you do have a really good game, you feel like you could put your fist through a pile of bricks without much trouble.

You'll begin by receiving a selection of nine letters printed on cubes that you can either completely replace or roll individually in an attempt to get a better selection. After a few seconds of rejiggering, you'll have 45 seconds to make as many words as you can, with less common letters and longer words netting you extra points.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Word Fu originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneiphone-it-inngmocoMon, 09 Mar 2009 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Zen Bound]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/iphone-it-in-zen-bound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/iphone-it-in-zen-bound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/iphone-it-in-zen-bound/#comments
Within moments of starting Zen Bound, I was completely embarrassed we hadn't yet featured it on "iPhone It In." No discussion of the iPhone as a platform that omits this soothing, beautiful puzzle game can really call itself complete. Hell, in terms of making use of the iPhone's specific strengths, Zen Bound is the discussion.

It is, as developer Secret Exit says simply in its iTunes Store description, a game about wrapping wooden sculptures with rope.

Gallery: Zen Bound (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Zen Bound originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chillingoiphoneiphone-it-insecret-exitzen-boundMon, 02 Mar 2009 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Rolando]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/iphone-it-in-rolando/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/iphone-it-in-rolando/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/iphone-it-in-rolando/#comments
Anyone who's ever played LocoRoco has been guilty of it. You just can't help but tip your PSP to the left or right, trying for that extra smidgen of incline to get your gelatinous balls of goo rolling, even though you know it has no real effect. But in ngmoco's Rolando, the controls are all about the angle of your system, and it makes for some of the most fun you can have on your iPhone.

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Rolando originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneiphone-it-inlocorocongmocorolandoMon, 23 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: LightBike]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/iphone-it-in-lightbike/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/iphone-it-in-lightbike/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/iphone-it-in-lightbike/#comments
Tron's deadly glowing discs are an object of no small amount of fascination for those who went through their geek pupa stage in the '80s. But to focus solely on the disc is to discount the deep veins of awesome within the film's high speed suicidemobile: the Light Cycle. The iPhone's LightBike manages to serve not only as fan service to those who've dreamed of strapping into one, but a darn fine game in its own right.

Gallery: LightBikes (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: LightBike originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneiphone-it-inlightbikeMon, 16 Feb 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone It In: Silent Hill: The Escape]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/iphone-it-in-silent-hill-the-escape/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/iphone-it-in-silent-hill-the-escape/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/iphone-it-in-silent-hill-the-escape/#commentsFiled under: ,


Hey, welcome to our brand new iPhone feature, "iPhone It In." We're going to start off with a discussion of a new iPhone game, but stick around afterward to see how you can win a super-sexy, Joystiq-branded iPhone case from our friends at Element! [Update: Congrats to Baby Sea Tuna, a winner is you!]

Let's give credit where it's due: As a proof of concept, Silent Hill: The Escape works. If someone at Konami wanted to prove that they could create a creepy atmosphere that boasted the series' trademark look and sound on a phone, they should consider this a success.

Gallery: Silent Hill: The Escape (iPhone)

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JoystiqiPhone It In: Silent Hill: The Escape originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneiphone-it-injoyswagkonamisilent-hill-the-escapeMon, 09 Feb 2009 18:02:00 EST