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iOS Board Games

Among the best things in life is playing printed games in person with family and close friends. When those are not convenient we like iOS Board Games. News, reviews, previews, and opinions about board gaming on iPhones, iPads, iPods and even Android devices. (iPhone board games, iPad board games, iPod board games, Android board games)
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News Bits: Carcassonne Info Update, Puerto Rico Nearing Release, Keltis Oracle Price Slash, Kalimat vs Wordfeud, Neuroshima Hex and Army of Frogs

Posted by Gabe Alvaro
16 May 2011
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• Coding Monkeys Post Carcassonne Info Update to Blog
• Puerto Rico Nearing Release
• Keltis Oracle Price Drop
• Kalimat vs Wordfeud
• Big Daddy's Creations Update on Neuroshima Hex and Army of Frogs



• Coding Monkeys Post Carcassonne Info Update to Blog - May 13
It only took 5 months since their last info update, but the Coding Monkeys, makers of pretty much the finest example of an iOS board game in their app Carcassonne, have updated their blog with information about Game Center integration and then it's on to a couple of expansions.

They even acknowledge their own glacial pace in the last paragraph of the post. Strangely, they also use the word "sloppy" in making a veiled reference to "others of our favorite board games." Eh, what's that about?




• Puerto Rico Nearing Release - May 13
Codito has posted that they have submitted Puerto Rico to Ravensburger for final approval and posted a screenshot. I think things are looking good.




• TribeFlame Slashes Price of Keltis Oracle
TribeFlame has slashed the price of Reiner Knizia's Keltis Oracle from $3.99 to just $0.99. This is the lowest price ever for this app.

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=Smq3RC8yf5I&offe...



• TouchArcade Posts Comparison: Kalimat vs Wordfeud - May 13
If you couldn't get enough of Words with Friends and you're looking for more, you might consider checking out this article at TouchArcade.com with compares two newer word games Kalimat and WordFeud.






• Big Daddy's Creations Update on Neuroshima Hex and Army of Frogs
Łukasz reports that Big Daddy's Creations is trying to finish and send to Apple another Neuroshima Hex update with two new armies as in-app-purchases (New York and Neojungle), so Army of Frogs is a bit late. He also thinks that May is no longer possible, but they're targeting it for mid June. A short promotional video of Army of Frogs could also be released soon.
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Carcassonne is one of the best board game apps available. I know it's been said before, but I figured I would reiterate it.
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 8:37 pm
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Samuel Hinz
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I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 8:43 pm
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abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


agreed.
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 8:45 pm
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Re Carcassonne:
The only thing I don't like is rotating the tiles in Carcassonne. I have to zoom in then flick it just right with two fingers just to get it to turn,a nd I often can't do it. So I end up putting the tile in a less advantageous place.
Other than that, carcassone is close to perfect. But that one problem is a pretty big annoyance, so much so that I will often stop the game and give up on it.
 
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  • Edited Mon May 16, 2011 8:47 pm
  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 8:46 pm
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everlong205 wrote:
Re Carcassonne:
The only thing I don't like is rotating the tiles in Carcassonne. I have to zoom in then flick it just right with two fingers just to get it to turn,a nd I often can't do it. So I end up putting the tile in a less advantageous place.
Other than that, carcassone is close to perfect. But that one problem is a pretty big annoyance, so much so that I will often stop the game and give up on it.


You don't need to do that. Just tap with one finger to spin 90 degrees (or to whatever degree that matches the current layout).
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 8:49 pm
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I got Keltis at $0.99. I never played it before (though have played a lot of Lost Cities). My first game vs. 1 AI opponent I won; next I got absolutely destroyed. It's a fun game but there's a lot going on. Not sure I understand all the scoring opportunities yet, but it's a good app for under a buck.
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  • Edited Mon May 16, 2011 9:32 pm
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cannoneer wrote:
it's a good app for under a buck.


It most certainly is: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-gre...
 
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 10:09 pm
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I find NHex SP pretty tough since one of the recent updates. That said, MP would be wonderful for this game. Still a great time killer and one of my most-played apps of all time.
 
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 11:38 pm
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Excited for more NS Hex Armies! If only they had some way to support making your own armies....
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  • Posted Mon May 16, 2011 11:42 pm
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I had no idea they were planning to release the Neuroshima Hex expansions armies. That's awesome news. I will certainly pick those up and keep my fingers crossed for the Duel armies (and board!) in the future!
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 12:34 am
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I'm going to take a day off of work when the new NH armies are released. Not even kidding.
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 12:40 am
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John Reiners
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ghostOfChristmas wrote:
everlong205 wrote:
Re Carcassonne:
The only thing I don't like is rotating the tiles in Carcassonne. I have to zoom in then flick it just right with two fingers just to get it to turn,a nd I often can't do it. So I end up putting the tile in a less advantageous place.
Other than that, carcassone is close to perfect. But that one problem is a pretty big annoyance, so much so that I will often stop the game and give up on it.


You don't need to do that. Just tap with one finger to spin 90 degrees (or to whatever degree that matches the current layout).

Wow, I can't believe I missed that. Ill give it a try. If it works I'll bump up my rating to an A-. I'll give it s full A once they add game center access and an A+ once they add some expansions.
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 12:50 am
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blakstar wrote:
abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


agreed.


I'm assuming you gents are talking about an online multiplayer function as the pass and play works great. I think an online component would be fun but definitely not a deal breaker for me.

I agree with Don that this is one of my favorite and most played apps. Can't wait to get the extra armies.
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 5:12 am
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Quote:
Strangely, they also the word "sloppy" in making a veiled reference to "others of our favorite board games." Eh, what's that about?


I don't think this is strange at all.

Carcassonne by The Coding Monkeys is to iPhone app board game conversions what the iPhone is to smartphones in general. Basically, it's just a million times better. Sure, there are little nitpicky things that I would like to change (it's impossible to please everyone), but overall, the experience is far superior to the competition.

Companies like Codito and Tribeflame should definitely be applauded for dedicating their development efforts to iOS ports of these games we all know and love, but they should also take a page from The Coding Monkeys playbook, and spend a bit more time and effort to polish those games until they shine before releasing.

I really wanted to like Through the Desert for iPhone. It's one of my favorite (if not actually my favorite) board games in real life, and I was pleased as pie to be able to finish a game in half the time on my iPad as it would take to finish a game with all the physical bits. Unfortunately, that's where the pleasantness pretty much ended. The game is not as buggy as EVERY SINGLE RELEASE FROM Codito, but the multiplayer has basically never worked for me, and another couple of weeks spent polishing the user interface would have gone a really long way, IMHO.

In contrast, Carcassonne was, for me, one of those played out games relegated to the back of the closet. Don't get me wrong, I played a lot of the game back when I first discovered it in like 2004... but it hadn't seen the table in ages. The Carcassonne app pretty much turned that around overnight. I play more Carcassonne now than I ever did before. And it's certainly not because the game got better. It's all about the awesome implementation -- asynchronous play and ELO especially.

Now, I understand not every game is going to have the luxury of a year of development, and budgets obviously factor directly into how much spit and polish a game is liable to get, but I personally feel like many of these board games -- especially the ones near the top of the BGG list -- deserve better than they have been getting from their developers. These are games that have already stood the test of time. I just hope their app counterparts can do the same.
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 5:25 am
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Is it just me (and is it just because it's late) or is that Keltis pic actually MOVING! But only when I'm NOT looking at it!!!

Freaky.
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 6:57 am
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Stu Skywalker wrote:
Is it just me (and is it just because it's late) or is that Keltis pic actually MOVING! But only when I'm NOT looking at it!!!

Freaky.


same here!
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 8:19 am
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i appreciate the new armies for NH, it's one of my favourite apps.

although i'd like multiplayer a lot more... bluetooth, wifi, both, anything...
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 10:35 am
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blakstar wrote:
abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


agreed.


agreed (I hope they are listening)
 
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  • Edited Tue May 17, 2011 11:41 am
  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 11:41 am
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Regarding app quality, I have not played the Carcassonne app (mostly because of its price, and I don't really like the game anyway), but I was pretty impressed with the Keltis app. I've played 4 or 5 times now and the only thing I would change is that the tiles are a little too small, even on the iPad. There seems to be enough screen real estate to make them a bit bigger. Other than that, it seems to be a very polished implementation and even the computer turns are fast enough not to be annoying, but slow enough so you can see what the computer is doing. I think it's quite well done, but then, I haven't tried the Carcassonne one to compare. I have a tough time believing the Carc app is 10x better, though, for the 10x price (as I got Keltis for only $0.99 on sale).
 
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 1:52 pm
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SJack wrote:
blakstar wrote:
abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


agreed.


agreed (I hope they are listening)


I will buy every piece of NHex stuff available regardless - but IF it supports online multiplayer, I will pester everyone I know with i-devices until they also purchase all of it so we can play this great game against each other. It would be awesome.
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  • Posted Tue May 17, 2011 4:20 pm
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I'm excited about the new races for NH, but I would prefer online multiplayer. I guess they want the in-app money, but as someone else posted, as soon as they release online multiplayer for NH, I will nag everyone I know who has an iphone/ipad to buy it. And then we'll all buy the new races. Achievement medals don't do much for me - outwitting my friends is a whole other level of enjoyment.
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  • Posted Wed May 18, 2011 1:05 am
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Mr_Bickman wrote:
Achievement medals don't do much for me - outwitting my friends is a whole other level of enjoyment.


I'm not a big NH fan and I only just got the iPad (for my wife) so I'm not savvy on exactly what the Game Center does/is for, but I completely agree with this sentiment.
 
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  • Posted Wed May 18, 2011 1:15 am
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SJack wrote:
blakstar wrote:
abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


agreed.


agreed (I hope they are listening)


MP will be nice, but you're missing out on a great game in the meantime. The AI is not stellar, but the app is just about perfect for hotseat games. Just having the app enforce all the rules is awesome. Played on an iPad, you get a better, faster gaming experience for $3 (or whatever it costs now) than you do with the $30-40 cardboard bits.
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  • Posted Thu May 19, 2011 7:50 pm
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Carcassonne is a great app, and I have tried a friend's, but I don't think I will pay $9.99 for it. A bit high, 1/2 or 1/3 of that sure.



 
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  • Posted Fri May 20, 2011 6:29 am
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GeekJock wrote:
Carcassonne is a great app, and I have tried a friend's, but I don't think I will pay $9.99 for it. A bit high, 1/2 or 1/3 of that sure.


I must read this at least three times a day... and I just don't get it.

I get being reluctant to purchase because of quality concerns, I mean, most iPhone apps, you just don't know what you're going to get, but with this app, quality is really not an issue. (Of course, you have to take my word for it, as well as that of all the reviews, but still. I haven't had it crash on me that I can remember.)

Anyway, the money argument, I just don't get. You pay 1.5 times as much for a single Carcassonne expansion! To anyone who has paid for board games, this should feel like a steal at $10. Not only that, but it's $10! You can barely buy lunch for that much. I fully acknowledge that would have felt like a lot of money back when I was in college like 15 years ago, but the sheer number of people who make this comment leads me to believe it's not just starving students making the argument. (Although who knows, there are a lot of students out there...)
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  • Posted Fri May 20, 2011 3:14 pm
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It's about expectations. the App Store has successfully conditioned people to think of $4.99 (or less) as 'normal' and anything above that as 'expensive'.
 
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  • Posted Fri May 20, 2011 3:28 pm
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abodi wrote:
I would gladly buy every piece of IAP for NHex once there is functional multiplayer. but won't touch it until then.


Um.. what do you mean byt that? AFAIK that option is already there? If you choose Full Game you get to choose up to 3 opponents and click them to human or AI?
Or do you mean something else?
 
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  • Posted Fri May 20, 2011 4:02 pm
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grid wrote:
GeekJock wrote:
Carcassonne is a great app, and I have tried a friend's, but I don't think I will pay $9.99 for it. A bit high, 1/2 or 1/3 of that sure.


I must read this at least three times a day... and I just don't get it.

I get being reluctant to purchase because of quality concerns, I mean, most iPhone apps, you just don't know what you're going to get, but with this app, quality is really not an issue. (Of course, you have to take my word for it, as well as that of all the reviews, but still. I haven't had it crash on me that I can remember.)

Anyway, the money argument, I just don't get. You pay 1.5 times as much for a single Carcassonne expansion! To anyone who has paid for board games, this should feel like a steal at $10. Not only that, but it's $10! You can barely buy lunch for that much. I fully acknowledge that would have felt like a lot of money back when I was in college like 15 years ago, but the sheer number of people who make this comment leads me to believe it's not just starving students making the argument. (Although who knows, there are a lot of students out there...)


It's simple: experience. I have been disappointed several times when buying a game for the IPad. Now I don't buy a game (or any app) if there is not a 'light' version, or trial, or a friend who has bought the game I can try this out. Further, yes, indeed I am conditioned to think an app more expensive then €4,99 must be really something if I am going to buy it. Don't take this wrong, but your opinion, or any reviewer for that matter, will not change my behavior in this matter.
 
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  • Posted Fri May 20, 2011 4:57 pm
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Love Neuroshima Hex for iPhone, and can't wait for it to be expanded.
 
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