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)
• Crimson: Steam Pirates Tops Charts • RoboArena Name Change and Schedule Update • Summoner Wars Coming in October • The Octagon Theory Coming • Caylus Schedule Update • King of Dragon Pass Released • Where is EveryGame? • Frantic Frankfurt Released • Scryptic Updated • Cabals Card Game Trailer • Ancient Trader HD Released • Cyclades iPad Coming Soon • Word Chat Update and Free • Snowpunch Info Update • Shadow Era Update • PicoGP Tactics Updated • Tigris and Euphrates Release Date Adjusted • Plaid Hat Podcast #18 Features Incinerator Studios • Haggis Schedule Update
• Crimson: Steam Pirates at Top of Charts - September 3 Just prior to our review of Crimson, it was widely reported on a number of web sites that the steam ship battle app had reached the top of the iPad charts as the most downloaded free iPad app during the week of Sep 3rd. One of the contributing reasons for this success was that Apple chose the title as the iPad game of the week. While not actually a board game, it's good to see more turn based video games like it rise to the top. Let's hear it for turn-based games!
• RoboArena Name Change and Schedule Update - September 5 Bravado Waffle contacted us to let you know that their long-blogged-about upcoming app RoboArena has now been renamed to RoboHero due to trademark issues. They started their private beta at the beginning of last week and they plan to release the game this October.
They also have a new trailer video:
They are also in talks with a publisher about publishing an actual print board game based on the video game called RoboHero: The Board Game. They've posted a couple details and pictures of the upcoming board game here.
• Summoner Wars Coming in October - September 6 Colby Dauch said on his podcast (Episode #17) that Summoner Wars on iOS will be released in October. He did not have a specific date but he said around Essen (Oct 20-23).
• The Octagon Theory Coming In October - September 6 We learned about a born-digital iOS universal board game app called The Octagon Theory through a post on TouchArcade.com. The app is currently in beta and is planned to be released in late October. Apparently this app comes from a developer who's bringing his mid-1980's Apple II game to iOS.
According to the developers, Dan & Ben (the TOT team):
Quote:
The Octagon Theory (TOT) is a completely original Sci-fi, two-player, turn-based, strategy game that is played on an octagon-shaped board. It's completely different from but also in the style of board games like Othello (Reversi), Checkers, and Chess.
One interesting aspect of this abstract board game app is that the developers are offering to allow anybody to help write AIs for their app, with ideas for running AI vs AI contests, and ultimately including the best submitted AI's in their app. You can learn more at the Octagon Theory site.
• Caylus Schedule Update - September 7 Łukasz, of Big Daddy's Creations dropped in last week to the solicit-your-Caylus-for-iOS-ideas thread to say about the previous September released date that they would not make it for sure and that they are now targeting October/November and to apologize for the delay which is being caused by "many things not under our control".
It's not really news for an iOS board game developer to miss a target release date, it's the norm and seems to happen all the time. Still, I'm sure expectant fans of the game and platform appreciate the update and keeping potential customers in the loop.
• King of Dragon Pass Released - September 7 It's not a board game app. And I'll say it again, it's not a board game app.
It was pointed out to me, however, that certain retro-style qualities in developer A#'s iOS iPhone release of 1999's King of Dragon Pass could very well appeal to us of the board gaming persuasions. And I really just could not pass up the opportunity to point out something of such gamerly originality. Wikipedia describes it thusly:
Wikipedia][size=7 wrote:
"The game's genre is somewhat unclassifiable and anachronistic — it has elements of strategy, construction and management simulation, and role-playing video game, even though it offers no proper alter ego."[/size]
TouchArcade.com describes it as:
Quote:
"a largely text-based menu-driven mash up of a Civilization game and a Choose Your Own Adventure book."
What's more, the game apparently comes with a very long built in rule book to describe some of the various mechanics in the game, a very board game-like quality for a very deep game with a price of $9.99 to match.
You can find out more about it as the KoDP Web site and there's an excellent overview of the app over at TouchArcade.com.
• Where is EveryGame? - September 8 A month ago we posted about the ridiculous trouble Nathaniel Dirksen's EveryGame app had encountered with Apple. We learned last week from Nathaniel that the app has in fact been pulled. Nathaniel and company are still working on a solution to get the app back in the App Store and they are hopeful that something can be approved by Apple within the next couple of weeks. We're pulling for you Nathaniel. Bring back EveryGame!
• Frantic Frankfurt Released - September 9 According to the BGG Game database Frantic Frankfurt is a:
BGG wrote:
Faced paced simultaneous action card game, somewhere between Speed and Ligretto with a touch of Halli Galli. The graphics are showing famous modern buildings and people from Frankfurt.
This game is now available for free in the form of an iOS Universal app. Apparently one viable strategy to the hectic play of the print version of this "real time" card game is to simply get rid of cards so fast, and even in violation of the game's two simple rules, that your opponent becomes flustered. An app is not going to let rule breaking of that kind happen, so this app could be promising for those looking for less slop in their "real time" card games
• Scryptic Updated - September 9 Scryptic, the unique word-game-meets-strategic-combat app, from LKS Game Works has been updated to version 1.02. Here's the new stuff:
LKS Game Works wrote:
What's new
Fixed the occasional crash on Game Center login; better contrast between text and background; a switch under options to toggle between plain tiles and semi-precious stones; number of letters adjusted on a per board basis; end game conditions changed slightly.
• Cabals Card Game Trailer Released - September 9 The upcoming card game app from Kyy Games got a new game trailer last week.
Additionally, the app was to undergo more beta testing this week for selected devices. The game will ultimately be playable on iOS, Android, and Web browser.
• Ancient Trader HD Released - September 10 This beautiful looking app called Ancient Trader HD was released for iPad this past weekend. It is apparently an old Xbox Live game in which you sail a ship by moving square by square across a monster infested ocean to various islands exploring, trading and fighting for treasure. Some reviews have been positive, others have been more critical. One of BGG's own iOS mavens, SJack, took the $2.99 plunge for this mysterious app and had some sobering things to say about it, which our candy-loving eyes do appreciate.
• Cyclades iPad Coming - September 12 We learned early this week through Matagot by way of BGG News's Eric Martin that the release of Cyclades iPad will follow the release of the print version of Cyclades : Hadès in October. In addition to Cyclades, developer Stéphane Legrand, who is known for Kamon on iPhone/iPad and Trader HD on iPad, is also working on Dice Town (Matagot), Ygddrasil (Ludonaute), Timeline (Hazgaard) and Guges (Jactalea). The folks at Matagot tell us that in October we will play Cyclades on the iPad.
• Word Chat Update and Free! - September 12 GRL Games, the developer who is determined to have you look your opponent in the eye with their video chat face-to-face game apps, has updated their video chat word game known simply as Word Chat. Here's what's new in version 1.10:
Quote:
What's new
- NEW SOLO GAME! Word Solitaire is a whole new type of solo game for you to play. - Accelerometer bubble magic. - New achievements for Word Solitaire! - Letter tiles slide with even more grace.
Haven't yet got to experience the "accelerometer bubble magic" but is sure sounds sexy.
And, oh yeah...they made is absolutely FREE as well. Go get it!
• Snowpunch Info Update: Musket Smoke and Grognards - September 12 The Snowpunch dudes say that their next apps, Musket Smoke and Grognards, are experiencing slight delays "due to rewriting the core engine to support iPhone and online multiplayer first (and other undisclosed features." So in addition to not really giving dates in the first place, there will now be some delays. The closest we've been able to tell so far is within a "few months at least".
• Shadow Era Update - September 13 It's been two and a half months since Shadow Era got an update. The freemium CCG for iOS Universal has been updated to version 1.277. According to developer Wulven Game Studios, it's a huge update:
Quote:
What's new
Another huge update is here, thanks for your support!
- 14 new allies that will change the game forever! - Improved AI with many new missions - Better multiplayer matching and new features - A pretty world map with clouds, waves, and flocking birds to stare at as you plan your deck strategies - Plus much more in this huge update!
• PicoGP Tactics Updated - September 13 After we checked out PicoGP Tactics a while back, we made some recommendations. And lo and behold, developer PaWaSoft addressed some of them. Now that's service! Here's a summary of fixes in version 1.2:
Quote:
What's new
New features & fixes! - InGame menu (press the timer pannel) - New camera modes: Sky, Lock and Follow. - GameCenter upload on qualifying laps! - Misc bug fix
...and a solicitation for more:
Quote:
Come and discuss what you want for next updates at www.pawasoft.com !!!
• Tigris and Euphrates Release Date Adjusted to October 2011 - Sep 14 Codito has again adjusted their schedule for the release of Tigris and Euphrates. Apparently it is trouble with the online multiplayer that's holding up the game. Codito doesn't think OpenFeint or current Game Center capabilities are viable options for this game. So they work on their own solution, continue to explore current Game Center and continue to watch for an iOS 5 solution. October is now the time frame. We too wait to see whether iOS 5 causes a sea change for turn-based games, or comes up short. Stay tuned!
• Plaid Hat Podcast #18 Featuring Gary Weis of Incinerator Studios - September 15 Gary Weis of Incinerator Studios joins Colby Dauch and the Plaid Hat Crew on Episode #18 of the Plaid Hat Podcast to talk about developing board games on the iOS. It's a very fascinating talk with one the best of the best iOS board game developers. Gary talks about how Playdek implementations will be getting even better that what we've seen so far in apps like Ascension. Highly recommended!
• Haggis Schedule Update - September 16 Scott Ruttencutter dropped in with an update this week on a thread in the computer based board gaming forum about the iOS implementation of Haggis. Base game and interfaces are done and functionality is now being migrated from iPad to iPhone version (Universal with two sets of interfaces).
The base game and interfaces are complete, and we are currently migrating all of the functionality developed for iPad over to the iPhone version of the game (it will be a universal app, but we still have to build two sets of interfaces ). Next comes beta testing in the next couple of months. We can't wait!
Regarding RoboHero, I've been writing about my first impressions and experiences playing the beta (as well as posting some screenshots) here: RoboHero Beta Journal
King of the Dragon Pass? They made that for the iPhone?
Since you don't know much, I'll give a very brief lowdown: Game is hard. Freaking hard. You are basically running a tribe in the bronze age (or even more primitive) where Cattle is considered currency. You basically try to become King in the area and in order to do this, you need to build up trust (or dominate) the former clans, get voted in, and hope they don't screw you (I remember getting my Chief elected and someone summoned spirits to rip his body apart). Along the way you will be getting plenty of events where you need to make some crucial decisions that will have a long-term effect. Also, don't piss off the Gods.
The entire game is text-based and the interface is a bit of a pain, but it is an incredibly deep and hard game to master. There is a fair bit of luck, sadly, especially when you do the "hero quests"
In another time's forgotten space, your eyes looked through your mother's face. Wildflower seed on the sand and stone, may the four winds blow you safely home.
monkeyhandz wrote:
Is robohero/arena a boardgame? Sticks out like a sore thumb for me.
Based on Roborally. Watching the video it appears as if the user is controlling the robot in real time, but if you look on the bottom of the screen, you'll see little icons that represent pre-programmed moves that the robot is carrying out.
Boy, what I wouldn't give for an iOS edition of Vortex. I think it's ideally suited for iOS. But there are a lot of cool games here - really looking forward to Cyclades.
In another time's forgotten space, your eyes looked through your mother's face. Wildflower seed on the sand and stone, may the four winds blow you safely home.
MarkyX wrote:
King of the Dragon Pass? They made that for the iPhone?
Since you don't know much, I'll give a very brief lowdown: Game is hard. Freaking hard. You are basically running a tribe in the bronze age (or even more primitive) where Cattle is considered currency. You basically try to become King in the area and in order to do this, you need to build up trust (or dominate) the former clans, get voted in, and hope they don't screw you (I remember getting my Chief elected and someone summoned spirits to rip his body apart). Along the way you will be getting plenty of events where you need to make some crucial decisions that will have a long-term effect. Also, don't piss off the Gods.
The entire game is text-based and the interface is a bit of a pain, but it is an incredibly deep and hard game to master. There is a fair bit of luck, sadly, especially when you do the "hero quests"
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version. I'll hold off until then.
Is robohero/arena a boardgame? Sticks out like a sore thumb for me.
Based on Roborally. Watching the video it appears as if the user is controlling the robot in real time, but if you look on the bottom of the screen, you'll see little icons that represent pre-programmed moves that the robot is carrying out.
1. Caylus - if this game does not have multiplayer with GameCenter = LAME. Are you listening Lukasz?
2. TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES - when is Sage going to learn that Openfeint sucks? Ra still doesn't work for beans and hardly anyone plays Tikal on Openfeint. This will be another missed opportunity if it is the same as the others. Good single player and ridiculous multiplayer.
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version. I'll hold off until then.
The interface is very well designed, and plays very well on an iPad in 2x mode. There is a good bit of scrolling, but everything 'feels' correct enough that you do not notice the platform limitations while you are playing.
"Apparently it is trouble with the online multiplayer that's holding up the game."
Given Codito's track record with multiplayer, I am trying so hard not to mock this ...
"Codito doesn't think OpenFeint or current Game Center capabilities are viable options for this game."
Ah, okay. Here we go. They're using their heads here, and they're probably right.
"So they work on their own solution, continue to explore current Game Center and continue to watch for an iOS 5 solution."
Well, this is a bit open-ended, but it has potential. Clearly, success is possible using some combination of Game Center and home-grown servers: just look at Ascension and Samurai. So maybe this is the way to go for Codito. At least they're not trying to pound the round peg into the square hole** any longer.
But I can't see them releasing anything in October. We likely won't be seeing iOS5 at all until then. If Codito is still "exploring," then they aren't ready to release anything. Or, more accurately, there aren't ready to release anything with online multiplayer.
(And I'd love for them to prove me wrong, of course ... )
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version.
The developers have stated that the original art assets, circa 1990-whatever, were saved at a small size and a low resolution. Thus, they'd look like crap on toast if they were blown up to fill the bigger iPad screen.
Not that I disagree with you in any way — they need to find a way to bring this game to the iPad in some form. Also, 10 bucks? That's a bit sketchy. I'll be letting AppShopper notify me of the inevitable sale in a few months.
I will admit to being intrigued, though. Devotees of the game give it universally glowing reviews. And these are legitimate adult reviews, not the "hurr, hurr ... shoot guy with plasma rifle" stuff we all see a lot of.
Is robohero/arena a boardgame? Sticks out like a sore thumb for me.
Based on Roborally. Watching the video it appears as if the user is controlling the robot in real time, but if you look on the bottom of the screen, you'll see little icons that represent pre-programmed moves that the robot is carrying out.
Yes, the video doesn't show off the turn based pre-programming mechanic as much as it should. I made this particular one to appeal to the more casual gamers over at Touch Arcade, not the more refined folk around here.
I can assure you it is very tactical turn based, similar to RoboSport, RoboRally, and X-Com.
cbs42 wrote:
At the end of the RoboHero video are a number of quotes, including:
Quote:
"011000100111010101111001 0110110101100101" - Blue Robo
Using standard ASCII 8-bit encoding, this translates into "Buy me"
You caught me. I was wondering if anybody would pick up on that!
In life you have to do a lot of things you don't fucking want to do. Many times, that's what the fuck life is... one vile fucking task after another.
remus wrote:
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version. I'll hold off until then.
The port uses the original, hand-drawn art. The developer stated that the art was drawn for 640x480(I think) and didn't scale well onto the iPad. So, no HD/iPad version coming. It's great on the iPhone and looks fine on the iPad at 2x, for what it's worth. Incredibly deep game.
Game is hard.... There is a fair bit of luck, sadly, especially when you do the "hero quests"
A great deal of work was put into playbalancing exactly the points you mentioned. Heroquests are a bit less luck driven, and if you've set up your questing properly you can get hints in sticky situations. If you start a "normal" game, the difficulty has been reduced.
Redoing the for King of Dragon Pass graphics and releasing an HD app would only provide a tiny amount of eyecandy. There is no noticeable pixelation, and the gameplay is exactly the same.
I'd like to point out that King of Dragon Pass is set in the same Gloranthan universe as the old Avalon Hill board game Dragon Pass, which was a remake of the even older board game White Bear, Red Moon. Several of the random encounters you'll be faced with in KoDP feature units from those games.
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version. I'll hold off until then.
It looks OK on the iPad - doubled in size. They used the original artwork from the old Mac/PC version and redrawing it for the iPad would have been very expensive. Well worth a look, even on iPad.
(oops - should have scrolled further). Never mind. I will leave this as an additional voice in its favour...
Ancient Trader for the iPad was released back in April. The publisher sold the rights to the game to a different publisher and rereleased it as "Ancient Trader HD". The dev gave me a review code for the "new" version so I could play the game I paid for. Thanks to the dev, but not the original shifty publisher who sold out the original buyers of this game.
Thanks for the announcement on Frantic Frankfurt. I have played the actual card game a few times. It's a game like ligretto/dutch blitz.
hi did you try the ios version of ligretto? i was very disappointed as it is a simple 1:1 portation. we tried to do something which is using the possibilities of an electronic device especially when you are solo not just by writing a bot ki. but if the downloads are finde we'll try to implement a multiplayer variant where the chaos increases. roland
Game sounds very intriguing. But no universal or HD app? iPhone size only? I hope they come to their senses and release an iPad version. I'll hold off until then.
The port uses the original, hand-drawn art. The developer stated that the art was drawn for 640x480(I think) and didn't scale well onto the iPad. So, no HD/iPad version coming. It's great on the iPhone and looks fine on the iPad at 2x, for what it's worth. Incredibly deep game.
Having been a beta-tester for this the last three months, be assured that the art looks just fine at 2x on the ipad. It looks great and has been a Sunday afternoon timewaster the last couple of weeks for me. KoDP is well worth the 10.00, and A-Sharp is doing a great job.
Either October is going to be an AMAZING month for iOS boardgamers because of all the games coming out or else October is going to be a MISERABLE month for iOS boardgamers because of all the dates that will slip again.
I'm hoping for the former but I wouldn't bet against the latter.
The idea of Caylus, Summoner Wars and Tigris & Euphrates on my iDevices just makes me tingly, though.
(I wouldn't honestly expect T&E any time before the new year. I mean, it is Codito we're talking about, folks.)
). Next comes beta testing in the next couple of months. We can't wait!
)
