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)
• Loot and Scoot Updated • The Octagon Theory Price Drop • Coffee Masters Released • Time of Heroes Releasing in January • Alien Frontiers Demo AI Video • Take It Easy and Thunderstone Nearing Completion • Kingsburg Updated • Codito/Sage Updates Release Schedule • Deep Tic Tac Toe 3D turn based morpion Released • Red November Coming Soon • Shadow Era Printed Cards • Chad Jensen Confirms Art for Dominant Species iPad • Ingenious for iPad Updated • Charades ! Released • Valley Games Renames Titan App to Titan HD • Big Daddy's Creations Submitted Caylus • YamSlam by Blue Orange Games™ Updated • Cadwallon: City of Thieves to Release Soon • New World Colony Updated • TimeLine for iPad Coming in January • Screenshots from Upccoming Stephane Maurel Games • Summoner Wars Info Update • Uniwar HD Coming • RoboHero to Release on January 15 • Hero Academy Releases
• Loot and Scoot Gets Updated - December 27, January 3 Upon the mid-December launch of their first iOS board game, Loot and Scoot, Victory Point Games had this to say:
Victory Point Games wrote:
Some initial sales numbers started coming in from digital Loot and Scoot, but just as we were getting useful data, the iTunes manufacturer’s support abruptly closed down for the holidays as well! This is particularly annoying as we have a new, customer-driven patch that was approved to go up, but did not go live before everyone there left! So, here we have another several-days wait before we can get a vital patch up and discover our sales data. We’ve learned a LOT from this game’s release, and should have this game finally patched and finished around the end of the holidays. After that, we’ll start releasing the reviewer “complimentary” codes and seek broader advertising venues for the game. At the time of this writing, designer John Welch is at the VPG office meeting with the app game development team and discussing the approaches and features for app game version of John’s Levee en Masse game.
The app was then updated to version 1.1 on January 3rd and included the following:
Victory Point Games wrote:
What's new
- Performance improvements - Fixed various crash issues on the iPad - Fixed text visibility when entering player names - Graphic enhancements
VPG later updated its fans on the learning curve it is facing, including being aware of iTunes Connect shutting down for the holidays. VPG plans to make more optimizations for the iPad to further increase the app's performance, with the update coming as soon as they can get it out.
The next step for VPG is now an iOS and Android implementation of Levée en Masse. These will be the first States of SiegeTM apps for VPG but not the last. Development is in preliminary stages and they will be keeping everyone up to date on their excellent site and blog.
• M&D Enterprise Drops Price on The Octagon Theory - December 28 The Octagon Theory is a slick little abstract for iOS Universal in which the object is to get the most pieces, four-types with various powers, on the board before turns run out.
The price has been dropped from the launch price of $2.99 to $1.99.
• Coffee Masters Released - December 29 Sylien Games has released this "highly original" two-player abstract board game where you need to create an unbroken line of beans of your color, or prevent your opponent from making a move. Features online multiplayer and chat.
• Time of Heroes to Release in January - December 30 In an already exciting month of releases, Smuttlewerk Interactive will be releasing its second app, Time of Heroes on January 19th. Time of Heroes is a turn-based strategy RPG where you control several heroes. Each hero commands units of a certain type that you choose before battle. Then both heroes and units fight against the evil "Hordes of Nether". There will be magic, command range and other stuff like three levels of AI. The app will be universal and available on iPhone/iPod and iPad and iPad 2. It will sell for a special release price of $0.99 and then increase to $2.99 and $3.99 after a few days. As usual when there is video, we'll just stop talking now. Roll it:
• Alien Frontiers Demo AI Video - December 30 Clint Herron continues his updates, right here on BGG, of the long slow development of Alien Frontiers. One of the latest features a video demoing the AI, which is an important part of the app that Clint has been putting a lot of work into. Enjoy!
• Zabu Says Take It Easy! and Thunderstone Nearing Completion - January 3 Here's the latest from Zabu studio, who is working on Facebook implementations of Take it Easy! and Thunderstone that will eventually come to iOS as well, after their Facebook implementation. Zabu reports that "both game[s] are in [their] last throes of getting completed. No date yet but will let you know asap!" As usual we'll keep you updated as we find out more.
• Kingsburg Updated - January 3 The maligned and woe-begotten app Kingsburg has show small signs of life recently as its developers, iNigma, have bothered themselves to update the app to version 1.2.0. Could this mean serious improvements may be on the way. We're not sure yet, but here's what's new for now:
• Deep Tic Tac Toe 3D turn based morpion Released - January 4 Holy crap...there are a LOT of Tic Tac Toe clones in the App Store! It's as if developers are making them like some kind of "Hello World" test. There seems to be at least 1000 of them and probably more. This particular app came up when I was searching for "turn based" apps. Lucky me...I guess.
• Red November Coming Soon - January 4 Jim from Gamezebo dropped us a line to let you all know that Fantasy Flight Games is partnering with Fierce Wombat Games to implement Bruno Faidutti Jef Gontier's cooperative submarine disaster game for iPad, Mac, and PC. The app is another highly anticipated January release. Look for it later in the month. Here is the promo video:
• Wulven Game Studios "Crowd Funding" for Shadow Era Printed Cards - January 4 Shadow Era, the iOS-born card game app, is going cardboard. Wulven Game Studio has begun "Crowdfunding" to gauge demand. We're not sure off the top of our heads which other iOS apps have gone from digital to print. Angry Birds comes to mind, but might this become more common?
• Chad Jensen Confirms Art for Dominant Species for iPad - January 5 In a BGG image thread for Dominant Species, designer Chad Jensen confirmed that a sampling of the new artwork (by Chechu Nieto) commissioned for the upcoming third printing will in fact be part of the iPad version. Here's a peek:
• Ingenious for iPad Updated - January 5 After more than a year, USM has finally released an update to Ingenious and Ingenious for iPad, bringing up to version 2.0 with some exciting new features:
Ingenious for iPad
Quote:
What's new
- Online multiplayer, achievements and leaderboards via Game Center - Fixed solitaire high score tracking - Optimized tile pool (Now resembles 2-player board game) - Added option for faster handovers in hot-seat games - Various smaller tweaks and optimizations
Ingenious
Quote:
What's new
- Online multiplayer, achievements and leaderboards via Game Center - Retina graphics - Fixed solitaire high score tracking - Optimized tile pool (Now resembles 2-player board game) - Various smaller tweaks and optimizations
• Charades ! Released - January 5 Developer, www.chris-software.com, has released their iOS implementation of the classic party game Charades. Their app is called Charades !. It is free and compatible with iOS Universal. Though we've yet to play it, we think the game play described below sounds mildly intriguing:
Charades is a game for many players and is a challenge to your knowledge, speed, richness of associations, and manual skills. Invite 1, 2, or 3 friends and acquaintances from all over the world to play with you. Each of you takes turns to draw a randomly selected phrase on the screen while the remaining players hurry to be the first person to guess that phrase. The players are able to see one another's guesses. The sooner the correct phrase is guessed, the more points go to the drawer's and the successful guesser's accounts.
• Valley Games to Rename Titan to Titan HD - January 6 Valley Games let us know that they will officially be changing the name of their newly released iOS implementation of Titan. The app will now be called "Titan HD" as suggested by one of BGG's very own readers. Great suggestion!
• Big Daddy's Creations Submitted Caylus to App Store - January 7 Big Daddy's Creations gave us some short-term disappointment when they delayed the release of one of the most anticipated iOS board game releases of 2011. But it was only a one month delay. The app has now been submitted to the App Store, as has been reported on the web site dedicated to the game.
Review times in the App Store have been steadily narrowing with rumors of reviews as short as two days. If it only takes two days, you will have seen the app by the time you read this. Our estimate is that the app could be available as early as Friday and as late as early next week.
One thing is for sure, we've seen the app and can tell you that it checks all the boxes for a great iOS release. And we don't need to tell you that the darling of 2006 still stands up as a great brain-burning euro that popularized the "worker placement" mechanism. 5 years later we think this release may generate as much buzz around these parts as the print game originally did. This will definitely be one to check out.
• YamSlam by Blue Orange Games™ Updated - January 8 Blue Orange Games has updated their iOS Universal dice game app, Yamslam, to version 1.1. Here's the info:
Quote:
What's new
- Improved message when not logged into game center - 20 point end game bonus is reported - Long player aliases will be truncated to fit (iPad) - Fixed resume: Resume is no longer prompted for games that were finsihed - Fixed cheat: rolls for online games can no longer be undone by returning to the menu - Added additional ad network
• Cadwallon: City of Thieves to Release Soon - January 8 Cyanide Studio will soon be releasing an iOS implementation of Cadwallon: City of Thieves. In Cadwallon: City of Thieves, two to four players each control their own gang of four thieves, competing to amass the greatest haul of loot from the many carefully locked chests scattered about the board.
We don't have confirmed dates, but a bit of noise was made near the end of December saying that the game had already released. We have found no evidence that it has. As of this past Sunday, the developers stated from their Facebook page:
Quote:
Hello, the submission to the appstore is going to be done. The release date will then be announced shortly after. We'll keep you posted.
We expect it soon, so we might as well add it to the list of anticipated January releases. Oh, and here's a promo video:
• New World Colony Updated - January 8 We could dub him The Most Iterating Developer in all iOS Board Game-dom because he's been on BGG for a while now coding away at his app, sharing his plans, and listening to user feedback and ideas. We're talking of course about about Erik Asmussen and New World Colony.
At the beginning of this week Erik announced that New World colony has been updated to version 4.20 which includes an new adjustable 3D perspective. Additionally, a Lite version of the app has been introduced as well. Here's more from Erik:
Erik Asmussen wrote:
First of all, I released a large update to the game that has been in the works for months, and it now runs in a touch-adjustable 3D perspective which I think greatly increases the visual appeal. The AI has been updated quite a bit, and a number of balance changes have been made. Also, players can choose game settings and map sizes within multiplayer matches, which was a commonly-requested feature.
The second piece of news is that I've released a free 'lite' version in an effort to draw more players into the game. It's highly rated by users, but the audience is still not where I think it could be. So hopefully this will allow new players to try it out and hopefully upgrade to the full version. In the lite version, players can play unlimited matches against the easy AI, but if they want a harder challenge or online multiplayer they will need to upgrade.
Here's a Change list for version 4.2.0 and screenshot of the new look.
• TimeLine for iPad Coming in January - January 9 Stephane Maurel has been working on a lot of apps and wants everybody to know that the iOS implementation of Timeline: Inventions will submitted to the App Store in about the middle of January and should release this month.
In TimeLine, you place cards with inventions on them in an ordered row, the goal being to be the first to get rid of your cards and have them placed in the correct order. Here's a promo shot from the web site, followed by more screenshots below.
More screenshots:
TimeLine HD
• More Screenshots from Upcoming Stephane Maurel Games - Jan 9 An addition to TimeLine HD, Stephane is working on a few more apps including Cyclades, Haru Ichiban, Yggdrasil, and Olympos. The latest updates are:
- Cyclades (iPad) update is on the way to Apple Store. Contains: Improvement and corrections. Stephane is working on a new version (for the next 6 months), that will include AI.
- Haru Ichiban (iPhone / iPad) will be also in the App Store by end of January.
George from Playdek on the Plaid Hat Games Forums wrote:
Apologies for the silence on the Summoner Wars app. Yes, we have pushed back release from January... We've reconsidered how we are approaching the release, and we're working with Colby on that. And we know that the AI and feature set have to be right, and that's taking some time.
If there is one thing we've learned since announcing this first batch of games, its exactly how passionate and fantastic our boardgame community is and how absolutely invested in their favorite games we all are. As developers and a publisher, we have always been really careful about dates, and the last few months have underlined the challenge for us. We love to announce the games we're doing and we love to see everyone get as excited about them as we are... but development takes time and sometimes surprising twists.
Please know that we here at Playdek are committed to bringing you the best game possible.
The Playdek website now lists Spring 2012 as the availability date. By our lights that puts it out to as late as June 19th. We'll hope it doesn't take that long. At least with so many great releases this month, we will be distracted from it for now.
• Uniwar HD Coming - January 10 Pocket Gamer reports that one of our very early favorite turn-based strategy async game apps, UniWar, will soon get shiny new high-definition graphics as well as a new map editor that will allow you to create and distribute your own playing fields to be used by other players in ranked games.
The app will be iOS Universal, be priced at $4.99, and should appear some time this week. An Android version will be released as well.
• RoboHero to Release on January 15 - January 10 We received word from Stephen at Bravado Waffle Studios that their long anticipated app, Robohero, will release on January 15. You may recall that Stephen has been very active on BGG since they announced development of RoboHero, back when it was called RoboArena, and back when before it was KickStarted. Rest assured that Stephen and Bravado Waffle have been watching the iOS Board Game space for some time and polishing up their app during 2011. We're really looking forward to seeing the finished product. So without further ado read here what it's all about:
Bravado Waffle wrote:
RoboHero is a tactical turn based strategy game combining the best of XCom, RoboSport, and RoboRally into one package. It uses a similar planning game mechanic where you pre-program 15 moves into your Robo and then watch him carry out the commands in real time.
RoboHero will be free with a $1.99 IAP to unlock all the content. Players get to try out all the game modes, the first 10 levels in Story Mode, and a basic set of weapons against an easy AI in Arena and Multiplayer modes for free. Here's some additional features:
• 3 gameplay modes • 30 single player missions • 12 Multiplayer arenas • 3 different AI difficulties • 15 powerful and wacky weapons and armors (slime bombs, bubble blasters, flame throwers, nukes, and more) • Pass-and-play multiplayer with online turn-based support coming soon • Universal support for iPhone and iPad
Release Date: January 15, 2012
And of course a trailer:
• Robot Entertainment Releases Hero Academy - January 11 Robot Entertainment has released Hero Academy. The app is for iPhone and can be downloaded for free from the App Store. Brad reviewed the app on January 11th.
You know, how some games that are no more graphically complex than Catan, Wabash Cannonball or Neuroshima Hex (all of which run just great on my 2nd gen iTouch device) tell me "THIS APP IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THIS IPOD TOUCH".
I think it's just some developers not wanting to do a little extra work to support those of us who don't go replacing our apple products every couple years (which are overpriced to begin with).
We've only been able to test Caylus on iOS 4.3 and iOS 5.0, so it was not possible to just take a guess and publish it as compatible with iOS 4.x. As soon as we get a chance to do it (and Caylus will work fine), we will send another update compatible with older devices.
I think it's just some developers not wanting to do a little extra work to support those of us who don't go replacing our apple products every couple years (which are overpriced to begin with).
It's not a little extra work. It's a lot extra work. iOS 4 introduced a whole bunch of changes, including many APIs and language features that make developers' lives much easier. You can't use those and have your product run on earlier versions of iOS. There's few enough people using such old devices that dropping support for you is worth it just to be able to use Objective-C Blocks, never mind any other new things iOS 4 brought.
iOS 5, by comparison, brings much less to the developer table, so there'll be less incentive to drop support for iOS 4 as soon as iOS 6 comes out.
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
Recently I picked up the Apple wireless keyboard and now use the iPad as my laptop on the road. I can even remote into my machine at work.
Seriously folks when is are all these games going to come to Android. I have 2 devices that I am simply waiting for someone to make a viable version for Android then they will get my money...Ascension...now Alien Frontiers...I really do hope that some of the designers/publishers/coders see my comments and that others can heed my call. Because I know that there are a lot of us Android users out there that would love games...
ADD to it the Kindle Fire(which is awesome BTW) and I am sure you will start meeting a market that would make the effort worth it.
and to sign off, I will quote the all holy Homer Simpson "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!"
United States Western Burbs of Beantown Massachusetts
Looking forward to more Ipad and Ipod Touch gaming! I frequently play TTR,Puerto Rico,Samurai and Small World. I like to play Cribbage and Battle Line too.
Will buy Red November as soon as it's released.I've been wanting to buy that board game for a awhile, but I like being able to test the new games out on IOS first.
I love seeing that games such as Alien Frontiers, Olympos, and El Grande are coming this year.
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
Recently I picked up the Apple wireless keyboard and now use the iPad as my laptop on the road. I can even remote into my machine at work.
If you can swing it - it's worth it.
I 100% agree with Rick, I am a big MS guy and I LOVE my iPad!!
I did splurge for the AT&T model just in case I go on a trip and want to make sure I have service.
So are Yggdrasil, Alien Frontiers, and Caylus coming out for iOS or iPad only? I love the iOS updates, however if iPad only (like Cyclades), please denote it. There were times in the past it would state, "iOS", only to crush my hopes to later find out they're for the iPad.
Interesting to see Cadwallon! That unfortunately is one a game I picked up as it looked really interesting... but I have yet to play it!!!! I even got the promo piece for it! (we all have at least one of those games we own right? right?)
Hope they don't take the easy road and release it with no AI options and no online multiplayer options.
I was under the impression that iNigma had lost the license to Kingsburg. I'm not sure if this recent update means my impression was wrong or if they're allowed to keep improving the app even after losing the license.
Also, I had no idea that the iOS version of Thunderstone was going to be an adaption of the Facebook version of Thunderstone. In fact, I had no idea that there was even going to be a Facebook version of Thunderstone. I knew that they had mentioned plans to monetize the game, but I'd assumed that meant IAP expansions. A Facebook version makes me wonder if you'll be able to spend dollars for extra light or to add powerful cards directly to your hand. Ugh.
Summoner Wars, due out early October, late October, mid-November, by the end of the year, early January, is coming for sure in Spring of 2012? I'll write it down on my calendar!!!
Looking forward to Cadwallon: City of Thieves but I have very little faith in Cyanide Studios after their utter bungling of Blood Bowl. They finally managed to put out an OK version of it built over a trail of pissed off customers.
Looking forward to Cadwallon: City of Thieves but I have very little faith in Cyanide Studios after their utter bungling of Blood Bowl. They finally managed to put out an OK version of it built over a trail of pissed off customers.
I'm really hoping they do Cadwallon right... I am asking on their facebook page if there will be AI and Multiplayer... hopefully they will answer so I either be excited for it or terribly disappointed in them.
So are Yggdrasil, Alien Frontiers, and Caylus coming out for iOS or iPad only? I love the iOS updates, however if iPad only (like Cyclades), please denote it. There were times in the past it would state, "iOS", only to crush my hopes to later find out they're for the iPad.
First cut of Alien Frontiers will be iPad only, but we've done some mockup work on how it would look on the 3GS:
Seems I got an ipad2 at a good time, with all these amazing games in the pipeline. I'm going to snag Caylus as soon as it releases (just checked and it doesn't appear to be out as of 9:30 CST this morning), and I'm going to get Thunderstone, Olympos, Timeline, Summoner Wars, and possibly a few more of these games.
Also, I had no idea that the iOS version of Thunderstone was going to be an adaption of the Facebook version of Thunderstone. In fact, I had no idea that there was even going to be a Facebook version of Thunderstone. I knew that they had mentioned plans to monetize the game, but I'd assumed that meant IAP expansions. A Facebook version makes me wonder if you'll be able to spend dollars for extra light or to add powerful cards directly to your hand. Ugh.
I've played around with the Facebook version of Thunderstone this morning, and it seems like they took the higher road with IAP for the most part (at least so far). Instead of limiting the number of minutes/moves you can make per day, or charging for little extras just so you can win, they charge for more availability of the card pool and extra campaign mission.
For free, you get the first tier of the Campaign mode (essentially 10 beat-the-AI games), a skirmish mode with access to several decks, and access to the MP mode (which is essentially dead at the moment). The available cards seem to be from the original set. If you don't mind the reduced card pool, seems like there's plenty here for free to keep you busy for a few hours anyway.
It gives you the option to purchase the "Muscle" tier and "Stealth" tier of the campaign, which also gives you more cards to skirmish with. Looks like future expansions such as "Elementals", "Traps", etc. are forthcoming. Not sure what specifically is included in the "Muscle" and "Stealth" card pools yet.
The campaign packs are 15 Facebucks (Muscle) and 25 Facebucks (Stealth). A Facebuck is ordinarily like $0.10 US, so that translates to about $1.50 and $2.50 US each. I found a deal to get 50 Facebucks for $1, so I may try out the extra packs to see what they do for you.
As far as the app is concerned, seems like it works pretty well for the most part (although I think I noticed an issue with a Blink Dog not registering the light penalty correctly, but I'll need to recheck to see if it shows up again), and seemed to be a fun way to kill a few mins before work. It looks about what you'd expect out of a FB game, kind of gaudy and low res, so the UI isn't as clean as I'd like it to be. Hopefully they can pretty it up a little before the iOS release.
I too enjoy reading these iOS/mobile updates - I'd miss a lot of cool on the go board games if it weren't for this news section. Also looking forward to Caylus!
I quite like the Kingsburg app, so I was pleased to see it get a little bit of love. Let us hope that more significant updates are forthcoming.
Anyone else having trouble with Kingsburg on iPad after the update? I was able to run it in 2x mode before and now it just crashes on load....hope they fix this after paying $4.99 for it.......
Or at least allow a free upgrade to the ipad version.
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
I generally agree, but I also wanted to point out (for folks who don't have an iPad yet and are thinking of buying one) that getting the 3G model does NOT commit you to a monthly dataplan.
You can decide month by month whether you want one for that particular month. Depending on your usage patterns, it may be a wise choice to get one that's capable of 3G access. Aside from the higher initial cost of the iPad itself, having a 3G doesn't cost you any more money. It just offers you the capability to get 3G access if you happen to need it. If you decide to get one for a given month, you'll pay for that month's access fee, but you don't owe anything for just having a 3G capable device -- unlike an iPhone where you MUST pay for a dataplan even if you don't want it.
In the words of one of my friends, regarding 3G capability, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
... replacing our apple products every couple years ...
Your device dates from the fall of 2008. That's dinosaur times in the world of tech. It's also a lot more than a "couple years."
keithburgun wrote:
... which are overpriced to begin with.
Tell you what: since Apple is so clearly out to get you, why don't you just pick up some sort of Android device? I hear there's literally three's and four's of boardgames for it, too!
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
I generally agree, but I also wanted to point out (for folks who don't have an iPad yet and are thinking of buying one) that getting the 3G model does NOT commit you to a monthly dataplan.
You can decide month by month whether you want one for that particular month. Depending on your usage patterns, it may be a wise choice to get one that's capable of 3G access. Aside from the higher initial cost of the iPad itself, having a 3G doesn't cost you any more money. It just offers you the capability to get 3G access if you happen to need it.
In the words of one of my friends, regarding 3G capability, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
But remember, it is $100 more for the 3G version when you purchase the iPad.
I did opt for the AT&T vs Verizon model though since I do travel abroad
Great update, Gabe, as usual. Per our contract, I'll add some GG to your overflowing coffers.
I thought December was a pretty solid month, but it looks like January will top it (assuming, of course, that items such as Cadwallon and Red November manage to appear before the 31st). For my money, the most exciting news was the UniWar update. It was my first "killer app" way back in the early iPhone days, and it's a natural fit for the iPad's bigger screen.
I'm off to check out Thunderstone on FB. BTW, Take It Easy has been out for quite a while already; I've played it a fair amount.
Seriously folks when is are all these games going to come to Android. I have 2 devices that I am simply waiting for someone to make a viable version for Android then they will get my money...Ascension...now Alien Frontiers...I really do hope that some of the designers/publishers/coders see my comments and that others can heed my call. Because I know that there are a lot of us Android users out there that would love games...
ADD to it the Kindle Fire(which is awesome BTW) and I am sure you will start meeting a market that would make the effort worth it.
and to sign off, I will quote the all holy Homer Simpson "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!"
KC
Probably never for many of these apps. I started off an Android fanboy, but my love affair has cooled off dramatically. The initial awesomeness of how open the platform is has now turned into a veritable crapshoot in terms of stability. For developers this means that you have to make sure their app is compatible with so many different iterations and "skins" that sometimes it's not worth it. It's so ridiculous how many apps in the Android app marketplace have restrictions like "Doesn't work with Motorola Droid X2 or HTC Incredible 2" or "Not for phones with HTC Sense". What a nightmare for a developer, and it sucks for the android user. For iOS you have to make sure it's compatible with ONE platform. If I have a current iOS device and an app is released for iOS, I KNOW it will work. The same can't be said of Android.
I quite like the Kingsburg app, so I was pleased to see it get a little bit of love. Let us hope that more significant updates are forthcoming.
Anyone else having trouble with Kingsburg on iPad after the update? I was able to run it in 2x mode before and now it just crashes on load....hope they fix this after paying $4.99 for it.......
Or at least allow a free upgrade to the ipad version.
Seriously folks when is are all these games going to come to Android. I have 2 devices that I am simply waiting for someone to make a viable version for Android then they will get my money...Ascension...now Alien Frontiers...I really do hope that some of the designers/publishers/coders see my comments and that others can heed my call. Because I know that there are a lot of us Android users out there that would love games...
ADD to it the Kindle Fire(which is awesome BTW) and I am sure you will start meeting a market that would make the effort worth it.
and to sign off, I will quote the all holy Homer Simpson "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!"
KC
Probably never for many of these apps. I started off an Android fanboy, but my love affair has cooled off dramatically. The initial awesomeness of how open the platform is has now turned into a veritable crapshoot in terms of stability. For developers this means that you have to make sure their app is compatible with so many different iterations and "skins" that sometimes it's not worth it. It's so ridiculous how many apps in the Android app marketplace have restrictions like "Doesn't work with Motorola Droid X2 or HTC Incredible 2" or "Not for phones with HTC Sense". What a nightmare for a developer, and it sucks for the android user. For iOS you have to make sure it's compatible with ONE platform. If I have a current iOS device and an app is released for iOS, I KNOW it will work. The same can't be said of Android.
+1 - couldn't sum it up better!
UNTIL you see a more smooth developer experience - greater stability - and for the developers I have worked with a fix to the piracy problems (while there is still money to be made on the market obviously - the piracy is MUCH worse on android) I think it will be a while before you see android with as many board games as iOS.
Oh Codito, can we stop kidding ourselves? Your releases to date have been repeatedly behind schedule and you released games:
7/10 11/10 4/11 8/11 11/11
Do you really think it is realistic to expect that you will release 4 games in 5 months from March to July when the track record shows 3-5 months between games and repeated misses on schedule?
I absolutely love the games you have put out, and I'm happy to wait for a good product, but do yourselves a favor and put together a reasonable estimate. It is going to start hurting your business when publishers see you as "the team who never delivers on time" (if they don't already.) I don't want to see what looks like a promising company with great products continually harpooning themselves into non-existence because your projections cannot be trusted.
According to an iPad Board Games site (other than this excellent one), both Agricola and Dominion are "Promised for Spring 2012".
I can see a lot of money leaving me for iPad games this year...
I wish the Agricola devs were more active on BGG, like Lukasz was/is with Caylus, to keep everyone updated on the progress/ETA of the app. I have faith in Playdek (based solely on Ascension) but so far all we've seen is a picture of the box art transplanted onto an iPad screen.
Anyhow, can't wait for Caylus. If Brad Gabe is right about the reviewing process taking as little as 2 days, I guess I can start checking every hour or two at this point.
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
I generally agree, but I also wanted to point out (for folks who don't have an iPad yet and are thinking of buying one) that getting the 3G model does NOT commit you to a monthly dataplan.
You can decide month by month whether you want one for that particular month. Depending on your usage patterns, it may be a wise choice to get one that's capable of 3G access. Aside from the higher initial cost of the iPad itself, having a 3G doesn't cost you any more money. It just offers you the capability to get 3G access if you happen to need it.
In the words of one of my friends, regarding 3G capability, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
I agree with this 100%. My initial iPad was Wi-Fi only. Within a month of buying it I was regretting not getting the 3G as I went on several trips with no Wi-Fi access. Fortunately Christmas came along and we were planning on getting my daughter one for Christmas anyway, so I gave her my 2 month old one and bought the 3G one. I'm really glad I did. The lowest data plan is only $20 bucks for the month and after my first month I hadn't even used 1/2 of the allowable data. Plus you pay month to month, so if you don't need to use the 3G there is no monthly cost for the months you don't use it.
Probably never for many of these apps. I started off an Android fanboy, but my love affair has cooled off dramatically. The initial awesomeness of how open the platform is has now turned into a veritable crapshoot in terms of stability. For developers this means that you have to make sure their app is compatible with so many different iterations and "skins" that sometimes it's not worth it. It's so ridiculous how many apps in the Android app marketplace have restrictions like "Doesn't work with Motorola Droid X2 or HTC Incredible 2" or "Not for phones with HTC Sense". What a nightmare for a developer, and it sucks for the android user. For iOS you have to make sure it's compatible with ONE platform. If I have a current iOS device and an app is released for iOS, I KNOW it will work. The same can't be said of Android.
I don't want to turn this into another Apple vs Android thing but I mostly agree. I still use an original EVO and think it's great, but I don't enjoy using it for games at all.
The recently released Android 4.0/Ice Cream Sandwich looks great, and has a lot of potential... except manufacturers seem to be ignoring it. At CES this week, most of the new phones unveiled are running 2.3, which is a year old. If a majority of phones are running the older OS, I imagine the devs will likely focus on that, and the benefits of 4.0 are going to be ignored. Android's growth as an OS is being hamstrung by the manufacturers.
When Apple releases an upgrade to iOS, the devs know that a majority of people with iOS devices can easily upgrade, and plan accordingly. With Android each phone/tablet needs to be updated separately. Some will never receive an update, and those that do could end up waiting months to a year for it. Rooting/flashing custom ROMs saves a lot of the waiting, but that's not a viable solution for your average user.
People complain about new iOS updates not working on older devices, but the same thing applies to Android. Why do you think manufacturers drag their feet when it comes to releasing OS updates? Surely it has nothing to do with wanting you to buy their new models, right?
I don't want to turn this into another Apple vs Android thing but I mostly agree. I still use an original EVO and think it's great, but I don't enjoy using it for games at all.
The recently released Android 4.0/Ice Cream Sandwich looks great, and has a lot of potential... except manufacturers seem to be ignoring it. At CES this week, most of the new phones unveiled are running 2.3, which is a year old. If a majority of phones are running the older OS, I imagine the devs will likely focus on that, and the benefits of 4.0 are going to be ignored. Android's growth as an OS is being hamstrung by the manufacturers.
When Apple releases an upgrade to iOS, the devs know that a majority of people with iOS devices can easily upgrade, and plan accordingly. With Android each phone/tablet needs to be updated separately. Some will never receive an update, and those that do could end up waiting months to a year for it. Rooting/flashing custom ROMs saves a lot of the waiting, but that's not a viable solution for your average user.
People complain about new iOS updates not working on older devices, but the same thing applies to Android. Why do you think manufacturers drag their feet when it comes to releasing OS updates? Surely it has nothing to do with wanting you to buy their new models, right?
This was amazing to see last October... I am looking to see if there is an updated one - as there is no iOS 5 on it and no 4.0 yet... But really shows the issue with upgrade support:
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.
cbs42 wrote:
EasyPickens wrote:
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
I generally agree, but I also wanted to point out (for folks who don't have an iPad yet and are thinking of buying one) that getting the 3G model does NOT commit you to a monthly dataplan.
You can decide month by month whether you want one for that particular month. Depending on your usage patterns, it may be a wise choice to get one that's capable of 3G access. Aside from the higher initial cost of the iPad itself, having a 3G doesn't cost you any more money. It just offers you the capability to get 3G access if you happen to need it.
In the words of one of my friends, regarding 3G capability, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."
I use my phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot and pay the $20/month when I need it that way. So far that's worked well for me, and I saved the $100 on my iPad. I have an iPhone 4 as my hotspot, though. I'm not sure you can use other smartphones as Wi-Fi hotspots or not.
[Here's an entry that I missed. Thanks for the catch Neumannium! Didn't want to wait until the next News Bits for it. Sorry about that.]
• Chad Jensen Confirms Art for Dominant Species for iPad - January 5 In a BGG image thread for Dominant Species, designer Chad Jensen confirmed that a sampling of the new artwork (by Chechu Nieto) commissioned for the upcoming third printing will in fact be part of the iPad version.
I'm surprised we haven't seen more "disappointed by the Summoner Wars news" posts. Not counting the Big Two (Dominion and RftG), I think I've seen more anticipation for SW than any other upcoming title.
What I'm not surprised by is Playdek/Incinerator missing all of its target dates (and this is a huge Ascension fan saying this; I'm not just bashing here). All of the games on its site (SW, Nightfall, etc.) used to say "coming Fall 2011," and I doubt there's a single person who believed that was actually going to happen anywhere other than Fantasy World. It's very similar to what another post above said about Codito's unrealistic dates: there's simply no chance at all that they will hit those targets. None whatsoever.
When will iOS boardgame developers realize that most of us can actually read? Or I'll put it in a less dramatic way: most iOS developers are really, really bad at the anticipation/completion dance. Yes, they want to publicize their products and build up some anticipation, and I doubt anyone has a problem with that. But, as a group, they are consistently missing dates and causing disappointment. In some cases, it's getting close to becoming flat-out unprofessional.
The solution seems simple enough: stop announcing dates you're only 50 percent (or even less) sure of. Don't announce anything until you're much further along in the development cycle. As painful as it is for we end-users not to get any news, it's far more painful to see target dates come and go like city buses.
Has anyone got multiplayer to actually work on the iPhone for Igenious? I have yet to be able to even get a game to start with an opponent, even if they are standing right next to me. Feedback from one player never seems to make it to the other. Is this Ingenious or Gamecenter?
Yep. Most, not all, devs make and miss dates. I've come completely out the other end in terms of my own expectations. All announced dates seem tentative to me now. I think sometimes its the only thing a dev can say that's new and hasn't been said already and the fact that a date changes is new info. The only dates that are solid:
"We submitted the app today." "The app has been approved and we will release it on XX date."
All other dates are mostly just radar (sonar?) pulses along the way.
[q="bradandmary"] all we've seen is a picture of the box art transplanted onto an iPad screen.
At essen they had a few work in progress demos running and it's a lot further down the path than a few screenshots. I might have a photo somewhere...
If you can find it, I'd like to see it, out of curiosity. The most recent post I saw regarding the app was that they were working on the AI (which is admittedly difficult for a game like Agricola), and that the rest was otherwise pretty much done.
I would get the following, if there's a iphone version.
• Time of Heroes • Alien Frontiers • Thunderstone • Caylus • Cadwallon: City of Thieves to Release Soon
Very curios how it'll be made: • Le Havre • Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization • Age of Industry • El Grande • Yggdrasil • Olympos • Red November
I would like if they this game for iphone, rather that only on ipad. • Puerto Rico
There're more iphones than ipads in the world. It could give more revenue.
Strange, I posted a comment but the page glitched and when I refreshed the page it was lost.
When I heard about Cadwallon: City of Thieves, it rang a bell for a board game my roommate was interested in. I didn't realize it wasn't out yet, and when I searched the iOS store, I found "City of Thieves." The screenshots seemed odd, but I told my roommate the game was out so he went and bought it on his iPhone. Whoops.
I guess when the game we were expecting comes out I'll have to buy it for him to make up for my blunder, tho he didn't realize it wasn't the same game either, so maybe the fault should lay on him.
I would get the following, if there's a iphone version.
• Time of Heroes • Alien Frontiers • Thunderstone • Caylus • Cadwallon: City of Thieves to Release Soon
Very curios how it'll be made: • Le Havre • Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization • Age of Industry • El Grande • Yggdrasil • Olympos • Red November
I would like if they this game for iphone, rather that only on ipad. • Puerto Rico
There're more iphones than ipads in the world. It could give more revenue.
I think i will buy ALL of them xD hahaha My family give a itunes gift cards... 100 €
Strange, I posted a comment but the page glitched and when I refreshed the page it was lost.
When I heard about Cadwallon: City of Thieves, it rang a bell for a board game my roommate was interested in. I didn't realize it wasn't out yet, and when I searched the iOS store, I found "City of Thieves." The screenshots seemed odd, but I told my roommate the game was out so he went and bought it on his iPhone. Whoops.
I guess when the game we were expecting comes out I'll have to buy it for him to make up for my blunder, tho he didn't realize it wasn't the same game either, so maybe the fault should lay on him.
Lol - that's funny - BUT - that City of Thieves doesn't look like it would be that bad! Choose your own adventure book!
I quite like the Kingsburg app, so I was pleased to see it get a little bit of love. Let us hope that more significant updates are forthcoming.
Anyone else having trouble with Kingsburg on iPad after the update? I was able to run it in 2x mode before and now it just crashes on load....hope they fix this after paying $4.99 for it.......
Or at least allow a free upgrade to the ipad version.
confirmed! does not load on ipad 1 anymore! free upgrade? there is no native ipad version yet.
You know, how some games that are no more graphically complex than Catan, Wabash Cannonball or Neuroshima Hex (all of which run just great on my 2nd gen iTouch device) tell me "THIS APP IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THIS IPOD TOUCH".
Dude, we stopped supporting even 3GS devices last Fall.
Probably never for many of these apps. I started off an Android fanboy, but my love affair has cooled off dramatically. The initial awesomeness of how open the platform is has now turned into a veritable crapshoot in terms of stability. For developers this means that you have to make sure their app is compatible with so many different iterations and "skins" that sometimes it's not worth it. It's so ridiculous how many apps in the Android app marketplace have restrictions like "Doesn't work with Motorola Droid X2 or HTC Incredible 2" or "Not for phones with HTC Sense". What a nightmare for a developer, and it sucks for the android user. For iOS you have to make sure it's compatible with ONE platform. If I have a current iOS device and an app is released for iOS, I KNOW it will work. The same can't be said of Android.
I thought Ice Cream Sandwich was supposed to mitigate this problem.
There's few enough people using such old devices...
You have to love it when developers consider some very large number of millions of devices as "a few". They sold 30+ million of them, they haven't all been thrown in the trash.
2nd gen touches max out at 4.2.1, and the differences between 4.3 and 4.2 are negligible.
All other dates are mostly just radar (sonar?) pulses along the way.
Vaporware has been around since the 80s and has lost none of its potency in the 21st century!
For me, I experience a small frisson when I hear a developer with a track record (eg Big Daddy, Sage, Games of Wonder) says they have a licence and will soon start work on porting to iOS. Any dates announced at that time really should be taken with an asteroid of salt.
My "anticipation" doesn't being to build until I see a developer posting images that look like an well-rendered gaming interface is beginning to crystalise.
••board games on And vs. iOS for me I currently have ALOT more boardgames for iOS than Android, as I recently got a Galaxy s2 a few months back, while having an IpT4 for years now. I gotta admit, I'll probably prefer to get board games for iOS, simply b/c the Android having a superior camera, cell phone, GPS, and internet access is my lifeline that I'd rather my IpT take the battery burden of games. FWIW, San Juan and Dominion (both with expansions) are still only available for And.
••iOS versions ...Glad to hear Iphone OS 4 appears to be the "safe spot". At best, I'll update to iOS5 on my IpT4, but no plans to get the next IpT.
••Kingsburg .... now has achievements! Annoyingly enough, all the progress I made on my Ipod Touch 3 (or was it when I switched to windows &?) didn't make it over, so now I need to replay the game to unlock p4 and p5 again (I guess I shouldn't have redownloaded it from the Purchased section of the AppStore). What's more concerning is the achivements don't seem to register unless you've got Game Center access, which on my Ipod Touch, if I'm on the road, then nope, won't happen.
Like many others, I will fully embrace Kingsburg once the major exp (To Forge A Realm) is implemented
••Yggdrasil ... I would've loved to have played, but like many others, no interest in getting an Ipad
••Thunderstone Is it true this is Ipad only? I guess I'm going with the Facebook version then.
••Alien Frontiers When this hits Iph, then will look into it. Another game that's probably better played via electronically vs. IRL due to downtime.
••RoboHero I got in on the kickstarter when it was still called Robo Arena. Wondering how we'll get it for free since by design, Apple won't allow gift codes to be used through Itunes. Looki9ng forward to it! In the meantime, alot of Carcassonne and Ascension with exp have been played!
••Kingsburg .... now has achievements! Annoyingly enough, all the progress I made on my Ipod Touch 3 (or was it when I switched to windows &?) didn't make it over, so now I need to replay the game to unlock p4 and p5 again (I guess I shouldn't have redownloaded it from the Purchased section of the AppStore). What's more concerning is the achivements don't seem to register unless you've got Game Center access, which on my Ipod Touch, if I'm on the road, then nope, won't happen.
Like many others, I will fully embrace Kingsburg once the major exp (To Forge A Realm) is implemented
The Achievements are stored on the GameCenter servers, so they are preserved (at least mine were). But the local unlockables, like the 4P and 5P had to be done again. Annoying, but I was pleased my 71 achievements were still there. (Sad I know)
I am unfamiliar with the board game itself, though was tempted to buy it recently, having enjoyed the iOS version.
That Facebook version of Thunderstone is ugly. Significantly worse than Yucata. I dearly hope the iOS version looks better or it will be a huge pass for me.
Probably never for many of these apps. I started off an Android fanboy, but my love affair has cooled off dramatically. The initial awesomeness of how open the platform is has now turned into a veritable crapshoot in terms of stability. For developers this means that you have to make sure their app is compatible with so many different iterations and "skins" that sometimes it's not worth it. It's so ridiculous how many apps in the Android app marketplace have restrictions like "Doesn't work with Motorola Droid X2 or HTC Incredible 2" or "Not for phones with HTC Sense". What a nightmare for a developer, and it sucks for the android user. For iOS you have to make sure it's compatible with ONE platform. If I have a current iOS device and an app is released for iOS, I KNOW it will work. The same can't be said of Android.
I thought Ice Cream Sandwich was supposed to mitigate this problem.
That would be a very welcome update for the Android platform. My wife recently had to replace her waterlogged droid 1. She got an X2 and at least 5 games that worked on the older droid 1, no longer worked for the newer X2. She wasn't a happy camper. I think this issue is the number one obstacle for Android, so if they plan to or have fixed it with Ice Cream Sandwich, that would be very good for future Android devices.
That Facebook version of Thunderstone is ugly. Significantly worse than Yucata. I dearly hope the iOS version looks better or it will be a huge pass for me.
I'm pretty sure it almost has to be better.
None of Zabu's FB games looks any good, but they do have sort of a comforting feel to them is you use FB a lot. That's basically how games look on FB: a lot of information crammed onto one screen, with lots of places to click for extras, help, high scores, etc.
And keep in mind that all FB games reserve a large area for the whole "social" thing — "Invite Your Friends!" — and other FB-esque junk. None of that will need to be present in the iOS version; that screen real estate can go to better uses.
Great news about Caylus, although I've wondered why developers bother holding the release date? If it's approved, can't they just release it now?
I don't think it really makes a meaningful difference in sales most of the time, but the theory is generally that your app's success is driven by the amount of early exposure it gets (showing up on lists like "new and noteworthy" and top sales), so sometimes developers time releases trying to avoid the flood of other releases, remain longer on the newest release lists, or otherwise maximize that exposure.
That's only partialy true. Some developers also need to prepare their server side infrastructure for non-development version of their game.
Oh, yes: there's also that! I can hardly wait for Caylus, Łukasz. You make amazing games and that's one of the greatest (though I am also dying for some of your upcoming projects, too).
There's few enough people using such old devices...
You have to love it when developers consider some very large number of millions of devices as "a few". They sold 30+ million of them, they haven't all been thrown in the trash.
2nd gen touches max out at 4.2.1, and the differences between 4.3 and 4.2 are negligible.
iOS 3 and earlier account for 4% to 5% of web traffic from iOS devices (based on very reliable but confidential industry info I have access to). Additionally, people who aren't willing to spend money on upgrading devices are also less likely to be willing to spend money on buying apps. The return-on-investment is not worth the cost in developer time to support them. Sorry, but that's reality. On the other hand, if you're happy without a cutting-edge device, then you're probably also happy without snazzy new apps.
In addition, there's the whole attitude of "My shiny device is supposed to remain cutting-edge forever!" I rank it second on the Annoyance Scale, behind only "Are you doing an Android version?"
Tech is always moving forward. Always has, always will. Upgrade or get left behind. Don't like it? Then don't buy tech stuff. Problem solved.
There's few enough people using such old devices...
You have to love it when developers consider some very large number of millions of devices as "a few". They sold 30+ million of them, they haven't all been thrown in the trash.
2nd gen touches max out at 4.2.1, and the differences between 4.3 and 4.2 are negligible.
iOS 3 and earlier account for 4% to 5% of web traffic from iOS devices (based on very reliable but confidential industry info I have access to). Additionally, people who aren't willing to spend money on upgrading devices are also less likely to be willing to spend money on buying apps. The return-on-investment is not worth the cost in developer time to support them. Sorry, but that's reality. On the other hand, if you're happy without a cutting-edge device, then you're probably also happy without snazzy new apps.
I hope that part about updating one;s device isn't an "absolute statement". I have an IpT4 on iOS4.3, and hope that devs continue to support for at least another 5 to 10 years. If folks like us end up going the way of OS3 sooner than later, I may as well get a DS and consider iOS gaming to be a good run, but done.
Also, it seems from this stat that many of the Iph3 and IpT3 owners have either upgraded to iOS4 (the OS mind you, NOT the hardware), or did get the newer model hardware.
No doubt. That is longer than a console life cycle - let alone something PC related like a video card. Nowadays phones are on an even faster cycle. Android phones come out every 3 months with new faster versions. iPhones are actually much slower since they are a yearly release. :lol:
Want. Caylus. NOW. Ugg, I shall wait as patiently as possible. The only reason I don't own a physical copy is that my wife will only occasionally play Caylus Magna Carta, and my cousin has Caylus. I need the app for my true Caylus fix! Can't wait!
You know, how some games that are no more graphically complex than Catan, Wabash Cannonball or Neuroshima Hex (all of which run just great on my 2nd gen iTouch device) tell me "THIS APP IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THIS IPOD TOUCH".
I think it's just some developers not wanting to do a little extra work to support those of us who don't go replacing our apple products every couple years (which are overpriced to begin with).
UnknownParkerBrother wrote:
Santiago wrote:
iOS 3 and earlier account for 4% to 5% of web traffic from iOS devices (based on very reliable but confidential industry info I have access to).
Which part of "2nd gen ipod touches are running 4.2.1" are you having trouble with?
You're the only one who keeps bringing up iOS 3. The rest of us are talking about iOS 4 devices being locked out.
The complaints about incompatibility started with "3.0 crap."
What bothers me is the entitlement mentality of those who complain that developers won't cater to them. In this case, you're acting like the developers owe you the extra work to make it compatible with your chosen device, as if they sold you that older iOS hardware (or Android) along with the promise that they'd be supporting it as long as you wanted to use it. Their job is not to equally distribute games to everyone. Their job is making money, so they try to make decisions based on efficiency and wise resource management. Express your desire to have the games on more devices, but don't whine that you're being treated unfairly.
FWIW, San Juan and Dominion (both with expansions) are still only available for And.
Are you referring to the unofficial versions of these games? I'd rather keep waiting for official apps, instead of playing a game that looks like this:
FWIW, San Juan and Dominion (both with expansions) are still only available for And.
Are you referring to the unofficial versions of these games? I'd rather keep waiting for official apps, instead of playing a game that looks like this:
Androminion (unofficial Dominion clone)
Condado (unofficial San Juan clone)
I have tears in my eyes. I'd rather play them in green screen old machine by using DOS commands.
What bothers me is the entitlement mentality of those who complain that developers won't cater to them.
It has nothing to do with entitlement. I'm saying it's a pretty stupid business decision to blow away 20 to 30 million users from your potential sales base.
Developing for 4.2.1 instead of 4.3 is a no-brainer.
I'm a big Microsoft guy and the only Apple device I own is the iPad 2. The device is really great, and I have never regretted purchasing it.
If you do get one, I recommend the Wifi models. With so many hot spots around (fast food places, coffee shops, hotels, office buildings, etc) you don't really need the added monthly bill of 3G.
Recently I picked up the Apple wireless keyboard and now use the iPad as my laptop on the road. I can even remote into my machine at work.
If you can swing it - it's worth it.
I've wanted a tablet for awhile now. When I have the money, Ipad will be the way I go even though my brother swears he'll stop fixing my PC when it has issues (for some reason he's anti mac.)
BUT! If android had half the games Ipad has now I'd consider it, but its really no contest. Am I buying the Ipad for the fact that I can play amazing boardgames and other games on it? Yup.
It's an estimate. Around 30 million 1st and 2nd gen ipod touches were sold. An even higher amount of pre-3gs iphones, something around 45 million.
Even if you say 50 million have been thrown in the trash, that still leaves 25 million. Who knows what the actual number is? I think assuming 66% have been thrown in the trash is pretty fair.
No doubt. That is longer than a console life cycle - let alone something PC related like a video card. Nowadays phones are on an even faster cycle. Android phones come out every 3 months with new faster versions. iPhones are actually much slower since they are a yearly release. :lol:
Admittedly, i pulled that number out of my ass. Suffice to say, I'll reach my "breaking point" and won't bother getting any new models, and thus, won't have a recent enough OS to play these such games.
.
macgruff wrote:
ackmondual wrote:
FWIW, San Juan and Dominion (both with expansions) are still only available for And.
Are you referring to the unofficial versions of these games? I'd rather keep waiting for official apps, instead of playing a game that looks like this:
Ain't nothing wrong with that. However, I like how I can play these games NOW. And no contest here either, I've played games like Race For The Galaxy through (it has permission from the publisher, that permission if/when they decide to do their own, official version) Keldon's AI program b/c it's so superbly well done and available right away.
It may tke 8 weeks, it may take 8 years, but I'd still consider official versions of other board games.
.
AndreKada wrote:
I have tears in my eyes. I'd rather play them in green screen old machine by using DOS commands.
Wow..... people have complained how awful BSW's interface and appearance was. I doubt they'd go for a text based interface + commands. I doubt your typical Iphone user would follow suit either.
Looks like Cadwallon: city of thieves will be a dud at launch... It'll have no AI and no online multiplayer... Only pass and play.
Ugh. Insta-pass.
Do you have a link? I've had a hard time tracking down info. on this release.
If you have any questions for the developers - just ask on their facebook page - then in like 4 or 5 days they will get back to you... Hope their support is quicker after launch!
Anyway - I asked about AI and Multiplayer - here was the reply:
"Hello. Thank you for your interesting questions and your eagerness in knowing more about the game. The version 1.0 will focus on playing just like with a real board game (meaning from 2 to 4 real players) with the advantages of the iPad, but AI is a priority as an update of the game. No online mode yet but it's also something we are considering. There is asynchronicity in the gameplay as a turn based game in which actions can be disrupted by opponents. I hope that it answers well to your questions."
But yeah - any interested I had in getting the game quickly disappeared when I heard no Multiplayer online and no AI... hopefully they will update quick and get some of those essential features out.
But yes - insta-pass for myself as well... which is too bad (as I mentioned up higher in this thread - I purchased the game but it has never made it to the table for one reason or another and a kid.) So I was really excited to get it and to try it out for once actually!
Looks like Cadwallon: city of thieves will be a dud at launch... It'll have no AI and no online multiplayer... Only pass and play.
Was looking forward to that one for some reason too...
That is total garbage. I had interest in the game until that.
edit: After reading their response (via your post) I have even less interest in the game. It is maddening that they would think I am buying the app because I am too cheap to buy the tabletop game. I am buying apps because I would play board games 5 hours a day every day but don't have people available to do that. So I need an app with an AI that will play with me when I can't sleep or on my lunch break.
The version 1.0 will focus on playing just like with a real board game ...
... in which case most people will choose to just pull out the actual physical game instead.
When will iOS developers wrap their heads around this?
EXACTLY!!!
If I am with my buddies - I would MUCH RATHER play the REAL thing! Not push a tablet around the table.
Now - I COULD see this being useful if you don't want to pony up the full cost and want to try it before you buy the box... but I cannot even fathom that being a reasonable business model! "Hey! Lets make a digital version of our game so people can try it on a tablet before they buy the boxed version!"
I hope they realize very quickly what needs to be added to the game. I just hope that sales aren't so terrible that they do nothing with it as they are discouraged by the sales.
The version 1.0 will focus on playing just like with a real board game ...
... in which case most people will choose to just pull out the actual physical game instead.
When will iOS developers wrap their heads around this?
EXACTLY!!!
If I am with my buddies - I would MUCH RATHER play the REAL thing! Not push a tablet around the table.
Now - I COULD see this being useful if you don't want to pony up the full cost and want to try it before you buy the box... but I cannot even fathom that being a reasonable business model! "Hey! Lets make a digital version of our game so people can try it on a tablet before they buy the boxed version!"
I hope they realize very quickly what needs to be added to the game. I just hope that sales aren't so terrible that they do nothing with it as they are discouraged by the sales.
With these situations, I wouldn't go for the game either. I have done similar things.... purchased a board game app, but at discount with the promise of putting in the desired features I seek. To me, the discounts were enough of a compromise that if the desred features never got implemented, I at least have that much (the discount). I've done that with Carcassonne ($5 instead of $10 with promise of I&C and River exps) and Roll Through The Ages ($2 cheaper for promise of AI). The latter has yet to occur while the former did.
Also, I hope things balance out in the end, such as people not being turned off by lousy AI that would be fixed later on and it woudlve been better to hold off AI initially and polish it more.
(we all have at least one of those games we own right? right?) 
They sold 30+ million of them, they haven't all been thrown in the trash.
