The iOS gaming thread

[Massive Invisible Dog]

Mine had a slight drift on the iPad, but shifting the sensitivity down a little stopped it. It also doesn't matter at all when you're playing, as Cheeko says.

[ZOK]

I challenge Stu to find a review of the game where they agree with him about the controls, as opposed to praising them. The closest I can find is this, which still praises the controls!

Tilt to Live would fail if it weren’t for the tight tilt controls, and fortunately even aiming your giant death laser with precision is a cinch. We did run into a few control snafus when holding the device upside down (sleepy mode) or at a custom angle that was also facing downward. Otherwise, the regular top-down views of the action worked perfectly, letting us guide our arrow through swarms of red dots with ease.

Here are some others (all that mention the controls on first page of Google under 'tilt to live review'):

The tilt calibration is absolutely perfect with maybe the most precise titling I’ve felt on the iPhone.

Your ship is controlled using the iPhone or iPod touch accelerometer, and while you might cringe at the thought of this, you shouldn't; the controls feel accurate and even a little forgiving.

Accelerometer controls: I know what you’re thinking: “Hit or miss… usually miss”. Well, you’d be wrong. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but the controls in Tilt to Live are flawless and I had no problems performing the incredibly precise movements the game requires. For those of you worrying about manual calibration, don’t. You’re given four options for holding the device when you begin the game, Regular, Top-Down, Sleepy and Custom. I generally prefer Top-Down but it’s not important, because whatever your specific orientation needs, Custom will ensure you’re catered to.

Developer One Man Left keeps it incredibly simple with Tilt to Live, relying solely on the accelerometer to run the game (touching the screen brings up the pause menu). But everything is so well planned and executed that it’s nearly impossible not to have fun tipping around your phone and trying to survive. They’ve even prepared for different styles of play and have presets available if you’re laying down, standing, or sitting so that the accelerometer doesn’t go all wacky.

Many games on the iPhone have had poor tilt functionality, so we wouldn’t blame you if you were a little sceptical. Even if a game works, as soon as you change position things tend to get all wonky...Of all the options though, it’s the custom setting that I found myself using again and again. Once you get comfortable, you simply tap “set” and you’ll get perfect tilt responsiveness for however you’re holding the device.

[Paulando]

I played Tilt to Live last night for the first time in ages (and before that I'd only had a quick go). And you know what, the controls were superb. It also didn't move around at all when it was still, that was on the default setting.

[Distinct muttering]

Im playing it now and mine is moving around in circles when I leave it sitting flat on my desk!

[ZOK]

And how does it control when you're...you know...holding it?

I think most people would agree that trying to play Tilt To Live by lying it flat on a desk and then trying to tilt said desk instead of the iPhone is making it intentionally difficult for yourself.

[Padlocked]

There are a few people a little too hung up on one persons view of a game.

Anything good out today?

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

And how does it control when you're...you know...holding it?

I think most people would agree that trying to play Tilt To Live by lying it flat on a desk and then trying to tilt said desk instead of the iPhone is making it intentionally difficult for yourself.

Hngh. The point about the calibration is merely to refute the specific argument that the calibration/control is amazing and perfect and best-ever and whatever else it was that people were saying about it. I'd never have noticed the calibration if it wasn't for the fact that I did notice the controls were shit and broken while I was playing the game. I've played at least 20 tilt-controlled games that I had no problems with at all, but for whatever reason (and logically it'd be something to do with the calibration) TTL's control is absolutely horrible on all my devices - so much so it renders the game basically unplayable, and so much so that I investigated to find out why, and only then discovered the calibration problem. You find Need For Cheese "glitchy" while I've never experienced a single glitch of any kind with it. Clearly none of us is going to listen to someone else's opinion over our own first-hand experience. So, y'know, go figure.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

I challenge Stu to find a review of the game where they agree with him about the controls, as opposed to praising them.

Tell you what - you find me an iOS game review site that isn't written by happy-clappy cretins who wouldn't know a good game if it fucked their granny up the arse with an iPad, and I'll take their word for whatever they say about Tilt To Live.

(NB If you say "Touch Arcade" or "Slide To Play" I will laugh until I'm sick, then scoop the sick into a Jiffy bag and send it to your mum marked "FREE SAMPLE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME!!!")

[Massive Invisible Dog]

I just installed Need For Cheese, put my iPad on the table and did the control calibration. The mouse slowly drifted to the bottom of the screen. FUCKED.

[Clipper]

Tell you what - you find me an iOS game review site that isn't written by happy-clappy cretins who wouldn't know a good game if it fucked their granny up the arse with an iPad, and I'll take their word for whatever they say about Tilt To Live.

NB If you say "Touch Arcade" or "Slide To Play" I will laugh until I'm sick, then scoop the sick into a Jiffy bag and send it to your mum marked "FREE SAMPLE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME!"

to be fair Zok he has got you there

iOS review sites are notoriously shit... Oh WOWOWOWOWOW XXXX Game is on iOS give it 1 million percent regardless of how shit it plays.

It is like every iOS site is clamouring to outdo each other for most shameless "official-mag" style review site.

PodGamer was good until it imploded.

reviews on sites for nearly all platforms is fucked though.. its just on iOS they are more fucked

[Zero]

NyxQuest is currently on sale for 69p, well worth it.

[JoeK]

So, Another World then. Quite how a game still captivates me after god knows how many times I've played it (on so many sodding platforms) I really don't know. It looks bloody lovely on the iPad screen, and the controls aren't as god-awful as I was expecting either. Great stuff

[Clipper]

when I heard how the controls were implemented I was intersted.. swipes to run and jump etc.

Are controls similar to the sublime Mirror's Edge? if so its a must buy for me.

I realise there is an attack button as well bottom right/left

Talking of which where is the twatting sequel to Mirror's Edge on iPad?

[ZOK]

Hngh. The point about the calibration is merely to refute the specific argument that the calibration/control is amazing and perfect and best-ever and whatever else it was that people were saying about it. I'd never have noticed the calibration if it wasn't for the fact that I did notice the controls were shit and broken while I was playing the game. I've played at least 20 tilt-controlled games that I had no problems with at all, but for whatever reason (and logically it'd be something to do with the calibration) TTL's control is absolutely horrible on all my devices - so much so it renders the game basically unplayable, and so much so that I investigated to find out why, and only then discovered the calibration problem. You find Need For Cheese "glitchy" while I've never experienced a single glitch of any kind with it. Clearly none of us is going to listen to someone else's opinion over our own first-hand experience. So, y'know, go figure.

Except my first hand experience is over 7,600,000 points playing Tilt To Live in Code Red mode. I have demonstrated clear ability, and so those reviews merely confirm my own findings, that the control is perfect. That the game is the precise opposite of unplayable.

If you can demonstrate a similar level of ability...say a million points on Code Red, then I'll doff my cap and put it down to an anomaly. Otherwise, your claim that the controls are 'shit and broken' just sounds like something you've decided to say.

[ZOK]

to be fair Zok he has got you there

iOS review sites are notoriously shit... Oh WOWOWOWOWOW XXXX Game is on iOS give it 1 million percent regardless of how shit it plays.

It is like every iOS site is clamouring to outdo each other for most shameless "official-mag" style review site.

PodGamer was good until it imploded.

reviews on sites for nearly all platforms is fucked though.. its just on iOS they are more fucked

Except the reviews all confirm what I've found myself, so if they are lying, as Stu implies, then I must be lying too. To myself, which would seem rather curious.

[ZOK]

Tell you what - you find me an iOS game review site that isn't written by happy-clappy cretins who wouldn't know a good game if it fucked their granny up the arse with an iPad, and I'll take their word for whatever they say about Tilt To Live.

(NB If you say "Touch Arcade" or "Slide To Play" I will laugh until I'm sick, then scoop the sick into a Jiffy bag and send it to your mum marked "FREE SAMPLE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME!!!")

I've no idea what sites are good, I got those through Google, as I said. I never read game reviews, I get all my iOS info from this thread.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

Except my first hand experience is over 7,600,000 points playing Tilt To Live in Code Red mode. I have demonstrated clear ability, and so those reviews merely confirm my own findings, that the control is perfect. That the game is the precise opposite of unplayable.

If you can demonstrate a similar level of ability...say a million points on Code Red, then I'll doff my cap and put it down to an anomaly. Otherwise, your claim that the controls are 'shit and broken' just sounds like something you've decided to say.

Clearly none of us is going to listen to someone else's opinion over our own first-hand experience. So, y'know, go figure.

[ZOK]

I've given you a reason why you should listen to my first hand opinion, I'm offering you the opportunity to demonstrate why I should listen to yours. If you don't want to, fair enough, we'll leave it at that.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

I've given you a reason why you should listen to my first hand opinion, I'm offering you the opportunity to demonstrate why I should listen to yours. If you don't want to, fair enough, we'll leave it at that.

I don't give half a dog's bollock what your high score is, because YOU clearly find the control perfectly fine on your device, as I've already noted (twice). If your position is "You must be shit at games", as it appears, I'm going to treat that with about as much respect as it deserves - namely not even enough to bother finishing this sen

[ZOK]

You little scamp!

[Mike1812]

Tiger Woods 12 is free!

[MK-1601]

Tell you what - you find me an iOS game review site that isn't written by happy-clappy cretins who wouldn't know a good game if it fucked their granny up the arse with an iPad, and I'll take their word for whatever they say about Tilt To Live.

(NB If you say "Touch Arcade" or "Slide To Play" I will laugh until I'm sick, then scoop the sick into a Jiffy bag and send it to your mum marked "FREE SAMPLE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME!!!")

I don't particularly care about Tilt to Live one way or another (and controls are a matter of personal preference anyway), but Stu has a point here. Grab six random iOS reviews from Google and you'll likely get at least a couple from sites that shamelessly beg for cash for reviews.

Even the few decent sites are guilty of glossing over shortcomings of games ported (badly) from other platforms. (e.g. my favourite game to moan about, Monkey Island 2:SE - still regularly cropping up in 'best adventures on iOS' lists, when any reviewer with a shred of honesty would point out that the Steam version is only a few pounds more and not rubbish.)

[toythatkills]

Spacechem is coming to iPad.

http://www.zachtronicsindustries.com/coming-soon-spacechem-on-the-ipad/

You lucky iPad owners, you.

[sir stiff_one]

If anyone likes [adult swim] and/or slightly mental, fast-paced puzzle games, might I recommend investigating Monsters Ate My Condo?

(The reviewer is pretty terrible at it, but based on the guide popping up as he goes it must be his first attempt, to be fair ).

Currently going for 69p, and I'm loving it.

Like if they made iOS game reviews for cheap cable TV stations back in the 90s. Horrible horrible video. Game looks fun though.

[MrHendo]

So, Another World then. Quite how a game still captivates me after god knows how many times I've played it (on so many sodding platforms) I really don't know. It looks bloody lovely on the iPad screen, and the controls aren't as god-awful as I was expecting either. Great stuff

when I heard how the controls were implemented I was intersted.. swipes to run and jump etc.

Are controls similar to the sublime Mirror's Edge? if so its a must buy for me.

I realise there is an attack button as well bottom right/left

The controls work pretty similarly to Mirror's Edge, also it looks fantastic and I love that you can change between the new and old at will (like Monkey Island on XBLA). Oh, and there's also virtual d-pad controls if you want to use them but I really, really don't.

Took a couple of screenshots in-game to show the differences in visual style:

Old:

New:

I know I had Flashback on the Megadrive but I think I missed out on this so it's a new (ish) experience for me.

[shirubagan]

Robot Wants Kitty is free at the moment. Fun little platformer. Controls surprisingly well, too.

[Stanley]

I love Game Dev Story. I'm just playing the free version at the moment but i will definitely be purchasing it once the trial runs out. It's so utterly compulsive, and adorable.

[toythatkills]

osu!stream (which is free) has been updated and now has some new songs. There were some legal issues with the songs they were using before, it seems, so they've had to get some new ones and now here they are.

It's still hard as fuck, though. I'm really good at Ouendan but I haven't even come close to A-ranking anything on this yet, even the easy song.

[sir stiff_one]

Decent if lightweight article on Game Dev Story here on Edge:

http://www.next-gen.biz/opinion/designing-engagement-secret-game-dev-story

[Zero]

Couple of free games:

Legends of Yore

Traffic Rush

Sir Revs-a-Lot

And for anyone that anyone missed it, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 is still free for Iphone and Ipad.