Mobile Phones News Blog

Popular mobile games publisher Gameloft has released a free version of cards game UNO for Android Market. The free version of the classic card game will come with ads while the paid one is available for Rs 155.35 in Android Market. Features of both game versions remain the same but the paid version does not have any advertisement.

UNO is quite popular card game that involves colours, numbers and specific set of rules. Indeed different from the regular card deck, the UNO free version comes with intuitive touchscreen controls. Users can also customise the rules as per their preferences. The best part of it is that the app allows playing the game with friends over WiFi or Bluetooth connection.

The UNO free version on Android replicates the same fun as the real card game albeit with touchscreen controls. Tournament mode offers challenges that become difficult with every level passed. After downloading the free version of app, you will have to download 45 MB worth of game data and usage of WiFi is recommended in that case.

Thanks to the multi-player and play 24/7 option, the Android smartphone owners can play with their friends, colleagues or family. Unfortunately, the multi-player mode would not be available to low-end mobile phones — mostly the ones running Android 1.6 to Android 2.1.

Download the free UNO game from Android Market right away.

Minecraft pocket edition, a mobile game, which is available on both iOS and Android, will soon have the survival mode.

Earlier, users have only got the build mode where there are neither any enemies nor the day and night cycle. At the same time users cannot craft anything either though building random structures is also fun.

The new mode adds more interest to the game by surrounding the players and the structures built by them with animals and monsters, said the developers of the game.

The survival mode provides more reasons for the gamers to build their structures, because apart from the challenges they also get tools to get past them.

Minecraft pocket edition first made its debut on Android on September 29 and later made its debut on iOS as recently as November 18.

The makers of the game are also likely to add crafting ability to Minecraft, so the gamers can also defend themselves in the game against different characters. If the pocket edition development continues in the same vein as the PC version did, users can expect more awesome updates to the game.

CTIA (International Wireless Trade Association) and ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) have come together to formulate a system to rate the games for mobile phones based on their content for age appropriateness.

The rating system will be a voluntary one for the developers, where a detailed questionnaire is to be filled by them to arrive at the rating. The questionnaire was created by the ESRB and specifically calls out sexual or crude content as valid reasons to elevate the rating to more mature age groups.

The rating system will be unveiled on November 29 in Washington D.C. Similar to the popular ratings system for console and PC gaming, the ratings will assign grades based on the content of the game and specify which age groups are suitable for each game.

Since 1994, the ESRB has rated over 21,000 games but have allowed developers and publishers of downloadable games on services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network to self-police ratings with a detailed questionnaire.

Apple’s iOS platform already has a rating system in place, which splits apps into four categories. The 4+ level is suitable for all ages and the 9+ level may contain mild violence or mature themes, which is not suitable for any child under the age of nine.

The 12+ level contains the previously mentioned content in addition to simulated gambling and the 17+ level could easily include intense violent and sexual content. Parents can lock down the level of apps available to be purchased by using the parental controls.

The Android platform uses a similar rating system that ranges from ‘Everyone’ to ‘High Maturity’. Windows platform attempts to direct children to a family section to purchase apps.

Both the CTIA and the ESRB will need to convince Apple and Google to adopt the ratings system to include it within the application description. Developers can anyways include these ratings in the description of the game.

How do you breathe new life into a genre that has seen it all? Outside of gaming it has been done a few times, for example Wes Craven’s Scream reinvented the slasher movie with its post-modern take on an established premise. However, it’s not easy to do – especially when you’re dealing with the space shooter arcade genre and a bona-fide classic like Space Invaders.

Yep, Space Invaders, considered by some gaming historians to be instrumental in bringing video gaming into the mainstream as well as introducing many aspects now standard in games today -  from multiple lives and a distinctive soundtrack, to a high score-style challenge.

Even if you don’t care about video games you’ll know what Space Invaders is all about, and would probably even know the ‘dun, dun, dun, dun’ bass beat of the advancing aliens. Reinvigorating the classic game has been tried already, with updates and clones appearing on different platforms over the years, but none have had the same impact as the 70s machine.

Taito has been responsible for many of these and has even released the original Space Invaders and a more modern remix named Space Invaders Infinity Gene on iOS. While both are worthy of the name, Infinity Gene doesn’t quite capture the addictive qualities of its more famous forebear.

So what can Invaders fans do if they want a fun, addictive, graphically and sonically impressive game that captures the brilliance of their beloved game? The answer is simple, download Super Crossfire.

Developed by Radian Games and released by Chillingo (the same team behind Angry Birds‘ original release and the equally popular Cut the Rope) Super Crossfire HD may not wear the Space Invaders name, but the influence is clear. It’s also the best clone I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing on any platform!

The aliens are coming, and it’s your job to stop them! That’s all the plot you need to know because as with most basic shooters, the alien ships could all be piloted by clones of Jamie Oliver for all it matters. Your mission is simple (and if the thought of the mockney one’s presence helps, then feel free to use it), blast them all out of the sky!

Fixed waves of enemies move up and down and scroll from side-to-side on a single screen, and your gunship is fixed to the bottom with the ability to move only from side-to-side. Firing is automatic, which is a good thing as all your concentration will be taken up by avoiding the aliens’ fearsome firepower. So far, so Space Invaders, but here’s the clever part – tap ‘warp’ and you suddenly zip from the bottom of the screen to the top!

The screen shifts slightly to accommodate this change, but otherwise it’s the same thing except now you’re shooting the enemy from behind; until they turn around themselves…

The warp mechanic can be employed to get you out of sticky situations, allow you to shoot enemies that are obscured from below, take tricky ships by surprise and best of all, used correctly it’s a strategic tool that encourages you to think about how the enemy ships react, and the fastest way to blow them all away. It’s so simple, yet so satisfying to use, it transforms the game into something very special indeed.

It’s possible to learn the levels and by combining this knowledge with the warp feature, some stages can be wiped out in mere seconds, barely giving the aliens a chance to start shooting. It’s difficult, but when I managed to do so it was one of the most satisfying gaming moments I’ve had on iOS, and that’s high praise indeed.

When you complete a certain number of waves there’s the chance to upgrade your ship, enhancing everything from the power, speed and spread of your gun to the speed your ship moves and its armour. Aside from your standard weapon you’ve also got a super blast, which can be used only when it has been sufficiently charged, but is devastatingly effective.

With 150 waves and five chapters to play through, then another 150 waves in the recently added Dark Mode, Super Crossfire is sizable enough to keep players occupied for a long while. It’s also quite tough, and it’ll take a while before you beat each chapter to move onto the next. Dark Mode is another thing entirely, and is very hard indeed!

That same update refined the control system too. At first an arcade style left/right button push was the best way to play, but the ‘slider’ system has been improved considerably, allowing minute adjustments to be made during the game. Using the slider also adds a multi-touch ‘flick’ gesture to warp up and down the screen – which is not only natural, but so satisfying too!

Super Crossfire looks fabulous, with colourful, bright and super-smooth graphics – enhanced for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 – plus an amazing soundtrack that’ll stick in your mind long after you finish playing. Add features to unlock as you progress and a Game Center achievement system and Super Crossfire becomes one of the most addictive, exciting and beautifully presented space shooter games available for iOS.

If there is a downside it’s the addition of in-app purchases for gems to quickly improve your ship. They’re optional, but it still feels unnecessary given the game costs money in the first place. It’s a tiny point though, and shouldn’t for one minute put anyone off downloading Super Crossfire.

So there you have it, a Space Invaders clone that not only looks more modern, but contains a fascinating mechanic that truly reinvigorates the gameplay! Go on, download it now and enjoy; just watch out, it’s seriously addictive!

*Super Crossfire costs £0.69 and is for the iPhone/iPod Touch only, while Super Crossfire HD is a universal app for the iPhone and iPad and is priced at £1.99.

There are several games available for iOS built around the Unreal Engine, but probably the best known is Epic Games’ Infinity Blade thanks to its amazing graphics, incredible enemies for being featured in several Apple iPhone and iPad TV adverts. Now though, there’s a new Unreal Engine game in town - EPOCH.

Shunning Infinity Blade‘s fantasy setting, it’s all out sci-fi as you take the role of a guardian robot reactivated in a desolated city, where it appears others of your kind have gone on the rampage and destroyed everything in their path. The last mission you had is still active – protect a princess and piece together everything that happened before your deactivation. The princess is being held in a tower, and hordes of robotic killers stand in your way.

Advancing through the city is automatic, just like in Infinity Blade, leaving only the combat sequences where you have control. But instead of the melee combat style of its famous cousin, in EPOCH your primary task is to dodge incoming fire and choose your moments to shoot back at your enemy.

This cover-based mechanic is often seen in third-person shooters, but here it’s simplified even more, mainly to make the touchscreen controls easier to handle. Uppercut Games has obviously worked hard on EPOCH‘s controls, as what they’ve come up with is one of the very best and most intuitive systems I’ve ever played.

Here’s what you do. Swipe left or right to move from cover to cover, tap an enemy to aim and swipe up to attack, swipe down to take cover or from a standing position, swipe up again to rocket jump to the furthest cover point. Your weapon fires automatically as soon as you target another robot, plus there are two or three special attacks launched at the press of a button in the top right of the screen.

An in-game tutorial teaches you how to move, and within moments the whole thing feels like second nature, and you’ll have your ‘bot dodging, diving and leaping about like a pro in no time. It’s a real pleasure to use such a simple and wonderfully natural control system, which works just as well on the iPhone as it does on the iPad. However when you play on the larger screen, you can start targeting with one finger and controlling movement with the other, resulting in an even more fluid and satisfying experience.

It’s a good thing this all feels so good too, as there really isn’t much else to do. Robots come in waves, and in addition to regular gunners there are those who have stronger weapons, including grenades and scary continuous laser beams. When you complete a level you often get a bonus weapon or piece of armour, plus some in-game currency to spend in the ‘scrapyard’.

Additional weapons consist of missiles and grenades, the ability to slow down time for a moment to get in some extra shots, bulkier armour and some massive guns with names such as The Leveller, Acid Bath and Lead Fist. Lovely! Many of these are much too expensive to buy on your first go round, and to afford the really sweet guns you’ll need to run through the game several times.

There are ten levels in all, each with about three robot waves to destroy and in Easy mode this represents about an hour’s worth of play. The idea is to move on and play through the Medium and Hard settings but as the levels remain the same; it’s the purchase of new and improved weaponry that serves as your motivation. Yes you do uncover more on the story, and only truly complete the game (and reveal its secrets) when you finish the Hard levels, but this doesn’t stop the ten levels feeling like the beginning of a game rather than the whole thing.

Provided you go in expecting it all to be over quite quickly, although it does get much harder once you’ve completed Easy mode, there’s an enormous amount of fun to be had in EPOCH. Running from cover to cover and blasting robots is a surprisingly immersive gaming experience, and once you hit level seven it gets very exciting. Proper, pulse-racing exciting too, as tactics take a backseat to your reactions take over as you dodge fire and blast the baddies.

As the pace increases you become less aware of your surroundings, which is a shame as EPOCH looks gorgeous, with smooth animation, bright weapons fire and suitably apocalyptic settings. Don’t worry though, as there’s more eye-candy to gawp over in the cut scenes separating each level. On the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S things get even better, as the beefier processing ability provides further improved graphics and some flashy lighting effects.

The music is similarly mood-enhancing, and the whole game has a look and style of a good console title. While this can be a bad thing (Shadowgun suffered due to its desire to be a console title on a mobile device for example), EPOCH feels perfectly at home on the small screen, therefore leaving players with the impression they’ve played a game which takes full advantage of the platform for which it was designed.

EPOCH is a universal app for the iPhone and the iPad and is priced at £3.99 – a good price considering the stunning visuals and addictive, fun and polished gameplay. It is a little short, and there isn’t all that much replay value, but if you enjoyed games such as Infinity Blade and Rage HD, you’ll absolutely love this too.

Activision’s Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released this week and as you might have expected, hundreds flocked in eager anticipation to be one of the first to be enlisted during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

It’s the eighth release to bear the Call Of Duty moniker and consequently the game’s ‘Hollywood Blockbuster’ comparison is quickly becoming a tired cliché; in truth, Call Of Duty will easily outsell many of the major film releases of the past 12 months. It’s an incredible growth for an industry that was once a ridiculed pastime for a dedicated few.

By comparison, mobile gaming hasn’t yet received the fanatical attention reserved for mainstream home consoles. Yes, it is a burgeoning industry but, as it develops within the shadow of its popular counterpart, it’s worth questioning whether it will ever induce the clamour that surrounds ‘Triple A’ console titles?

While Call Of Duty’s release will not have escaped your attention, Angry Birds rather more subtly notched up its half-billionth download this month.

If you own an iPhone then the chances are you will have downloaded Rovio’s seminal chick-chucking app at some point. But the game’s popularity wasn’t instant. The original version was released in December 2009 and while it was well received, there was nothing to distinguish it from the wealth of other games hitting the App Store.

It wasn’t until early the next year that the game would gain traction. Since then, word-of-mouth has powered a sequel, numerous seasonal editions and updates to become arguably the largest mobile gaming franchise.

Despite this, none of those iterations have attracted the public’s consciousness quite like their elder home-grown counterparts. That could be put down to their comparative advertising budgets, but that would be putting the chicken before the egg.

Many of the best games ever created are described as easy to learn but difficult to master; and while Angry Birds’ success has been down to accessibility, its overriding simplicity could be stunting a dedicated popular following. Whereas Call Of Duty fans will spend hours, days immersed within the game, Angry Birds threatens only to distract from a few minutes tedium before the concepts depths have been reached.

Mobile games so far have mastered one discipline at a time. Angry Birds created something beautifully simple, Papa Sangre brought immersive sound, Infinity Blade stretched graphical boundaries and Cut The Rope provided a complex cognitive challenge.

Whether the iPhone 4s’ dual-core 1GHz A5 processor will allow app developers to create greater intricacy within their creations remains to be seen.

What is certain though is that app developers won’t have to remain shackled to the abilities of handset hardware for long. Apple’s iCloud will have ambitions to be the forerunner to a service not unlike OnLive – a game streaming service which was launched in the UK earlier this year – allowing all the device’s usual number-crunching to be done elsewhere.

The recent destruction of Mobile Flash should also allow developers to concentrate on creating fully functional web-based games using the nimbler HTML5.

While the era of queuing outside a shop at midnight may have passed by the time technology catches up to ambition, ultimately, console and mobile gaming will become discernable only through looking up from the screen to remind yourself where you are.

Traditional table-top role-playing games require at least three of four people to make a game fun, which makes them wonderfully social but inconvenient for spur-of-the-moment play. While today there are various video games to fill the void when group play is impossible, there was a time when RPG books were the primary alternative to sitting round a table with your mates.

The Fighting Fantasy series was easily the best known of them all. Penned primarily by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone at first, memorable titles included The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Starship Traveller and The Citadel of Chaos. If reading these didn’t spark off nostalgia, here’s what they were all about: You were the protagonist in a fantasy adventure story, but instead of taking a passive role you made the decisions which influenced the direction of the story. Armed with a pencil and dice, you flipped backwards and forwards through the pages trying to complete your quest.

If you remember playing Fighting Fantasy books back in the 80s and want to give something similar a try today, or are simply a role-player in search of something new; then let us introduce you to Tin Man Games, an Australian outfit dedicated to bringing high quality single-player role-playing books to your iPhone and iPad.

They’ve already got five Gamebook Adventures under their belt and have recently released their sixth title, named Temple of the Spider God. Set in the same world as previous books, Temple has been written by Jonathan Green, who previously worked on the Fighting Fantasy series along with novels and other gamebooks set in the Star Wars, Doctor Who and Warhammer 40k universes.

Despite Temple of the Spider God being ‘book six’, you don’t need to have read the previous five entries, as although they all take place in the same mythical lan,  they’re standalone titles.

Here’s the plot of Spider God. You’re an adventurer tasked with finding Cesaro Cortez, a missing explorer who is likely to be responsible for the impending invasion of huge, evil spiders with the ability to control humans and make them do their bidding. Your journey will take you across the sea and over dangerous terrain, and death seemingly awaits around every corner. The fate or your homeland is in your hands.

As you can probably tell from that synopsis, Spider God takes place in a fantasy world, so you can expect to meet all kinds of mythical creatures from vampires to giant sea monsters and yes, a lot of nasty spiders!

The success of written fantasy role-playing games comes down to the quality of writing, and as you’d expect from an experienced writer, it’s absolutely excellent. Green’s words paint a detailed picture, but never tip over the edge to where your imagination isn’t needed – absolutely imperative in a book like this – and the beautifully drawn pictures accompanying the text (the best yet in a Gamebook Adventure) work together to pull you into the story. The overall effect, if you’re willing to invest the time, is an engrossing gaming experience that’s both exciting and compelling.

Unlike their print counterparts there’s no need for a dice, as all the checks, phobia tests and combat roles are performed using virtual dice. All dice rolls are made against your pre-rolled stats, and checks can be passed or failed, just like combat can be won or lost. The combat system has been given an overhaul in Spider God, and an option to make the whole process quicker has been added.

Another new part of this latest book is the chance to fight alongside others, essentially giving you the chance to hold back and let someone else do the dirty work; not a bad idea when the monsters are as tough as those found here! None of the Gamebook Adventures could be called easy, and even experienced players will get killed multiple times as they work their way through, however, depending on which mode you choose it’s possible to bookmark pages as a type of ‘game save’, so you can restart from a later point in the game.

Fixing the combat system for Temple has sped up the game considerably, as you no longer have to shake your iPhone and watch the (admittedly good-looking) animated dice scatter if you don’t want to, you can just get on with it. The rest of the book is equally as customisable, with adjustable fonts and sizing, a choice of page backgrounds and the option to play with the atmospheric music and sound FX, or just in silence.

Having played through four of the five other Gamebook Adventures, Temple of the Spider God sits alongside the best of the series, Catacombs of the Undercity, in terms of atmosphere and playability. Be warned though, to get the most from any Gamebook Adventure you’ll need an active imagination, patience and a love the fantasy genre, so if you’re only satisfied by explosions and car chases, they’re unlikely to be for you.

Perhaps the only downside of Temple of the Spider God is that it can sometimes be a little predictable, in that when you’re lured into a cowled figure’s mansion, who speaks of a sun-sensitive skin disease, you know exactly where it’s headed. What’s important to say here though is this never lessens the enjoyment, and tends to elicit a knowing smile as you prepare for what’s to come.

Temple of the Spider God supports Game Center and has all sorts of achievements to collect, is natively compatible with the iPad – where the book format works even better – and is priced at £1.99. If the chance to revisit childhood memories attracts you to the Gamebook Adventures, you won’t be disappointed, and neither will the newcomer to the genre. Temple of the Spider God is well-crafted, thrilling and intelligent, with more than enough content and alternative choices to keep you occupied for weeks, and the obvious amount of care and attention invested in its creation makes it an essential purchase for the lone adventurer.