Archive for August 21st, 2010
NovaLogic’s ‘Comanche’ Helicopter Combat Sim Coming to iPhone?
No long-time aerial combat fan can be a stranger to NovaLogic's helicopter combat series. Known for its comparatively realistic terrain rendering thanks to its use of , the series culminated in the 2001 release of for Windows PCs. A recent banner spotted on seems to indicate that iOS gamers may soon get the opportunity to deal out some death and destruction from the cockpit of a RAH-66 gunship.
Mixed in among a number of promotional graphics on NovaLogic's site, the banner in question depicts an iPhone 4 with the silhouette of a Comanche helicopter rendered on its screen, along with a blueprint side-shot sketch of the craft shown below phrase "Coming Soon." Since we became aware of the banner a few days back [ thanks Kamil ], we've sought confirmation and any details on this upcoming title through several NovaLogic channels, sadly with no success.
The Comanche series made its debut in 1992 and is centered around the helicopter gunship which was in development / prototyping at the time of the games' releases. And, while the Comanche program was cancelled by the U.S. Army in 2004 before fielding, NovaLogic's Comanche series stands as a rather unique and satisfying combat simulation experience — and one that's definitely more sim than simple arcade, first-person blaster.
See a game trailer for Comanche 4 for Windows, featuring in-engine play samples.
Having enjoyed Comanche 3 and 4 on the PC in days past, the prospect of a new iteration of the title on today's iOS devices — which are far more powerful than the PCs of the games' day — with full accelerometer / gyroscope controls has me pretty excited. You can be sure we'll pass on any details we're able to dig up on this upcoming title as soon as we get them.
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The ‘Fighting Fantasy’, ‘Gamebook Adventures’ and ‘Sorcery!’ Series – Now With Even More Installments
The interactive fiction section of the App Store has grown quite a bit since our original post on both the Fighting Fantasy and Gamebook Adventures series of RPG eBook apps. If this is the first you've heard of them, these game books are an evolution of sorts on choose your own adventure books that you may or may not have read as a kid. Instead of simply choosing between two forks in a book and turning to that page, they have you roll dice to determine the outcome of the story. For instance, the main character might lose his footing, at which point you're faced with a dice challenge to see whether or not you fall in to some treacherous pit or manage to grab on to something and pull yourself out. The random nature of these game books make them a lot of fun, and give them quite a bit of replay (reread?) value as the story forks a different way with each reading.
These game books all play similarly, but I've found myself leaning towards adaptation of the Fighting Fantasy series, as they're universal and look great on the iPad as well as existing previously as published game books. Definitely look in to Fighting Fantasy if you're planning on playing the books on an iPad, as pixel doubling works on the others, but isn't a very good experience.
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, $2.99 Deep in the caverns beneath Firetop Mountain lies an untold wealth of treasure, guarded by a powerful Warlock – or so the rumor goes. Several adventurers like yourself have set off for Firetop Mountain in search of the Warlocks hoard. None has ever returned. Do you dare follow them?
Fighting Fantasy: Citadel of Chaos, $2.99 The Citadel holds a dark and dangerous peril for anyone foolhardy enough to venture through its gruesome gates. And yet venture you must for your mission lies at the heart of the Citadel, with the dread sorcerer, Balthus Dire!
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon, $2.99 Countless adventurers before you have taken up thee challenge of the Trial of Champions, but not one has survived. Devised by the devilish mind of Baron Sukumvit, the labyrinth is riddled with fiendish traps and hideous creatures of darkness to trick and test you almost beyond the limits of endurance!
Fighting Fantasy: Creature of Havok, $2.99 You begin this adventure not knowing where you are or who you are. All you know is that you are some kind of creature of instinct, understanding little. During the course of the adventure, it may be possible for you to begin to control your bestial nature, to find out more about yourself, and even to learn your destiny. But even if you know all this, success is by no means certain, for the traps and terrors of Trolltooth Pass are many … Are you ready — to become the Creature of Havoc?
Next are Gamebook Adventures by , a completely original series written by S.P. Osborne and illustrated by Pirkka Harvala. I like the presentation of the Gamebook Adventures series a lot, and I really hope they're eventually updated to be universal.
Gamebook Adventures 1: An Assassin in Orlandes, $4.99 Set within Orlandes City, nobles are being systematically murdered by a ruthless assassin no-one seems able to catch. Finding yourself thrust in the middle of a large conspiracy, you must make decisions that may put yourself and one other most precious to you in great danger. Can you locate the Assassin in Orlandes before it is too late?
Gamebook Adventures 2: The Siege of the Necromancer, $4.99 Set in the coastal town of Myr, you have returned home after a long Summer in the mines of Durath Tor to find your hometown besieged by strange creatures. A dark presence has taken over the town and you are the only one who can rid the stronghold of Erid Buul, the mysterious new Lord and his ghastly cohorts.
And last but not least, brought the first installment Steve Jackson's Sorcery! series to the App Store. Jackson is one of the original authors of the Fighting Fantasy books, and wrote the Sorcery! series along side them targeted at an older audience as they're much longer and more complex, even offering a choice of class to play while reading the book. Unfortunately, this isn't universal either.
Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! The Shamutanti Hills, $2.99 The Shamutanti Hills is Book One in Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! series. Your epic quest will take you across the mysterious hills to the cityport of Kharé, but only if you outwit the creatures, traps and wizardry you encounter along the way.
Since all of these game books basically play the same, you can pretty much just choose whichever one(s) sound interesting to you based on their description as reading previous installments in the series to enjoy later ones isn't required either. As mentioned, if you intend on reading them on an iPad, I'd gravitate towards the Fighting Fantasy books, but any of them will be highly enjoyable to any fan of fantasy fiction.
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Freebie Friday Multiplayer Mayhem: ‘Stone Wars’ and ‘Galcon Labs’
Stone Wars [Free] hit the App Store late last year, and actually has been free for a while now but thanks to our very own it was brought to our attention and I'm actually enjoying the game quite a bit. Initially it seemed like Stone Wars was just your typical Worms clone with turn-based gameplay featuring various weapons and considerably less cartoony charm… That is, until you realize just how much multiplayer functionality the game has. You can play Stone Wars locally with a single device, locally via either WiFi or Bluetooth, or online in real time and of course there are single player modes where you can play against an AI opponent.
Online multiplayer actually works really well, you can either just wait to be match with a random opponent or create either a public or passworded game room for people to join. There isn't much of a delay between moves, and gameplay worked just fine on the single bar of EDGE that I'm rocking right now on my iPhone. Stone Wars has been free since late June, and according to the iTunes description is a "limited time promotion" for their latest game, Super Laser: The Alien Fighter [$2.99 / Free] so I guess grab it quick if you want it as who knows when it's going back to paid.
Galcon Labs [Free] takes the gameplay from the original Galcon [$2.99 / Free] with several new game modes. Galcon is a fast-paced strategy game where players take over planets by tapping them to dispatch forces from a nearby planet. Think real-time Risk in space played either locally or online against other players. When it was originally released, Galcon Labs was criticized for not providing enough new content to justify a complete sequel as the core gameplay was basically the same with some slight variation from the different game modes, but now that it's free Galcon Labs is something you should download as soon as possible.
Galcon Labs is free for today only, and if you enjoy it make sure you check out the original Galcon or Galcon Fusion [$4.99] if you own an iPad.
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‘Doodle Jump’ Updates Add Underwater Jumping and Retina Display Support
Doodle Jump [99¢] has been consistently updated with new things since its inintial release in March of last year. The Doodler has jumped through holiday snow, Halloween graveyards, lush jungles, the vastness of space, the fields of the World Cup, and now he takes to the seas in a recent update. Also, the latest update which just hit the App Store adds high resolution Retina Display graphics for the original, space, and underwater theme with the rest coming soon:
Doodle Jump has been downloaded over 5 million times, and since its initial release has become a pop culture phenomenon with mentions on sitcoms, talk shows, and even appearing on the costumes of dancers at Lady Gaga concerts. If you've got an iPhone 4, make sure you grab the latest Doodle Jump update ASAP.
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