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Last week we showed you the new trailer for Gameprom’s latest iOS pinball title War Pinball, and over the weekend the game went live in the App Store. It comes in two flavors, War Pinball [99¢] for iPhone and iPod touch and War Pinball HD [$2.99] for iPad. If you’ve been a fan of Gameprom’s iOS pinball titles over the past couple of years, you should be instantly familiar with the basic mechanics and layout of War Pinball. But this new game is easily their best effort yet, and besides containing 3 solid pinball tables within one app it’s also a great showpiece for owners of Retina Display devices or the new iPad 2.

The 3 tables in War Pinball are all based on MGM action movies from the 80s and 90s – Platoon, Navy Seals, and Missing in Action. Gameprom has done an excellent job putting these licenses to good use, and each table features visual elements, music, and sound bites that are appropriate to the movie it’s representing. Even the table missions follow along with the movies really well, and if you’re familiar with the basic plot elements from the movies you’ll get a kick out of seeing nods to them as you play through each table. As a quick note, there are several curse words contained in the voice samples taken from the movies, but there is an option to turn these off or set a password lock to restrict access to certain tables if you’re concerned about younger players being exposed to them.

Each table in War Pinball is rendered in full 3D and contains more complex designs than any of the previous Gameprom titles. The visuals are crisp and colorful, and look especially great on Retina Display devices. War Pinball HD is also optimized for the iPad 2, and it not only looks razor sharp on the larger screen but it runs at an absolutely insane frame rate, running fast and smooth without so much as a single hitch. I’ve always loved having an assortment of pinball apps on my iPhone in my pocket at all times, but in the case of War Pinball HD the performance is so impressive on the iPad 2 that it’s my preferred platform for playing the game.

One important factor in video game pinball games is the physics, and War Pinball feels very in line with previous Gameprom games in this regard. That is, the physics are very good for a video game simulation, but they don’t feel exactly like a real life pinball table. If you’re an absolute pinball purist you may not find them completely accurate, but they’re consistent and easy to adjust to, and are far better than many of the other video pinballs out there.

If you don’t have any experience with a Gameprom pinball game, you can download their first 3 games Wild West [Link], The Deep [Link], or Jungle Style [Link] for free during the next several days to get a good idea of what to expect from War Pinball. These games are all a lot of fun and worth owning anyway, and they can even be purchased as a single app called Pinball HD [99¢/HD] which contains all 3 games and the ability to unlock their fourth game Slayer Pinball Rocks HD [$2.99] as an in-app purchase.

While all of Gameprom’s pinball games are very good, War Pinball is definitely the cream of the crop. If you’re already of fan of their previous work, this latest game is an easy purchase decision as it contains 3 fun new tables that make great use of their movie licenses. If you need a bit of convincing, try any of their games currently being offered for free, and if you like them then War Pinball is an easy recommendation for an upgrade.

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In the midst of GDC 2011, EA launched Fight Night Champions for iOS just last night.

Go toe-to-toe with a premium roster of title-holders past and present, and create your own championship legacy in the ring. Experience the true brutality of boxing in the tradition of the highest rated simulation fighting franchise of all time. Featuring innovative gameplay and best-in-class graphic quality, you’re looking at the best boxing game on the App Store. It’s undisputed.

The $4.99 app promises a game roster of 20 champions including Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali.

We haven't had time to test out the new game, but the discussion thread is showing early positive impressions. One reader posts this gameplay video and some notes:

Please note i'm just going mad in the video,throwing as many punches as possible ,if i was playing like i should i would defend more

As for the question of taking up a lot of the screen with lots of swipes,well yes you can do that i suppose but if playing properly and you don't wanna get K.O'd then better to get 2 or 3 off then step back/defend and then throw a few more.So not a bit deal if played as you should play it,unlike in this video where i'm manic swiping

EA recommends iOS 4.2 for smoother gameplay, and requires a 3GS or above for head-to-head Multiplayer. Dynamic lighting is added for 3rd generation devices and above (3GS, iPod Touch 3rd Gen). Meanwhile, 1st generation devices are not supported at all.

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One of the surprise hits from last year was Game Dev Story [$3.99/Lite] from Kairosoft. This quirky simulation game allowed you to create your own game development company and release a series of titles across multiple platforms. Game Dev Story was littered with all kinds of references to the real history of video games, making it especially appealing to long time gamers like myself. We loved the game when we reviewed it last October, and Game Dev Story went on to suck countless hours from iOS gamers ever since.

Coming off the huge success of Game Dev Story, Kairosoft has talked about their plans to bring a sequel to iOS in the distant future. Then earlier this year, they launched an interesting looking title called The Game Dealer in the Japanese App Store. Similar to Game Dev Story, The Game Dealer has you heading up a brick and mortar video game store and dealing with all the simulation elements that go along with it.

We speculated that The Game Dealer would be the next to get a localized US release, but earlier today we were surprised to see that Kairosoft’s US follow-up to Game Dev Story is instead a game called Hot Springs Story [$3.99]. In Hot Springs Story, you (unsurprisingly) manage a Japanese hot springs inn, building it out to your liking and attracting customers to patronize your establishment. AppBank has a gameplay video of the Japanese version of Hot Springs Story to give you an idea of what it plays like:

Hot Springs Story has been available in the Japanese App Store since December, and seeing as how it was their follow-up release to Game Dev Story in Japan I still think we’ll end up seeing The Game Dealer localized as well in due time. For now, though, you’ll be able to live out your fantasy of running a relaxing hot springs resort, just as you’ve always dreamed… right? Early impressions in our forums are positive, noting that the interface and mechanics are nearly identical to Game Dev Story but with a few welcome enhancements like zooming and landscape display.

The gameplay appears to be just as engaging as well, and chances are if you liked Game Dev Story then you’ll get similar enjoyment out of Hot Springs Story. Just don’t start playing too close to your bed time if you value sleep. We’ll have more on Hot Springs Story once we’re able to break away from our GDC shenanigans long enough to engulf ourselves in the world of hot springs management, but you can grab the game right now for an introductory sale price of $3.99.

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Back in October we reported that the classic Bitmap Brothers Atari ST / Amiga / DOS Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe would be making its way to iOS in the form of Speedball 2: Evolution. Moments ago, the game went live in the App Store as a Universal application for both iPhone and iPad [link] and we've taken a close look over the past few days.

Speedball 2 is a futuristic cybersport that's something of a mix between handball and ice hockey. The game takes place between two opposing teams — nine players to a team — in an enclosed, metal arena littered with power-ups and arrayed in warp portals and various score-enhancing mechanisms. Points are scored by getting the metallic ball past the opposing defense and into the goal, but brutality and violence are rewarded along the way. The overall feel is something akin to Atari's earlier, football-inspired arcade cybersport Cyberball, I've always felt. It's nicely visceral.

The first thing to say about the iOS version of Speedball 2 is that it's an enhanced version of the classic Atari ST original. I note that right off, due to the fact that a remake of the game was released on the Xbox Live Arcade, featuring "enhanced" 3D graphics…which were anything but. They were 3D, but they were awkward and poorly animated and did not compare to the "classic" mode's top-down, 2D graphics of the original. Speedball 2: Evolution for iOS takes the original's 2D graphics and enhances them while leaving them in their original orientation, making the iOS release the best looking version of Speedball 2 to date.

The list of things Speedball 2: Evolution brings to the table is vast. There are 336 individual players, 20 in-field power-ups, 16 classic Speedball teams along with 12 new intergalactic teams, a 10-season career mode, 10 single-player modes, a multiplayer mode (Bluetooth & WiFi), six arenas on four different planets, and 22 achievements in all. It's an impressive list. The various play modes allow for long-term team-building or just a quick detached match — whatever suits you.

I, personally, spent more time with the original Speedball back in the day, than with the sequel, and so certain enhancements over said original stand out to me. Among them are the arrays of stars for each team on the arena walls that add points when illuminated by a tag from the ball, sets of spiral ramps situated on the sidelines that alter point-multipliers, and the electrobounce chargers that turn the ball into a weapon. That's not to mention the many power-ups that can be collected during the game, such as those that provide faster movement, body armour, or even freeze the opposing team in place.

Speedball 2 offers tilt controls as well as an optional onscreen D-Pad. I found that I like the tilt controls better than those of most iOS games, but more precision is offered by the onscreen D-pad, which is centered where you touch, adding a nice bit of flexibility. It's a tap anywhere to pass the ball, and a tap-and-hold to perform a high, long-distance pass or to jump to catch such a pass.

In evaluating the game for this review I spent notable time with the Atari ST original to see how it compares to the iOS release — and had fun in the doing. After playing both titles side-to-side, I have to say that the iOS version is a bit steeper in the difficulty department than the ST original. Also, graphically the iOS version is notably superior to the ST version. I'd call the two pretty well matched on the fun scale, though I was a little more successful on the field on the ST due to its somewhat lower level of difficulty. And, I don't think it was about the controls — of course the Atari version with a physical stick controlled better, but it was more about the game as presented.

Speedball 2, and its classic predecessor Speedball, brought the excellent Cyberball mechanic to the home, and Speedball 2: Evolution does likewise to the App Store. This is a classic arcade-style sports game that is more about fun than about simulation and accuracy. And, if you're the kind of gamer that takes sports on a pretty casual level like I do, that's a win.

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Nothing says “business” quite like a baseball video game with the word “baseball” in the title, so make sure you’re sitting down for this one: Square Enix Europe has announced a game called Big Hit Baseball for the iOS.

Slated to release “soon” on the App Store and created by Beautiful Game Studios, Big Hit Baseball looks to be more of an arcade joint as opposed to a straight-faced simulation like, say MLB: The Show or whatever on the big consoles. In the press release issued this morning about the game, Square notes the “frantic” nature of the game and also talks up the fact that Big Hit features a total of three cup tournaments and 20 different teams.

Fans of Big Cup Cricket [.99 / Lite] and Championship Manager rejoice — not only is your dev of choice involved in this project, but Square is heavily suggesting that Big Hit Baseball is being built off the foundation of those two games. Also, get ready for this: Big Hit will include a name editor. Now, there's no excuse for not having an entire team of Brad Nicholsons.

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So, you got roped into hosting  Super Bowl XLV party today and you’re having one of those Edvard Munch “The Scream” moments as you realize the big game is only a few hours away. Serves you right for having that wicked huge studio, that 1080p high-definition TV, and the kind of personality that allows this sort of thing to happen to you. But, hey, I’ll help you help yourself by pointing out a few apps that’ll smooth out some of the party planning wrinkles, educate you on the Packers or Steelers, or just give you a sense of what the hell Super Bowl XLV is all about.

THE SEASON
The NFL doesn’t like to put its programming on the App Store until the season is over, so there’s no solid way to play catch-up on the regular NFL season without watching several ESPN or NFL Network pre-Bowl broadcasts. However, you can watch the 2010 NFL Playoffs up until the Super Bowl via the 2010 NFL Playoffs [$19.99] app.

There were some cool games this year. Definitely spare a few moments to see Aaron Rodgers go nuts on the Falcons — dude was almost perfect on the afternoon. Also, check out the Steelers and Ravens battle. It was a ridiculously physical match that I’m sure a handful of players from the Steelers are still reeling from this afternoon. Consider these… crash course games. You'll know whats up for the big game.

THE ROSTERS
But, oh-uh! You don’t know stat lines, roster details, and can’t tell me what Hines Ward or A.J. Hawk look like. There are a couple of cool apps that provide this level of detail. The Official Green Bay Packers [Free] is a winner, as it provides pictures, stats, and roster details like, for example, IR or other injury reports. The Steelers Gameday Plus [$1.99] does about the same, but it lacks the polish and the personal touch.

For an overview of the whole season, check out NFL.com Game Center [$1.99]. And to see what NFL players are saying about the big game today, NFL Pro Tweets [Free] won’t steer you wrong.

STADIUM, ALSO TOILETS
If you want a better sense of where the Super Bowl is, check Super Bowl XLV [Free]. It’s a game guide that provides a 3D map of the bowl where game is being played. In my experience, nothing says, “I know football” quite like being able to tell people where all the toilets are in the new Texas-based arena. Oh, and you can also get your hands on the game program via the Super Bowl XLV Official NFL Game Program [Free].

FOOD FOR YOUR PARTY
If you’re dead set on serving up the ridiculous, calorie-inflated chow that people like to eat on the biggest Sunday of the year, Apple has a monstrous list of recipe apps, such as The Chili Chef [$1.99], Dip Diva [.99], and Cheese Plate [$2.99]. I suggest downloading the Calorie Counter [$1.99] if you’re going this route because, man, you’re going to be putting some stupid stuff in your body over the weekend. Check out Apple’s list.

SIMULATIN' (BE THE SMART GUY)
Of course, you could be the smartest guy in the room if you start talking about the various ways the game played out in the simulations from Madden 11 [.99 / HD], the best football game app out there (check our review out). You could do the same with Gameloft’s NFL 2011 [.99 / HD] or Backbreaker 2: Vengeance [.99], but both feel secondary to Madden.

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday, everyone… And may the best team win!

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Consider this a little PSA. A personal favorite of mine, Game Dev Story [.99], is now available for less than one dollar on the App Store. This is the second time the game has seen this price point since its debut on the store back in October 2010.

Also, if the last time the game was on sale is any indication of what to expect, you should probably jump on this deal ASAP. The December 28-30 sale was weird, as the game kept shooting $2.99, $3.99, and $.99 over the span of 48 hours.

Here’s a brief synopsis of GDS via our review if you’re unfamiliar with the IP:

In Game Dev Story you'll play the president of a fledgling game development company as you direct your crew of designers, artists, and coders in an effort to create a string of successful video games over a 20 year time period.

Beyond just making games, you'll need to grow your own brand name by running a game convention booth, attending awards shows, advertising, and managing an ever-changing fan base.

I’m not the biggest fan of simulation games, especially the kind with forgettable menus like GDS, but the game happens to stroke both my love of the traditional games industry and my desire to be rewarded for in-game actions. If there’s one thing the dudes behind GDS get right with this game, it’s the carrot-on-the-stick approach to design. You’ll lose hours and hours to this joint, for sure.

Anyway, check it out! I’m sure I’ll have to update in a few hours to say, “Hey, this isn’t on sale anymore or something,” so don’t turn that dial.

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Brick and mortar game peddlers will never die thanks to the creative minds of Kairosoft, the creators of Game Dev Story [$3.99 / Lite]. Hours before we donned our tinfoil hats and celebrated the New Future Year of 2011, the studio released a new game called "Waiwai! The Game Dealer" across the Japanese App Store.

Here's what's so exciting: as its name and the studio's pedigree implies, Waiwai! The Game Dealer is a simulation title that puts you in the role of a game store manager, much like GDS put you in the role of a game studio manager. Hilariously, it appears as if you'll also dabble in the video game stock trade (in order to boost profits) and even play around with food. To be frank, we're not sure what the latter has to do with the game, but hey, GDS had a monkey that could program.

We've e-mailed the fine folks at Kairosoft to see if Waiai! The Game Dealer will be localized and we'll let you know when we find out. I think, though, that it might be safe to assume it will, eventually, provided Japanese sales are strong enough. As we've noted in the past, Kairosoft dug the reception of GDS and have confirmed that its sequel will see an English-language release. I'd imagine GDS2 won't be the end of the line for its localization efforts.

[Additional translation help given to me by owner of Rockmelon Soda, Topher! Thanks, dude!]

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Remember way back in July when we came across some poorly translated information that hinted at Yoot Saito's Yoot Tower/The Tower II coming to the iPad? And remember the following month when that game, which was now known as The Tower, was released in the Japanese App Store only, much to the disappointment of gamers in other countries? And finally, do you remember just last week when we posted that The Tower would be renamed Yoot Tower for its US release but most likely would not make it out before the end of the year? All of these wonderful memories have brought us to the point we are at right now: the English version of Yoot Tower for iPad has finally made its way into the US App Store.

If you're still feeling kind of lost, Yoot Saito is an innovative Japanese game designer who created SimTower back in 1994, a simulation game similar to SimCity in that you had to manage different resources and expansion, but instead of building a sprawling metropolis you built a structure vertically into the sky. The sequel to SimTower that arrived a few years later, called Yoot Tower, is what the iPad version is based off of. A brief description from our post last week:

Yoot Tower is a simulation joint that plays like a vertical take on Sim City. In the game, you'll play as a building manager with a mission to build a massive tower. This tower, however, won't just be filled with bricks, iron, and cement. No, it'll also house people — residents and workers and the like — who all have individual stress levels and needs. Negotiating these needs, while continuing to build your tower and placing desire facilities, composes the core of a game. So, like a good sim, Yoot Tower appears to have quite the interesting juggling act between you and outside forces.

And here is a brief gameplay demo from July of the Japanese version of The Tower running on the iPad:

So it seems that we were wrong in assuming that there would be no way Yoot Tower would be approved in time for the holidays, despite its submission date and the impending App Store lockdown next week. I think it goes without saying, though, that we are overjoyed to have been incorrect about that. Head on over to the Yoot Tower forum thread for some discussion on the game, and we'll be bringing you a full review just as soon as we've put it through its paces.

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