May 22, 2013

I love grappling hook games. I rarely buy apps right upon seeing them, because, well – I see so many apps. So I saw RopeBot Pro and bought it right away. That’s how interested I was in the premise.

The game takes the structure of a physics puzzler a la Cut the Rope where getting from point A to point B is the goal, with three stars to collect along the way. But in this case, players don’t necessarily cut ropes, but launch them in order to swing about the various levels. Players have direct control over RopeBot, in that they can swing it left and right to gather momentum, as well as to grapple on to surfaces by tapping on them. RopeBot can grapple to two different points at once, which allows for greater stability when navigating, but grappling to a single point allows for speed pickup and is required for navigation.

The problem is that because attaching and detaching ropes requires tapping on the screen to fire at that spot, doing them in a twitch-reaction way proves to be a real challenge. Play this on a tablet if possible. As well, the system prevents the best part of a grappling mechanic from coming to life: that feeling of momentum when swinging from one point to another. It is largely lacking in this game.

However, the greatness of the mechanic does come through: there’s the satisfaction of pulling off the perfect swinging through a tricky section. There’s the euphoria of going into freefall, pulling it off perfectly to land right on the goal. This game is more about the set pieces rather than the fast-paced action of some other games, so while some of my favorite parts of grappling may not exist here, it gets a lot of the other great elements down. Plus, it’s a game with grappling in it. As long as it isn’t completely terrible, I’m probably going to love it.

So, in the name of spreading the gospel of grappling, I do recommend RopeBot. While it’s not the grappling game we deserve, it’s the one we need. Because there are nowhere near enough grappling hook games!

May 17, 2013

Sonic the Hedgehog is a classic, at least in the sense that it was the launching pad for a famous character. In reality, it’s a lot more like some bands’ first album: their later stuff is more refined, exploring their strengths better, to make for a better product. Such is the original Sonic game. Sonic 2 and 3 do a lot to make the series much better, so I must admit that when I heard that Sonic 1 was being remastered by Christian Whitehead and company a la Sonic CD, I was initially disappointed. But really, there was no reason to be: the tweaks and new features make this better.

Sonic should be well-known at this point. Run, jump, fight Eggman’s robots and contraptions (though he’ll always be Dr. Robotnik to me), and avoid those darn spikes. This is the game that started the classic formula, including the most underappreciated part of the series’ gameplay: the complex levels and challenging platforming that comes from their multiple layers.

The spin dash I have mixed opinions about: it makes the game feel better, but it makes certain sections much easier. This is especially true of the final boss, where dodging the sparks that come out becomes much, much easier thanks to the ability to quickly speed away from them on a dime. But hey, it makes the game a bit less frustrating, so it’s worth it, right? Plus, it’s just an option, so the purists can turn it off.

The other new features add a lot of value to the game. It’s possible to play as Tails and Knuckles, or even Sonic with Tails. Powerups from later Sonic games can be used. There’s a Time Attack mode. The cartridges for the three different versions of the game as well to be displayed when launching the game. It’s a minor feature, but for a project powered by hardcore fans who have gotten to work with Sega, it means a lot.

The controller support helps to make this a far-improved experience as well. A wide variety is supported just like in Sonic CD – the MOGA models are supported as are HID controllers, for example. The virtual controls are far from perfect, but at least they’re configurable.

Sonic the Hedgehog may not be the best game in the series, but the bonus content that comes along with it (in surprising amounts) is well worth checking out for fans both new and old.

May 13, 2013

Samsung has been known for heavily skinning Android, and for experiencing great success while doing so. Now, it seems like this could actually be in the name of supplanting Android altogether with a new OS: Tizen.

Unlike alternative measures like Ubuntu for mobile, there’s a big reason why a Tizen push should leave Google at least a little concerned: Samsung and Intel are behind it. Samsung is by far the biggest non-Apple smartphone manufacturer in the world, and them pushing a non-Android OS could be a huge blow to Android if they can transition their customers over to Tizen devices. Intel is still the biggest processor manufacturer in the world, and they would likely much rather have devices made using the x86 architecture that they primarily manufacture. ARM chips from Qualcomm, Nvidia, and others have largely powered mobile devices thanks to their low power draws. While Android can run on Intel x86 chips, an OS that supports it from the ground up would be a major boon for the company, and give them a foothold in the low-power-chip race that they’ve seemingly been falling behind in.

However, Android still seems like the safety net for Tizen, as the OS is compatible with Android applications via a compatibility layer. So for Google, this is a possible nightmare scenario: they could get replaced by a quasi-open OS that can use the apps from their OS, totally supplanting their work and leaving them in third place. Android is very heavily propped up by Samsung at the moment. I say that Tizen is quasi-open because while the OS is built on open source Linux components, Samsung controls the licensing of their SDK under a closed model. They could exert more control over the platform and rake in licensing fees if they prove that Tizen is the future, not Android.

This does all make Samsung’s current initatives make sense. They want to skin Android so heavily and add so many features because they would want the transition to a Tizen device to be smooth. They want developers to put their apps and games on Samsung Apps (and offering limited-time 100% revenue deals) in order to fill out their store and to make it easier for future submissions. There may be gaps in the apps that exist on both platforms, but Samsung is in a position to make putting apps on Tizen a must for developers if the platform gains traction.

And really, it’s the traction-gaining that will be difficult. Samsung has reportedly promised that a high-end Tizen device will come later this year, but there’s still a grand total of zero Tizen devices out there, and the Galaxy S4 is still running Android. Samsung tried its own OS in the past with Bada, which is now part of Tizen, but obviously it failed to gain any significant momentum. But now that Samsung is top dog among mobile manufacturers, and given their success in many products that could potentially be powered by Tizen, Google and Android need to be wary of Samsung pulling the welcome mat out from under them.

May 9, 2013

One of my favorite games of 2012 was undoubtedly Punch Quest. Rocketcat Games’ endless puncher’s only flaw? It wasn’t on Android yet. Well, Noodlecake Games, in their first published title after the launch of Super Stickman Golf 2, have rectified this situation. And oh how sweet it is to be playing this amazing game on mobile.

Unlike most endless runners where there’s little to no combat, this is all about punching one’s enemies. It’s more of a beat ‘em up with automatic running instead of an endless runner. The fighting is surprisingly complex despite there only being three different inputs: forward punching, uppercutting, and blocking, though each has different functions based on different situations. For example, uppercutting in the air is actually a dive punch. Upgrades can tweak the way that punches work, or give them special functions. But it’s the interplay of the attacks and the way that each enemy has a particular strategy that works best – and ones that don’t work quite so well – that players need to learn and master in order to do well at the game.

The thing that I have realized in playing the game over with a clean slate has been just how much skill is actually involved. Yes, the upgrades will definitely help, that is undoubtedly true. But the skills I’ve accumulated by playing the game for hours on end have gone a long way toward improving the kinds of scores that I’m getting with minimal upgrades. For really high scores, will they require some more expensive upgrades? Oh, definitely. Later upgrades get pricey, and definitely make spending money on coins worth it, but that’s after many hours of play. Its the way that games like this should work. The game has launched as a paid app on Google Play because it’s impermissible to go from being a free app to a paid app, so they launched as paid, like the app briefly was on iOS. The game has launched with all the latest upgrades, however, and there’s plenty to do for free.

The port to Android is on par with Noodlecake’s other work – it’s high quality and virtually identical to the iOS version. All the content from the latest updates are here. What’s missing is the support for leaderboards. I’ll say it again: Google needs to release a Game Center equivalent now!

Punch Quest does not disappoint. This is an absolute must-play. It was last year, it still is now.

May 6, 2013

One of the beautiful things about Android is how open it is for developers. It’s possible for anyone to make an app and put it out there to the world. One may say that the second part is true as well, but this has been difficult thanks to the regulations of the popular distribution mechanisms. However, there remains one big philosophical difference between the two platforms: Android allows unapproved software to live, Apple does not.

The thing that reminded me of this was learning of the existence of a store called F-Droid. Does the world need another app store? Probably not in most cases, but this store’s hook is interesting: it’s all free and open source software. There’s a wide variety of apps, many of which are on popular stores like Google Play as well, but their featuring here is in support of a greater mission. The store has limited regulations, largely regarding the open source nature of projects and the privacy of the data that apps should use.

Is this store going to change the world? No, and it doesn’t have to. It just has to exist as a way of showing that apps that believe in the free distribution of software can exist on a platform built on those principles. Google may have their own restrictions and regulations for Google Play, some of which are solely self-serving, but ultimately, their decisions are always tinged with the ultimate reminder that “just because we reject something, doesn’t mean it can’t exist.”

This is the thing that has always annoyed me about Apple’s policies. They take many steps to remove apps that they disapprove of either due to silly policy reasons, or even due to outright censorship. Now, when Google rejects an app, it’s not the end. On Apple, it very much is so. Jailbreaking is not an acceptable alternative when Apple goes to such lengths to shut it down. The culture has also led to that scene to be as much about going against what Apple wants rather than just as a way to openly distribute software in alternative ways.

Such is the thing that annoys me about iOS. Apple’s OS is so patently against openness that it gives me pause. It’s all in the name of making the OS work in the way Apple wants, but surely there has to be a balance between that and having a platform that ultimately serves a greater good? Android’s openness, part of its very nature, means that it will likely be the OS, or at least spearheading a greater Linux movement, to be part of many different technologies. Our appliances, wearable technologies, people can make them smart with free software and while Google’s track record is not perfect in this respect it’s light years ahead of what Apple does and continues to do. Apple is out to make Apple and their products better. Google is looking to do that as well, but even as just a byproduct of their mission with Android, they’re promoting something greater.

May 3, 2013

The Nook line of Android tablets, spun off from Barnes & Noble’s line of e-readers (though some models, like the Nook Simple Touch actually do run Android), has just gotten a nice little update from B&N that makes it infinitely more useful. Or at least 700,000 times more useful, as [Google Play is now on the Nook HD](http://mashable.com/2013/05/03/google-play-is-now-on-nook-hd/), both 7-inch and 9-inch models. Barnes & Noble says that they’re not getting rid of their Nook store for apps, but that it will be a curated list of apps – same for the movie and book selection. But the music selection is now dramatically improved as well.

For Nook HD owners, this is a great thing – it means that no longer will their available content be artificially held back by what the manufacturer offers. Now the entire range of apps, plus the additional media is available to Nook HD owners. It makes the device a better value proposition, and that’s only a good thing. It also gives the device a selling point over the Kindle Fire. While that device has a bigger brand name and the backing of Amazon behind it, its more limited app selection will still lag behind the Nook’s, though most if not all of the ‘major’ apps and games are on Amazon’s store. Don’t expect Amazon to be making the same move as they have had bigger success with the Amazon Appstore.

The device is still not a stock Android device, and Google Play (and its requisite content apps) will merely exist on the device as separate apps, but at least the option is now there to get the same content that a stock Android device would have. It interestingly gives the device an added selling point compared to the Nexus 7, where its budget price but also massive content library put it head-and-shoulders above the Nook and Kindle in this category. With high-resolution screens, this could give comparison shoppers a reason to buy the Nook HD instead. However, [with sales reportedly being disappointing](http://mashable.com/2013/02/14/barnes-and-noble-nook-sales/), this could just be a desparate last-minute move, or one way to make sure owners of the Nook HD stay happy down the road.

May 1, 2013

Rob Fearon’s DRM is now available on Android, thanks to Psychic Parrot Games.

Wait, why is a game developer releasing digital rights management for Android? No, DRM stands for Death Ray Manta. He’s a precocious little thing: he likes space tiffins and can shoot lasers out of his head. Players get to move and shoot with him through a challenging set of levels, set to the music of Gavin Harrison. The game’s been described as the pop song equivalent of a video game, so don’t expect a lengthy experience, but a short, challenging, replayable one.

The game has been toned down visually from the PC original, which required a decent GPU to power the intense visual effects – I tried playing it on a 2011 Mac Mini and my Surface Pro, and both chugged under the weight of the intense visuals! So having a pared-down mobile version helps out greatly.

The game is content-identical to the iOS one, so our review on 148Apps applies to the Android version. There may be a few Android-specific bugs that the developer hopes to quash. As well, listen to my interview with Rob Fearon on The Portable Podcast for more about the game.

May 1, 2013

Android’s a funny platform. Because its store is open, it’s possible to actually promote different operating systems on it pretty easily. Like if you’re Microsoft and want people to switch to Windows Phone, you can release an app on Google Play called Switch to Windows Phone where it will check for apps that are installed on an Android device and see if they’re available on Windows Phone. You know, so if people were curious, they can definitely know what’s available. Try doing that on iOS!

Well, that’s exactly what Microsoft has done: you can download an app that will check to see if the apps on your Android device are also available on Windows Phone. And if you log in with your Microsoft account, it will save the list to the cloud for if and when you switch over, you can easily re-download them. And Google allowed this through. Hilarious.

Actual Android users have found this not so hilarious, though: the app has a rating of 1.5 stars, with a smattering of user reviews complaining about Windows Phone, but others saying that the actual accuracy of the lists is rather suspect.

If you’re interested in seeing what’s on Windows Phone, the app is available from Google Play. And if you do make the switch…don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

May 1, 2013

Chicago’s bubbling-under indie scene has seen some Kickstarter success, and the latest project to come up from the Windy City is Dan FitzGerald and Lisa Bromiel’s Dog Sled Saga. This is a cross-platform arcade dog-mushing game. Ever play that before? Well, they’re looking to raise funding for the game’s development via Kickstarter to make this idea a reality.

The core gameplay involves tossing food to the team of four dogs to keep them at their peak performance in order to do well in the mushing competitions that are entered. It’s a simple control scheme to use, just tap and hold to control the angle the food will be launched at, but doing this effectively at a continuous rate will be the challenge.

Managing one’s team plays a big part in the game, and randomized elements that could have a big effect on how well one does will come into play. Raising and succeeding with a mushing team and one’s dogs will be the ultimate goal: becoming the top dog-sledding team ain’t easy, but nothing good ever comes easy.

The game is coming to Android – I’ve played an early version running on the developer’s phone – and could come to consoles like the OUYA at some point in the future. iOS, Windows, and Mac will definitely see the game released as well.

While the game has already reached its base level of funding that will allow the developers to create the game, there’s a lot more in the works for those who wish to continue to support the game’s development and to see more advanced features. The dynamic music stretch goal has already been met. Time of day and weather effects will be added in at the $8,000 level. Wildlife activity in scenery will be added at $11,000. A new gameplay mode at $12,000. $20,000 will see one-on-one multiplayer tournaments added to the game. $25,000 will see cross-platform cloud saves added with MusherNet.

Dog Sled Saga‘s Kickstarter runs through May 25th.

Apr 30, 2013

Google Glass running Android should surprise no one – after all, if you’re building a piece of hardware that you want developers to test on, and if you’re spending a lot of money to build an OS, why not make it run Android? The reasons are just too obvious.

What should be surprising is that Google isn’t running the latest version of Android on it – it’s running a build of Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Jelly Bean. Google is usually the company that pushes out the latest and greatest Android versions to their devices, so for them to be 2 versions behind (if you count Jelly Bean 4.1 and 4.2) is a bit shocking.

But is it really necessary? Is there some Jelly Bean feature that Google Glass would be tremendously improved by? For limited-purpose devices such as this, does it really just need a functional version of Android in order to work properly, as opposed to the latest and greatest? Your Android-powered oven doesn’t really need Project Butter, does it? For phones and tablets, user-facing devices, yes, having the latest version should be a goal. But for limited-use devices, is it such a big deal?

There is just one problem: Android updates include fixes for security holes. For devices like phones and tablets that have users installing third-party software that can potentially contain malware that exploits these holes, this is why they need updated system software. Right now, holes go unpatched for long periods of time while manufacturers wait to get updates ready, or if they never get them ready at all. Thus, bugs can be fixed quickly, but never actually reach the users who need the protection.

For devices like Google Glass and ovens where their purposes might be more limited, there’s still a potential issue because of the fact that they are still connecting to networks, and with Android’s open source nature, it seems like breaking in would be within the realm of possibility, if not likely.

Now, Google Glass is still a product only for a limited market of developers and early adopters, and as such, probably doesn’t need the kind of security that consumer models will need. But still, to see that even Google doesn’t necessarily care about always getting the latest version of Android out there is a bit distressing.

Apr 26, 2013

Mountain Sheep’s arcade hockey game Ice Rage has finally made its way to Android thanks to Herocraft – is this game a slap shot goal or power play where the team with the advantage does not score?

I’m not too well-versed in hockey.

There are no power plays or penalties or icing here, as it’s all about one-on-one hockey action. It’s really more akin to air hockey instead of ‘actual’ hockey in any way. Players can check the opponent to get the puck, and when they have it, it’s possible to hold down on the one virtual button on screen to charge up and aim a shot. Matches last one just minute in most modes, so it’s perfect for fast sessions.

There’s plenty of crazy action that goes on here, with arrow angles and tough shots to make. Just because it’s arcade hockey doesn’t mean that some degree of precision is unnecessary! The arcade ladder made with temporary character upgrades is a fun diversion, and the later difficulties with things like manual goalie control help out as well. There’s a crazy set of characters to play as, including Enviro-Bear. Bear is playing hockey, how can this be?

The controls feature a very simple joystick-and-one-button control scheme, but the fast pace of the gameplay combined with the general entropy that arises from skating on ice makes it very difficult to accurately maneuver. Sure, this is to be somewhat expected, but still, it feels like it’s just too hard to maneuver. Having a floating joystick instead of a fixed one would be a big step forward for the controls. Of course, there’s the ability to just play with one button and not move around manually at all, but it’s not exactly a solution, it’s just a compromise.

While Ice Rage is far from perfect, there’s plenty of entertainment to be had here, and getting a tricky shot in goal is still just extremely satisfying, no matter what else happens.

Apr 26, 2013

The nominees have been selected, and it’s time to vote for the Best App Ever for Android. From the most-nominated apps across all categories, these ten apps are up for the top prize.

The Room: Fireproof Games finally released its hit iOS adventure game on Android, and it’s such a hit with Best App Ever voters that it’s already one of the ten finalists. Does this game deserve to take the crown, though?

WhatsApp Messenger: The messaging service that brings together iOS and Android users with free messaging over data services and wifi feels like it would obviously be part of the Best App Ever’s overall award. After all, anything that makes it possible to easily share photos and messages without needing to go through expensive messaging plans is a boon! Of course, is it good enough to win the overall prize?

Dead Trigger: Who doesn’t like killing some zombies? Best App Ever voters who chose the nominees in the gaming categories certainly liked Madfinger’s first person shooter. Will these brain-hungry walkers gnaw on the overall award though? After all, it faces stiff competition from…

Shadowgun: Deadzone: A fellow Madfinger title, their multiplayer FPS. Who doesn’t like taking on opponents from anywhere and everywhere, even taking on iOS opponents? But will it be satisfying enough to win the overall prize?

Subway Surfers: Kiloo’s endless runner has been a worldwide smash hit, hooking players with its crazy action. Sure, it’s popular, but can its fans make it the winner of Best App Ever’s highest honor?

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour: Gameloft brought realistic, console-style FPS action to Android gamers everywhere with their latest Modern Combat title. Can it frag its way to the top award?

Battle Bears: Bear is fighting? How can this be? Will these ursine warriors be able to claw their way to the top?

Royal Revolt: This action-RPG features plenty of castle crashing, but can it ascend to the throne?

Real Boxing: This not only is a contender, could it possibly raise up the championship belt at the end of it all?

AutomateIt-Automate Your Droid: What would be a competition to determine the best Android app be without an app that takes advantage of Android’s strengths? Could this app represent the Android platform on its way to Best App Ever?

Voting is open until May 15th at BestAppEver.com!