This is probably our most off-beat shows, but it's also one of our more fun ones. To give us a listen, just download the file directly or stream it via the links below. If you'd like to subscribe to our audio awesomeness, feel free to do so via the iTunes or the Zune Marketplace.
�
iTunes Link: The TouchArcade Show
Zune Marketplace: TouchArcade.com Podcasts
RSS Feed: The TouchArcade Show
Direct Link: TouchArcadeShow-015.mp3, 44MB
Here are your show notes:
GAMES
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
First off, you could stop by our Price Drops, Must-Have Freebies, and Deals Forum where we've got an army of dudes combing the App Store to find cool games on the cheap (or free). If you want to get a little more proactive, you can go scoping for deals yourself. How we do this when we post about sales is by utilizing our sister site, AppShopper.
Here are some handy links:
Watching the previous two freebie links can yield some particularly great results, as you can often find games that go free before whatever freebie promotions those particular games might be doing even technically start. Similarly, I've heard tales of some people being able to snag great games that were accidentally marked to free.
As far as the differences between "all" games and "popular" games, that all has to do with a top secret algorithm that attempts to determine what kind of games people are interested in. Personally, I tend to lean towards just wading through all games as sometimes you find some really crazy stuff in there.
Alternatively, you could just download the AppShopper App [Free] which also is pretty great for finding deals.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
In no specific order outside of alphabetical, here's another list of hot deals:
A notable mention here goes to Big Fish Games, which is having a ridiculously HUGE sale. All of its catalogue is being offered up at $.99. We're talking well over 40 games for pennies on the dollar, so feel free to browse that listing here.
Undoubtedly, there are more sales out there, so we highly advise you bargain hunters of the world to check out our deals forum. Otherwise, go grab the entire Geared franchise for the generous price of $0. These are amazing games that you shouldn't miss.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
Straight-up, Mercenaries VS isn't that great of a multiplayer shooter. The touch controls are pretty good, but the visual quality and the franchise's meat turret controls don't bode well for a competitive romp. With that said, I can see fans of the series really getting into the action, the same as they probably would with the iOS version of Resident Evil 4, which in my opinion, is a'ight � especially at a buck.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
Here's the short list, and just in case anything else comes up, we'll update accordingly:
Sonic fans give Sonic the Hedgehog 4 a lot of grief � if you've ever read the Internet or Googled the game's name, you probably already know this. This is why I feel like I need to add that we loved it and think it feels exactly how Sonic should on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Check it out.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
This latest price-slashing jamboree isn't the most spectacular it has ever thrown, but it's still one of the hardest hitting of the current crop of Labor Day sales we've seen thus far, especially when it comes to big name and budget properties.
For a limited time, you can grab a bunch of racing, sports, action, and other assorted titles for $.99. The iPad companions (where applicable) to these, on the other hand, have all been reduced to $1.99. Here's a list:
If you're looking for a key pick in all of this, I would definitely take a gander at Dead Space or Tetris. The latter is a classic and works surprisingly well with touch, while the former is a ridiculously sharp touch-specific iteration of the horror franchise that actually has something to say.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->During these hot days, you always need a way to cool yourself off, and today we have one type of clothing that will keep you cool during these hot summer days.
Kuchofuku Air-Conditioned Cooling Coat, is unusual type of coat that will actually keep you cool during the hot summer days. This strange coat comes from Japan and it has two long sleeves with built-in fans that will keep your body cool during the day. In order to keep you cool, Kuchofuku Air-Conditioned Cooling Coat has fan that is located on your lower back, and you even control the fan speed with a simple power box. In order to keep the cool air within the coat, the inner part of coat is covered with nylon material that keeps the cool air in, and keeps your body cool that way.
This is an unusual jacket, and if you want to stay cool� you'll need four AA batteries to power it too. As for the price, the Kuchofuku Air-Conditioned Cooling Coat is priced at $186.
[via Ubergizmo]
The headliner of the overall package is, of course, the brand new world. "Magica," as it's called, is a conglomeration of 20 brand new stages that provide more challenges with fresh backgrounds. A new character, Rolf the Wolf, has also been added to a steadily growing cast of freakishly cute and enlarged animal-like… things. One of the finer additions being pointed out is the fact that free MP has returned. The sticking point is that you'll have to "watch videos" in order to participate.
Naturally, bug fixes and the promise of even more to come, including more worlds content, are also being teased.
Love it or hate, Mega Jump is certainly becoming one of the more pleasant and refined free-to-play experiences out there when you factor in updates like these. We're excited to see where it's going and how its own model evolves as more and more content gets tacked on.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
The first game introduced us to the mechanic and it hasn't changed much this time around. You draw a line around a track, moving your finger quickly or slowly depending on how fast you want to go during that time, then you watch your car try to follow the line. The only difference is an added turbo button, which helps keep you engaged while you watch.
Like its predecessor, DrawRace 2 is all about momentum, but just like the first game, and even RedLynx's Trials HD, this is more of a puzzle game than a racing one. You draw your lines not for efficiency in distance, but in response to the physics of driving a car. At a fundamental level, it's a math equation wrapped in a casual title. Simply tracing a line on inside of the track won't get you far and you have to reason with the future tense in plotting your path.
Which isn't to say it's not easy to pick up and play, because it is. It's still challenging though, and by the time you reach the Pro and Champion sections of the campaign you'll be wrecking your brain to get things right.
The campaign itself is massive. You'll have 180 different challenges on 36 different tracks to complete, with each race having three separate gold medals to earn depending on how many racers you're up against. New to the mix is a good amount of vehicle variety � each with its own handling style and each suited for the variety of different track types. Many of the tracks don't let you pick which car to use, but the ones that do force you to think about the environment and the track style while making your choice.
DrawRace 2 also manages to completely change the look and feel of the original. Where the first game felt like a fun, pocket game with a simple look, the sequel rounds out the already full package of content with visual flare that isn't just pretty on the eyes, but adds to the overall experience. The menu screen is cleaner and easier to understand and even the line drawing mechanic is tightened up to better represent what you're doing both visually and aurally. Obviously the track and car graphics have been updated to 3D models and look great.
DrawRace 2 is not without its issues, though. Some might justifiably find the lack of any real feedback disheartening, because, as mentioned before, this is more about the tactics of racing than actually racing. Because of that, there is a dullness that settles in when you're stuck on a track and aren't able to figure out how to complete it. You will get stuck, but the madness that follows will only serve to help you down the line once you figure out what you're doing wrong. It can be frustrating to watch your car drifting out of control and not being able to help it, but it teaches you how to better approach the style of turn in the future.
This isn't a manic, balls-to-the-wall racer, it's a calculated, slow puzzle game. While the mechanic of the original is intact, the rest of the game sees updates in every single category and its absolutely bursting with content and game modes. It quickly moves from a casual distraction to a painfully difficult obsession, so be weary if you think you can play in bursts.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->9:44 AM
A couple of weeks later, Techno Kitten Adventure did launch in the App Store, and got a solid stamp of approval from yours truly during our podcast that following week. In fact, that was the first inklings of the now world famous Jared's Kitty Korner portion of our podcast, which makes Techno Kitten Adventure somewhat historically significant.
Then about a month after that, an update was released for Techno Kitten Adventure that added the internet's most famous feline the Nyan Cat as a playable character. Sadly, the powers that be who control everything Nyan Cat related didn't take too kindly to this addition to the game, and shortly thereafter Nyan Cat was removed and replaced with a parody cat that flies backwards and barfs a stream of rainbows. That's a pretty fair trade in my book, to be honest.
Now another brand new update for Techno Kitten Adventure has landed and it adds in another one of the internet's favorite obsessions: bacon. Or less specifically, meat in general. The new Meat Pack comes completely free and offers a brand new song, a new extremely meat themed level, and 3 new playable cats made from various types of meat. It's a lot of meat to be sure, but I know for a fact that's just how Brad Nicholson likes it.
Also, the entire gist of Techno Kitten Adventure is to test your ability to play a cave flyer game with as many obnoxious visual distractions as humanly possible constantly flying in your face. The new meat level takes this to beyond the extreme. Not only is there crazy meat stuffs flying all over the screen at all times, but the entire screen itself is prone to zooming, shaking, and even flipping horizontally so you're all of a sudden moving in the opposite direction. Basically, if you're prone to nausea or vomiting, the meat level might test your will.
When it comes down to the actual gameplay, Techno Kitten Adventure is about as basic as a cave flyer can be. Jetpack Joyride [99�] this is not. But, when you factor in the absolutely bizarre and elating sights and sounds, it's a hard game not to enjoy. Techno Kitten Adventure is my immediate go to game when I know I need a smile or I want to get an annoying dance song stuck in my head. Also, kittens. Who doesn't love kittens, am I right?
Since the game is initially a free score limited version with the ability to upgrade from within the app, the best way to see if Techno Kitten Adventure is the right game for you is just to download it and see, or stop by our forums for more player impressions.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
Whenever I completed a puzzle in Punch A Hole [$0.99] with one or two stars, I felt that patronizing head pat. I might as well have pressed a level skip button (absent here, but also unneeded), because I certainly didn't solve the puzzle correctly. Played for one or two stars, Punch a Hole is a lifeless thing, barely able to hold my interest long enough to punch the necessary holes. Play for three stars and it comes to life, a mind-bending challenge that kept me captivated beyond any distraction while I tried and retried single levels over and over, knowing the solution was just out of my reach.
Players will certainly start in the right mindset � it's virtually impossible to earn fewer than three stars for far too many levels. Punch a Hole holds your hand too tightly while it teaches you the basic mechanics of the game. You play on a top-down billiards table, with the goal of moving colored balls into matching holes. Swipe a ball in the four primary directions and it will travel in that direction until it encounters something, like another ball, the edge of the table or a hole. You can fail by knocking it off the table or into the wrong hole, but you can always tap undo to go back as many steps as you need.
You can also punch holes in the table to stop the ball from moving, which is where the challenge comes in. Each level has a set number of holes you can create for the best ranking, the fewest that can possibly be used to solve the puzzle. When the game's difficulty eventually kicks in it requires large doses of lateral thinking. You'll need to punch a hole here so that you can bounce this ball off of that one, knocking the other over there, and…you get the idea.
Obstacles are introduced as time goes by. Balls of different colors get in each other's way, they bounce off blocks and slide through tubes. You can even paint them. Figuring out how to best use or avoid each obstacle is great fun, and what works in one level will rarely make the next much easier. There are a few epiphanies to be had, though.
Beyond the lack of conviction in ranking players' performance, Punch a Hole stumbles a few times. The difficulty curve is messy: levels are too easy for too long, and even once the challenge ramps up you'll occasional run into levels that are dead simple. The Game Center achievements are a disappointment. All of them can be earned by playing the game normally, except those for completing with three stars. Those ones can be completed by playing the game correctly. I will note, however, that while the art style and interface look overly utilitarian in screenshots, they're pleasantly simple and clean in action.
When Punch a Hole is bad, it's boring. But when it's good, it's frustrating in the best possible way. I feel well-rewarded for working my way through the slow bits when I'm free to experiment in the hardest of the levels. I can't recommend it wholeheartedly, but on the whole I've enjoyed my time with the game. I'll certainly be watching for releases from its developer, Bartosz Ciechanowski, in the future. If you decide to jump in too, let us know what you think in our discussion thread.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
The gameplay itself is ridiculously simple, and is controlled entirely by tilting, and jumping from platform to platform. Over time, and through various updates, all sorts of different power-ups, enemies, and graphical skins were also thrown into the mix. Doodle Jump was also one of the first game to feature online leader boards displayed in game by little hash marks along the side as you made your ascent, a feature that is now practically standard in any vertical jumper.
When the iPad was released, we continually quizzed developer Lima Sky for when we'd see a Doodle Jump on the big screen, and were met with responses regarding how they didn't want to just put Doodle Jump on the iPad, they wanted to do something special. Well, it turns out that all that special stuff is going to be part of an upcoming sequel, tentatively titled Doodle Jump 2.
So Doodle Jump for iPad [$2.99] is basically exactly what it sounds like: Doodle Jump on the iPad. Playing the game feels a little different since you can see so much more of the game world, and obviously playing a tilt-based game on the iPad is vastly different from the iPhone. The extra heft of the device makes playing feel a little clunky in comparison, but you quickly get used to it. Also, the directional shooting functionality is a little tricky because of the larger screen, but if you can't get a handle on that it's easy enough to turn off in the options.
If you love Doodle Jump, and want it on your iPad, now you can without needing to run the game with pixel doubling. Doodle Jump is still one of my favorite games, and is undoubtedly a true App Store classic, but after this kind of wait I was really hoping for more on the iPad than a (currently) exclusive race-centric theme for the multiplayer mode.
Regardless, the thought of Doodle Jump 2 has me really excited.
<!-- PHP 5.x -->
