Back Seat for Blog

Hiya guys,

Sorry I haven't left a post in a while, this is because I am actually making a new animated feature length film so this is a backseat project now, For following this progress go to:

www.youtube.com/user/th3appstorereviewer

Assassins Creed 2 - Coming to iPhone

Ubisoft have announced they are going to be bringing Assassins Creed 2 to the iPhone this November. As if that news wasn't good enough, they have also announced a release date, the same day as it goes to other platforms - 11th November - Program it in your phones, I can't wait! Loved the first one, saw a video about the new one, shows the iPhone gameplay it looks brill. Looking forward to Davinchi's Flying Machine :)

Email me and tell me what you think or leave a comment below :)

Check it out for yourself here if you don't believe me or want more detail (obviously the latter :) lol): http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/34451/Ubisoft-launches-Assassins-Creed-2-promo-iPhone-app

Astro Ranch - DELAYED

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, have been real busy with another project, more news on that soon all i can say is its an ANIMATED FEATURE LENGTH MOVIE for details email me. Anyway so the news is Tag Games have told me exclusively that we CAN'T expect Astro Ranch in October or before - so does that mean November? Are we even getting the app this year?

Enigmo 2 Launches on Apple App Store

Austin, Texas – September 02, 2009 – Pangea Software, one of the leading iPhone game developers, announced today that Enigmo 2, the sequel to their award winning puzzle game, is now available for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

“We’ve taken Enigmo 2 to a new dimension,” stated Brian Greenstone, president of Pangea Software. “The puzzles in Enigmo 2 are now three-dimensional, and we’ve added many new gameplay elements including laser beams, gravetoids, plasma, teleporters,and more.”

While designed to run on all iPhone and iPod Touch models with iPhone OS 3.0, Enigmo 2 also takes advantage of the increased performance capabilities of the iPhone 3GS. Users with the iPhone 3GS will benefit from extra effects and an incredibly smooth gameplay experience.

Enigmo 2 challenges players to position puzzle pieces such as bumpers, slides, sponges, and so on in order to divert the flow of falling water droplets, plasma particles, and laser beams so they can reach their destination. The original Enigmo game which was released last year has won many awards including “Best iPhone Game, 2008” from Apple, and it is one of the Top 20 all-time best selling iPhone apps.

Enigmo 2 Features:

- Full interaction using the iPhone touch screen
- 50 challenging levels
- Move and rotate the various puzzle pieces to solve incredible 3D puzzles
- Incredible audio soundtrack

Enigmo 2 is currently available at a special introductory price of just $2.99. Pangea Software has also produced a behind the scenes video about Enigmo 2 which can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ZQzm-SBDQ&fmt=22

For more information about Pangea Software or its products please visit: www.pangeasoft.net

This is from 21st August: TumbleBugs

Future Racer Launches on App Store Today

Slick anti-grav racing title kicks iPhones into warp speed

Embargo: 21 August 2009. Middlesbrough:Future Racer, The highly anticipated debut iPhone title from independent developer Assyria Game Studio, launches on iTunes today priced at £0.59 / €0.79 / $0.99 for a promotional launch period only.

The incredibly slick title is a high-speed, anti-gravity racer boasting fully 3D environments and a wide range of fiendish tracks set to test your reflexes to the limit. From complicated toxic sewer networks, winding forests littered with hazards and illuminated night-time cityscapes, each of the six tracks are bursting with character. Future Racer strikes the perfect balance between delivering high speed thrills and impressive visuals, without compensating style for speed.

Integrating full tilt control, the game is easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master, with skilled AI players and the ongoing pressure of racing against the clock. Moving away from combat-based pickups, Future Racer focuses purely on speed and skill, with power-ups including speed boosts and subtracting precious seconds from your finishing time.

Key Features:

-Simple accessible controls utilize the iPhone and iPod Touch tilt functionality

-Six wildly different tracks and six racing vehicles with differing strengths and weaknesses

-Compete against fiendish AI players to unlock medals and trophies

-A collection of beneficial pick-ups to utilize throughout each race

-Visually stunning full 3D environments

-Fully licensed soundtrack from Triptik

Assyria Game Studio has also launched an official gameplay trailer for Future Racer, that can be found via their You Tube channel here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP4OLiNRLZU

Promotional codes, assets and interview opportunities are available for the press now. If you would like to review Future Racer or speak with the team at Assyria Game Studio, please get in touch via the details below.

Tumblebugs Gameplay Video

Check out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n28_fyw8FoA

For a tumblebugs gameplay video.

Tag Games Join Tiga

Tag Join Tiga

Although not directly related to the app store I am sure the news that Tag Games have joined Tiga will bring us many new apps. What you are about to see is a press release directly from Tiga's Site. The news came to our attention when it was announced on twitter by Paul Farley of Tag Games, and Tag Games themselves. Here is the news:

'TIGA, the trade association representing the UK’s games industry, today announced Tag Games as its newest member.

Tag Games is an independent game development studio and publisher which was formed in 2006 by three game industry veterans keen to bring fresh game experiences to mobile and social gaming platforms.

The first title "Dead Water" was released on J2ME mobile phones in September 2006 to widespread critical acclaim. Since then the studio has built an enviable reputation for innovation and quality, building strategic partnerships with a number of major games publishers, media and brand owners and development studios around the globe.

Paul Farley, Tag Games Managing Director, states: “Our studio was founded on a vision to create the most innovative and fun casual games in the world. We believe in crafting each and every game to ensure the very highest quality of game-play and enjoyment for the player.”

On joining TIGA Farley adds: “Tag Games is very much part of the thriving gaming community we have established in Dundee. We recognise TIGA’s role in supporting that community and we hope to work with TIGA on areas such as lobbying the Scottish Parliament and promoting the UK gaming sector to the media.”

Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO stated: “Tag Games is one of a new breed of games companies, self publishing highly original casual games to the mass market via digital distribution platforms. The way consumers play and buy games is moving at incredible speed and Tag Games has the vision to navigate these changes with great success. We are very pleased to welcome Tag Games to TIGA.”

TVUPlayer Team bring us a new update

TVU Bring Us More Features

Tell us what you think?

'We hope you've been enjoying the new Pause/Resume features we recently introduced - and that the Skip Backward, Skip Forward, Pause/Resume and Seek/Scan features are making for an even more awesome viewing experience for you on TVU.

Today we're coming out with a new release of TVUPlayer v2.4.7 that includes new powerful Personal Video Recording (PVR) features.

And with it, comes a brand new look to TVUPlayer. Sleek and black, we hope you think it's an improved look, with all the great features you are familiar with and more.

In recognition and in appreciation of your loyal TVU viewing - we've got an introductory offer for the PVR subscription through August 31st - giving you the first month free, and thereafter for $12 for a whole year.

So thats what they said and this is the financial side:

Sign up today! Because starting September 1st, 2009 - you won't get the first month free, and the subscription price will go up to $1.99 a month, or double the intro offer.

With TVU PVR, you'll be able to:

• Record the program you're watching
• Record a future program, by channel and time
• Re-name recordings
• No pre-roll ads
• Have unlimited use and unlimited recording
  • Driven only by the HD/storage you have on your computer
• Keep Recordings "permanently"
  • Until you delete them, or
  • Until you cancel your PVR subscription

As always, you'll be prompted to upgrade to this new TVUPlayer release automatically. TVUPlayer will continue to be free, and the Pause/Resume features are freebies as well.

To get your PVR working - you'll need to have a TVU account, be signed in, and be a subscriber.

To sign up - get the latest TVUPlayer v2.4.7, and click on the red Record button in the Player controls. Remember, this intro offer expires August 31st.

So there you go!

Timeloop Launches on iTunes App Store TODAY

Timeloop causes a storm

Manchester 11th August 2009 – Connect2Media Are proud to announce the release of much-anticipated puzzle game ‘Timeloop’ on the Apple iTunes App Store today.

The game launches today at a promotional price of $0.99/£0.59/0.79€ which is amazing value for money for a beautifully realised game which includes 32 levels of time-warping puzzles, not to mention cats, professors and hair dryers.

Released in tandem with the game is ‘Timeloop Lite’ – a free ‘taster’ of the full game. Timeloop Lite features five whole levels from the full game – the first four levels which ease you into the game plus a fifth level from later on in Timeloop to give you a taste of full-on synapse teasing action.

Summary:

After a scientific experiment goes horribly wrong, a research lab becomes the scene of total chaos, trapping all of the scientists, causing the equipment to go haywire and unleashing a horde of feline test subjects. Needless to say, everyone’s having a bad day so far.

Enter Nik, the ever-helpful janitor droid. It’s up to the plucky hero to save the day, but there’s only one problem; the research complex is massive and has too many problems for one robot to handle...or does it?

By combining your brainpower and a handy warping device, Nik can go back in time and work alongside copies of his past self to beat the odds, save the scientists and put things right once and for all. Boasting a unique art style, 32 mind-bending levels and the loveable Nik himself, Timeloop is the must have app this summer, breaking puzzle convention and perfect for burst play while on the go.

Timeloop 1.0 key features

-

32 mind increasingly bending puzzles

-

Multiple solutions to almost every puzzle mean that there is always more than one way to skin a cat

-

Gold, Silver and Bronze award categories

-

Rescue stray cats as well as professors

For an exclusive teaser trailer for Timeloop, please visit http://www.youtube.com/connect2media

Astro Ranch Screen Shots and News

The following is what we were told by Paul Farley from Tag Games, the screen shots are above:

With a targeted release date of early winter 2009 Astro Ranch aims to blend an awesome 1950’s sci-fi atheistic with the characterization of Animal Crossing and the farm management game-play of Harvest Moon.

Astro Ranch is planned to include some revolutionary social gaming features never seen before on the iPhone in addition to a range of unusual alien creatures. Tag Games concept artist Laura Whyte explains more “We are really excited at how well Astro Ranch is coming together. It is rare to have the opportunity to create an entirely new alien environment from scratch and whilst Astro Ranch pays visual homage to some of our favourite cartoons, movies and games it has a style that is all its own. The iPhone version is looking great but we’re also excited by the opportunity to implement Astro Ranch on consoles as well.

Once iPhone gamers have taken the game and characters to heart I’m sure console gamers will demand nothing less! ” Astro Ranch is set on an unidentified alien planet which our intrepid galactic explorer Sindy Starlight has accidentally discovered after crash landing. This may or may not have been caused due to checking her hair in the rear view mirror - mission control is still running the data on that particular question! Sindy must start from scratch to build a ranch and earn the cash needed to buy enough spare parts to fix her rocket and return home. It won’t be easy. The locals range from obsessively friendly to outright hostile plus the planet is host to all manner of hazards, natural disasters and weird goings on. If you ever wondered what would happen if Erie Indiana met Animal Crossing whilst playing Harvest Moon – now you know… Astro Ranch.

The Finger Strikes Again!

We are currently in contact with Pangea Software about their new release The Finger which we announced on the blog yesterday. So look forward to more news from them because I am going to be writing a review (hopefully) on the new entertainment app. This is if Pangea Soft can send us a copy of the game. We will keep you posted.

Future Racer

Earlier, I posted a press release about the new game coming soon to the App Store called Future Racer. Hopefully I will put a video review online very soon, but for now we are going for the good old fashioned approach. So I will go from the beginning. As you open the game it looks very promising and well put together. Then as you click play it takes a few seconds to render. There are 6 vehicles to choose from, only one is open at the beginning.

As you go to choose a vehicle you are presented with a name, a speed and a handling figure. The vehicle is shown in 3D and you get to see the full 360 view. Going between vehicles looks very good because you get to see all the open vehicles in a very smooth way. Then the changing time between choosing a vehicle and a level is unfortunately quite slow currently. Every time you complete a track you get a new track and a new vehicle. To make this better a 360 look would be nice. But is not needed.

The loading time to actually opening the level is unfortunately VERY slow but will probably be fixed in the second version. The music is OK but CAN be slightly competitive. The controls are easy but sometimes (when turning) the accelerometer can be slightly too sensitive. There is currently NO PAUSE FEATURE. This seems completely weird and unusual. The actual vehicle itself looks amazing. But the actual world could look better. For a first version though it is very promising and looks very good.

I have to give a rating now so I have taken into account it is a first version but I am going to be giving it: 3/5. Good start look forward to seeing how far they manage to go with this and how big it becomes on the app store.

I may add a video review soon. On www.youtube.com/th3appstorereviewer

Internet smash Tumblebugs announced for iPhone & iPod Touch

Tumblebugs tumbles onto a new platform

Manchester, 7^th August 2009: Clocking well over 35 million online plays and downloads since its initial launch in 2005, the puzzle phenomenon Tumblebugs is making its way to iPhone and iPod Touch consoles, courtesy of Dundee-based developer Tag Games and Manchester-based publisher Connect2Media. The collaboration will see a revamped version of Wildifre Studios’ original title, developed exclusively for Apple devices and launching on iTunes in August.

Developed by Tag Games, who recently scored a massive App Store hit with critically acclaimed crime simulator Car Jack Streets, Tumblebugs is an addictive puzzle game for all ages. When the evil ‘Black Bug Empire’ takes over the insect world and starts marching lines of friendly bugs underground to be enslaved forever, it’s up to you to save the day.

Players must launch vividly coloured bugs at the never-ending line of prisoners, lining up three or bugs of the same colour to free them from their captors. It wont be easy however, with rapidly increasing lines and a string of baddies out to gum up the works. Can you be the hero the insect kingdom needs?

The game features slick controls and accessible play style; Simply aim and fire to rack up high scores and advance to the next stage. Power-ups add much depth to the game as you blast your way through 78 challenging stages set across two different gameplay modes. With crisp, colourful graphics and a superb art style, Tumblebugs is one of the slickest and engrossing puzzle games available on handheld consoles today.

Key Features:

*78 challenging levels with stunningly vivid graphics

*Two compulsive gameplay modes that are easy to pick up but hard to put down

*Amazing power-ups, dastardly baddies and heroic deeds make this a garden-based epic

*Based on the number one web game played by over 35 million people to date

Early review builds and assets for Tumblebugs iPhone and iPod Touch are available now on request. Please get in touch with Ink Media to arrange distribution. For more information on Tumblebugs, please visit http://www.tag-games.com

Assyria Game Studios Announce Future Racer for iPhone and iPod Touch

This is the press release from Assyria Game Studios:

Assyria Game Studios hope to cause a storm with their new app

Middlesbrough – Independent developer Assyria Game Studio has today revealed its debut mobile title due for release on iPhone and iPod Touch. The incredibly slick Future Racer is a high speed, anti-gravity racer boasting fully 3D environments and a wide range of fiendish tracks set to test your reflexes to the limit.

From complicated toxic sewer networks, winding forests littered with hazards and illuminated night-time cityscapes, each of the six tracks are bursting with character. Future Racer strikes the perfect balance between delivering high speed thrills and impressive visuals, without compensating style for speed.

Integrating full tilt control, the game is easy to pick up and play but difficult to master, with fiendish AI players and the ongoing pressure of racing against the clock. Moving away from combat-based pickups, Future Racer focuses purely on speed and skill, with power-ups including speed boosts and subtracting precious seconds from your finishing time.

Features

-Simple accessible controls utilise the iPhone and iPod Touch tilt functionality

-Six wildly different tracks and six racing vehicles with differing strengths and weaknesses

-Compete against fiendish AI players to unlock medals and trophies

-A collection of beneficial pick-ups to utilise throughout each race

To request a promotional code and assets for Future Racer, please contact Ink Media via the details below. For more information on Assyria Game Studio and Future Racer, please visit http://www.assyria-game.com

PC Magazine mention App Review Site 148Apps

148Apps joins the top 100 Websites of 2009

August 3, 2009 brang us news from 148Apps,who are a consumer-focused

website that report and review the latest in iPhone and iPod Touch

applications and information, has been included in PC Magazine’s list

of Top 100 Websites of 2009. The annual list is available at PC

Magazine's website and will be published in the September 2009 digital

issue of PC Magazine.

"We are so very honored to be recognized by PC Magazine", said 148Apps

founder, Jeff Scott. "We launched a year ago with a mission to create

the best site for iPhone users looking for information on the iPhone

and its applications. We had no idea how quickly people would identify

with the site. The growth over the past year has been phenomenal."

PC Magazine’s list of Top 100 Websites of 2009 includes fifty classic

websites, and fifty undiscovered sites chosen for content, design, and

originality. 148Apps.com was recognized in the Undiscovered: Tech

category. The selection process took months, and a committee of

experts at PC Magazine determined the final list.

The magazine includes a nod to the new sister site, 148apps.biz.

Recently launched, the site includes editorial and metrics to support

iPhone app developers interested in making a business out of app

development.

"We’re not going to slow down now", reports Scott. "This just raises

the bar. 148Apps wants to continue to explore and address the needs of

the iPhone consumer and developer. Look for some exciting developments

in the near future."

Pangeasoft Launches 'The Finger' for iPhone and iPod Touch

The Finger pokes its way into the App Store Spotlight?

Pangea Software bring us one of the App Store's newest recruits, The Finger. Pangea Software claim 'The Finger is an incredibly cool 3D animation app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and the basic idea is that you manipulate a 3D hand to form and display hand signs. A built-in animation editor lets you construct hand signals that can say anything from “You are insane!” to “She’s hot!” to… well… other “expressions” best left to the user’s imagination. The worry with this is the people that actually purchase it. Some people may choose to use The Finger for obseen or inappropriate hand signals.

Pangea's spokesman told us 'The Finger comes with over 90 built-in hand gestures, but users are able to create their own using an intuitive touch interface to manipulate the fingers, thumb, and wrist.'

Pangea reckon their product is more than just novelty. They say this 'visually cool' app offers many practical uses. They told us 'It has the ability to translate text into American Sign Language, so, users can enter text and the 3D hand will then “say” the text using signing. But is this appropriate for an international product? Can foreign countries adapt text into their countries signs?

Pangea Software have created many children to populate the App Store. Their hits include:

- Enigmo

- Cro-Mag Rally

- Bugdom 2

- Nanosaur 2

- Otto Matic

Pangea reckon what makes The Finger stand alone and hopefully stand out, it is their first product to join the Entertainment category.

“This is one of the most unique apps out there,” says Brian Greenstone, President of Pangea Software, “When we were developing The Finger, we would build animations to test it, and sometimes they would come out so funny that we’d nearly bust a kidney laughing. There’s a lot of fun to be hand with this app!”

Tell us what you thought to get your view up here.

Hello! *update*

Hiya,

Welcome to our new blog. This is the OFFICIAL App News Blog. This is going to be the site where we launch all the latest news for you. There is going to be many thrills and spills. So watch this site. Hopefully we are going to create are own ONLINE newspaper from here.

Thanks

Th3appstorereviewer