Pocket Gamer Guide to Mobile Games / Issue 17 by Steel Media

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Your Guide To Mobile Games is published by Steel Media Ltd. For advertising or other enquiries relating to the magazine contact Chris James – chris@steelmedia.co.uk All information is correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of Steel Media Ltd. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by the writers. Views expressed are not necessarily the views of the operator. ©2010 Steel Media Ltd.

Game on! Welcome to issue 17 of the Pocket Gamer guide to mobile games, brought to you by the team of experts at www.pocketgamer.co.uk. As Christmas approaches, the time of gaming goes hand-in-hand with giving. So this issue we’ve crammed in as much content as possible, highlighting all of the presents you should be giving your mobile this festive season. It’s in that spirit that you’ll find our Android coverage increased, with the current batch of games and apps we feel no owner should be without. And because we’re in such generous moods, we’ve teamed up with Samsung to bring you not just the latest on its tantalising Galaxy Tablet, but we’re also giving you the chance to win one! Have a good one.

João Diniz Sanches Editor-in-chief | Pocket Gamer

NOVEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

One

To play now Android Two

Asphalt 5

Guns ‘n’ Glory

A mix of street style and crash action, Asphalt 5 fully embraces arcade racing with events that rocket you through the street of Honolulu and have you chasing down opponents to slam them against mountain cliffs in Aspen. It’s all about speed and decking out a garage packed with rides ranging from a modest Mini Cooper S to powerhouse Ferrari FXX Evolution. This is one wild trip that blends speed with automotive carnage to brilliant effect and it's as good on Android as it’s ever been.

A Wild West-themed take on the tower defence genre, Guns ‘n’ Glory doesn’t bother with summoning gun turrets from thin air – rather, it gets you to recruit bandits that loiter around the levels. Your target – rather controversially – is not a posse of lawmen but successive waves of defenceless settlers. (Heck, times were tough back then.) That doesn’t stop this being a unique version of the popular tower defence brand of gaming, meaning there really is no reason not to jump on board this wagon.

One

Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft

In association with

Developer: HandyGames Publisher: HandyGames

Three

N.O.V.A. Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft

Who says first-person shooters on mobile don’t work? N.O.V.A. – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance (to give the game its silly full name) is proof that, if handled correctly, FPS action can be hugely entertaining even in portable form. Taking place across the varying landscapes of distant planets, your role as a member of the intergalactic marine corps will place you behind some remarkably rewarding futuristic firepower. If you want the best FPS experience on Android, better set your sights on this grunt.

6 Great Games Six Two

Five

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Three Four

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Backbreaker Tom Clancy’s Six Zenonia Football H.A.W.X. Developer: NaturalMotion Publisher: NaturalMotion

Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft

Developer: Gamevil Publisher: Gamevil

Left, right, left, twist, show-boat. Backbreaker Football is the most unlikely dance-rhythm game you’ll ever play. It’s hidden, after all, beneath a thick layer of testosterone-fuelled violence. Or, in other words, American football. But, cleverly, the game hones in on the most exciting part of the sport: running plays. Taking control of a single runner, you face a series of set pieces whereby you must run the entire length of the pitch. This is a brilliantly focused, gorgeous looking sports-action game.

If, like us, you watched too much Top Gun in your impressionable years you'll know there’s something near-irresistible about jumping in a jet fighter and gunning down bogies. In H.A.W.X. you’re Air Force pilot David Crenshaw – hardly Maverick, sure, but the 13 missions awaiting you will test your mettle. Whether dog fighting, in air-toground combat, bombing runs or infiltrations sorties, H.A.W.X. is an extremely able mix of flight sim and arcade-combat, and this Android version gets it spot on.

One of the earlier – yet still finest – game experiences currently available on the Android Market, Zenonia raises the bar of what is expected of role-playing games on mobile. The plot may first appear to conform to Generic Fantasy 101 but, like so much else in this title, initial appearances hide a cleverness that puts most other titles in the genre to shame. Gorgeous to look at, dangerously addictive, fast, fun and very long, Gamevil’s title sets the benchmark for all subsequent action RPGs on the Android platform to beat.

NOVEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

top10 chart

The latest from around the world of mobile

Age of Empires III:

The Asian Dynasties

Fully fledged RTS game on your mobile – no strategy fan should miss it.

Downtown Texas Hold ‘em

This plays a mean, brilliantly presented and engaging game of poker. Go all-in!

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

Still an attractive and supremely playable match-three puzzler.

4 s Supermono Studio MiniSquadron

Top fun! Beautiful biplane battling Sometimes you can tell a game’s going to be special from just its title. Take MiniSquadron for Android. It just sounds like it’s going to be fun, doesn’t it? The idea is to fly your little biplane around an arena using a virtual scroll wheel, shooting waves of rivals out of the sky with your right thumb. You’ll need to keep an eye out for power-ups that improve your chances, such as rapid fire or even futuristic lasers. Not sure the Red Baron ever resorted to such tricks. Here, though, you’ll need all the help you can get because the computercontrolled opposition puts up quite a fight.

Zooming your way around the screen, vying for aerial superiority promises to be a blast. And you’re likely to blasting for a while, because the game’s Classic mode contains eight levels (each with 12 waves) and 56 unlockable planes. Pretty as they are, they’re not just eye-candy, either – each aircraft comes with its own attributes such as size, speed, armour, turning speed and weapon type. We’ll be strapping ourselves into MiniSquadron’s cockpit and landing a review next issue – we don’t expect any turbulence to affect this game’s promising, smooth flight.

Fieldrunners

Startlingly complete version of the popular tower defence game that lands on Java beach ready to rumble.

Mystery Mania

A unique and drop-dead gorgeous point-and-click puzzler that’s full of personality and charm. Essential.

Army Men: Mobile Ops

Simply sublime strategic, all-action, toy-flavoured war on you mobile.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Superb action/stealth game that remains inventive from start to finish.

Tetris Revolution

This isn’t a revolution. It is, however, one of the finest versions of Tetris ever made. No small achievement.

Pac-Man CE

A retro remake that pays sincere homage to the original – Pac-Man Championship Edition is a must-own.

Ferrari GT 2: Revolution

Sleek, smart and thrilling – the perfect racer for mobile speed demons.

In association with

Zuma’s Revenge PopCap Games

Hoppingly good? Frog served cold Anyone that owns a mobile will have, at some point, come across a match-three title. You know, it’s those games where the objective is to move objects around a grid on the screen so that at least three of them touch, at which point they disappear. Zuma is such a game, but one with a difference. Instead of the usual grid layout, here you have a chain of coloured ‘beads’ that moves along a track. At the centre of the screen is a frog – you – which shoots beads from its mouth. As you do. The idea is to stop the chain from reaching the end of the track by firing beads strategically, matching colours so as to reduce numbers and, as such, the length of the chain. This has all the makings of dangerously addictive territory. We’ll let you know next issue…

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Boardtastic! Superbly strategic

Corner any boardgame fan and they’ll tell you of the wonders of Settlers of Catan. After Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, it’s probably the game with the highest profile. And for good reason – it’s ace. Catan: The Seafarers is the mobile version of the original game with some extra bits thrown in. The aim? Simple: Up to four players

NOVEMBER 2010

compete to gain victory points on the small island of Catan. You do this by founding settlements, building roads and creating cities. Promising one of the fullest tutorials to feature in a mobile game to date, great multiplayer options and a captivating Campaign mode for those without friends, The Seafarers could be must-own stuff.

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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What’s this? Android explained… Android is an operating system that’s continually developed by Google to get the best out of the powerful smartphones that run it. One key advantage of an Android device like the Galaxy Tab is the availability of apps from the Android Market. You’ll find over 70,000 apps to download – you name it, it’s in there – and because Android is now one of the fastest growing operating systems around, the choice will only get larger.

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NOVEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

Want more for your mobile?

om the fr s w e n e il b o All the m ing world, as it happens mobile gam ases Reviews of the latest game rele Comprehensive Buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide In-depth feature exclusive interv s and iews

Also available on your mobile

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Download a game from

Step 1: Get on the net Open your phone’s web browser from the main menu. If it doesn’t go straight to T-Mobile’s site, enter the following address: www.t-zones.co.uk. Wait a few seconds for the page to load and you’ll see a collection of nine icons on the screen, one of which will be Games. Move the on-screen cursor or link highlighter over it.

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Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

Click on the Games icon and a new page that enables you to start looking for a game to download will open. You can view new games, the Top 10 bestsellers and a selection of other groups; scroll down the page to see what takes your fancy. When you see a category of games that you like, click on the Go link.

You’ll be taken to a page listing the games within the selected category and you can scroll down to view them all. To learn more about an individual game, click on its title and you’ll see a brief description along with the relevant picture.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game! As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Download and save the game, but don’t start it until you’ve exited your mobile phone’s internet browser. You can start your new game by going to your phone’s main menu and looking in the Games or Applications section, depending on the make of your handset. (And don’t worry if someone rings you – the game will pause, enabling you to take the call!)

Once you’re ready to buy a game, simply click on the ‘Buy now!’ link.

Go to >>

Check out pa Terms and Conditions: Text messages to 22222 are charged at standard rate. Games cost either £3 or £5 and you will be advised of price 14 before purchase. You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged. for great gamge to download NOes W! NOVEMBER 2010 www.pocketgamer.co.uk

Download a game from

Step 1: Go to Vodafone Live

Step 2: Browse games menu

If you’re looking to download a game, the first step is to go to the Vodafone Live portal. How depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Vodafone Live button on the handset itself, while others require pressing one of the soft-keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

Scroll down to find the Games link, which takes you to the portal’s main games page. There, you’ll be able to access this week’s special offers, as well as direct links to What’s New, Top 10 Games, and the Game of the Week. Games are updated on Fridays, so it’s worth checking back weekly.

Step 3: Check out games

Step 4: Get more info

Clicking on one of the links takes you to a list of games in that category, showing a picture (usually of the title screen), a price, and a link to get more information. This is a good way to get a quick overview of what’s available and how much it might cost, especially if you’re browsing by game genre.

Clicking on a game’s More Info link takes you through to its page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it’s about. You’ll also notice a review score at the bottom of the page supplied by Pocket Gamer, with a link to click through to the full review of the title.

Step 5: Buy your game

Step 6: Download it NOW!

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game. As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download your game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game, and then sometimes you’ll be asked where you want to save it – in Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase. You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged.

In association with

Download a game from Step 1: Get on the net If you’re looking to download mobile games, the first step is to go to the Planet 3 portal. This depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Planet 3 button on the handset itself, others require pressing one of the keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

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Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

It’s free to browse. Scroll down to find the games icon, which takes you to the portal’s main games page. There, you’ll be able to access to hundreds of games from as little as 99p including the latest new games, Top 10 games, top deals, as well as a direct link to games split by genre (puzzle, action, retro, etc). Games are updated on Thursdays, so it’s worth checking back every week.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

Clicking on a game’s ‘More info’ link takes you through to its dedicated page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it is about. Clicking on ‘Buy Game’ pays for the game, either taking the money from your account balance (if you’re Pay As You Go) or adding it to your monthly bill.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download the game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game. You may be asked where you want to save your game – within Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

NOVEMBER 2010

Go to >>

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Reviews mobile Rounding up the hottest games available now

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Reviews

Command & Conquer 4:

Tiberian Twilight Developer: EA Mobile Publisher: EA Mobile Format: Java

Developer: P Hassey Publisher: I Pickles Format: Android

Not a Mammoth, more a Striker When faced with the round peg that is the real-time strategy (RTS) genre and the square hole that is the mobile/keypad controls, most developers tend to develop a game that shaves down the established genre conventions like base-building and rushing until it just about fits inside.

Strategically timed “Better late than never,” the saying goes. In the fast-moving world of video games, though, that’s not always the case. Very often a game will make an appearance on a new platform far too late, its thunder having been well and truly stolen by an opportunistic copycat. Galcon, an innovative RTS that first appeared on mobile two years ago, arrives on Android with no such worries.

C&C4: Tiberian Twilight is different – it changes the peg. What this means is that the emphasis is no longer on building a base, sucking up attacks, and then unleashing hell upon your foes, but rather a more organic pushing forward of a few units. The keys are streamlined to give you control over all aspects of the game’s tech tree and squad management no matter where you are on the (admittedly small) map. With hot-keys assigned to the diagonals on the keypad, it’s very easy to start assigning new units to a squad and choose the next research target, while simultaneously sending another to attack an enemy node.

The game strips RTS conventions back to the core. You start with a collection of planets of various sizes. By selecting your planet(s) and then a neutral planet, half of your planet’s forces will embark on a colonising mission. As long as they outnumber the figure on the target planet, it’ll become your land. The trouble is, there’s an enemy doing the same thing. The goal is to colonise every enemy planet while protecting your own territory. Honestly, the hours will fly by.

Trow in some of the best graphics we’ve seen in a mobile game and C&C4’s tactically advantageous position on the mobile battlefield is assured. A focused RTS with the emphasis on small-scale conflict, C&C4 won’t please everyone, but does what it sets out to do extremely well

Galcon

truly excellent multiplayer-enabled RTS, and the finest strategy game on Android Market

NOVEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

Reviews

Let’s Golf

Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft Format: Android Java Sweet spot

Golf is often classified as an elitist game. Only rich folk are able to afford the large selection of clubs or possess the brazen self-confidence required to wear the horrible knitwear. Gameloft’s Let’s Golf takes the opposite view, though, with low barriers to entry that will doubtless entertain a vast majority of players. In terms of control, it uses the traditional three-click approach to making your shot. The first press of the ‘5’ key starts the power bar climbing, the second stops it to determine the power of your swing, and the third should stop inside a green area at the bottom that denotes the ball’s sweet spot. Pressing ‘0’ before shooting brings up the overhead map, allowing for exact positioning of your shot and automatically adjusting the club to suit the situation. Once on the green, Let’s Golf highlights its ease of play with different coloured arrows moving at speeds that reflect the various bumps and dips, making it easier to gauge the power of the shot and progressing through the four courses on offer. Give it a swing! Let’s Golf is a brilliantly cute, colourful and accessible golf game that hides a remarkable level of depth

In association with

Fruit Ninja Developer: Halfbrick Publisher: Halfbrick Format: Android Shuriken with joy Slicing fruit. It doesn’t sound like much of a game – more a monotonous task for a bar worker before the Tequila Sunrise orders start flowing in. Not so with Fruit Ninja. Fruit gets lobbed up from the bottom of the screen, calling for you to ‘slice’ each piece in two with a swipe of your finger. Occasionally, a bomb will be thrown into the mix, which should be avoided. And that’s about it. Juicy casual gameplay! Almost inexplicable in its simple joy, Fruit Ninja will keep you hacking away at melons for ages

Surviving High School 11 Developer: EA Mobile Publisher: EA Mobile Format: Java Merit marks at the ready Surviving High School 11 is as compulsive as a cheap cable soap opera. That’s because each of the game’s five episodes – which see you take on a different challenge and character, each time – feel like mini plays, your basic role being to engage with the plot and bond with as many people as possible in five short days. It’s that guilty little secret you can’t put down. Gloriously hammy and theatrical in parts suriving high school 11 is surprisingly addictive

PokerMillion: Dead Money Developer: I-play Publisher: I-play Format: Java Dead man’s hand Instead of being another glamorous casino title, this continues I-play’s tradition of taking a sideways look at the saturated mobile poker genre.

Jurassic Park Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft Format: Java But a modern game Film tie-ins generally get their terrible reputations because they’re rushed to meet the date of the film’s release.

A refreshing take on the poker genre with some questionable AI, but rich with features

Trivial Pursuit: Master Edition

There’s really no excuse then for Gameloft’s Jurassic Park to be a poor, rushed copy, considering the film’s been out for over 17 (yes, 17) years, and that lack of external pressure shows in its execution. The game takes place a few days after the events of the first film.

Developer: EA Mobile Publisher: EA Mobile Format: Java Mind games Ah, Trivial Pursuit. The boardgame that makes people feel less guilty about all the random rubbish that accumulates in the human mind over the course of a lifetime.

Play is split between the two main characters as they try to re-escape the island after crashing in a storm. Standing in the way of the twosome are a legion of poachers and a horde of dinosaurs, ranging from the little, vicious compys to raptors and a motherly T-Rex. Cue impressive set-pieces and great entertainment. Short, sweet and pleasingly varied, Jurassic Park is a thoroughly enjoyable and attractive ride while it lasts

So you get an interesting story and masses of game modes. For those who want to dabble in the less popular areas of poker, or just want a change in pace from the normal TV-obsessed titles, Dead Money is a safe bet.

For anyone looking to play Triv on your mobile, this representation is about as good as you can get in portable form.

Not that different from last year’s edition, but still a solid and enjoyable single or multiplayer game of triv

NOVEMBER 2010

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

Great APPS

To GET now Android

Dolphin Browser HD NewsRob Developer: Dolphin Browser Category: Communication

Developer: M Kamp Category: News & Weather

The Android Market is accruing a nice little range of alternative web browsers. This major new version from Dolphin deserves particular attention, however. Dolphin was the first of its kind to bring multitouch support to Android and this HD remix is just as pinch-zoom friendly. Far more features means it's restricted to handsets running Android 2.2 or higher but the effort is worth it. This is a superb evolution of an already great browser. If your phone can handle it, this comes highly recommended.

Hold onto your pants, but our long-running quest for a great RSS reader may have found a suitor. NewsRob comes in two flavours: a free, ad-supported version (the one reviewed here) and a fully paid-up edition. By autosynching with Greader, Google's own RSS feed compiler, NewsRob goes about devouring news and displaying it in a simple, bare-boned way – just the way you want it, really. Of particular benefit is the speed at which you can view the news, making it great at its core function.

FREE

In association with

Free

Twicca

Developer: R246 Design Labs Category: Social

FREE

The search for the perfect Android Twitter client continues. Twicca is a relative newcomer but packed with a surprising number of features it’s rapidly become a favourite. Sure, the official Twitter client is better looking and apps like Twidroid probably offer a better base feature set but there's still something quite compelling about Twicca. Partly it's the combo of minimalist interface with meaty features and partly it's the fact that it’s a rapidly evolving beta. Consider Twicca your fast and flexible friend.

www.pocketpicks.co.uk

Face Melter AugSatNav Developer: N Becherer Category: Entertainment

Developer: Phyora Category: Travel

Who hasn't played around with the 'liquify' option in Photoshop? Whether it's shrinking a celebrity's head to comical proportions or pushing your best friend's face out so they resemble a hideous balloon monster, the only thing that could make that tool better is surely some way of animating the resulting chaos and being able to use it on the go. Well, as it happens that's precisely what Face Melter does, giving users the option of turning their horrific freak show into fully moving monstrosities. Prepare for hours of absurd fun.

And so the flow of Augmented Reality apps continues to pur unabated into the Market, dear friends. AugSatNav is one of the more interesting examples, and is intended as a walking guide for those who don't mind holding their phone out in front of them as they go. Input your destination and the app links into Google Maps and your phone's camera, displaying the route on the road ahead of you. There isn't much wrong with AugSatNav. It's simple to use for a very specific purpose and in that regard it performs well.

Paid

FREE

Aldiko Camera WiFi RemoteDroid Book Reader LiveStream Developer: J Sera Category: Tools

Developer: Aldiko Ltd Category: Reference

Developer: dooblou Category: Multimedia

Once you pass the first few heady days of Android ownership, you might suddenly feel a little deflated. There are bound to be a few things that your little droid can't do as well as a desktop computer. Bless. But wait! What if there was some way for you to use the phone and the computer at the same time? RemoteDroid does just that, by providing a wireless remote control function for your phone. What that means is that you get to control your PC, even when you're on the go. Awesome.

eBook reading has had a bit of a boost in the last few years, with dedicated devices tripping over each other on their hurried way to retail. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fancy lugging around an e-ink tablet you can still join in with the eReader revolution on your phone with a suitable app. Aldiko is one such app. Reading electronic books on a full size dedicated device may be a better all-round experience, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to pick serious holds in Aldiko. Providing your Android phone has a decent screen, you'll enjoy this.

Not a fan of webcams? How about a webcam that's actually an Android phone? Ah, now you're interested. This little app connects to your wireless router and uploads whatever images are coming into the handset's camera to a local address on the network. By directing your web browser of choice towards the address given by the app you can then link directly into what's currently being displayed on your phone's camera. Clever, eh? Finally, a neat wireless viewer app that's easy and works.

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NOVEMBER 2010

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fancy this tremendous tablet? it could be yours! Often, a new product will come along with promises that it will redefine the way you live your life. Too often, alas, those promises turn out to be emptier than the Exxon Valdez. The all-new, Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab faces no such disaster. Beautifully engineered with a 7-inch touchscreen to be truly pocketsized yet brawny enough to handle the widespread functionality – and connectivity – of a mobile, computer, sat nav system, portable console and multimedia player, this powerhouse tablet will relish everything you throw in its path. So whether your interest is in social networking, web browsing, messaging, video on demand, mobile gaming, e-Reading, video conferencing, navigation, augmented reality or more, the Galaxy Tab will be a revelation. Who wouldn’t want one? Good luck!

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To be in with a chance of getting your hands on an awesome new Samsung Galaxy Tab, check out the following question and then send your answer via email or post to the addresses shown below, by the closing deadline of Monday 6th December 2010.

Just how light is the perfectly sized Samsung Galaxy Tab? A) 380g B) 580g C) 780g

WHERE TO SEND YOUR ENTRY

If emailing, send your answer along with your name and address to PGcompetitions@pocketgamer.co.uk with the subject heading ‘Samsung Galaxy Tab competition’. Or you can enter by postcard (include name, address and a contact number) to the following address: “Pocket Gamer Samsung Galaxy Tab Competition” Steel Media Ltd The House Terms and conditions apply. Prize image is for illustrative Kelston Park purposes only and details may vary. Editor’s decision is final, and the competition is open to UK residents only. Bath BA1 9AE

Now available to read online!

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REVEALED INSIDE! Issue 15 July 2010º

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September 2010º Issue 16

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