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Issue 18 January 2011º
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Omnia7 page
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Inside:
MiniSquadron Zuma’s Revenge Real Football 2010 Reckless Racing Medal of Honor Catan: The Seafarers Transformers G1: Awakening
Love your Android
page
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The games and apps you must own now!
WIN! T NEC
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A revolutionary
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KfoIN ECT r Xbox 360 page 20
Download a game 11 page
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
Welcome to issue 18 of the Pocket Gamer guide to mobile games, brought to you by the team of experts at www.pocketgamer.co.uk. The mobile world heads into 2011 full of optimism – as indeed it should. Just check out the quality of the games we have in this issue, not to mention the lowdown on the exciting new powerhouse that is Samsung’s Omnia 7. And to keep in the end-ofyear spirit, we’ve also looked back at the past issues to come up with what we think are the definitive apps every Android owner should have on their phone (check out page 18). Right, we’re off to celebrate 12 months of mobile awesomeness. Catch you in the New Year!
João Diniz Sanches Editor-in-chief | Pocket Gamer
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.
JANUARY 2011
www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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To play now Android One
Let's Golf Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft
Golf is often classified as an elitist game. You know, only rich folk are able to afford the large selection of clubs or possess the brazen self-confidence required to wear the horrible knitwear. Let’s Golf takes the opposite view, though, with an easygoing, approachable nature that will doubtless entertain a vast majority of players. But don't let this fool you into thinking that what's on offer here is lightweight stuff. This is a brilliantly cute, colourful and accessible Android golf game, yes, but one that also hides a remarkable level of depth.
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In association with
Two
Galcon
Developer: Hassey Enterprises Publisher: Hassey Enterprises
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 real-time strategy game that first showed up on mobile two years ago, arrives on Android with no such worries. This is a truly excellent multiplayer-enabled RTS, and with four difficulty levels and five modes of play, it's one that offers plenty for the solo player, too. The result is what many will rightly consider to be the finest strategy game on Android Market.
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Meteor Blitz Developer: Alley Labs Publisher: The Voxel Agents
In Meteor Blitz you steer your little fighter through 360 degrees of motion with one virtual analogue stick, while shooting in multiple directions with another to blast through loads of floating space rocks and hostile forces. Unusually, you have a single extremely limited fuel bar that powers both your motion and your weapons. Once you’ve run out, you’re a sitting duck until you release the controls, at which point the bar quickly recharges. It’s challenging but its unique approach to shoot-‘em-up action should ensure cult hit status.
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Fruit Ninja Developer: Halfbrick Publisher: Halfbrick
Slicing fruit may not sound like an activity with enough substance to base a game on, but Fruit Ninja is here to prove us wrong. Fruit gets lobbed up from the bottomeof the screen, calling for you to ‘slice’ each piece in two with a swipe of your finger. Occasionally, a bomb is thrown into the mix and should be avoided. And, er, that’s about it. Almost inexplicable in its simple joy, Fruit Ninja will keep you hacking away at melons for ages and brings a much needed dose of polished casual gameplay to the Android Market.
Everlands
Pocket Racing
Desperate times call for desperate measures, which explains why despite odds which are firmly stacked against them, the animals of Everlands find themselves pitted into a beastly war. A mysterious 'black rage' is turning ram against sheep and kiwi against beaver. You control a growing rabble of beasties as they make their way across the landscape looking for clues as to the cause. Quirky, smart, and deceptively challenging, Everlands’s animal Top Trumps concept is a resounding, hugely absorbing, success.
Motor racing used to be so simple. It's always mattered what car you drove, of course, but technology used to take its place much further behind driver ability. Put simply, the driver with the best mix of guts, judgement and sheer racing nous usually came out on top. Pocket Racing harks back to such times and as such its focus is very much about pure racing, with you in charge of just the steering. Combined with a simple yet perfectly judged handling model and an ingenious online component, it ensures that it’s one of the best arcade racers on Android.
Five
Developer: Hexage Publisher: Hexage
JANUARY 2011
Developer: Measured Software Publisher: Godzilab
www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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top10 chart
The latest from around the world of mobile
Age of Empires III:
1
The Asian Dynasties
Fully fledged RTS game on your mobile – no strategy fan should miss it.
2
Galcon
Truly excellent multiplayer-enabled real-time strategy, and the finest tactical game on the Android Market.
3
Downtown Texas Hold ‘em
This plays a mean and engaging great game of poker. Go all-in!
ANGRY BIRDS Ro vio
Top birds!
4
Mystery Mania
A unique and drop-dead gorgeous point-and-click puzzler that’s full of personality and charm. Essential.
5
Final Fantasy
It may be a classic, but this is still one of the very best role-playing games available for your mobile.
Flight fight club Android owners rejoice – one of the most popular games around has landed in the Android Market.
destroy in order to crush the silly swine.
Angry Birds has caused something of a phenomenon since flying into the mobile space and with good reason. The game is a subtle mix of physics-based play, sprinkled with laughs aplenty to ensure you don’t take anything too seriously.
Graphically it’s as sharp as ever, with the same cartoony visual style really making the most of your Android’s screen, while the controls work beautifully. Pulling the birds back on a length of elastic and releasing them into a stack of bricks in an attempt to topple any hiding pigs is a tactile joy, as always. Angry Birds on Android makes use of pinch-zooming to change the scale of your view, which works as smoothly as you would wish it to. All in all, it looks to be on course to be as good as any other version we’ve seen to date.
The idea is to fling a pack of birds seeking revenge on a race of green pigs using a slingshot. Much like those that hid from the wolf in the nursery rhyme, these snouty foes have barricaded themselves inside contraptions built from scraps of wood. Those are the ones you must use your birds to
We’ll be taking Angry Birds on Android for a test flight in the next issue.
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In association with
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Let’s Golf 2
A brilliantly cute, colourful and accessible golf game that hides a remarkable level of depth.
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Army Men: Mobile Ops
Simply sublime strategic, all-action, toy-flavoured war on your mobile.
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Fieldrunners
Startingly complete version of the popular tower defence game that lands on Java beach ready to rumble.
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Fruit Ninja
Almost inexplicable in its simple joy, Fruit Ninja will keep you hacking away at melons for ages and ages.
Tetris Revolution
This isn’t a revolution. It is, however, one of the finest versions of Tetris ever made. No small achievement.
reckless racing Polarbit
Rev-tastic fun! dukes of hazard and racing chaos Hot on the heels of other versions, Reckless Racing is heading straight for Android. Polarbit’s chaotic top-down racer sees you tearing around muddy tracks, crashing through barriers, and trying not to tumble into precariously positioned ravines. As if a high-octane single-player mode wasn’t enough, Reckless Racing also features real-time multiplayer support, allowing you to take on three real-life opponents for some supercharged on-track antics. The game features impressive 3D graphics and advanced physics, so we suspect a fairly meaty device will be needed to get it running flawlessly. We’re looking forward to taking this Android version out for a spin soon.
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Duty time! mobile modern warfare
It’s not just the home consoles that get all the action. The mobile can more than hold its own when it comes to gaming. That’s why Medal of Honor is doing a tour of duty on your phone. The latest addition to the modern military action series has some seriously hefty graphical tricks up its sleeve, with real-time lighting, shadows, and over 200 different animations
JANUARY 2011
depending on how a character is attacked. Meanwhile, the eight levels are described as being ‘combined arms’, in that they revolve around four distinct areas of gameplay. EA is looking to replicate the ‘cinematic action-focused experience’ of the console version. We’ll be seeing if the game deserves a Pocket Gamer medal to go along with its military soon.
www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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e m o s e w a e Unleash ththe power of
g n u s m a S
7 a i n Om The Omnia 7 specs: Only the Samsung Omnia 7 offers pinsharp HD video on a dazzling 4-inch SuperAMOLED touchscreen withthe glance-and-go experience of Windows® Phone 7 – including Office Mobile and Xbox LIVE®. Dimensions 122.4 x 64.2 x 10.99mm Weight 138.5g Display 4-inch SuperAMOLED WVGA (800 x 480) capacitive touchscreen CPU Qualcomm 1GHz ‘Scorpion’ processor Camera 5-megapixel, auto focus, photo effects, Power LED flash, Anti-Shaker technology Video 720p HD, 24fps, zoom function Memory 8GB user memory, 4GB SDRAM Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, AGPS Battery Talktime: up to 520min (2G), 370min (3G) Standby: up to 390hr (2G), 330hr (3G)
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In association with
Get to know Windows® Phone 7
Windows Phone 7 is a new mobile from Microsoft experience wh designed to take ich has been painstakingly your smartphone new level by focu sing on the thin ownership to a matter to mobile gs that really lovers. You’ll struggle to find a more user your homepage, fri for instance. Know endly system. Take it is easily custom n as the Start sc reen, ised to suit your series of animat ed Live Tiles that needs and features a ’ll give you the inf you want – so pe or nding messages or appointments, mation and weather, or game and friend news sta always just a gla tus, for example, nce away. You’ll are all know what’s go what’s happening ing on next and where sure you won’t m you should be to , iss it. make Then there’s the clever Hub struc ture which sepa aspects of your rate phone into the se ctions you really s the mobile for: Peop use your le, Pictures, Gam es Marketplace. Co mbined with the , Office, Music + Videos, multi-touch com interface, it ensu patib res of the most satis the Windows Phone 7 experienc le fying, well integ e is one rated – not to m ention productive – to ever grace a mobile. It’s a fresh start fo r the smartphone , then. And once you try Windows Ph one 7, you won’t want anything else.
Discover Sam sung Omnia Are you look 7… ing for the
ultimate in handse phone enjo yment? Mee t technology and the next t Samsung’s Powered by Omnia 7. W you connec indows Phone 7, this st t an ylis relax with m d play with your friend h mobile lets us s into the Eboo ic and videos through via Xbox Live, the Zune Hub k Hub to ch eck out the material, or , dive late fool video record around with the adva st reading nc in work-relate g options, before deal ed camera and in d tasks. Whe ther work, fu g with Samsung O mnia 7 will n or play, th handle it. e new
stage of mob ile
JANUARY 2011
www.pocketgamer.co.uk
9
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 Buyer’s Guide In-depth feature exclusive interv s and iews
Also available on your mobile
k/mob tgamer.co.u www.pocke
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.
G et loads more at es ‘How to’ guid
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No.1 The world’s ing m a mobile g website
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! JANUARY 2011 www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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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.
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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.
G et loads more at es ‘How to’ guid
k tgamer.co.u www.pocke
No.1 The world’s ing m a g ile b mo website
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.
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 genre.
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.
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.
JANUARY 2011
Go to >>
Check out pa 14 for great gamge to download NOes W! www.pocketgamer.co.uk
13
Reviews mobile Rounding up the hottest games available now
n o r d a u MiniSq
id rmat: Andro to Games Fo tage owing b o M ry g n uine advan ts you. (With A : en g er h a lis es b d u n P gra provi o Studios , the in speed it Supermon the increase d dogfighting system ’s brilliant Developer: ce r it t an ye a Plane ch a nu multipla said th su ften l wi-fi how it’s o n of a loca st? Well, You know ideas that work be f this. inclusio most welcome.) o ss mode is the simple ron is perfect proof n to progre elling reaso ous Classic p m e co n s la MiniSquad p e’ Ther tle aero s gener
lit e’ ining 12 alised to fly your h the gam The idea is of the fantastically re ooting throug ht levels, each conta ig sh (e l, ch e 56 ee ea d f h o o d w n e m u ll aro scro its own , in the shap g a virtual g your waves) too lanes. Each craft has eed, arenas usin ls out of the sky usin stars p sp le , p ze ab va -u si ri ck f er g unlo udin waves o ally pow pe ibutes, incl your b. Occasion unique attr g speed, weapon ty right thum sky, granting you (or id in p ra rn tu as e r, u ch th o su m m o ar es fr ti ili fall g. ited-use ab t and handlin enemies) lim ing great lasers. n’s inheren p p t o u iniSquadro h b M y it y, el y lic p at er fire or w m im ev si at Ult ph is its es through gem of ron’s trium handling model. quality shin It’s a fluid, addictive MiniSquad its h it in w is den y. l s it id p n ea h o u p f opport ith bags o its main ap oops and loop-de-lo vel a e blaster w s a large audience. le d sw y e ca n er ar la ev p an r g You akin it deserve you tic grace, m depth, and semi-realis e of cat-and-mouse as t n am lle g thrilling h the exce osition wit jostle for p is aided by a fine A slick arcade is blaster with great AI pilots. Th n of aerial warfare io at ve m o depth and plenty xi appro om ab attacking fr of replayability 10 physics, so
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In association with
Reviews
Real Football 2011
Zuma’s Revenge
Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft Format: Java
Developer: PopCap Games Publisher: PopCap Games Format: Java
Striking resemblance There’s always a disproportionate thrill when the first game of a new season kicks off. The sight of the summer’s new signings wearing their new shirts, the anticipation as the captains shake hands, and then the excitement as the team proceeds to play just as they did at the end of the last season.
Hop on board You could almost believe that mobile phones were originally made to play match-three puzzle games while out and about, before some bright spark came up with the idea of adding telecommunication functionality.
Never mind my own team dropping like a stone through the divisions, though (it still hurts) - Gameloft’s Real Football is back, bringing with it an incredible level of depth and breadth that could easily take it through the season as champion once again.
But those game systems have never forgotten their original purpose, and Zuma’s Revenge is back to remind us why we carry mobile phones: to play match-three games.
Let’s get straight to the point – this is still the finest football title on the mobile. Part of the reason why it holds that lofty title is in the way the players move in a realistic fashion during open play, and how the controls keep things manageable without compromising depth.
Zuma takes a very different approach to aligning three icons of the same colour. You take control of a ball spitting frog to stop the train of balls from reaching the end of the track. It sounds weird because it is, but the story really isn’t why you’re playing the game.
Those controls haven’t been tinkered with, thankfully, but the amount of content and gorgeous – and now smoother – graphics clearly have, thereby making sure that Real Football 2011 will delight those looking for a strong football game. Feature-rich, with great on-field action, Real Football 2011 is currently the mobile player of the season
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Most likely you’re playing it because you can’t stop. You see, Zuma’s Revenge is immensely simple to enjoy, but incredibly addictive.
10
It’s a game we’ve played many times before, but tweaked to all new depths of quality
JANUARY 2011
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www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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Reviews Deer Hunter 3D Developer: Glu Mobile Publisher: Glu Mobile Format: Android Good shot Slaughtering bears, deer and mountain sheep (even though they’re digital) shouldn’t be this much fun. It is, though. Deer Hunter 3D replicates the hunting process with an interesting twist on what is, at heart, an arcade lightgun game. There’s a real sense of going on an adventure each time you venture out into the wild, which makes playing it a real pleasure. A terribly guilty one.
1: Transformers G
an enjoyable shooter that gets the mixture of realistic hunting and arcade action right
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g n i n e k a w A
Catan: The Seafarers
The Transformers. Aren’t they, you know, a bit 1980s?
Developer: Exozet Games Publisher: Exozet Games Format: Java
uch Format: Android Java It got the to Developer: Glu Mobile Publisher: Glu Mobile
10
Hush your mouth, human. Transformers G1: Awakening is a turn-based strategy game set in the original Transformers universe, yes, but it doesn’t feel dated one bit. In fact, Bumblebee, Megatron, and co are all rendered in a lovingly hand-drawn style, similar to how you’ll remember them.
Settle for nothing less
Similar, but not identical. You see, the models are also fully three-dimensional, giving them a greater sense of heft than you might recall. This is most apparent in the battle scenes, which pop up when you direct your Autobot into attack range via the main top-down screen.
The aim of the game is fairly simple. Up to four players compete to gain victory points on the small island of Catan – building roads, founding settlements, and establishing cities. Packed with mobile-specific modes and features, this is both one of the best versions of Catan, and one of the best boardgames on mobiles.
Glu replicates this much-loved universe very well indeed. What’s more, by attaching this beautifully realised universe to a functional turn-based strategy game, it’s created a timelessly entertaining experience. A decent turn-based strategy game, Awakening wins through with a brilliantly realised universe and bags of character
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In association with
7
10
If you’re a boardgame fan you’ve probably heard of Klaus Teuber’s awardwinning Settlers of Catan.
Attractive, easy to play, and packed with features, this is a great adaptation of the classic boardgame
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Build-a-Lot 2 Town of the Year
Crush the Castle
Developer: Armor Games Publisher: Namco Networks Format: Android
crushing invasion Should the winged nature of Angry Birds not be to your taste, consider this. It’s also a defencetoppler but here you’re confronted with a series of rudimentary ‘castles’ and must bring each down with as few shots from your trusty trebuchet as possible. Of particular interest are the mechanics of firing, which are pleasingly different to other games of this type, lending the game a welcome extra dose of skill and ensuring Crush the Castle is a solidly realised physics-based game.
Developer: Hipsoft Publisher: Glu Mobile Format: Java Quantity equals quality Build-a-Lot 2 is a dangerous game to play on the go. The kind of game that warps time so that you miss your train stop, forget about your meetings and forgo lunch.
7 Shark or Die a solid and well-timed defence-toppler for android featuring a fun firing mechanic
Your task is to build up middleAmerican suburbs with housing and buildings, improving them, charging rent and selling them on.
Developer: HandyGames Publisher: HandyGames Format: Android Java
But why it’s so absorbing to play isn’t so much to do with the subject matter as with the structure and balancing of the game. Each of the 35 levels places multiple objectives for you to hit before completion. These can range from the obvious, like ‘own two farmhouses’, to more long-term and subtle objectives like high desirability or a strong cash flow.
Lean, mean killing machine You’re a shark. You eat people. You grow stronger so that you can eat more people.
This is all done under an excellently paced timer meaning levels are quick, but the desire and pull to try out another stages will have you glued to the mobile for ages.
This eat-‘em-up is a focused, singleminded experience that swims through its limitations thanks to its charm. In contrast to the cold-hearted killer it lets you control, Shark or Die reels you in with its winning personality.
Just make sure you remember to look up from time to time… A clever and hugely absorbing economics/strategy game that completely transcends the dry-sounding subject matter
10
9
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Shark or Die is enjoyable and charming enough to quickly eat away at chunks of your spare time
JANUARY 2011
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www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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Great APPS
on
To GET now Android
Yelp Developer: Yelp Category: Travel
FREE
Looking for petrol? The nearest pub? Or perhaps a new place to take your latest date to? Yelp can help. It offers both excellent presentation and great ease of use, but also draws from a database covering a very wide range of activities and places. One key feature is how it integrates into the phone portion of your handset – touch the number to instantly dial – and how you can quickly bring up its location with directions on Google Maps and share it. Should make organising group visits easy.
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In association with
PicSay Pro Developer: Shinycore Category: Multimedia
PAID
Looking for the most powerful picture editor for your Android? You might just have found it. PicSay may sound wee and cuddly, but it’s a fully fledged package that comes loaded with features. Whether you wish to colour correct your shots, add word balloons, titles, graphics and effects (tints, distortion and many more), or mess about with more classic parameters such as filters, exposure, contrast, saturation and hue, you’ll find it all here in an easy, intuitive user interface. Snap it up!
Astro File Manager Developer: Metago Category: Tools
Free
The next time you’re moaning about how convoluted the Android file and app management is, consider Astro File Manager. It will delete apps, grab file sizes, unpack packages, or check on what may be draining your battery down without you having to trawl through multiple layers of menus. As a way of performing PC-like tasks on your Android handset its range of features is excellent. It’s also easy to use, meaning Astro File Managers should prove invaluable to most Android owners.
www.pocketpicks.co.uk
Google Sky Map Developer: Google Labs Category: Reference
FREE
Akinator Developer: Schimob Category: Entertainment
Sky News Developer: BskyB Category: News & Weather
FREE
Think Google Maps, but looking in the opposite direction. Google Sky Map identifies stars, planets and constellations and even enables you to search for particular celestial bodies. As it uses your phone’s accelerometer and compass, you’re able to hold your handset up to the night sky and what you see is replicated on the display. Okay, it’s something that some people may not be into – although knowledge of astrology does make you more attractive – but that doesn’t stop it being a must-have for stargazers.
Say what you will about Sky News’s reporting, the channel knows how to make an impact. With swishing logos, massive ‘breaking news’ news-tickers and dramatic trumpeted theme, it makes even a wacky story about baby otters being adopted by a fox seem important. Sky News for Android takes the channel’s excellent presentation and brings it almost intact onto your handset. It’s one of the slickest news apps out there, easy to use and packed with well laid out stories and videos articles. Compulsive stuff.
Dolphin Browser HD
Twicca
Developer: Dolphin Browser Category: Communication
PAID
FREE
It’s always the unexpected or unexplainable that impresses us most. Take Akinator, for instance. It’s essentially a bog-standard ’20 Questions’ app with a cartoon genie that uses the internet to grab the answers and plant a photo of the chosen person on screen for you to confirm. Despite knowing that it’s using a large database/ internet links to source its info, the unexpected accuracy of the thing still made us laugh out loud in amazement on many occasions. It’s an app to amaze friends with.
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.
JANUARY 2011
Developer: R246 Design Labs Category: Social
FREE
The search for the perfect Android Twitter client continues. Twicca is a relative old timer but, packed with a surprising number of features, it’s still a favourite. True, 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 version. Consider Twicca your fast and flexible friend.
www.pocketgamer.co.uk
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C 7t fo losin h re g Fe n d br tri at ua es e ry is 20 11
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jump in and join the future of video gaming! If, like millions around the country, you enjoy video games, you’re probably aware that over time there have been a number of peripherals to try and make the gaming experience more realistic – anything from plastic guns, to microphones, guitars, skateboards and even DJ decks. Imagine, then, being able to control a game without using any of those. Nope, not even a joypad. It may sound as far fetched as something George Lucas might have said at a film studio meeting back in the ‘70s, but it’s not fantasy. It’s here, and it’s called Kinect for Xbox 360. With Kinect you get controller-free gaming. That means you become the controller, with your actions in real-life turning into commands on-screen. You can kick balls, steer cars, run the 100m sprint… the possibilities are endless. The future of video gaming, meanwhile, is about to be revolutionised.
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To be in with a chance of winning the revolutionary Kinect for Xbox 360, 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 7th February 2011.
By what code name was Kinect for Xbox 360 originally known? A) Project Christmas B) Project Natal C) Project Gotham
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 ‘Kinect for Xbox 360 competition’. Or you can enter by postcard (include name, address and a contact number) to the following address: “Pocket Gamer Kinect for Xbox 360 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, Bath BA1 9AE and the competition is open to UK residents only.
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Issue 18 January 2011º
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