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Lots of iPad games go on sale this weekend, likely more to come
iOS developers have realized that there will probably be a whole lot of iPad 2 apps sold this weekend (since there will be so many new iPad 2s wandering around), so they've dropped prices on quite a few iPhone apps. AppAdvice has a good list up -- EA's apps are in there, including Mirror's Edge and the recently released Dead Space, and Firemint's Flight Control HD is down to a buck this weekend. Minigore HD is also on sale for a dollar, definitely worth a purchase if you haven't grabbed it yet. Bulkypix is also putting most of its iPad games on sale, though that sale doesn't start until tomorrow morning. I doubt this is the last we'll see of these sales -- there's going to be a pretty big rush for the top apps lists in iTunes this weekend, as developers try to take advantage of the incoming flood of iPad 2 owners. The good news is that you, as an iPad 1 owner or someone lucky enough to get a shiny new iPad 2, will get to grab some great apps for cheap.
Mac App Store live, with Angry Birds topping charts
Apple's Mac App Store has arrived right on time via the Snow Leopard 10.6.6 update, opening up a version of the ludicrously lucrative iOS storefront for Mac desktop and laptop users to peruse. The Store is accessed through its own application (separate from iTunes), but purchases and downloads are tied to an Apple ID, and any credit from iTunes is seamlessly applied to the Mac App Store upon logging in. The Mac App Store is as impeccably tidy as the iOS Store -- it's organized just the same -- and accessing the Games category is just a few clicks away. As of writing, there are 98 games listed in the "Top Paid" ranking (which shows up to 100), led, unsurprisingly, by a $5 (50 percent off "introductory price") version of Angry Birds. In fact, Rovio's phenomenon leads all Mac App Store sales, currently, and is joined by Chopper 2 ($1), Flight Control HD ($5) and The Incident ($3) among the top-ten bestselling apps. No Halo in sight, yet.
Flight Control HD now available on Steam for Mac
Would-be air traffic controllers can now get their flight control fix on the Mac or PC. Flight Control HD, the addictive line drawing game that lets you drag aircraft to their landing zones with your finger on iOS, is now available on Steam for US$4.99. The game, from game house Firemint, was a bona fide hit on the iPhone early on, and then migrated to the iPad earlier this year in the HD format. Flight Control HD has also hit the PS3 in a stereoscopic 3D version that supports the PlayStation Move gesture-based controller. As with all Steam games, you'll need to download and install the free game engine first. The Mac version requires an Intel Mac running Mac OS X version 10.5.8 or later (for Leopard users) or 10.6.3 or later for Snow Leopard users. Once you're in the game, you'll find something that is exclusive to the Steam version -- a "stunt map" that has you flying through air racing gates to gain extra points before landing. It's fascinating to watch the more popular game titles on iOS making their way to the big(ger) screen.
Firemint's Flight Control HD coming to Mac App Store
The dust hasn't even settled in the wake of Apple's announcement of the Mac App Store, but one well-known developer is already on board. Firemint, creator of Flight Control for the iPhone/iPod touch and Flight Control HD for the iPad, has announced it will bring Flight Control HD to the Mac via the Mac App Store. As a matter of fact, according to Firemint, Flight Control HD is already running on the Mac. Firemint may be the first company to publicly announce support for the Mac App Store, but it's unlikely to be the last. As Erica noted earlier, a centralized hub for app distribution on Mac OS X is something many developers will find very attractive, in spite of the more restrictive environment as compared to the free-for-all market that exists now. Many developers won't find the Mac App Store to be a good fit for them and will stick with traditional distribution channels, but developers like Firemint may find their apps reaching a much larger audience than before. [via Mac Rumors]
Windows Phone 7 review: Flight Control
Ahh, the fun of having one of the most stressful jobs in the world. Flight Control puts you in the shoes of a flight controller, having to manage landing planes and helicopters on a variety of landing strips while avoiding (you guessed it) crashes. It's a simple concept that needs no explanation, as evidenced by the total lack of an in-game tutorial. It's easy to grasp, but difficult to master. I didn't even make it to ten landings on my first attempt at the game! There are many reasons behind Flight Control's rapid proliferation across platforms-- iOS, Android, PlayStation Move, and more. The simple drag-and-drop interface works perfectly with these devices, and the premise is immediately understandable. However, developer Firemint's classy design is what helped it succeed in the crowded App Store. The visuals are easy to read, the style is charming, and the music is oh-so-perfect. This is a game that will make you smile, even if you do accidentally kill hundreds of people in a horrific plane crash. There are a number of levels, each with a distinct look and tarmac layout. However, they all play out essentially the same. Once again, this is a game meant for players that want to chase high scores. Other than a few Achievements (like one which requires you to crash three planes at once), rarely does the game offer you something new or different to do. But perhaps Flight Control doesn't need to offer anything new. It's certainly addictive enough to make the hours pass on by. See also: Windows Phone 7 launch games reviews hub This review is based on a retail Samsung Focus provided by Microsoft and AT&T.
Flight Control HD lands on PSN Sept. 15 with Move support
Having already soared onto millions of iPhones, iPods and iPads (and maybe like a couple dozen DSis), Australian developer Firemint's casual "plane landing game," Flight Control HD, is officially set for arrival on PS3 as a downloadable title on September 15. We first learned of the port last month, when it was revealed as an upcoming title by Sony Computer Entertainment Korea. The PS3 version of the game will run at 1080p resolution and feature support for two heavily hyped technologies: PlayStation Move and stereoscopic 3D. Though it supports Sony's motion controller for guiding aircraft to a safe landing via "line drawing" gameplay that spawned an entire genre on iOS devices, Flight Control HD will also support old-fashioned DualShock 3 control and will bring to PS3 a four-player, drop in / drop out co-op mode, as well as an exclusive "Metropolis" map with changing day/night cycle. Flight Control HD for PS3 will also arrive in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia on September 15, followed up by an October 21 release in Japan. This post may also be used as a flotation device in the event of a water landing.
WWDC 2010: Firemint's app success
We've met up with the folks from Firemint before -- back at GDC, they were kind enough to show us Real Racing on the iPhone and share their plans for the iPad. Just a few months later we've found them at WWDC with the extremely popular Flight Control HD and an Apple Design award for Real Racing HD. When we talked with Firemint's community manager Alexandra Peters this week, she was quiet on their future plans. What they don't want to do, she told us, is put pressure on themselves. In addition to all of their success on the App Store, both of Firemint's apps are also playing on iPads in Apple Stores, and all of that exposure for their first iOS titles means whatever they do next has some big shoes to fill. Firemint is flattered by the Design Award, Peters told us, but she admits it "may have added even more pressure."
Flight Control rated for Wii
Firemint's air traffic control game Flight Control, currently available for handhelds like the iPhone and DSi, appears to be moving to the big screen -- and no, we don't mean the iPad. (That already happened.) We mean the even bigger screen: your TV. Australia's OFLC media review board has rated a Wii version of Flight Control, which would most likely point to a WiiWare release. This would be the first home console version of the game, and also the first not to use a touchscreen interface. Thanks to these altered controls, Flight Control for Wii could be either novel or annoying to fans of previous versions. [Via Gamerbytes]
iPad apps: games that stand out
Now that we've had a couple days with the iPad, some apps are rising to the top and monopolizing our lounging time. We'll have some more roundups for you in just a little bit, but we thought we'd start off with one of the iPad's most natural talents: gaming. The large screen and hardy processor offer a wild in-between space, much more immersive and "stunning" than a PSP, DS, or iPhone game, but hardly on par with modern laptop or desktop graphics. We haven't leapfrogged any platforms here, it's just an evolution, but it's a pretty fun evolution, complete with multitouch gestures, accelerometer tilts, and cheesy soundtracks pumped out over the iPads surprisingly loud speaker. Of course, these games aren't cheap anymore -- most clock in at $9.99, often with the threat of "introductory pricing" -- so we thought we'd wade through the masses and pluck out some of our favorites as well as a few titles to be wary of. Follow along after the break.
Flight Control HD live on the iPad
If there's a breakout game for the iPad already, it's probably Flight Control HD -- the game was announced a while ago (we talked about it with Firemint back at GDC), but the title has stayed in the top 10 pretty consistently since the iPad's App Store went live yesterday. Firemint has finally dropped the embargo on the title this morning, and you can see the game above -- it's basically the same game as the iPhone version, except bigger, clearer, and with a little more space for the plane-landing chaos. That allows for a few new gameplay variations, including co-op multiplayer on the same iPad, a split-screen versus mode, new bigger airfields (and a Snow airfield with variable wind direction), and one more interesting little feature: 3D. Yes, Flight Control HD has an anaglyphic image effect going on with one of the airfields. You'll have to procure your own red/cyan 3D glasses, but when you choose that map with glasses on, you'll be able to see planes flying around in full depth illusion. We haven't been able to play the mode yet, but Firemint did sent out some groovy glasses, so we can be ready when the iPad shows up. Flight Control HD is live in the App Store right now, and on everyone's iPad this weekend. As launch hits go, Apple's doing pretty well with Firemint's iPhone classic.
Twenty iPad apps you'll want to see
The App Store is live and running with iPad apps right now -- you can download and buy any iPad apps you want, even though most of them are technically "embargoed" until tomorrow morning. There's a lot of amazing stuff out there, but we'll try to focus you as best we can. Here's twenty apps that you won't want to miss in the App Store -- even if you don't buy them for iPad this weekend, you should at least check out the info and screenshots that are now available. USA Today for iPad is free and is probably the quickest and easiest virtual newspaper experience on the iPad. The Wall Street Journal app is also free, as is the NYT Editor's Choice. Flight Control HD and Plants vs. Zombies HD are two of the most-awaited iPad games. Evernote has released their iPad app. MLB's At Bat 2010 has a new edition, so you'll unfortunately have to re-buy it on the iPad even if you've already bought it on the iPhone. Words with Friends HD and Fieldrunners for iPad are available right now. 2K Games has released Civilization Revolution on the iPad, the more accessible version of Sid Meier's classic turn-based strategy game. Here's the Comic Zeal comic reader app we covered earlier this week, and there's also an official Marvel comics app in the store. Twitterific for iPad is on the store and looking great. Aurora Feint 3 is the newest iPad version of one of the iPhone's biggest titles. CastleCraft is a new strategy freemium MMO from Freeverse and Ngmoco. StumbleUpon will allow you to browse the crowdsourced best of the Web from your couch. iMDb has released a full iPad app of their movie database. Minigore HD brings another big iPhone title to the bigger screen. StarWalk for iPad recreates the popular astronomy app and TUAW favorite. And Let's Golf! HD brings a quality handheld golfing experience to the "HD" screen. There's more -- much more, and obviously we'll be seeing lots and lots of new titles in the very exciting days to come. But the magical revolution that we've been hearing about for months has begun. When the iPad releases on Saturday, there'll be no shortage of great software to run and browse and play with on it. Update: Netflix's app is live as well, as is NetNewsWire for iPad, Galcon Fusion, Articles, and Twittelator Pad. Too many good apps!
More iPad games revealed
It looks like the crafty folks over at MacRumors have figured out how to snake their way into the not-yet-public listing for top revenue iPad apps. Now, we've got a flood of information coming out about software for the device that's not coming out for another week or so. As you can see above, quite a few rumored and revealed games are already charting on the iPad store, and it looks like prices are running from $3.99 to $9.99. "HD" appeared to be the preferred nomenclature for iPad games yesterday, but "for iPad" is in there as well. It also looks like Enigmo for the iPhone will be Enigmo Deluxe on the iPad. MacRumors says that some of the "released" dates on this listing go back as far as March 19th, which is presumably when Apple started approving iPad apps. We've spoken to some of the developers whose games were revealed, and they are not very happy with the leaks. A few other details are showing up, presumably from App Store descriptions linked off of this top revenue list, but we've confirmed with at least one developer above that all of those details are still pending and not yet confirmed. It's no surprise that Apple wanted to be on top of getting apps out on the iPad store before the device's launch, but they've inadvertently revealed some of their developers' hands prematurely. Update: 9 to 5 Mac has a full list of the App Store chart. It's not yet clear where all of these shots are coming from, but it seems like they're being taken in the dev kit's iPad simulator, which is supposedly still under developer NDA.
App Store leak hints at iPad versions of Plants vs. Zombies, Worms
Looks like you early iPad adopters will have something good to play -- PadGadget noticed yesterday that Apple's App Store listings accidentally included a few unannounced iPad launch games in their store listings, even though the games aren't available for download yet. A few games, like Flight Control HD and Labyrinth 2 HD – both high definition iPad versions of their iPhone counterparts – had already been announced by their respective developers but there were at least two big titles on the list that gamers might appreciate: Plants vs. Zombies HD and Worms HD. Yup, looks like both PopCap's popular topiary tower defense game and the old fightin' invertebrates are coming to the iPad on day one. Of course, this could just be a slip-up on Apple's end -- these could be placeholder names, or they could just be testing the app store for iPad titles. But considering the popularity of PopCap's titles on the portable platforms, odds are very good that as soon as you get home from the Apple Store on iPad on April 3rd, iPad day, Tall Nut and all of his other buds will be ready to play. [Via Touch Arcade]
NintendoWare Weekly: Flight Control, Flipper, Ghost Slayer
Today's WiiWare and DSiWare update is brought to you by the letter "F." Four of the seven games released on Nintendo's download services today have titles starting with the letter, including: a new game in the Aksys "Family" series; Flight Control; the indie platformer from goodbyegalaxygames, Flipper; and ... Faceez. In non-alliterative news, the spooky WiiWare sword fighting game Ghost Slayer is now haunting the Wii Shop.
Flight Control DSiWare cleared for landing on Feb. 19 and Feb. 22
Firemint's DSiWare version of its iPhone hit Flight Control is preparing to descend to the DSi Shop. It'll be out in Europe this Friday, February 19, arriving in North America the following Monday, Feb. 22, for 500 Points. And even if you've landed thousands of planes in the iPhone version of this air traffic control game, this version includes new maps! The trailer after the break demonstrates the simple gameplay. Using the stylus, you direct the flight paths of swarms of tiny airplanes so that they all land safely. And then you declare "I am an air traffic controller!" Oh, no, that's a different game.
Flight Control to be 're-imagined' for iPad
Developer Firemint is one of the first iPhone devs (though not the first!) to announce an upgraded version of an iPhone game for Apple's new iPad tablet thingy -- specifically, its two-million-selling action/strategy/air traffic control game, Flight Control. The developer announced that it will release an "optimised and re-imagined version of Flight Control" for the iPad. A DSiWare version is also expected to release at some unspecified time, though this announcement didn't mention it. Though no concrete information about what the re-imaginings would be for iPad -- beyond imagining it on a bigger screen -- it sounds like Firemint anticipated porting the game up. "We are already building our next generation of games for higher definition, more powerful devices than are available today," Firemint said in its press release. "We like to imagine what the devices of tomorrow will be capable of, and invest in bringing our games to the next generation of hardware." [Via Mobile-Ent]
