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Sega's Fourth of July sale includes iOS, Android, PSN and XBLA savings
If we've learned anything from the world of digitally distributed video games, its that virtually any American holiday is a good excuse for a sale. Not that we're complaining, mind you, we're as into the idea of a discount as we are blowing up a good chunk of our back yard once a year.Sega's contribution to the festivities comes in the form of discounted iOS, Android, XBLA and PSN titles, including House of the Dead III and various mobile Monkey Balls. The full list of deals can be found after the break and, while some last longer than others, you should be fine so long as you make your purchase on the fourth itself.
From iPhone to iPad: Revisiting Super Monkey Ball 2
There are a lot of great new apps for the iPad, and there are some terrific old ones that have made the move as well. In "From iPhone to iPad," TUAW will revisit some of our favorite games and utilities that originated on the iPhone, and see how they've transitioned to the larger device. Have they made the most out of the new hardware? Is the application worth a separate re-purchase? After all, you can keep running nearly all of your old software in pixel doubling mode. First up? Super Monkey Ball 2. We first looked at Super Monkey Ball a couple of years ago. My kids and I found the game hard to play, although I did appreciate the graphics. I wasn't alone in my negative SMB assessment. Its sequel, Monkey Ball 2, debuted late last year. It was a worthy follow-on that greatly improved on the original's playability, and generally garnered good reviews. The iPhone version currently retails for $7 on App Store. The iPad has now launched, and Super Monkey Ball 2 has arrived as well. Is it worth heading out and spending yet another $9.99 on App Store to purchase this latest version? I can't make buying decisions for you, but I can report that my kids and I really enjoyed testing this game.
Super Monkey Ball 2 now $5 on iPhone
Good news, fans of ... well, fans of monkeys trapped in hamster balls who are forced to roll through perilous obstacle courses in a sad attempt to collect bananas. Sega recently announced a halving of the price for Super Monkey Ball 2 on the iPhone, which reduces the cost to a mere $4.99. If you've been waiting to fulfill your spherical, simian desires, this might just be your best chance. If rollin' monkeys isn't your thing, check out Touch Arcade for a pretty sizable list of temporarily discounted apps. They'll cater to a much broader range of interests, including poker and zombie pizza-making.
Super Monkey Ball 2 goes bananas on iPhone this year
Sega is preparing a sequel to its App Store launch title, Super Monkey Ball, due out sometime before the end of the year. According to Touch Arcade, Super Monkey Ball 2 will add 115 new levels, multiplayer functions, and, perhaps most importantly, minigames. Monkey Bowling will be included in the download, with Monkey Golf and Monkey Target (also known as the greatest achievement in human history) to follow as free updates. Okay, actually, while great, the minigames aren't the most important part of this sequel. That would be the improved controls, which may render this game playable. Check out Touch Arcade for gameplay footage!
Why it's OK to suck at games
Clive Thompson over at Wired wants us to know that thrills can be experienced in defeat when it comes to certain video games. A study conducted by psychologists over in Helsinki (the same place where they produce that hair restoration formula) shows that gamers experience a measure of joy even when failing to complete an objective in a particular game. While playing Super Monkey Ball 2's bowling mini game, test subjects hooked up to biosensors elicited "positively valenced high-arousal" after rolling gutter balls. In other words, watching a trapped monkey plummet to his death is cool. Thompson validated these results by playing the game himself and experiencing the same loser high.Is it a sign of good game design when positive feedback mechanisms accompany all possible outcomes, or do these studies simply underscore our ability to laugh at ourselves in the midst of failure? The article also mentions Burnout Revenge and GTA as examples of games that provide pleasure even when you're failing to accomplish your goal. What other games succeed in this way?
