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Perfect Ten: Mobile apps to enhance your MMO lifestyle
We're living in the age of smart phones, when there are more cell phones than there are people on this planet. I can't go anywhere without seeing people constantly whipping out their little rectangular companions for the constant stream of information, social connection, and Candy Crush interludes. While MMOs aren't making great headway on these devices, in part due to the limited input scheme, several wise studios have made good use of the mobile market to give players a way to keep in touch with their games even while AFK. Today we're going to count down, count up, and count sideways 10 official mobile apps that will enhance your MMO lifestyle.
The curious case of the disappearing Nexus 6
For a moment the page changes, the default "out of stock" message replaced by an estimated shipping date. Quickly, you move your cursor across the screen and hit the order button, only to discover the device is no longer available. You close the tab. Better to try again later. This is the frustration many Brits have experienced trying to order a Nexus 6 from the Google Play store. One model (32GB, Midnight Blue) has been available there for just a few fleeting moments, allowing only the most eagle-eyed customers to complete a reservation. The rest have had to wait, or consider buying a unit from elsewhere.
Google's Nexus 6 finally gets priced in the UK: £499 for 32GB, £549 for 64GB
It's been almost a month since Google officially unveiled the Nexus 6, but UK fans have been left in the dark over a price and a release date. Today, we can tick one of those off the list. In preparation for its local launch, the search giant has finally updated the Play Store to show how much the Motorola-made Nexus phone will cost. You'll need to pay £499 to get your hands on the 32GB model or £549 is the 64GB variant is more your style. Google is staying quiet on when the Nexus 6 will actually go on sale, but with Vodafone and other resellers recently announcing they will stock the device, we bet that a release is just around the corner.
Google Play update adds local multiplayer to Android games
Android device owners can now crush virtual foes within spitting distance - please don't spit on your foes - thanks to the addition of local multiplayer to certain mobile games. "Google Play Games has added the ability for players to find each other nearby in multiplayer games with the latest Play services update," reads an update on the Android Developers Google Plus page. "Through games that support Play Games multiplayer, players can now invite others nearby into the same game when starting a multiplayer session, creating more local competitive and cooperative experiences." The only caveat here is that this local multiplayer support will only work in games built using the awkwardly-named Google Play Games services. It remains to be seen whether developers will embrace this new feature (and the Google oversight that comes with it). [Image: Google]
Google reportedly working on bite-sized app trials for Android
While Android has soared, Google Play has struggled a bit. Customers don't buy nearly as many apps, songs or movies as their counterparts using iOS. According to The Information, Mountain View is working to change that with a new app trial program. Since users are hesitant to throw down money (even just $0.99) for an app without ever using it, Google is planning to offer free bite-sized trials. Rather than downloading and installing the entire app, you could pull down just a piece as a "micro app." You might even be able to select which feature or part of the app you want to try. Obviously the hope would then be that you would love the app and throw some cash at the developer (which Google would get to keep a cut of). The smaller downloads would save time and bandwidth as well, making the trial a much smaller commitment. As for how it might work, we're not sure. Though the company recently debuted a new way to update apps that only downloads the parts that have changed -- again saving precious minutes and megabytes on your data plan.
Don't want that app? Google Play expands refunds up to two hours after purchase
Regretting that $7 purchase of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on your Nexus 7? There's time to turn it around now that Google has expanded the window for refunds on app purchases. Google Play shoppers now have two hours to return an app to the store, whereas refunds were previously limited to just 15 minutes after point of sale. Returning an app on Google Play is a simple process. Just go to "My Apps" in the store, highlight the locus of buyer's remorse, and select "Refund" to have it removed. While the process may appear to lend itself to gaming the system for free games, Google does have checks in place to prevent people from endlessly downloading and returning games. Anyone who purchases a refunded app a second time is stuck with it for good. Google has had to broadly reconsider Google Play customer policies. On Sept 4, a Federal Trade Commission complaint forced Google to refund a minimum of $19 million in in-app purchases. Children making unwitting in-app buys on their parents' devices became a major problem for the store. Luckily, parents can at least get refunds provided they check their Galaxy Tab quicker than every two hours on family road trips. [Images: Google]
Google to refund at least $19 million over in-app purchases
If we were to face a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, having a bunch of irritated parents on the other end of things is pretty low on our list of ideal situations. We're thinking Google feels the same way, now that they've agreed to pay a minimum of $19 million in refunds over purchases made without the account holder's explicit consent. The trouble stems from children making purchases through their parents' accounts without permission, which presumably led to some spirited child-and-parent talks over monthly credit card statements. According to the FTC's release concerning Google's settlement, the tech giant has also agreed to modify its billing strategy to "ensure that it obtains express, informed consent from consumers before charging them for items sold in mobile apps." Hopefully these changes will soon allow parents to deploy phones and tablets for much-needed sanity breaks without paying a premium. Then again, gardens aren't going to just grow their own zombie defense budget ... [Image: Google]
Apple blocks access to Secret in Brazil after anti-bullying ruling
A few days ago, a Brazilian judge ordered Apple and Google to pull Secret from the local app store and wipe it from the handsets of whose who had downloaded it. The same ruling covered Microsoft, who was ordered to do the same to Windows Phone clone Cryptic. So far, however, only Apple has begun to comply with the order, after suspending fresh downloads of the app to iOS accounts registered in Brazil. According to local news media, the company hasn't started pulling the software from individual handsets, but that's still more than Google or Microsoft have done. Both companies claim that they've not been directly notified of the widely-reported ruling, although it's more likely that they're waiting on a final decision from the courts before taking any action.
Crazy Taxi: City Rushes to Android
Hot on the heels of its iOS counterpart, the mobile-exclusive Crazy Taxi: City Rush is now available on Android devices. Designed by Crazy Taxi creator Kenji Kanno, City Rush has been built specifically for the touchscreen interface found on mobile devices. Though the game still centers on racing through a city, gathering pedestrians and delivering them safely to their destinations, Crazy Taxi: City Rush also includes new characters, new cabs (including a tank) and new jobs spread throughout the sunny streets of Bay City. Crazy Taxi: City Rush can now be found on Google Play. It's a free download, but the game does feature numerous in-app purchase options. Edit: This article originally stated that the Android version of Crazy Taxi: City Rush offers support for custom soundtracks. That feature is, in fact, exclusive to the iOS version. [Image: Sega]
Amazon lets Fire TV and Android gamers work together in two-player mode
If you heard that Amazon was launching an app on Google Play, you'd be entitled to hope that it'd be the long-awaited Instant Video for Android. Prepare to be disappointed, since the company's actually released Sev Zero: Air Support for tablets that don't have the words "kindle" and "fire" in their name. It's a companion piece to the Amazon-made Sev Zero game that debuted on the Fire TV, enabling a second player to join in on the tower defense-cum-fps-style fun. Still, maybe next time on that whole video app, please Jeff?
'Bomb Gaza' among controversial games found on Google Play store
The Google Play store is under criticism for recently hosting multiple games centered around the Israel-Gaza war. Apps such as Bomb Gaza and Gaza Assault: Code Red recently appeared on the Android marketplace before eventually being removed today. A cached version of Gaza Assault's store listing said players could "take control of an Israeli UAV equipped with powerful weapons in an attempt to secure the region" in the game, which was added to the store on July 21. Likewise, a cached page for Bomb Gaza noted that players in the game "drop bombs and avoid killing civilians." It was added to Google Play on July 29 by PlayFTW, a developer with two other apps on the market, Piano and Space War: New Era.
Instagram quietly (and slowly) launches Snapchat rival, Bolt
We knew Instagram's effort to nab a bit of Snapchat's thunder was imminent thanks to leaked promo banners, and now, the app has officially arrived... for some. Bolt, the filter-driven photo app's own ephemeral messenger has hit iTunes and Google Play for folks in Singapore, South Africa and New Zealand. The software's claim to fame is speed: instead of having to fiddle through a series of options, tapping a contact's picture both captures and sends a photo -- no further swiping required (tap and hold records video). So long as they're in your favorites list, of course. There's also an undo feature that allows you to retrieve a message in the first few seconds by shaking your phone. While Bolt doesn't require a Facebook or Instagram account, you will have to sign up with your phone number for sorting through your contacts. For now though, most of us have to find solace in just reading about it, since a select few locales are privy to the initial rollout. Instagram's word on that particular strategy is situated after the break.
Google Play adds 'Offline Games' section
Those worried that the games they play on their Android devices might be subtly pushing them ever-closer to their carrier's data cap can rest a bit easier by perusing the offerings in Google Play's newly-launched "Offline Games" section. Like the name says, all games found in the Offline Games section require no Internet connectivity beyond the initial download. While this means the games (which include Plague Inc., Jetpack Joyride and Minecraft - Pocket Edition) won't automatically tap into the cloud for leaderboard updates and in-app purchase reminders, it also means your monthly phone bill won't suddenly inflate to ludicrous levels simply because you spent an especially boring afternoon at the DMV with only your portable device for entertainment. As Engadget points out, the Offline Games section is currently paltry when compared to the thousands of games otherwise available on Google Play, but it's a start. Hopefully more mobile developers will see this move as a reminder that not everyone has an unlimited data plan. [Image: Google]
Fluffy platformer Leo's Fortune rolls to Android
Leo's Fortune, the tablet-based platformer from 1337 & Senri, is now available on Android. The game first launched on iOS in May, and stars a mustachioed blue ball named Leopold, who is on the hunt for his missing gold. Players must leap and glide through levels with switches and spiky traps, collecting Leo's gold coins and toppling record times to perfect each area along the way. Our review of the game praised its touch-based controls as well as its creative, contraption-like level design, though Leo's Fortune is a little on the short side with only a few dozen levels to complete. The game costs $4.99 on Google Play and supports controllers and gamepads made for Android devices as well as leaderboards, achievements and cloud save support. [Image: 1337 & Senri]
Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake out now for Android, iOS
SleepNinja's top-down puzzler Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake launches today on iOS and Android via Google Play and Amazon's app store. Since its release date was announced earlier this month, the game's price on mobile devices has increased by one dollar to $4.99. The "environmental puzzle" game, which draws its inspiration from traditional Legend of Zelda puzzles, will also arrive on Steam next week on July 1. The PC version will cost $14.99, though it will be discounted by roughly 20 percent at launch. Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake gained ground on Kickstarter, earning $26,091 on the funding platform in February 2013 prior to receiving publishing assistance from Cartoon Network in April. Cartoon Network plans to publish "more than 10 mobile titles and at least four on Steam," of which Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake is its first original IP for the PC game distribution service. [Image: SleepNinja]
Google Play Movies & TV gets offline viewing on Chromebooks, info cards in Chrome browsers
Google has unleashed a Chrome add-on for the video on-demand arm of its Play store, a move that also to combat the notion that Chromebooks die and wither away from internet connections. Just as promised, the add-on lets the ChromeOS devices store movies for offline playback -- you know, those long flights or camping trips in places where Netflix doesn't reach, like anywhere with Verizon FiOS. Unfortunately the trick doesn't extend to Chrome browsers on other platforms, although you can still use the extension to view your library of content or purchase new stuff to watch. The Google Play Movies & TV extension also promises a better Chromecast experience, and the info cards about actors in a scene that rolled out on Android last year. Those are now available in all countries with Google Play Movies, so head to the Chrome store to try it out for yourself. [Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Watch Dogs mobile griefing app out today
Ubisoft's mobile companion app for Watch Dogs is now available on Android and iOS, and gives players the opportunity to interact with others in the game's online sections. Though the word "companion" doesn't have the same ring to it in the "ctOS Mobile" app, as players use it to mess with others' surroundings in an attempt to thwart their attempts to reach the finish line in both race and free ride modes. For instance, players within the ctOS Mobile app can control a Chicago PD helicopter and go on the hunt for their rivals, controlling ctOS devices within the helicopter's range like road blockers and traffic lights to halt other players. Mobile players will also dispatch Chicago police units like squad cars and SWAT teams and upgrade their effectiveness. As app users complete challenges, they earn experience and skill points, with which they can enhance their police arsenal as well as their own abilities. The app is free to download and doesn't require that players own the console game. Ubisoft has a list of its compatible devices on its blog. Our review of Watch Dogs, now available today, notes that the game is "a more fluid and modern power fantasy than we're used to," likening players in the game to being a wizard. [Image: Ubisoft]
Virtual weed farms and the sticky state of Apple's App Store restrictions
I was just about to tell you about Weed Firm, an insanely addictive app that tasks you with building a marijuana empire from your house in the suburbs, but I feel a little bad about gushing... because it's no longer available to download. Yes, it's been pulled from the App Store. (It's also been removed from Google Play, but for unrelated reasons.) As recently as yesterday, the free app held the number two position on the charts in Apple's store, and it's almost guaranteed that it disappeared due to concerns about illegal or otherwise "controversial" content. (Apple's famously mum about the reasons behind booting certain apps.)
XCOM: Enemy Unknown gets acquainted with Android, out now
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is out now on Google Play, commander. The new Android port is priced $10/£7.14, and according to a message from XCOM HQ, an advance on the Amazon Appstore is expected "soon." Despite claiming the lives of many of our best friends - or at least a bunch of soldiers named after them - we ranked Enemy Unknown as our second-best game of 2012. The good news: Firaxis transitioned the console and PC release into a "slick, portable package" on iOS, and hopefully that'll pan out the same way on Android. [Image: 2K Games]
BBC's Sport app now delivers real-time goal notifications
While the BBC's Vidiprinter dutifully does its job providing us with all of the goals around the grounds, many have ditched TV and now use a smartphone to check the latest football results. The BBC Sport app has done a stellar job at providing live match updates, but a new update is about to make things a little more efficient. Using the same technology that pushes breaking news from BBC News, the Sport app now allows iOS and Android users to receive alerts for more than 150 domestic teams. Right now, the app will deliver notifications at kick-off, when a goal is scored, at half-time and the final score, but the BBC says it'll add more in the future. To take advantage of the new alerts, make sure you have the very latest version of the iOS or Android app, then hit the "My Alerts" link in the app menu to select your favourite team.
