Tilt to Live
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Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge features superb gameplay
Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge is another entry in the Tilt to Live game series. This time, the arrow travels through a side-scrolling obstacle course picking up pointonium as it goes along. The three main courses are filled with spiked walls, fire balls, enemies and more all of which you should avoid to complete the challenge. Unlock the boss round to finish the game once and for all. Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge is US$2.99 for iPhone and iPad. The app description of Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge says the app features "famously responsive" controls and it's hard to argue with that claim. To maneuver around obstacles in the game, you have to tilt your iOS device up, down, left or right. The app provides standard settings for the way people usually hold their devices: Regular, at a bit of an angle, Top-Down, or basically flat and Custom to let you calibrate the tilt yourself based upon your current angle. Optionally choose between slow, normal and hyper tilt sensitivities. However you choose your tilt settings, the game is buttery smooth and in sync with your movements. You also get three lives per round, which is convenient because despite the responsiveness it's not the easiest game in the world. It's not meant to be super challenging, but it should take you a decent amount of time to complete the three gauntlets before moving onto the final one. That's a plus though when calculating value based on money spent and time spent playing. The three gauntlets are Lockdown, Pointonium Mines and Arropolis. Each is a bit different from the others, but not so much that they have their own learning curves. They just have some different obstacles and they're playable in any order. What I love about the graphics is that even as a new player, it's easy to immediately spot what looks like it should be avoided and what you should collect, i.e. pointonium. The pointonium, by the way, don't do much of anything. The game doesn't have any in-app purchases or upgrades to spend them on. They just add up as you collect them and display proudly in Game Center leaderboards. That's fine, but with a cool name like "pointonium" it's begging to be put to better use in a future update. The points system does contribute somewhat to the achievements, which are built into Game Center, but you need to complete nine of them to unlock the final gauntlet and reach the boss. A variety of achievements for each gauntlet are up for grabs so you aren't limited to following a specific path. The freedom to play as you wish is a trend in Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge that I admire. It's been a while since I've played a decent game that uses the iPhone and iPad's built in sensors for controls, but I'm happy to report Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge fills that void. At $2.99, it's just a tad pricey for a game in this genre, but you're getting a fantastic experience.
Daily iPhone App: Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous is redonkulously challenging
One Man Left Studios scored big with its popular Tilt to Live game. After spending some time working on its Outwitters game, the two-man team is back with a follow-up to its first big hit. Announced earlier this year, Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous is now available in the iOS App Store. Similar to the first version of the game, Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous requires you to move a triangular-shaped vessel around your screen. While gliding along, you must avoid other hazardous shapes. To help you in your journey, you can use power-ups that'll give you weapons to destroy these hazards. It's all about precise control as you steer your vessel perfectly and rack up points. Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous sounds bland, but it is not. The gameplay is fast and furious as you activate weapons, wipe out shapes and play mini-games at the end of a round. Tilt to Live 2 is also harder than it sounds as controlling that vessel takes a subtle touch. It's easy to tilt hard and careen right by a weapon. It's a lot more difficult to glide smoothly and then stop on a dime to hit each item just right. The gameplay is great for a quick pickup while you have a few spare minutes. Each round can last for a a few minutes if you have the right touch, or it can be over in less than 30 seconds if your delicate control resembles a bull in a china shop. Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous is available for US$2.99 in the iOS App Store. It is a universal app that works on both the iPad and iPhone.
Tilt to Live getting a sequel and it's Redonkulous
One Man Left Studios is most recently known for its great social Outwitters title, but of course the two-man developer team (made up of Alex Okafor and Adam Stewart) is best known for the popular Tilt to Live, a relatively early iOS hit. And now the team is going back to its history, and starting work on Tilt to Live 2, according to the company's official blog. The new game is called Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous, and is due out later on this year. Like the first title (which had you tilting a triangle around to try and avoid all sorts of incoming enemy shapes), there will undoubtedly be plenty of tilting action to go around. One Man Left promises new weapons, updated graphics and an all-new scoring system for the sequel, and we're sure they'll bring some of that Outwitters multiplayer experience to the game, too, as they also "plan on rubbing your friends' highscores in your face a little harder." Well the game sounded like fun, right up until that last bit. At any rate, we'll look forward to Tilt to Live 2 -- if we see One Man Left around GDC next week, maybe they'll let us in on any other new plans.
Daily iPhone App: Outwitters is the new app from Tilt to Live creators
Tilt to Live was a fairly early hit on the iOS App Store. It used the iPhone's accelerometer to make a frantic but fun and addictive shooter. Now, developer One Man Left has released a very different game called Outwitters. We first saw the title at GDC earlier this year, and the final release version is just as nice as the one that was in development. The game offers up asynchronous turn-based strategy combat, in the same vein as Robot Entertainment's great Hero Academy. But there are a few big differences, the first being that the board is much bigger, and allows for a few new moves and turns. The backend is also built out a lot more. In addition to the usual games with friends and random players, there's a whole matchmaking league system, so the best players have a huge, well-run ladder to climb. There are three different races (one is free, and the others you'll need to buy), each with its own units and resources to deal with. In short, the game is gorgeous, perfectly designed and offers much turn-based action for players (like me, ahem) who really enjoy moving units around a board like this. Outwitters is a free, universal download, and everything in the in-game store is on sale right now for a limited time.
Tilt to Live studio's next game Outwitters launches on July 5
One Man Left Studios, which you may know from the addictive iOS darling Tilt to Live, is at it again with a new game. Outwitters is not a game about Twitter, it's an asynchronous, turn-based multiplayer strategy game for iOS reminiscent of Robot Entertainment's Hero Academy.There are three different races available in total, each with their own classes and combat specializations to learn in Outwitters. Upon installing the universal app, you'll have access to the Scallywags, but if you want to play with the robotic Feedback or the aptly named Adorables, you'll need to purchase them from within the app. Outwitters has the traditional one-on-one option, but fans of larger conflicts can take advantage of an included two-on-two mode as well.Outwitters will be available for download on the App Store come July 5.%Gallery-159588%
Daily iPhone App: Sky Defenders
There's two big things I really don't like about Sky Defenders. First, the game is basically a reskinned clone of the much better Tilt to Live, so if for some strange reason you still haven't played that one yet, go ahead and download the original and see how this "reactive shooter" genre is done. The second issue I have with Sky Defenders is that the game depends heavily on Facebook integration, so much so that when it first starts up, you're asked to log into Facebook right away, though you can still get into the game by hitting a small, gray "Play Offline" button. I really dislike being so pressured to be social -- maybe that's a reality for the developers, but if I was just coming along to this game without knowing what it was, I probably wouldn't have gotten any farther than the Facebook login before I gave up. All of that said, there is fun to be had here, especially today, as the game is currently available for free. You play as a superhero, and just like the aforementioned Tilt to Live, you use the tilt controls to slide around the screen, grabbing and using powerups against waves and waves of invading robots and trying to score points inside a time limit. The graphics are definitely colorful and polished, and there are quite a few different powers to try and a nice bit of depth to gameplay. There are freemium powerups to explore as well, but they come across as very spammy. Fortunately, the app just had an update that upped the amount of credits you earn just by playing, which makes the powerups a little more useful. Of course, most of that is sadly "borrowed" from Tilt to Live. But if you really love Tilt to Live and could use a little different spin on things, Sky Defenders is a free download right now.
Tilt to Live devs return to iOS with accessible turn-based strategy in Outwitters
One Man Left is the two-person studio behind the very popular 2010 iOS release Tilt to Live -- and that's all the two developers have ever released so far. Alex Okafor and Adam Stewart are finally ready, however, to show off their brand new title, and I got to play with it briefly last week at GDC. The game is called Outwitters, and it's a strong right turn from the arcade frenzy action of Tilt to Live. Instead of bullets flying everywhere, Outwitters is turn-based strategy that takes place on a board of hexagons, with three different factions battling it out over time. Players can play as the Scallywags, the Feedback, or the Adorables, and each faction has a number of different units (including one faction-only unit each -- the Feedback, for example, have a floating brain that can turn units against their team) to pit up against each other on the game's various battlefields. Turn-based strategy is often overly complex, but Outwitters smartly keeps things quick and relatively easy. You're given a number of resource points per turn, and you can use those points to move around, attack, or summon new units to the board every time your turn comes around. Those points can be saved up over time (so you can save up for a special unit), and there are also special spots on the board which will grant you more points as you hold them, so conquering parts of the map will help out a lot. The gameplay itself is sort of similar to Robot Entertainment's recent release Hero Academy, and yes, One Man Left did do a little bit of forehead-slapping when Hero Academy arrived right in the middle of development on Outwitters. But the game is definitely different enough: The boards are bigger, and there's a fog of war, which means there's no "undo" option. In Hero Academy, you can try as many turns as you like before registering your moves, but in Outwitters, it's think first and then move for good. I played a little bit of the pass and play mode, but there is an extensive online component, with unranked and fully ranked play across a number of different leagues. One Man Left has really gone the extra mile for online play, so there will likely be no shortage of competitors to match yourself up against. Just like Starcraft 2's league system, you can start in the Fluffy League, and rank your way all the way up to the Super Titan League, so if you're into the game, you can play Outwitters for a long, long time. The title will be free to download, and then (similar again to Hero Academy) players will be able to pick up packs of maps and extra teams for an extra fee, or be able to just buy the whole shebang in one go. Outwitters seems excellent, and of course we'd expect nothing less than the makers of Tilt to Live. Turn-based strategy probably wouldn't have been my first guess when thinking about a followup from these guys, but nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the game's release in a few months.
Tilt to Live adds local 'Viva la Co-op' mode
As teased in January, Joystiq favorite Tilt to Live has just added co-op play, which normally would be enough prompting for us to swear off work and spend the day exploding bombs and killing stupid dots together. Unfortunately, the news comes with a couple of caveats. For one, co-op can only be played locally via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Additionally, it's only available in the game's "Viva La Turret" mode, with one player free flying and the other controlling the turret. (Also of note: finishing touches are still being put on the iPad version of the update.) Of course, it's a freebie for anyone who's ponied up the buck for the Viva La Turret DLC, so we're not grousing too much. See what you're in for in the (very funny) co-op trailer after the break. ... So, umm, anyone wanna come over to our house and play? Mom made pizza rolls.
Tilt to Live HD add-on introduces a case of turrets
One Man Left has deployed an upgrade for the iPad version of its fantastic top-down shooter, Tilt To Live. The "Viva la Turret" mode is available as an in-app purchase and centers around the strategic use of a powerful new weapon: the Perferator turret. This bad boy provides 360 degrees of defense against the game's relentless red dots, but only lasts for a limited time and needs a short period to respawn between uses. Those who already own Tilt to Live HD can get the Viva la Turret add-on for $1. One Man Left has decided to include the mode for new buyers, but has bumped up the game's price from $4 to $5 as a result. We'd say the shmup could be $15 and we'd still buy it in an instant, but we don't want to give anybody ideas.
Tilt to Live developer teases addition of multiplayer
We've been working for months now to unravel the slimy tendrils of Tilt to Live from around our easily enraptured brain meats -- but if a recent tweet from developer One Man Left is any indication, all our toils might just have been for naught. The tweet in question teases, "A taste of things to come for Tilt to Live's next update," and links an image of a multiplayer loading screen, as seen above. We're nervous about the possibility of incorporating a second player to the mix -- not because we think it'll ruin the game itself, per se, but it might diminish our competitive edge. Right now, our idea of "multiplayer" in Tilt to Live is picking one of our dear, dear friends that's higher on the leaderboards than us, and working our thumbs to the thumb-bones as we fiendishly attempt to overtake them.
Mechanized joystick built to control iPhone tilt sensor, rack up high score
What do you do when you just can't get that high score you're looking for in Tilt to Live? You build a computer that's better at playing the game than you are. For Shane Wighton, that turned out to be a mechanized joystick for tilt-controlled iPhone games. When Shane couldn't achieve the score wanted on Tilt to Live, he asked himself, "[Can] I program a computer to detect patterns in the enemies, be strategic, and make the best moves using its superior reaction time and raw processing power?" As part of answering that question Shane's made the above illustration a reality by building a mechanized joystick with an Arduino, some servo motors and metal. The next phase is for Shane to mount the webcam, write the code that will actually play the game for him and, hopefully, rack in some damage on the score board. Check out the video after the break to see the beast in action. Shane, we're looking forward to seeing how this works out for you. From all of us here at TUAW, we wish you the best of luck. Go get 'em! [Via Joystiq, TouchArcade]
Modder changes iPhone tilt controls to joystick controls
We've seen modders and peripheral manufacturers alike try to make gaming on the iPhone's glossy, contextless touch screen a bit more tangible, but we've never seen anything quite like this. Shane Wighton of Mechanically Inclined has managed to turn an ordinary Arduino, a webcam, some motors and a metal frame into a ... well, we're not sure if there's a name for it yet, because "Remote Gyroscopic Movement Controller Suspension System" seems just a tad wordy. The device allows you to tilt your iPhone with precision using a remote controller, which would hypothetically not only change your strategy when you're desperately grasping for that high score in Tilt to Live, but also change the title of the game entirely. Again, we'd need to workshop a new title, as Remote Gyroscopic Movement etc. to Live doesn't exactly drip right off the tongue. Wighton hopes to program the machine to play the game by itself, which we think we can all agree is terrifying. Until then, check out a video of this clever, verbose mod after the jump.
Best of the Rest: Ben's picks of 2010
1 vs. 100 Remember when Microsoft confirmed that there would be no more 1 vs. 100 and your heart broke in half? I remember that day. It was the first time I'd ever experienced anything akin to an MMO shutting down -- I was an active player in a weekly live game with thousands of other people, and it was closing. Like no other game I've played before, 1 vs. 100 brought together all of my friends -- gaming and non-gaming alike -- for a weekly shared experience. Couple that unique experience with my love for trivia (I totally dominated history and video game-themed nights), and 1 vs. 100 was a clear choice for one of my favorite games in 2010. It's a real shame there's no way to play it anymore.
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2010
Vanquish Shinji Mikami is still playing the game of Telephone he started in 2005. With Resident Evil 4, he revitalized Capcom's stagnant survival-horror franchise by turning it into a strictly paced shooter, where standing your ground (you couldn't move and shoot at the same time, remember?) was the only way to advance. The idea made it all the way across the ocean -- mostly intact -- and eventually found its way into Epic's Gears of War. The Mikami-led team at Platinum Games, in turn, heard all the bits about military meatheads and enemies that can be demolished without remorse, but the part about lumbering man-tanks got garbled. Instead, we get a protagonist that can slide across the battlefield in the blink of an eye. At its nuclear-powered core, Vanquish still honors Resident Evil 4's balance of risk and reward. It's an exceptionally hectic shooter where rocketing in and out of critical engagements is key -- but if your suit overheats, you're slow again. And then you're dead. Even Gears of War's train level comes back a little warped. Now there are two trains, and one of them is upside-down.
Best of the Rest: Justin's Picks for 2010
Metro 2033 I'm just going to tell myself that my esteemed Joystiq colleagues didn't play this moody, flawed FPS, because I hate the idea that I'm the only one with whom it resonated. With a single trek through a post-apocalyptic Russian underground, Ukrainian developer 4A became one of the developers I'd follow anywhere. It's got problems, specifically with a pretty lackluster combat system, but there's also nothing else like it.
TUAW's Daily App: Tilt to Live HD
The quirky and fun Tilt to Live is one of the most-loved iPhone games out there, according to its fans, and now, lucky iPad owners get their very own version of the title with Tilt to Live HD. Rather than just a port, the big-screen version updates the graphics and brings a new model into the mix. It's a free download, which means you can try out the tilt-controlled chaos at no charge, then pay a US$3.99 in-app purchase for three new modes, plus a few new powerups and weapons to try. If you're going to make your app iPad compatible, let's be honest: the best way to do it is to just go universal, since no one likes re-buying the same software for a new device. But if you want to make a completely new experience, Tilt to Live HD does it exactly right, offering up the same thrills as the popular iPhone version, with the option for more. If you somehow missed the game on the smaller screen, check it out on your iPad right now.
iPhone It In: Tilt to Live
It's actually a little sad, but I'm writing about Tilt to Live in the hopes that I won't have to play Tilt to Live any more. In some strange, superstitious way, I'm hoping that the act of writing about it will somehow purge from my soul the need to incessantly pick up my phone and start tilting away. That's the level of obsession we're talking about here. In short, it's disturbing, and I wouldn't wish the addiction on my very worst enemy (watch your back, Hedaya!). OK, now that you've been sufficiently warned, I feel like I can proceed with a clean conscience.
