Among the best things in life is playing printed games in person with family and close friends. When those are not convenient we like iOS Board Games.
News, reviews, previews, and opinions about board gaming on iPhones, iPads, iPods and even Android devices. (iPhone board games, iPad board games, iPod board games, Android board games)
• Siegecraft - Crossbows and Catapults in Development • Ascension Release Updated to June • Days of Wonder Releasing Ticket to Ride for iPad • Food Fight Coming From Cryptozoic • Connect Your Corners Renamed to Connect2Win
• Blowfish Studios Developing Siegecraft - Crossbows and Catapults - May 1 Sometimes I miss something and wonder, "How did I miss that?" That's certainly the case with some early previews from Blowfish Studios of an app which they are tentatively calling Siegecraft - Crossbows and Catapults. The inspiration for the app is indeed Battleground: Crossbows & Catapults. No release date is yet given, but you can follow along with their progress on this thread at TouchArcade.com. They're promising a gameplay video soon, but in the meantime get a load of these graphics. It's sort of like you've been shrunk down into the board game.
...unleash this on the world next month along with the iphone/iOS version of Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer.
• Days of Wonder Releases Ticket to Ride for iPad - May 17 Who keeps a better secret, Days of Wonder or Ah-nold Schwarzenegger? I'll give it to Days of Wonder, who were able to keep their iOS release of their great American train game under wraps until just two days ago on May 16 when they posted a mysterious but familiar looking screenshot with a cryptic message that read "You will likely break down for this game - But who’s this Mechanic?"
The best Online adaptation yet of Days of Wonder’s best-selling train game, Ticket to Ride features:
- Alan R. Moon’s official Ticket to Ride maps with original artwork - Game Center and Days of Wonder Online support for Online Play against other iPad, Mac and PC gamers -An unparalleled online player community with tens of thousands of live opponents willing and ready to play 24/7! - Solo play against up to 4 AI players - Additional maps of Europe, Switzerland and USA 1910 available as in-game purchases - Terrific iPad video tutorial with voice acting for quick and easy learning - Detailed, interactive turn-by-turn, in-game tutorial - Contextual in-game Conductor’s Notes (web-based rules) to help you master all the maps - Grand Central Station, a fully-animated and colorful experience to discover the world of Ticket to Ride - Online and offline Hall of Fame
• Incinerator Studios and Cryptozoic Entertainment to Release Food Fight - May 17 Incinerator Studios, who is also working on Ascension, have announced that they have partnered with Cryptozoic Entertainment to bring Food Fight, among other games, to mobile devices. In Food Fight, players draft entrees and side dishes to build a meal that will devour the competition. Here's more from Cryptozoic:
Cryptozoic wrote:
Soon millions of iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users will be enjoying Cryptozoic’s unique vision, courtesy of Incinerator Studios.
“I think gamers will dig just about everything this game (Food Fight) has to offer from the fun mechanics to funny characters and art, plus we are launching this in the physical and digital space simultaneously, so you can play anywhere, anytime.” says Cory Jones, president and CCO of Cryptozoic Entertainment.
The release date was previously announced in this blog as Fall 2011. In recent weeks Cryptozoic has posted high quality desktop art on their website that gives a better idea of the art for the game.
• Connect Your Corners Renamed to Connect2Win - May 17 It used to be called "Connect Your Corners". Now this two player abstract has been renamed and rereleased as Connect2Win. This iOS Universal app features local two player, OpenFeint and Game Center, and has an AI with 25 levels of difficulty.
Ticket to ride is a solid implementation, but sadly no multiplayer on a single device - given the tardy way DoW have supported Small World I'm guessing it will be a long time before we see an update that addresses this, if we do.
given the tardy way DoW have supported Small World I'm guessing it will be a long time before we see an update that addresses this, if we do.
I might expect the same. Quality out of the gate is their strong point, while follow up often seems a challenge. Yet, do I recall correctly that Small World released as a strict 2 player game initially to be followed up later with AI?
Any time you have a hand of cards (or any other hidden information), it is hard to do on a single system. The Surface had a decent setup, but the price is prohibitive. We just have to wait for superior touch tech to reach the masses... because otherwise people will complain too much about the execution and not want to play the game.
They could go the Scrabble route, but I don't think they want to count on 4 iPhones and an iPad at the ready.
The XBOX live version plays locally and just hides the cards when it isn't your turn, it works fine unless people start over thinking. I'm disappointed this doesn't have local play, might hold off purchasing until they add it.
At $6.99 I think you should buy Ticket to Ride for iOS, regardless of pass and play. The desktop computer app. doesn't have "pass and play" and this new interface is smoother and better!
I say support them for the hard work! Tell them what you want added (I want pass and play, too), but I think you should get the app now. It's worth $7 for solo and online multiplayer, in my opinion!
And I bought all 3 in-app expansions for a $1 apiece, since they're advertised as being at a temporary sale price.
I agree it is a bit of a bummer that there is no pass & play but the sinlge player is great so far and online play is well implemented. This may beat Carcassonne, for me, as the best Ios app boardgame published so far.
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16)
wmreed wrote:
At $6.99 I think you should buy Ticket to Ride for iOS, regardless of pass and play. The desktop computer app. doesn't have "pass and play" and this new interface is smoother and better!
I already own 2 boardgame versions, 2 expansions, the PC version and the Xbox Live version.
And I bought all 3 in-app expansions for a $1 apiece, since they're advertised as being at a temporary sale price.
Sigh. I would like to but I don't have my iPad yet. Yes, I have already started collecting apps, but I don't know of any way to take advantage of a sale in in app purchasing when you don't have the iPad yet!
At $6.99 I think you should buy Ticket to Ride for iOS, regardless of pass and play. The desktop computer app. doesn't have "pass and play" and this new interface is smoother and better!
I say support them for the hard work! Tell them what you want added (I want pass and play, too), but I think you should get the app now. It's worth $7 for solo and online multiplayer, in my opinion!
And I bought all 3 in-app expansions for a $1 apiece, since they're advertised as being at a temporary sale price.
WMReed
So you can buy Ticket to Ride and the Europe, USA 1910, and Switzerland expansions all for only $10? That is fantastic and it certainly seems like a bargain. Just out of curiousity do you guys know what is the lowest price that they have had the Ipad versions of Small World or Carcassone on sale for? I have Small World and both expansions on my Ipad and love it but am still waiting for online play, I can only beat up on my family members for so long.
I think Pass + Play should be a simple fix for TTR, just program it so that when your turn is done, it hides everyones cards until the next player hits his start turn button. Based on how much I play the Xbox and gameboard versions, I think this will be a MUST BUY for me.
Is Memoir 44 next for the Ipad? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Just out of curiousity do you guys know what is the lowest price that they have had the Ipad versions of Small World or Carcassone on sale for?
Small World Price and Version History Sep 22 '10 Version 1.1.1 Aug 12 '10 Version 1.1 Aug 04 '10 $4.99 -> $6.99 Aug 04 '10 Version 1.0 Aug 04 '10 $6.99 -> $4.99 Aug 04 '10 Version 0.99 Jul 07 '10 $4.99 -> $6.99 Jul 07 '10 Version 1.0 Jun 01 '10 Version 0.99 Apr 29 '10 Version 0.92 Apr 14 '10 Version 0.91 Apr 01 '10 New App: $4.99, v0.9
Carcassonne Price and Version History Dec 21 '10 Version 2.1 Dec 10 '10 Version 2.0 Dec 07 '10 $4.99 -> $9.99 Oct 17 '10 Version 1.35 Oct 11 '10 Version 1.3 Aug 09 '10 Version 1.2 Jun 24 '10 Version 1.1 Jun 03 '10 New App: $4.99, v1.0
Quote:
Is Memoir 44 next for the Ipad? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
I'd consider taking odds that M44 would come before TTR Pass N' Play. Given that DoW will be mum, I'll bet they are working on it right now even! Seems like a great next step considering the whole "candy store" thing.
So you can buy Ticket to Ride and the Europe, USA 1910, and Switzerland expansions all for only $10? That is fantastic and it certainly seems like a bargain. Just out of curiousity do you guys know what is the lowest price that they have had the Ipad versions of Small World or Carcassone on sale for? I have Small World and both expansions on my Ipad and love it but am still waiting for online play, I can only beat up on my family members for so long. me.
Small World has bounced between $4.99 and $6.99. Carcassonne went from $4.99 to $9.99 and stayed there. (Source: appshopper.com)
Is the TTR app color-blind friendly? As I recall, the XBL version wasn't.
If it isn't, then I'd have to say that they couldn't pay me to take it. That's a shame, because I love TTR, and $10 for the whole shebang is a helluva bargain!
Is the TTR app color-blind friendly? As I recall, the XBL version wasn't.
If it isn't, then I'd have to say that they couldn't pay me to take it. That's a shame, because I love TTR, and $10 for the whole shebang is a helluva bargain!
Came to ask this myself - have to have a copy of the board maps to play the XBL version. I'll probably pick it up and comment on the color blind friendlyness later.
So, how crazy am I to want to go out and buy an iPad 2 that I don't really need just so that I can get things like TTR, Carc, and Settlers to play at lunch?
So, how crazy am I to want to go out and buy an iPad 2 that I don't really need just so that I can get things like TTR, Carc, and Settlers to play at lunch?
Not at all - and then you will discover all the other cool stuff they can do.
Great work by DoW on Ticket to Ride. Played a couple of solo games in under 20 minutes. The interface is extremely well thought out and the bots are decent opponents.
My only complaint is that I don't know how to turn off the voices or adjust their volume.
So, how crazy am I to want to go out and buy an iPad 2 that I don't really need just so that I can get things like TTR, Carc, and Settlers to play at lunch?
I'm not sure anybody needs an iPad any more than they need 20+ unplayed board games sitting on shelves in their home. It's just nice to have.
Is the TTR app color-blind friendly? As I recall, the XBL version wasn't.
If it isn't, then I'd have to say that they couldn't pay me to take it. That's a shame, because I love TTR, and $10 for the whole shebang is a helluva bargain!
just downloaded it and it is NOT colorblind friendly. The cards have the symbols but not the map. I left a review stating this on iTunes.
Any time you have a hand of cards (or any other hidden information), it is hard to do on a single system. The Surface had a decent setup, but the price is prohibitive. We just have to wait for superior touch tech to reach the masses... because otherwise people will complain too much about the execution and not want to play the game.
They could go the Scrabble route, but I don't think they want to count on 4 iPhones and an iPad at the ready.
Will this is a common explanation but I no longer buy it since there are plenty of good pass in play games with hidden info - see Ingenious for an example of how it can be done - or Small World for that matter with the hover over points.
Don't get me wrong, I think the game is well worth it as it is, it just would be even better with pass n play and I really dont think a system like Ingenious uses would be hard to implement (since it is simply tap to end turn, cover screen comes up pass to other player and they tap/slide to start their turn and see their hand.)
I really dont think a system like Ingenious uses would be hard to implement (since it is simply tap to end turn, cover screen comes up pass to other player and they tap/slide to start their turn and see their hand.)
And I wonder if it would be that hard to simply have persistent hidden information next to a small toggle button where you use one hand to shield and another to tap (or even tap hold) the toggle to momentarily see the hidden info in some games. Some games have important but pretty minimal amounts of hidden info. Examples like Texas Hold'em and Tigris & Euphrates come to mind.
Can't believe they left out two player. Actually, I can believe it. Their 'small world' app was also NOT two player friendly. Worst interface I have experienced in a board game conversion. We tried it for a half hour, my wife got a headache, and it was deleted and refunded. DOW is on a disturbing trend here. First, bad two player implementation; now, NO two player at all. It's not even an option. I actually posted a lengthy response to this fault and some of the blatant shilling going on for this game over in the toucharcade thread for the game, and it actually got censored and removed. I've had it with that site. I've had it with DOW's apps. The problem is that other devs will follow this game and start thinking, "Hmmm. Maybe we should put online play as a priority and leave hot seat out." I don't buy board games on the Ipad to play anonymous online games. I buy them to play with wife and friends in the same room, having social time, just like the board game versions gave me. So far DOW is the only company that doesn't give a rat's ass about the two player live game experience, and I hope it stays that way.
I actually get to play more board games now that my wife sees how easy they are on the IPad. No set up, no table filled with pieces, no counting victory points, and all played in less than 70% of the time it would take to play the board game version. If every one of my board games was an Ipad app, I'd sell them all today. Caylus is sold once the app comes out. It might actually see play again. I'll be buying 'le havre' when it comes out on ipad, and I would never have bought the board game. Just tired of shelling out $60 for games that end up being played once. (Merchants and Marauders the latest example.) A five dollar game app is a lot less risk.
I just played Tikal 3 player hot seat on the ipad last week, and we had a great time. I sold that game 12 years ago because I didn't like it, or maybe my wife was not enthused about her table being covered with messy pieces. Now I've given it another chance on the Ipad, and I actually prefer playing it that way. I don't miss the board at all. Some genius on toucharcade even suggested having the wife play 'ticket to ride' on the computer while I played on the Ipad, as a SOLUTION to the hot seat problem. No, how about we buy another Ipad, buy a second version of 'ticket to ride', and then hook up online in the game lobby.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
anarchy wrote:
Great work by DoW on Ticket to Ride. Played a couple of solo games in under 20 minutes. The interface is extremely well thought out and the bots are decent opponents.
My only complaint is that I don't know how to turn off the voices or adjust their volume.
From the DOW community forum, you can't turn off the voice overs... yet. That option will be available in an update.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
First I heard about a Ticket To Ride app for the iPad is when the DOW announcement showed up in my e-mail box this morning. I didn't even bother finish reading the announcement until after I had started the download! $10 for the game and expansions? That's a great price!
It's kind of funny that it was the third news item in this post and the only thing that has gotten comments.
It's been my consistent policy from the beginning to chronicle events in date order rather than assign editorial/commercial/arbitrary weight to headlines.
So, how crazy am I to want to go out and buy an iPad 2 that I don't really need just so that I can get things like TTR, Carc, and Settlers to play at lunch?
I'm not sure anybody needs an iPad any more than they need 20+ unplayed board games sitting on shelves in their home. It's just nice to have.
So, how crazy am I to want to go out and buy an iPad 2 that I don't really need just so that I can get things like TTR, Carc, and Settlers to play at lunch?
I'm not sure anybody needs an iPad any more than they need 20+ unplayed board games sitting on shelves in their home. It's just nice to have.
