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)
[This is what happens when we go 27 days without a News Bits roundup. Mea culpa.]
• Koninklijke Royal Jumbo launches iPawn • Cheatwell's App-Player Introduced • BDC Hoping to Submit Caylus to App Store by End of November • Sage to Update Existing Apps to Game Center After T&E • Lines of Gold Update • GameChanger Update • Firewall Developer Recruiting Playtesters and Going Async • Kingpin Coming A Week Before Christmas • Elder Sign: Omens Updated • Westpark Gamers Podcast • Greed Corp HD Updated • Titan for iPad starting Beta, Naming AIs • Hybrid Boardgame with Microsoft Surface and Mobile Devices • It's Alive Updated • Werewolf - Curse of Pandora Updated • Frozen Synapse Cross Platform Online Play • App Store Not Reviewing Over Christmas • New World Colony Gaining Perspective • Samurai Bloodshow On Sale • Youreka Released • Colours Fill It! Released • Ascension Wins Golden Geek • Shadow Era Updated • Set Pro HD Updated • Scramble Your Friends Released • Full Deck Word Games Updated to version 200 • Wabash Cannonball Is Back • Loot and Scoot Info Update • King of Dragon Pass Info Update • Summoner Wars Postponed, Compatibility Notes • Aliens Versus Humans Released • Tiny Token Empires Update • Space Alert Mission Generator Updated • Zabu Studio Info Update • Diaballik Price Drop and Update • Star Hammer Tactics Released • Reiner Knizia's Tigris & Euphrates Updated • Hero Mages Coming • iThunderstone Updated • Legion of the Damned Coming Soon • European War 2 for iPad Update • Ascension: Return of the Fallen in Final Polish • Developer Posts Poll Seeking Guidance on UI for Nightfighter
• Koninklijke Royal Jumbo launches iPawn - November 1 Royal Jumbo Group has been around for a long time. Always looking for new, if at times gimmicky, innovations in toys and game, the release of iPawn on November 15 should come as no surprise.
The new iPawn line of games by Royal Jumbo make use of game pieces that interact with your iPad. The first four iPawn games will be Game of the Goose, Snakes & Ladders, Air Hockey and Magnetic Fish Game. According to Jumbo:
Royal Jumbo wrote:
The iPawn playing pieces inside the packs are suitable for both the iPad 1 and iPad 2, and can be used in combination with the free corresponding apps in the Appstore. iPawn will also be available for a number of tablets with Android Software in early 2012.
The games will be sold in both toy shops and through web and multimedia stores. Consumers can purchase the iPawn games, consisting of playing pieces in combination with a free app.
• Cheatwell's App-Player Introduced - November 2 It's a print board game that uses apps as game components instead of cards. It's Cheatwell Games's App-Player game. It appears, however, to only be available in the UK App Store.
The idea here is that one physical board will support multiple games. And to start off, Cheatwell is offering, for free, four different game component apps for the App-Player. Here is how they describe it, followed by a list of the first four games.
Quote:
The 'cards' are updated automatically so the information on them doesn't go out of date. More bang for your buck: since they're electronic, the cost of printed cards is removed so the App-Player comes packed with far more content. One board but umpteen games: The standard App-Player board is adapted to suit each game, so every new title that we launch will play with it.
• BDC Hoping to Submit Caylus to App Store by End of November - November 7 Łukasz of Big Daddy's Creationsprovide some details here on BGG about the development of the Caylus AI and mentioned that the app should be ready to submit to the App Store by the end of November.
• Sage Game Center to Updates Existing Apps After T&E - November 7 Sage/Codito, fresh off their successful release of Reiner Knizia's Tigris & Euphrates says that they next intend to patch update Puerto Rico, update Ra and Tikal for Game Center, major update Puerto Rico, and maybe even some love for Medici.
• Lines of Gold Update - November 7 Rational Brothers LLC have updated Reiner Knizia's Lines of Gold to version 1.1. Here's the latest:
Quote:
What's new
3 new Game Center Achievements, for 97 achievements total!
Offline high score and achievement support. Play Lines of Gold anywhere anytime without network connectivity and your scores and achievements will be awarded and recognized when next you have connectivity. Previously earned local scores and rare items are also awarded.
Cosmetic fixes and a few minor bug fixes.
• GameChanger Update - November 7 Studio Sophisti has updated their GameChanger app for iOS iPad to version 1.2. GameChanger is a board game app that requires use of the GameChanger accessory game board that you use with your iPad as shown in the following wardrobe-intensive promotional video:
The GameChanger App contains two games for the 2011 holidays: Animal Mania and The Magic Schoolbus. Apparently more board games will be available in 2012 with iPhone and iPod Touch compatibility to follow. We're still trying to get our hands on one, so in the meantime have a look at what's new in the app:
Quote:
What's new
- Skill-based action game Kaboom - Single player demo mode for Animal Mania and The Magic Schoolbus - Memory minigame in The Magic Schoolbus - Sound quiz minigame in Animal Mania
According to the developer Firewall is a two-player tactical board game where you get to decide the rules and where the aim of the game is for players to win points by taking their opponent's units. Players get cards that help them shift the balance of power, like by making threatened units poisonous, so your opponent loses a point if she takes it, or by switching the direction a type of unit can move. The game combines luck with tactics in a game where no match is ever the same. There's a video to explain this in more visual detail:
• Kingpin Coming A Week Before Christmas - November 8 Developer, Mobile Wings, has let us know that an iOS app implementation of Kingpin is in the works and should be available in the App Store one week before Christmas. No word yet on pricing, but the app will compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Kingpin is a tactical board game about mafia wars by the designers of this year's Essen hit, Alcatraz: The Scapegoat. In Kingpin, players are placed in the dark city and involved in the fight between three crime groups: the Russian Mob, the Italian Mafia and the Yakuza. The object is to defeat the opponent mafia and take control over the city. The graphic design inspired by neo-noir graphic novels was made by a Polish comic-book illustrator, Robert Adler.
• Elder Sign: Omens Updated - November 8, December 1 Fantasy Flight updated it's latest iOS board game app, Elder Sign: Omens, twice within the past month span, first in early November and again just Thursday:
Quote:
Version 1.0.1
What's new
- Fixed some instances where the shutters would stay closed after investigator death. - Fixed an issue where glyphs would incorrectly remain focused for a turn. - Fixed an issue with Aschan Pete purchasing items from the souvenir shop.
Quote:
Version 1.0.5
What's new
-Tap screen to skip through Adventure and Investigator transitions. -Reduced RAM requirements and addressed issues with unloading assets. -Resolved some minor graphical issues -Minor bug fixes
• Westpark Gamers Podcast - November 8 Moritz Eggert has posted two excellent pieces, the first on Electronic Gaming, and the second on iPad Games on the Westpark Gamers web site. Both articles and podcasts are highly recommended reading and listening.
Electronic Gaming - Moritz talks about the merging of board gaming and electronic gaming into something new.
iPad Games - Moritz continues his talks about electronic conversion of boardgames by looking specifically at iPad games.
+1 for his erudite use of the word haptic to elegantly describe one of the great aspects of board gaming in iOS.
• Greed Corp HD Updated - November 9 Invictus has updated Greed Corp HD for the first time, to version 1.1 which includes:
Invictus wrote:
What's new
- iOS 5 crash fix
Other changes: - Harvester animation plays in the first round - Background of the result section does not disappear untimely in campaign mode - Pages of the leaderboard now can be turned - Power harvest is available on flawed tiles - Correct value of looted money, tax and land are displayed when eliminating an enemy by harvesting
• Titan for iPad starting Beta - November 10 Kris Giesing and Titan for iPad Team posted on BGG to solicit testers for the Titan app's impending closed beta testing. They also held an AI naming contest on their Facebook page. Winners were:
Spoiler (mouseover to reveal):
Mnemosyne, Prometheus, Menoetius, Therion, 1982 playtester names, Vlad the iPaler, Uranus, Io, and Thamrys
Release date seems to still be December 2011.
• Hybrid Boardgame with Microsoft Surface and Mobile Devices - November 11 BGGer MiWiposted this very interesting video to BGG. It depicts a hybrid board game designed and developed on the Microsoft Surface by a student for a master thesis supervised by MiWi's colleague. The game uses the Surface, Android phones, and other components.
• It's Alive Updated - November 14 Jeremiah Maher has updated It's Alive to version 1.1 in an important update:
Jeremiah Maher wrote:
What's new
VERSION 1.1
New Features ------------- • Local Leaderboards / Statistics, including stats for the games already played with the original version! • Random Starting Player option • Rename and Delete Human Players • Delete Saved Games
Bug Fixes ------------- • Resolved issue with Pause screen that allowed players to continue drawing cards before ending their turns. (Thanks, Kenneth!) • Resolved issue where a card from the main deck was automatically drawn after a reshuffle. Players can now choose to draw or ransom a graveyard. (Thanks, Seth!)
Release Notes ------------- • Renaming a player will change the player's name on the Stats screen as well. However, deleting a player will NOT remove that player's stats. • Renaming or deleting a player will NOT rename or remove that player from existing saved games. If you complete an old saved game, that player's stats will still be recorded separately under the old name. • Although stats were being recorded with Version 1.0, there was a bug involving Ties. If you observe incorrect stats for your old games involving Ties, you may want to Reset them before playing games with the new version. Starting with Version 1.1, a Tie is only recorded if a player ties for the most points in an Advanced game. All other players will record a Loss.
• Werewolf - Curse of Pandora Updated - November 14 Cartoon Smart has updated Werewolf - Curse of Pandora, its iOS iPad version of the classic party game, Werewolf, to version 1.0.4 for compatibility with iOS 5 and multitasking.
• Frozen Synapse Cross Platform Online Play - November 15 PocketGamer.co.uk posted a story on future iOS app Frozen Synapse highlighting cross platform online play. According to developer Mode 7
Mode 7 wrote:
"There will be no segregation of the community and everyone will be able to play together," said Paul Taylor, Mode 7 joint-MD and co-founder.
In fact, you'll be able to begin a game on your PC or Mac, and continue it on your iPad wherever and whenever you like.
"You'll be able to do a turn on your PC in the morning, take your iPad to work with you, and take a turn on it in the same match in your lunch hour, assuming you have both versions - everything should have continuity."
If you're unfamiliar with Frozen Synapse, it's a top-down strategy title that sees you and an opponent issue orders to a small but lethal fireteam. Both fireteams then simultaneously carry out your commands, meaning you constantly have to second guess your foe if you wish to come out of each scuffle on top.
Frozen Synapse is expected to release onto the App Store some time next year.
• App Store Not Reviewing Over Christmas - November 16 Apple sent out notice to all App Store developers that iTunes Connect — the developer portal to manage applications to sell in the App Store — will be closed from December 22 to December 29.
So for us non-developers this means App Store apps won’t receive updates or price changes for a week that regularly sees very high purchase activity in the App Store. For developers this means delivery of app updates, scheduled releases, and price changes will be disabled or delayed between December 22 and December 29. We think (and hope) this should dramatically compress the important pre-holiday time frame of activity for iOS board game apps. We shall see!
• New World Colony Gaining Perspective - November 17 Erik Asmussen is working on adding perspective view to New World Colony. And that's not all. Erik is a great example of a developer/designer taking advantage of iOS and the 'Geek to develop board games in the digital realm. You can interact with Erik and make suggestions to New World Colony in a thread he started right here on BGG.
• Samurai Bloodshow On Sale - November 17 Sega has dropped the price on it's trading-card-based strategic-defense game app Samurai Bloodshow from $4.99 to $0.99. The paid app and the free version both received the same update just prior to the price drop.
• Youreka Released - November 18 Developer, Intervisio, has released a party game app named Youreka for iOS iPhone. The app is based on the Swedish print game known as Orangino. The app is free with In App Purchase additional content.
• Colours Fill It! Released - November 18 Developer 7iON has released a colorful and attractive-looking abstract strategy app for the iPad. The app is launch-priced at just $0.99.
• Ascension Wins Golden Geek - November 19 The results of the voting for this year's first ever VideoGameGeek Golden Geek Award in the category of Best Mobile/Handheld were announced on November 19th at the 7th Annual BGG.Con. Congratulations to the winner:
• Shadow Era Updated - November 20 Wulven Game Studios updated its online collectible trading card game app, Shadow Era, to version 1.286. Here's the latest:
Quote:
What's new
Another huge update is here, with many new Human and Shadow Abilities, great new features, and a complete overhaul of all the Hero abilities!
• Set Pro HD Updated - November 21 Set Enterprises has updated Set Pro HD for iPad to version 1.6
Set Enterprises wrote:
What's new
As requested by many players we have created a number of game-board backgrounds which you can choose to play SET on. They are all shown on the Options/backgrounds page. The six backgrounds cover a wide range of visual inputs. Some will drive you crazy and, we hope, some others may help your gameplay and enjoyment. Just click on any background you would like the game-board to have, and return to the main menu to choose the game mode you want to play. The chosen background will be your new default for all of the game modes until you choose to change it. You can change the background at any time, by going to the "Options" menu. If you choose to change the background during a game, the game will end, so you will have to start a new game. We hope you will enjoy these experiences as much as we have.
• Scramble Your Friends Released - November 20 Graphite Fusion has released a word game app named Scramble Your Friends It is a turn based app in which you are given a board of letters and you try to make a word by tapping or swiping adjacent letters. You gain a score based on letters used, number of letters used, and modifiers associated with those letters. Then you get to replace those letters with new letters, giving you the strategic opportunity to create a board that makes it harder for your opponent. The app appears to have async as well.
• Full Deck Word Games Updated to version 200 - November 21 GRL Games, the folks who bring you word and card game apps that feature online video chat, have updated Full Deck Word Games to version 200 which now brings turn-based play.
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What's new
iOS 5 Turn Based Game! Play a turn based version of 200 Tiles with your friends!
• Wabash Cannonball Is Back - November 21 Moku Games has brought back Wabash Cannonball to the App Store after fixing some iOS 5 issues and updating to version 1.1.2. Enjoy!
• Loot and Scoot Info Update - November 22 We heard from Victory Point Games that they are making a few last tweaks to the soon-to-be-released iOS Universal version of Loot and Scoot. They expect we'll most likely see the app release in mid December. An Android version will follow at a later date.
• King of Dragon Pass Info Update - November 22 A Sharp has blogged that an iOS Universal version King of Dragon Pass is coming and posted a screenshot to prove it. The art won't change size, but there will be room to spread out the UI and not cover the art like in the iPhone version.
• Summoner Wars Postponed, Compatibility Notes - November 23 Colby Dauch of PlaidHat Games has indicated that the release date for the iOS Summoner Wars game has been pushed back to January 2012. Playdek has indicated on the PlaidHat Games podcast that they have completed the core gameplay engine. They are touching up graphical aspects such as animated dice rolls and writing the AI.
The app is currently being worked on in iOS 4.3, which would provide support on the iPod Touch 2G and the iPhone 3G. It’s still possible that could change to iOS 5 before release. Due to Apple policies, the iPod Touch 2G, the iPhone 3G and other older iOS devices cannot have iOS 5 installed on them.
Additionally Colby recently announced Playdek's plans to port its games to the Android platform next year.
• Aliens Versus Humans Released - November 23 Developer, Leisurerules, has released an turn-based strategy game app for iOS iPhone named Aliens Versus Humans. The app is both inspired and specifically dedicated to X-Com. The launch price is $1.99. Have a look:
• Tiny Token Empires Update - November 23 BulkyPix has update both their iPad (v1.2) and iPhone(v1.3) versions of Tiny Token Empires iPad. Here's the news:
BulkyPix wrote:
What's new
A LOAD button has been added to the main menu, the manuals have been updated. Compatible OpenFeint Incrementing the version numbers
minor bug fixes
• Space Alert Mission Generator Updated - November 23 Play Again Games has updated their iOS iPhone helper app for print board game Space Alert to version 1.3. Now in French!
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What's new
Added French, thanks to Philippe Coupard for the audio and translations. If you want your language added, contact me.
Fixed the hyperspace button during the mission, so you can jump to the end of the mission if you don't need more time.
• Zabu Studio Info Update - November 23 Zabu Studio contacted us to give some updates on the apps they are working on. Zabu Studio is already know for their Facebook games such as Lost Cities, Pickomino, and Poseidon's Realm
Their first venture into iOS will be an iOS Universal version of Take It Easy!. Tentatively they plan to have it ready before the Christmas holidays. Price will be either $0.99 or $1.99 (Zabu is still researching). The app will have at least 3 modes: 1) classic (like the boardgame), 2) progressive mode (where you battle through different stages, possibly each with different rules or timed, and 3) A new Puzzle mode, where the player is presented with a filled in board, and has to "swap" tiles in order to reach a particular score.
Thunderstone has been in closed beta in the last 2 months or so. Zabu has the base set of cards implemented, and has an AI that doesn't suck. Upon launch the game will have a single player campaign mode (where the player plays through a variety of pre-configured village/dungeons), as well as a multiplayer mode where players can start and join games with other real players.
Pricing for Thuderstone will be the "Freemium" model. Everyone gets to play the starter campaign for free and to play multiplayer for free. The user will get a portion of the cards from the base set for free. Beyond that the user will pay a modest price for card "packs" which give a number of cards and a set of single player scenarios with each.
For multi-player games they implemented it with a player "friendly" model where if the "host" of the game has a particular card, and you join his game, then you get to play with that card for free even if you have not paid for it (analogous to the real world someone buys the physical game and you can play with his set without buying it yourself).
Zabu plans to release Thunderstone Online for multiple platforms, the first being Facebook. iOS will follow after.
• Diaballik Price Drop and Update - November 23, 28 Diaballik, the abstract strategy game app by Philippe Lefrancois & Guillaume Lemery has been updated to version 2.0. This update makes it and iOS Universal app. Prior to the update the app's price was dropped from $4.99 to $3.99. In addition to Universal, the app has also had its AI enhanced, and a new expert mode has been added.
• Star Hammer Tactics Released - November 24 Black Lab Games released Star Hammer Tactics last week. The free app is for iPad and was first developed for the Playstation PSP/PS3. It's a turn-based tactical space battle app. But why waste words when a video can show so much more:
Fixed undo for online games and resuming local games. Fixed tap to place leader. Fixed tie breaking score comparison.
Added crosshairs for placing tiles on iPhone. Added all scores to final score screen. Added total strength for both sides to conflict resolution message. Auto-advance online game when a player can only end their turn.
Don't save last zoom mode on iPhone. Disabled pinch zoom on iPad. Fixed auto-zoom to conflict. Fixed bug with move hint during war choice and war resolution. Don't switch players on iPhone until score display is completely updated.
Added interactive log of last moves. Tap the list to highlight the relevant location on the board! NOTE: this feature will not be available for online games until all players in a game have updated to version 1.1 and logged a move.
Fixed edge cases in rule implementation, including - allowing choice of treasures if multiple corner treasures are connected; - allowing players to forgo an action (for instance when out of tiles); - game does not end immediately when tiles are exhausted (current player gets to take a second action, if possible).
Added extra credits for Reiner Knizia.
Fixed behavior when logged out of Game Center and returning to app. Fixed online player name "(Null)". Fixed bug with AI players' total score. Tweaked player name entry. Renamed "Total Fame" to "Total Score". Capped ELO at 3000.
• Hero Mages Coming - November 28 Back in July 2009 a developer named D20 Studios released a free multiplayer flash game called Hero Mages. At the time and since then, the game has been received with a warm and positive response by a number of satisfied BGGers. Monday, Ross of D20 Studios dropped in to to announce that an Android version had been released in September with an iOS version on the way soon.
• iThunderstone Updated - November 28 iThunderstone by developer Chose Code is a helper app, a deck randomizer companion app, for the print board game Thunderstone and it's expansions. It's been updated to version 2.2 with support added for the Heart of Doom Expansion.
• Legion of the Damned Coming Soon - November 28 Conlan Rios of Offworld Games (also the developer of Reiner Knizia's Samurai) tweeted on Monday about his new app, Legion of the Damned.
According to the App's web site, the app will be available in December 2011. The apps is based on the book of the same name by Science fiction author William C. Dietz who, according to Wikipedia, also wrote the script for the app. Here's a short description of the app from the web site:
legionofthedamned.com wrote:
LEGION OF THE DAMNED will test players’ strategic skills through a tactical warfare game for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Gamers will have access to a variety of weapons such as snipers, landmines, indirect mortar fire, stealth and more. An online multiplayer option will allow players to challenge opponents all around the world, or play with friends locally via Hotseat.
• European War 2 for iPad Update - November 30 EasyTech has updated its strategy war game to version 1.3. This is the latest:
• Ascension: Return of the Fallen in Final Polish - November 30 Playdek reports from its Facebook page that Ascension: Return of the Fallen is in final polish. It will be made available as purchase from within the Ascension app, but only after the app gets updated with some new features which will be coming soon. Playdek expects to bring the servers down for an update as well. The app update will be required to connect to the new servers. No word yet on exact timing, but we expect Playdek will want to get things done well before the iTunes Connect Holiday Shutdown.
• Developer Posts Poll Seeking Guidance on UI for Nightfighter - December 1 BGG user, Marstov, who is also developing GMT Games's Nightfighter for both iPad and PC has posted a poll in the Nightfighter forums asking you to help guide some of his decisions in developing the app's UI.
Hopefully the Freemium model on Thunderstone isn't terrible. When it mentions buying packs of cards versus expansions it has me a little worried. Will each hero be sold separately? Will every village card require a purchase? It could get expensive quickly.
Am I safe in assuming it will have asynch play like on Yucata?
Zabu is a pretty curious company: a Facebook developer that doesn't bother to update its own Facebook page.
That would be enough to make me worry about Thunderstone, if it weren't for the fact that most of their Facebook games are actually pretty damn good. It remains to be seen whether or not they can get the game onto iOS, though. I retain a healthy measure of skepticism concerning that.
Not really. It just means developers will have to set any sale prices to take affect by Dec. 21. I'm not seeing how that's "lame" in any way.
It's also going to really cut down on the chaos for everyone involved. It gives developers a firm deadline for any sales and/or important updates. It gives the consumer a set price he will be paying for the next week. No need to check the App Store dozens of times, scramble around to get news from 13 different iOS sites, or whatever. The price you see on Dec. 21 will be your price.
Finally, it's also a nice break for many Apple employees. Apple could easily force the app-approval teams to work through the holidays; no one would even bat an eye if they did. But by setting a one-week freeze, most (if not all) of those folks can take a break. With more than 500,000 apps already approved and in the store, I'd imagine they need one.
Excellent update, as usual, though with the time delay some of the news is a little odd. For example, it is now past the end of November, so do we know if the Caylus app was submitted?
There are several apps that were expected earlier in the year that I am really curious about that I haven't seen updates for in some time. For example, what's the current story with:
This. When I saw "Thunderstone" (instead of, say, "iThunderstone") in the title, I got excited.
Well unless you are excited for the Facebook version, which will be first, I'd suggest tempering your excitement for the iOS release a little as Zabu doesn't seem very interested addressing any iOS target dates.
That is great to see an XCOM clone. I'd been googling about a month ago to see if there was one out there yet, right on time!
Just needs multiplayer to achieve perfection! There has been Laser Squad Nemesis for years now for the PC, but it has that icky subscription model to do multiplayer.
This. When I saw "Thunderstone" (instead of, say, "iThunderstone") in the title, I got excited.
Well unless you are excited for the Facebook version, which will be first, I'd suggest tempering your excitement for the iOS release a little as Zabu doesn't seem very interested addressing any iOS target dates.[/q]
I hope they at least outline how buying cards will work. Specifically I would like to know if I can buy cards for the Facebook version and they will also be unlocked in my iOS version when it comes out. If that is the case, I will buy cards early. If that isn't the case or left unaddressed I can't imagine I will spend any money on the FB version and will hold out for iPad.
If that isn't the case or left unaddressed I can't imagine I will spend any money on the FB version and will hold out for iPad.
I'm guessing it will be similar to their other FB titles, namely Lost Cities and Pickomino. You'll play, earn some generic Zabu "gems," cash them in for power-ups (probably new cards, in this case) and continue the cycle.
I don't think money will be the issue (I've never spent a dime on any of their games) — it will be time. They'll probably use their "charging" system, which only allows for a certain amount of sessions in any given time period. It's the big downfall of all FB games, IMO. Just when you start getting good and/or really interested, you have to stop playing.
I'm sure I'll check out the FB version, but the iOS version will almost certainly have to be different. My guess is that they'll ditch the lame "gems" thing and just go with IAP card-packs.
Hopefully the Freemium model on Thunderstone isn't terrible.
Am I safe in assuming it will have asynch play like on Yucata?
According to Zabu, async will come later. Upon launch it'll be synchronous play first.
Ugh. I know I might be written off as one of the asynch whiners but card games like this really need async. Actually scratch that. They need Ascensions asynch with notification when the person is online so it can swap between sync and async seamlessly.
Honestly designers need to simply copy what Ascension did. License the code or something from PlayDek but that system should be a given on card games.
Excellent update, as usual, though with the time delay some of the news is a little odd. For example, it is now past the end of November, so do we know if the Caylus app was submitted?
And to answer my own question, it looks like Caylus wasn't subbmitted but rather has been delayed to January. It does sound like it will be cool, though!
Ugh. I know I might be written off as one of the asynch whiners but card games like this really need async. Actually scratch that. They need Ascensions asynch with notification when the person is online so it can swap between sync and async seamlessly.
Is Thunderstone a good candidate for asynch? That's an honest question; I only played once, like two years ago or something.
Or, put another way: how do the turns work? Do I take all of my turn, then you take all of your turn? Or are there a bunch of interrupt cards? Or special cases like having to stop for an auction, or something like that?
If it's just Igo-Hugo, like we used to say in the old days, then I'd hope it would be asynch. Any game with a minimum of "interrupt" effects is a logical candidate for asynch, especially card games.
Ugh. I know I might be written off as one of the asynch whiners but card games like this really need async. Actually scratch that. They need Ascensions asynch with notification when the person is online so it can swap between sync and async seamlessly.
Is Thunderstone a good candidate for asynch? That's an honest question; I only played once, like two years ago or something.
Or, put another way: how do the turns work? Do I take all of my turn, then you take all of your turn? Or are there a bunch of interrupt cards? Or special cases like having to stop for an auction, or something like that?
If it's just Igo-Hugo, like we used to say in the old days, then I'd hope it would be asynch. Any game with a minimum of "interrupt" effects is a logical candidate for asynch, especially card games.
Thunderstone is 90% asynchronous. There are a few effects which make other players discard (or something, but usually discard). It works fine asynchronously at yucata.
Thunderstone is 90% asynchronous. There are a few effects which make other players discard (or something, but usually discard). It works fine asynchronously at yucata.
Just like Josh said - easily 90% or more of the cards require/elicit any response from an opponent. There are no such things (as of yet) that interrupt an opponents turn. The only ones at this point are thief type cards that when played make your opponent discard. The game plays swimmingly on Yucata asynch and I tend to have a handful of games running on there at all times (Random No Solarin).
