It appears that Apple has been taking a number of precautions on its App Store lately, essentially childproofing iOS, should a parent choose to do so. In iOS 6, the company introduced a feature called Restrictions that allows a user to prevent unintended downloads, and even the type of music that one can listen to.

Apple also began to add a note to the App Store for in-app purchases for ‘freemium’ apps. Now, the company is going ahead and adding age ratings that clearly states what suggested age range should use the app. The tag is located directly underneath the name of the app, ensuring that a user will be fully aware of the age that is required for the download.

Apple has had a number of issues with its App Store in recent months, including several applications containing explicit images that were mistakenly approved for the store. Apple has also refunded money to a number of customers who had children that mistakenly downloaded hundreds of dollars worth of in-app purchases. With all of these steps, Apple is hoping to make the App Store guidelines as clear as possible and is also looking to retain the same simplicity and user-friendliness.

{Via AppleInsider}

After multiple complaints from parents and other App Store users about mistakenly buying in-app purchases, the Cupertino company is finally addressing the widespread complaint. Last week, Apple quietly updated the App Store to add a note to the “Free” apps in the store that mentions on the bottom that it “Offers In-App Purchases.” This warning is currently displayed only on the iTunes App Store, but will likely be available on iOS soon, as that is where the unintended purchases are usually made.

A number of users, mostly parents have complained that their children unknowingly make purchases for upgrades, and other tokens inside of applications. Some of these In-App purchases can range anywhere from $1 and sometimes can go past $100.

There have been a number of reports on the issues that customers have had with the flawed in-app purchasing system, including a five-year-old boy in Britain that charged £1,700 to his parents credit cards through in-app purchases in the game Zombie.

Apple has been sued by some customers, including a man from Phoenixville, PA, who filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the company was allowed to “pocket millions of dollars” off of unauthorized purchases. In order to address the concerns, not only has Apple added the new warning, the company has also begun to refund money and give $5 iTunes credits to customers who filed claims that the in-app purchases were an error. It is unclear what other actions Apple will take if the issue persists.

{Via AppleInsider}

Firemonkeys have announced that Real Racing 3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch will be available for download on February 28th. The adrenaline rushing racing simulation has been widely popular on the App Store. The original Real Racing was developed by Firemint and then developers released the second version. The developers were then acquired by EA.

The third installment of the racing simulation will be free-to-play. Real Racing 3 features “46 licensed vehicles covering 3 classes, a 22 car grid, real world tracks, 8 varied event types and 900+ events.” The freemium model will make the newest racing title from EA free to download and then unlock content either by advancing in the game or by buying in-game content.

Real Racing 3 was designed from the ground up to be a free to play experience. We are so excited about this game and wanted it to be accessible to everyone so we didn’t want there to be any barriers to entry.

The title features “Time Shifted” multiplayer mode, where you can compete with another players race even if they’re not online at the same time. What’s interesting about this feature is that your race could impact the other users’ time as you race to win.

The developers promise to “add more free and exciting content with every update.” Real Racing 3 is certainly one of the highly anticipated racing games on iOS for 2013 and it will be interesting to see how the freemium model works out for EA.

Clash of Clans for iPhone and iPad was updated today with new content. The real time strategy game from Supercell has been a huge hit on the App Store. Supercell and Backflip Studios were recently mentioned by Apple in their press release announcing 40 billion App Store downloads, two emerging game development studios that brought in over $100 million combined for their leading freemium titles.

The game is free-to-play where users have an option to pay for in-app purchases. Freemium titles on the App Store have proved to be a huge success. Clash of Clans has been consistently featured as number one Top Grossing app on Apple’s App Store.

The latest update version 3.25 brings new leaderboards, level 6 troops (barbarians, giants, archers and balloons), new air defenses and much more. The developers at Supercell have been very active at updating the game with new content. User reviews are mostly favorable and the game continues to top the charts.

If you love real time strategy games or war type games then Clash of Clans is certainly the game for you. It may not be for hardcore gamers but it is certainly fun for some casual play. If you’re a beginner or haven’t played any real time strategy games then Clash of Clans is an excellent start. Just one thing, be prepared to get addicted and soon you’ll know how much fun farming, donating and getting more trophies can be.

Love Clash of Clans? Have you unlocked all level 6 troops? Post a photo of level 6 troops in the comments section below and share your thoughts on the new update.

A new racing game has hit the App Store this week from NaturalMotion who already have the popular Backbreaker range of games under their belts.

CSR Racing for iPhone and iPad has two distinct differences from many other racing games in the App Store. Firstly, the racing in question is city street drag racing where you pot your wits against other cars of a short distance to see who can accelerate the fastest.

The second distinctive feature of CSR Racing is the fact that it is one of the first racing games to use the freemium model. This means that while it’s a free app to download there are multiple opportunities to spend your real money via in-app purchase, more of that later.

The game is possibly one of the most beautiful racing games available for iOS and that’s certainly the case in regard to the multiple vehicles in the game which pop of the screen in glorious technicolor. All the cars are customizable to allowing you to put own creative spin on your drive.

The racing is pretty simple and is more a test of timing and reactions, as there is no steering involved your focus is on changing gear at the optimum moment and using your turbo.

This may seem all rather basic but it’s actually good fun as you attempt to out sprint your generally bigger and better opponents.

Progress in CSR Racing see’s you challenge a variety of city crews as you compete against them via increasingly difficult races. To get your vehicle into a position where it can challenge the various crews you can race in other events to earn cash and gold.

It’s this use of cash and gold that can become increasingly frustrating as the balance between progress and in-app purchase is heavily balanced in the favor of the later.

Yes, you can progress through the game without spending a penny but in it’s current form it will take you a long time to earn enough money to challenge the top players not only because of the cost to upgrade and buy vehicles but also because gas is in limited supply and it can only be earned by either inviting friends to play or waiting for time to re-fill your tank.

The freemium model is clearly one that works but in CSR Racing the balance is clearly set incorrectly which causes frustration and annoyance.

From a gaming perspective CSR Racing is a success, from a monetary perspective it’s a complete failure. I would recommend taking a look but be warned that you will either need to be patient or be willing to dip your hand into your wallet on a regular basis.

The Simpsons – Tapped Out

Homer Simpson has never been one to turn his back on a freebie and now he’s giving back with ‘The Simpsons – Tapped Out’, EA’s entry into the freemium market place.

In typical Homer action he is distracted during his shift while playing on his MyPad with disastrous consequences in that he destroys Springfield, leaving you and Homer to bring it back to it’s former glories.

For those of you familiar with the show you won’t be disappointed as all your favorite characters and locations are there and it’s been written with the same irreverent humor as the TV show itself. In fact it also pokes fun at itself and the freemium model of gameplay which is nice to see.

For those who have played these types of games before there isn’t too much new here but it’s clearly grabbing a lot of peoples attention as over the first few days of its launch it’s be hit by various connectivity issues which has prevented the game from being played at times.

I’m sure these issues will be addressed however and everyone will be back helping Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie to rebuild Springfield. This is done via the usually variety of tasks which can all be completed without handing over a dime. However, should you want to speed things up a little you can purchase additional donuts via in-app purchases.

Now I have nothing against the freemium model, I’ve been addicted to Tiny Tower in my time and as long as the balance is set correctly it can work well. However, while the in-app purchases start at $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99 the top price is $99.99 for 2400 donuts and while I’ll all not impinging on other players freedom, surely nobody should be allowed to spend $100 on an in-app purcahse!

If you are a fan of the Simpons and this type of game in general then you should certainly give Simpsons – Tapped Out a look as it has everything a game like this should have. However, just don’t buy 2400 donuts however much you think Homer would like them!

The Simpsons – Tapped Out is available in the App Store now for free.

Monsterz’ Revenge is a game that pits you and the rest of monster-kind against fast food chains that are taking over the monster graveyard. This game is a food fight between the humans and the monsters and you’re on the side of the monsters. You can play mini-games and it also features Farmville style customization of your graveyard.

Monsterz Revenge is extremely simple to pick up and play despite its several different methods of play. Whether you are tricking out your hideout where you serve your food, playing mini-games or battling the human restaurants with your battle car, the controls are simple. This is largely a menu based game but the mini games require tap style gameplay. Timing seemed to be the central theme in the mini-games I played. The shock game that I played tasked you with a selected icon like the one that popped up in a certain window. This was a read and react style game that required some quick thumbs. The battles with other restaurants were almost all about timing. A power meter goes up and down and selecting it at its highest point causes the most damage. These dead simple methods of control make this game easy to pick up and get right to the fun.

The three core game types help change up the game play throughout the game. The part of the game where you serve customers and deck out your hideout really reminded me of Farmville style of play. Buying new tables and burners to cook with reminded me of buying new tractors and things from the hugely popular farming game. The mini-games, like in all games, is a great way of varying up the game play and changing the pace from time to time while giving the player a way to earn more money and points. The battle car is the most crucial part of the game as the entire point is to compete with the human restaurants that are invading your turf and send them packing. The battle car is what much of the game revolves around as you are steadily trying to earn money to purchase upgrades for your car. This is the way you beat the other fast food joints so this is crucial and kind of fun. Essentially you are juicing up a huge battering ram and it looks awesome. The three different game-types change the pace and do a great job of complimenting one another.

The presentation was very impressive. I was impressed with the overall visual aspects of the game. They really focused on putting some detail in a game I didn’t expect it from. There are nine different characters and always pesky humans wondering into your hideout that you must do away with.

The different game-types have their own independent look and while they follow a central theme, they are different from one another. The audio is also very impressive and the sound effects are great. You also have the option to visit friends’ graveyards, view their car garage and even send them gifts. Sound familiar?

I really enjoyed this game and I definitely think it was a great idea pulling some ideas from the popular ‘freemium’ games. Overall the game offers a lot of content and it comes at a great price… free! Check it out!

Pros

• Great Presentation
• 3 Game Types
• 5 Mini Games
• Tons of Personality

Cons

• More Characters
• More Environments
• More Mini Games… They’re fun

Free
Category: Games
Released: May 04, 2011
Version: 1.01
1.01
Size: 36.5 MB
Language: English
Seller: Astro Ape Studios, LLC
© Astro Ape Studios
Rated 9+ for the following:
Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later

Ngmoco never fail to produce outstanding games for the iPhone and iPod touch. Previously they have had Eliminate and Touch Pets Dogs and most recently Godfinger. Godfinger at the moment is only available in Canada, it’s a way of ‘beta testing’ the game before releasing it to the rest of the world.

The game play is simple, you are the God and have a planet of your own with followers. These followers worship the ground you walk on. You can work them day and night, let them rest or have them running around a shrine worshipping you. Basically anything you want because you are in full control of them.

How to play the game is fairly straight forward. You have a little planet on your screen you rotate with your finger. You pick up your followers and get them to work on your farms, create new buildings for you or sit at the local tavern for a much deserved rest. A popular feature to this game is the social factor and the game offers great social interactive features with Plus+ network.

The game still needs a lot of tweaks, push notifications are coming through very quickly and far too often. Negative comments about the game are already starting to emerge. Many feel the game is time consuming and that you need to play it far too much to keep on top of things within the game. However, I feel this is not the case. I have had it now two days and I don’t have that much time on my hands. It is all about understanding the game and managing your playing time. Once you get to grips with that you can dip in and out of the game through-out the day. Another big complaint and one that is very common for Ngmoco games is the cost. The game is free to purchase but then you have in-app purchases as well. When you first begin the game you get ‘awe’ and ‘mana’ to start you off.

Mana is quite easy to build up over time in the game but requires patience and you don’t really need to buy it. Awe on the other hand once that runs out if you do want more you will have to purchase it. I so far have not and I don’t think I would for a while but I can see at some point I may have to purchase it to help me along in the game. This though isn’t all that expensive in my opinion but one that many have complained about already in gaming forums.

GodFinger is a well designed game and the graphics are amazing. It’s all easy to play and understand. You are still going to get the full gaming experience even if you don’t spend a penny of your own money. Of course Ngmoco have placed buttons around the game to tempt you into the in-app purchases but its not a requirement of the actual game. You can still do everything it will just take longer, it requires time management and patience on your part.

I think Ngmoco are offering everybody a great gaming experience and yes it is evident they also have support their business model, and I think many other iPhone game developers will soon follow this ‘freemium’ model.

Do you like ‘freemium’ games? Let us know what you think about such games in the comments section below.