Earlier this year we reviewed .vs Racing and thoroughly enjoyed it, the only flaw being the lack of online multiplayer and Game Center integration. Now though VS. Racing 2 has been released promising to address some of those issues and a lot more.
VS. Racing 2 is a top down arcade racer where you race your tiny car around 36 different tracks. Your car can, and will need to be, upgraded based on the coins that you earn competing in races. Don’t worry if you don’t like to have to tinker with your car though as all you can tweak is your speed, acceleration and off-road capabilities.
There are three modes to the racing, first up is the standard single player fare where you unlock tracks as you progress through winning races. Online multiplayer has also been addressed although this is not real time racing. Instead you get to set a time around the track and then challenge a friend to beat your ghost time. It’s an improvement on the original but still no replacement for full online multiplayer racing.
Finally there is local multiplayer racing and this time there is the addition power-ups that you can pick up on track and unleash on your opponents including mines, oil and speed boosts to name but a few. This is a nice addition should you have the occasion where you have a group of friends available to play locally.
Once again the controls work well with three options available for you to pick from, these are virtual buttons, virtual steering wheel and the accelerometer. All of these are work well and it will really be down to personal preference as to which one works for you. What would be nice if it was possible to control the sensitivity of these controls too.
While the controls work well within the game the same can’t be said for the navigation menu’s which are sluggish. Sluggishness is also a problem in the loading of each level which considering the racing tracks are so small take a long time to load.
The tracks do look nice though, they show a good level of detail around the tracks should you ever find the time to look at it as you race around the track at speed. There are also multiple surfaces which directly affect how the car handles which you will have to take into consideration unless you want to go from 1st to 4th in a single corner.
With the addition of Game Center achievements as well as the ghost online racing this is certainly an improvement on .vs Racing, however the sluggish navigation and long load times let it down.
If you want to give it a try then VS. Racing 2 is available in the App Store for $0.99.
[rating: 3.5/5]
During Apple’s WWDC keynote event on Monday, the company introduced iOS 6 with a redesigned Maps application, built entirely from the ground up. Rumors that Apple was looking to abandon its reliance on Google’s Map data for its Maps app were around for quite some time, and now it has been confirmed.
The new and improved Maps application in iOS 6 adds a number of features not seen in the Google version included in iOS since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. All of the cartography was done by Apple, with images taken from airplanes from above for the 3D mapping portion of the data.
The new Maps app is based entirely off a Vector engine, providing smooth scrolling, panning and zooming when navigating maps. Features of the new Maps application include, turn-by-turn directions that can also be operated with Siri, local search for millions of businesses,, a crowd-sourced traffic service for real time updates on accidents and traffic issues, Yelp integration, and 3D mapping called ‘Flyover’. The Turn by Turn navigation is presented with street names, smooth, and can switch quickly from an overhead map to navigation.
Apple’s 3D Flyover feature is an excellent replacement for Google’s own Street View and allows users to pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate an almost real time 3D image. The 3D images allow for a 360° view of buildings and allows direct interaction with the picture, unlike the current version which can only be moved horizontally or vertically and is restricted at some points.
iOS 6 will be released publicly sometime during the fall timeframe of iPhone 5. Apple issued iOS 6 beta 1 to developers during the event on Monday and will release several betas before the public release.
{Image Credit: Apple}
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One of the most eagerly anticipated games has finally made its way to the iPhone and iPad. But while the wait is finally over it may not be what some players of the massively successful franchise want.
Burnouts first journey onto iOS is in the from of the mini game, Burnout Crash, that has already made it onto the PlayStation and XBox Arcade. So instead of a full-on 3D crash-fest of mangled metal, you have the pleasure of playing God, (or should that be the Devil), in a crashtastic onslaught of exploding cars, trucks and every other type of vehicle you can think of.
The 2D top-down view looks great, across a massive 18 different junctions the detail pops of the screen and the whole environment is interactive so not only can you destroy the vehicles but also blow up the surrounding buildings, parked cars and pretty much anything that burns.
Each of the 18 junctions have three different game modes so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to hone your skills and have plenty to keep coming back for as each of the have 5 stars to be collected based on high scores and other side-goals such as performing special moves or destroying certain items.
The 3 modes are Rush Hour, Pile Up and Road Block and while they all take place on the same junctions they require slightly different techniques to succeed. Rush Hour puts you up against the clock to destroy as much as you can while Pile Up tasks you to crash as many vehicles as possible and then keep them blazing. Road Block meanwhile is as simple as blocking any vehicles from driving off the screen, lose 5 and it’s game over.
All of the modes provide special vehicles too that offer a variety of challenges. Stop a Pizza delivery truck and you get to spin the lotto wheel a win a bonus item while stopping the bank truck will rain down bags of money on you.
Like all great games Burnout Crash is easy to learn but difficult to master. Controls aid this as all that’s required is a swipe to move your car or truck while a tap of your vehicle will cause it to explode once the burnout bar is maximized of course.
There are 7 cars and trucks to unlock and each one offer a slightly different balance of power and control, switching between these vehicles can offer different opportunities to grab all 5 stars on each level and you will often find yourself heading back to earlier levels with better cars to grab all the available stars.
While causing all of this mayhem you are blasted with a cacophony sound and a great set of songs from the 80’s. I certainly recommend playing this game with headphones in to get the best sound experience and so that you don’t annoy anyone sitting around you!
Unfortunately the multi-player option that they provide in the form of Autolog, is a little disappointing. It certainly works and you can send challenges to your friends but no ability to play against other players in real time is a real disappointment. And while GameCenter integration is included there are no leaderboards, just 20 achievements to be unlocked.
That being said, I do keep coming back to Burnout Crash to unlock more levels and to go back and gain more stars, it could just be so much better if the social aspects of the game worked better.
Burnout Crash is a universal game and is available in the App Store, despite its shortcomings it’s still a recommended purchase.
[rating: 4.5/5]What we like
What to know
One of, if not the, most popular Twitter client’s for iOS has been updated today in anticipation for the new iPad (3rd generation) which will be released on Friday 16th March. While some deveolopers may have been happy just to update the graphics to take advantage of the high resolution display of the new iPad Tapbots have bundled another great feature and a few of tweaks into this update.
Some of the more minor tweaks include restricted the new tweet alert sound to mentions, DM’s and new tweets via pull to refresh and double tapping the timeline tab at the top of the screen will initially take you to your last read tweet before going to the top.
The major new feature though is the streaming feature that will automatically load and scroll through your timeline as new tweets arrive. The feature works great and allows you to leave Tweetbot for iPad running as your iPad sits on your desk top as the updates to your timeline automatically scroll by in real time.
The update is only available for the iPad version of Tweetbot at the moment as is currently available as a free update to those who already own it. If you are new to Tweetbot it’s $2.99 and worth every cent.
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Multipods Escalation is a fun-puzzler that utilizes real-time strategy to challenge you to make on the fly decisions while keeping your eye on the prize. Most of the puzzles are easy enough to solve, but you can’t forget your enemies, the bugs. You must fend of the bugs and solve the puzzle. You are the main man of the crustaceans tasked with keeping your territory by killing off the bugs.
The game utilizes a simple tap-to-command control system. Each of your multipods have three basic controls; move, attack and defend. You utilize the map that is in a grid form to navigate your soldiers to where they need to be. A tap on a square and your multipod will go there, a double-tap and your multipod will defend that square and a double tap on an enemy will cause your multipod to attack the enemy. These controls must be used at the right time in the right 
place to be affective. Rambo style play works in the early stages but does not pay off in the later rounds. The game utilizes different mechanisms to change up the map design. A few examples of these mechanisms would be the buttons you must have a multipod land on to open a given door and a sort of teleport square that will send you to a corresponding point at a different part of the map. The use of these different controls and mechanisms help break up the game play and change the way you go about your business.
Multipods sports 45 bases of varying difficulty. The levels are all unique and challenge you to play a different way each time. Sometimes being the aggressor is the way to go while sometimes it is better to sit back and let the bugs separate themselves from one another so that you can pick them off in smaller groups. There are varying types of bugs, four to be exact to your six different multipods. Make sure you attack the right bugs with the right multipods or you will your tasks to be quite daunting.
The game is a puzzler at heart with a slight touch of real time strategy to change it up. The level design goes a long way into increasing the playability of this game. At first you might think the maps seem simple and find very little challenge but as you go the map design will prove to bring about new and exciting challenges that make you utilize the real time strategy element while not forgetting the puzzle element. At times it can seem like a lot to wrap your head around. You will need to think quick too because the bugs don’t stop attacking just because you are plotting your next move so don’t get caught napping.
Finally, I’d like to mention the presentation and overall feel of the game. The game is very fluid and had no problem navigating the controls and maps at all. The presentation, like most puzzlers, left something to be desired but I feel that that isn’t a huge deal because of the gameplay. The audio again is good but not great. It is certainly adequate for a game that focuses on the gameplay. I really like the fact that it ties into game center so you can unlock achievements and brag to friends. If you are a puzzler who likes a new twist to the challenge such as real time strategy I suggest that you give this game a try, it will definitely challenge your puzzle and strategy skills.
Pros
Cons
$0.99
Category: Games
Updated: Apr 11, 2011
Current Version: 1.1.0
1.1.0
Size: 15.5 MB
Language: English
Seller: Tristan Behrens
© 2011 Aztlan Games
Rated 9+ for the following:
Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.
Gallery
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The confirmed list of devices that Apple’s Game Center Social Network will support has been posted on their web page dedicated to that particular feature of iOS 4.1.
It is no real surprise that the iPhone 3G, first gen. iPod and the grandaddy of them all the iPhone 2G are not supported. But it is still disappointing.
Being fair to Apple the overhead for multiplayer gaming would be a hefty task for the older iDevices to cope with as well as running a game. And the combined processes would draw a lot of battery power as the devices would be running flat out. But it seems a shame that those with older iPhones and iPods could not get access to the leader-boards and other less real time intensive tasks.
Game Center went live for developers this week, and many of them will be hoping to roll out Game Center enabled updates, and new games in the coming weeks.
Apple’s App Store approval efficiency has dropped to less than 80% of Apps being approved within 7 days. So it seems that Shoemaker is either busy making some new “apps” for his own web site, or the Apple App Store Gnomes are genuinely overworked.
Are you excited about Game Center in iOS 4.1? Or disappointed it will not run on your device? Have your say in the comments…
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We Rule is developed by Ngmoco and New Toy and is a great Kingdom building, social interactive game. The game play is simple you farm and harvest crops, build shops and houses and rule your own kingdom. The game is relatively easy to play but here is a detailed run through and tips to help you along.
When you first launch We Rule for iPhone you sign into your Plus+ account. If you don’t have one already it is very straight forward to set up via your iPhone. Then the first thing you will see is a picture of your kingdom and if you already have some plus+ friends you will see their kingdoms too, all nicely lined up together. Each kingdom will have their name above it and a number next to it, that number is the level they are on.
Once you tap into your castle when you first start the game there is a little wizard who helps you along a few levels with an easy to follow tutorial. The first thing he will do is teach you how to plant a farm and grow crops. You get money and xp (experience points) for the crops you sell and you need to earn money to build and expand your kingdom. It’s very easy to do, you click on a piece of farm to buy and place it where ever you want, you choose the crop you want to grow and it is then planted for you. Before you purchase the crop it will tell you how long it is going to take to grow and this time is real time so thats how long it will actually take. When you first start the wizard will get you growing corn which takes 1 minute but all crops vary in time. If you leave the game you will get a push notification telling you when they are ready so you can go harvest them. If you don’t they will eventually spoil and you will lose them. So its kind of a time management game as well.
Once you have earned some money you will want to buy some houses for your people. These are quite cheap and will also earn you some extra money every few hours, although this isn’t alot. Every time you do something on your kingdom you earn money and xp. You will go up a level when you reach a certain xp amount and each level unlocks different things. The houses for example earn 4 coins and 2 xp points so at first I didnt actually buy lots of houses as they were not worth my investment.
Next up and this is when it gets interesting is buying a business. Depending on what money you have and what level you are at there will be certain shops available for you to purchase. You will get to buy your first one whilst doing your tutorial. Now this is when your other plus+ friends come in. Once you have a business fully constructed you will have a sign above your kingdom saying open for business. This is then telling your friends that they can come and place an order. They come into your kingdom, find the business, place an order, you accept it and then your business gets to work at producing it. Once its ready you click on it and it is delivered to which ever friend ordered it and you get money and xp points! I have quite a variety of shops at the moment and I also have some that are the same. Even if your friends don’t place an order the business still makes some kind of profit, so because of this I bought a few extra taylors as they earn quite good money and xp points. The watch towers and bakers pay a worth while investment as well.
Those are the main aspects of the game. To grow crops as I said takes time, when you first buy a building it needs to be constructed so that takes real time and the same goes for any orders placed. So you have to either wait it out or use whats called ‘mojo’ to speed it up. So if you want your beans ready there and then you click on them and it will tell you how much mojo you need. So for example 3, you click on use mojo and it processes the crops straight away. If you have no mojo you have to buy this with real money from the app store but to be honest unless you really can’t wait you don’t need it. I’ve never used any and I’m on level 16, part of the fun is waiting it out.
There are 20 different crops available and its up to you to choose the right ones to grow. You will need to work out what time they are going to be ready to harvest so that you can deal with them at the right time so for example if I know I’m not going to beable to play much all day I grow beans as they take 1 day to grow so I dont need to worry my crops will be spoilt. I always grow the same crop in every bit of farm area I have so I don’t lose track of whats ready and when.
Once you have bought a few shops and farms there is a vast amount of items you can buy to decorate your farm for your little people. Have a nosey at some of your friends kingdoms and see what they have it gets really interesting! You can build roads, trees, rivers, moats, fountains just take a look around the store.
Now if you are like me you will place your business or house somewhere then a few levels later decide it needs moving around abit. To do this you go into the store and click on redesign. It will then let you move what ever you want to where ever. Watch out though as it is very fiddly and at times you get fustrated as it picks up the wrong item or won’t place it where you want. It just takes time and move your finger over it slowly and carefully. If you decide you don’t want it any more you can sell it back to the shop but you don’t actually get what you paid for it back so you will make a loss.
Now every time you place something in your kingdom watch the changes that happen. Every item brings more people to live in your kingdom. The first time I got a pond a huge frog started jumping around my kingdom! The stables produce horses, the bakers a baker and houses more people. You get the idea! So the more you do the busier it gets. Don’t forget when you visit your friends kingdoms if they are open for business place an order as well. It all adds up into your money and xp and of course earns your friends money as well.
You can also extend your kingdom when you get to certain levels in the game because the more shops you buy you will need the extra space.
Those are the main things to help you along the way. It really is an enjoyable game once you have a few farms and businessess running and one that you can dip into through out the day. Here are some of my own personal tips:
Finally just have fun and show everybody that you rule! Share your game tips in the comments below and share your plus+ account username to let other players add you as friend.
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