Angry Birds Board Game

Photo by Electricpig.co.uk

One of the most exciting CES 2011 news for me wasn’t even about technology.

We all love Angry Birds. You see them everywhere! They’re invading our phones, tablets, computers, heck, there’s even a rumor that a movie about them would be out. So I couldn’t help smiling when Mattel announced that they’re working on an Angry Birds Board game! It’s called “Angry Birds Knock on Wood” and so far, the prototype looks fabulous.

How do you play? Basically, it’s a two player game where you have a stack of cards to pick from. One person picks a card and the other player builds the structure on the card. At the bottom of the card is which and how many birds Player 1 can use to knock down the structure. Player 1 takes the slingshot and birds and try to knock down all the pigs. On each card is a number. Knock all the pigs down and that’s how many points you receive. First person to 1000 points wins.

The game is said to come out May 2011. Until then, I’ll keep crafting up my own Angry Birds toys. ;)

(Via Electricpig.co.uk via GeekBeat.TV)

Angry Birds 3D Display

I was inspired this weekend and created this crafty Angry Birds 3D display. You can make your own too by following my steps! Enjoy!

iPhone & iPad App Review: We Doodle

If you love to draw, or doodle, then I have a game for you! It’s Ngmoco’s latest title called “We Doodle.” It’s a a cross between “Pictionary” and “Win, Lose, or Draw” where you take turns drawing out words and have your friends guess what it is.

Login with your Plus+ account and start a new game. Here you have a three game choices. You can play a match with friends (people on your Plus+ friends list), a match with random players, or a live match where you draw and guess with users around the world in real-time.

Click on “Go” to create a new game. At the start of each game, you also have the option of adjusting the game’s settings. You can change the:

• Number of pictures (up to 10)
• Rounds (up to 5)
• Time Limit (4 hours to 7 days)

Once you create a game, you are given a word to draw. Draw the word to the best of your ability. You also have a selection of colors and tools to use in the lower right. Submit your drawings and wait for your friends to guess them. Your friends have 60 seconds to guess each drawing. This is a turn-based game, so you can play at your convenience.

Once your friend(s) make their guesses, it’s your turn to award them points! It’s 3 points for every drawing they get right, and if you reply within 5:30 hours, you get extra bonus points as well.

The points you earn are the amount of coins you get. Collect and save your coins to purchase new backgrounds, stencils, ink colors, pens, brushes, and more! The more your play, the more fun things you can purchase from the Doodle shop.

We Doodle is a freemium app, so you’ll get the ocassional ads. You can remove the ads by going to the “Doodle Bank” and purchasing the upgrade for $4.99. The ads are somewhat bothersome in the iPhone version, but are non-intrusive on the iPad version. Of the two versions, the game is more fun to play on the iPad because of the screen real estate.

Some tips when playing:

• If you want to save the image you drew, take a snapshot of it. You won’t see the full image again after you submit it.
• Be careful not to close the app when taking a snapshot. You will lose your image if it wasn’t submitted yet.
• Useful tools to purchase are the brushes and inks colors. I didn’t find the stencils, pen, spray can very useful in my drawings.
• If you want to earn more XP and coins quickly, play the Live mode (as games are played instantly and coins are awarded right after).
• Turn Doodle Assist off. It tries to connect all of your lines even when you don’t want them to.

Overall, it’s a fun game to play with your friends and I’m sure it’ll bring out your creativity. You might just unlock the hidden artist inside of you!

Download: iPhone/iPod Touch Version (Free) | iPad Version (Free)

First Look at We Farm for iPhone & iPad!

Are you ready for another addictive social game from Ngmoco? First there was TouchPetsDogs, then we got We Rule, and then Godfinger. And now, Ngmoco launched the new We Farm worldwide, and it’s becoming a hit!

If you’re addicted to games like “We Rule,” you’ll enjoy the new We Farm game as well. It’s a great alternative to Farmville, especially if you have an iPad. The graphics are marvelous and the game play is pretty fun.

It’s similar to “We Rule” with the familiar graphics and game layout, but of course, you get to take care of a farm instead of a kingdom. Additional tasks include petting your animals to keep them happy. This turns them into prize-ribbon-winning animals!

Check out the game trailer:

Because games like these are popular, you may experience some server connection problems and downtime. Be aware of this before you start playing. Hopefully they have a fix for this soon.

The game is available for free for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. For more information, see their official website at Ngmoco.com A full review to come soon.

Descpicable Me

Despicable Me, a 3D animated comedy by Universal Pictures, opened in theaters this past weekend and has already hit number one in the box office! The movie stars Steve Carrel as the voice of Gru, a Scrooge-like character who is determined to become a supervillain . And if you enjoyed the lovely voice of Mary Poppins, you’ll be happy to know that Julie Andrews played the voice of Gru’s mother!

Immerse yourself in Gru’s villainous world right on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad! Despicable Me: Minion Mania is available for your gaming pleasure. The game is an adorable puzzler that will surely tickle your brain cells. Guide the minions through various puzzles by moving them in around in Gru’s top secret laboratory! Put them in the right positions to unlock the next level.

For more information about the Despicable Me: Minions Mania iPhone game, see the official website. An iPad version available too. Both versions are currently on sale for 99 cents! But hurry, this sale won’t last very long. A free lite version is also available if you want to try it out. Full review forthcoming.

Purchase: iPhone Version (99 cents) | iPad version (99 cents) | Lite iPhone Version (Free)

FixPix Comes to the iPhone!

eBoy’s FixPix is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch! It uses a combination of beautiful artwork, puzzle solving skills, 3d effects, and the phone’s accelerometer to create a one-of-a-kind game that keep your mind boggled.

Tilt the phone to align the artwork correctly to move onto the next level. There are 100 individual levels total; many with 3f effects. Some are layered compositions or slice madness! Be sure to check out this very unique game.

You can now purchase Fix Pix for $1.99 USD in the iTunes app store. For more information, see their official website at eBoyFixPix.com.

iBrite for your iPad!

If you’re like me, this iPad app will bring you back to the good old days of your childhood. Remember the Lite Brite toy? It comes in fancy designs now, but I remember the old rectangle version. Check out iBrite the app for your iPad. I like this version since there’s not tiny pieces you need to pick up when you’re done playing. ;)

The app will be available in the iTunes App store on Friday, April 23rd. For more information, please see iBriteApp.com.

iBrite Trailer

Lite Brite Commercial from the 80′s

And just for fun, here’s an old Lite Brite commercial from the 80′s:

iPad App Review: Godfinger

Name: Godfinger
Written By: Ngmoco
Category: Games
Price: Free for iPad

Size: 13.9 MB (iPad)
Requirements: iPad
Version: 1.2
Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Build, grow, and cultivate your own planet with the touch of your finger, literally. Godfinger has finally been released in the US, but not for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Instead, they launched on the iPad platform first.

You start out with a plain round planet and one follower. You also get to play God, well your finger does at least. Drag and drop your follower on the totem pole so he can worship you, generating mana and XP points.

As you collect XP points and level, more and more followers will be added to your planet. Make them happy by constructing buildings and shelter for them, giving them rain and sunshine, and a place to relax and energize.

Drag clouds over the planet, then press and drag down to make it rain. This will make your planet much greener, growing grass, trees, and shrubs everywhere. You can also do the same with the sun. Press and drag the sun down to bring sunlight to the planet as well as grow flowers.

The gameplay consists of these point systems:

Mana – needed to perform Wonders (like rain or sunshine) and regenerates over time. Followers can speed up mana production process by worshiping at the totem, or you can purchase mana boost in the Awe store.

Gold – your followers earn gold for your by doing activities on the planet like farming. Use the gold to purchase building material for your followers. You can also exchange Awe for gold in the Awe store.

Awe – these can be exchanged for goodies in the Awe store. If you need more Awe, you can purchase them with real money from $2.99 to $29.99 as in-app purchases.

Godfinger looks fabulous on the bit iPad screen. With this new device, small popup notes and menus can be easily displayed on the screen, making game play intuitive and fun.

Godfinger uses the Plus+ social gaming network to connect to your friends. Once you unlock the “Galaxy Map” goal, you can use your fingers in a ‘pinch in’ gesture to zoom out. Doing so will show your planet smaller and smaller, and allow you to view all of your friends planets as well. Tap on your friend’s planet to see its information. You even have an option to visit their planet to see how things are going.

The notifications in the game are a bit excessive and it seems like your planet may need a lot of attention. I would suggest turning “Alert Notifications” off once you get the hang of the game. To have a healthy planet, check back frequently on your followers and their activities.

Overall, this game for the iPad is gorgeous. The graphics are bright and colorful and the sounds and animations are quite enjoyable. The gameplay took a while to figure out because there were a lot of popup screens to read. But once you get the hang of it, it’s very easy. Best of all, it’s free, and there is only a minimal display of ads in the app. If you have an iPad, be sure to put this one your must-have list. An iPhone/iPad version is will available soon.

Godfinger is available in the US iTunes app store for free and you can read more about the game on their official website.

This article was originally posted in Beatweek Magazine.

Video Trailer

iPhone/iPad App Review: We Rule

Written By: Ngmoco & New Toy
Category: Games
Price: Free iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad

Size: 33.5 MB (iPhone) / 35 MB (iPad)
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad
Version: 1.2
Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Love to build things? Now you can build your very own kingdom, one crop at a time. We Rule is a new social kingdom-building game for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and now iPad.

You start out with a small fort and some farm land. Plant crops to sell and get gold in return. Use the gold to purchase shops, more crops, trees, and decorations for your kingdom. The more you play, the more XP points you get. If the gameplay is not fast enough for you, you can use your magical bottle of mojo to speed things up. Mojo helps your crops grow faster as well as speed ups services from your shops. You get extra bottles of mojo every time you level, or you can purchase more via in-app purchases.

Your kingdom is alive. Add horse stables to your land and a horse will appear walking around. Add a pond, and a frog with a crown will hop around your land. Add a wizard tower, and you land will have wizards wandering around. It becomes a living and breathing kingdom that you get to rule and take care of.

The social aspect of the game happens when you visit your friends’ shops, and they visit yours. You can view all of your neighbor kingdoms and see what shops they have open. Click on their shops and order 20 Royal Ball gowns, or 10 science projects, or 1000 stone blocks, etc. You can purchase services and items from your friends, in return you get XP points.

We Rule uses the Plus+ gaming network to keep track of your friends, gold and XP count, awards, and achievements. Everything is saved on the servers, so if you were to delete the app, your content is still saved.

We Rule is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Since the game is graphic-intensive, it is not a universal app. Instead, a new iPad-only app is available. This app is different from the iPhone/iPod Touch version in that scrolling to see your kingdom is not necessary anymore. You can view your (or your friend’s) entire kingdom on the screen. You can also view your social map easily on the lower right instead of going to another screen. The new iPad app makes great use of the space available on the iPad.

Although the game is fun, creative and addicting, there are also some drawbacks. We Rule requires internet connection in order to play. There may also be some server downtime and some internet connection lost while you play. This happens now and then, but it’s not bad enough that you would want to stop playing.

All you need is a little dash of creativity, and you’ll find yourself checking your kingdom now and then to harvest your crops. Before you start, beware of how addicting We Rule could be!

We Rule is free and available in the iTunes App Store for the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad. My Plus+ gamer name ‘daynah’ if you want to visit my kingdom! For more information on the game, see their official website.

Game Trailer

iPhone App Review: Angry Birds

Written By: Rovio
Category: Games
Price: $0.99 (Full Version | Lite)

Size: 9.8 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.2
Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars

One day, a few very happy birds were celebrating the addition their new eggs in the nest. During their celebration, these hungry pigs stole their eggs! The birds then became angry and fought the pigs…

Angry Birds is by far, the most popular game on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. It’s a nice casual game where the birds seek revenge on the pigs. Catapult the birds and knock over all the pigs and dwellings to advance to the next level. Each bird also has its own unique power. Some can fly super fast, some can be set off like a bomb, some can be split into 3 birds. When the bird is in the air, simply tap on the screen to release the special power.

Angry Birds uses the Crystal SDK to connect with friends and display leaderboards. Unlock achievements, add friends via Facebook, Twitter, email, and username search, and compare scores globally, nationally, and locally. (My username is ‘daynah’ if you want to add me!)

The game has a simple concept, but is quite addicting. There are over 100 levels of bird-flinging-pig-smashing fun! The most impressive parts are the beautifully well-polished graphics and animation. The characters quite adorable and the music and sounds effects are very amusing. Best of all, this game is super jammed-packed to be just 99 cents. It’s quite a bargain! Not sure if it’s a game for you? Try out the Lite Version where you get 6 random levels to play. After playing the lite version, it won my heart. Hope it wins yours too.

For more information on Angry Birds, please see their official website.

Video Trailer

Ngmoco’s ‘We Rule’ Debuts

Ngmoco’s long awaited game, We Rule, finally hit the US iTunes store today. It’s their new social game where you build your kingdom, make your own rules, and design it however you want. It’s a live kingdom with peasants and workers walking around, going on with their day to day routines. Create farms and be sure to harvest your crops, sell, and collect experience points. The best part of the game is probably visiting neighboring kingdoms for a dash of inspiration, or maybe compete on who has the better kingdom.

New items are unlocked as you gather experience points. Create businesses to earn extra income to expand your kingdom. Before you know it, your small village could turn into a massive and productive kingdom.

We Rule is available in the iTunes app store for free. For more information about the game, see their official website. Feel free to add me to your kingdom – daynah. Also, look for a full review soon!

Check out the screenshots here.

iPhone App Review: Puzzlings

Name: Puzzlings (iTunes Link)
Written By: Bight Games
Category: Games
Price: FREE
Size: 23.7 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.1
Rate: 4.5 Stars

Welcome to Wardrobia, a beautiful and whimsical world where little puzzlings play! Explore each land and unlock new pieces of clothing for your little Puzzling.

Puzzling is a match-3 game, and although they’re quite common in the iTunes App store, this little gem proves to be a very unique one. Not only are the graphics and animations fun and colorful, the game gives a twist to the match 3 games.

The game starts out in your little Puzzling’s home. There, you’ll see its camera, computer, toys, closet, and door. Each part has a different meaning. The closet is where your puzzling can change his/her outfit. There are 8 different boxes in the closet where it can change the look of its face, nose, smile, head gear, body, accessories, shirts, and pants. The colors for these items can be changed also. The camera allows your puzzling to stand in front of background so you can take its photo. Tap on the puzzling and it’ll change posing position. The computer is where all the high scores, speed bonus, completion stats, and block stats are kept. The wall of toys is just little something to decorate the room. Click on them to see a closer view. And the magical door is the one that takes you to Wardrobia. And this is where the game begins.

The object of the game is to unlock items in each level. Swap pieces by dragging them. You can also draw out a square to rotate the colored pieces instead. Make as many matches and chains (2 matches or more) as you can to fill up the top bar. Once it’s filled, four pieces of a circle will appear on the game board. Move the pieces around to match up the circle to unlock an item. You can either put it on the Puzzling then, or put it away to wear later. Complete the level by matching two circles. If you do this quickly, a bonus item can also be unlocked.

There is a total of 5 stages in each of the 8 lands of Wardrobia:

• 3 Match stages when you need to complete 2 circles.
• 1 Challenge Stage where you need to complete 4 circles.
• 1 Puzzle Stage where you have a set number of moves to clear the entire screen. This stage is denoted by a small moving house.

There is also one more icon in each land that’s denoted by a little sign. Clicking on it displays all the items you unlocked in the particular land, as well as how many still need to be unlocked.

Overall, the graphics are simply adorable. The bright colors, shapes, and fun animation adds an adorable touch to the gameplay. The game is quick to learn and you’ll find yourself playing it again and again. So, have you dressed up your little Puzzling today? Puzzling is available in the iTunes app store for free!

Official Game Trailer

iPhone App Review: TumbleDrop

Written By: Starfruit Games
Category: Games
Price: $1.99 [itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tumbledrop/id349928060?mt=8&uo=4" title="TumbleDrop"] | Free: [itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tumbledrop-free/id351863076?mt=8&uo=4" title="TumbleDrop (Free)"]

Size: 14.2 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.0.3
Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

TumbleDrop is a sweet and adorable physics-based puzzle game that have you smiling when you start playing! The gameplay is easy, simply tap on the yellow shapes to make the pink star fall safely on the ground. Be careful though, one wrong move and your star can tumble down into the water.

The animation and graphics in this game are simply beautiful. Although the graphics seems simple, the attention to detail is what makes this game so great. Notice the facial expressions of all the shapes, especially the pink star. The music in the game reminds me a soothing children’s lullaby. Another small detail that makes the game very pleasant to play.

For every level you beat, you unlock another level in that set. There are currently 3 sets in the full version — beginner, medium, and hard. There are also 20 puzzles in each set, totaling 60 puzzles altogether. The developer promised to add more puzzles future updates for free.

The simple game concept, gentle music, and adorable graphics makes the gameplay very calm and relaxing. There are no ticking clocks, so take your time to solve the various puzzles. Once you finish all of the puzzles, you can go back and challenge yourself by only removing 2 or 3 shapes to earn a gold star medals. You can also earn pink heart medals by removing lots of shapes.

In the full version, there is also a Quick Play mode. The objective is to complete as many random levels as you can without failing (having the pink star fall in the water). If you do fail, the score starts over and you continue with another random puzzle.

A lite version of TumbleDrop is also available in the iTunes app store for free. 10 puzzles of various stages are available for you to try out in this version. Upgrade to the full version for 60+ puzzles and a quick play survival mode.

You can purchase TumbleDrop in the iTunes app store for $1.99, or try out the lite version for free. For more information on TumbleDrop, see their official website.

This article was originally published in Beatweek Magazine.

Game Trailer

iPhone App Review: Riddim Ribbon

Name: Riddim Ribbon
Written By: Tapulous
Category: Games
Price: $1.99 (iTunes)

Size: 45.4 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.0.3
Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

From the makers of Tap Tap Revenge comes the hit new iPhone/iPod Touch game, Riddim Ribbon! it’s like Tap Tap Revenge and your favorite race car game all rolled into one! Riddim Ribbon is a fast and upbeat game that any music lover would enjoy.

So let’s get this party started! You’re the DJ and the controls for the music mix are right in your hands! Tilt your device left, right, and up to the tunes of Black Eyed Peas, Tiësto, Benny Benassi, (and many more artists to be added soon) as you race down a curvy ribbon, gathering pebbles and hoops for points. When you reach a fork in your track, make a decision to go left or right for a different mix of the song. Jump over ramps to the effects level and give your song a more unique sound. Glide along the track, but be sure to stay away from obstacles that can slow you down!

Don’t be too intimidated playing this game the first few times. The game is easy to learn, but difficult to master at first. Once you get the hang of when to tilt the device during the curvy turns and jumps, it’s a lot of fun. Plus, the narrator is quite encouraging!

Each game is about 4-5 minutes, depending on what song you pick. The game comes with 3 great Black Eyed Peas tracks, including mixes of Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling, and Meet Me Halfway. For a limited time only, you can also get the mashup of “Imma Be/Rock That Body” for free with purchase. For each song, there are 2-3 mixes that can be played in your race to the finish line. At the end of the game, you can view your total points, your achievements, your top scores and dates of when you played, and how you compare to the global leaderboard. You can also share your score via email with your friends.

In-app purchases for 99 cents include various mixes of:
- Tiësto’s Louder Than Boom and Escape Me
- Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction

The game comes in three levels of difficulty — Easy, Medium, and Hard. You must mix up the previous level with an accuracy of 75% or better to unlock the next level. Harder levels include more twists, turns, jumps, and obstacles, both on and off the track.

One option I’d like added to the game is the ability to view the world-wide leaderboard at any time. Currently, you can only view it after you play the game. I personally like to see the scores I need to beat before playing the game. It’s just makes me more competitive.

Overall, the game is a lot of fun, especially if you love The Black Eyed Peas and racing games. The graphics and animation are great and makes you feel as if you are mixing the song. One note, your right hand may sometimes cover the speakers on your iPhone when playing. That’s not good since this game is music-based. I suggest picking up a game wheel accessory or a gamer’s case to enhance your gaming experience with Riddim Ribbon. Have fun, and happy dj-ing!

Riddim Ribbon is currently on sale for $1.99 in the iTunes App Store.

Video Trailer

iPhone App Review: Toy Story Mania

Name: Toy Story Mania
Written By: Walt Disney
Category: Games
Price: $4.99

Size: 50.5 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.0.0
Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Come one, come all. Step right up and play the Disney-inspired game called Toy Story Mania! If you’re an avid Disney fan, you have probably already been on the Toy Story Mania ride at Disney’s California Adventure (Anaheim) or Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando). Now imagine all that fun packed right in the palm of your hands.

Just like the theme park ride, you’re taken to mini-games that are represented by their respective characters. Instead of pulling a string on a cannon, you swipe, shoot, flick, pop, and toss things at targets and gain points. Altogether, there are five mini games which include: Hammin’ Eggs, Buzz Lightyears’ Flying Tossers, Bo Pee’s Baaa-loon Pop, Green Army Men Shoot Camp, and Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery.

Choose a mini game by clicking on a toy. Each mini game has 12 stages. The stages are broken into levels of difficulty — easy, normal, and hard. Play each difficulty level in Challenge mode to unlock the next level up. There are two modes of gameplay — Challenge and Free Play. However, only levels you unlocked in Challenge Mode will be playable. Each difficulty level has 5 stages, where one is a bonus stage which unlocks a special item that you can purchase with tickets afterward. Each of these stages have their own unique challenge that you must complete to move onto the next stage.

Here is how the mini-games are played:

- Hammin’ Eggs: slingshot green eggs to hit moving targets on the farm.
- Buzz Lightyears’ Flying Tossers: flick rings to capture rockets and aliens!
- Bo Pee’s Baaa-loon Pop: tap and pop balloons. You have 5 darts, when you’re out of amo, shake to reload.
- Green Army Men Shoot Camp – position the cross-hair target on the plates, and tap to fire.
- Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery – tap on targets to fire suction-cup arrows at them. You’ll need to reload once you fire all 6 arrows.

You also collect tickets while playing the mini games. Trade them in for extra boosts in the mini games. For example, for the Hammin’ Eggs mini-game, you can get a slingshot that fires 3 eggs at one time.

As an added bonus, if you visit the Toy Story Mania attraction at Disney’s California Adventure or Hollywood Studios, the Toy Story wallpapers will unlock and you can save them to your device. This is the only part that would not work well with an iPod Touch since there is no wifi connection available.

The graphics and animation are excellent and will sure bring you back to those Disney memories. The controls on some of the mini games are a bit difficult, especially aiming for the much smaller targets. But then again, those are the ones that are worth the most points.

Overall, this game is well-worth the higher price tag. It packs a lot of games, fun, and action into a nice little app. I highly recommend it if you enjoy carnival games.

Toy Story Mania is available in the iTunes app store for $4.99.

Screenshots

iPhone App Review: Super Monkey Ball 2

Name: Super Monkey Ball 2 (iTunes)
Written By: Sega
Category: Games
Price: $9.99 $4.99

Size: 74.8 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.1
Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Last December, Sega launched Super Monkey Ball 2 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It’s an amazing followup to the popular original game! If you’re a Super Monkey Ball fan, you’ll be happy to know that SMB 2 has some significant improvements over first version of the game. The graphics are highly impressive. The rolling monkeys are now truly in 3D. And the tilt-meter is much more accurate to the movement and position of the iPhone/iPod Touch, which makes controlling your monkey character much easier.

The concept of the game is very simple. Tilt your iPhone/iPod touch to guide your monkey to the goal. Collect bananas along the way and keep your monkey from falling off the edge of the track. The tracks are are challenging as before, but there’s much greater control with you and the accelerator. There are 115 tracks to play, so the game can keep you occupied for quite some time.

In the main game, you have a few modes to choose from — Single Player, Multiplayer, and Practice. In practice mode, a random track will be chosen for you to play. In Single Player mode, collect bananas and rack up points to unlock new tracks. Multiplayer mode is a fun way to play with your friends! Go head-to-head using a wifi connection. Players take turns selecting up to 5 tracks to compete in. Player with the most points wins.

While you are playing, you may also notice a small video icon on the lower left corner. This option allows you to record and save your gameplays. You can save up to 10 of these videos and can view them in the “View Replays” option. It’s a very cool feature, and I hope there’s a way to export the videos in the future.

There is also a mini game called “Monkey Bowling” where you can take turns rolling the monkeys to knock over pins. Multiplayer mode is also available, but only one iPhone/iPod Touch device is needed. Two other mini games — Monkey Golf and Monkey Target — will be available in the near future as a free update.

Overall, the controls are smooth and accurately reflect the player’s movement. Super Monkey Ball 2 is really fun and entertaining, and will keep you occupied for hours and hours. Take the monkeys — Aiai, Baby, Meemee, Gongon — out for a spin!

Learn more about Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store.

This article was originally published in iProng Magazine.

CES 2010: AR Drone iPhone Video Game

I’m definitely putting this AR Drone iPhone video game on my list of must-see-at-CES-2010!

This is just amazing! In the game, you can fly a real UFO-like object in the air while running after imaginary monsters or fighter planes on their iphones. Wow!

This awesome beauty was created by Parrot, a French company that specialize in Bluetooth hands free system, digital photo frames, and wireless speakers. They now need to add iPhone games to their list!

For more information about this, see Telegraph.co.uk

Video: Touch Pets Dogs

I just love playing Touch Pets Dogs! It’s quite fun and addicting! My puppies need care every day. This game is like an advanced version of the old tamagotchi pets. I’ve already maxed out on all the levels –> Advanced Mega Superstar Owner — so now all there’s left to do is earn puppy bucks and buy lots of doggie clothes and accessories. :)

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download the app for free (iTunes Link). Then once you sign up for the Plus+ network (mobile game social network), you can add me as a friend – daynah. The social part is really something. If you have a playdate with my dog, my phone will bark. :)

Fun Holiday iPhone Apps

Get into the holiday spirit with all these fun winter iPhone / iPod Touch apps! These are just a handful I tried out. Feel free to let me know what holiday apps are your favorite so I can try them too! :)

Snow Brawlin. Risoo the squirrel needs your help! A group of rogue rodents have taken over his area. And with the season’s nut shortage, there’s only one way to settle this. Snowball fight! It’s a fun game that will get your quick fingers tapping and heart laughing. The game is free but you can purchase in-app extra three lives for 99 cents. The pro version comes with the extra lives. (iTunes: Pro Version | Free)

Arctic Shuffle 2 is a cute and cuddly penguin puzzler that’s perfect if you enjoy short casual games. Object is to aim penguins to land on a target by bouncing off ice and other things. Earn loads of points and post them on the leaderboard. It’s available for only 99 cents in the iTunes App store. (iTunes: Full | Lite | Full Review)

Touch Pets Dogs 10 Food Grr is another version of Touch Pets Dogs, but it gives you 10 free bowls of food for your virtual puppy! Dress your little pup in the cutest winter clothes as you run around a winter wonderland! Lots a wonderful suprises int he game, as well as daily offers for free stuff. The game has amazing graphics and is fun for the whole family. Best of all, it’s free! (iTunes | Full Review)

Prep & Landing. Disney’s Prep & Landing takes you through the Kringle Academy to earn your place in the elite unit of elves that prepare homes for Santa on Christmas eve! There are three mini games — Deployment, Sparkle Ball Practice, and Ski Jump. Fun and worth the 99 cents! (iTunes | Full Review)

Grinchmas let’s you play the part of Mr. Grinch on Christmas Day. If you’re feeling like a mean grinch, you can throw snowballs at the houses in Who-ville. If you’re feeling like Mr. Nice Grinch, you can shower the houses with gifts! Great fun for the whole family. App is on sale now for just 99 cents! (iTunes | Full Review)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! – Dr. Seuss is the first official Dr. Seuss ebook and it’s tons of fun! You have the option of the book reading to you, or reading it yourself. The pages are filled with the original book artwork and the animation is just spectacular. It’s perfect for young children learning how to read, and big kids who loved this book as a child. Definitely a must-buy for any Grinch fan! Currently $3.99 but well-worth it. (iTunes | Full Review)

Dr. Seuss Camera – The Grinch Edition is a fun way to add some whimsical Grinch-graphics to your photos. Just select a Grinch card and snap a photo! It’s really fun on unsuspecting people when you snap their photo and it turns out green! There are 23 different frames in all. The app is currently $1.99 in the app store, was $2.99. (iTunes | Full Review)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy the movie! Help Scrat collect acorns while avoiding dangerous obstacles and enemies along the way! Game features characters like Prehistoric pals Manny, Ellie, Diego, Sid and Scratte join Scrat throughout game play. Usually $4.99, this game is on sale for Christmas for only 99 cents! (iTunes)

Elf Jumpers. Help guide the elves to land on chimneys! Avoid dangerous obstacles and get all those presents to the good boys and girls. The audio sounds are just hilarious. The app is currently Free in the app store. (iTunes)
.

Coca-Cola Virtual Christmas Lights is a nice way to add some sparkle to your holiday photos! Add lights, holiday symbols and more with this app. You can also post it and share with the world your photo. It’s currently in the iTunes app store for free. (iTunes)
.

Holiday Smash. If you enjoy bouncing ping pong balls off of a launch pad, you’ll love this! Smash the lights as fast as you can. For this holiday edition, the lights are in the shape of Santa, Snowman, Christmas Tree, Snowflake, Fireplace, Candy Canes, and more! Currently Free in the iTunes app store! (iTunes)

Triazzle Holiday. A great little puzzler to tickle your brain cells during the holiday season. Move triangle puzzle pieces around to match up the ornaments, dradles, light bulbs, nut crackers, and more! Great sounds and animation to brighten your day. Triazzle Holiday is available in the iTunes App store for just 99 cents. (iTunes)

Santa Rush. Digital Chocolate makes a lot of fun rollercoaster games, and this one is just as fun as the others. Your rollercoaster-ride is Santa and he’s taking a few elves with him in the other carts. Guide the rollercoaster carts to safety without losing anyone to advance to the next level! Fun and free! (iTunes)

Crazy Penguin Christmas is the holiday version of Crazy Penguin Catapult 1 and 2. Help save Santa and the elves from mean polar bears by catapulting penguins to the rescue. The app is currently 99 cents, but I suggest trying the Lite version first to see if you like it.
(iTunes: Full | Lite)

Naughty or Nice? Christmas Detective is a simple app that scans a person’s photo and determines if they’re naughty or nice! Once the photo is analyzed, a “naughty” or “nice” banner is placed on the photo. There is also the option of posting the photo on Facebook and/or Twitter! This app may be a handy tool during the holidays. It’s currently on sale for 99 cents. (iTunes)

Scrooge’s Tip Calculator. Of course you should tip generously to your server(s), but this app makes it a lot of fun. What would Scrooge tip if he was eating with you? There are four levels of tipping – from a generous Christmas Spirit to a Scroogey mood. This app is currently in the iTunes app store for Free! (iTunes)

Santa’s Sack. Angry animals have stolen all of Santa’s presents! Help Santa get them all back by tiling the iPhone / iPod Touch and catching all the present in his big red sack! It’s a silly game with fun music. Available in the app store for free! (iTunes)
.

iPhone App Review: Arctic Shuffle 2

Name: Arctic Shuffle 2 (iTunes: Full Version | Free Lite Version)
Written By: Zinc Roe Design
Category: Games
Price: 99 cents, with option for in-app purchases for 99 cents each. (two are available)

Size: 10.2 MB
Requirements: iPhone / iPod Touch
Version: 1.2
Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars

Arctic Shuffle 2 is a cute and exciting puzzle game that will have you playing for hours! Chill out with the cuddly penguins as you aim and slide them across the ice to land on the target! Be sure to watch out for obstacles that can hurt your precious penguin.

The game has 10 stages in each level of difficulty – beginner, easy, medium, hard, expert — that’s 50 different puzzles to solve! In addition, there are also two optional add-on packs for 99 cents, which include 24 extra stage each.

The scoring system for each stage is based on three parts — difficulty, penguins survived, and time bonus. Your total score are tallied up and added into the online leaderboard using AGON Online service. Compare scores with all players, people near you, and your friends. There’s even an option to post your scores on Twitter and Facebook.

The challenges and adorable graphics in Arctic Shuffle 2 keeps you coming back for more! Try it Arctic Shuffle 2 Lite for free. It comes with 10 levels. If you enjoy it purchase Arctic Shuffle 2 in the iTunes app store for only 99 cents.

This article was originally published and featured in iProng Magazine.

Disclaimer: I’ve received a promo code for “Arctic Shuffle 2″ iPhone app from Zinc Roe Design in exchange for a review.

Screenshots

Next Page »