More and more television networks are investing into social games to promote their shows, and now, A&E is doing the same with the Facebook title Storage Wars. Promoting the show of the same name, the application is more than some slightly interactive advertisement, but actually fun in its own right. A quasi-hidden object game, it is a title in which players devise bidding strategies for cluttered storage units in an attempt to turn a profit.
Though they only have one iOS game to their name so far, Funzio is a company that seems to know how to make an impact on the App Store. The mobile release of Crime City - a port of their Facebook and Google+ game of the same name - has been riding high on the charts since its release back in August. In fact as I type this, it's currently sitting at #11 in the iPhone's Top Grossing Games category, just edging out Smurfs' Village at #12. Now Funzio is gearing up for their second iOS title, and this time, it's war.
I don't know about you, but I find warfare exhausting. Not because of the grueling marches, the constant threat of defeat, or the copious amounts of bloodshed. No, it's the strategy and planning that always leaves me tuckered out after a short amount of time, though I'm often rejuvenated from the success of crushing my enemies. If you're like me, though, then you'll love Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion. Not only does the game provide a lot of challenging strategy, but it also keeps things entertaining enough that you'll never feel worn out while you're playing it.
If you've never heard of Reiner Knizia, you really should take a moment to look him up. Claims that he's "the world's most accomplished game inventor" seem pretty reasonable; after all, the man has created over 500 published games (most of which are pretty highly regarded within the board/card game communities). That said, many of these games have yet to be ported to digital platforms. However, based on Reiner Knizia's Callisto, more of these games deserve such releases.
Stop! Hammer Time!If the unmistakable groove of Rick James' "Super Freak" isn't currently rolling through your mind, I feel terrible for you. It's an involuntary reaction of mine whenever I read, hear or think the word "hammer" to instantly recall the tune that made MC Hammer king of everything with ridiculous pants. It makes walking through a hardware store more like browsing an ear worm generator. So what the heck does a washed-up early 90's rap star have to with Gamezebo? Nothing. But this is a preview for an upcoming iPad game called Star Hammer Tactics.See? It doesn't take much...
The actual social aspect of social games is often discussed frightfully little in social game reviews. This is because most social games aren't really social at all, at least in the sense of having you play them with other people actively. To help keep games playable by solo players who might not have a lot of friends, most developers end up making the social aspect of a game fixated on bonuses like gifts or on obtaining items that can be otherwise bought. This trend in game design makes Grab Games's Survivor World noteworthy, as it is a clear attempt at making a truly social game that only solo players with deep pockets could get far in by themselves.
While I'm sure I've heard it used a thousand times before, I decided to look up the word "scourge" to find out exactly what the heck it means. Though I'm still not completely clear, I know now it has something to do with someone or something inflicting or administering punishment, possibly via a whip. Sounds...unpleasant. I guess the place known as "Estellion" in the upcoming iOS strategy game Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion is in for it. I wonder what it did to deserve the wrong end of a scourge...
Even as Facebook gaming is moving on to bigger and better things, some developers are content to serve up mediocrity in hopes of taking home a nugget or two from the online-gaming gold rush. Color Party not only crashes (often literally) and burns, it's neither colorful, nor a party.