iPhone/iPod Touch Games

[dlmvii]

So I am considering getting the new iPhone when it comes out. I'll obviously want to do some gaming on it - but I don't get how some of these games (e.g. Espgaluda) can play well without tactile controls...I've had PDAs and PDA phones forever and the emulators that use touch screen controls to replicate a D-Pad and buttons have always been pretty poor...

Also, since this will be my first Apple related purchase, what else should I know? Can I transfer my own MP3, AVI, MPEG, etc files to the thing without using that iTunes bloatware? Am I going to run into DRM issues for anything? Enlighten me, please!

As for the espgaluda concern....I was incredibly skeptical too, but it works surprisingly well. There's no virtual d-pad, instead a little area where you move your finger and your character moves 1:1 with it. I was able to 1CC it (granted, on normal), so at least this can say a little something about how well it controls.

There are a variety of non-itunes ways to transfer music to your ipod, though I don't know if they will work on a touch/iphone. Honestly, I think most of these apps ge tbroken anyways when a new update is put on the phone anyways, so iTunes is probably going to be the least headache. As for apps, iTunes is basically your only option, unless you buy them directly from your phone (or you jailbreak it and use ssh, but I don't think most people go that route...iTunes is much easier, of course)

[MrPopo]

Yeah, Espgaluda goes with the 1:1 movement with your finger. You have three levels of buttons on the side. One is just to use awakening, one is to use awakening and bomb, and one is to use awakening, bomb, toggle autoshot, and toggle shot/laser. If you aren't using the last set the game automatically uses shot normally and laser when in awakening. It reduces the game down to its core essence, which is dodging bullet patterns. It is a bit harder to pull off some of the scoring schenanigans from the 360/PCB version, though, as selectively killing certain enemies is more difficult.

[jp1]

So I am considering getting the new iPhone when it comes out. I'll obviously want to do some gaming on it - but I don't get how some of these games (e.g. Espgaluda) can play well without tactile controls...I've had PDAs and PDA phones forever and the emulators that use touch screen controls to replicate a D-Pad and buttons have always been pretty poor...

Also, since this will be my first Apple related purchase, what else should I know? Can I transfer my own MP3, AVI, MPEG, etc files to the thing without using that iTunes bloatware? Am I going to run into DRM issues for anything? Enlighten me, please!

As for the espgaluda concern....I was incredibly skeptical too, but it works surprisingly well. There's no virtual d-pad, instead a little area where you move your finger and your character moves 1:1 with it. I was able to 1CC it (granted, on normal), so at least this can say a little something about how well it controls.

There are a variety of non-itunes ways to transfer music to your ipod, though I don't know if they will work on a touch/iphone. Honestly, I think most of these apps ge tbroken anyways when a new update is put on the phone anyways, so iTunes is probably going to be the least headache. As for apps, iTunes is basically your only option, unless you buy them directly from your phone (or you jailbreak it and use ssh, but I don't think most people go that route...iTunes is much easier, of course)

Sharepod works pretty nicely for putting music on the ipod touch without jailbreaking. You have to have Itunes installed for it to work but you don't need to use itunes. As far as I know the only type of video that is supported is .mp4 and .m4v but it is easy enough to put on through other means as well. Apps are ridiculously cheap so there is no need not to just purchase them right from the phone/ipod itself all but the very top level apps are between $.99 and $4.99 with just a few breaking that barrier, most of which carry the square enix tax. Chaos Rings is definitely worth the higher price. There are also tons of free apps that are actually worth looking into. Also, while I agree Itunes is bloatware it will allow you to rip your music cd collection directly to the iphone/ipod which is nice. If you are in to emulation you will still want to jailbreak so you can get cydia which has all the worthwhile emulators on it as paid apps.

[dlmvii]

I wouldn't get too excited about the emulators though....At least for me, anything that should use a d-pad, and substitutes an onscreen one, does not work well, at all.

[dsheinem]

I'm also debating the HTC EVO 4G. Anyone using an Android OS phone? How's gaming?

[Niode]

Just get the new iphone, anything else going to be worth next to nothing in 2 years time. When the next good iphone comes out. I've sold my iPhone 3G for £230, and it's 18 months old. No other phone provides that kind of resale value.

[Octopod]

I'm also debating the HTC EVO 4G. Anyone using an Android OS phone? How's gaming?

I have a Droid. I really like the emulators for it(NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis, etc..) but I have not played any kind of stand alone games on it. Hell, I have never even looked to see if there were any good games for it.

[Octopod]

This is a list of emulators I found online.

MARKET:
Gameboid (GBA)
SNesoid (SNES)
Nesoid (NES)
Genssoid (Sega Genesis)
Gearoid (Gamegear)
uae4droid (Amiga emulator)
CPS2HD or CPS2 (capcom play system 2 arcade)
Frodo (commodore 64)
cAndy Apple (apple //e)
Android Acrade (MAME)
Jrioni Arcade (as of 6/5/2010 it supports 1943,Circus Charlie, and Moon Patrol)

NON Market:
Scumm
ScummVM port in progress - 2 June 2010 - Android Games Development
Dosbox
Android DosBox

[dsheinem]

I pre-ordered the iPhone 4 today, so I've taken the leap. Reading reports about EVO's hardware problems sealed the deal.

So what's everyone's top 3 or 4 games? And what looks good but should be avoided?

[jp1]

I pre-ordered the iPhone 4 today, so I've taken the leap. Reading reports about EVO's hardware problems sealed the deal.

So what's everyone's top 3 or 4 games? And what looks good but should be avoided?

Top

1. Chaos Rings - not a lot of depth but very fun and easy for mobile quick sessions. Square Enix is embracing the platform. This one isn't cheap but it is worth it.

2. Zombie Infection - Gameloft copy of Resident Evil but better than the actual RE games on the Iphone.

3. Super KO Boxing 2 - Fun Punch out copy.

4. Puzzle Quest - Same one from other platforms, translates well to iphone controls.

5. Blades Of Fury - Gameloft copy of Soul Calibur, surprisingly fun and easily controllable, best fighting game on the platform IMO.

6. Field Runners - Pick up and play RTS type, super addictive.

7. Krazy Kart - Konami Mario Kart copy, fun and controls well.

8. iBlast Moki - Don't know what to compare it to. Cool little puzzle type game.

9. Plushed - Only platformer with nice controls that I have tried on the platform to date. Nice atmosphere, fun.

10. Guerilla Bob - Polished overhead run-n-gun, easy to pick up and play but also challenging at times.

Obvious picks and time wasters

Fruit Ninja - Perfect for the touch controls, like crack.
Angry Birds - Short but really addicting and fun.
Rolando 2 - If you like LocoRoco this is for you. More depth.
GTA Chinatown Wars - Same as the other versions, controls are a little aggravating.
Zen Bound - If you just want to kill time, incredibly polished.
TowerBloxx - Shallow but fun and addictive gameplay.
Canabalt - Same as flash version.
Need For Speed Undercover - Nice Racer.
Zombie Wonderland - unique concept, fun.
Bomberman Touch - If you like Bomberman, you'll like this.
Giana Sisters - Graphical update, controls are only so-so.
Assassins Creed 2 - Gameloft, not too bad.

Supposed to be great but I hated

Call of Duty World At War Zombies - Controls suck
Doodle Jump - I don't get it. What is so great?
Street Fighter 4 - Controls suck
TapTap Revenge - Money pit, also Guitar Hero without a guitar.
Rayman 2 - Controls suck
Zenonia 2 - not for me, but I see the appeal..really I didn't "hate" it.
Avatar - lol
Metal Slug Touch - Wanted to love it, controls aren't good enough.
Ravensword - Hate the control scheme


Upcoming hopefuls

Sonic 4
Aralon: Sword and Shadow - Promises to be Oblivion esque
FFT: War of Lions
Secret of Mana
Ultimate Spiderman - Gameloft is touch and go so it's possible it will be good.
Ghosts and Goblins II


There are so many games on the platform that it is hard to even scratch the surface. At least they are mostly cheap. There are a lot of RTS and Puzzle games that are really good that I didn't list because it would be a mile long. Other genres are easier to weed through because the best ones focus heavily on playing to the strengths of the iphone like it's unique controls and allowing quick spurts of play rather than requiring long grinding sessions. Some games I would never play on anything else I absolutely love on the iphone and vice versa.

I know it is a lot more than you asked for but since nobody else chimed in I figured I'd elaborate a little.