Games

Piracy on iOS: 60% of Monument Valley installs on iPhone and iPad not paid for

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Even though this particular data point is a few days old now, I think it's highly relevant in light of Apple's glowing App Store stats revealed yesterday.

According to developer Ustwo Games, its award-winning and incredibly successful Monument Valley, an atmospheric puzzle game in which you manipulate impossible architecture inspired by the works of M.C. Escher, has seen a significant chunk of its potential revenue lost to piracy because only 40 percent of the $3.99 game installs on the iPhone and iPad were paid for.

The vast chunk of the remaining sixty percent iOS installs were illegitimate, or to put it bluntly — pirated. On Android, the paid install base is a paltry five percent (you read that right), as a huge hunk of the remaining 95 percent of users opted to steal Monument Vally on Android rather than pay four bucks to enjoy it.

Is the 60 percent piracy rate on iOS a worrying number for Monument Valley developers and a bad sign for Apple's mobile platform? Read on for the full reveal.

The Princess Bride gets official iOS game

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2015

The official mobile game of The Princess Bride, the 1987 classic fantasy adventure movie adapted from William Goldman's 1973 namesake novel, is now available in the App Store.

Featuring four different games, The Princess Bride lets you experience all the favorite scenes from the film. You'll be wrestling giants, engaging in sword fighting and more, earning awards along the way and unlocking images and sound clips from the movie.

Mayday! Deep Space review: talk your way out of danger in this stealth game

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

I’m always up for a good stealth game. Wait until the coast is clear and then, head to the next hiding spot. Make sure you’ve got enough time to get out unseen, and then run. A good stealth game will give you something fun to do in the meantime.

Mayday! Deep Space is a stealth game that puts you in the position of helping a survivor on a medical space station. You have an overview of the entire area and must help direct your new friend out of harms way. We’ve got a game review of Mayday! Deep Space for you today.

Breed, raise and train your dragons in Gameloft’s Dragon Mania Legends

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 8, 2015

If you're crazy about dragons, are blood-thirsty and mildly interested in pet simulation games, Gameloft's Dragon Mania Legends should be at the top of your list.

Released today as a free-to-play download for the iPhone and iPad, the game challenges you to breed, feed, raise and train your dragons before testing their skills in three-on-three battles to fight the invading Vikings.

Developed by Gameloft's Budapest, Hungary based studio, Dragon Mania Legends features really, really nicely done cartoonish 3D graphics and a batch of compelling features that should keep dragon lovers glued to their screens.

Apple names unique puzzler ‘Mujo’ its free App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 2, 2018

Apple has just named Mujo, by Oink Games, its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to pick up the unique puzzler for both iPhone and iPad, for free—a nice little savings of $3.

In Mujo, players are tasked with fighting off monsters using power obtained through an on-screen puzzle. The gameplay feels like a mix of tile-stacking, similar to that in the hit game Threes!, and strategic character leveling of an RPG.

EA posts new trailer for upcoming game ‘Need for Speed: No Limits’

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

EA mobile today posted what it is calling the "Official Gameplay Teaser" for its upcoming Need for Speed: No Limits title. Like the previous teaser, it runs about 30 seconds long, but this time there's a lot more in-game footage, and a lot less Ken Block.

Unsurprisingly, the new Need for Speed is being built by Firemonkeys, the combined teams of Firemint and IronMonkey Studios, who both have extensive backgrounds in racing. The game will have a heavy focus on street racing and vehicle customization.

Official mobile game of the FIA World Rally Championship hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Fans of racing games, listen up! The official mobile game of the FIA World Rally Championship has been released in the App Store.

Developed by Firebrand Games and published by Bigben Interactive, WRC The Official Game for the iPhone and iPad includes official content of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship, including eighteen licensed cars, and lets you play as any of the seventeen official drivers to win a total of thirteen official events of the 2014 WRC calendar.

While previous official titles have been something of a disappointment, WRC The Official Game looks promising, at least graphics-wise, so here's hoping it doesn't ruin the fun with inaccurate and unresponsive controls.

Ace Ferrara & the Dino Menace is back in the App Store, and free for a limited time

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

In August, a fun little space shooter launched in the iOS App Store under Bulky Pix, but had since been pulled due to ownership rights issues. The game’s original developer, Philipp Seifried, has been able to re-release the title under his own name.

In order to make the transition into his ownership easier, Seifried has made Ace Ferrara & the Dino Menace available in the App Store for free until Jan. 2. You can now take on the entire dino invasion on your own.

Apple names hilarious platformer Icycle: On Thin Ice its new Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 29, 2014

Apple's promotion that makes hand-picked apps and games available at no cost for a week typically falls on Thursday.

Given the holiday iTunes freeze, which ended on Sunday, Apple's editors couldn't make changes to the App Store so they haven't gotten around cherry-picking another Free App of the Week until yesterday evening.

A cool adventure platformer called Icycle: On Thin Ice by UK-based published Chillingo, now a division of Electronic Arts, is available at no cost until next Thursday, normally a $2.99 value. Regardless of the fact that it includes optional In-App Purchases, Icycle scored some rather favorable reviews and it fits the holiday theme perfectly so you should give it a whirl.

Step into a world of fantasy with The Last Monster Master

Lory Gil ∙ December 29, 2014

Choice of Games is an up-and-coming app developing company that I’m definitely keeping my eyes on. You may recall that my last weekend app list included “Creatures Such as We” as one to look out for. This week, the company launched another choose-your-own-adventure book and this one is filled with giant, toothy, scaly creatures.

The Last Monster Master is a text-based multiple-choice game book that puts the reader into the character of a Monster Master, which is a telepathic person with the ability to communicate with the beasts of the underworld. As a Master, you are charged with training monsters, as well as making sure they don’t turn on humanity and destroy everything.

2K holiday sale: Sid Meier’s Pirates, Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies, BioShock and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 2, 2018

2K is having a holiday sale of a number of its premium iPhone and iPad games, including the high-seas adventure game Sid Meier’s Pirates, the WW2 strategy flight sim Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies, the award-winning first-person shooter BioShock and more.

If you're in the market, now's a good time to pick up these finely done games at a reduced price before the iTunes Connect holiday freeze window closes on December 29.

TimeCube sends you on a time traveling adventure

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Most arcade games put you behind the controls of a ship or object that you must maneuver around to avoid being hit by some obstacle. It is a game mechanic that we are so familiar with that it is difficult to imagine any other way to do it.

TimeCube takes those rules and tosses them out into the infinite universe. Instead of controlling your ship, you control the environment around it. You don’t have the ability to move obstacles out of the way, but you can slow down or speed up time to avoid being hit.