Why yes, and it's hitting the App Store globally (in phases) as of this writing, Pocket Gamer reports. It was recently revealed that "Crimson," the mysterious first project by Halo creator Bungie's new label, Bungie Aerospace, is a free-to-play steampunk pirate ship combat game for the iPad. Developed by Harebrained Schemes and published by Bungie, this is far of a cry as it gets from the legendary developer's previous work.
Officially titled "Crimson: Steam Pirates," the game throws players into an alternate Civil War era in which steam technology has taken off and powers technologically-advanced pirate ships. You're Captain Thomas Blood as he conquers the Caribbean Sea in turn-based battles of strategy and smart move-making. Of course, thanks to Bungie, players will be able to track their Crimson stats and progress on Bungie.net (and hopefully even in the Bungie iOS app).
Bungie is far from the first developer to enter the free-to-play mobile or social games space. Valve is already knee-deep in freemium goodness, thanks to multiple updates to its Steam game store and network like free-to-play game offerings. Atari recently reiterated its focus on social and mobile games, as did a number of big time game designers like John Romero, Will Wright and Richard Garriott, to name a few.
Crimson Steam Pirates iPad
While the game is available for free, additional content is available for an in-game download that costs $1.99. That does sound pricey, but based on the fact it's Chapter 2 in the storyline, "Tales of Captain Blood," this sounds like a collection of new missions. Crimson: Steam Pirates is exclusive to iPad at the moment, and should hit western App Stores later today.
[Image Credit: Pocket Gamer]
Are you surprised that the creator of one the biggest retail games ever has done a near complete 180 to freemium games? What do you think this means for both Bungie and the existing free-to-play games scene?
Showing posts with label app store. Show all posts
Showing posts with label app store. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Pixel Ranger on iPhone: This retro beauty craves a joystick and buttons
This is the type of game that will make you reach for the quarter slot that doesn't exist on your iPhone. MetroGames, most recently known of Coco Girl on Facebook, has released an iPhone version of its gloriously retro Facebook game, Pixel Ranger, for $.99 on the App Store (published by Chillingo of Angry Birds fame).
In a nutshell, the game embodies everything you remember of classic, upward-facing shooter games like Galaga and 1942, only without the rosy colored glasses. You are Pixel Ranger (no, really?), and token pixelated aliens have kidnapped your lady and even your horse--the nerve.
And you're gonna' muster every last pixel to crush the baddies and bring them back. And if you haven't played the original on Facebook, you will quickly realize that the previous statement is more than mere flavor text. Every shot you make with Pixel Ranger's buckshot by tapping above or below him consumes ammo, or pixels, which also happen to be his life source. Of course, the only way to replenish your life is by downing more enemies that drop more ammo pixels to the ground.
Because being hit by enemies or their projectiles takes a chunk of your pixels, this creates an interesting balance between survival and attack, but more importantly makes accuracy paramount across the game's 12 acts and over 50 levels. And that's just in Classic Mode, in which each episode has a finite ending that rates your accuracy and other scores. In Endless Mode, however, you're simply going for the highest score and to last the longest across three stages. But to unlock all three, you must play through Classic Mode to the bitter end.
Gallery: Pixel Ranger on iPhone
And unfortunately, there isn't a better word to describe reaching close to the end than "bitter." Granted, Pixel Ranger is a beautifully-drawn homage to the classic games you'd find yourself easily dropping 20 bucks worth of quarters into as a kid. But with that comes tribute to just how mind-numbingly difficult those iconic games were. Pixel Ranger is one tough game, and that's not only thanks to the swarms of enemies you'll face in later levels. To put it bluntly, the iPhone's only method of control, its touchscreen, becomes a hindrance. (Moving the little guy from left to right is done by tilting the device.)
Pixel Ranger on iPhone gameplayThere is simply not enough room for both of your thumbs to jump--something you'll almost always forget to do when the baddies sneak up from underneath you--and shoot while getting a good view at just what in the world is going on. With a mouse and keyboard, this game's controls are a cinch on Facebook, but touch-based gameplay simply doesn't equate to accuracy. At least not the accuracy you need to do well in Pixel Ranger's later episodes.
Perhaps the game should have been presented in a landscape orientation rather than upright ... but that would draw from the verticality through which it channels the classics. But forget the touch controls and the orientation. A game that captures the essence of classic arcade cabinet shooters this well deserves more: Pixel Ranger was destined for a joystick and buttons. (Play the game for a long while using just the touch screen and you'll get it.)
Pixel Ranger is both "retro" enough to have you clamoring for some good old Galaxian, and original enough in its design and vibrant pixel art to keep you firing off that pixelated buckshot. That is, until you reach around Act 6 and your thumbs' ability to manage Pixel Ranger's, well, pixels slowly decays. If only for the refreshingly original, vivid nostalgia bomb, it's tough not to recommend Pixel Ranger. Just be prepared for a battle between both pixelated aliens and the screen that covers them.
Click here to download Pixel Ranger from the App Store Now >
Have you tried out Pixel Ranger on iPhone yet, and if so what are your thoughts? What do you think of undeniably retro-themed games that are made today? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
In a nutshell, the game embodies everything you remember of classic, upward-facing shooter games like Galaga and 1942, only without the rosy colored glasses. You are Pixel Ranger (no, really?), and token pixelated aliens have kidnapped your lady and even your horse--the nerve.
And you're gonna' muster every last pixel to crush the baddies and bring them back. And if you haven't played the original on Facebook, you will quickly realize that the previous statement is more than mere flavor text. Every shot you make with Pixel Ranger's buckshot by tapping above or below him consumes ammo, or pixels, which also happen to be his life source. Of course, the only way to replenish your life is by downing more enemies that drop more ammo pixels to the ground.
Because being hit by enemies or their projectiles takes a chunk of your pixels, this creates an interesting balance between survival and attack, but more importantly makes accuracy paramount across the game's 12 acts and over 50 levels. And that's just in Classic Mode, in which each episode has a finite ending that rates your accuracy and other scores. In Endless Mode, however, you're simply going for the highest score and to last the longest across three stages. But to unlock all three, you must play through Classic Mode to the bitter end.
Gallery: Pixel Ranger on iPhone
And unfortunately, there isn't a better word to describe reaching close to the end than "bitter." Granted, Pixel Ranger is a beautifully-drawn homage to the classic games you'd find yourself easily dropping 20 bucks worth of quarters into as a kid. But with that comes tribute to just how mind-numbingly difficult those iconic games were. Pixel Ranger is one tough game, and that's not only thanks to the swarms of enemies you'll face in later levels. To put it bluntly, the iPhone's only method of control, its touchscreen, becomes a hindrance. (Moving the little guy from left to right is done by tilting the device.)
Pixel Ranger on iPhone gameplayThere is simply not enough room for both of your thumbs to jump--something you'll almost always forget to do when the baddies sneak up from underneath you--and shoot while getting a good view at just what in the world is going on. With a mouse and keyboard, this game's controls are a cinch on Facebook, but touch-based gameplay simply doesn't equate to accuracy. At least not the accuracy you need to do well in Pixel Ranger's later episodes.
Perhaps the game should have been presented in a landscape orientation rather than upright ... but that would draw from the verticality through which it channels the classics. But forget the touch controls and the orientation. A game that captures the essence of classic arcade cabinet shooters this well deserves more: Pixel Ranger was destined for a joystick and buttons. (Play the game for a long while using just the touch screen and you'll get it.)
Pixel Ranger is both "retro" enough to have you clamoring for some good old Galaxian, and original enough in its design and vibrant pixel art to keep you firing off that pixelated buckshot. That is, until you reach around Act 6 and your thumbs' ability to manage Pixel Ranger's, well, pixels slowly decays. If only for the refreshingly original, vivid nostalgia bomb, it's tough not to recommend Pixel Ranger. Just be prepared for a battle between both pixelated aliens and the screen that covers them.
Click here to download Pixel Ranger from the App Store Now >
Have you tried out Pixel Ranger on iPhone yet, and if so what are your thoughts? What do you think of undeniably retro-themed games that are made today? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
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