IPhone/ITouch/IPad Game App Thread

[wco81]

Supposedly these work:

http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellph ... STICK_IT_3

[Naples39]

I have the Fling stick. It's no panacea.

It generally works as advertised, but it amounts to a super mushy joystick. Also, it's useless in some games because the virtual dpad is too big and the fling stick won't go to the edges.

Basically, it helps in some games, but is not a revelation even when it does. And I still felt retarded playing FIFA 11 with it.

I've pretty much just decided some gameplay types just don't work with a virtual dpad (Madden and FIFA being good examples where you have to make quick, precise cuts and can't round out your movements).

[ScoopBrady]

I have the Fling stick. It's no panacea.

It generally works as advertised, but it amounts to a super mushy joystick. Also, it's useless in some games because the virtual dpad is too big and the fling stick won't go to the edges.

Basically, it helps in some games, but is not a revelation even when it does. And I still felt retarded playing FIFA 11 with it.

I've pretty much just decided some gameplay types just don't work with a virtual dpad (Madden and FIFA being good examples where you have to make quick, precise cuts and can't round out your movements).

http://www.r-word.org/

[JackB1]

TW 12 on the iphone is 99c!

Great game for the price!

[Naples39]

If anyone wants to do some ipad button mashing, operation wow is free right now for iphone and ipad.

[Naples39]

Some worthwhile new free apps (or newly free);
Frisbee Forever
Spirits
MotoTrialz

[Naples39]

Death Rally is $1 this weekend. Supposed to be a very good game.

[dbdynsty25]

I've gotta admit...I love the iPad 2. I still can't see spending upwards of 500 on it but it is a ridiculously good device. We got a few at work to use in the hospital with our patient record system and I have been bringing it home occasionally to mess with when sitting on the couch and I can completely see the allure of it for most people. It still doesn't fit in my life at the moment but I dig it. Having used a xoom for a few days as well I think apple did a better overall job and thats saying something because I am definitely pro android overall.

I am now officially tempted. If I wasn't planning for some future family expansion i would probably have purchased one this weekend. Maybe I can sell some old electronics. Lol.

[wco81]

In benchmarks, the A5 seems to be the one to beat at the moment. But Tegra3 with quadcore is due later this year. Some of the upcoming Samsung tablets may be more competitive with the GPU in the iPad2.

The one that is drawing a lot of interest on the Android side is the ASUS transformer, which is Honeycomb with an IPS panel (like the iPad) for $400 with an optional $150 keyboard dock that extends the battery life.

Samsung just showed off a 10.1 inch screen with a 2560x1600 resolution, using the PenTile pixel arrangement used in some OLED screens. Nexus One had a PenTile display, which was well-received for dark levels and brightness but drew complaints about jaggy text.

I held off on the iPad2 because of those rumors. If not Apple, someone will put out a tablet with a high DPI screen, though preferably not a PenTile one, by this time next year.

[Rodster]

I've gotta admit...I love the iPad 2. I still can't see spending upwards of 500 on it but it is a ridiculously good device. We got a few at work to use in the hospital with our patient record system and I have been bringing it home occasionally to mess with when sitting on the couch and I can completely see the allure of it for most people. It still doesn't fit in my life at the moment but I dig it. Having used a xoom for a few days as well I think apple did a better overall job and thats saying something because I am definitely pro android overall.

I am now officially tempted. If I wasn't planning for some future family expansion i would probably have purchased one this weekend. Maybe I can sell some old electronics. Lol.

I've been tempted too but still can't figure out how the ipad 2 trumps a lightweight 13" notebook or even smaller netbook.

[dbdynsty25]

Samsung just showed off a 10.1 inch screen with a 2560x1600 resolution, using the PenTile pixel arrangement used in some OLED screens. Nexus One had a PenTile display, which was well-received for dark levels and brightness but drew complaints about jaggy text.

Yeah those hi res screens are likely the thing that makes me hold off on buying this round of tablets. I can wait. My 13" MacBook is sufficient for now. But i am definitely tempted. Even the ten inch galaxy tab seems to be a good option when those are released domestically. Most reviewers that got them this week at google io seem to love it.

[wco81]

I've been tempted too but still can't figure out how the ipad 2 trumps a lightweight 13" notebook or even smaller netbook.

It won't trump it except where size and weight is an issue, like traveling or on the couch, in bed. Also people seem to prefer it for reading and some apps. seem to be exclusive to it, like apps, from cable companies for viewing on-demand shows.

For now, a tablet can't be your only computer. It's a complementary device. So if you can afford it as a splurge because it fits certain functions better, like swiping through photos, it's worth it for some people.

I still think it has the potential to be a stealth gaming device, as they put more and more capable GPUs on it every year. By the time the NGP comes out, don't be surprised if there are tablets with comparable GPUs, which can output 1080p via HDMI.

[Rodster]

^^^ Makes sense but i'll wait when they are legit gaming devices and like you said can output to 1080P.

[wco81]

They can output to 1080p. Real Racing HD is a $10 game and the developer just got bought by EA.

They may be upscaling rather than rendering in 1080p though.

They need to support controllers though. Since these tablets have Bluetooth and Wifi, some third parties have put out controllers as well as an SDK for developers to support these devices. BUt it's really up to Apple and Android to offer support at the OS level.

The other thing is, when they do use high DPI screens, then some of the graphics performance gains will be given back because they will need to push 4 times as many pixels.

[Naples39]

I've gotta admit...I love the iPad 2. I still can't see spending upwards of 500 on it but it is a ridiculously good device. We got a few at work to use in the hospital with our patient record system and I have been bringing it home occasionally to mess with when sitting on the couch and I can completely see the allure of it for most people. It still doesn't fit in my life at the moment but I dig it. Having used a xoom for a few days as well I think apple did a better overall job and thats saying something because I am definitely pro android overall.

I am now officially tempted. If I wasn't planning for some future family expansion i would probably have purchased one this weekend. Maybe I can sell some old electronics. Lol.

I've been tempted too but still can't figure out how the ipad 2 trumps a lightweight 13" notebook or even smaller netbook.

Have some Kool-aid db, you won't regret it.

Also a notebook is not a like-for-like product. 2 of my last 3 laptops were 12 inchers, and it's just not the same thing. 95% of my use of my laptops came while sitting at a desk or table, whereas a tablet you will always use bed/couch/chair. The touch interface is meant for that, while a laptop you need to be in a proper sitting position and are dragging around the trackpad slowly.

The iPad is much quicker and more user-friendly to do some web browsing, email, gaming, video. No bootup, battery life is great. For instance all that video software is on the PC, but how often do you sit down and watch at a PC/laptop? I never did, but watch TV shows/netflix on the iPad in bed and on the couch almost daily.

I still need to keep my computer around for some tasks/work and to run all my servers that stream to the iPad (audiogalaxy, airvideo, splashtop), but I use my iPad much more than my home PC now.

[Murph]

If only I could find an iPad2 to buy. I don't know why I just don't order one from Apple. I ordered my iP4 online without issue.

[10spro]

The only component that I am not totally 100% with the iPad 2 is the smart cover. I wanted something that would cover the back as well so I found something else. But I do regret spending $80 for the leather cover.

[wco81]

The only component that I am not totally 100% with the iPad 2 is the smart cover. I wanted something that would cover the back as well so I found something else. But I do regret spending $80 for the leather cover.

This thread talks about a third-party cover for the back that almost matches the colors of the smart cover:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16342311-post115.html

People seem to think it's a good deal for $20, though the material is probably not leather.

[Murph]

I finally picked up a 2 today. Black, WiFi, 64G. Now bring on the pr0n...I mean games.

[Naples39]

Hmmm, TW 12 for iPad is $3 now. Tough call.

Just finished my first season with iOOTP. Once I learned the interface better so I can buzz through it's a very good time. Playing with the Phillies and heartbreaking end to the season---Utley, Polanco, Halladay and Oswalt all get hurt in September and after losing on the last day of the season I miss both the WC and division by 1 single game. D'oh!

No regrets making an exception to my $1 rule for iOOTP.

[fanatic]

Hmmm, TW 12 for iPad is $3 now. Tough call.

Just finished my first season with iOOTP. Once I learned the interface better so I can buzz through it's a very good time. Playing with the Phillies and heartbreaking end to the season---Utley, Polanco, Halladay and Oswalt all get hurt in September and after losing on the last day of the season I miss both the WC and division by 1 single game. D'oh!

No regrets making an exception to my $1 rule for iOOTP.

Loving this game on my iPhone...

How many/much of games do you usually sim? I'm very early in my Jays season and want to see each inning unfold. Might take a while!

[Naples39]

I was playing them at first, but inevitably I get impatient. Unless there's some special reason to check the game, I just sim the whole game. I do often select to play it so I check the lineup and starter (saw some weirdness with my #1 MR getting a bunch of starts for no reason), but then immediately hit sim game once it's started.

Checking the boxscore of every game provides me enough interaction/interest.

[Murph]

Does anyone else think it's ridiculous that Facebok doesn"t offer a native FB app for iPad? I realize Zuckerberg doesn't consider tablets as "mobile" in the same sense as mobile phones, but sheesh, it uses the exact same iOS and Safari mobile browser that iPhone does.

Friendly for Facebook gets the job done, I'm just surprised FB is so slow to jump aboard.

By the way, Twitter gets it.

[10spro]

PES 2011 is on sale now for $1.99.

[sportdan30]

Ichromy is a great free browser for the iPad.