A Gaming Diary
iPhone
Words With Friends (iPhone)
Feb 15th
I wasn't sure that would work.
This seems to be working better now. I don’t remember it taking ages to send any turns over the weekend, anyway.
It may be worth nothing that this is another game that uses the ringer volume instead of the game volume for its sounds. I let it get away with it because the effects are fairly infrequent – and because it’s too good to live without.
Flood-It! 2 (iPhone)
Feb 15th
Nice game, shame about the beeping.
This lasted about five minutes before being deleted. Not because of the ads at the top of the screen – it’s a free app, so that’s fine. Not because it’s a bad game- it’s a decent, if difficult, time waster. I deleted it because it uses the ringer volume, rather than game volume, for its sound effects, which is one of the most annoying things a game can do. If I were in charge of App Store submissions, I’d reject a game for something like that.
Orbital (iPhone)
Feb 15th
A lot of play over the weekend in all modes – though Pure got neglected compared to the other two – and no new high scores. I got close to my Gravity high score a few times, but messed up when I noticed how near I was to a new best. Supernova was worse – I didn’t even get close.
Oh bother.
At least now one of my Facebook friends has got the game, so I’ve got someone to compare my scores to on the Friends leaderboard – and last time I checked I was winning in all modes, so even better.
Angry Birds (iPhone)
Feb 12th
It’s back! A huge update came out last night adding achievements, leaderboards and – best of all – twenty new levels. (Actually, I have a feeling it’s twenty-two new levels, I’ll have to check.)
That's a terrible shot. Don't copy it.
However many there are, I’ve completed them all now, but I need to go back and get three stars on them all and get all the achievements. Then maybe I can check out some leaderboard scores for some levels and see if I can get to the top of one of them.
If you’ve not got this game yet then there’s no excuse not to grab this, assuming you’ve got an iPhone or an iPod Touch. (Obviously.)
Call of Duty: World At War: Zombies (iPhone)
Feb 12th
So, a big update to CoD: Zombies (I’m not typing out the full name again) came out yesterday. While I was waiting, I practiced on the old version. I’m not really very good, finding headshots tricky, but I do love it. And the flamethrower is just mmmmmmm.
They crawl!
Soon enough, though, the update arrived, which added a whole new map. Okay, it costs £2.99, but it’s much bigger than the existing map and, I think, rather good value given the quality of the game.
I hate these guys... but I do love to shoot them.
The map’s called Zombie Verrückt and I’m meant to be looking for a power switch somewhere. It seems quite important, but I’ve not found it yet. This is mainly due to this map being a lot harder than the old one – I’m dying before I’ve had a good look round.
I know this game won’t be for everyone – dragging the iron sights around either will either feel appropriately weighty or inappropriately annoying, given your point of view – but I reckon this is a fine, fine game.
Alpine Crawler (iPhone)
Feb 12th
Oh, yes, it’s one of those games. You know, the ones that frustrate you to the point of giving up, then pull you back again two minutes later for another go.
Huge jumps are fun, landing is not.
It’s all very simple. You’ve got a truck, there’s some uneven terrain. You accelerate and brake and try to get to the end of the level without running out of time or wrecking your truck.
It’s simple, compulsive, utterly devilish – oh, and completely free. Just don’t download it if you have a low tolerance for frustration.
Doodle Jump (iPhone)
Feb 12th
I'm not thing they think I am at home, I'm a rocket thing.
Got a new high score last night. Not amazingly higher than the one I’d had before, but I’ll take any improvement.
The thing is, there’s no reason for me to die. It’s not like the game suddenly gets really, really difficult. Of course it gets harder the further you go, but I’ve not reached a height where things seem to be impossible. (Though I always – always! – die if flying saucers turn up.) I guess I can only concentrate for a certain amount of time.
Doodle Jump, less a game, more a concentration span measuring app.
GT Racing: Motor Academy (iPhone)
Feb 11th
Didn’t have much of a lunchtime today, but managed to play a few minutes of GT Racing. Tried out a drag race, but my Ford Focus couldn’t even seem to beat a Toyota Corolla.
Apologies for another dull screenshot, but there's no time to take them when exciting things are happening.
So I went and did a two-race series. First race round some French track was fine, then it was on to the Montreal track. It’s a really nicely-designed track, with some excellent corners. I was robbed of victory, though, when I hit a barrier on the penultimate corner and the car in second place came zooming past. Horribly annoying, especially as I have a feeling it was only rubber-banding that kept him so close behind me.
Words With Friends (iPhone)
Feb 11th
Didn’t play anything last night because I was up in London celebrating my Dad’s sixtieth birthday with soft drinks and tapas. (I’m on antibiotics. Terrible timing.) A very good time was had by all, even though my train home was cancelled and I had to get on a different one and change at Tonbridge. Bit of a palaver. Could, of course, have played games on the train, but it was cramped and horrible and I didn’t feel like it.
Not a very exciting move. Sorry.
Anyway, the update to Words With Friends came out, but it’s still nearly impossible to actually send turns during the evening. Boo.
Doom II RPG (iPhone)
Feb 10th
The first Doom RPG was my favourite mobile phone game, so this has got to be great, right? Or have things moved on since I was sat on the bus squinting at the screen of a K800i?
One step closer...
I’m undecided. I’ve done the first level and, yes, I’ve very much enjoyed myself, but I’m a bit worried that it’s going to suffer from the same fault as Wolfenstein RPG – too many fights where you can’t help but take damage, so are constantly given health packs to make up for it. It’s fun and all, but I can’t help but feel that it would be nicer if combat was a bit more skillful and tactical than it seems to be.
We’ll see.
