Ambrosia teases new iPhone game
Are we the only ones unnaturally excited for the iPhone App Store? We don't know how distribution will work, but imagine great applications available from top-notch OS X developers at the touch of a finger. Bored in a waiting room? Try out a new game, buy it and play it right then and there. You know it's not a piece of junk because it's been approved for the store. We can't wait.Ambrosia is teasing one of their future offerings this week with Aki Mobile Mahjong. It's a take on the ancient Chinese game that features cool graphics and nifty sound effects (check out the screenshots and game play video). Ambrosia notes that their aim is to create games that can be launched and quit quickly and easily (for instance, when that important call arrives).
Also interesting is this little tidbit: "Download additional custom levels via EDGE/Wi-Fi...." Cool!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian Burns said 8:07PM on 6-06-2008
I'm sorry, but where have you been? It's been known that we could use the app store over edge.
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Craig said 8:08PM on 6-06-2008
"Sounds like we'll be able to access the App Store over EDGE."
Steve mentioned during the SDK Roadmap that this would be possible.
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mark said 8:44PM on 6-06-2008
I've been enjoying many fun games (hardly a "piece of junk") for months now thanks to the Installer. Apple, boy are you late to the party, and boy did you blow this one.
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Rick said 9:06PM on 6-06-2008
Which of the free Installer games have held your attention for more than a couple seconds?
With the exception of Trism, I haven't been impressed with any of the Installer games. I'm very eager to try out something made by a professional.
Louie Mantia said 8:58PM on 6-06-2008
Aki Mobile Mahjong elegantly blends the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong with an enchanting journey across Japan.
Mixing cultures?
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vandy1997 said 10:24PM on 6-06-2008
$9.99 is too expensive for these types of games; these developers are greedy. A game should not cost more than $5.00. They will learn soon enough. People will buy one or two games and come to find that they rarely play them and that they spent $10.00 on something that they will rarely use. If you only pay $5.00, it's not as much of an issue. It will be as much as one gallon of gas this summer!
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Dave said 1:22AM on 6-07-2008
"$9.99 is too expensive for these types of games; these developers are greedy."
I disagree. These are not "cell phone games" but are competing with the PSP and DS (see here: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/03/20/iphone-20-sdk-video-games-to-rival-nintendo-ds-sony-psp/ )
Sure, PacMan or solitaire should cost a couple bucks tops, but I would gladly shell out $20 for a portable copy of Spore (as hinted at during the SDK demo), or even a really well done racing game or RPG.
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vandy1997 said 8:18AM on 6-07-2008
Dave, when I say that $9.99 is too expensive for these types of games, I am referring to Mahjong in this instance. Mahjong is like dominoes or checkers. It was not invented by this developer, and it is not a complex or innovative game. It should be priced at $5.00 or less. Even the developers of some innovative games, such as Trism and Lumex, have priced these games at $5.00. It seems to me that Ambrosia is overpricing, and they will not sell as many units of this game due to that fact. I am not criticizing Mahjongasagame or Ambrosia as developers; I just think that the pricing is overly aggressive. With respect to Spore, neither you nor I have seen the final version, but depending on the complexity, it too may not be worth more than $5.00 or $10.00 max. Please remember that PSP and DS games need to be packaged and distributed. They also need to be burned onto a disc or cartridge. That adds to the cost. iPhone apps will be downloaded; therefore, they must be less expensive. Also, games for the PSP and the DS are overpriced and a ripoff! iPhone/iPodtouch users should not be allowed to be ripped off in a similar fashion. We should refuse to purchase until these developers price these apps at a reasonable price. Of course, developers can choose to limit the download to a specific phone (which I don't agree with in case you have to switch out a bad phone) or they can limit the purchase to a specific version (i.e., version 1.x only). Then, when they add new great features and create a new version, they can charge current users less for an upgrade. Finally, as is the case with Mahjong, the developer can charge for additional puzzle packs at $1.00 apiece. In that manner, the developer continues to develop for users and keeps the game fresh, and the users contribute by paying for the new levels or boards. It's not rocket science. People will buy the product, but the developers will not maximize their profits if they start charging $10.00 or $20.00 for every app. The iPhone users are not gamers who are willing to pay exaggerated prices for games that are limited versions of what they can purchase for their PCs or gaming consoles (PS3 or Wii).