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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Ticket To Ride iPad game is great, could be greater]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/"><img alt="ticket to ride ipad app" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad-1-600-1306518536.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px; width: 600px; height: 450px;" /></a></p>
<p>
	The brand new iPad implementation of <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9209/ticket-to-ride">Ticket To Ride</a> is close to perfect, but it needs a few more features before I can wholeheartedly recommend the game. As it stands, if you like Alan R. Moons' wonderful board game and enjoy playing online (or against AI opponents), then <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ticket-to-ride/id432504470?mt=8">get thee to the App Store post haste and fork over your US$6.99</a>. If you're looking for a way to enjoy the game with multiple people around the same iPad (as you can do with the other official app based on a Days of Wonder game, <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/06/review-gorgeous-small-world-app-shows-board-games-can-be-great/">the great Small World</a>), don't bother.</p>
<p>
	I hope DoW manages to update this app soon with a same-device multiplayer option (either using open cards or using an iPhone/iPod touch "hand" method the way Scrabble does), because it's clear that there are many gamers out there who feel it needs to be implemented. I like what we have now in Ticket To Ride, but read on to see if this is a journey you'd like to go on.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/">Ticket To Ride iPad App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/#4169422"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad--1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/#4169420"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad--2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/#4169405"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad--14_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/#4169374"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad--26_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ticket-to-ride-ipad-app-0/#4169418"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/05/ticket-to-ride-ipad--10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ticket To Ride iPad game is great, could be greater</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/">Ticket To Ride iPad game is great, could be greater</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 28 May 2011 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ticket-to-ride/id432504470?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19948092/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/28/ticket-to-ride-ipad-game-is-great-could-be-greater/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alan moon</category><category>AlanMoon</category><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>iPad</category><category>ipad board game</category><category>IpadBoardGame</category><category>review</category><category>ticket to ride</category><category>TicketToRide</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Autoblog's new app to help you obsess about the auto industry]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<img alt="Autoblog App" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/mars/2762/autoblog-app.jpg" /></p>
<p>
	Today, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/the-autoblog-com-iphone-app-is-here/">Autoblog finally released its iPhone app</a>, bringing together three of the car site's main components (and a new debut) into a central location. The free app provides up-to-the-minute auto industry news from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/">Autoblog</a>, fuel-efficient car news from <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/">AutoblogGreen</a>, tech-related vehicle news from <a href="http://translogic.aolautos.com/">Translogic</a> and, for the first time on a mobile device, new car buying data through the "Aol. Best Deals" service. Try using it the next time you visit a dealership.</p>
<p>
	As the editor-in-chief of AutoblogGreen (yes, I do more than just <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/bloggers/sebastian-blanco/">review board game apps on TUAW</a>, and TUAW and Autoblog are both AOL properties), I can't objectively review this app. Instead, I'll run down the list of features and, since it's free, interested readers can check out the app themselves and share reviews in the comments below.</p>
<p>
	The highlight here is, of course, having quick and easy access to Autoblog news in a dedicated app. Sure, the iPhone has long been able to access the regular and mobile versions of these sites, but the app formats them in an easy-to-read manner that also offers one-touch access to the sites' picture galleries and videos.</p>
<p>
	Of course, like most good blogs, part of the experience is participating, and the app offers a really easy way to send in a tip. If you see something great while you're out and about, you can also send Autoblog a picture through the app. Another nifty feature? You can save blog posts to the app for offline reading, kind of like a built-in <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/tag/Instapaper/">Instapaper</a>. It's also possible to stream any of the Autoblog podcasts through the app, so if you don't want to fill up your iPhone with downloaded files, now you don't have to.</p>
<p>
	There are some capabilities from the regular sites missing from the app: not all categories are represented in the "Topics" tab, for example. More important, you can't comment on posts (yet). Also, the app is formatted for the iPhone, and so it displays at 2x on the iPad. That means I wouldn't bother with this app on the iPad; instead I'll keep using Mobile Safari to get my auto industry news.</p>
<p>
	Sounds good? Check out the free app yourself <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autoblog-com/id433932127?mt=8">here</a>.</p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/">Autoblog's new app to help you obsess about the auto industry</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 04 May 2011 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autoblog-com/id433932127?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19931865/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/04/autoblogs-new-app-to-help-you-obsess-about-the-auto-industry/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aol best deals</category><category>auto industry</category><category>autoblog</category><category>autoblog app</category><category>autobloggreen</category><category>autobloggreen app</category><category>iPhone</category><category>translogic</category><category>translogic app</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Tikal offers jungle brilliance for 10 action points a turn]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/"><img alt="tikal ipad game" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-game-630.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px; width: 600px; height: 329px;" /></a></p>
<p>
	Every six months or so, Codito/Sage Board Games releases another excellent Euro-style board game for iOS. The first example was the excellent <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/">Medici</a>, which was followed by <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/">Ra</a>. Coming up next is <a href="http://sageboardgames.com/?p=115">Puerto Rico</a>. Last week they brought us <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54/tikal">Tikal</a>, a truly wonderful game that won the 1999 Spiel des Jahres award and still stands up to any of the releases coming out today (last year, it even <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/67180/tikal-ii-the-lost-temple">got a sequel</a>, which is just fascinating). While the game is amazing, the Tikal app feels like a 0.9 version, but the crashes and quirks should be worked out quickly if Sage's history tells us anything.</p>
<p>
	Tikal the board game is about exploring the jungle around Tikal, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikal">the archaeological site</a>, for ancient Mayan temples and treasures. It may be troubling if you think about it in terms of colonizer and indigenous peoples, but sometimes you need to just enjoy brilliant gameplay when you find it. Read on to see how it all works.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/">Tikal iPad App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/#4085857"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-game_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/#4085856"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-app-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/#4085855"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-app-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/#4085825"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-app-32_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tikal-ipad-app/#4085824"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/tikal-ipad-app-33_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Tikal offers jungle brilliance for 10 action points a turn</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/">App Review: Tikal offers jungle brilliance for 10 action points a turn</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tikal/id430920838?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19922745/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/26/app-review-tikal-offers-jungle-brilliance-for-10-action-points/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board games</category><category>BoardGames</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>ipad board game</category><category>iPhone</category><category>tikal</category><category>tikal ipad game</category><category>TikalIpadGame</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neuroshima Hex Puzzle for iOS reviewed, on sale this weekend]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="220" hspace="8" src="http://www.blogcdn.com//media/2011/04/neuroshima2.jpg" vspace="8" width="330" />
<p>
	If you like the wargame/board game strategy of <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21241/neuroshima-hex">Neuroshima Hex</a>, but want to quietly challenge your brain as you play, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/id422849370?mt=8#">the new Neuroshima Hex Puzzle app</a> should be right up your alley. Even better, the universal app is on sale for just US$0.99 this weekend (a 66 percent discount).</p>
<p>
	The game is a close cousin to the original <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/">Neuroshima Hex iOS game</a> (also on sale this weekend for $2.99 (40 percent off), and we recommend the puzzle version for people who have already gotten lots of enjoyment out of the multiplayer version and want to spend some time learning about how to play better and thinking about why they often lose. Keep reading for more details.</p>
<p>
	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/">Neuroshima Hex Puzzle</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/#4062028"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/img0279_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/#4062027"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/img0280_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/#4062026"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/img0281_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/#4062025"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/img0282_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/#4062024"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/04/img0283_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Neuroshima Hex Puzzle for iOS reviewed, on sale this weekend</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/">Neuroshima Hex Puzzle for iOS reviewed, on sale this weekend</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:15:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neuroshima-hex-puzzle/id422849370?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19915126/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/16/app-review-neuroshima-hex-puzzle-on-sale-this-weekend/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game app</category><category>BoardGameApp</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>neuroshima hex</category><category>neuroshima hex puzzle</category><category>NeuroshimaHex</category><category>NeuroshimaHexPuzzle</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Viking Lords is good fun, but could be "borrowing" too much]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/viking-lords-board-game-app/#4002761"><img alt="viking lords" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/03/viking-lords-2.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px;" /></a></p>
<p>
	Sending miniature warriors -- cavalry, spearmen, archers, dwarves and giants -- into pretend battles has a long tradition, and there are already plenty of ways to do so on your iDevice. We looked at <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/">Ex Illis</a> a while back, which used your iPhone as a scorekeeper for your physical miniatures, and there is no shortage of Risk and <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/">Stratego</a> games in the App Store. Today we'll take a peek at a third: Viking Lords, a <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/viking-lords/id408018838?mt=8">US$3.99</a> iPad app that is fun to play, but has a big potential problem.</p>
<p>
	Viking Lords is an iteration of Richard Borg's popular <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25417/battlelore">BattleLore</a> game system (also used in <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10630/memoir-44">Memoir '44</a> and evolved from his <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Command_and_Colors_system">Commands and Colors System</a>), and this can be seen as a good and bad thing. It's kind of a good thing, because the original BattleLore tabletop board game is out of print and expensive right now. BattleLore was first published by Days of Wonder in 2006, but the rights now belong to Fantasy Flight, which will reprint the game in France. It's a bad thing because this app appears to be, pretty simply, theft of intellectual property. <a href="http://www.vikinglordsgame.com:8080/jsp/forum.jsp?parent_id=38">According to the developers,</a> "We have had inspiration from various computer games as well as card and tabletop games. Attempt has been to try to combine the best from both worlds." <a href="http://www.purplepawn.com/2011/01/second-lookviking-lords-for-the-ipad/">Rumor has it</a> that Borg is looking into legal action against Puffin Software, the app's developers.</p>
<p>
	Since you cannot trademark game mechanics, any legal outcome is uncertain. Still, don't be surprised if this app suddenly disappears from the App Store. Perhaps it will return one day as a licensed version of either BattleLore or Memoir '44. We don't condone any sort of IP rip-offs, but I wanted to review this game for two reasons: A) it's an iOS "tabletop" board game, and that's kind of my thing, and B) I wanted to show the people who <em>do</em> have the rights to the game that there is an interest in porting this sort of thing over to digital devices. Plus, since Apple is still allowing the app to exist, we'll take a moment to review it. If a miniatures strategy game sounds interesting to you, read on and decide if you want to support Puffin or sit this one out and wait for an official port to hit your iPad.</p>
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</div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Viking Lords is good fun, but could be "borrowing" too much</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/">App Review: Viking Lords is good fun, but could be "borrowing" too much</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19887228/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/28/app-review-viking-lords-is-good-fun-but-could-be-borrowing-t/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>battlelore</category><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>ipad board game</category><category>puffin software</category><category>richard borg</category><category>viking lords</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/full/#3922155"><img alt="Kamon iPhone App" class="right border" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-04-v.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px; float: right;" /></a><a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28738/kamon">Kamon</a> (<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kamon/id390459303?mt=8">US$1.99</a> for the iPhone version) and Kamon HD for the iPad (available separately for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kamon-hd/id390383658?mt=8#">$2.99</a>) should really be one universal app. There isn't enough meat here to justify the five dollar price tag for both versions -- not when the top-of-the-line board games like the <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/30/catan-the-first-island-brings-tabletop-gaming-glee-to-iphone/">Settlers of Catan</a> cost $4.99. Two dollars for a universal version sounds about right in today's App Store economy/price structure, but I also want more and more board games to come to iOS, and developers need to make their money somehow. So, with that in mind, I can recommend Kamon to anyone looking to expand their app library of well-designed two-player strategy games.</p>
<p>
	Kamon was created by renowned designer <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/1727/bruno-cathala">Bruno Cathala</a> who was recently responsible for the particularly good game <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54998/cyclades">Cyclades</a>. The elegant leather and wood version has been hard to find in the U.S., but now everyone has access to this simple (yet hard to master) game. Keep reading for more.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/">Kamon iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/#3922155"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/#3922154"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/#3922153"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/#3922146"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-12_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kamon-iphone-app/#3922152"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/kamon-iphone-app-06_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/">App Review: Kamon is a great two-player strategy game, but a bit pricey</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jactalea/id390383661>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19860542/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/28/app-review-kamon-is-a-great-two-player-strategy-game-but-a-bit/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>apps</category><category>bruno cathala</category><category>games</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>kamon app</category><category>kamon board game</category><category>software</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth leads us to a solid puzzle game]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p>
	<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/full/#3910329"><img alt="Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth" border=" " hspace=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth-crop.jpg" vspace="4" /></a><br />
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	<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/id409323038?mt=8">Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth</a> [US$1.99, universal, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-labyrinth-hd/id415611962?mt=8">trial version available</a>] is one of a number of iOS-only games the prolific game designer has created (the others being Monumental -- <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/24/tuaw-review-reiner-knizias-monumental-turns-puzzle-apps-upside/">here's our review</a> -- <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-roto/id334185086?mt=8">Roto</a>, <a href="http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?s=7b2893de9dc3efa61444e2a12192b86a&amp;t=83157">Yoku-Gami</a> and <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/611525/new-reiner-knizia-ios-game-teocalli">Teocalli</a>). It's always been difficult to keep up with the board and card games that the mathematician has come up with, but now that he is working with a number of small iOS developers, it's almost sisyphean. While some Knizia titles are much more worthwhile than others, this is one "brand" that I'm usually interested enough in to take a look. This counts double considering that his new app comes from Tribeflame, developers of the excellent <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/">Keltis: Oracle</a> and <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/">Through The Desert</a>. Like those other apps, Labyrinth is a puzzle game, but what's it all about?<br />
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	The impression I get is that If Knizia had designed <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/">Carcassonne</a> as a solitaire game, this app is probably what it would have been. Tabletop gamers already know how Knizia's two-player version of Carcassone works (it's the variant called The Castle), but Labyrinth is a calmer affair and specifically designed for digital play. Keep reading for the details.<br />
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	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/">Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/#3910333"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth--6_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/#3910320"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth--19_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/#3910318"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth--20_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/#3910317"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth--21_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/#3910316"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/reiner-knizia-labyrinth--22_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth leads us to a solid puzzle game</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Labyrinth leads us to a solid puzzle game</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-labyrinth/id409323038?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19825975/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/app-review-reiner-knizias-labyrinth-leads-us-to-a-solid-puzzle/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>games</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>knizia labyrinth</category><category>KniziaLabyrinth</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>ReinerKnizia</category><category>tribeflame</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Reviews: Stratego vs. The General]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/stratego-iphone-app/"><img border="0" align="right" hspace="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/stratego-iphone-app-vert-250.jpg" alt="Stratego iPhone App" class="right border" /></a>Stratego is a classic board game. It's so common that you can probably find a decent copy at your local thrift store for the same price as one of the two iDevice versions available on the App Store. If you want a pocketable version instead, what will you get for your money? We've got a comparison review of both the official version of Stratego (iPhone/iPod touch only, available for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stratego/id398975927?mt=8">US$1.99</a>) and The General, a well-done clone (universal, also <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-general/id310914488?mt=8#">$1.99</a>).<br />
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There is a third Stratego-like option on the App Store, something called <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marshal-stratego-game/id323927578?mt=8">Marshal</a>, but that uses a hex-based board and has a bunch of bad user reviews, so I let it slide for this review. Keep reading to see which of the two versions of Stratego is most worth your money.</p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Reviews: Stratego vs. The General</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/">App Reviews: Stratego vs. The General</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=software&amp;media=all&amp;restrict=true&amp;submit=seeAllLockups&amp;term=stratego>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19824550/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/06/app-reviews-stratego-vs-the-general/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>features</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>stratego</category><category>stratego app</category><category>stratego board game</category><category>the general app</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Michael Schacht's Gold! is simply good]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/full/#3844251"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="Michael Schacht's Gold for iPhone" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-03-600.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/90474/gold">Michael Schacht's Gold!</a> is the first card game we know of to be released simultaneously as an iDevice app and a physical product. The game is making its virgin appearance on the App Store as <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/michael-schachts-gold/id415014558?mt=8">a US$2.99 universal app</a> today and at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_International_Toy_Fair">Nuremberg International Toy Fair</a>, which starts today in Germany. This tiny bit of history doesn't make the game any better or worse than it would be otherwise, but it does show that some designers are willing to work with app developers to try and attract a digital audience before making sure their game is a hit on the tabletop. <br />
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Perhaps the reason for the dual debut is that this isn't the first time a <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/86/michael-schacht">Schacht</a> design has hit the App Store. The video-gamey port of <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/review-zooloretto-game-app-turns-your-iphone-into-a-cute-little/">Zooloretto</a> is well-done, and there's also an unlicensed clone of Schacht's game Coloretto called <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chameleon-hd/id407185910?mt=8">Chameleon</a> out there. What is Gold! all about? Donkeys, stealing cards and trying to get the most gold. Keep reading to see what I mean.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/">Michael Schacht's Gold for iPhone</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/#3844253"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/#3844252"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/#3844251"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/#3844243"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-11_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/michael-schachts-gold-for-iphone/#3844242"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/02/gold-iphone-app-12_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Michael Schacht's Gold! is simply good</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/">App Review: Michael Schacht's Gold! is simply good</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/90474/gold>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19826513/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/03/app-review-michael-schachts-gold-is-simply-good/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>gold card game</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>michael schacht</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Battleline is numerically superior]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/full/#3795753"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="Reiner Knizia's Battleline iPad App" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app-01-600.jpg" /></a><br />
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The latest bit of digital entertainment based on a Reiner Knizia game to hit the App Store is your typical Knizia numberfest: a brilliant game design with a theme that could be anything. In this case, with Battleline, the theme happens to be ancient Greek military. In fact, the very first version of the card game was called <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/372/schotten-totten">Schotten-Totten</a>, and it depicted elderly comic Scotsmen vying for nine stones; there was also a re-themed Narnia version (called the <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39087/the-chronicles-of-narnia-prince-caspian-the-shield">Prince Caspian The Shield of Courage Card Game</a>) to coincide with one of the recent movies. If you're looking to play with physical cards, you have a choice of theme, but on an iDevice, you've got ancient Greek armies. Luckily, this is a perfectly fitting theme, and since you'll spend most of your time thinking about possible number combinations, you wouldn't care if the game involved nothing but Smurfs and Garfield. Keep reading to find out why the new iOS version of the 2000 game <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/760/battle-line">Battle Line</a> (yes, there is a space in the tabletop version, but not in the app) is worth checking out, even if you aren't a math person. Hint: it's more about poker than anything else.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/">Reiner Knizia's Battleline iPad App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/#3795753"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app--01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/#3795751"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app--02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/#3795750"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app--03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/#3795749"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app--04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-battleline-ipad-app/#3795727"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2011/01/reiner-knizia-battleline-ipad-app--26_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Battleline is numerically superior</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Battleline is numerically superior</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:15:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://tuaw.com/tag/appreview>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19804622/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/18/app-review-reiner-knizias-battleline-is-numerically-superior/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>battleline</category><category>features</category><category>iPad</category><category>reiner knizia</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Parcours.robo is like RoboRally... if you don't like RoboRally]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center; "><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-600px.jpg" /></div>
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Parcours.robo really, really wants to be <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18/roborally">RoboRally</a>, the well-received 1994 board game from Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield. Whether because the developer, <a href="http://impara.de/parcours/en/">Impara GmbH</a>, didn't want to negotiate for the actual board game licensing rights or for another reason, the game plays a lot like RoboRally, but it's actually a sad little clone that also makes <em>me</em> really, really want it to be RoboRally. <br />
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It's not a bad game, but Parcours.robo's biggest impact is that it makes me realize that what the App Store needs is an official RoboRally port, full of the board game's crazy "automated" movement; it could be amazingly animated on an iPad without losing any of the tension in the game's secret planning. Until that happens, though, read on to see what Parcours.robo has to offer us today.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/">Parcours.robo iPhone app</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/#3718410"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/#3718409"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/#3718408"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/#3718407"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/parcour-robo-iphone-app/#3718406"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/robo-parcours-iphone-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Parcours.robo is like RoboRally... if you don't like RoboRally</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/">App Review: Parcours.robo is like RoboRally... if you don't like RoboRally</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/parcours-robo/id364702560?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19777224/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/27/app-review-parcours-robo-is-like-roborally-if-you-dont-like/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>parcours.robo</category><category>roborally</category><category>roborally app</category><category>roborally ipad</category><category>roborally iphone</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Through The Desert proves that pastel camels have serious staying power]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/"><img width="590" vspace="8" hspace="8" height="399" border=" 1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-knizia-ipad-01-600px.jpg" alt="through the desert ipad" /></a></div>
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The latest big name board game to make an appearance on the iPad is <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-the-desert">Though The Desert</a>. Serious board game fans have been anxiously waiting for this app ever since it was announced and I'm happy to say that this latest Reiner Knizia port to the digital realm is totally worth the wait. The app currently costs $5.99 and is <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-through-desert/id407468529?mt=8#">available on the App Store</a>.<br />
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Even before the game was released, there was reason to believe it would be a solid experience. <a href="http://www.tribeflame.com/">TribeFlame</a>, the developer, released <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/">Keltis Oracle</a> this past spring and it's been one of the board game apps that I turn to again and again, even with my iDevices getting fuller and fuller with outstanding gaming options. Read on to see why you will, in fact, want to take a pastel-colored camel caravan <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-through-desert/id407468529?mt=8#">Through The Desert</a>.<br />
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<div><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/">Reiner Knizia's Through The Desert for iPad</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/#3689968"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-knizia-ipad-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/#3689944"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-knizia-ipad-19_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/#3689939"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-knizia-ipad-24_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/#3693411"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-ipad-end-game_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-for-ipad/#3689943"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/through-the-desert-knizia-ipad-20_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Through The Desert proves that pastel camels have serious staying power</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Through The Desert proves that pastel camels have serious staying power</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-through-desert/id407468529?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19766465/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/16/app-review-reiner-knizias-through-the-desert-proves-that-paste/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game app</category><category>games</category><category>iPad</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>through the desert</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Let's Catch The Lion! is cute, strategic fun]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/full/#3615788"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="Let's Catch The Lion! iPad App" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-09-600.jpg" /></a><br />
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The new <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lets-catch-the-lion-dx/id393780026?mt=8#">Let's Catch The Lion! board game app</a> looks cute as all get out, and to be fair, it <em>is</em> designed as a kids' game. But this Shogi (Japanese Chess) variant is a worthwhile download from the App Store even for board gamers who don't have a child in the house. It's a solid two-player strategy game and should interest anyone who likes abstracts. <br />
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<a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/56796/dobutsu-shogi"> Doubutsu Shogi</a> (which is Japanese for Animal Chess) was designed by the professional Shogi player Maiko Fujita, who wanted to get more girls interested in playing the original game. She found a great balance between strategy and fun in a small package, and the translation to iDevices lost absolutely nothing. How could it, given the tabletop game's incredible simplicity? Read on to get the full story.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/">Let's Catch The Lion! iPad App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/#3615795"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/#3615790"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-06_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/#3615789"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/#3615788"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/lets-catch-the-lion-ipad-app/#3615787"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/dobutsu-shogi-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Let's Catch The Lion! is cute, strategic fun</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/">App Review: Let's Catch The Lion! is cute, strategic fun</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lets-catch-the-lion-dx/id393780026?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19736888/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/07/app-review-lets-catch-the-lion-is-cute-strategic-fun/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>animal chess</category><category>App Review</category><category>board games</category><category>doubutsu shogi</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>lets catch the lion</category><category>Madoka Kitao</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Oski for iPad is the thoughtful person's word game, with a lot of twists]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-10-600.jpg" alt="oski ipad word game" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.wyps.info/oski/">Oski</a> is a word game for the slow thinker. Not for the dimwitted, that's not what I mean, but for the word game player who likes to think - a lot - about her options and to and really plan out the next move. With no randomness and no hidden information, this is a game that invites <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis">analysis paralysis</a>. With only 16 moves in each game (8 per player) it's the player who makes the most of each move who will win.<br />
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Let's get one thing out of the way right at the start: <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/73163/oski">Oski</a> can be played with a pen and paper. Also, the app is not anything close to the most polished program on the App Store. Still, it's a fun little game - especially when played against another person and not the iPad - and so I think it's worth the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/oski-hd/id373555816?mt=8#">US$0.99</a> download (Version 1.4 reviewed here). Read on for my reasons why.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/">Oski iPad Word Game App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/#3615484"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/#3615495"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/#3615494"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/#3615492"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/oski-ipad-word-game-app/#3615490"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/oski-ipad-word-game-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Oski for iPad is the thoughtful person's word game, with a lot of twists</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/">Oski for iPad is the thoughtful person's word game, with a lot of twists</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/app/oski-hd/id373555816?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19735844/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/29/app-review-oski-is-the-thoughtful-persons-word-game-with-a-lo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>features</category><category>games</category><category>iPad</category><category>oski</category><category>Richard Malaschitz</category><category>word game</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578022"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="reiner knizia kingdoms iphone" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/kingdoms-iphone-app-3-600-1289953179.jpg" /></a><br />
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Once you've got the foundation in place, it's easy enough to redecorate your board game app. That's what the developers at Skotos Tech/<a href="http://www.rpg.net/iphone/display-app.phtml?appid=3-Reiner-Knizias-High-Society">RPGnet</a> have figured out with their series of games that use the MobileEuroCard platform. These apps include <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/reiner-knizias-money-app-worth-spending-time-with/">Money</a>, <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/">High Society</a>, and now, <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119/kingdoms">Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms</a>. This last game is a <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-kingdoms/id398644286?mt=8#">US$3.99</a> universal app (Version 1.01 reviewed here), and playing it will feel quite familiar to anyone who has tried the first two games. This app shows the engine's flexibility, since instead of playing cards to a central location, you're playing tiles in a specific grid pattern. Most things work smoothly and easily.<br />
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This 2-4 player game has been published in German as Auf Heller und Pfennig and in English as Kingdoms, and later, it was even reworked into a movie spin-off game based on <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29308/beowulf-the-movie-board-game"><em>Beowulf</em></a>. Yes, Knizia's numbers game is quite flexible as far as themes go, but that's to be expected. On your iDevice, the game plays very quickly and is entertaining for the few minutes that you're engaged with it (especially on the iPhone). Also, anyone who is interested in multiplayer Sudoku (is that fair?) can read on for the full review.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/">Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms iPhone/iPad app</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578022"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/kingdoms-iphone-app-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578019"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-kingdoms-iphone-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578026"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-kingdoms-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578035"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-kingdoms-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-kingdoms-iphone-ipad-app/#3578034"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-kingdoms-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Kingdoms</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-kingdoms/id398644286?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19720839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/17/app-review-reiner-knizias-kingdoms/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>kingdoms app review</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>reiner knizia kingdoms</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Ra]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="Reiner Knizia's Ra for ipad" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-01-600.jpg" /></a><br />
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Reiner Knizia's classic Egyptian-themed auction and tile-collecting game <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra">Ra</a> is not an easy one to figure out. When playing around a table, you need to collect the right tiles, look over to see what other people are collecting, keep an eye on the status of the sun/bid tiles and, in general, process a lot of changing information. If you enjoy this gameplay but don't like setting up the game or dealing with scorekeeping, the new universal Ra app is sure to please, especially at <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ra-designed-by-reiner-knizia/id400213892?mt=8#">US$4.99</a> (it debuted at $6.99, but quickly came down). <br />
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Ra for iOS was designed by <a href="http://sageboardgames.com/">Sage Board Games</a>, the same people who brought us the excellent <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/">Medici</a> and have a lot of wonderful board games in their "convert to app" sights. Because it's such a popular game in the Eurogame community, a lot of people have been waiting for Ra, and it kind of feels like this is an important app for the developers. If it's a success, then we expect more board game apps to come. If not, then what happens? We have no inside information on the company's finances or strategic plan, but it's probably not cheap to produce an app like this, and no one wants to lose money -- even if they're making things they love.</p>
<p>Does Ra make the grade? We think so, but read on to see what its like to get a bit of desert auction sand in your iPad or iPhone.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/">Reiner Knizia's Ra for iPad</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/#3564355"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/#3564354"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/#3564353"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/#3564352"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-ra-for-ipad/#3564351"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/knizia-ra-ipad-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Ra</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Ra</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ra-designed-by-reiner-knizia/id400213892?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19713741/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/13/app-review-reiner-knizias-ra/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>board games</category><category>BoardGames</category><category>Eurogame</category><category>gaming</category><category>iOS</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>iPod touch</category><category>IpodTouch</category><category>Reiner Knizias Ra</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Neuroshima Hex is good, about to get a lot better *UPDATE]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="8" hspace="8" border="0" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/nhex1-sb.jpg" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br />
The new board game app that's based on the 2006 tabletop game <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/21241/neuroshima-hex">Neuroshima Hex</a> is a lot of things. For a cardboard hex-based game that's reproduced in your pocket, Neuroshima Hex is gorgeous. The artwork is wonderfully clear on a Retina Display, and the part-apocalyptic, part-1950s sci-fi style graphics are very fitting. The gameplay combines tricks from a miniatures-based war game with abstract strategy titles. The music and sound effects are also well done, adding to the tension and mood of the battles. Given that the tabletop version of the game runs about US$30, and the app sells for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neuroshima-hex/id391297152?mt=8#">$2.99</a> [this review is for <a href="http://www.neuroshimahex.com/572/version-1-01-less-features-more-fixes-is-here/#comments">Version 1.01</a>], there's very little reason to not check out this app if you're at all interested in the theme or board gaming on your iPhone. Need another reason? The developers say that <a href="http://www.neuroshimahex.com/559/neuroshima-hex-will-be-an-universal-application/">a universal version of the app</a> with a higher price tag ($4.99) will be coming soon. Want to know more? Read on for what you seek.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/">Neuroshima Hex iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/#3530800"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/neuroshima-hex-iphone-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/#3530799"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/neuroshima-hex-iphone-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/#3530798"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/neuroshima-hex-iphone-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/#3530797"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/neuroshima-hex-iphone-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/neuroshima-hex-iphone-app/#3530796"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/11/neuroshima-hex-iphone-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Neuroshima Hex is good, about to get a lot better *UPDATE</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/">App Review: Neuroshima Hex is good, about to get a lot better *UPDATE</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neuroshima-hex/id391297152?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19698695/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/03/app-review-neuroshima-hex-is-good-about-to-get-a-lot-better/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>board games</category><category>game center</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPhone</category><category>neuroshima</category><category>Neuroshima Hex</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Tantrix Strategy connects luck and strategy]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p> </p>
<center><img  border="0" hspace="8" vspace="8" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-sb.jpg" /></center>
<p><br />
The beautiful Tantrix Strategy game app [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tantrix-strategy/id391459234?mt=8">US$2.99</a>] is an example of why it's sometimes good to wait for the second or third version of an iPad app before plunking down your money in the App Store. We're reviewing Version 1.1 here, and it improves on the original with an AI opponent (three levels). This is a huge boost, and it turns a so-so app into something all strategy gamers will want to at least look at. If you just want to dive in and check it out yourself right now, there is a free "lite" version of the app available <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tantrix-strategy-lite/id396971538?mt=8">here</a>. <br />
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For the rest of you, here's the scoop. The iPad-only Tantrix app is a tile-laying strategy game that includes a fair bit of luck. It should not be confused with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tantrix-match/id380715404?mt=8">Tantrix Match</a>, a $1.99 solitaire puzzle game that uses the same pieces as Tantrix, or <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/connext/id355405211?mt=8">Connext</a>, a $1.99 two-player game that looks similar but offers different gameplay. If you're already feeling a bit confused, that's OK. The <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1038/tantrix">tabletop version of Tantrix</a> is also one set of colored tiles that can be used to play a variety of different games (think dominoes or a deck of cards). The Tantrix app offers us the basic strategy game in a refined, pretty package. Read on to see if you want to get all tantric yourself or with a friend (speaking of apps that aren't this game...)<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/">App Review: Tantrix</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/#3523515"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/#3523514"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/#3523489"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-ipad-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/#3523500"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-16_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/app-review-tantrix/#3523499"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/tantrix-17_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p>
<p> </p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Tantrix Strategy connects luck and strategy</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/">App Review: Tantrix Strategy connects luck and strategy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tantrix-strategy/id391459234?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19664017/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/31/app-review-tantrix-strategy-connects-luck-and-strategy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>strategy</category><category>tantric games</category><category>TantricGames</category><category>tantrix</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Pentago is a twisty strategy game with legs]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="pentago iphone" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-01-600.jpg" /></a></div>
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The ideas behind the two-player abstract strategy game <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19841/pentago">Pentago</a> are about as old as any abstract strategy games we can think of. If Connect 4 is an evolution of tic-tac-toe, then Pentago is an evolution of Connect 4. There's also a bit of Reversi/Othello in the game, with enough of a twist (and I use the term advisedly) to make it different. <br />
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The game designed by Tomas Flod&eacute;n and was first released IRL in 2005 in Sweden and has received two Game of The Year awards (2005 in Sweden and 2006 in France) and was also named a Mensa Mind Games selection in 2006. <br />
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In the App Store, <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/53671/item/1382541#item1382541">its history is questionable</a>. The currently available app, called simply Pentago [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pentago/id387127735?mt=8">$1.99</a>] was in the store for a while but then disappeared. That app did not have an AI, but a similar app from a different company, Pentago HD, offered the same gameplay and an AI opponent for a short while. It disappeared without a word and has not resurfaced. Now, Pentago is back, and you might want to snag it while you can even though this looks like an official port from Mindtwister, the company that makes the tabletop version. Don't know if you want to or not? Read on to find out. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/">Pentago iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/#3498424"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/#3498410"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-13_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/#3498409"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-14_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/#3498408"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-15_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pentago-iphone-app/#3498407"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/pentago-iphone-retina-16_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Pentago is a twisty strategy game with legs</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/">App Review: Pentago is a twisty strategy game with legs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pentago/id387127735?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19685517/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/22/app-review-pentago-is-a-twisty-strategy-game-with-legs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>iPhone</category><category>pentago</category><category>pentago app</category><category>pentago board game</category><category>pentago iphone</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Kingsburg (née Kinsburg) rolls strategy and frustrating your opponents into one fun game]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479962"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " alt="kingsburg iphone app" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-01-600px.jpg" /></a></div>
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In September, a board game app based on the 2007 game <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27162/kingsburg">Kingsburg</a> took the gaming community by surprise. We often hear about upcoming board game ports <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/56010/going-digital-boardgames-slated-to-come-out-on-iph">way in advance</a> of their release, but Kingsburg appeared so suddenly on the App Store [for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kingsburg-serving-the-crown/id390444806?mt=8">US$4.99</a>] that someone submitted it as Kinsburg, which made it kind of hard to search for in the early weeks of its release. The typo has now been fixed, so if the game sounds interesting to you after reading this review, you know it'll be easy to find. <br />
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What is Kingsburg (subtitled "Serving the Crown") all about? It's a light, fun strategy game with plenty of luck and a good helping of "screw-your-neighbor" involved. You play an advisor to the king - or maybe a duke with his own duchy, something like that - and you spend five "years" gaining resources, erecting buildings, and preparing for invasions of evil armies with things like barbarians and zombies. It's fun once you know what you're doing. Continue reading for more. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/">Kingsburg: Serving The Crown iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479962"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479961"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479960"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479959"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/kingsburg-serving-the-crown-iphone-app/#3479958"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/kingsburg-iphone-app-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Kingsburg (née Kinsburg) rolls strategy and frustrating your opponents into one fun game</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/">App Review: Kingsburg (née Kinsburg) rolls strategy and frustrating your opponents into one fun game</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kingsburg-serving-the-crown/id390444806?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19677558/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/19/app-review-kingsburg-nee-kinsburg-rolls-strategy-and-frustrat/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>App Review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>games</category><category>iPhone</category><category>kingsburg</category><category>kingsburg app</category><category>kingsburg board game</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Battle Map lets you create huge worlds in small doses]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444693"><img hspace=" " border=" " vspace="4" alt="battle map app screen shot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-18-600.jpg" /></a><br />
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The essence of a role playing game is, well, ... playing a role. Theoretically, you can play a tabletop RPG with not much more than your thoughts, a rule book or two, and some dice. In practice, though, an entire industry is engaged in releasing products to make imagining and inhabiting fantastical worlds a multimedia experience. Maps, adventures, miniatures, special dice, decks of item cards, and so much more are readily available. The latest entry is a full-featured iPad and iPhone app called <a href="http://www.razeware.com/battle-map/">Battle Map</a> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-map/id384800918?mt=8">US$29.99</a>], which is now available on your iPad or iPhone as a Universal app. <br />
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At 30 bucks, Battle Map is not cheap compared to most App Store offerings, but look at it against the similar Mac (or PC) program <a href="http://www.dundjinni.com/">Dundjinni</a>, which costs $39.99, or the PC-only map program called <a href="http://www.profantasy.com/products/default.asp">ProFantasy</a>, which tops out at $605 for the whole shebang. Of course, these programs can do a lot more than Battle Map can, but they've also been around for many years. Perhaps in 2015, Battle Map will be as full-featured. In any case, other reviewers have called Battle Map "<a href="http://appvader.com/2010/09/review-battle-map-universal/">geek heaven</a>" and a "<a href="http://www.148apps.com/news/idd-battlemap/">must have</a>," so read on to see if these words of praise apply to you. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/">Battle Map App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444714"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444698"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-17_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444696"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-18_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444713"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/battle-map-app/#3444712"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/battle-map-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Battle Map lets you create huge worlds in small doses</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/">App Review: Battle Map lets you create huge worlds in small doses</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-map/id384800918?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19664173/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/08/app-review-battle-map-lets-you-create-huge-worlds-in-small-dose/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>battle map</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>map</category><category>role playing game</category><category>rpg</category><category>tabletop</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Wabash Cannonball rolls in with a near-perfect score]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437564"><img alt="wabash cannonball iphone" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-12.jpg" /></a></div>
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Simple graphics, deep gameplay. That's what the 2007 board game <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42485/wabash-cannonball">Wabash Cannonball</a> promised and delivered. The <a href="http://www.fyi.net/~winsome/">Winsome train game</a>, with a small print run of around 300 copies (we think), quickly sold out. The game was then licensed to Queen Games and re-released as <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31730/chicago-express">Chicago Express</a>. This version sold well enough that an expansion pack was released. Now, the game comes to the iOS market as an app called Wabash Cannonball [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wabash-cannonball/id392800625?mt=8">US$4.99</a>]. It's got everything (almost) that the earlier, nearly identical games have, but it's all packed into a tiny screen - maybe a little too packed - along with a few digital friends to play against. Very different from your normal iPhone time-waster app, Wabash is a gamer's game, and it deserves attention. The name might refer to a fictional train, but there's a lot of real gameplay here. Read on for the full ride and to see if you'd like to hop aboard the Wabash Cannonball. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/">Wabash Cannonball iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437576"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437569"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437568"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437567"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/wabash-cannonball-iphone-app/#3437575"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/10/wabash-cannonball-ipod-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Wabash Cannonball rolls in with a near-perfect score</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/">App Review: Wabash Cannonball rolls in with a near-perfect score</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wabash-cannonball/id392800625?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19661279/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/07/app-review-wabash-cannonball-rolls-in-with-a-near-perfect-score/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>gaming</category><category>iOS</category><category>iPhone</category><category>iphone wabash</category><category>IphoneWabash</category><category>wabash cannonball</category><category>WabashCannonball</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Send fantastical armies into battle with Ex Illis on your iPhone]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398144"><img hspace=" " vspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-7-600.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/i-pawn-is-an-iphone-game-with-screen-reactive-pieces/">(i)Pawn</a> can turn your iPhone into a board game playing surface, but what if you want to expand your battles onto a much bigger playing field, one with mages and cavalry and archangels and big monsters? Then your best option is <a href="http://ex-illis.com/wikien/Main_Page">Ex illis</a>, a new game that uses your iPhone or iPad as a game computer (technically, the "Rule Keeper software") while you act as general and overlord and maneuver your many pawns around the board. Armed with your painted miniatures and a copy of the software (also available for your Mac or PC), you and a friend can spend the afternoon <br />
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This is a fairly light miniatures game - it's not heavy like Warhammer or 40K, but it's way beyond Risk - and the software does a find job of making sure battles are won fair and square. For the rest of us, having the iPhone handle things is breezy and fun. One neat way this game is different from most board games is that your armies can gain strength and extra abilities over time. The web-based software keeps track of how your soldiers (or, ogres or whatever) are doing and gives them special powers depending on how they performed in battle. It's neat and engaging, but also gives big advantages to people who play a lot.<br />
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You can't build up your forces by playing against the computer, though, even in practice mode. You can sign up for two accounts and play against yourself to learn the rules, but the idea with Ex illlis is to play against a friend on the tabletop, not over the Internet or versus an AI. The investment to get started is pretty steep (the deluxe starter costs $159.95 while the basic version is $69.95 - each comes with 54 miniatures - and the booster packs of minis cost between $22.95 and $29.95. Hey, at least the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ex-illis-en/id349933973?mt=8">iPhone app</a> and the 30-day trial are free), but if you're ready to use your iPhone as a game calculator for your fantasy minis, Ex illis is a great way to go. Read on to figure out more about the world of Ex illis.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/">Ex illis: miniatures and screen shots</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398149"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398148"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398147"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398146"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/ex-illis-miniatures-and-screen-shots/#3398145"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/ex-illis-gencon-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Send fantastical armies into battle with Ex Illis on your iPhone</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/">App Review: Send fantastical armies into battle with Ex Illis on your iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:45:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ex-illis-en/id349933973?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19647205/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/24/app-review-send-fantastical-armies-into-battle-with-ex-illis-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>ex illis</category><category>ex illis game</category><category>ExIllis</category><category>FantastyMiniatures</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App review: Abstract strategy game StackEm plunks down some fun]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343836"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-01-600new.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
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A clone of the <a href="http://www.blueorangegames.com/awards.php">award-winning</a> game <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2266/gobblet">Gobblet</a> (which was given the Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada Gold Star Award --don't tell me you haven't heard of that prize), Shawn Grimes' StackEm is a colorful, simple twist on <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2719/connect-four">Connect Four</a> that is well worth looking into as a two-person endeavor on your iDevice. The app as it is today (version 1.8) doesn't offer much to the single player -- the AI makes ridiculously stupid plays -- but for just <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stackem/id378320080?mt=8">$0.99 on the App Store</a>, you can get a very good abstract strategy game for two that you can play in just a few minutes anywhere on your iPad or iPhone. <br />
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Read on to see if StackEm might be something worth investigating for you.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/">Shawn Grimes' Stack Em</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343836"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343834"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343833"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343832"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/shawn-grimes-stack-em/#3343829"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/stackem-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App review: Abstract strategy game StackEm plunks down some fun</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/">App review: Abstract strategy game StackEm plunks down some fun</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stackem/id378320080?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19626188/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/10/app-review-abstract-strategy-game-stackem-plunks-down-some-fun/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>board games</category><category>connect four</category><category>games</category><category>Gobblet</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>iPod touch</category><category>Shawn Grimes</category><category>stack em</category><category>stackem</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App review: Tichu card game ups the ante for digital trick taking]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/full/#3328712"><img hspace=" " border=" " vspace="4" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-42-250.jpg" alt="" /></a>Normally, to get a game of <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/215/tichu">Tichu</a> going, you need to round up three friends. If you don't have any card-playing friends who know Tichu, then maybe you have to tell them you're going to have a Bridge party, then *bam!* you bust out the 56-card Tichu deck at the last minute. This sort of gamer subterfuge is a thing of the past, thanks to the brand-new Tichu app from Steve Blanding. Now, any number of players can enjoy the card game at any time: one person can play against three computer opponents or link up with other people on their iDevices (the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tichu/id386800660?mt=8#">$2.99</a> app is universal) and the computer will fill in any empty seats. <br />
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Why bother with all of this? Because Tichu is one of the best - and most well-regarded - card game around. The rules will be familiar enough to people who enjoy trick-taking games but it's different enough to present a fresh challenge and is enjoyable every time. Keep reading to find out all about it.<br />
</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/">Tichu on the iPad</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/#3328712"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-42_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/#3328719"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-35_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/#3328718"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-36_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/#3328715"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-39_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tichu-on-the-ipad/#3328714"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/09/tichu-ipad-40_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></p><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App review: Tichu card game ups the ante for digital trick taking</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/">App review: Tichu card game ups the ante for digital trick taking</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tichu/id386800660?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19620090/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/04/app-review-tichu-card-game-ups-the-ante-for-digital-trick-takin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>cards</category><category>games</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>steve blanding</category><category>tichu</category><category>tichu card game</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flick this! Croke puts Crokinole on the iPhone]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985197"><img height="400" width="267" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0504.png" class="right border" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/521/crokinole">Crokinole</a> is a beautiful, simple game with a long history. In the tradition of pool and <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5072/carrom">Carrom</a>, Crokinole is a dexterity game that pits two (or four) people against each other around a circular wooden board. Players try to flick little wooden discs towards the center, knocking out opponent's discs if they're in the target area. It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to get frustrated at because you're just not good enough. <br />
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The trouble is, if you want a decent Crokinole board at home, it'll set you back a few hundred dollars; $130 or so is the minimum, and you can always pay more if you really want to go all out. It's not hard to find boards costing $400 or more (don't ask how much <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/722949/crokinole">the Death Star board</a> costs) and you need someplace to store it when it's not in use. These things are about a meter across, and made of heavy wood, so this isn't a trivial issue. <br />
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With the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/croke/id300997198?mt=8">Croke iPhone app</a>, you can have a somewhat similar experience on a touchscreen. It's not the same thing, but it's also only <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/croke/id300997198?mt=8">$1.99</a>, so you're getting to play without paying through the nose. Read on to see if this flick's for you. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/">Croke on the iPhone</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985211"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0491_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985210"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0492_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985209"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0493_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985208"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0494_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/croke-on-the-iphone/#2985207"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0495_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Flick this! Croke puts Crokinole on the iPhone</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/">Flick this! Croke puts Crokinole on the iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/croke/id300997198?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19478368/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/03/flick-this-tuaw-reviews-croke-on-the-iphone/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>croke</category><category>crokinole</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPhone</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306235"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-01.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sjgames.com/dice/zombiedice/">Zombie Dice</a> is one of a new breed of board games that was released almost simultaneously in real life and in digital form as an app for the iPhone/iPod touch. It wasn't supposed to be that way, but the popularity of the <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/dice/zombiedice/demo.html">free Flash demo</a> that Steve Jackson Games developed for its website made someone realize an iPhone app might not be a bad idea. Fast forward a little while and we can now download - for free*, yay! - a slick version of Zombie Dice <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zombie-dice/id376949996?mt=8">from the App Store</a>. <br />
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Featuring zombies that are actually kind of ripped and who have a serious love of braaaaaains, Zombie Dice will instantly appeal to the Steve Jackson gamer crowd. Of course, if you're in that group, you most likely already have this app installed, so we'll have to explain what all the fuss is about. Read on and we'll do just that. <br />
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<span style=" font-size: 12px; "><em><small>*You can get the basic game for free, but not everything. Read the review for details.</small></em></span><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/">Zombie Dice</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306246"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306235"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-12_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306237"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306236"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-11_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/zombie-dice/#3306234"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/zombie-dice-app-13_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
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</small></em><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/">App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.sjgames.com/dice/zombiedice/>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19611690/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>dice</category><category>games</category><category>iPhone</category><category>steve jackson games</category><category>zombie dice</category><category>zombies</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Reiner Knizia's Samurai app makes it fun to influence Buddhas, peasants and helmets]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293435"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-08.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3/samurai">Samurai</a> is the most in-depth, "heaviest" game design by Reiner Knizia to make an appearance on the App Store, and it arrives in all of its interesting glory. <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/">Medici</a> and <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/06/review-gorgeous-small-world-app-shows-board-games-can-be-great/">Small World</a>, two other games we've reviewed in this series, are meaty Euro board games we can compare this to, so if you enjoyed those games, the just -released Samurai app (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">US</span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-samurai/id386828321?mt=8#">$4.99</a>) is very much worth a look.<br />
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<a href="http://www.conlanrios.com/games">Conlan Rios' other iPhone games</a> -e.g., <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/24/tuaw-review-reiner-knizias-monumental-turns-puzzle-apps-upside/">Monumental</a>, Robot Master, and <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/11/review-knights-of-charlemagne-card-game-is-simply-simple-and-w/">Knights of Charlemagne</a> - show that this developer is really getting better with each release. Just compare the graphics from Samurai to Charlemagne to see what I mean. While I prefer the less colorful appearance of the Samurai board game, I think the game looks quite good on the iPhone. With Rios' constant improvement, I can't wait to see what's coming next. Read on to see if you're excited, too.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/">Reiner Knizia's Samurai</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293416"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293435"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293408"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-14_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293421"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-06_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-samurai/#3293412"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/knizia-samurai-iphone-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Reiner Knizia's Samurai app makes it fun to influence Buddhas, peasants and helmets</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/">App Review: Reiner Knizia's Samurai app makes it fun to influence Buddhas, peasants and helmets</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-samurai/id386828321?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19606610/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/25/app-review-reiner-knizias-samurai-app-makes-it-fun-to-influenc/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>gaming</category><category>iPhone</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>reiner knizias samurai</category><category>ReinerKnizia</category><category>ReinerKniziasSamurai</category><category>samurai board game app</category><category>SamuraiBoardGameApp</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Tafl brings Norse asymmetry to your game table]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/"><img vspace="4" align="right" alt="" class="right border" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-01-250.jpg" /></a>Mancala. Chess. Backgammon. The number of ancient board games available in the App Store is long and somewhat predictable. A fresh new entry that deserves notice is <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tafl/id378068778?mt=8">Tafl</a>, a pretty and interesting abstract strategy game that has existed in Northern Europe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tafl_games">since at least 400 C.E</a>. Exactly how the game was played has been lost to history, but the general idea was to have one player move a king pawn from the center of the board to the exits, which maybe have been simply off the side or maybe into the corners. Given the wide variety of boards and locations where the game was played - and knowing what we know about how ancient games traveled - it's entirely likely that the games in the tafl family were all played differently. Well, now you can play it on a touch screen on your iPad or iPhone (or iPod touch). There is a great history of the board game(s) <a href="http://www.gamecabinet.com/history/Hnef.html">here</a>; keep reading for the rest of our review.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/">Tafl</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/#3265062"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/#3265048"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-13_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/#3265059"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/#3265058"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/tafl/#3265056"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/tafl-06_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Tafl brings Norse asymmetry to your game table</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/">App Review: Tafl brings Norse asymmetry to your game table</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tafl/id378068778?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19595178/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/17/app-review-tafl-brings-norse-asymmetry-to-your-game-table/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>Hnefatafl</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>tafl</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Set Pro HD]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: left; "><img  border="1" hspace="8" vspace="8" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/sizedset-pro-hd-01-600.jpg" />The game of Set is now available in more stores than ever before, from big box retailers to independent game stores. Finally, a full-featured digital version is also ready and waiting for your iPad in the App Store. <br />
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There have been Set apps before, even one <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/18/review-set-card-game-on-the-iphone-is-oh-so-close-to-the-perfec/">officially licensed by Set Enterprises</a>, but this is the real deal. All <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/18/review-set-card-game-on-the-iphone-is-oh-so-close-to-the-perfec/">the criticisms we had of the other Set app</a>, which was iPhone/iPod touch only, are totally wiped away by this new version, and if you haven't been introduced to this quick-thinking game of finding matches - or if you're already a fan - we have no hesitation recommending the new <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/set-pro-hd/id381004916?mt=8#">Set Pro HD app</a>. Yes, it's relatively expensive at $7.99, but it is quite gorgeous and the gameplay is top-notch. Read on to see if it's time to upgrade your Set cards.</div>
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/">Set Pro HD</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/#3260103"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/set-pro-hd-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/#3260077"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/set-pro-hd-27_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/#3260080"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/set-pro-hd-24_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/#3260081"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/set-pro-hd-23_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/set-pro-hd/#3260079"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/set-pro-hd-25_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Set Pro HD</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/">App Review: Set Pro HD</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/set-pro-hd/id381004916?mt=8#>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19575145/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/13/app-review-set-pro-hd/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>iPad</category><category>set card game</category><category>set pro hd</category><category>SetCardGame</category><category>SetProHd</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: EveryGame offers up (potentially) every game]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center; "><img  border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/08/everygame1.jpg" /></div>
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Ever wanted to open up an iPad app and have an entire game closet with just about every game ever tumble out? Well, given enough time, that's what <em>could</em> happen with an appropriately titled app called <a href="http://ipadeverygame.blogspot.com/">EveryGame</a> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/everygame/id370362079?mt=8">$3.99</a>, universal]. <br />
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The app is the brainchild of Andrew and Nathaniel Dirksen and it's a strange little bird. Basically, the app is a way for graphics files to sit on top of other files - i.e., a pawn image in a board image - and EveryGame is designed from the bottom up to make it possible to play the game <em>you</em> want on the iDevice you have.<br />
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There are a lot of apps with multiple board games built in (something we want to review/compare in the coming weeks, so if you've got a suggestion for a good one, say so in the comments), but EveryGame allows you to build your own. Sure, there are computer-based apps that offer this functionality (like <a href="http://www.vassalengine.org/">Vassal</a>), but those don't have a magical touch screen. How does EveryGame work in practice? Is it the game closet app to beat all others? Read on to find out.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; "><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/">EveryGame</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/#3211050"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/everygame-ipad-right-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/#3211049"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/everygame-ipad-right-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/#3211048"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/everygame-ipad-right-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/#3211046"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/everygame-ipad-right-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/everygame/#3211045"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/everygame-ipad-right-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: EveryGame offers up (potentially) every game</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/">App Review: EveryGame offers up (potentially) every game</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/everygame/id370362079?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19569726/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/01/app-review-everygame-offers-up-potentially-every-game/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game apps</category><category>BoardGameApps</category><category>everygame</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Medici ships good gameplay onto your iPad]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medicis0zed.jpg" alt="" /><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici">Medici</a> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/medici/id383152745?mt=8">$5.99</a>] is the latest in a growing, impressive line of heavy-ish board games to make the jump from the table to the iPad, and it's amazing to see this game - so carefully crafted and respected by the designer board game community - on a touch screen with an animated background. With Medici being a game of perfect information in real life, it works amazingly well as an iPad app, and if you've ever wanted to practice your Medici bidding skills for your next board game night, this digital version provides a lot of AI opponents of varying ability to challenge. The app isn't perfect (more on this later), but it does a fine job of bringing a 15-year-old board game to life for a new generation of gamers. Read on to see if you might be someone who enjoys this sort of thing.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/">Medici</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/#3220064"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medici-app-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/#3220040"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medici-app-25_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/#3220038"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medici-app-27_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/#3220037"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medici-app-28_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/medici/#3220036"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/medici-app-29_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Medici ships good gameplay onto your iPad</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/">App Review: Medici ships good gameplay onto your iPad</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/medici/id383152745?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19574423/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/30/app-review-medici-ships-good-gameplay-onto-your-ipad/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>iPad</category><category>medici</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>reiner knizia medici</category><category>ReinerKnizia</category><category>ReinerKniziaMedici</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[High Society card game app is money (almost)]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182921"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/img0604.png" /></a></div>
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As <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/reiner-knizias-money-app-worth-spending-time-with/">promised</a>, <a href="http://www.rpg.net/iphone/display-app.phtml?appid=3-Reiner-Knizias-High-Society">RPGnet</a> has transformed another Reiner Knizia card game into an iPhone/iPad app. The coders' last such project was the very well done <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/05/reiner-knizias-money-app-worth-spending-time-with/">Money</a>. This time around, it's High Society [US<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-high-society/id380507600?mt=8">$2.99</a>], and RPGnet has kept the interface and look of the games almost exactly the same but swapped the bidding, set-collecting gameplay from Money with the bidding, card-collecting gameplay from the <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society">High Society</a> tabletop game. Like with the first app, High Society is smooth and intuitive, allowing you to easily wrap your head around the new challenges and strategy. While they appear similar, the two games are quite different - as different as two light, auction-based card games can be.<br />
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The High Society card game was originally released in 1995, and it has since been published in <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/437819/a-classic-among-light-auction-games">a variety of editions</a>. The RPGnet app takes its art from the latest physical version, currently in print from Gryphon Games (there's even a code in the app for a 10 percent discount off the card game, which almost covers the price of the app). Keep reading to find out if that discount is something you'll be interested in.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/">Reiner Knizia's High Society</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182921"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/img0604_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182927"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/high-society-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182936"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/high-society-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182935"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/high-society-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/reiner-knizias-high-society/#3182934"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/high-society-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>High Society card game app is money (almost)</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/">High Society card game app is money (almost)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-high-society/id380507600?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19558980/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/high-society-card-game-app-is-money-almost/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>high society app</category><category>HighSocietyApp</category><category>ipad</category><category>iphone</category><category>ipod touch</category><category>IpodTouch</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>ReinerKnizia</category><category>rpg net</category><category>RpgNet</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Castle Tiles on the iPad makes Set collecting a frantic battle]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tile234234.jpg" alt="" />Have you always thought that what the <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/18/review-set-card-game-on-the-iphone-is-oh-so-close-to-the-perfec/">Set card game</a> needed was some magic fireballs and little colorful knights? Well, then say hello to <a href="http://www.machwerx.com/apps/castletiles/">Castle Tiles</a> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/castle-tiles/id363365275?mt=8">$1.99</a>], a new iPad-only app from <a href="http://www.machwerx.com/apps/castletiles/">Machwerx</a> that blends the line between board and video games. <br />
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Castle Tiles uses the set collecting element from, obviously, <a href="http://www.setgame.com/set/">Set</a> and lots of other games to drive a random battle engine. When things are really moving and all four players are collecting sets, the screen becomes a hot mess of warriors and flying attacks, and this visual excitement makes the game feel a bit more exciting than it really is. This doesn't mean that Castle Tiles is a bad game, just that this feels like a beta version, and we'd be much happier with the finished product.<br />
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Castle Tile's graphic design was done by someone with an obvious love for early computer games when 16 colors was as much as you could expect from a PC. Does this minimalist ethos work in the iPad era? Should a card game like Set get the video game treatment in Castle Tiles? Read on to find out. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/">Castle Tiles for iPad</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/#3143287"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tiles-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/#3143280"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tiles-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/#3143279"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tiles-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/#3143282"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tiles-06_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/castle-tiles-for-ipad/#3143286"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/castle-tiles-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Castle Tiles on the iPad makes Set collecting a frantic battle</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/">App Review: Castle Tiles on the iPad makes Set collecting a frantic battle</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/castle-tiles/id363365275?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19541624/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-castle-tiles-on-the-ipad-makes-set-collecting-a-fran/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>castle tiles</category><category>castle tiles app</category><category>castle tiles ipad</category><category>CastleTiles</category><category>CastleTilesApp</category><category>CastleTilesIpad</category><category>iPad</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App review: Blokus HD is shiny, way too shiny]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokusmain234234.jpg" alt="" />The difference between a port of a tabletop board game to the iPad by someone like Gameloft - makers of games like James Cameron's Avatar for iPad and Asphalt 5 - and smaller, independent companies is pretty stunning. It's also quite pretty. Take a look at the flashy images in the <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2453/blokus">Blokus</a> HD screenshots below. The game, originally released in 2000 by a small game company and more recently published by Hasbro, is a beautiful, colorful plasticky thing in the real world. Gameloft has emphasized the bright look of the game with a lot of panache in the US$4.99 <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blokus-hd/id377471930?mt=8">iPad version</a> (Gameloft also makes an <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blokus/id367861648?mt=8">iPod/iPhone touch version</a> of the Blokus app that looks about the same, just smaller. We didn't test that version). <br />
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Are all of these fancy graphics a good thing? Well, it certainly shows that you can make a bubbly and light board game app that should appeal to the video game crowd (although, to be fair, this is ground that <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/15/review-zooloretto-game-app-turns-your-iphone-into-a-cute-little/">Zooloretto</a> has already covered pretty well). It's also, for a traditional board gamer like myself, hard to criticize the push to get more tabletop games onto our iDevices, so I've got a soft spot for developers who try. But Blokus, while quite impressive, needs a little more time in the oven before it joins the ranks of great board game ports like <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/">Carcassonne</a> or the <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/30/catan-the-first-island-brings-tabletop-gaming-glee-to-iphone/">Settlers of Catan</a> on the iPhone. Read on to see if Blokus is a game you want to add to your digital collection.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/">Blokus HD</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/#3141302"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokus-hd-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/#3141301"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokus-hd-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/#3141297"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokus-hd-08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/#3141296"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokus-hd-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/blokus-hd/#3141270"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/07/blokus-hd-35_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App review: Blokus HD is shiny, way too shiny</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/">App review: Blokus HD is shiny, way too shiny</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blokus-hd/id377471930?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19540916/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/05/app-review-blokus-hd-is-shiny-way-too-shiny/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>blokus hd</category><category>BlokusHd</category><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>iPad</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Pathology HD looks, is a simple board game for your iDevice]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/gamepanelsied234234.jpg" alt="" />A few years ago, the game company Wizkids - best known for collectible offerings like Mage Knight and HeroClix - took a stab at the everything-in-the-box game market with an offering called <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16992/tsuro">Tsuro: The Way of the Path</a>. The game had decent graphics and a vague Asian theme but looked (and was) pretty simple. You have a pawn that moves as far as it can along the path that it's on. Each turn, you have to extend the path by playing a tile in front of your pawn, and get a little bit closer but hopefully not too close to crashing into another player or running off the board. <br />
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Tsuro got a lukewarm reception from the boardgame community, and Wizkids eventually stopped producing the game (but it will soon be picked up by Mayfair subsidy Kosmos) Now, a graphically-simple version of the game lives in the App Store, and it makes an easy and light filler even easier.<br />
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The app comes in two versions, one for the iPad called <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pathology-hd/id364872118?mt=8">Pathology HD</a> that costs US$2.99, and one for the iPhone/iPod touch that's just called <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pathology/id309655019?mt=8">Pathology</a> and costs $1.99. Looks and gameplay are the same on both devices, and there's only a little bit lost when playing on the small screen. Still, even a game this graphically simple is much more engaging on the iPad's bigger screen. Read on to find out how "the Way of the Path" operates and why it takes the idea of a filler game to the extreme.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/">Pathology HD</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/#3128129"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/pathology-hd-01-1277819931_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/#3128128"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/pathology-hd-02-1277819927_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/#3128147"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/pathology-hd-13-1277819975_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/#3128123"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/pathology-hd-06-1277819917_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/pathology-hd-0/#3128122"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/pathology-hd-07-1277819916_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Pathology HD looks, is a simple board game for your iDevice</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/">App Review: Pathology HD looks, is a simple board game for your iDevice</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pathology/id309655019?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19535141/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/29/app-review-pathology-hd-looks-is-a-simple-board-game-for-your/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>ipad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>ipod touch</category><category>IpodTouch</category><category>pathology</category><category>pathology hd</category><category>PathologyHd</category><category>tsuro</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Roll Through The Ages makes dice-rollling, civ-building easy on the iPhone]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054034"><img height="400" width="267" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0562.png" alt="" /></a>Any dice game review is required by law to compare the new game to <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2243/yahtzee">Yahtzee</a> (if we don't, we lose our right to ever roll a d6 again). So, let's get this out of the way early: the <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37380/roll-through-the-ages-the-bronze-age">Roll Through The Ages</a> app [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roll-through-the-ages/id374165408?mt=8">$2.99</a>], released last week, shares but three features with Yahtzee: it uses dice, you roll them three times (keeping the ones you like between throws) and you mark things off on a scorecard after each roll. <br />
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Instead of collecting simple numbers, in Roll Through The Ages, the goal is to quickly build up an ancient civilization from three small cities to, well, that's the challenge: do you go for more cities? Monuments? Developments? Goods? Or a little bit of everything? <br />
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RTtA (which is how the name appears when installed on your iDevice) faithfully implements the tabletop game, but it doesn't do so elegantly. Right now, the app is pretty much a trial-and-error mess with no tutorial or well-written rulebook explaining what it is you want to actually <em>do</em> in the game. Still, by using the limited in-app help menu and some online resources (the video pasted at the bottom of this review was quite helpful), we managed to struggle through. <br />
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Of course, anyone who's played the tabletop version of Roll Through The Ages should be able to adapt to the iPhone version in mere minutes. The app had better improve fast, thought, in order to attract people who aren't familiar with the dice version, lest it suffer the fate of getting lost in the never-ending barrage of good game apps. Thankfully, there's some precedent for board game apps that start weak and improve quickly. The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/small-world-for-ipad/id364165557?mt=8">Small World app</a> didn't have a good way to learn the game at the beginning, either, but <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/06/review-gorgeous-small-world-app-shows-board-games-can-be-great/">look at it now</a>. <br />
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Read on to see if you want to give RTtA a chance now, wait for the improvements to come or pass altogether.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/">Roll Through The Ages iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054062"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0538_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054034"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0562_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054035"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0561_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054037"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0559_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/roll-through-the-ages-iphone-app/#3054032"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/img0564_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Roll Through The Ages makes dice-rollling, civ-building easy on the iPhone</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/">App Review: Roll Through The Ages makes dice-rollling, civ-building easy on the iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roll-through-the-ages/id374165408?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19506842/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/12/app-review-roll-through-the-ages-makes-dice-rollling-civ-build/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>dice game</category><category>DiceGame</category><category>iPhone</category><category>roll through the ages</category><category>RollThroughTheAges</category><category>rtta</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[TUAW Review: Carcassonne finally, gloriously comes to the iPhone]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044419"><img height="320" width="480" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-01.png" /></a></div>
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After <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/06/review-gorgeous-small-world-app-shows-board-games-can-be-great/">Small World</a>, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne">Carcassonne</a> is one of the most anticipated designer board game apps to hit the App Store. It took a little longer than expected, but everything from the basic Carcassonne game is here. Nothing more, nothing less. There are no river tiles, no traders, no princess or dragon. It's completely easy to play, and the plethora of options - local or online human opponents, very well-created AI players and a new solitaire version - mean this is <em>the</em> game to get if you know what a meeple is and enjoy sending them off to do your bidding. <br />
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Sure, we've had the clone (or not, depending on who you ask) app called <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/">Might And Card: Golden Edition</a>, but now we finally and awesomely have an <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/carcassonne/id375295479?mt=8">official Carcassonne app</a> for the iPhone / iPod touch [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/carcassonne/id375295479?mt=8">$4.99</a>] and it was well worth the wait. Read on to see why board gaming on the iThings is only getting better and better. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/">Carcassonne iPhone App</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044419"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-01_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044388"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-02_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044395"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-03_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044416"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-04_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/carcassonne-iphone-app/#3044405"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/06/carc-iphone-05_thumbnail.png" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>TUAW Review: Carcassonne finally, gloriously comes to the iPhone</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/">TUAW Review: Carcassonne finally, gloriously comes to the iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/carcassonne/id375295479?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19503693/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/05/tuaw-review-carcassonne-finally-gloriously-comes-to-the-iphone/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>app review</category><category>AppReview</category><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>carcassonne</category><category>iPhone</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[App Review: Might And Card - Golden Edition]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-630a-2652010.jpg" />Might and Card: Golden Edition [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/might-and-card-golden/id365660185?mt=8">US$4.99</a>, iPad only] is <em>not</em> <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne">Carcassonne</a>. This much an unnamed member of the UWinGame Dev Team wanted to make clear when he or she provided TUAW with a reviewer code for the game: <br />
<blockquote>
<div><em>I also would like to take this opportunity to express some more info about this game. Some said our game looks much like Carcassonne. Here I want to claim it totally wrong. This version we have released was just a base, and we will add many more features and packages to make it even more beautiful and interesting. <br />
</em></div>
</blockquote>Whatever. The app is a Carc clone, no matter what anyone says. For anyone who is familiar with that brilliant game, here's the scoop: this is a dumbed down, even more luck-driven version of the game. <a href="http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=51768">Might And Card: Golden Edition</a> is missing the farmer scoring, it throws in a few unique bonus tiles, and there are animated little soldiers instead of Meeples. For anyone who doesn't understand what that sentence means, read on for the full picture. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/">Might And Card: Golden Eidtion</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/#3013925"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/#3013923"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/#3013922"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/#3013921"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/might-and-card/#3013920"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/might-and-card-gold-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>App Review: Might And Card - Golden Edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/">App Review: Might And Card - Golden Edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Wed, 26 May 2010 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/might-and-card-golden/id365660185?mt=8>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19491368/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/26/app-review-might-and-card-golden-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>carcassonne</category><category>iPad</category><category>might and card golden edition</category><category>MightAndCardGoldenEdition</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 26 May 2010 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Review: Keltis Oracle is a great, light strategic board game for iPad, iPhone]]></title><link>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/</guid><comments>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<!--CONTENT START--><img hspace="8" border="1" vspace="8" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltislogolkj.jpg" alt="" /><a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/34585/keltis">Keltis</a> is a relatively new marquee family of board games - in Europe, at least - with a somewhat meandering history. The series started as the Lost Cities card game, which evolved into the original board game in the series, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/34585/keltis">Keltis</a>. That game won the Spiel des Jahres, Germany's highest board game honor, in 2008. Since then, there have been <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/40845/keltis-neue-wege-neue-ziele">two</a> <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/41003/keltis-der-weg-der-steine">expansions</a>: a <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40832/keltis-das-kartenspiel">card game version</a> (different from the original Lost Cities card game) and, most recently, a new board game called <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66085/keltis-das-orakel">Keltis Oracle</a>. U.S. board gamers will most likely recognize the Keltis games in the similar <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42487/lost-cities-the-board-game">Lost Cities: The Board Game</a>. Are you wondering why the European version of the game made it into your iDevice? Because the developers in <a href="http://www.tribeflame.com/keltisoracle">Tribeflame</a> are based in Finland.<br />
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In any case, <a href="http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.search.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZContentLink.woa%252Fwa%252Flink%253Fpath%253Dapp%25252fKeltisOracle">the universal app</a> (US$4.99) that's now available on the iPad and iPhone (and iPod touch) is the latest Keltis game. Is it the greatest? To some, maybe. It's certainly the most player-friendly of the batch, and it looks good on the iPad screen. The game works, but as you can see in the galleries below, it's crowded when packed into the iPhone's 480 x 320 pixel screen. Read on to see what the Oracle can do for you.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/">Keltis Oracle on the iPhone</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/#2975933"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-iphoneb-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/#2975909"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-iphone-09_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/#2975907"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-iphone-11_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/#2975908"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-iphone-10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-on-the-iphone/#2975917"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-iphone-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/">Keltis Oracle on the iPad</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/#2978557"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-ipad-12r_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/#2978559"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/keltis-ipad-14r_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/#2978551"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0077_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/#2978550"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0078_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/photos/keltis-oracle-for-the-ipad/#2978549"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/05/img0079_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Review: Keltis Oracle is a great, light strategic board game for iPad, iPhone</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/">Review: Keltis Oracle is a great, light strategic board game for iPad, iPhone</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.tuaw.com">TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog</a> on Thu, 13 May 2010 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.search.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZContentLink.woa%252Fwa%252Flink%253Fpath%253Dapp%25252fKeltisOracle>Source</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/forward/19470322/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/13/review-keltis-oracle-is-a-great-light-strategic-board-game-for/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>board game</category><category>BoardGame</category><category>iPad</category><category>iPhone</category><category>keltis oracle</category><category>KeltisOracle</category><category>lost cities</category><category>LostCities</category><category>reiner knizia</category><category>ReinerKnizia</category><category>tribeflame</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 May 2010 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
