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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

TUAW at E3: Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem for iPhone


I'm spending the week at E3, and while iPhone games are somewhat few and far between (odds are that we'll see most of the App Store's goods next week at WWDC), there are a few gems to find out on the floor. In the Vogster booth, I got to play Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem. It was originally seen on the DS as a classic real-time strategy title, in the style of Warcraft and Starcraft, and it's kept that standard gameplay on the iPhone -- you can create units and control them along with heroes, tech up with different buildings, and control bases and maps. The top screen of the DS has become two panels on the side of the iPhone's screen, but navigation is still pretty easy -- click to select units, click to direct them. Hardcore strategy fans won't find any surprises, but it is a solid, classic-style RTS that runs well.

There will be 17 singleplayer missions shipping with the game, and the team is working on getting multiplayer to work as well -- it currently works over WiFi, and they're aiming to even allow online play before it releases to the App Store in August. Vogster producer Alan Martin even told us that they found developing for the iPhone even easier than the DS -- different factions in the game are shown by applying different colors to the units, and while on the DS they had to make sprites for each color, the iPhone allowed them to simply change the primary colors with a variable. RTS fans especially should be sure to give the game a look

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Humor, iPod Family, Software

iPod easter egg in Starcraft II


AJ noticed something funny at BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment's big gaming convention out in Anaheim, CA the other week-- hidden inside Starcraft II, Blizzard's upcoming RTS game, is this little nod to the iPod. Hidden on a little billboard in the game's futuristic setting is an ad for the iPistol: "advanced targeting... get into the groove."

Of course, it's one of many, many Apple parodies, but this one's extra special, because not only will Blizzard's game be huge when it finally releases (and all Blizzard fans like myself know that'll be a few months after "when it's ready"), but the same disc will install both on Windows and our beautiful OS X. At a time when other companies are getting props for joining forces with Apple, it should probably be noted that Blizzard's been with us all along-- from Diablo to World of Warcraft, Blizzard's games have always been Mac friendly. So while there will be many easter eggs in Starcraft II, I'll wager, we like this one the most.

Thanks, AJ!

Filed under: Gaming

Starcraft II will be on the Mac (and PC)



Let me start this out by saying that I am not a gamer, which usually isn't a problem given I use a Mac (let's be honest, the Mac isn't the best platform for gaming). Despite my non-gamer status I loved StarCraft. I spent many, many more hours than I should have sending my brave Marines off to defend my starbase, and it looks like I will be doing it once more. Blizzard has announced that StarCraft II is a reality (though no shipping date has been announced). The best part is that Blizzard will be upholding their tradition of launching games for both Mac and PC at the same time. StarCraft II on an Intel Mac? I can't wait!

Our gaming obsessed sister blog Joystiq has a gallery of screenshots up for your enjoyment.

Thanks, A.J.

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