Gamertell

The Apple App Store gaming update is Gamertell’s weekly look at the previous week’s Apple App Store game releases. We cover them all - good and not so good - in their respective categories with a breakdown of the great games and the free games right where you want ‘em, at the top and in your face. The list is available every Monday, right as you are about to start that long work week.

Apple supposedly has an announcement to make this week, probably trying to steal some thunder from the Windows 7 release this Thursday (October 22, 2009). What could Apple possibly announce? Who knows at this point, we really haven’t heard if they are officially announcing anything. But feel free to place your bets below.

I will venture a guess that whatever Apple announces it won’t have anything to do with your iPhone or iPod Touch but this week’s list certainly does:

What’s Free

Domineering Lite
“Domineering is a very easy to learn strategy game where each player takes turns placing their dominoe. Each player tries to force the other player into not being able to place their piece on the board. One player may only place dominoes horizontally, and the other may only place them vertically.”

Geo Warfare Lite
“Protect your city from an alien invasion by battling against enemy spaceships in their attempt to conquer Earth. Your goal is to destroy indicated targets before they reach any alien aircraft. Failure to do so will cause UFOs to fire lasers towards your city.”

Piyo Blocks Lite
“Your task is simple – swap adjacent Piyo Blocks to match 3 or more of the same kind to capture them. To level up you will need to capture a target number of each kind of Piyo. The real skill comes into play when creating combos, which multiplies your score for capturing the Piyos. The bigger the combo you create, the greater score you’ll get!”

Total Soccer
“Total Soccer is a clone of the original Soccer game released by Atari in the 70’s. With a simple tap and drag interface and a totally configurable game, Total Soccer is THE app for the classic gamer.”

Real Soccer 2010 Free
“Try out the free version of Real Soccer 2010, - the #1 soccer game on the App Store and discover the thrill of the greatest football matches: Barcelona vs. Manchester or Brazil vs. Spain!”

Word 2 Word
“This word changing puzzle game will test your brain as well as your vocabulary. A fresh new take on word ladders, your goal is to transform one word into another, making new words along the way, by changing just one letter at a time. Do you have the smarts to master all 50 puzzles?”

What’s New

Action

ASTROBOY: FLYING ACTION: Price: $2.99
“oin in the adventures of Astro Boy, the young robot with astonishing powers, super strength and an ability to fly. Journey with him through Metro city and beyond and take on his arch rivals with special weapons. The first OFFICAL Astroboy game available for the iPhone and iTouch, lets you take control of your favorite character through 6 action packed levels. Your goal is to cross all hurdles in your path, destroy all the vicious villains for a final showdown with Pluto, the world’s strongest robot.”

Air Force Online: Price: $0.99
“Air Force Online is a game that lets you relive your childhood memories of playing the planes game. The game lets you navigate a World War II Japanese fighter plane and your mission is to bring down enemy aircraft by rotating your plane clockwise or anti-clockwise in the skies to avoid enemy fire as well as to chase after the enemy aircraft.”

Tap-Fu: Price: $3.99
“Tap-Fu is a casual beat-em-up inspired by games like Karateka, Double Dragon, and Castle Crashers. Features rich 3D levels and striking 2D characters, with unique and easy to learn control systems and fast-paced combat with combos and Style Points.”

A Lyndon Wicked Tale: Red Rage: Price: $0.99
“Lyndon’s Wicked Tales: Red Rage is an epic story that takes the story of Little Red Riding Hood and turns it on its head. The game fully embraces the true nature of the story and creates a dark and intriguing tale that pits Red on an engaging journey against wolves, vampires, and werewolves. Of course there are many twists throughout the game that propel the player forward and continue the story.”

Adventure

Pang Mobile: Price: $2.99
“Test your reflexes in this highly addictive official remake of the 80s arcade classic, “Pang”, also known as “Buster Bros” in the US. Travel from Japan to the tropical shores of Hawaii as you take up the task of saving civilisation from dangerously bouncing bubbles that threaten city landmarks across the planet. Can you save Mount Fuji from being flattened by spherical dangers? Will your reactions be good enough to defend the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty? Or can you wear them down while saving your own skin? Everyone’s favourite from the arcades, Pang is easy to learn but difficult to master as you progress through 17 locations saving the world’s attractions with an assortment of weapons from the grappling hook to the twin harpoon. Use various power-ups including a force field and time freeze; anything to give you the edge to avoid their fatal touch.”

iMPig: Price: $0.99
“Help Piggy shoot the wolves and keep back the wolves’ attack. More wolves are killed, more props you will get, and even become more powerful as green giant, spider man, or bat man. But meanwhile more difficult the obstacles become. Move on, protect the little piggy and become a really bat man.”

frog jumping adventure: Price: $1.99
“Once upon a time there was frog prince. The frog was jumping around the world to find princess to be prince again. Your frog prince’s greate adventure is ready to go. It’s simple one button Jumping game.”

Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet: Price: $3.99
“Take on the role of a homicide detective in this spine-tingling mystery by bestselling author JAMES PATTERSON. Study murder scenes, perform forensic analysis and find evidence as you try to solve a series of ghastly murders in San Francisco.”

Arcade

Polapoly Blue: Price: $1.99
“The ultimate figure swapping puzzler! Now it is in polygon. More twist, structured story, reasonably leveled missions and dazzling action than any other figure swapping puzzlers! Feel the extreme pleasure as you swap adjacent Poly to match three or more colors in 6 different directions! Unlike other typical figure swapping puzzlers, Polapoly let users to select various ways to play the game.”

Watergame - (Old water toys): Price: $0.99
“The most refreshing experience for the iPhone! Remember when you used to play with those old water toys? Now Anyplays will take you back to your childhood with WaterGame. Turn your iPhone/iPod into a water tank and try to place all coloured balls in the corresponding baskets to complete every mission.”

Geo Warfare: Price: $0.99
“Protect your city from an alien invasion by battling against enemy spaceships in their attempt to conquer Earth. Your goal is to destroy indicated targets before they reach any alien aircraft. Failure to do so will cause UFOs to fire lasers towards your city.”

Board

Domineering: Price: $0.99
“Domineering is a very easy to learn strategy game where each player takes turns placing their dominoe. Each player tries to force the other player into not being able to place their piece on the board. One player may only place dominoes horizontally, and the other may only place them vertically.”

Card

3 Kingdoms Landmaster: Price: $1.99
“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight for your own fortune! Take over your opponents’ land to level up your own land. You could make more money with more land, so take as much land as you can!! Use as many cards as you want on your opponents. From taking over others’ land to playing some tricks on your opponents, the special effect on this cards will overwhelmed them! So buy as many cards as you want! Characters from the famous 3-kingdom Chinese history will join this game. Their cuteness, unique personalities and facial expressions will blow you away! Don’t ever trust anyone when you are rich! Even when they claim to be your friends… If you’re not in the mood for tricks and fights, go for the free mode. You change the game settings in your way Bet small or play big; it’s all up to you! Play the game just the way you like. We have 2 different ways of control for you. It’s ok if you don’t know how to play. We have the best tutorial for you to guide you into the overwhelming world of land wresting!”

Casino

NOTHING

Dice

NOTHING

Educational

Math Brain for Kids: Price: $0.99
“Test your ability to solve different math operations.”

Touch Touch Typing: Price: $3.99
“This application is a “Flick Japanese Input” training application. You can lesson Japanese flick-kanji-input with fun. The basic lesson is for a beginner and special lesson is for experts. The challenge mode allows you to challenge the speed, accuracy of “flick-kanji-input”. With tapping the logo area of the main screen, you can change the mode to “Touch Typing” training mode. In this mode you can try to input kanji with no-key-top-keyboard. When you master “Touch typing”, you’ll be able to input kanji so fast.”

Memory Commander: Price: $0.99
“Train your brain with “Memory Commander”! 65 levels with increasing difficulty train you to remember up to 10 symbols. Remember the symbols at the top. Once they disappear try to find the symbols as fast as you can. The faster you are the more points you get. Become “Memory Commander” on your phone first and then compete worldwide via the online HighScoreList.”

Cut Word: Price: $0.99
“An original word game from M.G.Studio. In this game,Cut Word offers you 45 levels to challenge.Each level has a series of words which is both in Chinese and English.We all know Chinese word is a square word,it’s hard to remember,but each word has its character. Since the game began,the word’s order has been reordered,so in a limit time,you need to drag them to the right order to finish this level’s challenge. This game can lead you to find out the Chinese square word’s magic,then help you remember it.You can show off the word you have got by your hand. It’s awesome!”

Family

Squeeballs Party: Price: $2.99
“Family friendly video game for kids ages 9 and up. You will slice, dice, fire and shock the toys as one of our testers through over 70 mini games found in 5 different game genres that provide endless hours of fun for everyone.”

Magnoid Plus: Price: $0.99
“Magnoid Plus…..... is a very interactive and addictive game. As you progress with the game by removing the bricks, it becomes more exciting. The speed of the ball will gradually increase without you even knowing, which makes this game really exciting. It will act as your favorite pass time, while traveling or when you are getting bored. Being the initial version, we have made this application simple and Addictive. Our enhancements are going on that will reveal more features and information which you will really love in our next enhanced version. We would welcome your ideas as to what all things you would like to have in the application so that we can try and incorporate it in our next version.”

The Snow Queen: Price: $0.99
“Digital Media is proud to bring to you classical story made famous by Hans Christian Andersen. Join Gerda on her journey to find Kay and bing him back. And after watching story you can color scenes from fairy tale in coloring book.”

Cinderella: Price: $0.99
“Digital Media brings you new animated version of classic fairy tale - Cinderella. Inspired by Charles Perrault writing we created a funny and eye catching application where your kids can watch Cinderella’s story and play with coloring book where they can let their creativity free with dozens of colours and textures on 10 scenes from this beautiful tale.”

Music

NOTHING

Puzzle

Cash Cow: Price: $0.99
“Cash Cow makes pocket change add up to loads of fun! Help Buck the Cow and his friends save the farm in this original game of coin-counting. The objective is simple: earn money by counting up your loose change. Small coins make big coins, and big coins make dollar bills. Things get trickier when you add counterfeit money, ladybugs, gold nuggets, glowing coins, and powerups into the mix. With its unique challenges, fantastic graphics, and catchy soundtrack, Cash Cow is one app you’ll keep playing again and again!”

Piyo Blocks: Price: $0.99
“Your task is simple – swap adjacent Piyo Blocks to match 3 or more of the same kind to capture them. To level up you will need to capture a target number of each kind of Piyo. The real skill comes into play when creating combos, which multiplies your score for capturing the Piyos. The bigger the combo you create, the greater score you’ll get!”

PuzzMon: Price: $1.99
“Apprenticeship magic knight’s Mint clears the trial given because it becomes an independent magic knight. The mission of each level is put out, and if monsters of a specified number are knocked down in time, the level is clear. It is possible to knock it down by moving the monster up and down and right and left, and arranging the same three monsters or more sideways.”

Racing

NOTHING

Role Playing

NOTHING

Simulation

Anna Montana: Price: $1.99
“You start the game as Anna Montana, a desperate co-ed turned housekeeper, who tidies up houses at Glamour Lane, which belong to some very diverse and eccentric individuals. You will need to pick up laundry and drop them off at an automated washer & dryer, pick up the scraps, vacuum the floor, clean and mop the rooms and do everyday household duties. Successful completion requires following instructions given by the fussy home owners and completing multiple housekeeping tasks. The quicker you tidy up the houses, the more Glamour $$ you earn. Efficiency not only earns you a higher tip from these well-known stars but also additional elegant awards.”

Lone Wolf - Lion’s Den: Price: $0.99
“Lone Wolf - Lion’s Den is Donoma Games’s second entry in the sniper genre focusing on stealth and strategy. Lion’s Den challenges the player to find different ways of completing each mission without alerting the other guards. The latter half of the missions focuses on quickly eliminating the enemies.”

Fail Boat: Price: $0.99
“Are you ready to set sail on the high seas? Fail Boat puts you at the helm of your very own ship to deliver cargo to ports all over the world. Find the most lucrative jobs and climb to the top of the leaderboards with the most gold! Traveling between ports is in real-time, so after you set sail, you can go about your business and check Fail Boat whenever you want to see when you’ll arrive. Good luck captain!”

CrazyBumb: Price: $0.99
“Bumb, crazy bumb. You must touch the correct position to perish the bumb. Note that where you touch, where the rocket go and explosion. And there are many kinds of item can boost up youself.”

Sports

PaperJet: Price: $1.99
“Paper Jet is a game where a paper plane is thrown three times and players compete for the highest total distance thrown. Make full use of all the different items in the air and on the ground to fly your paper plane further and further. Hit a ‘nitoro’ and you’ll go even further! Hit a bird and you’ll slow down! Who will be in command of the heart pounding battle that looms in the sky?! With the ranking function you’ll know where you rank among players from around the world. So aim to have the world’s best throw!”

Hockey Allstar Shootout: Price: $0.99
“Beat the best goalies the world has to offer in this addictive, easy to play hockey shootout game! Choose between nine different countries as you attempt to deke out top class goalies. Will you try and beat the goalie five hole? Decide to go top shelf? The choice is yours.”

Ragduck Hunt: Price: $0.99
“Blast ducks from the sky and witness their fall in glorious 3D with full ragdoll physics enabled! Test your marksmanship by collecting all the coins.”

Strategy

Abductor: Price: $0.99
“Humble Gaming offers you an extended, fun filled and unique Match 3 type Puzzle Game, with loaded features offering good value. All the fun of a typical Match 3 puzzle game with additional twists of power plays and a mission specific to celebrate the Halloween spirit. An UFO, during a routine visit is intrigued by how Earthlings celebrate Halloween. They decide to abduct the ‘spirit’ of Halloween, by taking with them any and all objects and artifacts that represent or symbolize Halloween.”

Trivia

Explosion!: Price: $0.99
“Explosion! is a skill game that will try out your memory, reflexes and timing in an attempt to defuse a dangerous bomb, before it esplodes! Thanks to the e-Defuser™ in fact, you can enter certain codes, using the keypad, in order to prevent the explosion. Find the highest number of hidden words, organized into different categories, as fast as you can… but be careful! Guess each word before time runs out, otherwise the bomb will esplode, ending your game! It won’t be an easy task to decipher the sequence of 50 hidden words, because after each error (wrong letter) the timer will increase its speed, getting you closer and closer to a very explosive epilogue!”

Word

NOTHING

iPhone and iPod Touch Links

AppleTell: [Appletell reviews Elgato’s EyeTV for iPhone] [App it Up: The Fright Factory] [Free Apps roundup for October 16th, 2009] [In-app purchases now available in free apps]