Gamertell

It’s our second edition of the App Store gaming update! This week wasn’t as bad to put together as last week’s, though the insane amounts of turkey didn’t help things.

In this edition of the update we added two new sections entitled: “What’s Free” and “Games you might like”. I won’t bother explaining to you the complex definitions of these sections, as I’m sure you folks can figure them out. Since we are still in beta, we can tinker around with the list week to week to find just the right format for you guys. As always, feedback is appreciated so feel free to let us know how much you love the list or heaven forbid, hate it!

We also hope to provide reviews for these games at some point so look out for those as well! Now, on to the list…

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Welcome to the beta version of Gamertell’s weekly Apple App Store gaming update. Each week we will provide you the readers with a list of the newest games on the Apple service.

After spending a large part of my Sunday coordinating Thanksgiving plans and creating this list, I can safely tell you that if Apple wants to make any footprints in the gaming spectrum, they need to clean the App Store up. The recent update to the iPhone improved the App Store into the right direction but there is still more to do on it. I’ll save my complaints for another time so, for now, click through and scroll down the list and check out the newest games in each of their respective categories…

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FROM APPLETELL - Do the iPhone and iPod touch really have the power to threaten the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP handheld gaming platforms? Of course not. Here’s why…
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Dr. Pepper has teamed up with Imaginuity NM to release a free-to-play, Flash browser games called Dr. Pepper Matchcaps. It is designed to run perfectly on the iPhone through Safari. If you don’t have an iPhone, don’t worry - you can enjoy the game in your regular Firefox or Safari browser as well. It will just temporarily resize the browser.

If you’re good at Bejeweled, or other similar match-3 games where you must shift a piece up, down, left or right to make three of a kind disappear, chances are you’ll be a natural at Dr. Pepper Matchcaps....

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People familiar with mole whacking games may initially have trouble with Phelios’ Whack the Dead, since moles, zombies and people will pop up from the holes. The goal in the new iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac and Windows game is to whack zombies who pop up from the graves for points. To trip players up though, moles and normal humans may also pop up from the holes.

Depending on which version you choose, Whack the Dead may even be free. The iPhone and iPod Touch version of the game (available through the iTunes App Store) costs $2.99. The Mac and Windows versions, however, are available as free downloads through the I Play Phone Games site. Its a good marketing idea - test the game for free, and if people like it, they’ll buy it…

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Believe it or not,  I’m glad when I don’t have to call out Wired for being a gamer hater. I know the mag truly likes gamers but they just cannot seem to get it 100% right, at least when it comes to the print version.

In the latest issue of Wired (November 2008),  there are several pages that give some favorable nods to stuff gamers dig. Although more game-friendly coverage than normal, there’s still one page that’s a bit questionable.

There’s a page on the Webkinz phenomena (p. 038), a page highlighting a few casual creations by Jason Kapalka (p. 094), an opinion piece by Steven Levy regarding the Wii, Guitar Hero and the iPhone (p. 114), a questionable comparison of game systems (p. 164) and a trio of decent manual cover scans.

For more on each, click through and check out the scans in the photo gallery…

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Check out the gallery: Wired Magazine , November 2008 page scans

A massive price drop on the beloved iPhone/iPod Touch game Raging Thunder has just been announced by its creator, PolarBit. Normally $7.99, the price has temporarily been reduced to $3.99. Raging Thunder is a fairly popular, racing game from Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart‘s developer and is teeny, 2.8mb download…

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A new casual/puzzle/platforming game has just been released on the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch - Rock’n'Roll. The object is simple, get through a maze, collecting items and then finding your way out. Its the latest title from Tag Games. If you’re interested, its only $4.99 for the 16.2mb game, and it is rated 9+.

Unfortunately, it seems there may be a problem with Rock’n'Roll. So far, as of 11:28am CST on September 29, 2008, it has two one star reviews. Both reviews claim that the game crashes on them. Hopefully these are isolated incidents…

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Just when you thought a game was everywhere, you learn that it still has one more front to conquer. I’m speaking, of course, of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Previously, the puzzle/role playing game invaded cell phones, every major video game console (PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360), every handheld system (DS and PSP) and computers (Mac and PC). Now, TransGaming Inc. has announced that it is adapting Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

An actual launch date hasn’t been announced, but TransGaming is working with D3Publisher and hoping to have Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords up in the iTunes App Store before the end of Fall 2008. A price also hasn’t been set, and no rating has been assigned. Previous versions of the game were rated Everyone 10+, so the iPhone/iPod Touch version will probably carry a similar rating…

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Pangea Software is expanding its iPhone/iPod Touch game library with a port - Bugdom 2. Bugdom 2 is a classic platformer originally released for Macs by Pangea back in 2002. The company has decided to rerelease and revive the family friendly game starring anthropomorphic insects, animals and lawn gnomes.

In Bugdom 2, players act as a grasshopper named Skip who’s backpack was stolen by Bully Bee. You have to engage other insect enemies on a quest to get your stuff back. Apparently, not all insects and animals are out to get Skip - Sam the snail and Sally the chipmunk both help Skip if he’ll prove himself or cough up acorns, and you can call on Buddy Bugs to help you fight the bad bugs…

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