Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Ariton Games brings Westward Ho! to Android

Ariton Games brings Westward Ho! to Android

Spaceward.Ho!-Android

We’ve seen some great Sci-Fi Android games over the past few months, and you can now add one more to that list with Spaceward Ho! from Ariton Games. If the name sounds familiar it should, as the original Computer game was quite popular and still has a rabid fan base today.westward.ho

Spaceward Ho! is a turn-based strategy game that puts you in control of your very own race of spacefaring folk. Your goal is to explore the galaxy, expand your empire, and exterminate your enemies. You’ll also be able to exploit planets for their resources so the game definitely falls into the 4X genre. As you build your empire you’ll have to develop new tech to stay ahead of your enemies, and you’ll be able to attack hostiles with your fleet or take up a defensive position to defend your race from incoming threats. Strategy is the name of the game in Spaceward Ho! and from what I’ve seen it’s a pretty faithful port of the original game.

Spaceward Ho! might not be a game for everyone, but if you have a love of exploration/conquering games like Alpha Centauri, Imperium Galactica or Space Empires you’ll be right at home with it. With no demo currently available it’s a little pricy at $ 4.99, but you are getting a lot of bang for your buck. If you’d like to learn more about the original game you can read up about it on Delta Tao’s site or you can head on over to Google Play and check out Spaceward Ho! for yourself.

Westward Ho!

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New Android App: Fynch for Twitter

New Android App: Fynch for Twitter

fynch-androidRn Software has just released a new app called Fynch for Twitter. Fynch is not a standalone app but actually integrates with Twitter to enhance you experience by managing how you interact with Twitter timelines. Fynch will notify you when a Twitter post from less active accounts appear, when a Twitter user starts posting more than usual, and when someone you follow tweets on a trending subject.

The winning aspect of Fynch is its “install and forget” type of architecture. This app uses its own set of protocols to analyze how you use Twitter to provide you with a customized and enhanced experience. For instance Fynch will pay attention to who you ignore and stop giving you update notifications. Fynch also has a cool features that will consolidate tweets from a user that you follow that has posted consecutively. An example of this feature would be if you follow a sports fan and they drop multiple tweets during a game.

When the app is installed it may take a while for it to figure out how you tweet but once it does, you will immediately notice the streamlining effects it has on how you use Twitter and view Twitter timelines.  Keep in mind that Fynch is intended as an add-on so without the actual Twitter app you will not be able to open links within tweets, reply, retweet, or favorite. If you have Fynch and Twitter installed when you attempt to do any of the above you will automatically be bounced to the actual Twitter app.

Fynch is a free app so there is no risk to giving it a try. It is a genius 3rd party step towards helping organize and prioritize our increasingly hectic and complicated social media existences.

Fynch for Android

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Ping: 8-bits of Puzzle Fun by Christopher Arnold

Ping: 8-bits of Puzzle Fun by Christopher Arnold

Who needs all that crazy HD and 3D graphics when you can have a classic-looking game like Ping? Answer: Not this guy, and ping: 8-bit puzzle gameprobably not you either; developer Christopher Arnold did an outstanding job creating a game that looks and feels like a classic Atari game but is actually something completely new.This simple looking 8-bit game will have you hooked from the start because you will quickly realize it’s not as simple as it seems.

The game play of Ping is pretty straightforward; you control the little white box by aiming its direction and speed and try to get to the oranges in as few bounces as possible. When playing Ping I thought it was quite funny to see nothing but colored boxes on the screen as you’d see in a classic Atari game, except those oranges that are your goal. Why oranges?

Each level in Ping has a maximum number of times you can bounce your white box off of the walls and other objects, if you exceed that number you’ve got to try again. This Android game starts off pretty simple but gets very challenging very quickly, which will get you scratching your head trying to figure out the key to passing each level.

ping: 8-bit puzzle gameFinal Thoughts: Ping boasts a total of 56 levels of play; with that many levels combined with the 8-bit challenging play, plus a really great soundtrack by Link the Fire the Pinging fun will go on for what seems like forever. Ping by Christopher Arnold has limited Ads, but the placement of the Ads is really the only downside I’ve encountered with the game as the Ads show right in the middle of the screen in between each level.

So if you like 8-bit games, (and seriously who doesn’t) go download Ping and Ping yourself a good time.

Ping â€" The 8-bit Puzzle Game

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Survival Horror Story: Catequesis is bringing 8-bit Horror to Android this Fall

Survival Horror Story: Catequesis is bringing 8-bit Horror to Android this Fall

catequesis for android

Survival Horror games are all the rage, but there aren’t many good Android titles out there. Survival Horror Story: Catequesis looks to change that though and it’s putting a cool retro spin on things.catequesis for android

Catequesis is a survival horror game set in an 8-bit world where you’ll have to help a guy named Daniel rescue his girlfriend after a religious ritual goes horribly wrong. As with most botched rituals involving evil forces, lots of gruesome ghouls are unleashed and you’ll have to take them out if you want to save the girl and vanquish evil. catequesis-2

The developers from Pakarico and Curved Cat Games have pulled inspiration for Survival Horror Story: Catequesis from a list of awesome sources including Lovecraft, Silent Hill, Lone Survivor, and The Legend of Zelda. They also drew inspiration from David Lynch, but I doubt that the “The Man From Another Place” will make an appearance. One can only hope…twin.peaks.man

Survival Horror Story: Catequesis is set to come out this fall, and while details are still a bit vague there are plenty of cool pixely pictures to drool over, and there’s even a mind bending trailer you can check out below. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about Survival Horror Story: Catequesis, if you’re as intrigued as we are hit up the link and check out the games official site.

Survival Horror Story: Catequesis

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Translate Text on the Go with the WorldPenScan BT from PenPower

Translate Text on the Go with the WorldPenScan BT from PenPower

worldpen.scan.btIf you’re the globetrotting sort going to a foreign country is always made easier if you know the language. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have time to learn a new language on the fly. That’s where a new piece of tech called the WorldPenScan BT can come in handy, as it allows you to carry a mini translator in your pocket and it even works with your favorite Android device.translator.pen-1

The WorldPenScan BT is a mobile translator that’s small enough to fit in your pocket (around 5” in length) so you can always keep it on hand when you’re on the go. The pen will work with PC, Macs, and Android devices, but it is not compatible with iOS as of yet. The pen uses Bluetooth to sync with your Android Device and works in conjunction with the WorldPenScan BT app to translate 20 languages including English, Chinese (simplified & traditional), Spanish, German, French, and Italian. If you’re going to a region that the app doesn’t support no worries as the PC/Mac software has around 200 different languages in its catalog.

So what all exactly can the WorldPenScan BT scan? Well, it can scan any printed text which means you’ll be able to scan research documents, newspapers or even comic books. Want to read the latest issue of the Walking Dead while you’re stuck in Spain? Not a problem. I seriously doubt most people would buy the pen for that, but it looks to be extremely handy if you have a short amount of text you need translated in a hurry. If it’s a lot of text I could see it becoming an issue as you have to move the pen across each line of text to scan it in, but for shorter items like restaurant menus or documents the WorldPenScan BT definitely seems like a good way to go. The WorldPenScan BT doesn’t require hardcore system specs either; as long as you’re running Android 2.3 or later and have 100MB of internal storage you’ll be able to use the Pen with your Android device.worldpenscan.bt-1

How much use you can get out of a device like the WorldPenScan BT depends on how you use it. While you wouldn’t want to translate a book with the pen, it will no doubt come in handy if you travel a lot or need to translate short amounts of text while you’re out and about. You also have to like the fact that it’s small, portable, and uses Bluetooth so there’s no need for wires once you get it charged up and setup with your phone. If you’d like to pick one up or find out more about the pocket translator known as The WorldPenScan BT you can hit the link below.

PenPower

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Monday, April 1, 2013

The best of Google’s April Fools’ Day jokes

The best of Google’s April Fools’ Day jokes

Google is no stranger to April Fools’ Day. Every year, the company attacks the Internet with more joke services and announcements than we can count. You can poke around the web and find them all for yourself, but below, we’ve gathered a sort of list of what we think really stands out this year.

YouTube is finally almost over

“We are so close to the end. Tonight at midnight, YouTube.com will no longer be accepting entries. After eight amazing years, it’s finally time to review everything that has been uploaded to our site, and begin the process of selecting a winner.”

And what a contest it has been. Google has gone as far as promoting a, “best video” hash tag on Google+ and Twitter, and hosting a live announcement ceremony detailing the nominees (it’s amazingly ridiculous).

Google Nose: Smell your search results

The wet dog smell sounds particularly horrible, but daisy, campfire and new car scent, all readily available for your smelling pleasure whenever you want? This isn’t an entirely horrible idea. Google Nose could really work.

It’s Gmail, only bluer

Nothing about Gmail Blue is that great by itself, but coupled with the knowledge of Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows Blue, it’s absolutely hilarious. For a little background info, Windows Blue is the real Windows 8. You know, the one they are trying to get you to use now, is just a rushed out botch job. Really.

Google Maps Treasure Mode

Use the sun, heat, puzzles and more to find Captain Kidd’s long lost treasure. The hunt is on.

Be sure to let us know your favorite April Fools’ Day joke so far this year, and don’t forget to share your own.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Root pops up for the Exynos Octa 5 version of the S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 Root pops up for the Exynos Octa 5 version of the S4

galaxy.s4While the world awaits the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4, it looks like the folks over at XDA forums have already achieved Root on the super phone. Before you get too excited there is a catch as the Galaxy S4 root is only for the Exynos 5 Octa-Core model.

While the Galaxy S4 is already up for pre-orders on some carriers, it’s going to be a bit before we see it hit the shelves in the US. Release dates mean squat to the minds at XDA and as usual it didn’t take them long to get Galaxy S4 root access. As mentioned, the only catch is you’ll have to have the Exynos 5 Octa model of the phone which is going to be limited to certain markets. It’s also an “experimental” build so keep that in mind as well. Rest assured, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 model will have its own root, and you can be it won’t take long for XDA to knock that one out.

Rooting isn’t for everyone, and yes it is dangerous as you can brick your device if you don’t know what you’re doing. That being said, it will be nice for new Galaxy S4 owners to be able to root their phone right out of the box when the phone finally hits the streets. If you choose to give your Exynos Octa Galaxy S4 root, you can hit up the link below to get instructions on the process. Just know what you’re doing ahead of time, and always back up your data beforehand.

Source â€" XDA

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Android 5.0 Key Lime Rumored Release in May 2013

Android 5.0 Key Lime Rumored Release in May 2013

android 5.0 key limeGoogle began testing its new mobile Android OS code named ‘Key Lime’ in fall of 2012. Now it seems that the Google rumor mill is suggesting that Key Lime will be released sometime in late May of 2013. Key Lime was initially called Android 4.2, with only some minor upgrades to the current Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but now Key Lime is being called Android 5.0 which leads you to think that it might be more than just a few minor changes.

It’s not confirmed exactly what Key Lime will include or what upgrades it may have, but with all new Google tech, there are rumors. One such rumor is that Key Lime will be built on the Linux 3.8 kernel; which would allow much better usage of a device’s RAM making for faster loading and better multitasking abilities. Another Key Lime rumor is that is will require a quad core processor; but again this is just a rumor. Android 5.0 is also said to integrate all of Google’s communication services like Babble, Messenger, Chat for Drive, Talk, and others. Other Key Lime rumors suggest that there will be improved performance profiles, integrated video conferencing, and an improved touch keyboard.

There are some things about Key Lime that have been confirmed so far. Android 5.0 Key Lime will include more built in customization features such as navigation bars and commands at the edge of the screen. There will also be more options for home screen and number of pages your device will have. Many of Key Lime’s new customization features come from the various customization apps Android users prefer to use that are now built into the OS itself.

One thing that seems quite certain is that the upcoming Motorola X will be built for Key Lime; which should be interesting since it will be the first Motorola smartphone to be released since Google bought Motorola.

Source â€" Digital Times

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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Ask me a question about the HTC One and I’ll buy you One

Ask me a question about the HTC One and I’ll buy you One

I’m currently in love with the One and we teamed up with HTC to do a series of Q&A posts about their upcoming flagship phone. If you leave a comment with any question about the HTC One, and we pick your question to highlight in an upcoming post, then you will be entered into a contest to win your own One. Sounds simple, right? So what do you want to know about the HTC One before you buy it?

Run for your Life in PikPok’s Into the Dead for Android

Run for your Life in PikPok’s Into the Dead for Android

into the dead android

PikPok is well known for their flick kick sporting games, but they switched things up last week with their release of Into the Dead. It’s about as different as you can get from the developers previous titles, and it’s one of the coolest Zombie games you’re likely to find on Google Play.into.the.dead-1

Into the Dead is an endless runner set in a world where the dead have taken over. It’s a dark world, full of sorrow (and zombies) and it’s also a world where there are no second chances â€" if you falter you’re zombie food. The gameplay is pretty straightforward in as far as running games are concerned as you can tilt or touch to move side to side and away from the zombies. What makes the game really stand out is the atmosphere. Into the Dead is the spookiest zombie game you’ll find and the setting reminds me of a few of those creepy Slender Man games which definitely isn’t a bad thing. Another thing that sets the game apart from the pack is the use of weapons. You will be able to fight back somewhat, but ammo and weapons are in short supply just as they would be in a real zombie apocalypse. It’s definitely not wise to blast away with abandon as you’re going to want to conserve your precious ammo.

I make it a point to play every (decent) zombie game that hits Google Play, and Into the Dead is a breath of fresh air. The game is very well done and running towards or through zombies instead of away from them is a nice touch. The controls have felt a little sticky at times, but overall it’s a cool zombie game and something you’ll definitely want to check out if you dig the undead or endless runners. You can pick up PikPok’s Into the Dead for free on Google Play.

Into the Dead

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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Laser Dog Games releases PUK for Android

Laser Dog Games releases PUK for Android

Puk for Android

Air Hockey is a blast to play on your Android device, and Laser Dog Games PUK proves that there’s more than one use for those pucks. There are no goals to be made or opponents to play against in PUK, but it’s just as infuriating as Air Hockey and twice as fun.PUK-1

PUK is a game about portals and pucks. Each level requires you to blast one into the other, and that’s basically all you need to do to reach the next stage. Sound pretty simple doesn’t it? Well it’s not as you have a timer to contend with and some portals are pretty damned tricky to get to. Needless to say, unless you have nerves of steel you’re going to get frazzled sooner than later. PUK does have stages, but the layout is a bit different considering you’re trying to clear as many stages in one run as you can. There are around 1,000 levels PUK, and if you fail you’ll start from the beginning, but it won’t get old as the levels are randomly generated each go round. You will see some of the same stages, but you’re unlikely to see them in the same order.

PUK is an inventive quick play game that will frustrate you to no end while keeping you coming back for more. It may look simple, but its most certainly not; I’ve been at it since it was released and have yet to make it past 32… tough game. I do wish it had multi-touch support as it would be great to fling a few PUK’s at once, but it’s a minor complaint to an otherwise perfect game. If you’re looking for a game to challenge you, PUK definitely fits the bill and you can pick it up for $ 1.05 on Google Play.

PUK

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Top 10 Android game releases this week: Frontline Commando D-Day, Puk, Duck Retro Hunt

Top 10 Android game releases this week: Frontline Commando D-Day, Puk, Duck Retro Hunt

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap to focus on new releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we’re playing, but this column is dedicated to new games you can install and start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know if you have any suggestions for next week in the comments below.

Frontline Commando: D-Day

Description: Lead the charge on D-Day as the tip of the spear in the largest Allied invasion of WW2! Defeat the occupation forces and take back France; storm the beaches, clear the trenches and liberate towns as you battle through the countryside of Normandy. Experience the ultimate 3rd person shooter with stunning console quality visuals, precise controls, advanced physics, destructible environments and full voiceovers.

Puk

Description: PUK is a fast paced pure action puzzler requiring skill dexterity, nerve and endurance. Pull back and ping to obliterate portals in 1000 unique, quick-fire levels that are endlessly generated and different every time. Forget everything you’ve played this year, you won’t be able to put PUK down. Clear a space on your home screen.

Duck Retro Hunt

Description: Augmented Reality meets 8-bits. Retro Spirit with Cutting Edge Technology. Be prepared to hunt ducks everywhere: in your home, on the bus, at work or even lying on your sofa. Thanks to the latest technology we bring you this unique gameplay.

Catapult King

Description: Take down forts, castles and even a fire-breathing dragon in Catapult Kingâ€"the King of castle crushers! Rescue the Princess and defeat the enemy in this beautiful, 3D fantasy adventure. The Nasty Knights are helping the Dragon keep the Princess captive. Teach them a lesson in 96 fun and challenging Levels.

Strategy & Tactics: WW II

Description: Relive the greatest battles of WWII in this grand strategy masterpiece. In Strategy & Tactics: World War II, you battle impressive AI enemies in three campaigns with a classic turn-based battle system and serried ranks of historically-accurate troops. Fight your way through eighteen missions with an ex?iting storyline and charismatic characters across Europe, Asia and Africa, research new technologies to improve your troops and build industry, and lead your armies to victory.

Magicka

Description: From the publisher that brought you Magicka, it’s more Magicka! Featuring the innovative and dynamic spellcasting system from the critically acclaimed PC hit, Wizards of the Square Tablet brings to your Android those lovable robed rascals from the popular RPG spoof. Now you can bring them with you wherever you go, in a brand new campaign set before the original tale of Magicka.

Ninja Village

ninja-village-630

Description: Rewrite the history of feudal Japan with an army of the ultimate guerrilla warriors: ninjas! The shogun has fallen from power, plunging the land into chaos as feuding feudal lords scramble to take his place. But the shogun has an ace up his sleeve: you! As the head of a leading ninja clan, it’s up to you to rally your followers and help unify Japan!

Trainz Trouble

Description: Trainz Trouble challenges you to keep the wheels in motion as trains speed to their various destinations. Plan the route, change the junctions, time the stops, and avoid the trouble…it all sounds so simple! Rock-piles, level crossings and runaway trains are just a few of the obstacles in your way. Use your sharp mind to figure out the right path, and your fast fingers to tap in the right place at the right time.

Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor

Description: You are a spider. One afternoon, you discover an abandoned mansion. Where is the family who lived here? What happened, and why did they leave? Search for clues as you adventure from room to room on the hunt for your next meal. Build webs of your own design: in the corners, under the furniture, and in the forgotten places too small for humans. Are you a shrewd enough sleuth to decode the mystery and uncover the Bryce family secret?

Reign of Amira: The Lost Kingdom

Description: The Reign of Amira has begun as she fights the ultimate battle to save her lost kingdom from being overtaken by hordes of vicious enemies. Use ancient artifacts known as the magical crests to destroy everyone that gets in your way. Stunning graphics and effects, fast-action and episodic gameplay, and richly detailed environments.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Developers Don’t Like Programming Android Games

Developers Don’t Like Programming Android Games

sad android | developers don't like programming android gamesIt might sound hard to believe, but at currently most programmers don’t like developing games for Android or its devices. Why? Two main reasons: Firstly, many developers just find it difficult to program games on Android, but that is attributed to the fact that Android is still a fairly young mobile OS. Developers had said the same about the Apple mobile OS when it was young, between Apple and developers working at it the Apple OS became a great mobile OS to develop games for. The second complaint that many developers have with the Android OS is that the graphics aren’t the best for many types of mobile games. Android might have 3D abilities now, but compared to the graphics of an iPhone they aren’t great.

So that’s the current complaint that many mobile game developers are having with Android. As of now only 26% of developers actually prefer working with Android. But that number is expected to change to 60% or more within the next couple of years.

The reason that so many more developers will be more willing to work with the Android OS in the coming years is mostly because Android is dominating the mobile technology market, and this isn’t expected to change. Since there are more Androids out there, it makes more sense in a marketing aspect if developers design more for the OS that is the most popular.

So expect a few things to start happening in the next few years with Android: One, more developers will design bigger and better games because Android is the most popular OS and that’s holding strong. Two, more Android devices means more places for markets to target consumers. And Three, Android will likely become more ‘developer friendly’ to allow developers to design the greatness they can.

Some users just haven’t yet grasped the fact that Android as a mobile Operating System is still new and young compared to its competitors. In time, (probably not too much time) an Android device will be capable of things never dreamed of by developers.

Source â€" venturebeat.com

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Raft Pirates Review: A Swashbuckling Good Time

Raft Pirates Review: A Swashbuckling Good Time

raft.pirates-androidPirate games come in many shapes and forms. Some games let you play as a pirate while others let you control the pirates’ ship. 6waves Raft Pirates does the latter, and it’s a soul sucking game that will whittle away at your free time and pull you in with its fun turn-based battles.

Raft Pirates is a turn-based strategy game set on the open seas where you’ll work to build up your fleet and duke it out with other players and big bad bosses. Yup, there’s online multiplayer as the game is an MMO of sorts, and as the name implies your fleet is a bit unusual as well. Your motley crew is comprised of quirky robots with even quirkier weapons, and your fleet consists of rafts. Definitely not the usual fare…raft.pirates-3

Raft Pirates requires a lot of strategy as you’ll need to customize your fleet regularly so you can attack and defend, and you’ll constantly have to totally alter your setup when you take on a boss. There are only two parts of your “fleet” that can’t be changed which are the “hub” and diving platform. Everything else is fair game as long as you make sure all your rafts are connected.raft.pirates-2

Stringing together rafts is simple, but fitting all your weapons onto each platform isn’t as easy. Each raft can only hold a certain amount of funky weaponry, and you’ll have to piece it together like a puzzle to maximize you’re attacking power. Each weapon has a set amount of BP and this affects your attacking power and defensive capabilities. You’ll have to cram a lot onto each raft to get things going at first, but later in the game you’ll get some smaller weapons with big BP.

The actual fighting is just as interesting as building. You roll dice against your opponent in battles; the higher your BP the more dice you get to roll. The same goes for your opponents raft, and your BP also counts as HP so when it hits zero that piece of your raft is sunk. You can seek out players to fight or you can sit out in deep, dangerous waters and wait to be attacked. Why would you do this? That’s how you level up in Raft Pirates and it’s a nice little twist.raft.pirates-1

If you stay in deep water you’ll level up, but you can be attacked at any time. If you idle in the safe zone however, you won’t level up (or get good salvage), but you’ll obviously be safe. The timer keeps running when your offline as well in deep water which makes it rewarding to live dangerously in Raft Pirates. It can also be costly as some of the crucial parts you need to rebuild are hard to come by or very pricy. Therein lies the rub as Raft Pirates is a blast and you want to keep playing, but if you want to play continuously you’ll have to come out of pocket.

raft.pirates-5

Verdict

Raft Pirates is an over the top pirate game with a unique sense of style and plenty of action. It’s not hard to get a battle going, but if you play religiously you’re going to hate the wait times. The IAP setup is in full effect, but it’s not horrible as it really just depends on how you play and how much you like the game. Overall, Raft Pirates is definitely a game I think people will enjoy, and there’s a lot to take in as well. From the cool robotic pirate attacks to the simple sound of the waves, it’s all very well done. I highly recommend checking out the game for yourself, and can do just that by picking it up for free on Google Play.

Raft Pirates

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Glu Mobile releases Frontline Commando D-Day for Android

Glu Mobile releases Frontline Commando D-Day for Android

Frontline.Commando-D.day-Android

Shooters are hit or miss on a Mobile device, so it’s always nice to see a solid new one come along like Glu Mobiles Frontline Commando D-Day. The original Frontline Commando pitted you against the troops of a ruthless dictator, but the follow-up takes a different approach as it drops you on the beach right smack dab in the middle of D-Day.Screenshot_2013-03-27-22-55-20

Frontline Commando D-Day lets you lead the charge against the Axis powers as you step into the role of a soldier on that infamous day in June of 1944. The game takes a 3rd person approach to things which works well as there’s a lot going on when you storm the beaches and hit the trenches. Frontline Commando D-Day has 5 different campaigns, each with its own set of missions and objectives. There are 135 missions in all so it’s pretty safe to say the game’s going to keep you busy for a while. I’m my brief play through last night I got to do a bit of trench fighting using the games “cover” system and even nailed a few planes with the Ack-Ack guns. Good stuff.

I’m a sucker for historical war games, and was pretty damned excited to see Frontline Commando D-Day drop. The gameplay is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s one of the better looking shooters you’re likely to see this year. It looks great, and the WWII has been very well done from what I’ve seen so far. As it’s a freemium game you can bet the IAP setup will rear its ugly head, and we’ll let you know how bad it is when we run our full review next week. Needless to say, if you’re into mobile shooters you’ll definitely want to give Frontline Commando D-Day a look.

Frontline Commando D-Day

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An Official Chuck E. Cheese App hits Google Play

An Official Chuck E. Cheese App hits Google Play

chuck.e.cheese-appIf you were a red blooded American child, you probably made a trip to Chuck E. Cheese growing up. If you were unlucky enough to never get a pizza party there, today’s your lucky day as an official Chuck E. Cheese App has just hit Google Play.chuck.e.cheese-android

The Chuck E. Cheese App is officially called “Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!”, but for simplicity sake we’re going with  the Chuck E. Cheese App. While the app won’t magically transport you back to your childhood, it can make visits to the pizza place more enjoyable for the kids with the magic of augmented reality. You can use the app in conjunction with In-store “hotspots” to snap a photo of your kid with Chuck E. Cheese himself. Once you’ve captured the magic, you can do the social thing and send out your glorious new pics across the usual social media channels and via email. Needless to say, it looks to be a great app to have on hand when you go to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Normally this is where I give you the outro, but this is one of the rare occasions I get to talk about something I think is awesome outside of Android… The Rock-afire Explosion! Before ol’ Chucky came into play, there was something called Showbiz Pizza, and it had an awesome animatronic band with cool characters like Dook LaRue and Billy Bob Brockali the official mascot for Showbiz. It was replaced over time in the 90s by Chuck E. and his gang, but the memories live on thanks to their creator Aaron Fechter and awesome videos like the one below…

Now that we got that out of the way, the Chuck E. Cheese app is definitely a cool app for kids and their families to try out when they hit the restaurant. I don’t have kids and didn’t want to look like a creepy old guy at Chuck E. Cheese so I wasn’t able to try this one out yet, but you better believe I’ll give it a go next time my niece has a Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. If you want to check out the Chuck E.’s Say Cheese! app you can pick it up for free on Google Play.

Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!

If you want to relieve a few more childhood memories you should check out the killer documentary The Rock-afire Explosion. Great flick!

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Android Rookies: 10 new apps worth checking out this week

Android Rookies: 10 new apps worth checking out this week

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of new entries on the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We have shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and launch them to new heights, so we’re bringing back our weekly column Android Rookies that highlights new apps with less than 100k installs. Browse our new Android app picks below and let us know which ones you enjoy.

fynch-630

Pitch: Fynch enhances your Twitter experience by automatically analyzing your timeline for interesting patterns of activity. It is intended to be a tool that decomposes your timeline into smaller sets of tweets that are easier to consume. Fynch is great for identifying extremely high rates of activity, trending topic mentions, and the tweets of less active users in your following list.

system-monitor-630

Pitch: The most beautiful and versatile System Monitor for Android. This application provides real time system load statistics in the form of text and graph. This app is a full 5 in 1! You will be able to monitor CPU,RAM,I/O,Network and top apps from notification bar, floating app, or widgets.

7-eleven-630

Pitch: Throughout your day, the 7-Eleven app keeps up with you, customizing and personalizing your experience from the minute you open it. There’s always something happening at your neighborhood 7-Eleven, like , Special Edition Slurpee Flavors, and more. Did we mention there are coupons? See what products you can save on and tap to redeem at any 7-Eleven.

dubbler-630

Pitch: Join the newest social network and the only one that has your voice. Dub with Mac Miller, Paris Hilton, Common and other celebs! Dubbler is a fun, free, way to share your personality with your friends on Facebook and Twitter without worrying about word counts. Go beyond text or typing, and share your full personality by recording a Dub, transforming it with one of our fun filters, adding a cool photo, and then sharing it with your friends.

medisafe-630

Pitch: MediSafe is a beautiful, visual and easy-to-use medication reminder. It will help you take your medicine in time and safely. As an addition, if you are a caretaker for a parent, child, or patient, you know how stressful it is not knowing for sure if your loved one took their medications on time. If you are on more than one medicine, you know how difficult it is remembering to take each one at the right time.

proven-630

Pitch: Proven Job Search helps you find and apply to the latest Craigslist and Indeed jobs using your resume and cover letter. Millions of jobs are available. Beat the crowd by applying as soon as you see the job. Unchain yourself from your home computer. On a quick break? On the bus? In a waiting room? Apply to jobs and improve your life.

sidewalk-buddy-630

Pitch: Sidewalk Buddy is the first app that will allow you to safely use most apps with a clean and resizable pop-up which shows a live video feed from your rear facing camera as you walk. Texting and walking safety issues are gone! Navigate busy streets with ease, get more work done and be able to multi-task with safety in mind. Unlike transparent screen based apps, this app provides a clean separation between the video and the app you are using without getting too busy.

must-have-recipes-630

Pitch: Better Homes and Gardens brings you the best-of-the-best recipes, secrets and tips â€" all inspired by our beloved Red Plaid cookbooks â€" absolutely free! In all, more than 500 recipes, with photos of every one. See 75 how-to videos and step-by-steps that guarantee success in your kitchen. Personalize the app with bonus chapters (100+ recipes each) for just 99¢.

gympact-630

Pitch: Conquer workout excuses and earn cash rewards for exercising â€" paid for by non-exercisers. Make a Pact of how many days you’ll workout, set the Stakes of how much you’ll pay if you don’t, and check-in via GPS at the gym. Or count running, biking or walking with RunKeeper. GymPact helped our users succeed on 86% of the workouts they committed to do in 2012.

appsurfer-630

Pitch: Search, Try & Install sums it all. The best way to search for new apps, in addition to that the best way to try the app before installing it. Lastly if an app passes through all of your likes then you can go ahead and install it. Make the Android market more try friendly. Avoid confusing reviews, screenshots and videos. Cut the judgement process short and just try the app.

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