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‘iPhone 5’ Category Articles

The 'Middle' Device: How Devs Will Handle The iPad mini's Not-Quite-Retina Screen In Release Builds

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

Screen resolutions are getting a little bonkers. There's a lot. New iPad and iPad with Retina display both support retina; iPhone 5 rocks a wide-screen retina display; older phones and iPod touches support a mixture of retina standard high-resolution; And now there's the iPad mini screen, which sits in the middle. Its screen isn't retina level, but the pixel density is quite high considering.

You've got to wonder: how is this screen going to be handled in future releases? Are game makers going to start throwing up "standard" versus "HD" releases? Or are they going to pack in everything that they can into one, lone Universal build? And if that's the route, how will the file size impact creators' ability to hit the over-the-air cap?

We've been considering these questions since earlier in the week and decided to hit up a selection of developers about them. Here's their thoughts on potentially breaking games into different versions, the over-the-air cap, and the mini as the kinda in-between iOS device.

Glenn Corpes, Topia World Builder, Forum Username: GlennX

"These days, HD versions only exist for commercial reasons. Luckily for us, Topia uses a lot of generated graphics and fits in well under the over-the-air cap. It'll be getting bigger soon but it'll be new features driving that size increase rather than Apple's variety of hardware."

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'Infinity Blade II' Gets Long-Awaited Widescreen Update

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

One of the most high-profile and popular games on the entire App Store is Epic and Chair Entertainment's Infinity Blade II [$6.99], the sequel to 2010's gorgeous gesture-based sword fighting RPG. Unsurprisingly, Infinity Blade II was even more gorgeous than the original, and fleshed-out most of the mechanics from the first game to make for an even bigger and better experience.

However, since the iPhone 5 launch last month, and subsequently the new iPod touch devices shipping several weeks later, Infinity Blade II has been one of the games that I've been dying to see updated for the 4-inch screen of those new devices. After all, such a beautiful game deserves to occupy the entire screen.

Today we finally get our wish, as Infinity Blade II is now widescreen compatible. As we've been doing previously, below are some screens comparing the older 3.5-inch screens with the new 4-inch wide screens.

As expected the widescreen view of the actual combat gives you a slightly larger view of the action, but interestingly the cutscene portions that used to run letterboxed on the 3.5-inch screen (probably to let you know that hey, this is a cutscene) now run in full 16:9 on the new devices.

It makes sense, but I've sort of grown used to seeing those black bars drop down, letting me know to just kick back and watch for a moment. Keep in mind I'm not complaining at all about this, as I think it's a more cohesive design decision, but it is kind of interesting that the non-letterboxed cutscenes in the updated version of Infinity Blade II actually show less than on the previous screen size.

Either way it's a welcome update for new device owners, and if you haven't yet jumped in on the Infinity Blade II fun just yet be sure to check out our review as well as the forum thread for everything you'll ever need to know about the game.

App Store Link: Infinity Blade II, $6.99 (Universal)

'Temple Run: Brave' Update Adds New Mechanic And iPhone 5 Support

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

Heads up: Temple Run Brave's [$0.99] latest update is a good one. Version 1.2 of the behind-the-back endless running game sees the introduction of a new Wisp token mechanic. As you're running, keep your eyes out for a Wisp token. When you get one, you'll be whisked to the newly added "spirit world" and tasked with collecting Wisps. If you grab enough, you'll be rewarded with a slow motion power-up that can be used in the core game. Which is a good thing. We need all the help we can get over here.

This update also adds iPhone 5 support, as well as Game Center 'chevos and leaderboards for all you score hounds out there.

App Store Link: Temple Run: Brave, $0.99 (Universal)

Another Round of Games Get Widescreen Support Including 'Waking Mars' and 'Rayman Jungle Run'

Friday, October 19th, 2012

We've been diligently keeping tabs on which of our favorite games have been getting updated for the new 4-inch screens on the iPhone 5 and 5th generation iPod touch, and today we have another batch of games that have received just that. However, there have been so many games getting the widescreen treatment it hasn't really been possible to cover them all, and as such you might not have noticed if one of your own favorites has been updated.

Thankfully, our forum members are just as diligent as we are, or in this case even more so. Check out the Widescreen Gaming Thread in the general discussion section of our forums where our eagle-eyed members have been keeping track of practically every game that's received an update for the iPhone 5 or 5th generation iPod touch, and our member "switch-it" has been faithfully keeping the first post updated. Be sure to bookmark that if you fancy yourself as a widescreen iOS gaming aficionado.

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'Tiny Wings' Gets Less Tiny with Widescreen Support

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Most everybody should be familiar with Tiny Wings [$0.99], developer Andreas Illiger's simple and beautiful endless runner that stole our hearts in February of last year and then went on to steal plenty of other hearts as it topped the iTunes charts for a long time afterwards. Over a year later, Andreas began to tease a new upcoming game which everyone was pretty certain would be a Tiny Wings sequel, but much to everyone's surprise and elation it was actually a massive 2.0 update to the original game which added significant new content and the long-awaited support for Retina Displays.

Retina Display support was actually a significant addition, as so much of Tiny Wings appeal is about the whimsical sounds and visuals of the game, and today that gets taken a step further with a widescreen Retina Display support update that makes sure our little bird families fit nicely on the 4-inch screens of the new iPhone and 5th generation iPod touch.

Be sure to grab this latest Tiny Wings update if you're toting a new widescreen device, and also as noted in the update description you can now officially "Like" Tiny Wings in a Facebook-like capacity by visiting the official Tiny Wings Facebook page, which will offer lots of neat bonuses like wallpapers, ringtones, and more.

App Store Link: Tiny Wings, $0.99

Here's Some Footage of 'Minigore 2: Zombies'

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

If you wanted to see Minigore 2: Zombies in action, we've got your back. Embedded below is another look at the follow-up in motion. The video, set in the same snowy field we showed you the other week, does a good job illustrating just how nuts this promises to be. Around 150 enemies can fill a screen at one time, and you'll be in charge of dismissing them all. Good luck!

While we're on the subject, here's some more numbers: Minigore 2: Zombies will pack in 50 different enemy types, in addition to seven boss fights and will launch with 20 unlockable characters.

Minigore 2 is still slated to hit "soon" for an unknown price. It'll be a Universal app.

'Pocket Planes', 'Doodle Jump', 'The Incident' and More Updated with 4-Inch Retina Display Support

Friday, October 12th, 2012

We've been steadily trying to keep up with any significant iPhone 5 updates, and with the new 5th generation iPod touches starting to hit the market there's even more of those beautiful 4-inch Retina Display screens out in the wild.

So far, most games that have been updated with the 4-inch support have merely shown more with the additional screen space, and while it's nice to have an expanded view it doesn't really affect the actual gameplay a whole lot. Some games have just zoomed things in a bit too to make up the additional screen space.

However, a couple of games have actually been enhanced through the widescreen support, with the extra screen real estate offering some sort of strategic advantage or the ability to have a larger gameplay area.

There are a couple of games in today's batch of widescreen-ized updates feel like they have markedly different gameplay due to the larger screen space, rather than just a cosmetic upgrade. Read on for our thoughts about these recently updated titles.

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'Bike Baron,' 'VS Racing 2,' And More Get iPhone 5 Updates

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

Good news: developers are still updating their games for iPhone 5. Even better news: as a result there are now more games you can play natively on your new-fangled phone.

This week, we're going to continue highlighting the best of the best old games made new again courtesy iPhone 5 support updates, just in case you might be in the market. Today, we've listed four landscape games that, even though they may not take full advantage of the new device's screen, still look and play great on the device. We'll have more later in the week, but we thought you'd appreciate the heads up.

Here we go:


Apocalypse Max: Better Dead Than Undead

Apocalypse Max: Better Dead Than Undead, $2.99 - Yeah, Apocalypse Max is another 2D shooter with zombies in it, but get this: it's a good video game. Built with the gamer in mind, it's a delicious shoot-and-slash with neat art and sound elements, bolstered by strong controls and RPG weapon upgrade elements. If you like shooting stuff, and more specifically, zombies, this is going to be your jam.

On iPhone 5, Apocalypse doesn't look any sharper and you don't really notice the extra screen real estate, as even the virtual controls aren't moved much. The iPad version is still the ultimate way to play, but this at least looks native on iPhone 5.

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'Lili' Update Addresses Controls, Stability, And More

Monday, October 8th, 2012

If commands, inputs, or even stability were a problem for you in Lili [$2.99], you might want to give the game a second look. Late last week, creator Bit Monster pushed out a key update that addresses all of the above -- and more. On top of some much-needed better swipe and tap detection and general stability fixes, the patch notes cite "sound improvements" and better enemy balancing as points addressed.

Lili might not be your cup of tea, so it might also be in your best interest to hit up a a review or two before you dive in. In our review, we praise its writing and world-building in addition to its action hook which, if you didn't know, has you plucking flowers from stampeding giants. Also, if you have an iPhone 5 and you're looking for a showpiece, this is definitely it. Check it out:

App Store Link: Liliâ„¢, $2.99 (Universal)

'God of Blades,' 'Whale Trail' And More Landscape Games Get iPhone 5 Updates

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Tons of games recently received updates for iPhone 5. In some cases, the taller screen support has made a huge difference, as it can give users a bigger play area to dip their fingers into. Sometimes, the support is not all that big of a deal. You gotta look case-by-case, and that's what exactly we've been doing. Hopefully it's helping you out.

This is yet another list of games with recently added support, but specifically the most notable landscape-oriented ones. Earlier today, we posted about portrait games, so take a look at that, too, if you're still shopping around for iPhone 5-specific titles.

Anyway, here's the list:


God of Blades

God of Blades, $2.99 - God of Blades is a brilliantly bizarre hack-and-slash game that tasks you, as a carrion king, with taking down a doom cult as worlds tumble into Void. An auto-run mechanic will keep you focused on the task at hand, which, in practice, boils down to cleaving tons of freakish thugs across some of the most surreal landscapes you've ever seen in a phone or tablet video game. It's not the greatest game mechanically, but that's not the point.

God of Blades on iPhone 5 doesn't feel much different, and mainly that's because most of the action takes place in the middle of the screen. However, the extra real estate is a nice addition for those of us that enjoy this game's visual oddities.

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'TheEndApp,' 'One Epic Knight,' And More Portrait Games Receive iPhone 5 Updates

Friday, October 5th, 2012

It's been a big last couple of days for iPhone 5 updates. Games of all kinds are now taking advantage of the taller screen. Some to great effect, some not so much. Since there's so many recently, we're going to do two round-ups this afternoon showing off these old games made new again via iPhone 5. This one focuses on portrait games. Our next round-up, which should hit later this afternoon, will focus on landscape games. Cool?

Awesome. Below, is a sampling of the best of the best portrait games that support the new phone's taller screen. You can click to enlarge the images.


Buster Spirits

Buster Spirits, $1.99 - Buster Spirits is one of those shoot-em-up games. You fly around in a little space ship that auto-fires and kill tons and tons of pixelated baddies as they creep down the screen, all the while avoiding patterns of return fire. As you play, you'll collect power-ups that bump up your damage as you seek higher and higher scores.

On iPhone 5, Buster Spirits' action feels a little easier to manage. For instance, you've got more room in the play area for your finger, which means less "oh god my appendage was covering that stray bullet or my rocket" scenarios. If only our high scores were reflected this.


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PSA: The TouchArcade App Now Also Updated to iPhone 5

Monday, October 1st, 2012

Over the weekend, our app got taller! The official TouchArcade app [Free] now supports iPhone 5 resolution courtesy its latest update. After you grab the aforementioned update from the App Store, you can browse our selection of curated content without letterboxes, which is a pretty cool deal if you've got Apple's newest handset.

We've also addressed a login bug for those of you with spaces in your screen names and we've fixed an article date issue. Say goodbye to incorrect dates.

If you don't have our app yet, definitely consider giving it a whirl. It'll connect you with our latest editorial, as well as point you in the direction of the latest and hottest in video games. We've got a few images above that show off the app's new look, if you want to see it before you download. It's so pretty!

App Store Link: TouchArcade - The Best New Games, Free (Universal)

Ten Games on iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S - Some Feel Better, Others Stay the Same

Monday, October 1st, 2012

We've been enjoying our iPhone 5 for a little more than a week now, and it feels like I appreciate it more with each new day. The bigger screen is fantastic, and now that I've had some time to grow used to it it feels almost like it was always that size. It just feels normal, now.

Anyway, the bigger screen is pretty nice for games too. Last week we took a comparative look at some games that have been updated for the iPhone 5 screen, with mixed results. The larger play area does make a slight difference in some games, and others it's basically just a wider view with no real benefits. Super Monsters Ate My Condo is one of the games that really feels built for the taller screen, too.

Here we check out another selection of titles that have been given the iPhone 5 update treatment, and it's pretty much the same story. Some games feel much better with a bigger view, and some feel basically the same. Either way, whether it makes a difference in the gameplay or not, I'm anxious to have all my old games updated just so I don't have to deal with the letterboxing effect anymore.

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'Modern Combat 4' Will Support iPhone 5, Also It'll Be a Paid App

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

So, we've been thinking about Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour since its "leak" and subsequent actual reveal. And we've go some new details. Most notably, it will support iPhone 5 and its taller screen at launch. Presumably, the extra real estate will make a difference in a control sense, as the added width will give the virtual buttons more breathing room.

But if you don't have The Big New Thing, don't worry. Gameloft tells us that Modern Combat 4 is also going to support other stuff. The game, which launches this fall, will be a Universal app. Also, it's going to carry a premium price tag.

As with most super anticipated release like this one, meaningful game details are going to come in chunks. Multiplayer, for example, has seen some enhancements, but Gameloft isn't quite ready to talk about what specifically is being tweaked.

That's all we've got for now outside of the new screens you're seeing above, but we'll keep you up to date as the marketing campaign continues to plug along and, hopefully, eventually get our hands on this thing.

'Super Monsters Ate My Condo' Rocks iPhone 5

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

Super Monsters Ate My Condo [Free] is out and available now. It's an iterative follow-up to the original game that drills down to the series' core, improves it, and gives the user more of its intense brand of Match Three Meets Jenga action. We'll have a lot more evaluative things to say about it in a future review, but for now we'd like to point something out: this is one of the first games that actually looks and feels different on iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5 version of Super MAMC features a zoomed-in tower. As opposed to stretching the game out, creator PikPok and Adult Swim chose to bring the game closer to the player. It took us awhile to come around to it, but in the end, it makes swiping a little bit easier, which should lead to higher scores and crazier multipliers.

Just take a look at the difference:

We quizzed Adult Swim's Chris Johnston about the zoomed-in tower and what it brings to the game. Spoiler: he's jacked about it.

"From a player’s perspective it’s great," Chris tells us. "Since we’re a vertically oriented puzzle game it means there’s more screen real estate on each condo to swipe, and less chance your finger will mis-swipe the wrong condo."

He adds that it's nice to not have to worry about this, as the game really cranks up the pressure with its two-minute time limits. He also adds that PikPok considered raising the height of the tower on iPhone 5 before settling with the zoom in.

"A couple different ideas were put forth like raising the height of the tower, but ultimately zooming in was the best player experience and didn’t unbalance the game in other ways," Chris says.

"I think this was the best choice. The monsters are also a little taller on screen and closer to the tower so everything just feels bigger."

Neat, right? By the way, all Adult Swim games in development now will take advantage of the iPhone 5 and its taller screen. Naturally.

"To me the exciting thing is getting little interface things like pause buttons or virtual controls out of the way," Chris tells us. "176 pixels doesn’t seem like a lot especially if you just think about it just as the edges -- but when you’re able to move some of those UI elements to the corners it gives you more screen space in the center for the game. All the titles we have in development now all support the larger display in that way and it makes a huge difference."

Adult Swim and its partners know what they're doing with this screen, so feel free to get stoked for what's next. Oh, and play Super MAMC. It's a really good game.

App Store Link: Super Monsters Ate My Condo!, Free (Universal)


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