Neon Surge has released an iPhone port of their open source, multi-platform 3D side scroller SolarQuest [App Store] through the iTunes App Store. Winner of uDevGames 2004 Mac Game Programming contest (Macintosh version), SolarQuest for the iPhone features multitouch controls and makes use of the iPhone’s vibration feature for in-game rumble effects.
At its core, SolarQuest is a simple title. It’s basically a graphically updated version of the classic 2D side scroller Snake / SFCave in which the player controls an object moving through an ever-scrolling corridor filled with obstacles, the only control being an upward thrust (yes, upward) which is either on or off. Thanks to gravity, the player weaves a sinusoidal path through the levels while dodging obstacles by applying well-timed thrusts.
To this equation, SolarQuest adds a 3D spacecraft, 3D obstacles, a parallax scrolling 2D/3D landscape, bonus pick-up items, and afterburner control for two rates of forward travel. In the iPhone version, the player controls thrust on/off with one thumb and afterburner on/off with another.
While SolarQuest is the most graphically impressive rendition of this formula I’ve seen, I must in all honesty say that despite all the bells and whistles, I actually find the simpler, graphically bland versions to be more entertaining. A very simple web version of the game gives you a taste of the gameplay.
Readers may also want to be aware that I encountered occasional graphical glitches in the game and a few unexpected quits. The developer seems to be working on these issues, however.
I will call $2.99 a fair price for this title when the glitches are ironed out, and I’m guessing that will be soon.
Game Details
Name: SolarQuest (v1.0)
Developer: Neon Surge
App Store Link: Buy
Price: $2.99
Size: 3.0MB
I have no need for a dice app, but that is awesome! Well done!
Again I sadly have no need for the app (though I might buy it for the heck of it) but I love the 3d effect on the dice at the end of the video. Thats a lovely touch, that while has no tangible benefit just shows love for the app.
Good if you're playing a board game and lose the dice.
BRILLIANT. i'm buying this in part because he's made nearly the perfect dice roller app.
As a dice app, it's fine. The real killer bit here is the 3d effect. That's unique and extremely impressive.
really nice. really, really nice. i was hoping that he'd taken it to a crazy level and included non-standard die shapes. like a d2 or a d100, but for shapes it doesn't have included (that really aren't going to come up much at all) it cleverly uses a d20 with ?s on all the faces and does the "rolling" behind the scenes. hopefully enough people will plop down 99¢ that the developer will be rewarded for this very well thought-out app. 3rd app i've paid money for.
Now that I'm sucked back into the text games from Frotz, I'm ready for D&D! I'll have my dice in hand.
Does it allow for different colored dice? Remember when you had to color the numbers with crayons?
I downloaded it. It's nice, though I don't think it's as polished as it could be. Considering the beauty of dice in other programs (Motion X), I'd like to see better graphics brought into this program. The shaking is extra responsive which breaks from reality though it makes it easier on your wrist. The 3d effect is nice, but I think it could be improved (the angles feel a little off). I got it less for its usefulness and more for cool factor. I hope the author will update it with improvements!
@LorenK The developer has posted comments about what's coming in this discussion thread. I'll just quote the relevant part here:
"* Definitely plan to have more dice colors and backgrounds! Hopefully, I can make use of the camera for some of that."
This is what I have been waiting for. I'm going to buy it tonight. I hope in the future you can pick out different clored die and put them into a dice bag. I alway like an orange 20 sider and a one purple and one green 10 sider.
@danny, Or you could get a felt pouch for your iPhone. I can see it now. Everyone busts out their bags and dumps out their dice. You pull out your felt case and slide out your iPhone. Plus you can play with your koi pond.
@arn, no points unless I get to color the numbers. :-)
SWEET!!! Very nicely done!
Sold! Absolutely amazing!
Sweet! This is going to be perfect for Dragoncon next weekend. I'd been looking into buying new dice for it, but now I'll have my dice in my pocket along with my iTouch. Excellent. :D
I'm the developer of a similar iPhone/iPod Touch application called dynamicDICE. It is a true 3d dice simulator, not a calculator or random number generator. It supports 5 independent tables, 20 backgrounds, 20 dice styles, all RPG dice types, 3d physics engine, full 3d view, and multi-language support. I hope you enjoy.