Battle for Wesnoth [99¢ / HD] is an open source turn-based strategy game originally released on the PC in 2003. Since then, both the iOS and PC versions of the game have seen substantial improvements as well as seemingly a constant supply of new content created by a massive community of Wesnoth fans that build characters, maps, individual battles, and all-out campaigns.
The PC version is available as a free download and can run on both Windows and Mac OSX. The iPhone version of the game was a little rough around the edges when we first reviewed it, it has improved substantially with each update. Also, each update has brought additional content to the game and currently there are 15 full campaigns which include nearly 200 scenarios. If turn based strategy games are your thing, Wesnoth will keep you busy for a long, long time.
If you’re lucky enough to own an iPad, I’d totally spring for the HD version of the game. Battle for Wesnoth makes great use of the bigger screen, and while playing it on the iPhone is still fun, the overall experience is much better on the iPad. For more information on Wesnoth, strategy discussion, and other tips, check out the absolutely massive thread in our forums.
Well I've been saying it for 2 years, Bring willy beamish to the iDevice and I'll buy it, $5, $10, whatever... After yesterday I got out spending $1 and couldn't be happier, Beamish runs perfectly and is awesome with a touchscreen!!! THANKS Chaoji!!! And also to you TA for giving us the heads up!!!
I believe!
Well written, intelligent article Eli and i agree with all of your points. It's a beautiful thing that we get to relive these old memories of dos games on new hardware like the ios devices. Shame that it got shut down so quickly , at least on the app store front.
I'm so glad I picked this up when I did. I knew it would be short lived! :D
I'm sure root access should be allowed unless Apple is afraid someone with f up their device. Other than that, yeeeeeaahh. many violations.
Some good thoughts.
But honestly, I'd rather buy a new iOS game than an emulated port of an old game that wasn't designed for the platform.
My money will go to iOS specific games, and/or recoded iOS adaptations (like ChuChu Rocket for example). Not emulations.
I agree, plus buying a new iOS game also supports the developers and so they will create more games
I WANT IT xP
Glad I grabbed it too yesterday, but I HATE Apple for this. Why should I have had to buy those old games again when I have my old discs sitting in my cupboard? Why shoudl Apple cripple a device I own?
Its crippled as advertised though, Apple makes no excuses for it they crippled it before you owned it, why not just get an Android phone and enjoy the free for all?
Apple’s level of control is a real problem for people with old DOS floppies lying around, along with the old PC hardware needed to read those disks (if they work) and get them onto an iPad. Those people may end up having to play those old DOS games on that PC instead, or paying 2.99 for an iPad remake. I agree, that is a problem (albeit a small one). So is everything else a given platform can’t do, when it’s something you wish it did. We’ve all experienced that kind of frustration.
But to help explain the “why”: Apple’s level of control also has real benefits. It’s not all bad, it’s bad AND good. The good, particularly when it comes to ease-of-use and security, tends to outweigh the bad by a long shot. (If not, then iOS is not the platform for you. But don’t give up: Apple is constantly evolving and improving their guidelines, and listening to customers and developers alike. They’re flexible and generally fair in the end. So what you wish iOS to be may one day happen!)
Also remember that the rules that apply in this case weren’t published by Apple just to pick on this one app—they existed (publicly) long before. They are there to address very real situations that ARE problems. They can’t predict every future app that might run into those rules. So they adapt their rules over time. The app-makers have to adapt, and so does Apple, and that’s how you achieve all the progress made by the App Store and its approval guidelines.
Waiting for a iOS port of SheepShaver (OS X classic mode) so I can try to setup my old Zoombinis game for the kids. Wish THAT was ported to iOS, too.
So many fun factors with this app. It adds to my collection of now unobtainable apps.
Running any dos childhood memory I had is awesome, and even the loading of the games into iDos is reliving the magic before plug and play games.
I do enjoy when old games are ported nicely to iPhone. But aside from gems like DOOM, they usually aren't better than their original trusty counterparts anyways.
There are some additional iOS issues for non-jailbroken devices. Emulators like DOSBOX take advantage of dynamic code generation (often known as a dynamic core) to improve performance. Unfortunately, security restrictions of the current iOS environment (for valid reason) prevent taking advantage of this very important feature. This will limit the types of applications and games that can be run.
You smart people and your computer-y ways are ruining our fun. Why do you have to know so much?
I'd most like to see this app run like the C64 emulator, but considering how few games you've been able to get for it, through no fault of your own, I'm sure they'd have a hell of a time getting rights for games that aren't 30 years-old.
does fallout work with this?
Someone answer the call of Jumpman on Commodore 64 - I NEED to play that again..
I've always, ALWAYS wanted to do a version of Jumpman and Jumpman Jr. Figuring out the control scheme is super key on iOS though, because that game depended on quick reflexes a lot. I'd love to do it though.
Your wish is my... oh hell, just click here:
http://www.classicdosgames....
In case you're wondering, Apogee doesn't really care what anyone does with it:
http://forums.3drealms.com/...
Well I'm glad others care at least. I had hoped Manomio would attach it to their app but not so. But you're right, Rick, having that joystick was essential for quick reflexes. Maybe once a good third-party controller for iphone/ipad gets approved..
V.Interesting! Though we spend an inordinate amount of time adapting and recreating retro titles like Karate Champ, Cobra Command and the soon to be released Road Blaster from scratch, I can think of plenty of examples where this solution would be a great way to get to relive the past. iDos seems like it could certainly lower the barriers to entry and im excited to see what awesome past classics might come down the pipe, but as ever the difference between a good game and a bad port is how much the individual developer cares about the user experience, respects the original creators vision and understands why a particular title has nostalgic appeal. Hastily emulated titles -because we can- minus any tlc or a passion for the original is never going to end well.
I really wish I would have bought this in time, but on the other hand these iOS emulators aren't really good for anything other than a few moments of novelty. The games that require buttons just don't play well at all. Even point and click games really need special control schemes to properly work on a touch screen (like the one used in Broken Sword and Beneath a Steel Sky).
I'd really rather have these emulators and classic game collections on a portable device that actually has some physical controls.
God i should have jumped on my ipad to buy iDOS. Now i'm afraid not to have any other occasions.
Yeaaaaaa.... keep talking all this smack about importance. This will all be forgotten once rovio anounces Angry Turkeys for thanksgiving
I really wish I had downloaded this.
I was thinking, the logical extension of this project is for someone to make a deal with GOG.com, get them to provide the content, directly from their online store to a 'tame' version of this app. It would make most people happy, and probably be approved, since only the approved in-app purchased GOG games would run on it. Win for Apple, win for GOG, win for gamers.
Yes, I'd rather have open access to play any game, but this seems like a solid compromise.
YES!!! YES! YES! Partnering with GOG would be awesome. No more hoping a game launches well with CrossOver. No more wondering why the Mac ports are still 400% more expensive than their GOG counterparts.
And aside note: Where in Hell is Activision with the Sierra catalog? iDos emulations offer the best quick solution, if Activision is shy to challenge LucasArts in the remake department.
Apple have become the new corporate bully I love to hate. Sure, when I bought my iPad I knew it would never realise its full potential (without jail-breaking) thanks to Apple, but that doesn't curb my resentment one bit. I've seen other users clumsily attempt to justify Apple's ridiculous paranoid grip on the market with everything from "my iPad is crippled because Apple are protecting me" to "if they unlocked it, it would be Y2K all over again!". Money and greed, is why iDos was banned. Apple products remind me of Derek Zoolander: Only one look and can't turn left. Or was it Simple Jack that reminded me? ;)
Yep, I'm sure Namco would have been perfectly fine with iDOS featuring pirated copies of its games.
You crack me up, little buddy.
So then what Namco SHOULD do is start selling the roms and older games specifically for emulation so that they can be bought legitimately. I know I would buy a few. I think all the game companies are really ignoring a HUGE market potential to rake in $$$ for games that have already been developed. They have nothing to lose because they are already available for free if you look. They can only make money not lose it. It would be trivial to sell them at this point.
The issue is not pirated software, which was certainly an issue in the case of iDos, the issue is Apple's reluctance to open up their products to allow a consumer to use a device they've purchased, however they like.
I thought that was clear, if you're having trouble keeping up, perhaps you should leave the comments and debate for the grown-ups, sport.
Don’t get your pretty long ears in a twist, Max.
In your original comment you refer to Apple only as a "corporate bully" with a "paranoid grip on the market". "Money and greed" is the only explanation you'll accept for why they pulled iDOS.
Now you acknowledge that the pirated Namco content is "certainly an issue" but, by some infernal cony logic, "the issue is not pirated software".
...I think I'll always have trouble keeping up with you, little buddy!
Battle Chess here I come. I was hoping for a port in the iTunes store but this is even better
Does anyone have any kind of tutorial links?
What about STAR CONTROL 2!!!
http://sc2.sourceforge.net/...
As far as I know the game is open source. I am amazed no one has ported it to iOS yet.
There is even a Mac OSX port! Porting it to iOS should be trivial.
I'd do it if I wasn't working 24/7 on Sketch Nation.
I don't think anyone was asleep.
No one sleeps *this* deep.
It's definitely a PR stunt by Apple aiming to demonstrate iOS' capabilities.
afterall, who wants to use iOS when you can run the cutting edge windows 95 instead
Windows 95 was cutting edge compared to System 7. Learn2historyoftechnology.
Well, to be fair Window 95 came out 4 years after System 7.
I bought a Mac in 1992. The choice was Windows 3.1 vs System 7.
Oh, and 95 doesn't run on DOS (not how you mean, anyway).
That Fallout screenshot makes my heart ache... I wonder if it is even possible to emulate it on iphone. On my computer I could only play it windowed, or stretched with black barriers given todays large monitors, so it would be awesome if someone could port it to work on I-devices.
man i always miss the good apps. laughs i was in the hospital. guess i will finally have to jailbreak my ipod instead of talking about it over and over. maybe today ill do so. i have so many old dos games. :)
chris.
Hey guys,
I missed this buy and I also missed the tethering app.
Where do you guys get info about cool apps before Apple remove them?
Dammmnit.. Really.. I mean REALLY gutted that I missed this..
Is there a way to be notified when the iDOS update goes live (if it EVER will) so I can make sure I grab it before it gets pulled again?
Will AppShopper notify me if I add it to my Wish List?
Also - Why was it only released in the US AppStore or am I mistaken?
Can someone provide a 'Download this controversial app NOW as it will definitely be pulled by Apple within hours!' -service?
Ok I launched ipad then I ran win 3.1 once in windows I used windows dos shell then I ran space quest 5 as you can see in the video I get near perfect performance
here is the video with out running windows dos shell
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Here is a video running windows dos shell
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Can someone post a tutorial on how to get 7th Guest running? I try to install and it says it needs MSCDEX.
Z:\>MOUNT D D:\ -t cdrom
MSCDEX installed.
Drive D is mounted as CDRom D:\
I hope this comes back. Minus the namco crap. I hope it isn't too restrictive. How cool would it to be to play all my floppy games of old. It would be an excuse to get them out of the storage...lol.
If they restrict the update too much...then I guess jail break here we come...lol.
Whoever wrote this article really needs to do their research a lot better. Below I will list the two key problems with this article.
1. This did not give root access to the file system. Root access would allow for you to read, WRITE, and EXECUTE to any section of the file system even outside the application's sandbox. iDos allowed you to mount root (/), but you were only allowed to read. All applications can browse the file system, but the point is you can't write and execute outside of your sandbox.
2. Digdug and Ms. Pacman for DOS are considered Abandonware. These products have been discontinued, and no product support. They can be found across the web for free. Yes, Namco/Atari still hold the copyright on these IP, but it's unheard for a company to go after abandonware.
The reason apple pulled this was because of the execution of third-party code. The person that approved it most likely thought it was a gag app and not the real deal. Will this ever be back on the app store? Simple, no. No matter what the developer does it will always be in violation of section 3, subsection 3, paragraph 2 of the iOS Developer Program License Agreement.
3.3.2 An Application may not download or install executable code. Interpreted code may only be used in an Application if all scripts, code and interpreters are packaged in the Application and not downloaded. The only exception to the foregoing is scripts and code downloaded and run by Apple's built-in WebKit framework.