Full disclosure - I am the developer of this app. Grab It is a half app, half magazine portal for discussing and showcasing in detail indie iPad games. It's coverage you play like a game. I've got a history in print and website publications, having, over the past 17-years, worked on titles like Game Informer, GamePro and Official PlayStation Mag, and contributed to the likes of IGN, Gamespot and even, a long time ago, N64 Gamer. I've now turned my attention to tablets and I'm hoping to innovate on what a digital magazine can be and how we can cover gaming on touchscreens. Grab It is unlike anything else on the App Store - here is some footage of it in action. Feel free to reach out and connect on @grabitmagazine - especially if you have a game you'd like to showcase. We've got four episodes out so far, each offering hours of entertainment and insight. Episode 1 is FREE, so you can see what we're all about at no cost - it includes a Making Of feature on République. Our previous episode included an exclusive making of for Monument Valley, which has since been a huge success. I'd love you to check out Episode 4 here. It costs $2 and includes: * Last Inua World Exclusive Making Of Feature * A column on getting into the industry by Rodeo Games' founder Ben Murch * Interviews with Disruptor Beam, Kamibox, Glowforth, Treefortress Games and Artifex Mundi * Insights on indie soundtracks from composer Nathaniel Chambers * 10 Reviews * Top 10 Musically-Driven Games * Previews, trailers, soundtracks, opinions, news + more Thanks for your time!
There is actually an update to the trial issue in for Apple approval at the moment, which tightens up a few bits and pieces we have evolved since. It doesn't change any of the content though.
After downloading the free trial I immediately bought the Monument Valley issue which offers an in-depth look at the creation of the game. GrabIt is unlike any digital mag on the market. In terms of presentation, I've always enjoyed the formats of The Loop, Businessweek and Mental Floss. The magazine's presentation is definitely cutting edge with an innovative user interface. I was a bit hesitant to plunk down my shekels for articles that I could probably pull online, but there is available hours of content that an iOS gamer can really sink their teeth into. This is one of the best digital mags out there with an approachable price point making use of the best tools this platform has to offer for digital media. I'll definitely be buying more from this title.
I checked it out too. Downloaded the free issues, and bought #4. Very nice indeed. 1.99 is a nice price point. One of the issues is 3.99 kind of high price. Are the rest of the issues going to be 1.99, or will that depend on content ? I hope it sticks around. Other mags like igamer didn't stick around too long.
Wow, thanks for the kind words. You've made my day! We're still experimenting a little bit with the right size, shape and price. The $3.99 episode was our first paid episode after the free trial. The initial plan was to do this massive app which would just blow people away with the amount of content within - that's why it is also a 700MB d/l. However, after getting some feedback, looking at its performance and learning more about the way people read on their tablets, I thought doing something on a smaller scale, at a smaller price, but out more regularly would work better. Plus, I could do it while keeping the rich media design intact. The way we have done the design, with embedded video backgrounds, soundtracks playing behind articles and stuff like that, carries with it a large MB cost. I didn't want to Stream anything, because that takes the quality of the experience out of your hands and also means you have to be online to enjoy it in full. So the plan is to stick with $1.99 and around a 250MB download max, and then build to a point where I can implement a subscription system that will make it cheaper again. I thought about dropping that $3.99 episode to $1.99, but I'm worried it may set the wrong expectation bar for size vs. price. Thanks again for checking it out. I'm hopeful we'll start getting some good reviews on the App Store and some word of mouth via social feeds and build into something very cool.
Update to Episode 1 Hi Everyone, A quick note to let you know that Episode 1 has just received an update with some additional links and design tweaks to adjust to the recent release of République Metamorphosis. Episode 1 is our free sample episode, which includes a world exclusive making of feature on République. You can grab it here. Enjoy.
Well, here are some more kind words. This magazine is awesome. Really awesome. Download the free copy. Here is a page from the paid version.
Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection Hi Game Lovers, Today we're announcing a brand new type of Grab It experience for you to enjoy on the App Store: a collectors edition that takes our goal of creating a video games digital magazine that actually feels like you are playing a game when you read it, to the next level. We have worked with BeautiFun Games, creators of the classic philosophical puzzle platformer Nihilumbra, to create an in-depth making of app focused on the studios game. Youll not only interact with the app just like it is Nihilumbra, but experience the soundtrack, watch gameplay footage, enjoy behind-the-scenes assets and experience exclusive insights into what an indie developer goes through in creating a game. Across nine chapters we detail the good, the bad and the ugly of its development, then celebrate the big successes, of one of the great iOS indie games. You can buy Grab It Presents Nihiliumbra Classics Collection for your iPad right now for just $2. Just head here Were hoping this can be the first of many showcase pieces like this, and if you like what you see, wed be ecstatic is you could lend us a hand. If you can review the app on the App Store, that would be amazing, and if you can pass on the above link and a note about the app to your friends and social networks, that would make a huge difference. This app was built by two people in our home were an indie too - and we need your support to be able to continue showing off the very best indie iPad games to the world.
Thanks Chris. I bought this last night and am looking forward to reading it. This is one of favorite iOS gaming reads. I appreciate the deeper dive into an older but really good, independent game. Great stuff.
Thank you so much for checking it out - I hope you enjoy the insights into the game development. I really love how ever indie game has a real personal story behind it, which is something we try to bring to light in Grab It. Fingers-crossed these type of reads find an audience as I would love to do more.
How to Get Episode 4 For Free Hi Gamers - I have a bit of comp going to get a free episode, you'll need to be quick though as its first in best dressed. It's to celebrate the release of this video review by fellow TA member Jane Jones. Basically, the first five people that sign up for our newsletter get a copy. You can sign up here.
Three Codes Hi Guys, I have three codes for episode 4 of Grab It that are due to expire tomorrow. First in best dressed, my only request is that if you like the app, you post about it here/twitter/facebook.... somewhere.... XNJHTF99YFNT 333HPNLAPAWK 6TYHWYXT67RK Enjoy.
Episode 5 Cover Star Announced Hi Everyone, Just a quick note to let you know that we have just revealed our next cover star, for the episode due out later this week. It is World of Tanks Blitz, and we have a big making of feature with Wargaming alongside a further two features, 15 showcased games, 9 exclusive interviews and more. Here are the details. Enjoy.
Hi Mate - when I click it goes through to the article ok so not sure how to fix it. Here it is in raw form http://www.grabitmagazine.com/blog/post/grab-it-episode-5-cover-star-announced/ Sorry about that.
Quality stuff! Interesting to read and very pleasing to the eye. Loved all the episodes so far. The only downside I can see is the big file size that forces me to delete the older ones, but it's not a big deal
Thanks for the kind words! We've trying to find ways of optimising the size without killing the rich video backgrounds. We're talking about doing an online version - so it streams - but I think it will take away from the user experience. Thanks for your support!
