Hey BGGers with iPhones (or have friends with iPhones or just love reading about games for iPhones even though they don't have an iPhone), my second* iPhone game is out:
iTunes Description wrote:
**New Release Special!! For a Limited time, get SpinDice for the ridiculously low price of $.99!!!
Who doesn't love a wall of Dice! SpinDice puts a new spin on puzzle gaming and adds a bit of luck!
The object is to find Sets within the 5x5 wall of Dice. A Set is 3 or more dice that match (such as 4-4-4 or 2-2-2-2-2) or are in sequence (such as 2-3-4 or 6-5-4-3-2). Make a Set by simply sliding your finger along the row or column to highlight the set.
But wait, when the numbers don't add up, how do you make a Set? Spin baby, Spin. Simply Tap a Die to send it spinning around, its pips in a whirl. But don't just Spin one dice; Spin two, Spin three, Spin them all! You'll need to as the levels increase and time starts to dwindle.
You can chain Sets together. Highlight multiple sets back to back to back for bonus time and points. Go for the Hi Score!
SpinDice has two Game Play Modes each with 3 difficulty levels:
- Timed: Race against the clock. Every Set made gives you back time. Soon you will realize you have to spin, spin, spin to create enough sets to keep you going!
- Casual: Sit back. Relax. Take some time to think it over. In this mode, you have a limited number of Spins. Each Set pays off with more Spins.
So, get SpinDice today--it's SpinTastic*!
*Note: SpinDice's SpinTasticness has not been scientifically tested. In fact, SpinTastic is not actually a word. The marketing department made us say it.
Okay, out of my usual feelings of goodwill and solidarity I've purchased your game. I believe I played Bloxor about 3-4 times, which is more than I have used any app on my phone other than the Safari browser. I hope to get at least that much play out of SpinDice....
Edit: Okay, after one play I can tell you that I'd never play this with the sound on again. There are some really annoying clicks and pops during the spins. Other than that quibble, it seems enjoyable for a buck.
Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:12 pm (Total Number of Edits: 1)
I've found that sound is hard on the iPhone. Apple has provided an "example" sound library that you'd be crazy* not to use, but its functionality and performance is pretty underwhelming. I'm a little disappointed with the sound in my games, but then on the other hand I think it's most fun to just listen to your own mp3s while playing.
I hope you like the game itself better. It's fairly straight-forward, but it can be very fun and addicting in the way little puzzlers can be. And I like making all the dices spin and spin... ...
*It would take you as long to program you own sound engine from scratch as it would to create the rest of your app.
Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:26 pm (Total Number of Edits: 2)
I think the game is fun, and well worth a buck. I was especially enthused the first time I chained some sets. I might have gone as high as a buck and a half if you'd allowed the straights to score out of order.
Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:47 pm (Total Number of Edits: 1)
Two reasons for in order straights: 1) out of order straights almost make too many possible sets--you might have to bump minimum set length up to four. 2) the set validator for ordered straights is much easier to code.
Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:14 pm (Total Number of Edits: 2)
Sure, sure...a sort on 3-5 elements would take at least another, um, iPhone function call? (Just kidding, this is why I'm not interested in developing applications for the iPhone.)
Let's put it this way--you know that little beach ball thingie that comes up on your mac when it, uh, breaks?..... ...
So Mr. C, what would you think about a version where you could only get Sets made out of runs, including ordered and unordered, but you couldn't get the matching number kind of sets? I think the odds would be similar, but from my experience the average gamer "sees" the matching number sets much easier. So, it would be like a "skilled" setting--The odds would be the same, but it would be "harder" to find them.
Last edited Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:27 pm (Total Number of Edits: 2)
iTunes Description wrote:
Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:44 pm
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