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Digital Gaming => Mobile Gaming => Topic started by: son_of_montfort on January 28, 2012, 11:47:30 PM

Title: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on January 28, 2012, 11:47:30 PM
Alright, my new love is the iPad 2 that I got for Christmas from my loving family! I've had the iPhone for quite some time, but the iPad opens up so much more real estate! That real estate has been capitalized by some developers to port some of the finest board games to this mobile platform!

Some of my favorites, currently installed are:

Puerto Rico (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3076/puerto-rico)

Carcassonne (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne)

Ghost Stories (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37046/ghost-stories)

Small World (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40692/small-world)

The board game port of the relatively heavy Euro game Caylus (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18602/caylus) was also recently released. It seems a fairly faithful rendition, the AI is fairly challenging, and the graphics are amazing! The game itself is fairly complex and has quite the learning curve (and is not particularly well-taught by the app) but once you get over that, the Caylus app is well worth the money!

Keep watching this thread for news about future board game ports to the iOS and other mobile devices!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Bismarck on January 30, 2012, 02:35:04 PM
I have Carcassone but don't quite get it!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on January 31, 2012, 12:03:53 AM
Quote from: Bismarck on January 30, 2012, 02:35:04 PM
I have Carcassone but don't quite get it!

It is a simplistic tile placement game. What you are basically trying to do is to create a "landscape" using the tiles you draw. For example, you add parts to cities and then put a man into a city and score 2 points for every piece of that city once it is entirely closed off. With roads, you get 1 point for every road tile connected to the one your man is on once the road is "closed" by hitting another item or a crossroads. I was sure there was a tutorial... but maybe not?

There is some more nuance to the game because you can "steal" points by having more men than your opponent within a given item. Normally you can't place a man in a part of an item (road, city, field) that is connected to another man (yours or your opponents). But with careful placement, you can weasel into connecting an open piece with a a city/road/etc. already in progress.

It isn't too hard to learn, but you really need to know the key parts of the game.

Total side note, the iPad/iPhone version of Ticket to Ride is fantastic - great to play with spouses, friends, or kids!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: spelk on January 31, 2012, 03:17:52 AM
I really like the iPad implementation of Forbidden Island

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/forbidden-island/id427419772?mt=8 (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/forbidden-island/id427419772?mt=8)

It's a devilshly clever mechanic of a board that represents a sinking island, and the punishing water swells are constantly changing your options for survival and attaining the tomb raider artifact/treasure seeking goals.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65244/forbidden-island (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65244/forbidden-island)
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on January 31, 2012, 11:39:36 AM
Quote from: spelk on January 31, 2012, 03:17:52 AM
I really like the iPad implementation of Forbidden Island

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/forbidden-island/id427419772?mt=8 (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/forbidden-island/id427419772?mt=8)

It's a devilshly clever mechanic of a board that represents a sinking island, and the punishing water swells are constantly changing your options for survival and attaining the tomb raider artifact/treasure seeking goals.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65244/forbidden-island (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65244/forbidden-island)

Forgot to mention that one! It is really excellent! Although it is a pity it stops me from pulling out my physical copy, which has nice components.
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: W8taminute on February 01, 2012, 01:02:35 PM
Heheh.  I have a few Apple favorites but I won't talk about them here given my less than enthusiastic reception for my thread over at the 'other' site.   ;)
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on February 01, 2012, 02:04:33 PM
Quote from: W8taminute on February 01, 2012, 01:02:35 PM
Heheh.  I have a few Apple favorites but I won't talk about them here given my less than enthusiastic reception for my thread over at the 'other' site.   ;)

I wouldn't feel this way here - go ahead!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: LongBlade on February 03, 2012, 12:30:02 PM
Don't Run with a Plasma Sword has just been released and is free for a limited time: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dont-run-with-a-plasma-sword/id479907900?mt=8
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on February 04, 2012, 06:48:12 PM
Thanks LB! DLing now!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Keunert on February 08, 2012, 05:54:43 AM
Neuroshima Hex - great
Army of Frogs -ok
Ticket to Ride -ok
Samschtig Jass -great
Smart Go Pro -too smart for me
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: son_of_montfort on February 08, 2012, 12:18:35 PM
Quote from: Keunert on February 08, 2012, 05:54:43 AM
Neuroshima Hex - great
Army of Frogs -ok
Ticket to Ride -ok
Samchtig Jass -great
Smart Go Pro -to smart for me

I would like Ticket to Ride better if they didn't force me to pay another $7 to get the iPad version when I already own the iPhone version.  :-\

Also, there is another expansion for Neuroshima Hex incoming soon.

Good to see you Keunert!
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Bayonet_Chris on February 16, 2012, 01:44:06 PM
I have a few games I have fun with on my iPad2:

Ticket to Ride
Settlers of Catan
Crimson Steam Pirates (turn-based steampunky ship battles)
Kingdom Rush (fun fantasy tower-defense game)

Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: LongBlade on February 21, 2012, 12:11:32 PM
I just got a press release about a World of Tanks app being released.

Anyone checked it out yet?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/about-wot/id496540328?mt=8
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: 0kult13 on February 27, 2012, 02:50:24 PM
Been playing Carcassonne for the last few days (android version), did not think i would like it much due to the lack of war but im finding it really quite addictive. 
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: spelk on May 07, 2012, 02:59:29 PM
Yggdrasil was released yesterday.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id518377217?mt=8
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: MarkShot on May 11, 2012, 11:49:11 PM
Shredder
tChessPro
Stockfish

All chess apps.
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: MarkShot on May 12, 2012, 05:13:02 PM
I was thinking about GO, but then my chess is pretty poor ... And it is supposed to be an easier game.

:(

Quote
[Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Date "2012.05.12"]
[Round ""]
[White "Mark Kratzer"]
[Black "tChess (958)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. Bb5 e5 5. Nd5 Be7 6. Nf3 Be6 7. O-O Bxd5 8. exd5 Qb6 9. c4 a6 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qa4 Rc8 12. d3 Nf6 13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rab1 cxd5 15. b4 dxc4 16. bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxa6 c3 18. Rfc1 c2 19. Rb2 d5 20. Rbxc2 Qb4 21. Rxc8 Qg4 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. Rc8 Nd7 24. Qa8 d4 25. Be7 e4 26. Rxf8+ Nxf8 27. Qxf8# 1-0
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: bob48 on May 12, 2012, 05:37:38 PM
I remember reading somewhere that no one has been able to write a 'Go' program for anything bigger than a 1/4 board, as there are just too many permutations, and even a 'super-computer' would not be able to handle it.

Having been a Go player for a lot of years, I can appreciate that is possibly true.
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: MarkShot on May 12, 2012, 06:48:46 PM
Yep, computer chess is a fait accompli.

But the same brute force search/rating/transposition programming hasn't got a chance with GO.
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Mr. Bigglesworth on May 13, 2012, 02:48:15 AM
I like the way large sections of the board can rage back and forth in Go.
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Rogo727 on May 24, 2012, 10:01:41 PM
Games I have and play....
Starwars trench run. 10/10. Hey I love starwars
Tank battle. 7/10...to few scenarios
Lux dlx 2. Best risk game for iPad 10/10
Battle academy. 8/10
CM Torch. 8/10
Bards tale 9/10
World conquer 8/10
World conquer 1945. 8/10
European war. 7/10
European war 2. 8/10
European war 3. 9/10
Ravenmarck 9/10

Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Rogo727 on May 24, 2012, 10:06:58 PM
More...
World in war. a&a. Style game. 8/10
Real racing. 8/10
Galaga remix.  12/10
Final fantasy 1,2,3. 10/10
Starwars both 9/10
Hawkeyes sport network 10/10
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: Ulfang on July 01, 2012, 08:47:36 AM
I would add:-

Caylus (set in France 1289)
New World Colony (Catan style game)
Joan of Arc (what it says on the tin)
Genesia (from the Amiga games - called Ultimate Domain in the U.S)
Elder Sign (lovecraftian)
Title: Re: The Giant iOS Board Game Thread!
Post by: W8taminute on August 30, 2012, 01:52:51 PM
Ok time to make this thread a giant so since there hasn't been any contributions in a while let me resume with this little gem:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/217060/

Total War Battles: Shogun.  From Creative Assembly/Sega.  I just downloaded the demo for my iPhone and it looks like a great game to cart around with you.  Instead of playing a campaign on a strategic map then moving into real time battles on another screen, this game is played through a series of what I would call Combat Mission meets Civilization meets Age of Empires battlefields.  I think I just might pick this up as the price point seems right at 4.99 for the mobile app and 7.99 for PC and Mac.


Here is a screenshot of what strategy games I'm playing on my iPhone today.