Iphone App Ripoffs Show 2-bit Developers aren’t Even Trying
Now before we dive into this, I just want to set the record straight that I really enjoy mobile gaming. I firmly believe that it has a place in today’s gaming climate, and even more so, will help shape the integration of gaming into everyday life.
Now that that is out of the way I would like to take a moment to shine a little light on those gaming atrocities that tend to be the first bit of ammo in any discussion devaluing mobile gaming as a whole. Despite Apple’s rigorous app certification process , many titles still find there way through the cracks that are more on the dishonest end. Whether it be trickery about the app’s actual function, blatant stealing of existing game assets, or just an all around poor appearance, these games come out in droves just hoping to lure some sucker in ( or thousands in many cases).
Today I would like to look at just a few of the different types of ripoff genres and some choice titles therein.
How Well Can Penny-Arcade Sell Out?
This is something myself and Brian have both been keeping an eye on since the Penny-Arcade community is not only huge.. but yet how hard PA made fun of Kickstarter… and how bad they were going to sell out.
Physical Facebook Notifier: Face Palm Times 100
Kickstarter can be such a magical place. A place where once impossible dreams can now become reality thanks to the efforts of people from around the world combining into a symphony of unity in pursuit of a common goal. The sometimes Kickstarter is a place for the most face palming of endevours: Physical Facebook Notifier.
Google Maps Takes an Ascii Trip
Imagine if the world of Google Maps collided with the world of the Matrix and you would get Ascii Street View: a real-time Ascii Art conversion of Google Street View panorama’s done in WebGL. It’s truly amazing to see this little bit of ingenuity in action. Looking around my neighborhood in full color Ascii code is a trip.
Airtime: An Experiment in Shared Experiences
You remember Chatroulette right? As the name implied it connected strangers from around the world together for webcam-based conversations. And with randomness came depravity and mental images I’ll never be able to scrub out of my brain.
Now what if you could actually chat with people who had your same interests, beliefs, likes, and ideas? A way to narrow down the randomness. What if you could also connect to people locally? Those in your town you might never meet but have common ground? A new Facebook app Airtime aims to do just that.
Map of the Dead – Prepare for the Apocalypse
Do you ever get that feeling that the zombie apocalypse is right around the corner? Well if so, here is your ticket to lasting out more than your neighbors. Map of the Dead helps you chart out your escape route or find items to help fortify your bunker. This web app highlights key locations to assist you in surviving should the living dead coming knocking at your doorstep such as gun store, gas stations, and grocery stores in your immediate area.
If we have learned anything from the plethora of zombie films and games (and let me tell you, there are a ton) it’s that you need to get access to supplies fast and unless you already have these materials with you Map of the Dead makes it quick and easy to gain the supplies you are lacking. Be sure to hover over the map key for some clever and useful information about the places you might visit. This will be accompanied by the game “Mutiplayer Zombies” of which I don’t have much information on yet, more on that later once it is released! Special thanks to my friend Garrick E. for the pro-tip.
Are you prepared?
