Readers’ App Reviews – October 2012

This is a post by Reader’s Apps Reviewer Ryan Poolos, an iOS Developer and founder of Frozen Fire Studios. Checkout his latest game, Cyborg Livestock. Checkout his latest website, iHelp.

You guys have been very hard at work making a ton of awesome apps and games. We had over 60 submissions this month!

This month you guys made a ton of great apps, such as:

• Games about a dog dreaming of ice cream cones, and a cat diving for golden tuna
• A drawing app inspired by a tutorial on this site
• A Leprechaun standing up for his rights!

Keep reading to find out what your fellow readers have made this month! :]

I Want Ice Cream!

This extremely cute game features a puppy named Bouncer.

Bouncer was a naughty puppy and so he was confined to his kennel. Left to dream of his only joy, ice cream, he’s on a magical journey collecting ice cream cones! Mmm, tasty.

This fun game has 60 levels of high flying fun as you bounce your way across slim platforms in search of your sweet treat. Balloons, spikes, and more will spice up your adventures.

• Author: Johan K @atpcreative
• Most useful tutorial: Space Game Starter Kit
• App Store Link: Check it out!

KittyOfTheSea

Who says cats don’t like water?

If dogs dream of ice cream, cats dream of something else – the coveted golden tuna!

And this cat wants it so bad she’s willing to risk her fear of water to get it, scuba gear and all! :]

Its your job to help this kitty navigate the dangers of the deep while trying to stay with the current.

Don’t drag your feet, with limited oxygen your this scuba-kitten doesn’t have long before it has to hit the surface and lose the trail!

• Author: Lance Kimbrough @lancekimbrough
• Most useful tutorial: How To Create A Game Like Tiny Wings Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Draw Buddy

Draw buddy is a great app for kids with a simple, uncluttered interface and multistage undo.

I really like that there is a built in graph paper background along with white, black, and a cartoon scene.

The graph paper is a great addition allowing this app to be supremely useful for kids working on homework or just playing around with basic geometry.

This app stays focused on one awesome task, drawing on your iPad.

• Author: Matthew Norris @simengie
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple Drawing App with UIKit
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Lep’s World 2

There’s an evil wizard afoot and he’s taken a Leprechan’s gold! Leprechans will not stand for this oppression!

Help Lep battle his way through over 60 beautifully designing levels in this classic sidescroller. Hurl pine cones at your enemies while collecting coins.

This one already has iPhone 5 support in addition to GameCenter and cross platform (Mac, iPad, iPhone) Multiplayer. Definitely a top notch game.

• Author: Raimund Eissler @lepsworld2
• Most useful tutorial: Space Game Starter Kit
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Math Harvest

Math Harvest is a great way for kids to learn math on the iPad.

The app has a simple system where a child simply touches fruit and collects it in a basket to build the numbers shown on a chalkboard. It features bilingual auditory reinforcements and several levels of difficulty.

There are even three cute farm animals to help along the way!

• Author: Donald Rodriguez @DRGCostaRica
• Most useful tutorial: Audio 101 for iPhone Developers: File and Data Formats
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Mission Juggle

Mission Juggle is an awesome game where you juggle on your iPhone!

Don’t start tossing your expensive iPhone around yet – it’s not juggling the way you’re thinking! :]

Instead, colorful balls appear on the screen and you have to keep them in the air as long as you can. As you get going more and more balls will appear on the screen.

The more you keep in the air the more points you’ll earn. Special super balls will appear for bonus points!

• Author: Mohamed Waly
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2D
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Phage

Phage is a simple yet addicting strategy game.

Each player starts with 4 pieces, a circle, a square, a diamond, and a circle. Each piece is allowed to move in the direction of one of its vertices. So for example a circle can move in any direction while the square can only move diagonally.

Once a piece is moved, the tile it was sitting in is blocked. Whoever can leave their opponent with no legal moves first wins!

This is a game thats easy to pick up and play but there are surely some complicated strategies waiting to be discovered.

• Author: Stig Brautaset @phageapp
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Turn-Based Gaming with iOS 5 Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Robots Attack! HD

Who wants to control giant robots destroying the human race? I know I do, mwuhahaha!

This fast paced game lets you manage several robots using multitouch as you take over the world. Each robot has unique abilities and available upgrades. You better have fast fingers to keep up with all the robots you can spawn at one time.

Rampage your way across the city as the filthy humans throw everything they have at you in endless waves of destruction.

• Author: Sergey Bondar
• Most useful tutorial: How To Debug Memory Leaks with XCode and Instruments Tutorial
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Spectrum Run

Spectrum Run is a unique sidescroller that will take some reflexes.

Several different gestures allow you to control the running with different slides, jumps, and flips necessary to overcome obstacles. However, each obstacle will be color coded so you’ll have to change your spectrum inbetween obstacles and use the right gesture in time to clear the obstacle.

GameCenter integration rounds out this very addicting game. Challenge your friends to match your awesome reflexes.

• Author: Tobias Hagemann @MuscleRumble
• Most useful tutorial: How To Create and Optimize Sprite Sheets in Cocos2D with Texture Packer and Pixel Formats
• App Store Link: Check it out!