rpg

Your mission: Stay alive

Alive 4-ever is a top-down, double-joystick, zombie-themed shooter with strong RPG elements and rich, gritty visuals and sound. The interface will be familiar to fans of other games with twin "virtual joysticks": you push one joystick to move and the other joystick to shoot, and you can tap touch-screen buttons to reload and swap between your one- and two-handed weapons. The display tracks your score, health, ammo, and time elapsed as you traverse dramatically lit, gore-filled levels, gunning down a variety of zombies--from your generic lumbering brain-eaters to speedy zombie dogs and "special" zombies that many … Read more

Two fun games go on sale: iPhone apps of the week

Everybody loves a bargain. With the iTunes App Store, it's getting to the point that apps go on sale almost every week. Of course, app sale prices can be either good or bad, depending on your perspective. If you bought that fancy game for $9.99 a few weeks ago only to find out it went on sale later for $1.99, you can't help but feel a bit cheated. But it also gives you the opportunity to swoop in and grab apps you wouldn't ordinarily buy.

This week's apps are both games and are both … Read more

E3 Game trailer: Alpha Protocol

There are always a number of ways to get out of sticky situations. In the action role-playing-game Alpha Protocol, you must decide the best course of action. From Sega, developed by Obsidian, Alpha Protocol is set to be released later this year for Xbox 360, PS3, and the PC.

Robot synthesizer and touch-screen hack and slash: iPhone apps of the week

I read about a new term today for iPhone application fans that hits a little too close to home. The term is "Appnoxious," and describes iPhone owners who are always whipping out their iPhone to show their friends, family, or coworkers their favorite new app. Ahem.

I apologize to everyone, but I believe I might be just that: Appnoxious. In my defense, it's my job to seek out and find new iPhone apps, so I'm hoping at least some of the people I know will give me a pass? Maybe I should just embrace it...

This … Read more

Reign of Swords Free

Reign of Swords Free is a limited version of Reign of Swords, a complex and challenging turn-based strategy game in which you engage in a wide variety of fantasy battles, from bloody fortress sieges to epic battles royal. Reign of Swords Free definitely takes some effort to learn--and much more to master--and arcade fans might be put off by the chunky graphics, relatively slow pace, and sometimes clumsy use of the touch screen. However, this game definitely offers deep gameplay and lots of satisfying options for fans of similar games (such as Advanced Wars on the DS). The free version … Read more

The 404 Bonus Yuletide Mini-sode: Where nerds read from Warhammer novels

"By the wispy beard of Bakalar, we vow to avenge the death and destruction caused by the Gray Goblins from the West. From the cliffs of Tanglandia to the windswept plains of Yutopia, we as paladins take the sacred oath to protect the kingdom of 404."

Expect nonsense like this in our BONUS mini-sode that will keep you laughing until 2009. Clipped from the post show of our most recent show with Libe Goad, we all whip out our nerdiest voices and read from a paperback fantasy novel set in the Warhammer universe. WARNING: Serious tabletop gamers might be offended.

BONUS Yuletide Mini-sode Download today's podcast … Read more

iPhone apps of the week

Before I get to this weeks apps, I found out about some bargain basement prices for a small selection of apps from Ambrosia Software. Aki Mahjong Mobile, Mondo Solitaire, and Mr. Sudoko are all on sale for 99-cents at the app store until November 30th (usually $9.99). If you have any interest in these games, now is the time to start downloading!

For this weeks apps, I'm including one free and one paid app.

The Weather Channel for iPhone and iPod touch offers a wealth of weather information beyond what you get from the free app that's … Read more

Aurora Feint II: The Arena

We were already big fans of Aurora Feint: The Beginning, but with the addition of online battles and even more features, The Arena has become one of our favorites on the iPhone. Like the earlier iteration of the game, the action is centered around moving blocks to match up groups of three or more. Excellent graphics and rich sounds enhance the action as you mine for various elements.

As you stockpile each type of block, you can enhance gameplay by buying items at the in-world store which effect gameplay. These items then get better as you purchase upgraded items. We … Read more

Square Enix releases role-playing game for iPod

Yes, you read it right. The new game called Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes is for the iPod, not the iPhone. In this role-playing game, you are the protagonist Ziggy who goes on a quest to save his brother from the evil Mechanical Militia. Along the way, warriors created from the songs in your iPod can be summoned to fight your battles.

According to Square Enix's press release, the game is controlled by the click wheel (what else is there, anyway?) and is said to be as easy as selecting music. It's slated for release today at the … Read more