Readers’ App Reviews – March 2013
Alright Readers, March is coming in with a lion! We’ve got a ton of great apps created by you! This month we’ve got: a pig hunting game to keep your finger guns hot, some awesome tools to help you stay productive, some very unique game mechanics, a todo list with attitude, and much more! By Ryan Poolos.
Tonkey Pro
Tonkey has dragged me out of the winter lull with its summertime music and coconut fun.
The mission is simple yet addicting, help Tonkey collect his coconuts and keep them from landing in the ocean below. But watch out for flies, fog, and toucans!
This game will have you ready to head to the tropics in no time, and while you count the days to your vacation it will keep you busy with GameCenter leaderboards.
- Author: Uri Ahufinger @TocTocProd
- Most useful tutorial: How To Use Animations and Sprite Sheets in Cocos2D
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Air Time! Jump Free Fall Timer for BMX Skate Snowboard and Ski
Getting big air is what I do! Well sorta ;p
Air Time! will help you measure you awesome jumps, tricks, and flips using your iPhone’s accelerometer and some realtime tracking. Not being a skater or snowboarder I took to the trampoline for some air time fun. ;]
Air Time! was great. Its got a pocket mode to block accidental touches while its in your pocket and some nice graphs to show what your accelerometer is recording. It also keeps track of your records automatically.
Throw in some sweet online or offline multiplayer functionality so you can challenge your friends and you’ve got one sweet, unique app.
- Author: Danny Anderson @a_r_studios
- Most useful tutorial: How To Make a Simple Multiplayer Game with Game Center Tutorial: Part 2/2
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Glassic
Glassic is a clean take on a class game. Simply slide the balls into 3 or more sets to earn points.
Extra balls or double sets make for some nice point boosts. Each level has a number of sets and a time limit. Advance through the levels while trying to get the highest score.
Nice graphics, cool sound effects, and GameCenter integration make this a no brainer.
- Author: Kirill Muzykov @kmuzykov
- Most useful tutorial: How To Debug Memory Leaks with XCode and Instruments Tutorial
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Rich Notes
Rich Notes is a simple note taking app for iPhone or iPad that obviously offers rich text editing.
iPad gains a useful extended keyboard with common commands and punctuation. iCloud keeps all your iOS devices in sync automatically. You can share plain or rich text files by email or send them directly to another app.
Rich Notes is powerful and dead simple to use, just tap and start typing. It supports iOS standard bold, italics, and underlining but it also offers its own interface for editing as well as adds in strikethrough, highlighting, background colors and more. Best of all there’s no markup to learn.
- Author: Dennis Vogel @DenVog
- Most useful tutorial: Introduction to In-App Purchases
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Rail Runner
Rail Runner is a hilarious game that pits you against the planet pluto as it threatens to destory your mothership and planet earth.
The game has a unique perspective in 3D that lets you rotate around a space rail, while driving between Pluto and the mothership blasting plutonians to earn sweet upgrades and fortifications.
The game generates a unique rail each game but it doesn’t matter, Pluto is out for blood.
“Do what it takes to put Pluto in his place!”
- Author: Jacob Hoffman @RailRunnerGame
- Most useful tutorial: Beginning OpenGL ES 2.0 with GLKit Part 1
- App Store Link: Check it out!
CARROT: The Todo List with a Personality
What if your todo list had an attitude when you didn’t finish all your tasks?
CARROT is that todo list! CARROT is a happy enough artificial being when things are moving along smoothly, but start slacking and CARROT will not be happy.
The app uses simple gestures to manage your todo list while CARROT keeps you on task with quips and taunts. Unlocks from simple badges to mini games offer a reward system for completing tasks and leveling up.
Don’t make CARROT angry, give her a try.
- Author: Brian Mueller @CARROT_app
- Most useful tutorial: Core Graphics 101: Arcs and Paths
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Honorable Mentions
Here are the apps that didn’t get reviewed. Remember it wasn’t a popularity contest or even a rating contest. Forum members got priority among other factors. Your apps were great and I’m sorry we didn’t have time to review them all!
AcoustiCards: Tailored songs, personalized musical greetings
Storyteller Deluxe – Story Creation Made Easy
Divine Grace – Archangel Affirmations and Messages by Tammi Rager
TaggTo – Picture Based Social Product Review
Where To Go From Here?
We’re off to a great start this year! Keep up the awesome work everyone. And if you’re reading this thinking, “I wish I could build a great app/game”. You’re in luck! Check out our free tutorials! What are you waiting for, I want to see your app or game next month!
If you’ve already used our tutorials in an awesome app or game, I want to know! Submit here!