Readers’ App Reviews – July 2012

Rain lasers down upon your enemies!

Rain lasers down upon your enemies!

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.

It’s that time again readers! You’ve sent me another awesome set of apps and I’ve run out of space on my iPhone and iPad again. :]

This month we’ve got a turn-based racing game, a cycling coach in your pocket, an app that turns your phone’s keypad into a game, Chinese made easy, music you can paint, and more!

The best part? These apps are created by you using tutorials found right here! So check out these great apps and games made by your fellow readers and maybe next month you’ll see your own. :]

Dash Race

Dash Race takes epic to a whole new level.

In what is perhaps the most suspenseful turn based game I’ve ever played, you race around difference tracks at the speed of… well I made it over 800!

Dash Race turns a simple graph paper and pencil classic into an awesome iPhone or iPad experience. It has tons of unique race tracks, massive stats after each race, and multiplayer support over game center, wifi and bluetooth. You can even save and share your tracks at the end of each match for epic bragging rights.

All I can say is download it now! But the story ends with me putting you in the wall!

• Author: Hans-Juergen Richstein @rombos_de
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2D
• App Store Link: Check it out!

CoachMyRide

CoachMyRide is a simple way to improve your cycling. The app is filled with training guides and and workouts from cycling coach Lionel Reynaud.

There are over 100 cycling workouts across 12 different experience levels to keep you in shape. And an entire documentation library within the app that covers everything from the science behind the numbers to what type of equipment you may need.

Dominique has done a great job building this beautiful utility. If you’re a cycler you should definitely check out this app.

• Author: Dominique Vial @domsware
• Most useful tutorial: My App Crashed – Now What? 1/2
• App Store Link: Check it out!

CrazyDudes

CrazyDudes is a hilarious game with awesome beats and unique hand drawn graphics.

You help a doctor who has his hands full with a bunch of CrazyDudes. These dudes are running around not paying attention to the giant gapping holes in the ground.

The doctor must be a really nice guy because he decides to be a human bridge for these dudes trying to walk over endless pits of doom. But there is only one of you so you’ll have to be quick on the draw. ;]

• Author: keith irwin @CrazyTalkInc
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2D
• App Store Link: Check it out!

DialMe!

DialMe! takes something we’re all very familiar with and turns it into a game. How fast are you with those thumbs?

It starts with a simple muscle memory test copying numbers as fast as you can. But it quickly turns into your worst nightmare of math for fun.

And as if that wasn’t enough you can play multiple over GameCenter and launch devastating button swaps and screen quakes against your opponents.

Warning: Regular telephone dialing will never be the same.

• Author: Dawid Pietrala @dialmegame
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make a Simple Multiplayer Game with Game Center Tutorial: Part 1/2
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Drop The Nut

Good ole gravity can only take this nut so far. Its up to us to get him and his keys into the crate so he can be shipped off.

If there’s one thing the iPhone has taught us, it’s that we can never get enough of awesome physics puzzlers.

Drop the Nut delivers with original challenges and and an awesome soundtrack. A must have for anyone looking for a fun physics game.

• Author: Roger Appeltofft
• Most useful tutorial: How To Use SpriteHelper and LevelHelper Tutorial
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Euro 2012 Shoot Out Quiz

Euro 2012 Shoot Out Quiz is a cool Soccer, or football to some of you, trivia game where right answers move you up the field.

You get three lifelines. 50/50 removes 2 wrong answers from the choices. HomeTeam swaps your current question for one about your favorite team. And FreeKick gives you an extra chance at a hard question.

Sadly even with the 3 lifelines I rarely made it past the second row. Needless to say I never got a goal. :[

• Author: Andy Chamberlain @ReRaiseDesign
• Most useful tutorial: UIView Animation Tutorial: Practical Recipes
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Mantis Presenter Pro

Mantis Presenter is a great app for conference room. It allows you to put together presentations from PDFs, keynotes, and even webpages. Then you can broadcast your presentation to other iPads over wifi and they can follow along.

Awesome features include unique security pin codes to make sure only those you invite can view the presentation and an automatic laser pointer on everyone’s iPad when you touch anywhere on your own. You can even import assets from email and dropbox while building your presentation.

• Author: Christian C. Berclaz @mantisco
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Storyboards in iOS 5 Part 2
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Fizzy Particles

Fizzy Particles is a simple game that I just couldn’t put down.

All you have to do is keep your blue ball away from the black balls by dragging it. There are two game modes, classic where the black balls bounce around randomly and free fall where the black balls fall the sky endlessly. The ultra simple gameplay mechanics make it perfect for quick sessions and one handed play.

I often wonder if I could do better just by not touching the blue ball at all. But alas I can’t look on helplessly as it’s stalked by the evil black balls!

• Author: Alvaro Garcia @Microwareapps
• Most useful tutorial: How To Create a Simple Breakout Game with Box2D and Cocos2D Tutorial: Part 2/2
• App Store Link: Check it out!