Readers’ App Reviews – March 2012

Read about some great apps made by fellow readers!

Read about some great apps made by fellow readers!

Note from Ray: I frequently get emails from readers who have learned from tutorials on the site and have released their own apps on the App Store.

I thought it would be cool if we highlighted a few of these on the site! This way readers can get more exposure for their apps, and everyone can see what other fellow readers have created.

Fellow iOS dev Ryan Poolos (@EmperiorEric) has been kind enough to volunteer to be our official “Reader’s Apps Reviewer.” He’s checked out a bunch of recently released readers apps, and has shared a few words about them. Enjoy! :]

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.

Welcome to the first ever Reader’s Apps Reviews column on raywenderlich.com! We have a great variety of apps submitted by our readers – iPhone, iPad, and even Mac apps, ranging from games to utilities.

Keep reading to check out the apps. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with them all so I’m sure you will too!

Pink Powerful

This is a very cute app designed by a young girl named Sofia Grace, with the help of her mom and brother. The app has a very positive message, do at least one “Pink” thing everyday to help others. A Pink thing is something that improves you and those around you to brighten your day. The app has a song, video, and activity recommendations inside.

• Author: Sofia, Karen, and Alex Melnychuck
• Most useful tutorial: How to submit your app to Apple from no account to App Store: Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Space Boost

Its time to go into outer space! Space Boost is a fun game where you control a spaceship by tilting your device. You goal is to dodge and destroy asteroids while collecting stars. Stars can be used to upgrade your spaceship. This ones universal too so you can blast asteroids on your iPhone/iPod and iPad.

• Author: Anderson Ferminiano Rodrigues @andferminiano
• Most useful tutorial: How to create a simple Breakout game with Box2d and Cocos2d: Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out FREE!

Bird Blasting

Like a cross between Simon and Duck Hunt this game is very fun. Birds fly around the screen and its your job to tap them in the same order shown before each level. My favorite part is when they explode instantly when you touch them! This is another universal one too, so enjoy your Bird Blasting on the go or on the big screen.

• Author: Mike Traverso @traversoft
• Most useful tutorial: Learning Cocos2D (Book)
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Mission 452

Another space adventure game this time with lasers! In this side scrolling space shooter, you tilt to control your space craft while taping to shoot with automatic aim. The backgrounds feature awesome planet graphics. This is another universal game so don’t be afraid to pull out your iPad and check out the planets on the big screen. With GameCenter, Twitter, and even iCade support this game will keep you busy!

• Author: Josh Barrow @carbamide
• Most useful tutorial: How to Make a Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2d
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Fun Memory

A classic memory game favorite, with cute graphics and clean interface. This tile matching game will keep you busy with several skill levels and same device multiplayer. Its another universal game, and best of all this ones free!

• Author: Peter Kjaer @peterpixeleap
• Most useful tutorial: How to Create a Moke Whacking Game with Cocos2d: Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out FREE!

Dave vs Cave

Dave vs Cave is a fun arcade style adventure game. You’re Dave and you find yourself in a cave :] To get out you’ve got to dodge icicles, meteors, skulls and more while collecting power ups, coins, and stars. Take your coins to Barnie’s shop to buy things to help Dave get out of this wretched cave. This game has a ton of replay value and very cool graphics. Its universal, has 3 different difficulty levels, and you can choose between accelerometer controls or touch controls.

• Author: Dmitry @origame64
• Most useful tutorial: Introduction to In App Purchases
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Chicks Rock

This is cute game made to raise awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. You tilt your iPhone to help your chick dodge falling rocks as long as you can. With GameCenter integration you can see whose best between your friends.

And this is another universal app so be sure to try it out on your iPad. Best of all this ones free, so share it with friends and help raise Ovarian Cancer awareness.

• Author: Nick Grant @CHICKSROCKapp
• Most useful tutorial: How to make a Space Shooter iPhone Game
• App Store Link: Check it out FREE!

Space Sudoku

Classic Sudoku with beautiful parallax space backgrounds. Seriously the backgrounds on this game are awesome, just try tilting your iPhone on any page. Its got 6 levels of difficulty so everyone can find their comfort zone, auto checking support, and notes. The controls are intuitive too. Try out the free version and if you like it definitely worth buying the paid version.

• Author: Fakhir Shaheen
• Most useful tutorial: How to make a simple iPhone game with Cocos2d
• App Store Link: Check it out FREE! or Grab the Paid Version

Zombie Blitz

This is an awesome top down, zombie survival game. Its got simple joystick controls and plenty of zombies for shooting. There are weapons and modifier pickups as well as upgrades you can buy with Koins you collect from killing zombies. One of the coolest features I like is it has global stats for zombies killed and time played on their website. You can access it in the game by clicking global on the stats page. I even verified its live by refreshing their website while I played, very cool.

• Author: Jack Morris @jack_morris_
• Most useful tutorial: How to Write a Simple PHP/MySQL Web Service for an iOS App
• App Store Link: Check it out FREE!