iGame Radio

Via InsideMacGames, iConquer 3.0 has been released. If you like Risk-style games, this would be a good game to look up. The goal of the game is to take over every country on the map by eliminating all your opponents. The game is multiplayer, against the game’s AI other players. There are dozens of maps to choose from (including the solar system), or you can make your own.

This update includes the following features:

• improved compatibility with Snow Leopard
• better network stability
• updated interface
• 64-bit optimized and requires Leopard

iConquer is available for $25 for download

The last little warmth of summer has been lost to us in September. So, for me (born and raised in the lovely heat of Florida), October is truly a sad month. Spiderweb Software has a wonderful way for me to celebrate that sadness in their Annual October Sadness Sale. Everything 10% off!

So, for the entire month of October, Spiderweb Software is having its Sadness Sale! Everything we sell is 10% off. A host of fine Indie
fantasy role-playing games, for both Windows and Macintosh! The award-winning Avernum series. The just-released Geneforge saga, all on
one disc. And remember, all of our games can be ordered on CD. It’s a great chance to get a jump on the tiresome holiday shopping.

All of Spiderweb’s games have large demos that take a good while to get through, so you know whether you want the game by the time you have finished it. Check it out.

Virtual Programming announced the release of X3: Terran Conflict, the final chapter in the X Universe series, last week. This standalone game is more expansive than previous games in the series, with more open-ended storylines. Players can undertake dangerous missions, become economic powerhouses, and engage in conflicts ranging from dogfights between small spacecraft to massive battles involving fleets of ships.

X3: Terran Conflict continues the story of the X universe. The humans have made contact again with Earth, but a much different Earth from what they remember. Humans, aliens, and robots all vie for power as you try to discover the secrets to the Xenon’s odd behavior. The game is a persistent world, continuing after the main storyline ends for continuous play. Trade for resources, accumulate wealth, upgrade your ships…follow the story or plot your own path.

The game only runs on an Intel Mac:

• Mac OS X: 10.5.7 or higher
• Intel CPU, 2.16 GHz or faster
• 1 GB RAM
• GeForce 8600, Radeon X1600 or newer 256MB
• 7GB Hard Disk space

You can pick it up at the Virtual Programming digital download site Deliver2Mac for $39.95.

 

What’s inside this episode:

• An interview with Chris Hazard of Hazardous Software about the meta time-traveling game, Achron. We dive in-depth into this unique game and why your head might explode while playing it.



• Also, a review of Word Ace for the iPhone by Self Aware Games. Take Texas Hold-em, mix liberally with Scrabble, and throw in some freedom.

Via Macworld Magazine, the news is that Rock Band for the iPhone will be hitting the App Store. Including hits from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motorhead, The Pixies, Rise Against, and the Smashing Pumpkins, the game will feature a multiplayer experience by providing access to gameplay for two to four players. You can make that connection via Bluetooth, or sync through Facebook. In-game chat will be enabled to check on your band’s status. Rock Band is using iPhone’s push notification for making invitations.

You can choose to play as a drummer, guitarist, bassist, or vocalist at any one of three difficulty levels. I’m still trying to figure out how you’d be playing drums on an iPhone, though. Or even guitar. Imagine trying to hold that thing.

Tale of Tales announced last week the release of their vignette Fatale, a 3D interactive piece inspired by the biblical princess Salome as envisioned by the Oscar Wilde stage play. A non-traditional game, Fatale is meant to be experienced, rather than conquered. The game is available for $7 at Tale of Tales website.

Thought I’d hit you up with a few iPhone games that have come across my desk and look interesting.

Way of the Samurai 3 is an open world adventure/RPG game where you can choose the kind of Samurai character you want to be, whether honorable or villainous. The screens (which I can’t save to show here, curse them using Adobe Flash for affect) look fantastic. The site is slow as molasses, so be prepared to spend a while trying to see everything. Or you can just download the game.

Gourmania merges restaurant simulation and hidden object game for a tasty combo. Well, so the press release said. And the cookies that came with the media kit (yes, the cookies were yummy). We’ll see how tempting the game is, but the screens look interesting.

Finger Physics takes the concept of Crayon Physics one step further. The objects are already drawn, but you have to move them in order to solve the puzzles, and they are constantly falling (or in some cases rising) due to the effects of the physical environment around them (gravity or buoyancy). Looks quite interesting and fun to play, especially from the video (I’m so glad that iPhone developers are using videos to pimp their games!)

If you didn’t know any better, those would all be great titles for games. But only one is…Strange Adventures in Infinite Space, which has been released for free with no strings attached. Yes, free games! You can’t get much better than that.

Developer Digital Eel has chosen to release this great game for Mac OS X and OS 9 (wait, does anyone still use that?). In addition to downloading the free game, you have access to screen shots, wallpapers, mods with mod information, and even the source code. So, don’t wait, get out now and explore Sector Prime and the Purple Void today…for free!

 

What’s inside this episode:

• An interview with Vikas Gupta of Transgaming Technologies about the recently announced GameTree.tv…what is it, and what it will do for you.
• And, a review of the Natsume Harvest Moon Frantic Farming for the iPhone game. Hippy J-Pop, anime graphics, and tactical puzzle play make this game worth trying out.



• Also, a review of LEGO Batman the Videogame by Feral Interactive. The next in the LEGO franchise, LEGO Batman lets the player jump into the suit of the dynamic duo and the villains all within the confines of the familiar LEGO gameplay.



• Plus, a review of Dr. Lynch: Grave Secrets, the casual hidden object game of investigating the paranormal brought to the Mac by Red Marble Games. If you get over the acerbic personality of the main character, you get a rich story, extensive puzzles, and beautiful graphics.

ETA: You know what’s the worst thing about your kids having lice? When they give it to you.

I had most everything set up, my game reviews ready, interview recorded and ready to be edited. All I needed to do was record stuff and edit the interview. So, you know that meant I wasn’t going to be able to post my show today.

I get this call this morning shortly after my youngest is dropped off at school. “Come pick your kid up, she won the lice lottery.” Yeah, thanks universe. Appreciate that.

I’m taking a brief break from looking through the first half of her hair, and will need to get back to the second half soon. Then there’s bedsheets and other items to wash, non-washables to spray, everyone else’s hair to go through…so, of course, no podcast today.

Maybe I should start a lottery or something…pick the week when Omaha posts her podcast on time, and you win the jackpot! Hmm, ya think?