iGame Radio

Freeverse announced the release of Top Gun 2, the sequel to the popular iPhone game based on the movie. Help contain the threat of encroaching Communists as you aid the USS Enterprise in ridding enemy waters of hostile forces.

Is it wrong of me that I can’t think of this game, or the movie, without thinking of Hot Shots?

The game features more missions, including Search & Rescue, where you rescue a pilot behind enemy lines; Clear the Way, where you destroy an enemy airfield for a recon mission; and Make the Skies Safe Again, where you chase and destroy an enemy ICBM before it reaches the US.

Top Gun 2 also lets you choose from the F-18 Hornet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F-14 Tomcat, each with upgradeable weapons systems and 2 offensive and defensive capabilities. The arcade action includes dynamically design levels and an enhanced AI that throws multiple attack patterns and evasive maneuvers at you.

There are 7 maps to play in, including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. And Freeverse has pushed the tech boundary by turning this iPhone game into more of a AAA title, with full-screen anti-aliasing, shader effects and enhanced specular and particle effects.

The music comes from Daredevil Squadron, a group known for some interesting sounds that span blues, metal rock, and good ol country. If you are into saga rock, you might know three of their members from Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

You can pick up Top Gun 2 for the iPhone from the App Store for $2.99

Jeffrey Lin, a University of Washington PhD student, has been awarded the 2010 Penny Arcade Scholarship. The PAS is given yearly to college students interested in pursuing careers that contribute to the advancement of the game industry. Lin plans to use the award to further his research into applying vision science to solve practical problems in game design.

Lin impressed the selection committee with his interest in crossing traditional boundaries between game development and other academic disciplines. He plans to study how vision scientists can bring methods and insights developed in their field and apply them as members of game development teams.

One of his recent publications, entitled “Evidence against a speed limit in multiple-object tracking“, dealt with the theory that overcrowding in an environment lead to a decrease in the ability of a person to track multiple objects, so speed limits might increase crashes as people lost track of the multiple vehicles around them. Interesting idea to apply to a racing game!

Penny Arcade’s scholarship program was established in 2006. The annual winner is selected based on service, leadership, character, financial need and the potential to make a positive impact. Application information for the 2011 scholarship will be available in spring 2011.

G5 Entertainment has announced the release of their second grocery time management game for the iPad, Supermarket Management HD. Despite sounding like the title to a dreary video on store management, the game features fast-paced play, various mini-games, and classic time-management action.

Supermarket Management HD follows Kate, a recent college grad, as she struggles to manage a career in supermarket management. You must help Kate keep her customers happy by managing various tasks, such as stocking shelves, hiring new employees, and supervising them. There are also a wide variety of upgrades to purchase as Kate moves from simple stock girl to store manager.

The game features 49 levels between 4 different stores, with 9 mini-games and 3 assistants to keep an eye on. More than 13 upgrades and 3 special-task counters are also available.

You can purchase Supermarket Management HD for the iPad from the App Store for $4.99.

 

What’s inside this episode:

• A review of iSlice, by Appular. An iPhone game that let’s you slice it all up while reading pithy quotes.
  
• Also, a review of Real Trophy Hunting Sunstorm Interactive. Hunting for the couch potato. Be patient, aim well, and you too can have a virtual Elk that you virtually shot in virtual Montana to mount in your virtual trophy room. Virtually cool!
  
• And a review of The Tudors Game, Season 1 by Slitherine Studios. Wander through the rooms of the Palace of Whitehall as you follow the intrigues of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on their way to ruling England. And wander, and wander, and wander, and wander…
  

Straight from Gamescom in Germany comes the trailer for Torchlight 2.

The rumor of a possible replacement to the AppleTV set are running rampant, and everyone has their ideas. Today, Kevin Rose of Digg fame blogged about his theories regarding what we might see as early as September, stating that this is all going to change everything. But is it change that we can believe in?
Read more…

 

What’s inside this episode:

• A review of Vampire Saga: Pandora’s Box by Alawar Entertainment. Something mysterious has caused the ship’s crew to disappear. An old man tries to murder a young woman in terror of her. Secrets are hidden in every corner. And I have to visit every damn room five times to find them!
  
• Also, a review of Uphill Rush 2 by Spil Games. A cool idea, but every time I race I keep flipping over. I never knew gravity worked that way.
  
• And a review of Flick Bowling 2 by Freeverse. A dandy time throwing your ball. Just don’t expect to learn bowling playing it.
  

“For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.” And among liking bathing machines and tasting like Will-o-the-wisp, requires courage and forks to catch. So I guess Kira Robinson of the Snark Busting Club will be investing in a fork factory. Snark Busters: Welcome to the Club is the latest hidden object game available for the Mac by Alawar Entertainment.

The game features seven chapters with dozens of puzzles as Kira Robinson attempts to hunt down a creature few have seen and no one has caught. The game includes over a dozen mini-games, 30 animated locations, and a comical storyline with an unexpected twist. Not something you’d expect on a game based on a Lewis Carroll poem, eh?

In keeping with Alawar’s promise to release the Mac version of a game as close to the PC version as possible, Snark Busters for PC was released at the end of July. Snark Busters: Welcome to the Club for Mac can be downloaded for $12.95; a trial version offering one hour of free gameplay is available as well.

Friday the 13th might have been bad for you, but now you have an opportunity to take out your frustration on those critters that deserve it the most. Eyedip has released Pocket Devil HD – Hell Yeah! for the iPad. Featuring little devils that you summon then destroy in a variety of delightful torture methods using an assortment of weapons, Pocket Devil HD features higher resolution graphics and detailed textures than its iPhone counterpart.

In the hellish world of Pocket Devil HD, up to five tiny Mugat2, the tiny devils that live there, can be summoned with a tap. Players are encouraged to annihilate these guys through weapons ranging from napalm (“I LOVE the smell of napalm in the morning!), falling spikes and pitchforks, a guillotine, electric char, and noose. A sexy She-Devil can even kill her demons with a kiss of death, turning them to crumbling stone.

Customizable options include the ability to choose from a number of heads for The Mugat2 or in-app purchase options to upload a photo of your choice. There are also mini-games where points and trophies can be earned, including Mugat2 Slapfest, a whack-a-mole inspired game, and “Mugat2 Halfpipe Skateboarding” in which you try to pull off as many gnarly tricks as possible to score points.

Pocket Devil HD – Hell Yeah! for iPad is available in the App Store for $2.99

“Up, up and away. My beautiful, my beautiful ballooooooon…” As much as that song conjures hated images of “sunshine pop” and easy listening music, hot air ballooning can be an incredible experience…especially when the floor of the basket is glass.

So I guess it’s no surprise to find Flight Doodle coming onto the scene. Developed by Eyedip, this hot air balloon game merges doodle-style gameplay with customizable balloon craft and colorful atmospheric settings.

With an in-game drawing program, players can design their own hot-air balloons, then launch their craft into the game. Gathering powerups as you go will protect from falling objects and enemies, such as pushpins or aircraft. Even changing weather patterns will have an effect. With a tap of the finger, you can shrink or expand your balloon, give it a shield, or arm it with explosive shells for protection and defense.

The developer has integrated the theme of doodling throughout the game, promising that you can share your customized balloon with others, and even doodle your own art onto the menu screen. Several mini-games and modes are promised in the first month alone with new features and challenges.

Two versions of the game are planned for release next week…Flight Doodle and Flight Doodle HD. There is no word yet on pricing structure.