iGame Radio

Today Omaha reviews two iOS games: The casual pipe strategy game Pipe Trouble that makes you think beyond casual for your solutions; and Le Vamp, where the world around you becomes your most important pal in that endless run.

What’s inside this episode:

A review of Pipe Trouble for iPad by Pop Sandbox. Trapped in a cute little casual strategy framework, this is actually the biggest strategy game of them all. If you find a solution, Canada would like to hear from you.

A review of Le Vamp for iPad by High Voltage Software. Simple and smooth on the surface, but lot’s of fun content to sink your teeth into, Le Vamp gives an extra boost with a new way to make that endless run happen.

Today Omaha talks with Alex Jansen of Pop Sandbox about his game Pipe Trouble; balancing a game with fun and serious sides and the unexpected politics.

Imagine, if you will, a pristine, beautiful Canadian landscape; farms dot the land here, moose and deer wander there. And you’ve got tons of natural gas pipes to bury so that you don’t kill the animals, piss off the farmers, and come under budget. Welcome to Pipe Trouble, the brain child of Alex Jansen who decided that the conflicts surrounding the natural gas pipelines coming through Canada weren’t good enough just for the television screen. But developing a well-balanced game based on the old template of Pipe Mania wasn’t the only trouble Alex ran into as a Canadian province declared his game promoted eco-terrorism. Omaha chats with Alex about how he balanced development with politics.

Today Omaha talks with Emeric Thoa of the Game Bakers about their experience in mobile game development with Squids and their upcoming game Combo Crew.

When last I spoke with The Game Bakers at PAX in 2011, they were just finishing up on their smash hit Squids. Now with Squids and Squids: Wild West under their belt, they are turning to a decidedly different style of gameplay with Combo Crew. Emeric Thoa agreed to take some time away from developing to chat with me about what’s been happening these past two years and give us the latest on this new game.

Today Omaha reviews two iOS games: Cling!, a clingy puzzle game of strategic balance, and Pangolin, a cute strategy game where you maneuver the platforms, not the critter.

What’s inside this episode:

A review of Cling! for iPad by First5 Games. Clinging to the walls requires some real strategic thought to conquer the puzzles in Cling!, but don’t cling to your money if you want the buy the fun inside.

A review of Pangolin for iPhone by Feed Tank Games. Pangolin’s gameplay is lot’s of fun and full of potential. But the monetization method comes across as less than honest.

Today Omaha talks with Chris Blackbourn of Modka Games about upcoming title “Scooterboy”, Chris’ lengthy history in the industry, and why he took the leap to Indie development.

We’ve been hearing about it more and more, recently. More developers and development studios who launch games after many years of development by huge teams are yearning for that shorter cycle and smaller team again…and closer connection to the gamer. So it’s no surprise when we read and hear about developers making a break for the Indie development world. Chris Blackbourn is one such guy, and he’s just released info about his first game for the mobile space, ScooterBoy. Omaha talks with him about his upcoming game, history in the industry, and why he took the jump to the Indie development world.

Today Omaha talks with Lat Ware of Crooked Tree Games about upcoming title “Throw Trucks With Your Mind”; the inspiration, difficulties, and potential of this EEG-based title.

Have you ever wanted to play a game with your mind? To have the objects on the screen move with your thoughts? Sounds pretty sci-fi, right? But this game is closer to reality than you might think. Just days ago, Crooked Tree Studio finished a successful fundraiser on Kickstarter for “Throw Trucks with Your Mind”, an EEG-based title that impact objects on the screen with the help of your brain waves…and throw things at your friends. Omaha talks with studio head Lat Ware about the inspiration, difficulties, and potential of this unusual game.

Today Omaha reviews Abyss: Wraiths of Eden for the Mac, a puzzle/adventure game with some interesting twists developed by Artifex Mundi.

A review of Abyss: Wraiths of Eden, a puzzle/adventure game with hidden object gameplay elements published for the Mac by G5 Games. A fun and engaging game, even with limited content, with puzzles that get more difficult as you play.

Today Omaha reviews two iOS games: Time Surfer by Komobius, an endless runner that plays with time; and Cyto by Room 8, a puzzle game of meditative slinging.

What’s inside this episode:

A review of Time Surfer by Komobius for iPhone. This runner/time manipulation game takes the Retro side of things to its ultimate geeky limits, then beyond.

A review of Cyto by Room 8 for iPad. This delightful and meditative puzzle game has a mechanic that takes a twist on some current ideas, then adds quite a few cherries on top; well worth the dollar price.

Today Omaha reviews Endless Space, a 4X turn-based strategy game for the Mac by Iceberg Interactive.

A review of the 4X turn-based strategy game Endless Space for the Mac by Iceberg Interactive. You can literally create any kind of game you want with any kind of victory condition, if you can get past the almost Excel Spreadsheet level of detail and the rather lame battles.

Today Omaha reviews two iOS games: Masters of Mystery: Blood of Betrayal, a rather ordinary hidden object game with some extraordinary methods of solving it; and Pentapuzzle, a puzzle game that is sure to Zen you out.

What’s inside this episode:

A review of Masters of Mystery: Blood of Betrayal by G5 Games for iPad. The detective tools were a great addition to a detective game of mystery, but the implementation of those tools turned this into a cold case.

A review of Pentapuzzle by Skrubbeltrang & Platz for iPhone. You’ll come for the puzzles, but you’ll stay for the music.