Turn your iPhone into a desktop pinball table

[MikeDeuce]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015067-1.html


Heh, it's just a shell, but I'm still amused. Looks better than those Mini LCD games.

[Ginsu Victim]

Price is a bit high, but that's pretty cool.

[Howard_Casto]

Price is a bit high, but that's pretty cool.

Well if the buttons actually work then it isn't.  I still can't understand why people consider the iphone/ipad a legitimate gaming device despite the utter lack of buttons.  No buttons= no fun.  Even the wiimote makes use of buttons.

[Ginsu Victim]

Yeah, I can't play a lot of the games on mine because I refuse to use on-screen buttons, d-pads, and analog sticks. There's no tactile response, so I just can't do it.

Now, stuff like Angry Birds, Plants vs Zombies, Canabalt, Phoenix Wright, Secret of Monkey Island....those are awesome on it.

[MikeDeuce]

Angry Birds

Best $0.99 I've ever spent... You probably noticed, but they just released an update with 15 more levels today.

I didn't know about Secret of Monkey Island, though, that was one of the few lucasarts titles I missed out on as a youth... always did mean to go back and check it out.

[Ginsu Victim]

You probably noticed, but they just released an update with 15 more levels today.

I hadn't. Thanks for the heads up! I have 3 stars on every level so far.

[MikeDeuce]

I hadn't. Thanks for the heads up! I have 3 stars on every level so far.

Hah, same here. I don't care about the accomplishments so much, but those damn stars... I had to have them all.

My commute home is looking good right about now.

[RayB]

I like Castle Smasher even more than Angry Birds.  Also Space Ace and Dragon's Lair look so cool running in your palm.

PS: I dont like that pinball case. It looks like a toy. I'd go for it if it were designed like an authentic pinball machine.

[Ginsu Victim]

Space Ace and Dragon's Lair look so cool running in your palm.

True, but I find them unplayable.

PS: I dont like that pinball case. It looks like a toy. I'd go for it if it were designed like an authentic pinball machine.

Especially if it had a little LCD backglass that would display your score.

[wp34]

Yeah, I can't play a lot of the games on mine because I refuse to use on-screen buttons, d-pads, and analog sticks. There's no tactile response, so I just can't do it.

+1

It might be a generational thing as my 8 year old plays my iTouch more than his DS.

I have a couple of iTouch pinball games (The Deep & WildWest) that are really good.  I just wish it had buttons.  My fingers/hands make it hard to see the playfield some times.

[Franco B]

If you fancy some manic shmup action, Cave have released versions of Espgaluda 2 and Dodonpachi  Resurrection for the iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPhone4, they sadly don't work on the older iPhones.





I don't get my iPhone yet but I have bought the games already, in fact it was one of the deciding factors that swung getting the iPhone. Surprisingly, the games are meant to play very well with the touchscreen.

[Ginsu Victim]

I've tried shmups on my Touch and I can't stand them.

[Franco B]

Yes, but have you tried those two?

There are free lite versions you can download.

[Ginsu Victim]

Mine is 2nd gen, so no, but like I said, I hate EVERY shmup, platformer, etc on the system because I can't stand the controls.

[RayB]

I agree. Even classic Galaga is no fun with touch controls. Luckily touch input opens up a whole world of other styles of gameplay, so there are a few games that are best played on such a device.

PS: there's no such thing as an iTouch.

PPS: Yeah, I feel pedantic today.

PPPS: If you don't know what pedantic means, please look it up, otherwise it sounds way worse than it is.  

[Ginsu Victim]

I agree. Even classic Galaga is no fun with touch controls. Luckily touch input opens up a whole world of other styles of gameplay, so there are a few games that are best played on such a device.

Yeah, as simple as left/right + fire sounds, it's a PITA to play it on there. Now go try Mega Man.

PS: there's no such thing as an iTouch.

Bugs me too.

[Franco B]

Mine is 2nd gen, so no, but like I said, I hate EVERY shmup, platformer, etc on the system because I can't stand the controls.

Ahh, I see.

They are not  the same crappy controls that you are used to. I know a lot of people who play them who love the Cave versions and have even played the iPhone versions to help aid them 1CC Espgaluda 2.

I personally hate the virtual dpads on nearlly all of the games I've played on the iPhone, but Cave have managed to really pull the controls off with Espgaluda IMHO and for me really stands apart from other games on the iPhone for this very reason. Space Invaders Infinity Gene also uses a similar control system and works just as well.

The controls aren't as good as a real joystick but as an iPhone game the controls are great.

Honestly, Espgaluda II Arcade Mode for iphone did help me out memorizing bullets to 1cc Arcade Mode on 360. Mainly due to mass downtime at work.

You should get the free Lite version of ESPGALUDA II then, kernow. My friend who was all meh about it bought the full game after testing stage 1 just because the controls are brilliant.

Instant buy for me, loved Galuda II. They might announce a date at the Cave Festival, maybe...

As mentioned earlier, its almost as if you can use the iPhone game as training for the real thing, but is nothing compared to the PCB. It is still great though and I can't wait until Dodonpachi is out.

The nice thing about Espgaluda is the iPhone mode, which just adds another way to play/score, which took a little to get used to but it makes a nice change from arcade mode.

I was playing this on a friend's iPhone4 this morning and it seems quite fun. I've not played the original (or any ports which may exist), so don't know how it compares, but I could certainly see myself wasting a fair amount of time on it. Although maybe not as much if I also had Espgaluda II; I really like that game and it plays great on an iPhone.

Believe me these guys know their shmups and wouldn't rate a crap game. And no, I dont have shares in Cave 

I'm just saying, try them before you tar them with the same brush

[Ginsu Victim]

I've plenty of those same types of glowing reviews on games that play like rubbish. Just sayin'...

[wp34]

I generally agree that shmups stink on the iTouch.  Galaga was a real disappointment.   I have played a shmups where your plane/ship autofires the whole time and you move your ship/plane with the accelerometer.  iFighter is one of them.  Not authentic by any stretch but okay for a 5 minute game while waiting at the doctor. 

Frogger is somewhat playable.  I find Pac Man only good for showing off the iTouch to newbies.  Are there any "classics" that are playable on the iTouch?

[Ginsu Victim]

Are there any "classics" that are playable on the iTouch?

Sure, but they are PC classics. Secret of Monkey Island, stuff like that.