Games

10tons worth of games now in the Windows Phone 8 Store

Games

By George Ponder, Friday, Mar 22, 2013 at 8:54 am

Windows Phone Central Game Roundup: 10tons
Windows Phone Central Roundup: 10tons Games

10tons isn't new to mobile gaming development with successful titles over on the Android and iOS stores. Over the past few weeks (or has it been months) 10tons has released a handful of games for the Windows Phone 8 platform that should be just as successful.

This week's roundup focuses on a handful of 10tons' games from the action/adventure to the challenging puzzle games. Each game is uniquely challenging, has great graphics and a very nice addition to the Windows Phone Store. Hopefully, what we can find now in the Windows Phone Store is but the start of a beautiful relationship between 10tons and the Windows Phone platform.

Doors open for the Ascend New Gods Xbox Live Arcade closed beta

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Mar 21, 2013 at 7:05 pm

We’ve been anxiously following Signal Studios’ Ascend: New Gods since its announcement back at E3 last year. The XBLA/PC game looks like a vast action-RPG while the Windows Phone companion game is the closest thing to Infinity Blade that we can expect for some time. Both versions are free-to-play and connect to each other in satisfying ways, hence much excitement from Xbox 360 and Windows Phone owners alike.

The XBLA game features some innovative asynchronous components that will make the single-player game feel like part of a massive online world. Such a bold undertaking requires lots of testing. Luckily for us, Signal has just announced public signups for closed beta access!

Shark Dash makes a splash on Xbox Windows Phone 8

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm

Following on the heels of The Dark Knight Rises, we have a second Xbox Windows Phone 8 release from Gameloft today. This one leaves the urban streets behind for a much brighter setting: nice, happy bathtubs. Yep, Shark Dash is now available and it only costs a dollar. Dare you dip your toes into these waters?

112

The Dark Knight has Risen on Xbox Windows Phone 8

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Was Gameloft’s The Amazing Spider-Man game too bright and cheery for you? Get ready to stalk villains from the shadows and do lots of brooding then, because there’s a Batman in town. The Dark Knight Rises for Xbox Windows Phone 8 is here! Not surprisingly, it requires phones with 1 GB of RAM, so lower memory devices like the Lumia 620 will have to remain crime-ridden for the time being.

Galactic Reign Review: Conquering the galaxy on Windows Phone and Windows 8

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013 at 11:15 am

Galactic Reign is a Microsoft game that was co-developed with Canadian developer Slant Six Games that pretty much came out of nowhere when it appeared on Xbox Windows Phone 7 and 8 and Windows 8 and RT last week. For gamers who have yet to upgrade to Windows Phone 8, another Xbox game that runs on the previous OS is always a blessing. And cross-platform multiplayer is something we can all appreciate, regardless of which Windows Phone we carry.

Last week, we posted an extensive impressions piece about the Windows 8 version of Galactic Reign. This week, I’m back with a full review that covers both versions. Read on to find out whether or not this sci-fi strategy game has universal staying power.

Go-Kart 3D, zipping around the indoor track on your Windows Phone

Games

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013 at 9:04 am

Go Kart 3D is a simple racing game for your Windows Phone 7.x and 8 devices. You race around a handful of race tracks in your go-kart trying to post the best time.

You do have computerized competition but for the most part, the clock is your opponent. Graphics are nice, controls are responsive but there just seems to be something missing with Go-Kart 3D.

124

Gameloft bringing Dark Knight Rises and Shark Dash to Xbox Windows Phone 8 this week

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:42 am

Xbox games for Windows Phone 8 were slim pickings until Gameloft’s highly anticipated Asphalt 7 rolled out a few weeks ago. That rad racer became the first of the publisher’s 12 announced games to actually see release, followed shortly thereafter by The Amazing Spider-Man and Real Soccer 2013. That still leaves 9 more games to go, including the hotly anticipated FPS titles N.O.V.A. 3 and Modern Combat 4.

We won’t be shooting enemies this week, at least not with bullets. Batarangs, however are a different story. This Wednesday, Gameloft will release The Dark Knight Rises and Shark Dash for Windows Phone 8.

Farming Simulator for Windows Phone, taking a green thumb to a new level

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Mar 19, 2013 at 8:45 am

Farming Simulator is a relatively new Windows Phone 8 game that has had some success over on Android, iOS and PC platforms. The game puts you in the role of a local farmer responsible for managing everything from harvesting the crops, cultivating the fields and sowing the seeds for the next harvest.

Farming Simulator lets you control various farm equipment from tractors to harvesters. The game has potential but it's held back by difficult controls and the lack of a trial version. In the end, Farming Simulator may not be much of a bumper crop.

Popular and addictive Puzzle Craft comes to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, beats Android again

Games

By Daniel Rubino, Monday, Mar 18, 2013 at 6:40 pm

We may be picking a bit here on Android, but as many Windows Phone users know we are not familiar with getting games first or second. That’s why when we see Brotherhood of Violence and now Puzzle Craft go to Windows Phone 8 (and Windows 8) ahead of Android, we get a little excited.

Puzzle Craft is made by popular game makers Chillingo (though ported by SYZYGY Deutschland GmbH for WP8/Windows RT) and has been described as “…if The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Bejeweled had a baby”. If you’ve ever engaged in Farmville-like online games and happen to like the easier aspects of Bejeweled, this game is for you.

It’s also completely free with no ads. Yowza.

Boom Brigade 2 for Windows Phone 8, alien invaders beware

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Mar 18, 2013 at 9:07 am

Okay... Windows Phone developers 10tons have produced some fantastic games for Windows Phone 8 devices. You have King Oddball, Tennis to the Face and now you can add Boom Brigade 2 to the list.

Boom Brigade 2 is a tower defense, top down shooter where you have to defend your bunker from invading aliens. The game has thirty missions, a collection of bonus survival missions and a handful of upgrades to keep you busy. As always with 10tons games, graphics and animations are top notch and Boom Brigade 2 comes in as another great addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Zombies!!! escapes to Windows 8. Celebrate with this Xbox Live developer interview

By Paul Acevedo, Saturday, Mar 16, 2013 at 3:13 pm

Babaroga’s Zombies!!! was an early Xbox Windows Phone exclusive that still commands a loyal following from board game fans. I fondly remember buying it about a month before joining the Windows Phone Central staff, and subsequently advocating for an update to make one of the Achievements more easily attainable.

Jump ahead to the present, the Xbox Windows 8 and RT version of Zombies!!! has finally gone live. We previously covered some of the new version’s features and improvements, and now PC and tablet gamers can experience the enhanced game for themselves. To get everyone in a zombie killing mood, we present this interview with Andreja Djokovic, the CEO and founder of Babaroga.

Brotherhood of Violence for Windows Phone 8 joins iOS, beats Android and it's kind of awesome

By Daniel Rubino, Saturday, Mar 16, 2013 at 1:29 pm

There’s a new fight game on the Store today and we’ve been playing it for the last few hours. Called ‘Brotherhood of Violence’ the game is developed by realtech VR and it’s quite impressive visually (and hilarious for the in-game dialogue).

The game goes for $1.99 with a free trial and we strongly recommend you take out. Brotherhood weighs in at just over 220MB, which isn’t too bad considering the game play involved and it should give fans of Virtua Fighter and similar street violent games something to cheer about. Indeed, the game is a ton of fun if only because of the aforementioned combo of great graphics and laugh-out-loud cut scenes.

Draw your way out of trouble with DrawaStickman EPIC

Games

By George Ponder, Saturday, Mar 16, 2013 at 10:06 am

DrawaStickman EPIC is adventure game for your Windows Phone where you have to guide a stickman in a quest to save his friend. DrawaStickman EPIC is similar to Max and the Magic Marker but more minimalistic graphics and you draw your player (as well as your friend).

The game has fourteen levels and a bonus level in which you use a pencil to draw various elements to help you tackle each levels challenges. DrawaStickman EPIC is a nice game for your Windows Phone and not a shabby way to pass the time with.

MonsterUp Adventures free until Sunday

By Sam Sabri, Friday, Mar 15, 2013 at 12:09 pm

MonsterUp has been around for as long as I can remember on Windows Phone. Paul reviewed it over two years ago to give you an idea. Since then, it’s received continued support from the developer in the form of updates and feature addictions. Its sequel, MonsterUp Adventures is even more addicting than the original and adds a story element to it. And now it’s free until Sunday.

Nokia releases Trivial Pursuit for Windows Phone 8

Games

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 9:58 pm

Trivial Pursuit is a Nokia exclusive Xbox title for Windows Phone 7 devices but was slow to make the move to Windows Phone 8. For those waiting to test their trivia skills on their Nokia Lumia 920, 820 or other Lumia Windows Phone 8 device the wait is over.

Nokia has flipped the switch and Trivial Pursuit is now available for your Windows Phone 8 Lumia device.

Galactic Reign blasts onto Xbox for Windows Phone, joining its Windows 8 counterpart

Games

By Daniel Rubino, Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 12:37 pm

In a one-two punch, Microsoft has published both Galactic Reign for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 with full Xbox integration. The game itself is a somewhat typical space-conquest game, whereby users take turns to advance a strategy. But it’s the details in the game, customization and sheer massive gameplay that is really intriguing.

Throw in the fact that you can continue your game on our phone once you leave your desktop and now we’re really intrigued.

Gameloft and Nokia hype upcoming Windows Phone titles with Facebook contest

Games

By Rich Edmonds, Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 10:31 am

Gameloft is running an interesting Facebook contest where those who use the social network and own an account can enter by "liking" the Nokia, Gameloft and Xbox pages, as well as answering a simple question. The prizes? Only some Microsoft Points and a Windows Phone 8 device, which looks to be the Lumia 820.

Real Soccer 2013 Review: Less soccer, more reaching for your wallet

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 8:58 am

The first Real Soccer for Windows Phone was less than an exemplary game. Announced back in 2010 as a launch title, it didn’t show up until well into 2012. The Real Soccer we eventually got falsely advertised the inclusion of two modes (‘Enter the Legend’ and ‘Club Master’) that weren’t even in the game. And one of the Achievements (‘Man of the Match’) was tied to the absent Enter the Legend mode, making it impossible to unlock – by design! Gameloft’s otherwise solid Windows Phone port of Let’s Golf 2 also suffered from an impossible-by-design Achievement.

Yes, Gameloft and the Xbox Live certification team were awfully negligent in those days. We brought these issues up to Microsoft, but neither game was ever fixed and Real Soccer still has the same blatantly incorrect store description it launched with.

Galactic Reign becomes the first 'universal' Xbox game for Windows Phone and Windows 8

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Mar 13, 2013 at 4:03 am

In a recent editorial, I complained that Microsoft has largely stopped announcing or publicizing Windows Phone games in advance. Well, this week we have a prime example of that. Galactic Reign from Slant Six and Microsoft Studios has just showed on Windows 8 and RT with Xbox features and will appear for Windows Phone 7 and 8 devices (also with Xbox features) later today.

Microsoft teased the game back in October but made absolutely no mention of platforms, so nobody really knew it was coming, and especially not as a multiplatform release with connectivity features. But other than the lack of proper PR, a new game showing up on Windows Phone and Windows 8 with cross-platform asynchronous multiplayer is always good news, so we’ll stop complaining. For now.

Since the Windows 8 game launched ahead of the mobile version, we’ve already put several hours into it. Head past the break for our full impressions, plus details about buying the game on one platform and playing it from another!

Microsoft to take cross-platform gaming seriously with new titles on the way

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Microsoft hasn't pushed gaming enough on Windows Phone, which has been adequately covered in our series of editorials by Paul Acevedo. We've gone into some detail as to who Microsoft can save Xbox Games for Windows Phone, but it seems the company does have plans to tackle the issue. Still aiming for the "Three Screens" goal, Microsoft is looking to release some titles in the future to take advantage of cross-platform support.

Wordemic, speed scrabble online from your Windows Phone

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

Wordemic is a word game for your Windows Phone that is played like scrabble but you compete online against others much like you do with Wordament.

You build as many words as possible in scrabble fashion before the clock strikes zero. You then get to see how your score compares to others who are playing with the same letter sets. Wordemic starts out slow but quickly grows on you. It's a fun way to pass the time with.

Blasting rabbits back into space with BunnyBeyond

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 4:54 pm

BunnyBeyond is a Windows Phone game that calls upon you to wipe out the rabbit population using freeze rays, rockets and pistols.

Now these aren't your typical bunny rabbits but instead alien rabbits who have invaded Earth. Once you blast these furry creatures back into space, you'll face their leader who isn't an easy push over. BunnyBeyond has a "whack a mole" feel to it, needs a little fine tuning but otherwise, it's a fun game to pass the time with.

Drift Mania Championship 2 for Windows Phone 8: First game featuring the Unity game engine

Games

By Daniel Rubino, Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm

One of the big advantages for developers on Windows Phone 8 is the ability to use new gaming engines to drive the graphics. Unity is such an example, and it’s used by many gaming houses for development. The problem previously was that developers would have to rewrite their games specifically for Windows Phone with degradation in performance and appearance. Between the time and the final product, most developers walked away.

We’ve been anticipating the first Unity-driven game for Windows Phone 8 for some time and that day is evidently upon us. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore tweeted today that Drift Mania Championship 2 is the first game on Windows Phone to feature the Unity engine. The game runs for $1.99 with no trial and weighs in at 200MB.

The game itself is your typical racer game, complete with car customizations and head to head battles, but it also features the whole ‘drifting’ sub-genre where through controlled skids, you drift through turns. Doing so will get you points and doing it with flare even more so.

Peep our hands on video after the break...

Defend against the alien horde in Boom Brigade 2

Games

By Rich Edmonds, Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 10:04 am

Get the guns ready, sound the alarm, throw some headphones on and prepare to whip some alien ass in the latest title from developer 10tons. Boom Brigade 2, sequel to the popular iOS game, puts the player in control of troops and the overall defense, while waves of aliens attempt to seek and destroy. Think turret defense with more action and elements from line drawing. The result is an action-packed experience on Windows Phone.

No Gravity for Windows Phone 8, blasting your way through space

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Mar 11, 2013 at 8:51 am

No Gravity is a fast paced Windows Phone 8 game that takes you to the depths of outer space. You are tasked with defending the empire from a mysterious plague by seeking out and destroying the enemy responsible.

No Gravity has thirty-one missions to conquer, each progressively more challenging. Graphics and animations are really nice and game play will keep you on your toes. If you're looking for an entertaining, fantastic looking space fighter game, No Gravity is well worth a try.