games

What's the Word? A picture puzzle of a game

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Mar 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

What's the Word? is a nice Windows Phone puzzle game to pass the time with. What's the Word? presents you with four pictures and you are tasked with figuring out what common descriptive word they share.

I have to admit the puzzles start out really easy but slowly pick up speed and can be somewhat challenging.

Boonce, a blast of a puzzle game for your Windows Phone

Games

By George Ponder, Saturday, Mar 23, 2013 at 9:35 am

Boonce is a Windows Phone game that is part shooter and part puzzler. You control a cannon and are tasked with taking out targets. Sounds simple until you realize you have to snake your shots through various mazes and some targets require certain actions before they can be destroyed.

Graphics are simple, controls could stand a little improvement but game play is challenging enough to keep Boonce from growing stale.

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Grab your boards, Subway Surfers coming to Windows Phone [Updated]

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Mar 22, 2013 at 6:53 pm

[Update: Sorry folks, as it turns out that image and the news for the story come from a faked Facebook account, albeit one with many people unknowingly following/liking it. We're still waiting to hear from the developers directly, but as of right now it's not looking accurate. Here's the real Facebook page for that company. Thanks, 19kev98, for the heads up]

Temple Run and its sequel are two extremely popular games on other mobile platforms that have yet to migrate to Windows Phone. We know one of them is coming eventually, but unfortunately the series creator Imangi has been tight-lipped with details. Still, Temple Run isn’t the only 3D endless runner in town.

Subway Surfers from Kiloo also has quite a following on competing platforms. Technically the characters slide, glide and fly around on vehicles as opposed to running, but it’s definitely an endless runner at heart. And soon we’ll be subway surfing on Windows Phone 8!

Chillingo delivers new Nokia exclusives for Xbox Windows Phone: Dream Track Nation and Tiny Plane

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Mar 22, 2013 at 1:11 pm

Windows Phone 8 has received so much Xbox game love this week (in the form of The Dark Knight Rises and Shark Dash) that Windows Phone 7 owners were surely feeling left out. I mean, they should all be busy with Galactic Reign, but that’s another story.

Apparently someone at Nokia saw the lack of releases for the legacy OS and said, “No! This should not be.” To that end, Nokia and Chillingo have just published two Nokia-exclusive Xbox Windows Phone 7 games: Dream Track Nation and Tiny Plane. Both games look like great casual titles to keep Nokia owners busy.

Windows Phone Central heads to the Game Developers Conference

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Mar 22, 2013 at 10:41 am

The Windows Phone Central staff covers all the big mobile events, such as Mobile World Congress and CES. But our gaming readers are probably most excited by gaming event coverage, such as last year’s Electronic Extertainment Expo and Casual Connect visits. Of course we’ll return to those shows again this year, but we’ve got a new one on the table too.

The Game Developers Conference - aka GDC 2013 - runs next week from March 25-29 in San Francisco, California. Your friendly neighborhood Gaming Editor and a handful of Mobile Nations staff will be there scouring for all the best Windows Phone and mobile gaming news.

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.

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?

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Here are the game developers that Xbox Windows Phone desperately needs

By Paul Acevedo, Saturday, Mar 9, 2013 at 11:27 am

Last week, Gameloft kicked off their much anticipated wave of Xbox releases for Windows Phone 8 with Asphalt 7, a game I call the best racer on the platform in our review. They’ve followed up this week with the very strong The Amazing Spider-Man and the not-so-strong and highly skippable Real Soccer 2013. With at least 9 more games coming, including first-person shooters, action games, and even an MMORPG, it’s safe to say that Gameloft will keep Windows Phone gamers pretty busy this year.

Similarly, Electronics Arts and its subsidiaries Chillingo and PopCap have produced a ton of fine mobile Xbox games as Nokia exclusives within the past few months. All of the Nokia EA games are expected to become available to general Windows Phone audiences six months after release, so they really do benefit the platform as a whole.

However large and prolific they might be, publishers Gameloft and Electronic Arts can’t keep the Xbox Windows Phone lineup afloat all by themselves. The world of smartphone gaming is vast indeed. iOS and Android thrive thanks to many game developers and publishers, both great and small. Today we continue our ‘How Microsoft can save Xbox Games for Windows Phone’ editorial series with a look at the game makers that our platform needs in order to thrive.

Rayman Jungle Run dashes onto Windows 8 - Our Impressions

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Mar 7, 2013 at 8:31 pm

Last month we were excited to learn that Ubisoft’s Rayman Jungle Run would be coming to Windows Phone at some point in the future. The combination of endless runner with actual levels and the lovable Rayman is just what our favorite smartphone platform needs. What we didn’t know is that Jungle Run would also be coming to PC and tablet via Windows 8 and RT. Happy surprise - it’s out now and Xbox Live-enabled! Plus it gives us a great idea of what to expect when the phone game comes along.