games

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No new Xbox Windows Phone game this week - let's look at games that SHOULD be made

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Feb 14, 2013 at 12:31 pm

As our game-playing readers have probably noticed by now, Xbox for Windows Phone isn’t truly out of drought territory just yet. There is no new Xbox release this week. We asked Microsoft whether the two free Gameloft games on Tuesday were intended to make up for the lack of release. Unfortunately, those games being offered for free resulted from a Store glitch that has since been corrected.

Microsoft couldn’t tell us whether there will be a new Xbox Windows Phone game next week, either. It’s clear that the problems facing the platform won’t go away any time soon. Let’s just hope our editorial series can inspire the powers that be to move things in a better direction… In the meantime, we've got another rumor explaining the lack of games and a hefty list of titles that Microsoft could and should be producing for Windows Phone!

Super Voltage a puzzling way to fight monsters

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Feb 14, 2013 at 8:41 am

Super Voltage is a Windows Phone puzzle game where you race to solve puzzles. It reminds me a little of the Windows Phone game Metro Pipes but instead of racing a clock, you're racing pesky little monsters. Super Voltage features Koo Monsters who, when they reach the bottom of the screen, drain you of health point.

You are tasked with solving a series of puzzles and as you do, the Koo monsters are slowly working their way down your Windows Phone screen. However, as you complete one of the puzzles, super voltage electricity power is unleashed that destroys any monster lying within it's path. Again, if the monsters make it to the bottom of the screen, you lose health points.

Super Voltage is a fun, fast paced game that is full of challenge. It's a nice addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Skulls of the Shogun Review: Getting ahead in the land of the undead

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 at 11:22 am

Microsoft has never released a portable console like the Playstation Vita or 3DS, instead opting to publish Xbox-branded games for Windows Phone and Windows 8… A wise choice given the modern trend towards smartphone and tablet gaming over handheld game systems. With the Xbox 360’s excellent lineup of downloadable games, Windows Phone users rightfully expected the chance to play many of their XBLA favorites on their mobile phones.

Unfortunately, the number of robust, XBLA-quality titles released for Xbox Windows Phone to date is incredibly small. I count only Final Fantasy, Puzzle Quest 2, Castlevania Puzzle, ilomilo, Plants vs. Zombies, Sonic 4: Episode I, and Sonic CD as games with full console-level production values and quantity of content. Crimson Dragon Side Story, Hydro Thunder GO, and Civilization Revolution would be on there too if not for their Playstation One-era graphics. Maybe 11 games out of Xbox Windows Phone’s over 150 titles feel like full XBLA games and not just smartphone/casual titles.

Well, add another game to the top-tier pile because Skulls of the Shogun from 17-BIT and Microsoft Studios fits right alongside the XBLA and Windows 8 versions that released alongside it.

How Microsoft can save Xbox games for Windows Phone: Part 4

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 at 9:36 am

Remember that huge five week long game drought we just went through? We didn’t get official word from Microsoft until the fourth straight week without a release, after the drought had almost passed (and not for lack of trying on our part). As every week went by, your humble author and most avid Windows Phone gamers became increasingly distressed. The whole situation brought to light the ever-worsening handling of Xbox games for Windows Phone by the platform holder.

It also led to the creation of this very series of editorials about how Xbox games for Windows Phone can be turned around. Microsoft has a wonderful gaming synergy on its hands with Xbox Live and Windows Phone, if only they will make proper use of it. We’ve already explored several ways to do so: overhaul the certification system that’s completely inappropriate for mobile games, get internal forces within Microsoft on the same page about the value of Xbox Live, and then promote Windows Phone directly alongside Xbox consoles.

Today we follow up on that last point by looking at the lack of public relations management that affects mobile Xbox games and makes it difficult for both Windows Phone and Windows 8 developers and publishers to promote their own games.

Riding the storm out with Plane in Storm

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013 at 8:35 am

Plane in Storm is a fast paced arcade game for your Windows Phone that has you piloting a plane, trying to out run bad weather, dodging flying objects, storm clouds and lighting bolts along the way.

The game is nicely animated with two game modes and plenty of bonus items. I'm not sure if Plane in Storm can hold up to marathon gaming sessions but it's a nice way to pass short bits of time with.

How Microsoft can save Xbox games for Windows Phone: Part 3

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Feb 8, 2013 at 6:41 pm

The implementation of Xbox games on Windows Phone is riddled with problems. While these range from “Darn it” minor to “Holy crap!” major, as a whole they threaten the viability of Xbox games on the platform. We believe Microsoft can still turn things around and make Xbox Windows Phone a mobile gaming force to be reckoned with, hence this series of editorials.

Part One of this series focused on the problematic Xbox Live certification process, and Part Two looked at both the importance of Xbox games to Windows Phone and the platform’s need for popular game engine support. In this installment we’ll tackle the simple need for proper volume control, the ability to redownload purchased games, and the weak advertising presence of Xbox Windows Phone games so far.

Words with Friends for Windows Phone 8 updated, stability issues addressed

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 at 8:40 pm

Words with Friends is a popular online, turn-based, scrabble type game for our Windows Phone 8 devices. The word game was recently updated to version 1.1.1 to mainly deal with stability issues that caused the game to crash.

The Words with Friends update also repairs game and chat sync events as well as a few improvements to the game's notification performance.

Ubisoft quietly announces Rayman and more games for Windows Phone

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 at 1:34 pm

Ubisoft is a major force in the console and PC world, owning such powerful franchises as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy games. They’ve had a mild presence on Windows Phone so far, with two Gameloft published Xbox games: Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the self-published Babel Rising 3D (a bad game on any platform but particularly abhorrent on Windows Phone), and a couple of companion apps for console titles.

Still, one terrible game is far from the best that Ubisoft can do for Windows Phone. They publish a fair share of quality mobile titles on other platforms that we have yet to see on our own. Blessedly, that appears to be changing quite soon. Ubisoft’s 2012-2013 Sales Report has quickly leaked three upcoming Windows Phone titles, which I think is cause for a little noise! Read on for our descriptions and predictions.

Square Enix returns to Xbox on Windows Phone with a puzzle game called KooZac

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013 at 3:22 pm

You could be forgiven for not expecting a new Xbox release this week. After Skulls of the Shogun’s long-awaited debut last week, there really aren’t too many upcoming Xbox Windows Phone games that we actually know about. But Microsoft told us the release drought would probably end this month, and it looks like they were right. A shiny new game has popped up for all Windows Phone 7 and 8 users today: the oddly named KooZac.

Almost as exciting as receiving a new release at all these days, KooZac comes from one of our favorite mobile publishers – Square Enix, makers of Final Fantasy. We actually heard whispers of this game coming to Windows Phone at E3 last year, but the representative was so noncommittal about it that we didn’t bother to get our hopes up. Looks like Square Enix hasn’t given up on Windows Phone yet!

Risk Review: A little global domination for your Windows Phone

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013 at 1:45 pm

We’re hard at work on our Skulls of the Shogun review, but it’s a long game and also features an extensive multiplayer component. As such, we’ll hold our judgment of that title until next week. In the meantime, let’s look at one of those formerly Nokia exclusive Xbox games that half of us loved to love while the other half loved to grumble about: Risk.

The Nokia-Electronic Arts partnership has produced games in a variety of genres so far. The mostly highly represented game type is actually board games, with The Game of Life, Connect 4, Trivial Pursuit, and Risk among its numbers. Risk recently gained Windows Phone 8 compatibility, making it a prime target for review. It’s also one of the stronger board game adaptations to appear on Microsoft’s mobile platform.

Grow for Windows Phone 8, fun and games with NFC

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Feb 4, 2013 at 5:53 pm

If your Windows Phone 8 device has NFC (Near Field Communication) support, you may want to take a look at the Windows Phone game Grow.

Grow is a simple game where your success is dependent on how much you use NFC. You have a potted plant that grows the more you use your NFC and as a bonus, you can view the map (little icon in the upper right corner) to find additional Grows for bonus plant food. Grow comes across as a game that is part virtual pet and part scavenger hunt.

Grow isn't an action packed game for your Windows Phone but if you've been looking for an excuse to use your NFC on your Nokia Lumia 920 or HTC 8X, Grow might fit the bill.

Steel Champions, sending robots down for the count

Games

By George Ponder, Friday, Feb 1, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Steel Champions is a game that brings boxing, in a first person perspective, to your Windows Phone. The game has a Japanese Anime feel to it with nice graphics and animations. The boxing matches are fast paced and challenging.

However, a somewhat muddlesome user interface may hold this game back.

Sonic CD free on Nokia phones, but without Xbox Live Achievements

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Feb 1, 2013 at 4:50 pm

Earlier today we discovered that a non-Xbox version of SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball 2 has become available for free to Nokia handset owners. Distributing an ‘indie’ version of an already existent Xbox game is pretty much without precedent. Sure, Angry Birds Space and Star Wars for Windows Phone 7 don’t have Xbox Live features like their Windows Phone 8 brothers, but those are at least completely different versions of the same games. The free version of Super Monkey Ball 2 has simply had its Xbox Live features stripped.

It looks like free games from SEGA for Nokia users may be a trend, because a second game has just showed up as part of the Nokia Collection. SEGA’s phenomenal Sonic CD is now available for free for Nokia owners, once again without the Xbox Live features of the general version. (Somebody forgot to remove the Xbox banner from the game's Live tile though.) The lack of Achievements might just kill much of the replay value of this particular game but people who just want to experience the game will still have loads of fun.

Mirror's Edge escapes from exclusivity, now available to all Windows Phone users

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Feb 1, 2013 at 2:44 pm

It’s long been rumored that Nokia exclusive games and apps are just timed exclusives and will eventually become available to all Windows Phone users. We’ve been working behind the scenes to get the exact details behind the exclusivity window, but today a happy occurrence has answered one question for us. Former Nokia-exclusive Xbox game Mirror’s Edge is now available to all Windows Phone 7 and 8 users, just over six months after its original release!

Wordament Web becomes the first browser game with Xbox Achievements

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Jan 31, 2013 at 5:56 pm

When exclusive Xbox Windows Phone/Windows 8 game Wordament jumped ship to iOS, we were perhaps a little disappointed. Windows Phone needs all the exclusive games it can get, and Microsoft doesn’t need to do Apple any favors. Still, the game has gone multiplatform now and there’s no turning back.

In fact, Microsoft just published the most platform-agnostic version of Wordament ever. This one’s playable via HTML5-enabled web browsers. Best of all for Xbox gamers, the web game comes with 50 GamerScore worth of Achievements!

Taking it to the End Zone with Touchdown Run for Windows Phone 8

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Jan 31, 2013 at 2:28 pm

If you're looking for a simple game for your Windows Phone 8 device to pass short bits of time with, give Touchdown Run a try.

The game is about as simple as it can be but challenging enough to make it interesting. With Touchdown Run, you play the role of a football player fielding a kickoff or breaking away from the line of scrimmage heading to the end zone.

You have to navigate your player through a sea of defensive players, without getting touched, and make it safely to the end zone.

Flight Control Review: The seed of proliferation

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013 at 12:23 pm

Let’s face it, all the cool Windows Phone gamer kids are playing Skulls of the Shogun right now, but we can’t review that game until we’ve spent a little more time with it. Instead, we'll take a look at a classic title. Some people felt left out with last week’s Flight Control: Rocket review since that fine game is a Nokia exclusive. As such, it’s high time for our review of the original Flight Control, a game that all Windows Phone 7 and 8 owners can play. Flight Control comes from developer Firemint (now known as Firemonkeys) and Namco Bandai games.

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Skulls of the Shogun now available for Windows Phone

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 at 5:56 pm

It's a little early but Skulls of the Shogun is now live in the Windows Phone Store.

Due to be released tomorrow, January 30th, the newest Xbox title not only breaks the drought of Xbox game releases but also spans the full gaming spectrum with versions for Windows 8/RT and Xbox Live Arcade as well as for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x.

With the release comes special pricing as well. The Windows Phone version is discounted to $4.99, the Windows 8 version will run your $9.99 and the Xbox Live Arcade version launches at 1200 Microsoft Point (about $15).

Test your Gridiron knowledge with NFL Trivia

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 at 3:14 pm

With the Super Bowl just days away, many will begin touting their vast knowledge of the NFL. NFL Trivia is a Windows Phone app that will test that knowledge and may give you a leg up on the competition.

The trivia game is laid out about as simply as you can get with two modes of play, Simple and Trivia. Simple Mode presents you with ten questions and awards you points for each correct answer. Trivia Mode also offers you points for each correct answer but has an endless string of questions.

NFL Trivia may not have many bells and whistles but it isn't a bad test of your NFL knowledge.

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How Microsoft can save Xbox games for Windows Phone: Part 2

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 at 2:17 pm

The recent extended release drought of Xbox games for Windows Phone has prompted both game developers and players alike to question Microsoft’s commitment to Xbox Live support for its own mobile OS. For their part, Microsoft kinda-sorta reaffirmed their dedication to mobile Xbox games, and the long in-development Skulls of the Shogun finally debuts this week. Perhaps the drought has ended and Xbox Windows Phone games will blossom anew once more.

Still, all those weeks without new games didn’t happen by random chance. There are myriad underlying problems at fault, from outdated policies to poor portfolio management to a combination of apathy and ambivalence from some divisions within the platform holder itself. To anyone with an ounce of understanding of the mobile games industry, it looks bad - and it is bad. But Microsoft can still save Xbox games for Windows Phone.