Ionball

IonBallEX - Review

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Monday, Sep 5, 2011 at 6:52 am

The Atari classic Breakout may have started the brick-breaking genre, but Taito’s Arkanoid took it to the next level, adding enemies and powerups into the mix. Enter indie developer IronSun Studios, whose IonBallEX draws liberal inspiration from Arkanoid while adding a few unique twists.

Before we get to the nuts and bolts, a history lesson: IonBallEX (a title which could seriously use one or two spaces) is the Xbox Live sequel to the original IonBall, which debuted as an indie game on Windows Phone (see our review). It then migrated to Xbox 360, also as an indie game. The only Xbox Live brick-breaking competition on Windows Phone is the abysmal 3D Brick Breaker Revolution (review), so IonBallEX is automatically the best game of its type by default. Thankfully it’s actually pretty good.

Slide past the break for our full review.

IonBallEX now available in the Marketplace [Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone]

Games

By Daniel Rubino, Wednesday, Aug 17, 2011 at 10:44 am

We've teased about IonballEX for a little while and now you can try it yourself. Yup, IonBallEX, the first indie game gone Xbox LIVE is now available for $2.99 (and a free trial). From the app description:

"IonBallEX is a modern twist on a classic Breakout style game, featuring an XP-based progression system and end-of-level bosses that are going to push you to the extreme, all delivered in a unique SteamPunk style. With 35 challenging levels, mind-bending features and awesome bosses; IonBallEX is the breakout game to "break" all the others. See where you can get on the leaderboards, or unlock achievements like "Record Breaker" or "Wipeout"; the IonBallEX challenge is here"

The game is a modest 35MB download (still need WiFi though) and so far we have to admit, it ain't too shabby. Head on here to the Marketplace for the link and let us know what you think in comments.

See the video preview after the break...

Indie game IonBall gets Xbox Live sequel with all the trimmings

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Monday, Aug 8, 2011 at 10:51 am

Xbox Live isn’t exactly crawling with brick-breaking games at the moment. The only such game, 3D Brick Breaker Revolution (review), is ten kinds of terrible. Gamers looking for a Breakout-style fix have had to make do with indie games, such as IronSun Studios’ IonBall, which we reviewed in December.

Great news for fans of that game and brick-breaking games in general – IonBall is getting a sequel, and it will be an Xbox Live title to boot.

Head past the break for more exclusive IonBall EX details and screens!

Ionball - Review

Apps

By George Ponder, Monday, Dec 6, 2010 at 12:03 am

IronSun Studios is offering Ionball over at the Marketplace. Ionball is a Breakout styled game that is presented, as described by the developer, in a unique SteamPunk style.

The game play itself isn't anything new. The object is to destroy the tiles by bouncing a ball into them. You keep the ball bouncing by virtue of a paddle board at the bottom of the screen. Miss the ball with the paddle and you loose a life.

To see if Ionball is a breakout of a game, ease on past the break.

IonBall and ChronoX headed to Windows Phone 7

Windows Phone News

By George Ponder, Thursday, Oct 14, 2010 at 1:04 am

IronSun Studios has announced the launch of two new game titles for the Windows Phone 7 platform. Paul Kelly, Director at IronSun, states" The launch of Windows Phone 7 is a key moment for IronSun Studios and a culmination of an exciting 6 months for us. Developing for Windows Phone 7 has been a pleasure, the quality of the tools, even from an early stage, is of a very high standard.”

The two games are:

ChronoX: A platform game that is set over thirty levels, spread acroos five time zones. You goal is to retrieve collectibles while avoiding hazards and enemies.

IonBall: This is a classic breakout game with a new twist. You battle through 35 levels and 7 boss battles. As you progress through the game, you'll earn Experience Points that can be used to enhance your character.

Both games will be available at launch through the Marketplace.