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[ThatObviousUser]

http://wireless.ign.com/articles/110/1106342p1.html

Since the launch of the iPhone 3G in the summer of 2008, IGN Wireless has covered Apple's devices almost exclusively. After all, there is no denying the success of the iDevices and the incredible melting pot of creativity called the App Store. But in the smartphone arena, it looks like Apple really has a challenger in Android, Google's smartphone OS. The market has certainly spoken, as Android popularity is growing every quarter. In May, ComScore, one of the world's leading market research firms, released a mobile technology usage report that shows Android has grown to 13 percent of total mobile usage in the United States. In comparison, Apple is at almost 25 percent.

But it's not just market share numbers that inspired us to start covering Android. You've been vocal about your desire to see Android on IGN. And so today, IGN launches its coverage of Android. To kick things off, we've reviewed a host of games, picked out some winning apps to get the most out of your device, and point you to a review of the Evo 4G, which Sprint hopes to make one of the flagship Android handsets.

The Lineup:

• EVO 4G by HTC Review
  
  
• Recommended Android Apps
  
  
• N.O.V.A Review
  
  
• Pac-Man Championship Edition Review
  
  
• Home Run Battle 3D Review
  
  
• Backbreaker Footbal Review
  
  
• Uniwar Review
  
  
• Asphalt 5 HD Review
  
  
• Zenonia Review
  
  
• Let's Golf Review
  
  
• Drop7 Review
  
  
• Super K.O. Boxing 2 Review
  
  
• The Plateau Review

I don't post much IGN stuff anymore, nor stuff about Android in gaming, but I thought this deserved its own thread. In my opinion, this is a very key turning point in Android's life. Also, hopefully the Apple crazies in OT will just stay in the antennae thread.

 

[zoku88]

For a second, I thought I had seen a bomberman game on there. Someone should get onto it.

Their list of must have apps.. is kinda short. My list would be longer.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Also, hopefully the Apple crazies in OT will just stay in the antennae thread.

An excellent way to start the thread, you dolt.

 

[John Harker]

iPhone 4 is the new Windows Vista anyway.

But I'm one to talk, I'm still rocking my old Curve :lol

Android is tempting though, hows the Droid X? Or wait for iPhone Version?
Ahh, decisions.

 

[ZZMitch]

Crappy review list, there are better games that could have been reviewed.

 

[JWong]

For a second, I thought I had seen a bomberman game on there. Someone should get onto it.

Their list of must have apps.. is kinda short. My list would be longer.

As long as it has the app that builds me an island, and then it transforms into a jet and flies me there.

 

[Art Teitlebaum]

Don't care for IGN, but am interested in game reviews for Android. So some mixed emotions here.

 

[Tobor]

You guys have Drop7? Cool beans. Get on that Android dudes.

 

[J-Rzez]

An excellent way to start the thread, you dolt.

Hey, people are going to talk about competitor, bring them up all the time. People just have to learn those are the "facts of life".

Spoiler

/Steve Jobs on the antenna issues

But wow, I didn't realize Android is really making a solid run here. Lots of cool apps, my Moto Droid has a pretty screen (though there are nicer android phones now), and even quite a bit of the free games are kinda fun in short 5-10min bursts during boredom.

I'll have to look into this drop7.

 

[TheSeks]

Wow, Androids starting to get games?

I still need to get a new phone. Stupid data plans are the restrictions though. :/

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

An excellent way to start the thread, you dolt.

But it makes sense though. I love dedicating my time to fight for a money hungry multi-billion dollar corperation.

 

[Tashi]

Oh nice. I'll be checking that regularly, thanks!

 

[Lonely1]

N.O.V.A came out for Androids? ANy other Gameloft game out for the device?

 

[overthehill99]

Looked at the Pac-Man review, and was like 'oh man'. Searched for it on the market, turns out it's free! Why even review free games? Why wouldn't I download it?

Edit: Nevermind. There's a buy option on the game, but it brings you to a dead market link.

 

[outunderthestars]

My droid x will be here tomorrow, so this is good timing.

 

[nocode]

I was addicted to homerun 3D battle for a couple of weeks. Fun HR derby game with multiplayer.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

WTF? PacMan CE is on Android.. why didn't anyone tell me?

 

[ThatObviousUser]

An excellent way to start the thread, you dolt.

Notice the emoticon.

Also, if I had wanted to be mean, I would have said fanboys instead of crazies.

 

[Linkhero1]

WTF? PacMan CE is on Android.. why didn't anyone tell me?

I didn't even know o.o

I'm glad Android is getting huge. More games please!

 

[overthehill99]

nvm

 

[Deleted member 22576]

I didn't even know o.o

ARGH, I just played the demo.. and it's kind of terrible.
Tons of slow down and interface wonkiness.

 

[Linkhero1]

ARGH, I just played the demo.. and it's kind of terrible.
Tons of slow down and interface wonkiness.

What phone? Does it even matter what phone you play it with?

 

[overthehill99]

ARGH, I just played the demo.. and it's kind of terrible.
Tons of slow down and interface wonkiness.

I'm getting no slowdown, but the controls are pretty terrible. Even with the d-pad. Plus the sound is all off.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Playing on a Droid with cyanogen mod running at 800mhz.
Not the newest phone.. but I'm pretty it's not my phones fault the performance is lagging.

^
Yeah, why on earth does the game popup volume controls first with it the sound constantly set to off?

 

[rexor0717]

Android has Drop7? Well, looks like my purchase is now sealed.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

I can't recommend Caligo Chaser enough. I'd like to get it to work with the Wii controller mod though.

 

[Linkhero1]

Playing on a Droid with cyanogen mod running at 800mhz.
Not the newest phone.. but I'm pretty it's not my phones fault the performance is lagging.

^
Yeah, why on earth does the game popup volume controls first with it the sound constantly set to off?

Was there an actual demo or did you buy it and then uninstall it?

 

[cws]

I wonder how those game would look on the Xperia 10 mini .....

 

[ThatObviousUser]

I wonder how those game would look on the Xperia 10 mini .....

Probably not bad but controlling some of them might be a pain.

 

[LCfiner]

Notice the emoticon.

Also, if I had wanted to be mean, I would have said fanboys instead of crazies.

btw, it's "antennas" not "antennae". w're not talking about biological creatures here. you may want to update the OP.



and, yeah, get on Drop 7, Android kids. faaaaantastic puzzler. I can't recommend it enough

 

[ThatObviousUser]

I don't like editing posts after two minutes because it adds that nasty "Edited by" at the bottom... partly the reason I never updated the Droid OP...

 

[ZZMitch]

My favorite game on Android is still Alchemy... so addicting! :lol

 

[CamHostage]

Don't care for IGN, but am interested in game reviews for Android. So some mixed emotions here.

Agree, exposure is good. There are for sure better sites out there if you want a more complete picture of the Android market or a better catering to just Android fans (though unfortunately few actually offer writing on par of a professional site, PocketGamer probably being the best site I've come across in quality.) But I'm really eager to upgrade my phone to either an Android or a Win7Phone, and any coverage I can find on the gaming scene will do well to drive me towards that purchase.

 

[LCfiner]

I don't like editing posts after two minutes because it adds that nasty "Edited by" at the bottom... partly the reason I never updated the Droid OP...

That's some funky OCD right there.

 

[Faxanadu]

The X just came out. Can't wait to get my fugly little hands on it!

 

[Stat Flow]

Will be watching this thread.

 

[Mr_Zombie]

[*]Recommended Android Apps

That's a really short list. I have my Android phone for a mere three weeks now and even I could do a much, much longer list, with some apps being not only recommended, but a must-have for any Android user.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Was there an actual demo or did you buy it and then uninstall it?

Oh yeah, there is a demo.

 

[Stat Flow]

Doodle jump is the shit, as well.

Also, partial BS on that Evo review. The battery life is fine and $199.99 is "fairly reasonable" for the Evo but the "industry standard" on the iPhone :lol

 

[Vinterbird]

Does anyone know if UniWar is cross platform compatible in it's multiplayer portion?

 

[SILVO]

IGN writing reviews of a few Android games every month is "a key turning point in Android's life"? ...really?

Glad to see there's some competition with Apple in the mobile phone game market, at least.

 

[Corto]

Will definitely follow... but due to the disgusting regional shenanigans (once more) in Portugal the Android market is restricted to the freeware. I hope IGN will cover that too. Or my carrier could finally decide to open the Android market to paid apps...

 

[dark10x]

I'm getting no slowdown, but the controls are pretty terrible. Even with the d-pad. Plus the sound is all off.

Does it run at 60 fps like the 360 and iPhone versions?

 

[Ninja Kn1ght]

Android gaming seems really lacking in awareness and hype, so I guess this is a good thing. It may even encourage more indie devs to port their iPhone games over.

 

[Nuclear Muffin]

IGN better pray that Nintendo staff haven't read their recommended Apps article (they are promoting the NES emulator. Yeah they "don't condone piracy" but they don't fail to mention that you can play Excitebike on it!)

Stay classy IGN :lol

 

[andycapps]

Doodle jump is the shit, as well.

Also, partial BS on that Evo review. The battery life is fine and $199.99 is "fairly reasonable" for the Evo but the "industry standard" on the iPhone :lol

Yep, definitely a lot of BS regarding that battery life. They clearly turned everything on as far as widgets and didn't change the update intervals at all and then complained about battery life. For example, using stock firmware, I'm normally getting about 12-14 hours out of my battery. And that's with fairly moderate usage during the day. The HTC widgets and such are kind of nice if you like widgets themselves but they're going make your battery take a pretty big hit, particularly if you use several of them at the same time and they're checking for new updates every 5-20 minutes. I turned them all off and use Facebook's touch site as I like it better, Seesmic for Twitter, etc. It doesn't seem like they tinkered with it at all, or spent more than one day with it.

Also, no Robo Defense on the list makes me cry. Also, no Air Control. Then again, this is just the start and I'm sure they'll get to those.

 

[Stumpokapow]

IGN better pray that Nintendo staff haven't read their recommended Apps article (they are promoting the NES emulator. Yeah they "don't condone piracy" but they don't fail to mention that you can play Excitebike on it!)

Stay classy IGN :lol

I don't know, I have NES emulators on... like... every device I own and I have Excitebike ROMs on all of them. I haven't hooked up my actual NES in maybe 5 or 6 years. I own an Excitebike cart, of course.

There's no doubt that a lot of people out there are going to be downloading FULL A-Z EVERY NES GAMEZ.TORRENT or whatever, but just speaking for myself I own the cart and I intend on playing the game on any system I feel like playing it on. I haven't played any NES on my phone because it doesn't have a keyboard so it's not exactly convenient, but if I had a phone with buttons I probably would.

 

[The Orange]

Yep, definitely a lot of BS regarding that battery life. They clearly turned everything on as far as widgets and didn't change the update intervals at all and then complained about battery life. For example, using stock firmware, I'm normally getting about 12-14 hours out of my battery. And that's with fairly moderate usage during the day. The HTC widgets and such are kind of nice if you like widgets themselves but they're going make your battery take a pretty big hit, particularly if you use several of them at the same time and they're checking for new updates every 5-20 minutes. I turned them all off and use Facebook's touch site as I like it better, Seesmic for Twitter, etc. It doesn't seem like they tinkered with it at all, or spent more than one day with it.

Every time I read reviews of these new phones and statements like the bolded above, my smartphone boner fizzles out into a floppy noodle. God damn that is some shitty battery life. Am I shit out of luck if I'm waiting for phones that last at least 3 days with moderate use?

 

[Sidewinder]

There are not many Android games I can stand longer than 30 seconds, either do to atrocious controls or stupid/boring gameplay.

As of now I can only highly recommend the following games:

- Frozen Bubbles (superb bust-a-move game, completely free and comes with a shitload of levels!! Perfect controls with trackball)

- Kumpa (something like Rock'n'Roll on Amiga, for those who know it)

- Bonsai Blast (like Zuma, pretty graphics, good controls and free too)

- Labyrinth (not free)

- Solitaire



Also worth mentioning are the following classics:

- Mazeoid (Pac-man clone)

- Missile shield (Missile commander clone)

- Invadroid (Space invaders clone)

 

[andycapps]

Every time I read reviews of these new phones and statements like the bolded above, my smartphone boner fizzles out into a floppy noodle. God damn that is some shitty battery life. Am I shit out of luck if I'm waiting for phones that last at least 3 days with moderate use?

With current battery technology you're SOL on finding a phone with a 4+ inch screen with a Snapdragon or greater processor that has a battery life over a day. That is pretty much the territory of flip phones and just the way it is, outside of the iPhone 4. That's only a 3.5" display or some such, still, that has the best battery life of any modern smartphone that I know of.

If you wanted 3 days of moderate use out of the EVO's battery it'd probably weigh about 10-12 ounces instead of the 6 ounces it weighs now, and that article was already mentioning how it was heavy. So people want to have huge displays, uber quick response times, high resolution, great mobile gaming graphics, and have 3 days of battery life. It's just not happening without a pretty big breakthrough in battery technology.