New Game Show Games for iPhone
Like game shows and are a big Mac snob like I am? A lot of companies have been releasing some great game show games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. We did some reviews of past ones, and it was a mixed bag. A lot of companies were just figuring out how to really utilize what tools they have at their fingertips. They’ve got it all figured out and I haven’t seen a real dud out of the last few released.
The one I urgently press you to pick up is Who Wants to be a Millionaire 2010. The new version (it’s not an upgrade; you’ll have to pay again) is a total redo of the past versions. Graphics have been updated hugely for the better. You still have the actual graphics from the show and all the real music like before. The view of the game has switched from the vertical view to landscape mode which, again, works in its favor. But that’s all technical. Probably the largest change is they added Fastest Finger to the game. You can keep playing until you get it right or skip it. But the rest is the same. The odd things are that they use the old money chain that people actually remember and still reference, and they also kept Phone A Friend in there, but those are really minor. It’s the best iPhone game show app out there and it’s worth the $4.99. There’s a Lite version also for free so may want to check that out.
GSN has finally wised up and released an iPhone app for one of their shows; Catch 21 has been released. It’s not the full show. It’s essentially just a transplant of their WorldWinner game to iPhone. But amazingly no one has really released that sort of game to the App Store yet and GSN created a really nice one. Your only goal is to place cards in four different columns to reach 21 in each. The faster you do it (and the better too obviously) the more points you get. Pretty simple. The best addition is if you have a GSN account your score can be on the leaderboard and you may earn Oodles. I played last night and made the top spot, so 100 Oodles for me. Furthermore it’s free so you can’t pass that up. Definitely worth the download.
The other new one I’ve been playing with is Family Feud, released just a day or two ago by Ludia. I hate to be picky, but for how nice the graphics were on Ludia’s Price is Right game, and how nice Capcom made Millionaire, I’m a bit stunned how sketchy the Feud graphics are. I mean it’s fine and miles better than the Wheel of Fortune game, but it’s a bit shocking. The game plays how you’d expect, though. Just type in your answers on the iPhone keyboard and hope it makes it on there. Nice and easy. If you like playing the show at home you’re going to like playing the game. If you’ve played the computer or Wii version you know how the iPhone game works. It’s only $2.99 right now so at this price definitely get it. It’s 40% off for now so get it while you can.
Actually, it's on sale for $1.99 right now..
Actually, it's on sale for $1.99 right now..
There's also a Cash Cab app. You choose a "friend" to ride with you to your chosen destination whom you can consult on answers if you wish. You also get one shout-out (Street), the Red Light Challenge, if it happens at all, takes place at a random point in the ride (I don't know if you have to have $200+ or not), and when you reach your destination, before you get the option of going for the video bonus, you're give a little snippet of info about your destination (they're all New York Landmarks). Also, the cash distribution is not the same (still 50-100-200 per question, but not 4-4-as many as possible like on the show).
There's also a Cash Cab app. You choose a "friend" to ride with you to your chosen destination whom you can consult on answers if you wish. You also get one shout-out (Street), the Red Light Challenge, if it happens at all, takes place at a random point in the ride (I don't know if you have to have $200+ or not), and when you reach your destination, before you get the option of going for the video bonus, you're give a little snippet of info about your destination (they're all New York Landmarks). Also, the cash distribution is not the same (still 50-100-200 per question, but not 4-4-as many as possible like on the show).
There's also a Cash Cab app. You choose a "friend" to ride with you to your chosen destination whom you can consult on answers if you wish. You also get one shout-out (Street), the Red Light Challenge, if it happens at all, takes place at a random point in the ride (I don't know if you have to have $200+ or not), and when you reach your destination, before you get the option of going for the video bonus, you're give a little snippet of info about your destination (they're all New York Landmarks). Also, the cash distribution is not the same (still 50-100-200 per question, but not 4-4-as many as possible like on the show).
I’ve got all the apps mentioned and would pretty much agree with Alex’s reviews, as well as what J.C. said about Cash Cab. The Cash Cab app isn’t an exact copy of the show, but it’s worth downloading.
Capcom has also released a 2010 version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. It was a bit disappointng. Still has the primetime version rules, as well as no Foxworthy or actual show cues, and no subject preview on the $1M question (kind of a big omission IMO). Capcom did a MUCH better job with Millionaire 2010 and Cash Cab than they did with this one. Might be worth downloading if you are a fan of the show and don’t own it in some other platform, but otherwise, I’d skip 5th Grader.
A few other notes on the iPod game show apps…
The Price is Right app is on sale right now for just 99 cents!
Ludia is also advertising that they’ve got a couple new GS apps coming soon — a new 2010 version of TPiR, as well as Press Your Luck. I imagine more will be said about those soon.
And speaking of sales… For the first few days, Millionaire 2010, 5th Grader 2010, and Cash Cab were all $2.99 (which was when I got them). I mention this because, if you’re a holdout for sales (like I am), they apparently do go on sale from time to time.
My top three game show apps are "Millionaire 2010," "5th Grader 2010" and "Cash Cab." Both Millionaire and 5th Grader have amazing upgrades from the last version, both graphically and especially taking advantage of the landscape mode. The one feature that stands out in these versions are downloadable question packs for an additional $1.99.
With Millionaire, you get the "Starter Pack" when you download the app for the first time. It comes with a total 250 Fastest Finger questions and 500 total questions between $100 and $1,000,000 (You can actually view how many questions in each dollar value you have exhausted.) Recently, the three new packs are called "Lifeline Pack," "Hotseat Pack" and "Final Answer Pack." Basically, you just tripled the amount of questions for your games (roughly 750 Fastest Finger and 1,500 main game questions). And I expect more packs to come!
Cash Cab ad 5th Grader do the same to keep your games fresh for days and months to come!
I certainly agree that there are qualitative benefits to be gained when attending shows. You have provided a wide collection of game shows. Thanks for this beneficial list.
Sorry for the repeat post, but I stumbled on a couple of other iPhone apps (not new, but still). There's a Tic Tac Dough app, based on Wink's version, complete with (from what i could gather on the demo version) recreations of the theme and sounds from the show. Only one question per cat, and no bonus (but again I only played the demo, full game i hope would be different). Also, if you're a fan of Countdown, there's a copycat game called Alpha Numeric (but look at the screenshots it has on the App Store and you'll know it's Countdown). Looked pretty interesting.
Sorry for the repeat post, but I stumbled on a couple of other iPhone apps (not new, but still). There's a Tic Tac Dough app, based on Wink's version, complete with (from what i could gather on the demo version) recreations of the theme and sounds from the show. Only one question per cat, and no bonus (but again I only played the demo, full game i hope would be different). Also, if you're a fan of Countdown, there's a copycat game called Alpha Numeric (but look at the screenshots it has on the App Store and you'll know it's Countdown). Looked pretty interesting.
They are more content oriented than the usual ones you find these days. And the best part is the simplicity in your posts and the language you use in them. I have added you to my favorites. And I will continue to pay frequent visits to your blog. Expecting more such quality stuff from you. Carry on