App of My Eye » Street

Payback

Art — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:10:37 +0000

Do you remember when Grand Theft Auto first came out for the PC and it was a top-down 2D multi-scroller? In fact, both the original Grand Theft Auto and its sequel were basically rough cut smash-and-grab games, in which character headshots with accompanying speech bubble pop-ups would appear telling you what you needed to do next. That’s right, Dorothy, that pitbull of a franchise didn’t start off as the 3D open environment powerhouse it is now with tons of Easter eggs that gamers gleefully discover and brag about to their friends. While the original GTA and GTA2 are available for free download by Rockstar Games (also offering cult favorite, Wild Metal) for the PC, Apex Design’s Payback proudly pays tribute to them both with their own intepretation complete with 11 huge 3D environments, awesome lighting effects, a diverse selection of vehicles and weapons, and of course, a solid soundtrack. I mean, what’s a carjacking game without tunes for those intermittent joyriding excursions in various vehicles, right? Play as a street urchin coming of age in the world of crime by getting as many points as possible to move up to the next level. You can do this in a variety of ways, all non-linear. All in all, this game is what GTA could have been if it stayed in a top-down environment. Recognized by The Boston Globe as one of the “most addicting games in the Apple Store”, it’s becoming a classic all on it’s own. Price: $4.99.

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Tickle Me Pink

Art — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:37:43 +0000

Whether it was in the 80′s with Ms. Pac-Man or in the early 90′s with Chun-Li, we often wondered with much curiosity about those sexy female characters in video games. Like our fathers before us with Betty Rubble and Betty Boop, we had our own struggles with the “Bettys” of our time. But it all changed in 1996 when Tomb Raider was released. This time, the object of our lusty affections was in 3D and Lara Croft had sophistication both in visuals and characterization beyond her 2D counterparts. Since then, we’ve been innundated with an overabundance of pixel-popping vixens, who often bordered on the pornographic, i.e. Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive, and the notorious Rumble Roses. To recapture the magic of our “first time”, we recommend Tickle Me Pink, a virtual girlfriend app created by Burt Sloan. Try rubbing your girlfriend’s tummy to make her laugh, touch her head to entice a kiss, and tap her feet to get her to dance. Stay on her good side and you will feel good too. However, get naughty and you’ll both be in a foul mood. With an excellent selection of seemingly familiar songs, extras to keep you engaged, and great graphics, it’s a cool, entertaining experience, which you can easily get lost in. Price: $1.99.

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Skateropolis

Art — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:19:16 +0000

Altough my knowledge of skateboarding has been limited to the documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys (at least it’s not Gleaming the Cube), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 on the SEGA Dreamcast and Sony PlayStation 2 respectively, and the lingering effects of a deep bone bruise from a banana board accident in the summer of 1983, I am aware of the significance of the sport, it’s expanding demographic, it’s evolving culture, and the influence it has had around the world. Yet, it came as a shock to me that there were only a few apps, which really supported the sport, its athletes and fans. One of the best has to be Skateropolis as it provides not only skate park locations, but also user reviews, messaging, creating/joining groups, photo and video uploading/sharing. Basically, the developer took the best parts of our favorite online past times, such as Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, patched it up with Thrasher magazines, and created a beautiful monster: a deep app with solid navigation for everyone to enjoy at any level. With an update for worldwide support coming in the next month, this is highly recommended, especially if you’re looking for spots close to home or on the road. Price: $2.99.

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Sweep:BOS

Art — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:00:20 +0000

Driving around your neighborhood in The Hub searching for a parking space, you find one, but there’s street cleaning the following day. You pull into the space anyway and set a mental reminder to move it first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, you forget and Lovely Rita gets you. With Sweep:BOS, easily set up an email or SMS reminder to move your car so you don’t get the dreaded $100 ticket. Get alerts to street cleaning all year round, and, in the winter, also get alerts to move your car for snow removal. While currently limited to Boston, expansion is slated to a significant number of US cities over the next couple months. It’s a great buy for the price, especially when compared to a single ticket! Price: $1.99.

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