Sadly GS doesn't have an X-Plane 9 page...

But I'm ok with that. It's really not a game, it's more of a simulation. In fact, X-Plane 9 is so accurate, real world pilots can use it to log hours if they can't actually get time in a plane. Pretty impressive, aye?

I decided to post a wee video (very, very wee) of me landing my Piper Malibu. It's one of the easier planes to pilot, and probably the plane I would own in real life were I given the chance. Anyways, enjoy.

I cut out a LOT of time in the air, to make it bearable to watch. Otherwise it gets a little boring when you can't seethe specifics of the dials and all that. When I recorded this, I didn't know X-Plane 9 defaulted to 320 pixels wide, and was expecting a much nicer video (as I run this at full 1080p). If I do post another, I'll make sure it's better quality.

RSB

I gotta say... They missed a few real jems out there...

The recent feature here at GS did a decent job at, if nothing else, acknowledging the popularity of iPhone games. It covered Rolando, Zen Bound, Light Bike, and Enigmo (one of my past favorites). But I figured it would be a good idea to point out a few more, because their exclusion from the feature is nearly criminal.

X-Plane 9

X-Plane 9 is exactly what it sounds like. It is 98% accurate to the real world counterpart we've all known and loved for years on the Mac and PC. The game is controlled by tilting the iPhone (or iPod Touch). You can control the wind, select from a variety of planes, change the weather, set waypoints, and more. As far as iPhone games go, it's on the steep side at 9.99, but if you're into it, it's money well spent. For flight sim fans, it's an absolute must own.

See a video here. There are other X-Plane variations as well, so any player looking for a flight sim can probably find a flavor that works for them.

iDracula

iDracula has one of the worst names for a game on the iPhone, but some of the best gameplay you'll find. The game basically plays like Geometry Wars, only with more depth, guns, and a leveling system. You'll start off with a pistol, eventually find a rifle, then a crossbow, then a grenade launcher, chaingun, flamethrower, BFG'esque gun, and so on. You'll never be at a loss for weaponry.

After you kill a certain number of enemies, you'll be given the chance to upgrade your character with perks. Some such perks include the ability to run faster (Fieldrunner), the ability to dodge some attacks (Ninja Reflexes), increased maximum health, increased damage, etc.

See a video here. A recent update added new stages, weapons, and gameplay modes. I highly recommend.

Frotz

This one isn't quite as action packed as iDracula, but it's certainly worth a look (especially since it's free ). Frotz is a game for your iPhone that allows you to play all of your favorite interactive fiction adventures all over again. There is a good selection from the start, and more are freely downloadable via the browser in Frotz. It'll kill time like there's no tomorrow, and it's light on battery life.

I'd post a video- but that would be one heck of a boring video

UniWar

The exclusion of this title from the GS feature is understandable, as it is very new to the App store. UniWar plays a lot like your classic Advance War type games. The game includes multiple modes, including a campaign and online multiplayer, as well as three different armies with distinctly different unit types, and terrain that effects every unit in unique ways. I'm having quite a good time with it myself.

For a video, check this. Surprisingly deep.

Tap Tap Revenge 2

Tap Tap Revenge was fun, and an adequate music game, with a great selection of titles. Tap Tap Revenge 2 ups the difficulty, the performance, the looks, and the selection all at once. I could gush about this one for ages, but the video really does explain it all.

Find that here. Everything about this one is free, so it's silly not to give it a go.

Alien Abuse

Some of you may already be familiar with this image, because Alien Abuse is a direct re-creation of the classic Abuse on the PC (brought to the Mac by Bungie). I was a huge Abuse fan back in the day, and at .99, I couldn't turn this one away. The action is exactly like it was on the PC. It's fast, full of scares, and totally awesome.

Video of that can be found here. Fast and fun.

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I could go on, but I think I'll save it for another blog. iPhone gaming is serious business, with developers pulling in hundreds of thousands for games they sell at .99USD. So. Who can disagree?

RSB

Talk about a strong way to end the week!

First of all, I've gotten all my goodies, and my dream computer setup has been achieved, almost. Just need to get a new fancy keyboard. But we'll get there

Now on to Tim Meadows. Many of you probably do not know who this man is, but to refresh your memory, he was known as the Ladies Man on Saturday Night Live for ten years! He has been one of my favorites from SNL forever, so getting the chance to see him live was pretty exciting. Pics of the event below!

Awesome.

RSB