When I reviewed Inbetween Land for iPad more than two years ago, I echoed sentiments from the Mac review-it was a game I liked but did not love, a fun experience that didn’t match the quality of other G5 releases. But it is still a solid and fun game, and this week it is FREE on all platforms!
It is hard for me to think that it has been nearly 37 years since I was first awed by the guitar playing of Allan Holdsworth on the album ‘Feels Good to Me’ by Bill Bruford. His style was first shown with Soft Machine, and now we get to see it develop as part of the legendary Switzerland 1974 recording!
One of my favorite games of 2014 was Divinity: Original Sin from Larian Studios. The game from the Divine Divinity studio brings in all of the elements of classic RPGs while also featuring drop-in/out multiplayer, cross-platform interaction, cloud saves and other modern features. Now they have announced an Enhanced Edition of the game including ports to PS4 and XBOX One!
IK Multimedia has many products that bridge the gap between work and play, putting the ‘fun’ in functional! iKlip Grip is the latest, a four-in-one accessory that is a selfie-stick but also SO much more! You can also use it as desktop tripod, monopod, or grip handle! Add Bluetooth shutter control and you have a great fun tool!
IK Multimedia ‘s AmpliTube has been the ultimate guitar amp simulator since it was released several years ago, and it just keeps getting better and better! Now they have announced an entirely new version–AmpliTube 4–featuring a computer-grade DSP system, new microphone options, expanded effect sequencing options, an updated look and more! And it’s a free upgrade for owners!
Early last year I reviewed 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek for the iPad, enjoying the game so much I achieved nearly all of the achievements and gushed over the puzzles, story, and overall flow. Now G5 and Artifex Mundi are back with 9 Clues 2: The Ward, and it is better than the original game in every way!
This week ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ was released, with over 1.5 million pre-orders! I pre-ordered mine through a favorite site – GreenManGaming. The main reason I love GreenManGaming? They offer a better pre-order discount than GoG.com, Steam, and other sources. There was an issue getting keys on time, but how GreenManGaming handled it made me even more loyal!
I still remember a decade ago when a friend convinced me to put down money for Sid Meier’s Pirates! I’d never played the original or any other game in the genre – yet I instantly fell in love. So when I heard about Windward, which takes things to the next level, I was thrilled. Now Windward is out on Steam!
Last fall I reviewed Marco Minnemann’s excellent solo album Eeps. I called it ‘musician’s music’, “that is technically insane and that you will listen to again and again to absorb the details of what they are playing and how they are putting it together”. Now he is back with Celebration out June 1st, and it sounds awesome so far!
For years Garmin had an unassailable position with their GPS watches representing the ‘gold standard’ for runners. The move to low-cost Bluetooth activity trackers rocked the industry as it pushed manufacturers to include more features, wireless syncing, and lower prices. Garmin pushes the envelope again with ForeRunner 225, the first major running watch with integrated optical heart-rate sensor from Mio.
For anyone who plays a guitar, when AmpliTube arrived with a built-in tuner it was a revelation. Suddenly you didn’t need a tuner – just your phone, which you already had! Then IK Multimedia introduced UltraTuner and things got even better. Now they have introduced UltraTuner for Apple Watch, and the convenience factor is through the roof!
If you have teenagers, you’ve probably struggled with getting them out of bed in the morning. With my older son, it’s like an arms race of alarms vs. his ability to sleep through them! So when I had the chance to check out the TCL Pulse, I was skeptical – ok, downright dubious – that it would actually work.
There are many variations on the common phrase, but the sentiment remains the same: you know you’ve made it when you find yourself fighting fraud in absolutely trivial areas. Steam, the online gaming service, has found itself increasingly dealing with phishing and fraudulent activities in the social areas of their service – and now they are taking action.
Even as I shift away from making music on iOS devices and back to my home studio, one thing remains: noodling around on my guitar using iRig and Amplitube. Since their introduction five years ago they have become ubiquitous tools for guitarists and bassists. Now that IK Multimedia has expanded their reach to Android devices even more musicians can benefit!
A year ago when I reviewed the previously unreleased album ‘S.O.S.’, I didn’t single out each player for their amazing contributions because the album was more about bringing together three amazing musicians for an even more amazing outcome. Now with the release of Mike Osborne’s earliest solo works as ‘Dawn’, we can single out his amazing contributions to jazz.
The Star Wars Battlefront games released for PC and consoles back in 2004-5 were a big hit with fans, and the fun online play kept players engaged for several years. I also loved the PSP games Battlefront II, Renegade Squadron, and Elite Squadron. Now in time for the new Star Wars movie we’re getting a new Star Wars Battlefront!
In January I reviewed Avernum 2, noting the iPad version Avernum 2 HD was set to release on April 15th. April 15th arrived, the game made it through Apple’s release process, but unfortunately iOS 8.3 arrived and broke the game. Rather than fix the game, Spiderweb Software has pulled the release, refunded money and cancelled all future iOS development.
Its hard to believe we’re so close to getting another glimpse into the Star Wars universe, as Star Wars The Force Awakens is set to arrive this Christmas. And to get all of us even MORE excited, as part of Star Wars Celebrations we get a new teaser trailer with a Luke voice-over, and a peek at Han and Chewie!
Just as Apple Watch opened for pre-orders, the Garmin VivoActive arrived in stores and the hands of runners and athletes everywhere. I had written up announcement at CES, so I was thrilled to get one in my hands to play around with. Now after a week, I want to check in with my initial likes and dislikes of the VivoActive.
This week is the Musicmesse Festival in Frankfurt, Germany. This event, along with January’s NAMM, are the biggest events for the music industry and the place for new gear announcements. We won’t cover everything, but Roland has some new gear that simply needs to be discussed. The big announcement is their hotly anticipated JD-Xa Analog + Digital Crossover Synthesizer!
One of my favorite iOS games of 2015 so far is Radiation Island. It is a first-person open-world survival game with gorgeous graphics, engaging emergent gameplay, and the ability to shape your own course through the adventure. Also a variety of enemies, weapons, locations and hazards, and tools to craft! Now Radiation Island is available on Mac for just $2.99!