A few good computer/iPad games for wargamers!

Hey all!

Okay, I know I've been gone this summer, but I DID want to pop back on to recommend a trio of games that I've played recently!

First up is Warhammer Quest, for the iPad.  Yep, THAT Warhammer Quest.  There isn't a lot to say, except if you liked the tabletop version, this is it:)  Graphics are nice, interface is smooth, and the game is a lot of fun.  Plus, it has a lot of that Warhammer "feel" as you explore the Empire and Old World!  There are expansions for sale as well, including a skaven one... I'll have to check that out:)

Second, check out Sid Meier's Ace Patrol, seen at the top of this post!  It is basically Wings of Glory/War in the iPad.  Again, if you like the tabletop version, this will likely appeal to you, as you fly your WWI aces through mission after mission.  Again, there is a lot for sale, but the original game I believe is free, or at least very cheap!:)

Lastly, for the PC and Mac, check out Faster Than Light (FTL).  Sure the graphics look very 1990s, but the game is solid.  Basically you are a ship captain flying through the galaxy, a vengeful enemy on your tail, upgrading and developing your ship and your crew and fending off baddies left and right!  It is very simple to play but still a TOUGH game... dead is dead, and then you are back to the start.  But still, even if it can be very frustrating, it is fun.

So... hope you all can give them a look!

And as always...

BATTLEFIELD 3!

:)

A great Normandy assault on the iPad

Howdy all!

Well... REALLY enjoying Battle Academy for the iPad.

Played the first Normandy scenario (there are a TON of scenarios for this damn game... dozens and dozens spread across eight or something campaigns).

You just landed on the beaches and have to break inland.  There are several objectives right at the beaches that need taking, two inland causeways that need capturing, and finally there is town that is held by paratroopers that you must relieve.

A LOT of damned fun.  Taking villages is a brute... you've got to bring armor up and pound the hell out of any position you think enemy infantry might be lurking in... then, if you can, flank with your infantry and assault the houses.  If you try to roll tanks right down the street you are doomed.

Tough to use the naval bombardments... they take a few turns to reach the target, so I am still trying to make sure the enemy hasn't LEFT when the rounds arrive!  I did have a great moment where I had some airborne troops holding a bridge against a wave of German armor... just as they were about to be overrun the naval shells thundered in, throwing back the Germans and destroying a bunch of them.  It was pretty excellent.

I did end up winning... just as my airborne guys were about to be overrun on the edge of the town I managed to roll a column of Shermans and Stewarts right in the back of the town and attack them from the flanks.  Victory was mine!

A really great game... HIGHLY recommended for ANY wargamer with an iPad and a couple of bucks to spare.  Between the dozens of missions, the open ended play, and the apparently easy multiplayer (I haven't tried it yet) it definitely seems worth it.

FINALLY! A true wargame for the iPad!

FINALLY!

I have long thought that the iPad was the IDEAL platform for wargames.  Not only is it portable and light, but you can almost move the figures around with your own hands... VERY wargaming!

However, I've been disappointed that there hasn't been a good wargame for the iPad yet.

Well, no more!  Finally there is, from the folks over at Slitherine... Battle Academy!

It performs exactly as you would expect on an iPad, and is a ton of fun.  It covers almost every part of the Western Theatre, including Africa and Europe, and includes a ton of units.  Very intuitive game controls, and good game mechanics... suppress the enemy and then engage them on the flank!

One downside?  The cost... it is 20 bucks.  Now, that is NOTHING compared to XBOX games, but is more than most people expect to pay for an iPad game.

Honestly though, it is worth it!

So go out there and buy it!

An iPad version of Pirates of the Spanish Main

Howdy all!

Well, a few months ago I got an iPad2 as a birthday gift (a rather generous one at that)!

I've been playing with it a bit, looking for great games as well as looking for anything related to wargaming.  I have actually found some great games, and thought I would share a few (as well as take some suggestions!)

The first fun one is called "Age of Wind," and it is basically like a PC version of Pirates of the Spanish Main crossed with a roleplaying game.

You start with a small pirate ship in the Caribbean.  You can sail between islands, either trading a small number of goods or attacking ship convoys.  There is a basic story that is very cheesy (and clearly written by a non-native English speaker) but really it is just fun to sail around having battles.  The controls are simple, and the game is simple, but it is definitely worth the 99 cents it costs.

The fact that the game opens with the classical piece from "Master and Commander" and has a wonderful version of the Pirates of the Carib. movie theme, doesn't hurt the atmosphere!

I wish I could get a hold of this game and modify it, but I have no one with any iPad programming skills:)