IPOD-TEMPLE RUN IOS
Visual Style/Gameplay
“In pretty much every treasure hunting adventure movie there’s no specific scene in which the plucky hero finally gets his hand on the treasure but then has to navigate a maze of booby traps in order to get out alive. Temple run is this scene and nothing else. And its amazing” – SlideToPlay.Com
Temple run is an action game published by Imangi Studios. Temple run is available free on an iPod, iPad and various smart phones. The main objective of the game is to run as far as possible while avoiding obstacles along the way. Temple run is one of the “Most thrilling and fun running games in a while, possible ever”- (TheAppera.com) Temple run is an 9+ aged game, which is set in an ancient temple. Temple run is a very simplicity game, which involves quick thinking and fast reactions; the game operates by using a touchscreen control. There are no complicated controls, players can play the game with just their fingers to jump, dunk or turn. (as shown below)
There are three types of terrains which are: “Brick path”,” Wooden path” and a “Stone path” All these different types of terrain contains different types of obstacles for example the “brick path” contains “tree trunks” which you have to dive under whereas the “ Wooden path” there are no tree trunks. The game consists of seven different characters, which you can unlock. “Guy Dangerous” is automatically activated. The six other characters automatically unlock when you have reached a certain target. For example in ordered for the player to unlock “Scarlett Fox” you need £10,000 coins whereas to unlock “ Zach Wonder” you need £25,000, which is a big difference. The six other characters are “Scarlett Fox”, “Barry Bones”, “Karma Lee”, “Montana Smith”, “Francisco Montoya” and lastly “Zack Wonder”. Alongside the temple runners there are three “Demonic monkeys” which chase after the temple runner, these characters are unchangeable.
During the game temple run there isn’t much feedback interface. However the game gives the player feedback about their progress, this then motivates the player to try and improve their previous record. “”Brilliant game. Extremely addictive” – (Customer Review by Alan Partridge) likewise the player is only notified if they’ve beaten their high score or if the “Demonic Monkeys” have caught them. However, if you make a stumble it allows the “Demonic monkeys” to get closer to you, but not catch you. This is a simple hint that tells the player that the monkeys are very close, in which you could get caught which would then result to you failing the game. “Maybe not the most action packed game but it’s the most addictive game I’ve ever played. One of the best apps that I have” (Customer Review by Leedsbigfan) (Quotes taken from Itunes.apple.com)
Temple run is in the perspective of 2D; Reason for this is because Temple run is a free IOS game,
In temple run you play the game as an explorer. Temple run is only a single game play; there are no multiplayer options. Within the game there are many game settings that can be applied for example if you wanted the music off or on, sound off or on, or if you wanted a tutorial. Likewise Temple run also gives you the option of changing characters (depending on what you’ve unlocked, as I mentioned before) Temple run also give its players the opportunity of changing their wallpaper to either “ temple run”, “Guy Dangerous” or the “Evil Demon Monkeys”. However you need £5,000 coins in ordered to apply these changes.
There are a wide variety of Goals, challenges and rewards within Temple run; this does not let the players feel bored. Performing certain actions during a run or buying things in the store unlocks objectives. The opportunity to unlock new objectives makes the player urge to improve their previous score to make their character develop new abilities and skills. There are over 36 different objectives such as “Novice Runner” (Ran 500 meters) or “Million Club” (Score 1,000,000 points).
Below is a list of Power Up’s that are available in the game:
- Mega Coin (Huge amount of money)
- Coin Magnetic (Coins become attracted to you, as you run therefore you don’t have to focus on collecting coins)
- Invisibility (No need to jump or dunk to avoid obstacles)
- Boost (Head start at the beginning of the game)
In order to get these power ups you have to catch them while playing temple run, however some power ups are available in the apple store to purchase
Below is a screenshot of one of the power ups available
Temple run is an “endless game”; there are no such things as “Levels” within Temple run or “winning”.
Below is a youtube link to a Temple Run Review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PktvAloa0M
IPAD-ANGRY BIRDS
Visual Style/Gameplay
Angry Birds is an action games published by Rovio Entertainment Ltd. Angry Birds is available for free for Mac, PC, IOS (iPhone, iPod, IPAD, Android, Windows phone and Blackberry Playbook) The main objective of the game is to “Sling” each “angry bird” to target the “Bad piggies”. “I think this game is really addictive sometimes it is frustrating when you can’t do the level” (By Lily Whitfield) (Taken from “Reviews” on Apple store website)
Angry Birds is a 4+-aged game, which is set on a setting, which appears to look like a “farm”. Angry birds is a very easy and understandable game, which involves concentration and good target skills: the game operates by using a touchscreen control. There are no complicated controls; players can play the game with just their finger to swipe. There is only one type of terrain, which is the still image of the farm background. However angry birds have different types of episodes, for example there is “Angry Birds Seasons” “Angry Birds Rio” “Angry Birds and Friends” and “Bad Piggies” (just to name a few). The game consists of two different characters, which are the “Angry Birds” and the “Bad piggies”. The bad piggies are non-playing characters.
Below is a screen shot of the different versions of the game available
The different versions ensure that the player doesn’t get bored from playing the same version over and over again.
Below is a screenshot of the levels which are available to unlock.
During the game Angry Birds there isn’t much feedback interface. However the game gives the player feedback if they have targeted well, to destroy the pigs. The game indicates this by the objects which surround the pigs disappear once the player has aimed correctly, the player will know if they have succeeded if all the bad piggies have vanished. At the end of each game the player is awarded stars depending on how well you’ve done. You can either get a full house, which is 3 gold stars, 2 gold stars, 1 gold star or none. If you haven’t received any gold stars you have then failed the level. If the player has failed the levels green pig appears instead of an angry bird. This indicates to the player that they have been unsuccessful with that specific level as the “green pigs” are the “baddies”.
Below is a screenshot of the feedback you get when you’re successful and when you are unsuccessful
In angry birds you play the character of an angry bird that is angry and is after revenge on the greedy pigs that have stole their eggs. Angry Birds on an ipad is a single gameplay; there are no multiplayer options, however online it gives you an opportunity to change from single to multi.
During this game there isn’t a wide variety of goals, challenges and rewards. The only goal in this gameplay is to aim correctly to vanish the bad piggies. This may sound boring however it is described as being “very addictive” as the player is focused on aiming correctly to banish all the bad piggies.
Below is a list of free features that are available in the game:
- 30 Levels not available in the full game
- 10 mini episodes
- Game Centre support
- Leader books and achievements
(List taken from Applestore.com)
Angry birds have various levels, which get harder and harder the higher you get. For example when I was playing angry birds, level 1 it was simple and easy to target and there wasn’t much obstacles surrounding the pigs whereas level 5 there were different obstacles surround the pigs, which made it harder to target them and also the pigs showed more emotion e.g pigs eye turned purple when it was hit”.
Below I had made a list of thing I had noticed while playing Angry Birds:
- More graphics are introduced the higher the level
- You can refer back to the instructions
- Make the screen larger
- You move with the bird
- You must complete a level to move on, however you don’t need 3 stars (just 1)
- Background does not change when you move up a level
- Sounds consistent
- Obstacles are a combination of glass, wood and stone
“The game is pretty good however the adverts as an absolute menace, taking up view on the game so you cant always see it properly, popping up every time the level finishes…. Appalling they have let this happen”
“Its an awesome game just not very addictive. Its not as good as angry birds rio though” by T11131
(Screenshot of the game)
Here is a tutorial of Angry Birds I had found on “Youtube”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-hjAY0XpvE
Online Flash Game- Mikey’s Crazy Cafeteria
Visual Style/ Gameplay
Mikey’s crazy cafeteria is based on a Disney Channel TV series called Recess, which is about a group of friends 4 boys and 2 girls, which during their breaks in primary solve mysteries. Mikey is the “Obese” child within the group however he is very sensitive. Mikey’s crazy cafeteria is a fast food serving free online flash game. While Mikey is busy in his cafeteria, the player needs to help him top up the food with the correct toppings, which are:
- Punch-Drink
- Ketchup-Chips
- Chocolate-Ice cream
- Sauce-Spaghetti
The game is based at lunchtime, which is the busiest time of the day in which Mikey is working in the cafeteria. As orders are constantly coming in from clients the game becomes harder. Mikey is the only playing character in “Mikey’s crazy cafeteria” however “Miss Finester” is a non-playing character, which only appears when you’ve reached the end of a level.
At the beginning of the game there’s a simple tutorial, which explains how the game works
Above is a screen shot of the introduction of Mikey’s Crazy Cafeteria.
Above is a screen shot of the instructions which are represented in the game. It is easy and very understandable. The text isn’t too complicated to understand which makes it easy for most people to read and understand the game. The “Play” is very bold and red which is very attractive.
This is the beginning of the game, this is “Level 1” This level is nice and easy. The tray slides slowly, allowing the player to push the correct button to keep the clients satisfied. I screen grabbed the chips; in order to succeed in this game you must click on the correct toping which is Ketchup.
I had clicked the tomato ketchup just in time, which resulted me in succeeding the game.
Above is screenshot of the feedback the online flash game provides, this is a clear feedback interface, it clearly states “Congratulations! You have made it to the next level”
Above is a screen shot of “Level two”. Level two automatically becomes “harder” by the try having two sources to provide toppings for, In this case the game has made it a bit simpler by providing the player with the same topping, which is “chips”
Above I have screen shotted of my success of putting the correct topping on both of the chips.
This is where the game becomes more challenging, as the game provides the player with a range of sources to put the correct toppings, above i have screen shotted my results. I had missed the toppings for the “chips” and “ice cream” therefore that resulted to my life bar at the top of the screen shot to become “red” which clearly indicates the amount of lives I have left.
Above is my “life bar” I have to get four orders wrong to fail the game. I had got 2 orders wrong, which resulted to two of my lives turning “Red”
I had failed the game as it indicates at the top as all my “life bar” is fully red.
The game doesn’t go back to the homepage, it just stays on the page screen shotted above.
Evaluation
In conclusion the three games I had decided to analyse are all completely different game play and visual styles. All three are played upon different devices, and require different objectives. Temple run and Angry Birds are both available on more than one platform, whereas Mikey’s Cafeteria, is only available online as it is an online flash game. Reasons for the choice of having temple run and angry birds on different platforms, is because the gameplay is rather addictive and can be used to waste time rather than concentrating and spending hours playing. Both games are available on devices such as a smartphone and tablets, which are usually devices which are carried by its personal user while travelling, therefore these games are addictive, quick play and usually used to “kill time” rather than an “augmented game play”.
Mikey’s cafeteria on the other hand is not available on no other different devices apart from a PC (personal Computer) it is a flash game which requires gameplay to be played online.This game could be considered to be game which is used to kill time, however it could also be considered to be a game which is a hanging out session, however it is only available to be played by a single player, like temple run.
The visual features on angry birds compared to temple run and Mickey’s cafeteria, is very simple, clear and bold, I believe the reason for this is because of the age group it is targeted at, and the game play, the visual features contradict the game play. Even though Mikey’s cafeteria game has simple visual features, the game play becomes harder, which relates to its age it is aimed at.
Angry birds game play are arranged in levels, the same for Mikey’s cafe whereas temple run is an on going game, this differentiates temple run from the other two games.Temple run is a game which involves concentration; the further you go, the higher the score. whereas angry birds involves concentration but separated into levels and completing the task.
Angry birds and Temple run are one of the most popular video games, angry simply involves the player to shoot birds at pigs and other objects, the slingshot is used to shoot a variety of birds to destroy targets, mainly pigs.
Ttwarna Malika 