Minecraft - Pocket Edition [$6.99] took another step towards becoming what the series' fans had expected and wanted from the tablet and phone version of the PC indie darling. To put it another way, its name actually makes sense now courtesy last night's update, which added crafting, damageable items, and tool-specific gathering. We all knew this update was coming, but what's interesting is the way the crafting part of the experience is presented. Unlike the PC version, Pocket Edition tells you what you can make and how to make it. Swathes of well-realized UI -- which look a lot like the Xbox 360 version of the game's UI -- hold your hand while crafting, pointing out recipes and giving you feedback on what you need to gather next. Even though it might not jive with the game's spirit or themes, we think this bit of added functionality is pretty neat. If Read More

A friend on Twitter asked me the other day if I had a list of the educational apps I have on my iPad. With all the reviews I have done, I was ashamed to admit that I've never taken the time to list those apps that I use on a regular basis with my children. I reached out to the other writers at TUAW and asked them the same question. Together, we compiled a list of our favorite learning apps for children, and wow, what a list. The apps are presented below in no particular order. SparkleFish ($0.99, 99-cent in-app purchases) Paper by FiftyThree (Free, in-app purchases of $2.99 for tools and $7.99 for everything) Minecraft-Pocket Edition ($6.99; more game-ish, but building with blocks is learning, no?) Articulation Station (Free; sound packs are $2.99 to $5.99, full app is $49) Motion Math Hungry Fish (Free, in-app purchases from $2.99 up to Read More

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Last week, we gave you a heads up about new updates for two of the most popular "crafting" games in the App Store – one for Mojang's official release of Minecraft - Pocket Edition [$6.99/Lite] and one for its 2D counterpart of sorts Junk Jack [$2.99/Lite], which is developed by PixBits. Well, since we signed off for the weekend this past Friday, both updates have now become available. Junk Jack, $2.99 / Lite - [Review] - There is a stupid amount of new things in the latest update for Junk Jack, and as usual you can catch the full list in the app's description or at the PixBits blog. Essentially, the big ticket items are a ton of new mobs, several new items to craft, an in-game shop with optional IAP items, and explosives if you need to quench your thirst for blowing crap up. There's of course a plethora of tweaks Read More

If you wanted to play Minecraft and ran into this instead, you'd be very disappointed and out $1. Browsing recent App Store releases, I came across “Minecraft – Pocket Edition,” with a version 1.0 update. Thinking it might be the update that finally brings combat and additional block types to Mojang’s free-form world creation game, I quickly clicked through — only to find a completely different app that’s obviously trying to lure customers who aren’t paying close attention. The Minecraft – Pocket Edition released Jan. 26 is from developer Onliance, not Mojang, and despite having exactly the same name as the original, and using screenshots from the full release desktop version of the game, actually isn’t a game at all: it’s a guide or recipe list for use with the PC title (and doesn’t even really apply to the genuine Pocket Edition in its current form), but customers searching for the original Read More

Tal y como ya os comentamos en noviembre con su salida, Minecraft – Pocket Edition está disponible para todos los amantes de este juego en la App Store. Sin embargo, este Minecraft era una versión reducida del Minecraft de las plataformas de sobremesa, lo cual llevó a la decepción por aquellos que tenían ganas infinitas de tenerlo también en el móvil. En un principio, los desarrolladores tenían un plan para convertir en la Pocket Edition en algo más similar a la versión Creative, pero según dicen “por desgracia nos equivocamos”. “Los usuarios nos han pedido monstruos, recursos, animales y más tipos de bloques distintos. Esto conlleva que el código inicial que teníamos escrito no nos sirve para añadir todo lo que nos han estado pidiendo los usuarios”. Y ésta es la razón por la que se han demorado nuevas actualizaciones. Así pues, tienen previsto enviar la nueva versión del juego para Read More

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I love video games as much as the next guy, as long as the next guy doesn’t spend hours a day grinding through the upper levels of Call of Duty or the latest Super Mario creation. So for casual mobile gamers, as promised in this week’s App Smart column, here’s a list of my top 10 new iPhone gaming apps for 2011. Scribblenauts Remix ($1) A beautifully-designed cartoon adventure game for children, Scribblenauts Remix is the mobile version of the popular Nintendo DS title. (For ages 9 and older.) Where’s My Water? ($1) A charming, light game in which you help an alligator find water in increasingly complicated conditions. (For ages 4 and older.) Tiny Tower (free) Build a tower within the limits of your ever-changing virtual budget. It’s creative problem solving, wrapped in graphically cute packaging. (For ages 4 and older.) Tiny Wings ($1) An adorable, seductively simple and addictive Read More

We love new apps. It is one of the joys of our life to sift through the flood of apps that are published or updated every month and deliver the best or most interesting to our readers. November had some great apps for Android, the iPhone and the iPad. In our ongoing series of Apps Of The Month, we take a look at what November produced below. We are continuing for the third month with our list of app updates so you can keep track of what you need to update for functionality and security purposes. The list, as always, is a bit subjective so please let us know in the comments if we missed an app or you have found one that you cannot live without. A Charlie Brown Christmas - ($6.99 iOS, Android) Who better to tug on the heart strings of Christmas than Charlie Brown? The new app Read More

[$6.99] is cool, yet it lacks almost everything that makes Minecraft on other platforms pop -- you know, crafting and monsters and all of that jazz. Thankfully, and as we all expected given Mojang's rich history of updating the other versions of the game, Pocket Edition is set to receive most of the meaningful game-defining features that its sister games have, either through a series of updates or a big one. Daniel Kaplan, a business dude over at the studio, laid out an upcoming feature list on Mojang's official blog. As you'll see, the list notes that a crafting system with a specialized interface is coming down the pipes alongside the introduction of animals and enemies and, most probably importantly, a new file system that will support all of this new, really promising stuff. Kaplan also notes that the studio will continue to optimize Pocket Edition, which is great hear. Speaking Read More

Posted 12/02/2011 at 6:02am | by Seamus Bellamy Folks with even a passing interest in computer gaming have no doubt heard of Minecraft. Created by independent developer Michael “Notch” Persson, the sandbox-style title pits players against a mysterious realm where they are forced to explore, collect resources, craft objects, and build fortifications in order to survive. When an early version of the game was released back in 2009, it became an instant underground hit that garnered a devoted cult following, thanks to its charmingly simple visuals and easily accessible gameplay. Unfortunately for iOS gamers, Minecraft – Pocket Edition, doesn’t offer anything close to the same experience as it’s computer-bound cousin. While Minecraft’s signature 8-bit-inspired 3D graphics are intact, the soul of the game has been lost in the translation from PC desktop sensation to a universal iOS curiosity. After tapping the game to life, you can explore Minecraft’s world, but honestly Read More

+ Universal App $6.99 Our Review By Rob Thomas on November 29th, 2011 Rating: :: KEEP DIGGING The PC open-world construction hit comes to iOS with Minecraft - Pocket Edition. However, don't expect any Creepers or... you know, mining at the moment. Developer: Price: $6.99 Version: 0.1.2 App Reviewed on: iPhone 4S Graphics / Sound Rating: User Interface Rating: Gameplay Rating: Re-use / Replay Value Rating: Overall Rating: Few indie success stories are as noteworthy as that of Minecraft. Swedish developer Markus “Notch” Persson went from virtual obscurity to game industry household name in less than two years on the strength of this PC sandbox construction juggernaut. Notch and his team at Mojang just held the first official MineCon convention a couple of weekends ago in Las Vegas, which also served as a release party for the final 1.0 PC version and the iOS port of Minecraft – Pocket Edition (released Read More

On this week's TouchArcade Show, we spend a good chunk of the introductory phase of the show talking about the latest and hottest ... in console games. But immediately after my Skyrim outburst and our shared Modern Warfare 3 discussion, we DO dig into iOS. Jurassic Park: The Game leads the foray. Games like Minecraft: Pocket Edition and Space Tripper, as well as news stories including Apple's decision to pull Texas Hold'Em round out the rest of one of our rocking-est podcasts yet. If you'd like to give us a listen (and you should) hit one of the links below to stream or direct download. If you'd like to subscribe, definitely do so via iTunes or, hey, even Zune. Options, you have them! Show notes just below, and please, if you have the time, throw us a question! We're open to whatever. The e-mail is podcast@toucharcade.com GAMES JARED'S KITTY KORNER FRONT Read More

Looking for a new app this weekend?  Here are ten great new apps for the iPhone and iPad that you may want to check out! Everyone’s favorite Charlie Brown story returns as an interactive storybook narrated by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown.  In addition to the book there are mini-games and activities including the chance to decorate your own Christmas tree.  $6.99/£4.99. A new photo sharing app with a selection of pro-quality filters and the chance to follow friends, view their pictures and explore all the online galleries.  The app is free for a limited time.  Free. The highly anticipated Pocket Edition of Minecraft, Mojang’s incredibly popular create-a-world game.  Here there’s no survival mode (yet), but you do get 36 blocks with which to build, plus a local Wi-Fi multiplayer mode.  Universal for the iPhone and iPad.  $6.99/£4.99. What is there to say, this is an app featuring Read More

Minecraft is now available as a universal app for iPhone and iPad, although it’s currently a shadow of the game that’s available on the PC and Mac. If you’re expecting creepers, survival mode, or the ability to join the multiplayer server you and your friends have spent months playing on…well, set those dreams aside for now. Minecraft for iOS is currently just an alpha release with infinite health, a limited number of block types, and local Wi-Fi multiplayer. I am pleasantly surprised with the control scheme, though. Aside from the d-pad (with auto-jumps built right into movement), there are very few on-screen controls. Placing and mining blocks simply requires you to tap or hold on the screen, and I think this system could actually make building large structures a little easier. I don’t expect that I’ll be gaming for hours on end, even on the iPad, but it would be lovely Read More

Believe it or not, we are getting into the start of the holiday season, and that means tons of action on the App Store as people head over to buy apps for their new devices. There are a bunch of exciting new apps to check out today, so here's a quick list: Man, that's a whole lot of great games! This isn't even all of the app releases out this week, and my guess is that we haven't even seen the biggest flood of new apps -- that usually comes around Thanksgiving, and then ramps up again right as Apple freezes the store before Christmas. It's going to be a busy holiday season in iOS gaming for sure. Read More

Whoa, it's Wednesday again. Unfortunately, Brad is still lost to the world of Skyrim, I'm standing on top of a mountain of bodies in MW3, and Jared is, I don't know, watching a Giants game or something. Regardless, we're pulling it all together for this week's pile of game releases. There's some great games out this week too, including a few highly anticipated titles as well as a few surprises… And even some highly anticipated titles we were surprised to see released so soon. Like all weeks, all of these games will be available in the USA at 11:00 PM Eastern, but if you're east of us, chances are they're already released. Age of Zombies Anniversary, 99¢ - Forum Thread - It's Halfbrick's Age of Zombies, but universal and with HD assets for the Retina Display, as well as being universal with full iPad support. Check out our review of the Read More