Gaming

If you have iOS 10 or later, you can challenge a friend to a quick game in the Messages app, provided your friend is also using iMessages! Just find a game you like in the iMessaages App Store, tap to get it, and then start playing with your friend. Playing a game via iMessages is great for when you don't have much to talk about, but still want to keep in touch with someone. Here's how to start and play games in iMessages. 

The Worldwide Developers Conference 2019 keynote event has come and gone, leaving us with an array of updates, reorganizations, additions, and hardware to assimilate into our mental map of Apple products and services. Rumors were flying about the death of iTunes, new iOS, watchOS, and Mac features; now let’s go over what really happened, and what it means for both Apple developers and customers.

Best Apps: Pokémon Go

By Hallei Halter

If you're like me, you can get bored on the usual walk and wish you could see something cool...like a flaming horse. Pokémon Go uses your phone to turn your surroundings into a field rife with imaginative creatures that you can capture and train. Whether you need to get some variety in your routine walk, or want to make walking a daily 10,000 steps a habit, Pokémon Go can get you on the right foot!

I am a big advocate of digital conversions of popular board games. While such digital interpretations can't match the camaraderie and engaged player interactions of the original analog source, I find the benefits of digital board game conversions far outpace these obvious shortcomings. I can carry the digital equivalent of a physical shelf full of analog board games in my iPad and never worry about misplacing any game pieces. I also don't have to scour over rules whenever a questionable action comes into play, since the digital app almost always alerts me of any invalid moves or valid options. Most importantly, the AI opponents in the digital interpretations means there is always someone to play the game with.

App Saturday: Two Dots

By Hallei Halter

Playing Two Dots seems simple enough: connect enough same-colored dots in the allotted turns to advance levels. However, the more you play the more it becomes clear that Two Dots is a thought-provoking strategy game with unrelenting charm. With visuals that strike the balance of cozy and quirky, an amazing soundtrack, and gameplay that keeps players coming back for more, Two Dots is worth checking out. 

There’s no doubt that kids absolutely love to play games on iPhones and iPads. But not all games are created for younger children, and you may prefer they don’t play those games. Luckily, you can set restrictions on your child’s iPhone or iPad. This will give you a little more control over the content your child consumes in the age of information. Here’s how to set Game Center restrictions on your child’s iPad or iPhone.

Apple unveiled iOS 12 today at the WWDC 2018 Keynote, and we can expect exciting improvements and features when the iOS update is released in the fall. From overall upgrades to performance, privacy, and security, to app overhauls for the News and Stocks apps, to fun additional Animoji choices, as well as the brand-new Memoji option, Apple engineers have put together a well-balanced crowd-pleaser of an operating system that we can't wait to upload to our devices! Let's go over which devices are compatible with iOS 12, discuss all the new iOS features, and learn how to sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program to try out iOS 12 before the official release date. 

You've probably run across the acronym AR or heard friends mention AR gear or games, but what is AR, exactly? Augmented reality (AR) merges computer-generated images with the real world around you. Unlike VR (Virtual Reality), AR games don't require a special headset; you just need your iPhone, a good protective case, and the space to move around. We've covered some of the best AR games available for your iPhone in this article. Read on to you

Like most people, I am a fan of the Harry Potter universe, including Fantastic Beasts. I've seen all of the movies and even saw the new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, in London last month. But to review Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (free + in-app purchases) from Jam City, I had to turn the reigns over to my daughter, Ariel, who is a Harry Potter superfan. In fact, she just returned from a trip to Scotland, where she visited the places where J.K. Rowling wrote the books, including the cemetery where she got the names for a number of characters. My daughter is heading to college next year, so it was fun for her to receive a virtual acceptance letter from Hogwarts and get to "attend" classes at that school, answer trivia questions, and more! So, the review below is from her viewpoint: 

It seems unfair that the times we're able to play games on our iPhones are the exact times that there's unreliable, unsecured, or no Wi-Fi connection at all. If you've been wishing for a few fun offline games for those long flights, waits at the DMV, or road trips to the back of beyond, I've collected a sampling of no Wi-Fi games just for you. Whether you enjoy offline racing games, strategy games, puzzle games, or even RPG games, there's something in this games without Wi-Fi roundup for everybody. Let me know which of these iPhone games is your go-to when there's no internet available, and if you have any to recommend that I've missed. Let's get started!

The Apple TV 4K has four times more pixels than standard HD, while offering realistic, crisp colors and detail with HDR (High Dynamic Range.) These features, in combination with the A10X Fusion Chip, deliver smooth, clear graphics and make the Apple TV 4K an excellent choice for gamers seeking an affordable, portable, high-quality gaming experience that supports every game in the Apple ecosystem. Let's peruse some Apple TV game choices to get a flavor of the range of gaming possibilities and experiences currently on offer. From fantasy adventure to arcade style and from puzzle and brain-teasers to creativity games, here are my top family-friendly picks for the best Apple TV games. 

People with a lack of patience or itchy twitch fingers will likely declare The Pillars of the Earth Game Book one: From the Ashes ($4.99) to be a drab and painfully boring game. But for those seeking an engaging, stress-free gaming experience, Pillars is an enthralling graphic adventure that will soothe and inspire. If you are the latter, read on to find out if this gaming experience is worthy of the purchase price.

I love gaming on my iPhone, and I am happy to pay for an app. But too often, I’ll get into a ‘free’ game only to end up spending more on in-app purchases than I ever would have on a single game for any regular gaming console. Which is why Riptide GP: Renegade is such a refreshing surprise. I spent $2.99 for the initial game, which is a great price considering the developers don’t upsell you within the app at all. The graphics are beautiful, the racing controls are the smoothest I’ve ever tried, and it feels like a normal game because once I buy it, it’s fully-featured and ready to play. All of this combined makes Riptide GP: Renegade the best racing game on the iPhone. We’ll cover more on what this game offers and why I love it below.

Jealous of devices like the Nintendo Switch, with their physical controllers? Help is on the way, thanks to Gamevice ($79.95–$99.95). Gamevice is a collapsible/expandable controller that encloses an iPhone. It's somewhat adjustable for different-sized iPhones as long as they aren't in a case. The Gamevice is comfortable to the touch and has handy buttons, joysticks, and a diamond pad. They sell different versions for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices and have a Lightning, microUSB or even USB-C port. The Gamevice supports over 1,000 games and there is a handy reference page on their website.

Feral Interactive, the company responsible for the remarkable port of the Total War games to the iOS platform, has outdone itself with its latest PC to mobile conversion. GRID Autosport for iPhone and iPad ($9.99), originally developed for the PC and game consoles by Codemasters, is an amazing achievement in presenting the fidelity and complete package (including 10 free episodes of downloadable content) from the desktop and game console counterparts. Read on to find out why the release of this driving game is a defining moment for iOS gamers.

Augmented Reality (AR) is supposedly "the next big thing" in videogames, and Apple has embraced that possibility by outfitting iOS game developers with ARKit to help standardize and accelerate AR on iOS. During the recent iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and iPhone X launch event, Apple had a developer from Directive Games take to the stage and demonstrate the company's ARKit-powered new game, The Machines. After upgrading to iOS 11, the first AR-enabled game I played was The Machines ($4.99). Does it live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

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