SimCity BuildIt

Post-Launch Review

SimCity BuildIt (Android)

Developer: Electronic Arts

Released: October 2014 (soft launch) / December 2014 (worldwide)

Played: I don't even know. Lots. I'm rank 30.

About

SimCity comes to your phone. Build up your city's population by producing materials to construct housing and managing services such as roads, power, waste, police, fire, and others. Later on, add fancy upgrades using the rewards from shipping and disaster challenges. How big can you make your city?

Adventure Time: Card Wars

Post-Launch Review
Adventure Time: Card Wars (Android)
Developer: Cartoon Network
Released: February 2014

About

Did you see that episode of Adventure Time where Finn and Jake play Card Wars? This game is that game. Collect monster, spell, and building cards, and battle opponents from across the land of Ooo to unlock stronger and rarer cards!

Rebuild

Post-Launch Review

Rebuild (Android version)

Developer: Sarah Northway

Released: October 2011 (browser version, Rebuild 2)

About

Rebuild is a turn-based strategy game set during the zombie apocalypse. A handful of survivors have secured a small (relatively) safe zone, and have begun the task of reclaiming the city from the undead. It's your job to beat back the zombie horde, construct defences, gather resources, recruit survivors, and rebuild the city.

Mobile Gaming

Mobile gaming has become kind of a big thing recently. And I finally have a phone that will let me play those games. So I'm all over mobile gaming, right?

Well...

Here's my problem with mobile games in general. They're designed to be played in short sessions on the go, and have only the touchscreen for control input. Designing for short sessions means quick, relatively simple levels that don't hold my interest in a longer session. Touchscreen controls mean either you're obscuring a large portion of the display just to be able to play the game, or very simple controls that require little or occasional input.

So when my favourite games are rich, long, and complex, you'll see my problem with mobile gaming in general.