iPad Games Thread

[Dave_Perkins]

I am giddy!

[Sten_Friberg]

No, you’re Dave.

[SlainteMhath]

Gods. I took one look at Ascension at $0.99 last night and ran screaming in the other direction. Just a quick glimpse of some of those links above shows me it’s exactly the kind of game I would become hopelessly obsessed with for months, looking crap up on the internet and planning strategy even when I was away from the iPad. I simply can’t afford that kind of time commitment right now, and I know the limits of my own willpower when it comes to CCG-style games.

It looks like fantastic fun though. You guys enjoy!

[Misguided]

Gods. I took one look at Ascension at $0.99 last night and ran screaming in the other direction. Just a quick glimpse of some of those links above shows me it’s exactly the kind of game I would become hopelessly obsessed with for months, looking crap up on the internet and planning strategy even when I was away from the iPad. I simply can’t afford that kind of time commitment right now, and I know the limits of my own willpower when it comes to CCG-style games.

It looks like fantastic fun though. You guys enjoy!

But here’s the thing. You don’t have to sit and obsess over how to build the perfect deck, because you can’t. The game is far more tactical than strategic in that way…you can only choose what is right in front of you on a given turn. As I’ve said before, it is like a CCG for people that don’t like CCGs.

[nKoan]

Because it was $5.99 and low prices are hurting the iOS industry and have conditioned us not to spend that much on iOS games?*

Anyway, I bit and bought it. Once I learn the ropes, I’ll find the appropriate topic and toss my hat in the ring!

• Did you hear that, Rachel Brown? Huh? Huh???

I actually have no problem dropping $6 on an iOS game that I feel I have a good chance of enjoying. I honestly didn’t think Ascension (despite the glowing reviews here) would be something I would enjoy.

And I was wrong, so wrong. If anyone wants to help me build my Ascension skills, my Gamecenter name is nkoan.

[nixon66]

So, played a few games. My first against nixon66 was embarrassing, where I did everything wrong. The next was better. My games against Justin were great, both close, 1 each.

I like it. Expansion pack purchased! And now, to return this thread to a more general iPad Games thread, how about that Jetpack Joyride update, eh? ;)

Yea, I’ve enjoyed our games. I can reliably beat the AI on it’s easy level, but playing against someone else really does teach you more.

I’m starting to get some of the strategy behind playing. I liked how in our last game you excelled at getting rid of the no-points +1 cards, and had a lean deck at the end. When I realized I wouldn’t be able to keep up with your damage output and scoring points that way, I tried to focus on getting points from my cards to keep it close, and it was close there with the final score. I APPROVE OF THIS GAME! Now I think I’ll have to buy the expansion.

[Dave_Perkins]

But here’s the thing. You don’t have to sit and obsess over how to build the perfect deck, because you can’t. The game is far more tactical than strategic in that way…you can only choose what is right in front of you on a given turn. As I’ve said before, it is like a CCG for people that don’t like CCGs.

This is a great point.

There’s no real way to obsess over this game when you’re not at your iPad. I mean, you might THINK about how a game is going, but there’s no way to strategize.

[Enidigm]

I don’t think Ascension really is that deep though. /ducks

The main issue is between um… Runes vs Power. The difference in success between them is completely up to chance. Invest in a lot of Heavy Infantry and Power cards… And maybe you get lucky and a lot of monsters come out. Or maybe you’re unlucky and they don’t, in which case, you lose. It’s not so black and white in practice but I have had games where one side gets locked out because all those Rune or Power cards arent useful depending on the middle row. If the game were purely about runs cards it would be a game much less dependent on luck.

[SlainteMhath]

SHUT UP! I’m not going to let you people talk me into buying Ascension! *

• • because I’ve already talked myself into it and will purchase when I get home. Damn my weak willpower…

[Dave_Perkins]

High fives!

[Misguided]

I don’t think Ascension really is that deep though. /ducks

The main issue is between um… Runes vs Power. The difference in success between them is completely up to chance. Invest in a lot of Heavy Infantry and Power cards… And maybe you get lucky and a lot of monsters come out. Or maybe you’re unlucky and they don’t, in which case, you lose. It’s not so black and white in practice but I have had games where one side gets locked out because all those Rune or Power cards arent useful depending on the middle row. If the game were purely about runs cards it would be a game much less dependent on luck.

I won’t disagree. I do think there is often an opportunity to choose cards that work well together during a given game, but there certainly is more chance involved than in many games, even in the same genre (Dominion, e.g.).

Whether or not that is a negative is subjective. I like it, personally, because you don’t have to break your brain in order to play, and sometimes that’s just what I want.

[Enidigm]

I completely agree but it’s a factor that discourages me from playing multi. Otoh I can burn through a round vs the AI in about 5-10 minutes.

[Dave_Perkins]

Sometimes we post in the league thread that we want to play a real time game any time in the next X hours, and we edit the post when we can no longer do it. Every time I’ve done this, I’ve gotten a game.

[SlainteMhath]

SHUT UP! I’m not going to let you people talk me into buying Ascension!

And boughtenated.

I am SlainteGC in Game Center. I’m still learing the ins and outs vs. the AI, but I may venture online this evening.

[Nightgaunt]

I am floydsix on Gamecenter.

I haven’t lost a game to the AI in Ascension (not even close), but I’m going to guess there’s a reason for that. What am I going to learn when I start playing online?

[Tony_M]

Gods. I took one look at Ascension at $0.99 last night and ran screaming in the other direction. Just a quick glimpse of some of those links above shows me it’s exactly the kind of game I would become hopelessly obsessed with for months, looking crap up on the internet and planning strategy even when I was away from the iPad. I simply can’t afford that kind of time commitment right now, and I know the limits of my own willpower when it comes to CCG-style games.

It looks like fantastic fun though. You guys enjoy!

8 hours later

And boughtenated.

I am SlainteGC in Game Center. I’m still learing the ins and outs vs. the AI, but I may venture online this evening.

Thanks Slainte. I enjoyed watching your slide into the abyss in realtime.

[SlainteMhath]

Thanks Slainte. I enjoyed watching your slide into the abyss in realtime.

LOL! It gets worse. Within 24 hours of buying the original app at $0.99 I spent another $2.99 on the expansion and joined the QT3 Ascension League. =)

The game really is excellent, and I’ve played enough already this weekend alone to justify the $4 investment. I’d recommend it highly to anyone who thinks it looks even remotely interesting.

[Talorc]

As far as I can tell the only way you would know is noticing the non-bolded five-line in-app purchases list on the far-left midway down the page and below the fold.

I always look there before purchasing any iOS game to see if it is has in app purchases and how good/bad they are.

[Tony_M]

Boardgamegeek pointed me to this promising iOS strategy game blog Pocket Tactics.

[bandidoquest]

Subscribed to the blog. Thanks for the recommendation!