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Reigns : Rule your kingdom with a swipe of your finger (Review)

AndroidGuys
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When it comes to games that give you the role of a ruling king, I’d say that 9 times out of 10 you are in the middle of a deep strategy game, requiring you to know who to barter with, go to war with, and when to adjust the price of wares sold to keep your peasants happy, you rich, and your kingdom thriving. Reigns takes all this, simplifies it dramatically, and turns it into a card-swiping game. Will you raise the price of bread? It will increase your money but will make your people angry. What about a war with the eastern territories to increase your domain? Better yet, how about a nice crusade? It’s all here and more, all in the swipe of a card.

Developer: DevolverDigital
Price: $2.99
Download: Google Play/App Store

Long live the King

Gameplay

The entire game is about Yes or No choices, with some variation. Generally, a swipe to the right will be for “Yes” or a positive response, and a swipe to the left is for “No” or negative. Through this simple, binary response system, the game fleshes out a story where a long time ago a King made a deal with the Devil to have ultimate power but at the loss of his soul. Now cursed to living in an endless cycle of deaths and resurrections, it’s your duty to appease the Devil’s demands or try and trick him.

There are hundreds of cards with more unlocking as you make different achievements through the game. Cards include everything from the army needing more troops, to your miner finding a cave of gold and you deciding to keep it for yourself or share the wealth. You may end up with a bastard son, or you could be a great war hero. This game has incredible variety. All of these choices effect 4 meters at the top of the screen. There is a Religion, People, Army, and Treasury meter. Just about everything you do will either raise or lower the bar for any of these areas, and it’s important to maintain a balance with each of these. If the Chuch gains too much power, they will overthrow the government and you lose, but it they lose all of their power, the pagans overthrow your castle and murder you. No one stat can be maxed or emptied.

En garde!

There are times when you will wander into a dungeon or be challenged to a duel. Swiping right will attack while swiping left will block and charge a special attack. This is a little bit of “rock paper scissors” and a little bit of luck as you aren’t able to choose which specials you throw out, so sometimes you’ll do a dive attack when a sword throw would win the match. It’s fun, but can be frustrating when things don’t go your way and you have no control over it.

There are special situations that will effect these meters as well, romancing a lover will make the people happy and will lock the People meter so that it is unaffected by any choice made. Starting a holy crusade will continuously raise profits and increase the Church’s power over time, but with a steady decrease of the military. There are powerups to save you from famine, mushrooms that let you see the exact increase or decrease of each choice you make, and even a potion to turn all your villagers into rabbits. This game has an incredible amount of variety and even after hours of playing it, there are still a few cards I have not seen yet.

Yeah, sure. Thin the herd.

Graphics

The visuals are all similar to a flat, material design with bright vibrant colors. All the characters are unique and diverse, from the Executioner with his hood hiding his face, to the crazy heretic that released a lion in your village as part of God’s wrath. It’s a simple design, but it’s beautiful and keeps the game moving at just the right pace. You aren’t supposed to be locked into the beauty of the cards, you’re supposed to recognize the character, read what they say, and swipe. The simple graphics compliment the simple gameplay.

Maintain a balance at all times, or the scales will not tip in your favor.

Sounds

The sound is on point, with the low chanting music that one would expect from a medieval game. Every character has their own unique voice and chatter, even if it is something that sounds like it comes out of The Sims. It is a fun way to make the characters seem a little more engaging. Again, there is no over-complication in the sounds, but there are just enough details that prevent if from getting dull.

Longevity

There are hundreds and hundreds of cards available to unlock and the pacing of unlocking them is spot on, with more cards getting unlocked the deeper in the story you get. There are many branching storylines, some dependant on completing other in a single playthrough to unlock. Considering that each life of the King on average only lasts between 5 to 10 minutes, it’s full of quick and achievable goals, but luck plays into getting the cards needed to pull off certain achievements. With the Devil only showing up every 666 years, there’s plenty of time to have fun and explore without having to worry about mandatory story quests, but there’s still plenty of story quests sprinkled throughout. You are able to continue playing after you break free from the Devil’s control to pick up any last achievements that are missing. All in all, the game took me just shy of two weeks of off and on playing to get through the main story.

 

Conclusion

Reigns is a brilliant game. It’s easy gameplay and short bursts of story are perfect for the mobile gamer on the go. The story is engaging, the characters are endearing, and the strategy is easy to pick up but difficult to master. Besides the bit of random luck involved in duels, the game is as flawless as they come. At $2.99, this game knows it’s worth and is worthy of the price tag.

Here’s more proof that Android 8.0 will probably be called Oreo

Alexandra Arici
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If you are the owner of an Android smartphone, you probably know that Google names every major new version of its operating system after a deliciously sweet treat. We had Gingerbread, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and now Nougat.

Google’s naming scheme is also alphabetical, so the next Android will be called something starting with O. What could it, what could it be?

A few days ago, Google’s SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Play, Hiroshi Lockheimer teased the name Android 8.0 Oreo on Twitter. It’s not the first time Lockheimer reveals such information, although he doesn’t always seem to be getting it right. Last year the same Google employee predicted that Android 7.0 will be called Nutella, but that obviously didn’t happen.

Well this week, we get another hint suggesting that Android 8.0 will indeed called Oreo. The company that owns the Oreo brand, Mondelez partnered up with Google to release a silly, little game called Oreo Space Dunk.

The game basically asks users to scan their Oreo cookie, which then gets thrown away into virtual space only to land in a glass of milk on the other side of the world.

But don’t assume the game is a confirmation that Android 8.0 will be called Oreo, far from it. Still I believe it’s a pretty straight-forward indicator that this will be the case.

What other options does Google have? The search giant could end up calling Android 8.0 Ontbijtkoek or Oliebol, Ozark Pudding, Oatmeal Cookie or maybe Orellets. But some of these names are pretty hard to pronounce and Google will probably want to go with a name that’s easy to remember. On top of that, some of these deserts can be found only in certain regions. By contrast almost everyone knows what an Oreo is.

10 apps to help you jumpstart your morning

Alexandra Arici
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If you’re like me, you probably hate having to wake up really early. But let’s face it – the nature of modern life makes it impossible to start our dates at later hours. So it’s essential you’re able to jump start our day as quickly and efficiently as possible, that is – if we want to get everything on the agenda done.

So today we bring you a few applications for Android designed to help you get started on a productive day. It’s all about establishing the right mourning routine and sticking with it. Science says it takes up to 66 days to create a habit and these apps are just the thing you need to push you along the right path.

Walkie

Are you a deep sleeper that lives alone? Check out the Walkie application which is based on a pretty quirky idea. Did you know that in Industrial England you could hire people to wake you up? They were called knocker uppers and citizens would pay them to came to their house and bang at your door (sometimes their windows too). Well Walkie works in a similar fashion, except you don’t have to pay the person who is in charge of waking you up.

All you need to do is create a topic within the app and then get on the phone with the right person. It’s an anonymous free service and the calls are automatically interrupted after one minute, so you don’t have to keep chatting with a total stranger when you’re barely awake. Walkie can be also used for a variety of things. For example, you can request to speak to a native Icelander in order to perfect your language skills.

Sleep Cycle

For those who want to be waken up less brutally, the Sleep Cycle app might be the right choice. The application tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up during your light sleep phase. It’s the natural way to wake up and Sleep Cycle guarantees you’ll feel well-rested and relaxed.

Sleep Cycle is also intelligent enough to find the optical time to wake you up during a 30-minute window that ends at your set alarm time.

Coffee cup

The best coffee is the one you make yourself, right? This neat, little app will help you learn new coffee recipes and walk you through all the steps you need to go through to produce a delicious beverage.

Coffee cup features 26 animated recipes, as well as recipe evaluation and history. You can also create your own coffee mix and share your recipes with the community of coffee loving users such as yourself.

SoundCloud

While you savor that delicious cup of coffee, why not listen to some good music? The free version of SoundCloud lets you discover new and trending music based on your tastes. It lets you save music to your collection, so you can easily go back and listen to it again. It’s a great app for setting up a great ambience in the morning.

AccuWeather

Ok, so you’re done with your morning routine and you want to know how the weather is going to be like and what you should wear for the day too. AccuWeather for Android is one of the best apps you can turn to, to get your dose of daily weather information. AccuWeather delivers super-localized weather reports, right-down to your street. With this app installed on your phone you will never walk out of the house unprepared.

Flipboard

Flipboard is one of the most popular news apps out there. So if you like reading the latest stories while on the bus or subway going to work, Flipboard is a great choice. It’s a RSS-style type of app just like Feedly when you can add all your favorite news sources show up in one place.

You can also pick your passions (example: technology and science or travel) and the app will create a Smart Magazine for each and populate it with relevant articles for you.

Users can save stories for later reading and check out the trending article section conveniently located on the front page. It’s pretty useful app to have on your phone, especially if you’re constantly thirsting for new knowledge.

Zombies, Run!

Exercise is good for your mind and soul, but how many of us have running only to give it up at some point? Yeah, fitness can get extremely boring. However, this creative app tries to make working out look less dull.

It creates a narrative around you, the “Runner”. You have to imagine yourself living in a post-apocalyptic, zombie plagued England, where you’ll be given missions to collect supplies, save others and run from the zombies.

Zombies, Run! also offers a musical background to accompany you in the 160+ missions available. There is a free and a paid version of the app.

Workout Trainer

If running isn’t really your think, you can check out the Workout Trainer app. It delivers fun workout ideas to help you get in shape. It offers a multitude of options including cardio, weights core and yoga. You can do it all from the comfort of your home – you won’t even have to go to the gym.

TickTick

Check what’s on today’s agenda, by employing the helping hand of TickTick. The app allows users to create lists on things that need to get done. It also features cloud syncing, so you can keep track of tasks on all of your devices. You can also set priority levels and highlight the most important tasks.

TickTick is quite intuitive to use. For those who want more, there’s a Pro version that adds more advanced features to the table.

Google Maps

Google Maps has recently added some powerful features. The app lets you input your home and work address in order to deliver real-time traffic updates and ETAs to your commutes. You can ask the app to display bus timetables too, in case you want to leave the car at home.

AtomicX V201: All you need is love and these headphones (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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2

There are some people who splurge hundreds of dollars in crazy-expensive headphones because they want the best audio quality. There are people who think that the crappy headphones included with their phone are good enough. Then there are people that are willing to trade off a bit of quality in favor of an affordable set, especially if it brings additional features such as Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancelling.

For this ever-increasing customer segment, iDeaUSA has brought the AtomicX V201 headphones to market. If you want a nice looking, sturdy and wireless set with great battery life and good sound quality, then you’re in for a treat.

Design and Build

When opening the box, you will find a rigid case with a faux carbon fiber design. I didn’t expect a case with these headphones, considering that I’ve bought slightly more expensive headphones and they haven’t come with a case. Now I feel ripped off by them.

Anyways, inside the case you will find the following items:

It was a surprise to see the adapter, since, again, I’ve never had one included in any of the headphones I’ve bought. What I’ve seen included with other headphones, especially with Audio-Technica, is a 3.5 to 6.35mm adapter, and the V201 doesn’t include one. This is not a dealbreaker for 99% of people, and chances are that if you need one, you already have one.

The V201 headphones follow closely the design set by the carrying case, with faux carbon fiber elements on the cups and on the top part of the headband. The rest of the device is made up of plastic.

When you adjust the cups in order to fit your head, you will discover that a metal frame hold the headphones together. There’s also some padding added to the bottom part of the headband and to the inner side of the cups.

On the bottom part of the cups you will find several elements. On the left one, there’s a switch to toggle Active Noise Cancelling. There’s also a microUSB port for charging purposes.

On the right, you will find a power button that doubles as a pause button, plus volume down/previous and volume up/forward buttons. There’s also a 3.5mm plug to connect the included cable. A status red/blue light is also present on both sides.

The carrying case is very nice and has the same faux carbon fiber design.

All of these elements add up to a weight of 210 grams. I haven’t found myself wishing that they were neither lighter nor heavier. They are light enough so that long sessions don’t turn into hell, and they are heavy enough to convey a sense of quality.

Contrary to what some companies are doing, iDeaUSA opted to offer the V201 in black only. Thank you very much, iDeaUSA. Even though I prefer bright colors for some stuff, such as cellphone cases, I would hate to have a bright green thing on top of my head. This device won’t turn heads, that’s for sure, but, in my opinion, that’s how headphones should work.

I’ve been using these headphones basically non-stop for a week and the first day I felt some discomfort on my ears, but the next day it went away. Probably it was just me getting used again to over-ear headphones, which I haven’t used in months. The padding makes a good job here, and the weight means that the discomfort is kept to a minimum.

The whole set just feels very sturdy and strong. I feel like these headphones will serve me well for several years, thanks to a well-designed build and durable materials.

Sound Quality

Normally, Bluetooth headphones are not renowned for their audio quality, unless it is a very expensive piece. Also, when headphones add ANC, audio quality tends to suffer in favor of a more pleasant experience through the reduction of ambient noise.

As I previously said, I have some experience with headphones but I am in no way an expert. I use a pair of Apple EarPods for my daily walk to the university, and I am fine with them, even though I know they are not good.

Sound quality could be improved but it is acceptable.

However, it is easy to notice the difference between a pair of crappy earbuds and the V201. I noticed some sounds in Delain’s Here Comes the Vultures that I have never heard in the (probably) 200 times I’ve listened to that song. This happened with several songs, proving that the sound it produces can be refined and detailed.

In case you were wondering, these headphones can get extraordinarily loud. This will obviously make the sound bleed (and annoy people around you in the process), but listening to The Game by Dragonforce on full volume was almost a concert-like experience.

The padding makes sure that the device fits as comfortably as possible.

I like when headphones have a pronounced bass, and unfortunately the V201 isn’t the best at this.

I heard several songs through the V201 and my EarPods and there were some cases, such as in Shine by Tolmachevy Sisters (don’t judge, a series of weird events led me there), where I could hear the bass drum more clearly through my EarPods.

Also, in some songs, such as Epica’s Edge of the Blade, which is filled with very prominent hi-hat and crash cymbal sounds, some mild distortion could be heard in these high sounds, especially when I increased the volume.

The situation improved when I turned on Active Noise Cancelling. Then, the perceived sound had more punch to it, with richer bass sound and a more dynamic range. This alleviated slightly my complaints about the sound, so I will keep it on.

Talking about ANC, I must say that it is hit or miss. It reduced the clicking sound of my keyboard and this weird sound that the heater in my room does (or maybe it is the normal sound, it’s just that I’m not used to having heaters in my room, but rather fans), but it couldn’t filter rain, for example. It obviously didn’t do a good job in reducing my flatmates’ voices, but it did reduce them a little.

Connectivity

There are several accessories included with the headphones.

The V201 headphones support the latest Bluetooth 4.1 standard. Unlike several Bluetooth devices I’ve used, there is no hissing sound, something that is specially noticeable when nothing is playing.

I did experience a couple of interruptions while playing music, but they lasted a couple of tenths of a second.

Pairing the phones to a Huawei Honor 7 Lite (known as Huawei Honor 5C in other markets), a Nomu S10 and a Windows laptop was extremely easy. Just hold the power button for five seconds and the headphones will change to pairing mode. Choose it from the list of Bluetooth devices and you are done.

If you like, you can use the included 3.5 to 3.5mm cable to listen to your favorite tunes. This works exactly as expected, and the sound quality wasn’t either benefitted nor affected by the change of output.

As a bonus, the headphones include a mic, so you can answer calls through them. You accept a call by pressing the power button. This built-in mic gets the job done. Obviously, it is much better to answer your call through your phone, but the mic is there for when you need it.

Battery Life

The headset features a 500mAh battery that can be charged through the included microUSB cable. There’s no charger included, but come on, it is 2017, everyone has one already.

The charging port is under the left cup, and the device can be charged and used at the same time.

Even though the battery is small, iDeaUSA claims 20 hours of battery life with ANC turned on and 25 turned off. I had ANC turned off almost all the time and I can attest to this fact. I’ve used these headphones on average 8 hours per day and I’ve had to charge them twice in one week.

Charging is another matter, though, and even though iDeaUSA claims two hours battery charging time, I’ve never been able to replicate this. Both times, the battery was charged after a 2.5-hour period. If I manage to get a better time, I will update the article accordingly, but don’t hold your breath.

Conclusion

The AtomicX V201 headphones feature a nice build, responsive controls and good battery life in a nice packaging and a welcoming price. You can use them through the state-of-the-art Bluetooth 4.1 standard or by regular 3.5mm cable. Sound quality could be better, and Active Noise Cancelling can be hit or miss, but the overall experience provided by these headphones is very good.

Considering that you can get them for less than $100 (exactly $89.99 at the time of writing), you get a lot of value for your hard-earned cash. You probably can’t do much better, and definitely can do much worse.

You can get more information about the iDeaUSA AtomicX V201 headphones or buy them from Amazon.

Nokia 3310 (2017 edition) details leak, here’s what to expect

Alexandra Arici
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Earlier this month, we told you that Nokia might be looking to introduce a Nokia 3310 homage, alongside a few middle-range smartphones and (probably) wearables at MWC 2017.

While the previous report didn’t disclose much about the new Nokia 3310, today we’re able to bring you more info about the device.

If you were hoping the Nokia 3310 will get a smartphone makeover, we’re sorry but we have to burst your bubble. According to info coming out of China, the Nokia 3310 (2017 Edition) will remain a feature phone. So no Android onboard, folks!

Nope

On the aesthetic front, we’re told the device will look very similar to the original model. The only notable changes come in the weight and thickness department. So the new Nokia 3310 should be more svelte and portable than its predecessor – which isn’t really unexpected.

But while the 2000 version arrived with an 84 x 84 monochrome display, the 2017 edition will take advantage of a larger color one. We’re not provided with the exact dimensions, but hopefully the new arrival will be as good as it predecessor – battery life wise.

Nokia wants the feature phone to bring a dash of color in your life, so it will be releasing with vivid paint jobs including red, green and yellow. The original Nokia 3310 allowed users to swap the cover out and replace it with models from third party manufacturers. We don’t know if this will be the case with the 2017 model or not, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Soon you’ll be able to place your finger anywhere on your smartphone display to unlock it

Alexandra Arici
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1

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 are two highly anticipated flagships that will launch in the first half of the year. Both will come with fingerprint scanners meant to live in the back. But your next-next gen flagship might be entirely different.

Most phones these days either put the fingerprint scanner on the back like Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG G6 or make it live in the home button. But according to a recent report coming out of The Investor – all that is about to change.

The publication reveals that smartphones with fingerprint scanners embedded into the display are on their way. South Korean fingerprint module manufacturer, CrucialTec is expected to launch its on-screen fingerprint scanning solution sometime this year. Which in theory means we can expect smartphones (and also wearables) that allow you to unlock them by placing your finger on the screen, to make an appearance this year.

The technology – named Display Fingerprint Solution (DFS), has been getting a lot of positive reviews from people charged with testing it. How will this work? The module will be embedded under the smartphone display and will be capable of detecting touches as light as a single hair. It can also extract high-res fingerprints at 500 dots per inch.

CrucialTec’s under the screen fingerprint scanner is also said to be a lot safer than currently available solutions. What’s more it can recognize multiple fingerprints – all at once. And the South Korean company is already working on a next-gen solution which will allow users to place their finger basically anywhere on the screen and get the device unlocked.

Obviously, rear-mounted scanners have their disadvantages. Look at the upcoming Galaxy S8. If leaks are correct, the phone will have a pretty awkward fingerprint scanner placement – right next to the camera, on the right –  which could make trying to unlock the phone a bit more complicated than it needs to be. But the new technology should allow users to choose where the fingerprint module is placed.

Users complain Bluetooth on Pixel or Pixel XL turns off unexpectedly

Alexandra Arici
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1

The Pixel and Pixel XL are wonderful phones, but they’ve seen their fair shares of bugs and issues. One of the most recent ones affected the phone’s speakers, but that got fixed via the February update.

Well now it seems like the same update triggered another issue – although we can’t be 100% sure. A lot of Pixel and Pixel XL users have taken to Reddit and Google’s own product forums to complain of Bluetooth turning off automatically without the owner having any say in the matter.

Bluetooth can be turned on again without problem, but only to turn itself off again a few moments later.

On Reddit, an official Google Account replied the following on the Bluetooth bug thread:

“Hey All,

Thanks for letting us know. Want to hop in here and confirm that we are looking into this. We’ll keep you posted.

*Edit – For those that are experiencing this, please post over on our Pixel community thread with details. I’ll be able to reach out for bug reports to get to the proper eng folks. Thanks!”

So if you too are seeing the same problem on your Pixel, go over to the official Pixel forums and tell Google about it in detail. This will ensure Google is made aware the problem is quite widespread and will motivate it to come up with a fix fast. Especially since, there are no known workarounds for this problem at the moment.

In related news, select Pixel owners are noticing another issue – this time related to placing phone calls over Bluetooth. Probably due to Google’s latest update to its dialer application, some Pixel users are now unable to make phone calls over Bluetooth. Keep in mind the two are separate issues.

Are you experiencing any Bluetooth troubles on your Pixel?

Instagram lets users post up to 10 photos per update

Scott Webster
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Instagram today announced a change to the app which makes it possible for users to create posts which include up to 10 photos. Why? Rather than filling your stream up with tons of pictures and/or videos from the same event, the new way consolidates things.

It’s easy to control exactly how your post will look. You can tap and hold to change the order, apply a filter to everything at once or edit one by one. These posts have a single caption and are square-only for now.

According to Instagram, users can have full control over the individual pictures, including filters and order of appearance. Once published, followers will be able to swipe left or right through the carousel of images and clips. The slideshows will be marked by a blue dot, indicating there’s more to see.

It’s worth noting that, at first, there will be just one caption for the entire bundle of photos and clips. Moreover, all items will be limited to squares as well.

The updated version of Instagram will hit Android and iOS devices over the coming days.

Multiple Photos and Videos in One Post on Instagram from Instagram on Vimeo.

How-To: Using Google Maps for Public Transit

AndroidGuys
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0

 

Transit options and schedules

Google Maps is great for seeing navigation options, traffic, and travel estimates. But what if you don’t have a vehicle or wish to take public transit? Well, Google Maps now goes a step beyond just being a map for drivers.

Besides transit maps, Google Maps now provides, in many instances, real-time departure times. When that is not available, Google Maps will show you schedules for train and bus departures.

If you use public transit (and more of us should), knowing how to use Google Maps for public transit will make your commute planning easier, more accurate and faster.

Checking Departure Times

For our purposes, we will be planning a trip from Downtown Long Beach to Staples Center in Downtown L.A. We will be using the Blue Line, thus employing Google Map’s train options. Begin by performing the following:

  1. Open Google Maps. See Figure 1.

    Fig. 1
  2. Since we are using the Long Beach to Los Angeles Blue Line Train, we will click on the small train icon at the bottom of the screen. See Figure 2.

    Fig. 2
  3. You will immediately see the train route with stops, as designated by the blue lines and icons on the map. You may have to zoom to see the individual stops. See Figure 3.

    Fig. 3
  4. If needed, zoom in on the map and click on the station nearest you. The station name will appear on the bottom. See Figure 4.

    Fig. 4
  5. Slide up on your screen to see the stations details, including departure times. See Figure 5.

    Fig. 5
  6. Click on depart. You will be taken to an address screen. See Figure 6.

    Fig. 6
  7. Proceed to enter a destination address. Since we’re going to Staples Center to catch a game, simple begin to enter the venue name. Google will proceed to show your options. See Figure 7.

    Fig. 7
  8. After selecting Staples Center as your destination, Google Maps will show you commute times and route options. See Figure 8.

    Fig. 8

Switching from Train to Bus

The bus options are similar to train options. If you want to change options, perform the following:

  1. Click on the options link in the commute and route options screen seen in Figure 8 above.
  2. You can now select Bus, Subway, Train and Tram / Rail. Depending on your choice, the route options will change. For our example, select Bus and tap on Done. See Figure 9.

    Fig. 9
  3. Google Maps will now update your route and options. You now have the option of checking and changing your departure times or you can select your arrival time, which will automatically update your departure time. See Figure 10.

    Fig. 10

Updating departure and arrival times

  1. We will enter a departure time and then check the options. Enter the time you would like to depart and tap on Done. See Figure 11.

    Fig. 11
  2. The map is now updated, including your departure time and your travel estimates. See Figure 12.

    Fig. 12
  3. Click on the option that best suits your travel plans. The map will now update and show you directions, including walking estimates to the stations chosen, and travel estimates. See Figure 13.

    Fig. 13

Alternatively, you can switch from a departure time and instead plan your commute based on when you need to arrive. Google Maps will update the map navigation and route options after clicking Done.

Understanding the map

Just like when navigating via car, Google Maps shows the transit route and any delays. To understand the map, let’s see the icons employed and their meaning. See Figure 14.

Fig. 14

Clicking on the icons as they appear on the map will provide you with an update.

This completes this procedure.

Stack: A very simple game done in a beautiful way (Review)

Gerson Noboa
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0

Sometimes you don’t need a 500 MB game with high-end graphics, 30-hour story and 500 collectible items. Sometimes you just need a game that you can fire up and play while waiting for the lecturer to arrive. Although I am not a fan of endless games that provide very little replay value, Stack, by Ketchapp, is so simple and such a joy to look at that I might have to make an exception.

Developer: Ketchapp
Price: Free

Setup

Stack uses Google Play Games for synchronization of high scores. You know the drill: choose an account and Google will do its magic. There is no tutorial in the game, so you will be thrown directly into the action.

Overview

It is totally understandable that the developer hasn’t bothered with giving the user a single line of information regarding how to play their game. This is because the concept is so amusingly simple that even Patrick Star would be able to figure it out in ten seconds.

You control a diagonal-moving block. Your mission is to stop it exactly on top of the previous block. This is done by tapping in absolutely any spot of the screen. There’s almost no delay between your tap and the block stopping, so you have to time it right.

The concept is very simple but it is executed superbly.

If you do it, then you’re awesome and will get another block exactly the same size. If you fail to do it, the part that is left outside of the underlying block will be chopped off and disappear, and the next block you get will be smaller.

If you keep failing to stop the block exactly on top of the previous one, your brick will get smaller and smaller, making the game progressively harder. Also, the movement of each piece will get faster with each block you land successfully, even if it wasn’t spot on.

Each time you lose a piece of your brick you start to feel more tense since you see the end of the game on the horizon. There’s always a way of salvaging your session though. If you chain a lot of perfect landings in a row (approximately seven), your block will get a bit bigger. This way you can rectify errors from the past.

Since the game is extremely responsive, you feel absolutely in charge of your victory or demise. Even though this is good, this also means that a small mistake can crush your hopes of surpassing your high score.

Talking about high score, you get one diamond-shaped thing every time you stack ten blocks successfully. This diamonds can be used to unlock new patterns for the blocks. Unfortunately, you can’t choose which ones to unlock.

Behold!

When you reach 200 diamonds, the game unlocks a pattern for you. There are 30 different patterns to choose from, so better start working on that if you want them all.

After some sessions, the game will offer you the chance of getting 20 diamonds for free by watching a video ad. After the 30-second commercial, you get your 20 diamonds and everyone walks away happily.

Graphics

There are 30 designs to unlock.

Stack incorporates very simplistic and clean graphics. Colors change slightly with each passing block. It is so subtle that you won’t notice you start with yellow and end up with black, or something like that. The background also changes accordingly, giving it consistency.

I found that the designs you have to unlock can be a detriment to your aspirations of getting a high score, though. Since you need to be precise in order to stack as many blocks as possible, having a pattern on the blocks you are trying to align can obstruct your intentions. Your mileage may vary, though.

Sound

There’s no music in the game, just sound effects. When you stack blocks correctly, you will hear a sharp noise that keeps getting more high-pitched as you stack more blocks. When you fail, you will hear a piece of wood being chopped off. They don’t change even if the pattern changes, so you better like them.

Conclusion

Stack focuses on relaxation rather than replay value or story and provides an endless game with very simple mechanics, but that can get quite addicting. To cater to the competitor in all of us, it records our high score and lets us compare it with people online, as well as providing diamonds to unlock new patterns.

However, there’s very little variation to the game from the first day you download it, so if you are looking for a game with progression elements, story, or replay value, you’re going to have to look elsewhere. If you want a lightweight game that you want to play in short bursts or while waiting in line, then Stack is a simple game with beautiful graphics that can get very addictive.

Download and install Stack from the Google Play Store.

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