Archive for '6 Star Ratings'
Calc Zero iPhone Utility Review
Posted on 31. Aug, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Calc Zero: A unit converting app with a fun, quick interface.
| Our Rating: 6.2/10 |  |
[Screenshots] |
Version Reviewed: 1.5.4
Developer: Uplake Media LLC [iTunes Link]
Price as of Review: $4.99
Current iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Size: 1.0MB
Calc Zero is a unit conversion calculator with a highly customizable user interface. Calc Zero has a lot of competition with apps such as Units [iTunes Link] and Convert [iTunes Link] and unfortunately it’s price and interface just can’t compete. However it does convert quite a few more units then other apps, like programming modes with hex, decimal and binary (as a programmer I loved these). For reliability, I, or the users I’ve shown the app to haven’t found any errors in the calculations/conversions this app produces.
There’s a few things I’m not so keen about in Calc Zero, first of all how much they’ve tried to integrate a regular calculator with a conversion tool, the mix just doesn’t work well. Next is how they convert, rather than a Category:From->To system, you must figure out how to navigate through the interface. Rather then having an easily accessible clear button, you have to backspace your work and then clear all units and metrics added. One benefit of the system however is you can easily make cross-unit calculations, i.e. 12mS multiplied by 13 seconds. I think they need to separate the app into a couple different kinds of interface modes.
As for just the user interface – what it is right now, it has some cool effects, each category of metrics are displayed with a tab. It uses the iPhone SDK’s default tab interface element which 
means you’re limited to four different tabs at the same time and then the “More…” tab which allows you to view the rest. You can press edit and drag around categories nonetheless. This allows you to put your most used metrics into the front tabs, easy access for whenever you want to make a quick conversion (there should be a button for “Most Used”
.
Some little effects are added such as the buttons vibrating when you press them, with the iPhone and it’s tiny keys, this is nice to know that you actually pressed the right button (considering how many are on a calculator). Calc Zero has a huge manual which is sort of tucked away in the More category right at the bottom. There’s some delay in navigating between pages, accessing the settings seems to delay quite a bit. Removing some of these effects would most likely improve response time. The settings allow you to change readability and all sorts of those “little,” making Calc Zero ideal for the tinkerers out there.
Overall Calc Zero is an interesting unit converter which at $4.99 doesn’t quite make the cut compared to the competitors who offer a lot of bang for a single buck.
Final Ratings:
Usefulness: 7/10 – Not something I’d use on a daily basis but definitely a concept I like having on hand.
User Interface: 7/10 – Awesome but really unresponsive.
Price: 4/10 – Competitors such as Units and Convert are offering an app just as good, if not better for a fifth of the price.
Technology: 5/10 – Not many glitches but very poor stability. High customization but no landscape mode.
Execution of Concept: 7.9/10 – Lots of different units and metrics – gets the job done.
Overall Rating: 6.2/10
More screenshots of Calc Zero on iPhone App Reviewer’s Flickr Page.
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Board@Work iPhone Game App Review
Posted on 25. Aug, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Board@Work: That’s not a typo – but some might think it should be.
| Our Rating: 6.4/10 |  |
[Screenshots] |
Version Reviewed: 1.2
Developer: Spigot Games, LLC [iTunes Link]
Price as of Review: $1.99
Current iTunes Rating: 4/5
Size: 9.5MB
Board@Work is another match-them-up game on the iPhone, this one packed with features but unfortunately won’t keep your entertained for long. The goal in this work-themed is to match as many objects as possible using the various tools on the bottom of the screen and your wit. Using your finger on a touch white board you slide around the blocks matching either three or more symbols or colours. Bonus points will be awarded for rows/columns of more than three, consistency of symbols and colours, and of course if you make multiple matches in synchronization.
If you do like this style of gameplay, and don’t get bored of it quick (unfortunately I did, and many of the people I showed it to did too), Board@Walk offers some great features. The multiplayer mode in particular was quite impressive. I haven’t found any glitches but stability problems are definitely an issue. The graphics are mediocre but we can’t really complain, it keeps the game simple and Spigot Games has done a nice job setting the theme.
I’m a huge fan of games like this (Bejeweled, Trism) but unfortunately Board@Work just doesn’t cut it. It’s four gameplay modes and multiplayer abilities should draw some people in. We at iPhone App Reviewer just haven’t been touched by this.
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 8.7/10 – The classic gameplay with a total of seven different modes.
Enjoyment: 4/10 – Can’t say as Board@Work really got to me.
Graphics: 7/10 – Satisfactory but that’s about all.
Sound: 4/10 – Annoying.
Technology: 8/10 – Bravo on the multiplayer mode – no glitches in particular but unfortunately some stability issues.
Replay Value: 6.5/10 – There’s a high score board but overall not much addiction or motiviation.
Overall Rating: 6.4/10
Further Improvements:
- More modern graphics
- Create less of a dry, boring ambiance.
More screenshots on our Flickr Page.
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Math Mania iPhone Game Review
Posted on 29. May, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Math Mania: A simple game of simple math…
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Developer: Pumpkin Pulse
Price as of Review: $1.99
Current iTunes Rating: 2/5
Math Mania is a truncated version of apps like Brain Toot or Brain Age (Nintendo DS). It requires you to think on your feet to answer very simple math problems repetitively. 
This game is definitely geared towards children as the math problems are extremely easy and don’t go beyond your basic operations (+-/*). Math Mania doesn’t hold much potential for future updates and the two dollar price tag seems a little steep.
In Math Mania your goal is to score as many points by choosing whether the equation presented to you is true or false. Although the user interface is dull the game does not lag, glitch or even crash! Unfortunately the equation generation is quite dumb, as you can continuously press the correct button and score a significant amount of points, clearly the generation is random and not dynamic. The statistics feature is nice and gives a wide variety of information. To make it a little more interesting the game has quite a few setting from game time to the different category operations.
All in all, this is quick app for parents wanting to entertain children in an educational fashion, as well as a quick study helper for a 10 year old’s math test! If you’re a fan of apps like Brain Toot and fast thinking brain exercises, enjoy!
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 7.5/10 – The gameplay is quite simple, not much time was put into it though, that is quite clear.
Enjoyment: 5/10 – It can be quite a drone to play…
Graphics: 5/10 – A blue themed user interface that looks like it was drawn on an ancient computer
Sound: 6/10 – Some interesting sound effects, not annoying at all! 
Technology: 6/10 – More could be implemented, good job on stability however
Replay Value: 4/10 – If you are using this to study it will probably only be for a few times, otherwise – not very addictive.
Overall Rating: 5.6/10
Further Improvements: (Note to the developer!)
- Harder mathematic equations
- New gameplay aspect to keep the user coming back
- Better user interface
More screenshots here
Other Reviews on Math Mania for the iPhone and iPod Touch:
Why does iPhone App Reviewer link to other reviewing sites? Because if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our review, then we encourage you to go elsewhere. The point of iPhone App Reviewer is to give you an honest, open opinion of the application.
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Bloximity iPhone Game Review
Posted on 06. Feb, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Bloximity: Coloured number block matching fun!
Bloximity is a game similar to Collapse! Chaos and has a unique scoring system. The object of the game is clear blocks of numbers and colours from the field as blocks consistently are being added to the field. 
To do this tap on same coloured and same numbered blocks beside each other and the blocks will disappear. There are a few special blocks to make the game interesting, these blocks all have some special ability. Although similar to Collapse! Chaos, Bloximity is unique in some ways.
On first look Bloximity looks a bit boring thus this is another app I needed to play a bit first before really getting into it. It’s really a great casual playing game, although I wish the graphics would have a lighter scheme for more of a “sit down and relax” atmosphere. Bloximity does have some strategy to it and racking up high combos is both enjoyable and fun. Bloximity’s developers executed the concept quite well but I don’t think it quite beats Collapse! Chaos, if you’re a fan however then Bloximity is worth checking out. It is a nice experience for the iPhone. Some concepts could be added and this would be quite the good game! How about some accelerometer skills?
Graphics wise Bloximity is nicely rendered but the graphics are still a little bleak. I think the developers need to add multiple themes for this so the players can choose the environment they wish for a game like this. As noted above I would personally like a light colour scheme. Sound is good but gets annoying fast. The user interface is nice, but could use a touch up. The tutorial for the game is very nice, fully interactive and it does exactly what it should, show you how to play with mo confusion. I find the game lags quite a bit and feels glitchy. Even when my device is restarted and ready to go. Overall Bloximity is an app worth checking out but could really use a touch up, a fresh coat of paint.
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 7.5/10 – The block matching quick thinking concept has been done before (collapse! Chaos) but bloximity is a nice change and provides a new concept or two.
Enjoyment: 6/10 – I find the game bleak, fun once you get down to it but the glitches and lag takes away a lot of the experience.
Graphics: 7/10 – Good job but I don’t like the style.
Sound: 6/10 – Gets annoying quickly.
Technology: 6/10 – Again, glitches and lag.
Replay Value: 7/10 – Slightly addicting but no goal to aim for.
Overall Rating: 6.6/10
Further Improvements: (note to the developer!)
- Fix glitches and lag
- Some more graphic schemes
- New concept to make it unique
- More special blocks
More screenshots here
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Cuorbs iPhone Game Review
Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Cuorbs: Ninja speed colour matching
Cuorbs is another rendering intense game from indie developers Prixeon. The game is amazingly simple and is similar to the popular free app Dactyl. In Cuorbs you must quickly slide different coloured squares into their corresponding colour (two colours at one time, each one on a side). 
The squares will continue to pop up at faster rates. Eventually, they’ll turn red, if that happens, the game is over. The only other way to end the game is to slide the square into the wrong colour. Like I said, amazingly simple.
Although this game is difficult enough, difficulty levels would be a nice touch. Since all the colours are changing and the sides swap this game will trick your mind and you need to think fast! There’s so many features that could be implemented to make this game great. Right now it’s pretty basic and definitely needs an update to attract users. As for the user interface, it could use some elbow grease. There’s no menu link to the high scores and it overall just looks hastily done. In the game however, things look fantastic! Touch controls are smooth and responsive. There’s no glitches whatsoever in there.
So if you like modernized arcade games or fast paced thrillers like Dactyl or Frenzic, this game is for you. Plus it’s priced at $0.99 which is fantastic. Although until this game gets some more features we have to knock off a few points.
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 6.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 5/10
Technology: 6/10
Replay Value: 6/10
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Further Improvements: (note to the developer *implementing some of these suggestions would rapidly increase rating)
- Access to high scores from main menu
- In game pause feature, with access to high scores, help, and main menu
- Colour blind support, add patterns
- Power-ups
- New concept (i.e. squares can move themselves into the edges, to avoid opposite colours touching, use tilt accelerometer controls)
- User interface touch up
- Global high scores
- Difficulty levels
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