06-08-2019, 11:41 AM
The Weekender: Pierce the Vale Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/the-weekender-pierce-the-vale-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/the-weekender-pierce-the-vale-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>It’s good to be back, hope you all managed to survive with out me. This week I’ve been making a concerted effort to be pro-active with smaller, news-y bits to break-up the Reviews/Reposts/Weekender cycle that nominated much of May, hope you’ve enjoyed the wider variety of topics. Next week we’ve got a gameplay guide, at least one review and then some other goodies in the pipe for later in the month.</p>
<p>It’s E3 next week but I’m not expecting much mobile-specific news unless it’s platform related (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/google-stadia-mobile-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">like Google Stadia from this morning</a>).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Mystic Vale (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mystic-vale/id1456125882?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.mysticvale" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) – <em>Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>2019’s conquest of digital board games continue, with Nomad Games bringing another popular table-top experience to mobile. Deck-building is starting to become a crowded genre with <em>Mystic Vale</em>’s Druidic offering, although new twists in the form of card crafting and a ‘decay’ system that can end your turn early promise to keep things fresh. Michael’s already on the case with this review, so look to the East next week for our own verdict. The mobile version comes with the <em>Vale of Magic</em> expansion included at no extra cost, although it’s listed as a separate IAP.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsvjUY9p0WE?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Also on our Radar:</h3>
<p><strong><em>Infectonator 3: Apocalypse</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/infectonator-3-apocalypse/id1438762769?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – The third instalment in a franchise where you play as the zombies trying to destroy the world, this one looks like it could be interesting but early reports suggest it’s quite buggy, so we’re going to wait and see.</p>
<p><strong><em>Lovecraft’s Untold Stories</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/lovecrafts-untold-stories/id1404294932?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – Lovecraft x Roguelike makes for an interesting, if slightly overdone combination, but the price-tag means this will have to work pretty hard to impress. Take one of five heroes across randomly generated worlds, fighting unspeakable horrors.</p>
<p><strong><em>SSC 2019</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ssc-2019/id1451802899?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – Uprising Games returns with the 2019 version of their free-to-play retro-themed soccer game. Mentioned only because sports releases are so rare, but beware the F2P trappings. New additions include improved AI, Online 2 player matches and a data editor.</p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Evolution: The Video Game (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evolution-the-video-game/id1112610493?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northstargames.evolutiongame" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/evolution-the-video-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>While the digital adaptation still doesn’t have async play, the recent update this week now means you do pass and play for up to four players. You rotate the device between players when picking traits but feeding happens simultaneously from multiple edges of the screen. There’s also been some extra optimization work and larger text for tutorials and cards.</p>
<h3>Star Traders: Frontiers (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.startraders2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/star-traders-frontiers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Those mad bastards known as the Trese Brothers have updated <em>Star Traders: Frontie</em>rs twice this week. The first on added a new Bounty Hunter vignette as well a host of other fixes and clarifications, while the second update added new Steel Song faction modules, a new starting ship that’s great for spying, and some balance tweaks around strike craft.</p>
<h3>Auto Chess (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/auto-chess-origin/id1464482102?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dragonest.autochess.google" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>The beta for the official mobile version of <em>DOTA Auto Chess</em> is well underway, with the app now in the iOS app store under the name <em>Auto Chess: Origins</em>. There’s been an update this week although I’m not 100% sure on the details, but recent big changes include the official introduction of a Season system, a Battle Pass, various Account improvements and optimisations and bug fixes.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Only a couple of sales of note this week – Ironhide’s sci-fi RTS <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-iron-marines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Iron Marines</em></a> is down to $2.99 on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iron-marines/id1056920931?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ironhidegames.android.ironmarines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>, while award-winning puzzle game <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-monument-valley-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Monument Valley 2</em></a> is also $2.99 on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monument-valley-2/id1187265767?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>.</p>
<p>You may also have spotted that <em>Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lion</em> is discounted on all mobile platforms, although the price is not as good as it was during the Black Friday sale last year. Also, playing that game on mobile kinda sucks. Don’t @ Me.</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/the-weekender-pierce-the-vale-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/the-weekender-pierce-the-vale-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>It’s good to be back, hope you all managed to survive with out me. This week I’ve been making a concerted effort to be pro-active with smaller, news-y bits to break-up the Reviews/Reposts/Weekender cycle that nominated much of May, hope you’ve enjoyed the wider variety of topics. Next week we’ve got a gameplay guide, at least one review and then some other goodies in the pipe for later in the month.</p>
<p>It’s E3 next week but I’m not expecting much mobile-specific news unless it’s platform related (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/google-stadia-mobile-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">like Google Stadia from this morning</a>).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Mystic Vale (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mystic-vale/id1456125882?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomadgames.mysticvale" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) – <em>Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>2019’s conquest of digital board games continue, with Nomad Games bringing another popular table-top experience to mobile. Deck-building is starting to become a crowded genre with <em>Mystic Vale</em>’s Druidic offering, although new twists in the form of card crafting and a ‘decay’ system that can end your turn early promise to keep things fresh. Michael’s already on the case with this review, so look to the East next week for our own verdict. The mobile version comes with the <em>Vale of Magic</em> expansion included at no extra cost, although it’s listed as a separate IAP.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsvjUY9p0WE?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Also on our Radar:</h3>
<p><strong><em>Infectonator 3: Apocalypse</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/infectonator-3-apocalypse/id1438762769?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – The third instalment in a franchise where you play as the zombies trying to destroy the world, this one looks like it could be interesting but early reports suggest it’s quite buggy, so we’re going to wait and see.</p>
<p><strong><em>Lovecraft’s Untold Stories</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/lovecrafts-untold-stories/id1404294932?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – Lovecraft x Roguelike makes for an interesting, if slightly overdone combination, but the price-tag means this will have to work pretty hard to impress. Take one of five heroes across randomly generated worlds, fighting unspeakable horrors.</p>
<p><strong><em>SSC 2019</em> (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ssc-2019/id1451802899?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</strong> – Uprising Games returns with the 2019 version of their free-to-play retro-themed soccer game. Mentioned only because sports releases are so rare, but beware the F2P trappings. New additions include improved AI, Online 2 player matches and a data editor.</p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Evolution: The Video Game (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evolution-the-video-game/id1112610493?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northstargames.evolutiongame" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/evolution-the-video-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>While the digital adaptation still doesn’t have async play, the recent update this week now means you do pass and play for up to four players. You rotate the device between players when picking traits but feeding happens simultaneously from multiple edges of the screen. There’s also been some extra optimization work and larger text for tutorials and cards.</p>
<h3>Star Traders: Frontiers (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.startraders2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/star-traders-frontiers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Those mad bastards known as the Trese Brothers have updated <em>Star Traders: Frontie</em>rs twice this week. The first on added a new Bounty Hunter vignette as well a host of other fixes and clarifications, while the second update added new Steel Song faction modules, a new starting ship that’s great for spying, and some balance tweaks around strike craft.</p>
<h3>Auto Chess (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/auto-chess-origin/id1464482102?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dragonest.autochess.google" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>The beta for the official mobile version of <em>DOTA Auto Chess</em> is well underway, with the app now in the iOS app store under the name <em>Auto Chess: Origins</em>. There’s been an update this week although I’m not 100% sure on the details, but recent big changes include the official introduction of a Season system, a Battle Pass, various Account improvements and optimisations and bug fixes.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Only a couple of sales of note this week – Ironhide’s sci-fi RTS <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-iron-marines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Iron Marines</em></a> is down to $2.99 on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iron-marines/id1056920931?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ironhidegames.android.ironmarines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>, while award-winning puzzle game <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-monument-valley-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Monument Valley 2</em></a> is also $2.99 on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monument-valley-2/id1187265767?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>.</p>
<p>You may also have spotted that <em>Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lion</em> is discounted on all mobile platforms, although the price is not as good as it was during the Black Friday sale last year. Also, playing that game on mobile kinda sucks. Don’t @ Me.</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>