11-01-2019, 09:27 PM
The Weekender: Spooky Sales Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-weekender-spooky-sales-edition.jpg" width="820" height="463" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>I’m not really a huge fan of Halloween, mainly because in the evenings I don’t like to be bothered. After a long day my priorities are to eat dinner and relax on the couch, and not be answering the door every few minutes to give out sweets. We put out some anyway just in case anyone did come knocking, but it was a quiet year on our street so most of the box is still there.</p>
<p>In terms of the site this week we finally caught up on a review I’ve been meaning to have done (<em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/xenowerk-tactics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Xenowerk</a>) </em>and had what will probably be the <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/guides/upcoming-ios-android-mobile-games-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">penultimate look</a> at games are still due out this year. We also reviewed <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/bad-north-ios-android/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bad North</a>, </em>which is excellent, if only really suitable for short bursts.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>New Mobile Games</h2>
<h3>GWENT: The Witcher Card Game (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/gwent-the-witcher-card-game/id1466943149/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</h3>
<p>There was a lot of buzz around <em>GWENT</em> when it first turned up. A hit mini-game within the very popular RPG <em>The Witcher 3</em>, it had all the hallmarks of an excellent stand-alone experience and, lo and behold, it appeared on PC and consoles in 2018. Not much has really been heard about it since then – it’s still going, and people still seem to enjoy it, and we’ve known a mobile version was on the horizon at some point.</p>
<p>After a recent beta period, that ‘some point’ is finally here, although only on iOS. <em>GWENT</em> is a very different game from the likes of <em>Hearthstone</em> and other challengers, although it’s still at its core a vaguely CCG looking card game. Michael is hard at work playing through the game for us now, and we’ll bring you our thoughts on it over the coming weeks. No word on an Android version yet I’m afraid, but we’ll keep you posted.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XuW6EQmIfoM?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>The Quest – Basilisk’s Eye (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/the-quest-basilisks-eye/id1484645798/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hu.redshift.thequestexpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>The Quest</em> is a bit of a PT staple so it’s good to see it’s still going. This is a new stand-alone expansion to the beautifully hand-drawn Adventure/RPG with new areas, new quests and new challenges. As with past expansions, you can purchase this as a stand-alone experience if you don’t own the base game, or enable the new content within your existing save.</p>
<p>If you’re doing it within the base game, go to Mithria harbor and talk to captain Hanty, then select “Basilisk’s Eye” as your travel destination. The devs recommend you be at least level 75 before taking on the new content.</p>
<p><img class="leftAlone" title src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-weekender-spooky-sales-edition.jpg" alt="The Quest expansion" width="820" height="463"></p>
<p>Last but not least, <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/a-case-of-distrust/id1450772276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>A Case of Distrust</em></a> caught our eye as something that might be worth looking at. It’s a narrative-based murder mystery experience, so not our usual fare, but it won a bunch of indie awards in 2017 and has developed a good reputation on PC and other platforms. It’s now finally on iOS.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qPaSwKGiJcg?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>App Updates, News & Pre-Orders</h2>
<h3>Tropico</h3>
<p>Feral Interactive released a free update for their mobile adaptation of banana republic simulator <em>Tropico</em> this week. The ‘<em>Absolute Power</em>’ expansion has been made available at no extra cost, which consists of 10 new missions, each taking place on its own island. Don’t forget to <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/tropico/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">check out our review</a>.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YmhwPB_ZqBk?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>Runescape Mobile</h3>
<p>While ‘<em>Oldschool Runescape</em>’ is already available on mobile, that’s the old 2007 version of the game. If you wanted to play the currently running modern version. You’d have to play on a PC… until today! An Early Access build <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jagex.runescape.android" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has released on Android</a>, although despite being free-to-download, you can’t actually play it unless you’re a subscriber of the game on PC.</p>
<p>No word on an iOS version yet, or if the Early Access will open up to anyone else. I’ve dabbled in <em>Runescape</em> myself on PC, but because I’m a free-to-play user I’m not able to access the Android build.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThVgKqHZFe8?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>Mario Kart Tour Multiplayer</h3>
<p><em>Mario Kart Tour</em> has been out nearly a couple of months now, long enough to get a good measure of it. It’s a pretty good way of idling away some time if you’ve got nothing better to do, and the Mario Kart aesthetics make for some good nostalgia, but a true <em>Mario Kart</em> game it is not. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of true multiplayer.</p>
<p>We just heard today that a beta trial of a multiplayer mode will be rolling out in December. Unfortunately, it’s only going to roll out for the Gold Pass subscribers first. The Gold Pass costs $4.99 and unlocks the game’s 200cc mode and then various cosmetic goodies. That’s the same price as Apple Arcade, just so you know.</p>
<h3>Minecraft</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/minecraft/id479516143/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https:/play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a> versions of <em>Minecraft</em> were updated to Version 1.13 earlier this week, the first major patch since July. It’s another technical focuses one looking at fixing bugs and the like, but it also adds Foxes as a new animal, and the Character Creator, which allows you to further customise your avatar in lots of different ways (with even more ways available to purchase). There are few other little content drops as well.</p>
<h2>Halloween App Sales</h2>
<p>Fuuu- there are a lot of sales to process this week, so you may have to settle for a more general bulletin rather than our usual more specific alerts:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445623416/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Necrodancer: AMPLIFIED</em></a> is down to $2.99 (not cheapest price), and the original game is also discounted.</li>
<li><em>XCOM: Enemy Within</em> is down it its cheapest price of $1.99 again on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id881270303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https:/play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tt2kgames.xcomew" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>, as are a couple of other 2K games.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id335545504/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>King of Dragon Pass</em></a> is half price, making it its cheapest price in recent memory. <em>Six Ages</em> is still full price.</li>
<li>Handelabra’s <em>One Deck Dungeon</em> is down to $4.99 on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1380151253/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handelabra.OneDeckDungeon" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>. It was slightly cheaper in June.</li>
<li>All of Acram Digital’s games are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/acram-digital/id1016459119" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=9052427338891655444" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/stardew-valley-ios/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Stardew Valley</em></a> is down to $4.99. It was $3.99 in Dec ‘18 so it might go that cheap again this year, but it’s still a decent price.</li>
<li>A lot of Ironhide’s (<em>Kingdom Rush</em>, <em>Iron Marines</em>) games are going cheap this week on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/ironhide-s-a/id558612918" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6098018911218203911" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>Asmodee Digital’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-mysterium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Mysterium</em></a>, <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-potions-explosion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Potion Explosion</em></a> and <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/zombicide-tactics-and-shotguns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Zombicide: Tactics and Shotguns</em></a> have all been discounted to a couple of dollars.</li>
<li>All of the <em>Holy Potatoes!</em> Games are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/daylight-studios-pte-ltd/id440184810" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>.</li>
<li>All of Clarus Victoria’s games (<em>Egypt: Old Kingdom</em>) are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/mikhail-vasilev/id1254888628" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=clarusvictoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>And quite a few more! Including <em>Balur’s Gate II</em> and the like.</li>
</ul>
<p>If this is what it’s like for Halloween, the Black Friday and Christmas sales are going to be off-the-chain.</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you like? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/11/...s-edition/
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-weekender-spooky-sales-edition.jpg" width="820" height="463" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>I’m not really a huge fan of Halloween, mainly because in the evenings I don’t like to be bothered. After a long day my priorities are to eat dinner and relax on the couch, and not be answering the door every few minutes to give out sweets. We put out some anyway just in case anyone did come knocking, but it was a quiet year on our street so most of the box is still there.</p>
<p>In terms of the site this week we finally caught up on a review I’ve been meaning to have done (<em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/xenowerk-tactics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Xenowerk</a>) </em>and had what will probably be the <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/guides/upcoming-ios-android-mobile-games-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">penultimate look</a> at games are still due out this year. We also reviewed <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/bad-north-ios-android/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bad North</a>, </em>which is excellent, if only really suitable for short bursts.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>New Mobile Games</h2>
<h3>GWENT: The Witcher Card Game (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/gwent-the-witcher-card-game/id1466943149/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>)</h3>
<p>There was a lot of buzz around <em>GWENT</em> when it first turned up. A hit mini-game within the very popular RPG <em>The Witcher 3</em>, it had all the hallmarks of an excellent stand-alone experience and, lo and behold, it appeared on PC and consoles in 2018. Not much has really been heard about it since then – it’s still going, and people still seem to enjoy it, and we’ve known a mobile version was on the horizon at some point.</p>
<p>After a recent beta period, that ‘some point’ is finally here, although only on iOS. <em>GWENT</em> is a very different game from the likes of <em>Hearthstone</em> and other challengers, although it’s still at its core a vaguely CCG looking card game. Michael is hard at work playing through the game for us now, and we’ll bring you our thoughts on it over the coming weeks. No word on an Android version yet I’m afraid, but we’ll keep you posted.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XuW6EQmIfoM?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>The Quest – Basilisk’s Eye (<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/the-quest-basilisks-eye/id1484645798/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hu.redshift.thequestexpc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p><em>The Quest</em> is a bit of a PT staple so it’s good to see it’s still going. This is a new stand-alone expansion to the beautifully hand-drawn Adventure/RPG with new areas, new quests and new challenges. As with past expansions, you can purchase this as a stand-alone experience if you don’t own the base game, or enable the new content within your existing save.</p>
<p>If you’re doing it within the base game, go to Mithria harbor and talk to captain Hanty, then select “Basilisk’s Eye” as your travel destination. The devs recommend you be at least level 75 before taking on the new content.</p>
<p><img class="leftAlone" title src="https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-weekender-spooky-sales-edition.jpg" alt="The Quest expansion" width="820" height="463"></p>
<p>Last but not least, <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/a-case-of-distrust/id1450772276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>A Case of Distrust</em></a> caught our eye as something that might be worth looking at. It’s a narrative-based murder mystery experience, so not our usual fare, but it won a bunch of indie awards in 2017 and has developed a good reputation on PC and other platforms. It’s now finally on iOS.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qPaSwKGiJcg?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>App Updates, News & Pre-Orders</h2>
<h3>Tropico</h3>
<p>Feral Interactive released a free update for their mobile adaptation of banana republic simulator <em>Tropico</em> this week. The ‘<em>Absolute Power</em>’ expansion has been made available at no extra cost, which consists of 10 new missions, each taking place on its own island. Don’t forget to <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/tropico/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">check out our review</a>.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YmhwPB_ZqBk?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>Runescape Mobile</h3>
<p>While ‘<em>Oldschool Runescape</em>’ is already available on mobile, that’s the old 2007 version of the game. If you wanted to play the currently running modern version. You’d have to play on a PC… until today! An Early Access build <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jagex.runescape.android" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has released on Android</a>, although despite being free-to-download, you can’t actually play it unless you’re a subscriber of the game on PC.</p>
<p>No word on an iOS version yet, or if the Early Access will open up to anyone else. I’ve dabbled in <em>Runescape</em> myself on PC, but because I’m a free-to-play user I’m not able to access the Android build.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='980' height='552' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThVgKqHZFe8?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>Mario Kart Tour Multiplayer</h3>
<p><em>Mario Kart Tour</em> has been out nearly a couple of months now, long enough to get a good measure of it. It’s a pretty good way of idling away some time if you’ve got nothing better to do, and the Mario Kart aesthetics make for some good nostalgia, but a true <em>Mario Kart</em> game it is not. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of true multiplayer.</p>
<p>We just heard today that a beta trial of a multiplayer mode will be rolling out in December. Unfortunately, it’s only going to roll out for the Gold Pass subscribers first. The Gold Pass costs $4.99 and unlocks the game’s 200cc mode and then various cosmetic goodies. That’s the same price as Apple Arcade, just so you know.</p>
<h3>Minecraft</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/minecraft/id479516143/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https:/play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a> versions of <em>Minecraft</em> were updated to Version 1.13 earlier this week, the first major patch since July. It’s another technical focuses one looking at fixing bugs and the like, but it also adds Foxes as a new animal, and the Character Creator, which allows you to further customise your avatar in lots of different ways (with even more ways available to purchase). There are few other little content drops as well.</p>
<h2>Halloween App Sales</h2>
<p>Fuuu- there are a lot of sales to process this week, so you may have to settle for a more general bulletin rather than our usual more specific alerts:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445623416/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Necrodancer: AMPLIFIED</em></a> is down to $2.99 (not cheapest price), and the original game is also discounted.</li>
<li><em>XCOM: Enemy Within</em> is down it its cheapest price of $1.99 again on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id881270303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https:/play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tt2kgames.xcomew" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>, as are a couple of other 2K games.</li>
<li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id335545504/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>King of Dragon Pass</em></a> is half price, making it its cheapest price in recent memory. <em>Six Ages</em> is still full price.</li>
<li>Handelabra’s <em>One Deck Dungeon</em> is down to $4.99 on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1380151253/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.handelabra.OneDeckDungeon" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>. It was slightly cheaper in June.</li>
<li>All of Acram Digital’s games are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/acram-digital/id1016459119" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=9052427338891655444" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/stardew-valley-ios/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Stardew Valley</em></a> is down to $4.99. It was $3.99 in Dec ‘18 so it might go that cheap again this year, but it’s still a decent price.</li>
<li>A lot of Ironhide’s (<em>Kingdom Rush</em>, <em>Iron Marines</em>) games are going cheap this week on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/ironhide-s-a/id558612918" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6098018911218203911" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>Asmodee Digital’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-mysterium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Mysterium</em></a>, <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-potions-explosion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Potion Explosion</em></a> and <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/zombicide-tactics-and-shotguns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Zombicide: Tactics and Shotguns</em></a> have all been discounted to a couple of dollars.</li>
<li>All of the <em>Holy Potatoes!</em> Games are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/daylight-studios-pte-ltd/id440184810" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a>.</li>
<li>All of Clarus Victoria’s games (<em>Egypt: Old Kingdom</em>) are discounted on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/mikhail-vasilev/id1254888628" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=clarusvictoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>.</li>
<li>And quite a few more! Including <em>Balur’s Gate II</em> and the like.</li>
</ul>
<p>If this is what it’s like for Halloween, the Black Friday and Christmas sales are going to be off-the-chain.</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you like? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/11/...s-edition/