B. Playing Games on Your iPad
All work and no play can make for a boring iPad user. By reading about many different types of work-related apps, you’ve had the opportunity to preview just some of the ways people working in many different industries are currently using the iPad 2 or new iPad in today’s competitive business world.
Your iPad is, of course, capable of more than just being a tool for work. It can be used to compete against others (human or computer-controlled opponents) in a wide range of challenging, exhilarating, fun, and unique games.
Available from the App Store are literally thousands of challenging, visually stunning, and highly innovative games. So, if you need a quick diversion from important business matters, you’re looking to lose yourself for a few hours in a simulated world that’s filled with action and adventure, or you want to challenge others in a game of skill, you have the right device.
In the App Store, every week Apple reviews all the latest games available for the iPad and chooses one to be named Game of the Week. These games tend to be the most advanced in terms of graphics, sound, and game play, and make the best use of the iPad’s built-in features.
From the iPad, tap the App Store app icon displayed on your Home Screen. Next, tap the Features command icon displayed at the bottom of the screen. The Game of the Week is promoted in the large graphic banner displayed near the top of the App Store screen, or within the three smaller graphic banners displayed near the top right of the screen.
Alternatively, tap the Categories button at the bottom of the App Store screen, and then select the Games category. The Game of the Week is promoted in a graphic banner near the top of the screen. (You also can find, purchase, and download Apple’s the Game of the Week for iPad by accessing the App Store from iTunes on your primary computer.)
You might think that video games are just for kids. Well, think again. Many of the most popular games for the iPad are actually designed with intelligent adults in mind. You’ll find many different card games (such as blackjack and poker), puzzle games, casino games, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, sports games, and realistic simulations, for example, readily available from the App Store.
In each game category, you’ll discover many different game-play experiences—some created by the most talented and imaginative designers in the video game industry.
Although some of the games are adaptations of popular video games originally designed for Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Sega, or Atari gaming systems, for example, the iPad editions of these games often take full advantage of the features and functionality that are unique to the iPad.
Because your iPad can connect to the Web, you’re able to experience real-time multiplayer games and compete against friends, co-workers, your kids, or total strangers. In fact, Apple’s own online-based Game Center (accessible through Game Center–compatible games or the Game Center app that comes preinstalled on your iPad) offers a free online forum in which you can meet and compete against others as you experience a growing number of popular multiplayer iPad games.
Thousands of free games are available from the App Store. Some are advertiser supported; others offer optional in-app purchase options so you can access extra levels or gain special power-ups, tools for the game, or added functionality within a game. Many games are paid apps, ranging in price from $.99 USD to $4.99 USD (although occasionally you might find a game priced a bit higher).
Fifteen Awesome iPad Games
Based on your personal taste, you’ll easily find many different games that appeal to you as you browse the App Store. This section features a cross-section of 15 extremely popular or truly innovative games, listed alphabetically, that are well worth experiencing on your tablet.
• Angry Birds HD ($2.99): This is one of the most popular action-based, puzzle/strategy games available for the iPad. It’s a whimsical one-player game that’s easy to learn but very difficult to master. There are also several popular sequels, including Angry Birds Rio HD ($2.99), Angry Birds Seasons HD ($1.99), and Angry Birds Space HD ($2.99).
• Doodle Jump ($2.99): The graphics in this game look like a hand-drawn cartoon. The object is to help a constantly moving character jump, climb, and catapult his way up along a seamlessly endless maze that’s filled with obstacles. This game is easy to learn, very difficult to master, and extremely addicting.
• Draw Something ($0.99): This is one of the most popular games ever released for the iPad. You’re given a word, and then one player tries to draw it on the iPad’s screen while another player attempts to guess the word based on the drawing.
• Final Fantasy III for iPad ($16.99): A role-playing adventure game that’s a faithful adaptation of the incredibly popular computer game.
• Flight Control HD ($4.99): An action-packed strategy/puzzle game that simulates an airport traffic control tower.
• Infinity Blade II ($4.99): This first-person action adventure game showcases some of the most visually impressive graphics of any iPad game or app yet created. It features high-action combat, stunning 3D-rendered characters, and interactive, photorealistic environments.
• Madden NFL ’12 by EA Sports for iPad ($6.99): An action-packed and realistic NFL football simulation game.
• NY Times Crosswords (free, but requires an in-app subscription purchase): Play the daily crossword puzzle that’s published in The New York Times, or access a database of more than 4,000 previously published puzzles.
• Pac-Man for iPad ($4.99): Play the classic arcade game, complete with re-creations of the original graphics, music, and sound effects.
• Scrabble for iPad ($9.99): Experience this classic board game against a computer-controlled opponent or other human players. Many other board games, such as Monopoly ($6.99), Boggle for iPad ($0.99), and The Game of Life ($4.99), are available.
• Social Sudoku: Challenge your mind as you attempt to solve Sudoku puzzles created by the same people who develop the Sudoku puzzles for newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.
• Tetris for iPad ($6.99): Play the action-packed, strategy-based puzzle game that helped kick start the handheld video game revolution in the late 1980s. This version, however, includes a handful of new gameplay modes.
• Texas Poker Pro ($0.99): Compete against others (or computer-controlled opponents) as you play casino-style Texas Poker.
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 for iPad ($4.99): If you can’t make it to the links in person, this video game simulation is the next best thing. Play on simulated courses against faithful adaptations of the PGA’s best golfers.
• Words with Friends HD ($2.99): This is an online multiplayer game similar to Scrabble that lets you create words based on letter tiles you’re given. It has become one of the most popular iPhone and iPad games ever released.