I have started an ad free site/service that lists well designed and honest Android games. Every game that is listed on this site is either completely free with no advertising, has a one time up front cost or one time IAP to unlock the full content ad free.
For each game posted on the site I have a brief bullet point list. This list consists of information like the up front price or the price of a one time IAP that unlocks the full game or removes ads on an already full game. Also listed is the info on if the game has multiplayer, if so what kind of multiplayer (online, local wifi, pass and play). There is also a description of whether the game supports Google Play Services or whether the game supports immersive mode from Android 4.4. Gamepad support and if the game plays in landscape, portrait or both is also included in the description along with whether the Play store or Amazon offer a demo. All of these things I verify myself by playing the game. I also include the permissions of each game so everyone has an upfront idea of what the game has access to. So after the brief bulletpoints and permissions there will also be the devs description of the game from Google Play/Amazon Appstore.
There is a certain criteria I hold of all of the games I post.
- Upfront priced games with full content.
- There will not be any games listed that have pay walls or wait times.
- IAPs will only be allowed if they unlock the full game with a single purchase or removes ads in an already full versioned game.
- No ports of games that were heavily controller designed (SNK ports, Sega ports, Rockstar Games ports and DotEmu ports).
- Ports of touch based games from DS and PS Vita will be allowed as well as ports such as World of Goo or Chu Chu Rocket that happen to lend themselves quite nicely to touchscreen play. There is also a new trend of games being designed at the same time for consoles/pc as Android (such as Leisure Suit Larry or Shadowrun Returns), games designed like these (with touch controls in mind at the start of developing) will be included on the site as well.
- Games must be designed for Android and look correct on all of it's screen resolutions. That means no letter-boxing or low res graphics. This way bad iPhone ports that don't fit on our screens or games that don't bother to support HD devices like tablets will be weeded out.
- Games must look good. Some games out there have great gameplay but their graphics sometimes look like they were designed on Linux in the nineties. Games that fit this description will most likely not be listed as I am trying to encourage well designed pleasing to the eye kind of games. Of course the new trend of retro pixel art games are perfectly fine.
- Developer ethics also come into play. While Square Enix do not have IAPs their crazy online DRM schemes and complete lack of support (Chrono Trigger sound familiar) makes their games more than likely to not be listed. Gameloft, Glu and EA fit in this category pretty well too.
For me personally I feel it has been difficult at best if not almost impossible to navigate the Play Store to find truly well made games that aren't designed from the ground up to nickel and dime you. With most Android gaming review sites lacking any good list of games and most Android blogs publishing mainly articles about the newest Glu games (looking at you Android Central and Android Police) I feel a site like the one I have created will hopefully provide a much needed service for the Android gamer.
Basically this site lists games that look great on phones and tablets alike while also playing great on touchscreens all while ignoring the nickel and diming slum of Android gaming. So if any of this sounds good to you please check it out.
http://honestandroidgames.com
p.s. The site is still growing and new functions will be added. I am also open to ideas so if you guys have any please let me know.
Related
Having come recently from iOS to Xperia Play, I 'm finding its online multiplayer severely lacking compared to iOS. There are some questions deeply rooted (lol) in my mind which I can't find answers for and hope the knowledgeable people here can help me with.
First, I am no Apple fanboy (though I respect their products) , I prefer playing games with physical buttons hence my switch to Xperia Play. However, comparing Gun Bros online multiplayer iOS and Android versions I must ask:
1) Why does the game Gun Bros ask me to have a GameSpy account and a wifi connection when on iOS I could play online multiplayer IMMEDIATELY via GameCenter and even via 3G? (Well, the connection was sometimes slow, but it worked).
2) Why is the game forcing me to open a Facebook account in order to play online? Personally I despise Facebook and will never use it. The iOS version did no such thing.
3) Why does Open Feint NOT provide online multiplayer the same way GameCenter does on iOS?
4) Are there at all any games I can play on my Xperia Play using on-line multiplayer the same way GunBros does in iOS version? I mean, two players doing the same level co-operatively where I can see the other player and his actions on my screen.
4) If there are such games, am I am ok with just Open Feint or do I have to use some stupid additional app like Facebook or GameSpy?
Thanks for any answers and sorry if I sound a bit negative. I do love gaming on Xperia Play, it's a lovely handset, I just find its multiplayer features so far very limited.
I'll try and answer your questions as good as i can, allright?
1) God knows. It's the Developers decision, how he manages stuff. And you can bet your ass that it's a different developer(team?) vor the iOS and Android versions.
2) Same as 1.
3) GameCenter is by Apple from Apple for Apple.. it's on every iPhone and provides such functionality. Android does not have such a standard (yet?).
4) Am not the type to play multiplayer games. I emulate most games i play (PSX, GBC, SNES, GENESIS) and i only have 2 other XPeria Play users as friends.. that never really play the type of games i enjoy.
5) (Presumably..) Game developers will probably provide their own servers, or you'll be able to run your own on your handset. On iOS such fucntions cannot be implemented, so developers HAVE to use their own Servers (correct me if i'm wrong here, though).
All in all, iOS is the simplier variant of .. pretty much anything.
But if you want REAL customisation, aswell as a real swiss army knife at your hands - Android is much better.
(How did i end up in a iOS vs Android phrase.. i don't really..)
I like most people my age grew up on solitaire, that and minesweeper were the only games we had back in our day... two miles in the snow, both ways uphill and all that jazz. Either way, most of the solitaire apps I've seen on Android look just about as bad as they did on Windows. In fact, the Windows version looks even better! All these Android card apps look like SHlT! I can get high def shooters and race games, but not a decent looking solitaire game? Anyone recommend any slick looking apps?
I use Solitaire deluxe. iirc i got it as Amazon's free app of the day a while back, but i believe they have a free version. It is ok and has a lot of games including a few of the classics. Many games can be configured with different options to make them easier or more difficult to beat.
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that Brotherhood of Violence by Realtech VR is optimized for the Xperia Play gamepad. You need to check (tick) the 'Joystick' parameter in the Options menu and then it's game on. The button icons etc even come up in the first level tutorial.
Not played it much yet but it has a retro 'Streets of Rage' flavour and is quite cinematic with some console grade graphics to ice it off . The in-game voice-over will have you cracking up with laughter. I think it is intentionally ridiculous as the subtitles (which appear to be compulsory) make more sense.
Character customization appears to be a huge part of the game, though I haven't delved into that yet. Playing with mainstay character Lamar makes the game feel like your playing a crossover of Black Dynamite meets Warriors! Anyhoo, I've said too much! Let me know what you think
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtechvr.brotherhood
Wow, I was just about to buy this on my Microsoft Surface Pro! Think I might just be buying both versions
Thanks for the heads up OP!
Korinn said:
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that Brotherhood of Violence by Realtech VR is optimized for the Xperia Play gamepad. You need to check (tick) the 'Joystick' parameter in the Options menu and then it's game on. The button icons etc even come up in the first level tutorial.
Not played it much yet but it has a retro 'Streets of Rage' flavour and is quite cinematic with some console grade graphics to ice it off . The in-game voice-over will have you cracking up with laughter. I think it is intentionally ridiculous as the subtitles (which appear to be compulsory) make more sense.
Character customization appears to be a huge part of the game, though I haven't delved into that yet. Playing with mainstay character Lamar makes the game feel like your playing a crossover of Black Dynamite meets Warriors! Anyhoo, I've said too much! Let me know what you think
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realtechvr.brotherhood
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Great find man. There are no problems with lags or force closes in this game right? Was looking for a good fighting game on Android.
No lags that I can find yet. But that being said my phone is overclocked and I haven't tested it at factory MHz level.
The voice overs had me giggling too. I really don't think it was intentional either, just sounds like they don't speak english really well. I like Realtech VR, they always include us Xperia Play users.
Major content update for this game along with Google Play Games integration has been added on Google Play.
What's New
2.0.1 :
- Fixed shadow rendering on some devices.
- Fixed Gametel support.
- Other minor fixes.
2.0.0 : Brotherhood of Violence 2 : Blood Impact update
- New challenges map added.
- Compatible with MOGA and MOGA Pro game controllers
- Compatible with Gametel controllers
- Compatible with nVidia SHIELD game controller
- Google Play Games enabled.
- Russian language added.
- New in game voices from professional actors.
- Ability to restore purchases.
- Many more improvements
So, for the ones who played it, is it worth buying this game?
cityhunter62 said:
So, for the ones who played it, is it worth buying this game?
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Yes, it is, for the XPlay. If you think the present price point is too costly, wait until it goes on sale again.
I am writing this in the hopes that game developers will see this. There is a golden opportunity out there for any game developer willing to take on the challenge - Gamepads are coming out every day for Android, and everyone wants to use them. MOGA, nVidia Shield, and PS3 Gameklip are just a few of the most popular ones out there.
I personally just plug a USB xbox gamepad into my Android, and it works great, except there just aren't any gamepad-supported games. In the past few months, I have read countless threads listing gamepad games, I have downloaded and tried them all. There's even an app for Android that helps you find gamepad games.
So far, there are only TWO games that I would count as FULLY supporting ALL gamepads, and they're both made by the same company, (Madfinger Games) Dead Trigger and Shadowgun. They are the only ones that have a "gamepad controls" menu in the options that lets you go through each function and assign it a button or an axis. This is crucial. This is a huge opportunity for game developers! Why? Well have you ever been to a game expo, to the mobile gaming section, where people like MOGA demo their Android gamepads? There's dozens of different gamepad developers wanting to sell you their wares, but they are ALL playing the SAME game on their demo unit: Dead Trigger. Every where you look, it's "Look how good THIS gamepad can play Dead Trigger!" - Why? Because it's the only one that bothered to fully implement gamepad controls. Imagine how much of a free advertisement it would be if yours was the first game to break that trend, to be the only game in that expo that WASNT Dead Trigger!
While there are dozens of games out there that support MOGA, they only support MOGA, and often only one specific particular MOGA model. They don't let you change controls, and if you don't like how they're set up, you're screwed. Same goes for SHIELD. Most games that claim gamepad support only go so far as to support MOGA and Shield, and stop right there. They leave the rest of us in the dust.
There isn't a single racing game out there that supports HID gamepads like Xbox or PS3. Asphalt 8 supports them, in the way that a miser supports his mistress - secretly, hidden in some back corner. You don't get to change the controls, you are forced to use the A/B buttons for gas/brake instead of triggers, and the analog steering suffers from the "digital effect". That is to say it isn't really analog steering, it's either FULL left, or FULL right, with nothing in between. Same goes for every other big racing game out there, from GT Racing 2 to Real Racing 3.
So PLEASE devs, make us a real gamepad game! Make us lots! Make them racing, or shooters, or space sims, or sports games, whatever, and we will buy them! You will support the gamepad industry and make it thrive, like Dead Trigger is reluctantly doing right now, and in turn when they grow, they will support you. Get in on the ground floor, and there's money to be made. Get known for being THE company where EVERY game supports EVERY gamepad, and you could become the next Madfinger or Gameloft.
I'll maintain this thread so long as there's interest. In order for an emulator to be listed here, it needs to meet the following criteria
-must be able to open the app with the OFFICIAL Nexus Player gamepad (NPGP)
-must be able to exit the app with the official NPGP
-Must be able to configure all in-app options, to include gamepad button assignments, with the NPGP.
-Must be installable from the Nexus Player (waivable if installable from Play Store on PC)
-Must have a leanback launcher shortcut
Basically, if the emulator requires root, ADB, third party peripherals (for use or configuration), sideloading, etc., it won't be on this list.
NES:
NES.emu ($3.99)
Open the Play Store on your Nexus Player, and scroll up to search. Type or speak "Nintendo" or "emulator" and this will be one of the options that comes up. Alternatively, you can purchased and push install from the web-based Play Store. Open installation and first run, you should go to the settings and configure the gamepad for in-game actions (specifically, to exit the app).
SNES:
Snes9x EX+ (FREE)
Same as above (same developer and menu system).
I'd advise using the SNES emu first (as it's free) to learn how his menu/control setup works, then move on to his other paid emulators. You can see his other emulators at this page here - https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Robert Broglia&hl=en
Alternatively, you can open the Play Store on the Nexus Player, scroll up to search, and type/speak "emulator." Pretty much all of those are his. As I purchase his other emulators I'll add them to the above list when confirmed. If others wants to try them and report back, I'll also update the list based on that. If you find other emulators that meet the above criteria, please share.
Won't they get removed from the store soon? Emulators are banned quickly on Google Play, aren't they?
Magnesus said:
Won't they get removed from the store soon? Emulators are banned quickly on Google Play, aren't they?
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Most emulators on Google Play have been there for years. Nesoid and the other emulators made by that developer were removed for a specific violation. Here's a good article on the subject.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...nded-are-emulators-soon-to-be-banned-content/
Also, I'm going to go out on limb here. It's normally bad form to distribute links of ROM distribution website (and I won't post it here unless a moderator explicitly tells me that it's ok). However, there's one website that is actually legal (and as such, don't expect to find the best games here). Basically, the ESA has set up a way of protecting the rights of gaming companies and their work, while also offering some ROMs to gamers. Read more on the ESA here:
http://www.theesa.com/ (NOTE: Not a ROM distribution site)
Due to this, one website is completely ESA compliant and has, at the request of Nintendo (and other parties) intentionally set up dead links that will usually be at or near the top of Google results. If you search for a specific ROM on a Nintendo platform, and you click on the link for this specific website, all you get is a link that says "This page has been removed due to copyrights." What few ROMs are available on this website are legally freely distributed. Have at it.
The only problem I have with console emulators has always been the controller lag. This has been true even on my gaming PCs. Playing Super Mario 3 for example, on my SNES (bought one just for this game - lol) it's smooth and does what I expect it to. On my PCs, ADT-1, etc., there's always a minor lag that's just enough to throw timing off.
Mame for the most part on the PC has worked very well for fighting games. Chankast with MvsC2 was damn smooth for me. I'd love to see Android get to this level of emulation.
Mi|enko said:
The only problem I have with console emulators has always been the controller lag. This has been true even on my gaming PCs. Playing Super Mario 3 for example, on my SNES (bought one just for this game - lol) it's smooth and does what I expect it to. On my PCs, ADT-1, etc., there's always a minor lag that's just enough to throw timing off.
Mame for the most part on the PC has worked very well for fighting games. Chankast with MvsC2 was damn smooth for me. I'd love to see Android get to this level of emulation.
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There are two types of lag that you'll have to deal with here: system timing and input lag.
System timing - Each emulator developer takes their own approach to this. For the SNES, for example, SNES9X and ZSNES took two different approaches. ZSNES made the system timing more consistent, while SNES9X attempts to emulate the system timing of the SNES to a fault. As a result, playing a game on SNES9X will more closely mirror the actual SNES than ZSNES will. Basically, if you're playing a game that requires timing, you'll have to completely relearn your timing on ZSNES, whereas SNES9X will require less (if any) adjustment.
As for Sega 8/16-bit systems and the 32X, you should ONLY be using Kega Fusion on the desktop. This emulator is made by the same guy who has been hired by Sega numerous times to help them port their "Ages" collections to various platforms. He has inside knowledge of the hardware which is why his emulation is so spot on. There should be no noticeable difference in timing between an actual SMS/Genesis/SegaCD/32X and Kega Fusion. Unfortunately, the emulators available for Android aren't based on Fusion.
Input lag - All monitors/HDTVs have a degree of input lag. If you're gaming at 60fps, you want input lag to be <16.67ms, or 1 frame. This ensure that your button response is never more than 1 frame off. NOTE: This has NOTHING to do with pixel response time advertised by LCD manufacturers. Do NOT confuse these two specs. Here's a database of PC monitors and their associated input lag - http://www.displaylag.com/display-database/
HDTVs have an inherently high input lag due to all of the processing that they attempt to do. If you're going to game on these HDTVs, you want to disable as much as possible by using any built-in game mode that the HDTV has. For example, I use a Samsung L46A650. I bought this HDTV in 2008 because, at the time, it had the best input lag control. To date, no HDTV has bested it, so I'm keeping it until it dies. If I use HDMI input 2, set the source to 1080p (possible with Xbox 360, not with PS3), and set it at PC mode, it acts as a PC monitor. Input lag is <16.67 ms in this mode. For other inputs, enabling game mode has an input lag of 16.67ms to 33.33ms (1-2 frames). VGA (Dreamcast) is <16.67ms. If you dare use standard or movie mode, input lag is 3-4 frames. And if you have component hookups (like my PS2) and forget to enable game mode, it's a horrid 4-6 frames worth of delay. Here's an AVS thread on it - http://www.avsforum.com/forum/166-l...-results-your-lcd-display-here-reference.html
Bottom line is that you can greatly reduce the timing issues that you're having by ensuring that you're using the optimal emulator, and properly configuring your display.
^Thanks for all the detail man! I'm using a Samsung TV as well and had been using game mode for my ADT-1 input. Switching it from Game to PC, I saw a significant improvement in the input lag; however, I do see occasional screen hiccups (just a quick flash while navigating). The SNES games (Mario 3 in this case, for comparative purposes) plays almost flawless and as smooth as my SNES. Not perfect, but a helluva lot better than in game mode. It's comparable to my PC at this point, from the quick 10 minutes of testing I did.
Mi|enko said:
^Thanks for all the detail man! I'm using a Samsung TV as well and had been using game mode for my ADT-1 input. Switching it from Game to PC, I saw a significant improvement in the input lag; however, I do see occasional screen hiccups (just a quick flash while navigating). The SNES games (Mario 3 in this case, for comparative purposes) plays almost flawless and as smooth as my SNES. Not perfect, but a helluva lot better than in game mode. It's comparable to my PC at this point, from the quick 10 minutes of testing I did.
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I'm glad that you found it useful. I want to clarify something from my prior post that I was misleading on.
There are essentially 3 classes of "modern" emulators for the SNES, and there are many that fall in around or between these classes. For this example, I'm going to refer to Higan (formerly BSNES), SNES9X, and ZSNES.
Emulation is tricky. The more accurate you attempt to be, the higher the system specs that you need. Due to this, Higan stands alone as the most accurate emulator. It won't do any graphics filters. It won't speed up games. If a game had a scene with horrendous slowdown on a physical SNES, it will have the same horrendous slowdown on this emulator in the same spot. If you want to perfectly emulate an SNES, don't care about modernizing the graphics, and have the specs to run it (quad-core 3ghz+ Intel Core series CPU), then go for Higan. Note: There's no equivalent for Android, nor could there be at this point.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is ZNES (and there are far worse emulators, but I'm picking on them). Like all emulators not named Higan, this program takes shortcuts to mimic functionality. More shortcuts means better speed and lower system requirements, but also more compatibility issues. Try playing Earthworm Jim 2 and you won't hear most of the sound effects.
SNES9X is a compromise. It is far more accurate than ZSNES and therefore has higher system requirements. It takes more of a 95/5 approach. It won't have the accuracy as Higan, but it also won't have the slowdown found in Starefox to the degree that a real SNES or Higan would. It also allows you to enhance the graphics with filters and such. It's also ported to damn near every platform (including the Android TV app mentioned in the OP). It won't be exactly like playing on an actual SNES, but it will be closer than most emulators while offering enhancements, and consistency across multiple platforms.
I have installed these emulators and these are superb.