On paper, Maya Pyramid sounds like 
a so-so premise. Match cards up to add to 11, revealing other cards and then repeat. In actuality, it’s a nail-biting good time. The game is fast-paced and exciting and younger players won’t realize they’re building strong math skills in the process. It’s a wonderful example of the “easy to grasp, difficult to master” philosophy that makes for a good game. With a variety of levels and fun, but unnecessary, bonuses (like the game’s background reflecting what time it is when you play), Maya Pyramid is a satisfying time waster that is well worth the money.
Tag Archives: iphone
3D gaming won’t hit stores until 2011
Despite indications it was right around the corner
, 3D handheld gaming won’t hit store shelves until next year.
Nintendo announced Wednesday that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play videogames in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.
Nintendo to Roll Out 3D Gaming System Next Year
Nintendo’s jump into the 3D gaming world won’t 
happen until 2011.
The video game company on Wednesday announced that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.
Nintendo 3DS won’t arrive until 2011
So much for a holiday surprise from Nintendo.
The company today announced launch details for the 3DS, its upcoming handheld gaming platform that lets users play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses. Japanese consumers will be the first to get their hands on the system – starting Feb. 26. U.S. and European gamers will have their chance in March.
App review: Thomas Tilt and Go
There’s nothing particularly educational about Thomas Tilt and Go
, but kids who are big fans of the television show will enjoy the chance to control some of their favorite characters. It’s not a challenging game, either. As long as the player keeps Thomas moving forward, he or she will easily earn enough points to advance with time to spare. (They’re rewarded with short clips from the television show.) The upside of this is kids won’t get frustrated, but unless they’re die-hard fans of the show, the might get bored after one or two tracks. The gameplay is virtually identical from level to level. Is it worth $2.99? No. But if the price falls, it’s a good, safe addition for young children.
App review: Stick Stunt Biker
Stick Stunt Biker is an over-the-top racing game
that makes motocross look like a ride around a parking lot. The game features impossible jumps and bone-shattering crashes in a cartoon manner that is actually a lot of fun, at least for a while. It’s not an easy game, but the frustration of failure is mitigated by the cringe-inducing experience of seeing the stick figure racer tumble to the ground. The app might use a realistic physics engine to portray those crashes, but there’s nothing close to real about the rest of the game. It’s fun initially, but after a while, the repeated crashes get old and the varying tracks don’t really incentivize you to keep playing. Ultimately, Stick Stunt Biker is a fun diversion, but nothing that will top your list of favorite apps.
App review: Zombie Infection HD
Zombie Infection HD tries to follow the path 
set by classic zombie survival games like Resident Evil 4, but it falls far short. The graphics are middling, at best. The story is ridiculous. And the zombies really aren’t that scary. The game also features some sloppy programming — like when zombies crawl through the middle of a roof, instead of up the side of a building. The controls aren’t intuitive and don’t react fast enough for a game in this genre. For 99 cents, it might be worth it for fans of zombie films. For anything more, though, it’s not worth it for anyone.
App review: Face2Face
Face2Face does a good job of compiling a user’s varied 
social networking sites, but it goes a step too far by allowing friends of friends to know users’ general location. A privacy setting in the app’s upper right hand corner can make users invisible to people they’re not already connected with, but it’s not blatantly obvious and will likely be overlooked by many users. It’s reassuring that the app only gives general proximity, but that could still hit a little too close to some people’s comfort zones. While you can make yourself invisible to the world at large or specific individuals, you’ll have to regularly check the app to know if that’s necessary.
Power users of social networks might love the chance to meet friends and make new ones, but parents might want teens to sit this one out.
App review: ABC Maze
Learning how to string together letters to form 
words is tricky — and ABC Maze is a good tool to help kids learn to do so. The biggest challenge for some players will be having the motor skills to use the internal gyroscope to make the ball go where they want it to. While none of the mazes is punishing, some are harder than others. The game offers visual and audible rewards when a puzzle is solved, which encourages kids to keep playing. $1.99 is a bit steep for the app, though. It’s definitely wise to download the lite version and see if your child will enjoy it first.
Read more at Common Sense Media
App review: Josh & Emma Go to the Beach
Josh & Emma Go to the Beach means well, but when
judged on its educational aspects, it falls a bit short. There are plenty of less expensive (and free) apps that teach just as much or more. The graphics that accompany the story are nice, but children aren’t likely to be engaged more than one or two times. At a lower price, Josh & Emma might be worth a look, but if you’re searching for an app that will keep your children’s attention and teach them something more than the most rudimentary skills, you can do better.
Chris Morris: Journalist 