Rage comes to App Store, Flight Control for Mac hits Steam
updated 11:35 am EST, Thu November 18, 2010
id dips toes into high-end iOS games
As promised by the company's co-founder, John Carmack, id Software has launched two iOS versions of Rage at the App Store. A narrower take on the upcoming PC and console Rage games, the iOS apps are rail shooters in which players compete in a violent gameshow called Mutant Bash TV. Players use pistols, shotguns and machineguns to kill mutants in three different environments.
As gamers progress, they can rack up hitstreaks, pick up ammo and accumulate Bash Bux. Top scores and four difficulty settings are meant to encourage replays. The basic version of the app costs $1, and supports any device running iOS 3.2 or later. The $2 HD version uses higher-resolution textures, and is intended only for the iPad, iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod touch. id also cautions that both apps may crash if English is not set as the default language on a device.
Developer Firemint has meanwhile released a Mac version of Flight Control HD, available through Valve's online Steam service. As in the iPad game, players try to guide aircraft into an airport for safe landing. The Mac version has updated graphics, and a new Stunt map, in which scores can be increased by leading planes through gates. A download costs $5.
