App roundup: Best AirPlay-enabled games for your new iPhone 5s
With the release of two new iPhones, iOS 7 and a fresh Apple TV update, now is a great time to test out iOS' AirPlay capabilities, especially for iPhone 5s owners, who can now take advantage of the speedy A7 SoC by throwing games onto the big screen.
With the iPhone 5s, Apple introduced the 64-bit A7 processor, complete with quad-core GPU capable of handling the most demanding iOS games. Paired with the Apple TV and AirPlay, the setup makes for a potent combination that can offer users a more immersive gaming experience by streaming content from a 4-inch iPhone screen to an HDTV.
In light of Apple's release of iOS 7, a number of developers pushed out compatibility and optimization updates for their AirPlay-compatible games, and AppleInsider has wrangled up three of best.
Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders is one of the best flight combat simulations on the App Store, with tight controls and impressive graphics joined by online multiplayer options. Campaign maps and missions are inspired by real life events from World War II, while online multiplayer options include both dogfight and cooperative gameplay.
The game takes visual cues from other titles in the Sky Gamblers series and builds in console-level graphics like bump mapping, atmospheric scattering and other advanced effects. Detailed scenery adds to the historically correct locations, while realistic weather brings a moodiness not usually found in an arcade-style simulation.
For the latest version of Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders, developer Atypical Games boosted effects and graphics for the iPhone 5s, which translates well to an HDTV.
Price: $4.99
Gameloft's Asphalt 7: Heat features an extensive list of 60 drivable cars that can be raced on 15 different tracks, each with its own style and hazards. Car renderings are impressive, with marques including Ferrari, Aston Martin and the classic DeLorean represented. Each ride has its own driving characteristics and while physics definitely skews toward the arcade, the controls are easy to master.
Online play is supported for up to five friends, while a matchmaking system can pit users against random opponents.
Gyroscope controls make for decent handling, but some elements are still on-screen, making AirPlay a significant bonus for those using an iPhone to play.
Price: $0.99
Real Racing 3, from gaming giant EA, is more of a driving simulation than Asphalt. Controls have a steeper learning curve than other titles in the genre, but this results in more satisfying gameplay where every move counts. Fans of the franchise will be at home with the setup, as the physics engine has not changed significantly from Real Racing 2.
Aside from the detailed models, of which there are over 50, races include 22-car grids for a more authentic experience. In addition, real raceways and tracks are reproduced faithfully, while players can take part in over 1000 different events.
The Mint 3 graphics engine allows for persistent crash damage, dynamic reflections, a functional rear-view mirror, and more to create a vivid environment that translates well over AirPlay.
EA has included what it calls "Time Shifted Multiplayer," which populates a course with interactive AI-controlled versions of races previously logged by Game Center friends, Facebook friends and other online players. Basically, the feature allows two or more players to race the same course at different times.
Price: Free
N.O.V.A. 3 is a first-person shooter that has been on the market for some time, but is still among the best-in-class for the genre. With the third installment, Gameloft advances the story of Kal Wardin, who is tasked with saving mankind amidst impossible odds.
Set pieces are graphically detailed and level design is well thought out, especially for multiplayer modes. Control relies on a virtual analog stick and buttons that reside at the edges of the screen, making space a bit tight. This is not a problem with an iPad, but AirPlay streaming comes in handy for the iPhone.
Multiplayer options are substantial, with 12-player fights supported in seven game modes across seven maps. Voice chat is supported for iPad 2 or later and the iPhone 4S or later.
Price: $6.99
Developers are continually updating their apps for iOS 7 compatibility, though many have yet to implement the AirPlay protocol. This should change as Apple TV marketshare rises with Apple's continued rollout of enticing features for its set-top streamer.
Most recently, Apple released Apple TV software update 6.0 with AirPlay over iCloud, a feature that allows iOS device users to stream purchased content to an Apple TV that is not configured with their credentials. Instead of using on-board information for authentication, an iOS device provides the appropriate digital certificates wirelessly.
With the iPhone 5s, Apple introduced the 64-bit A7 processor, complete with quad-core GPU capable of handling the most demanding iOS games. Paired with the Apple TV and AirPlay, the setup makes for a potent combination that can offer users a more immersive gaming experience by streaming content from a 4-inch iPhone screen to an HDTV.
In light of Apple's release of iOS 7, a number of developers pushed out compatibility and optimization updates for their AirPlay-compatible games, and AppleInsider has wrangled up three of best.
Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders
Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders is one of the best flight combat simulations on the App Store, with tight controls and impressive graphics joined by online multiplayer options. Campaign maps and missions are inspired by real life events from World War II, while online multiplayer options include both dogfight and cooperative gameplay.
The game takes visual cues from other titles in the Sky Gamblers series and builds in console-level graphics like bump mapping, atmospheric scattering and other advanced effects. Detailed scenery adds to the historically correct locations, while realistic weather brings a moodiness not usually found in an arcade-style simulation.
For the latest version of Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders, developer Atypical Games boosted effects and graphics for the iPhone 5s, which translates well to an HDTV.
Price: $4.99
Asphalt 7: Heat
Gameloft's Asphalt 7: Heat features an extensive list of 60 drivable cars that can be raced on 15 different tracks, each with its own style and hazards. Car renderings are impressive, with marques including Ferrari, Aston Martin and the classic DeLorean represented. Each ride has its own driving characteristics and while physics definitely skews toward the arcade, the controls are easy to master.
Online play is supported for up to five friends, while a matchmaking system can pit users against random opponents.
Gyroscope controls make for decent handling, but some elements are still on-screen, making AirPlay a significant bonus for those using an iPhone to play.
Price: $0.99
Real Racing 3
Real Racing 3, from gaming giant EA, is more of a driving simulation than Asphalt. Controls have a steeper learning curve than other titles in the genre, but this results in more satisfying gameplay where every move counts. Fans of the franchise will be at home with the setup, as the physics engine has not changed significantly from Real Racing 2.
Aside from the detailed models, of which there are over 50, races include 22-car grids for a more authentic experience. In addition, real raceways and tracks are reproduced faithfully, while players can take part in over 1000 different events.
The Mint 3 graphics engine allows for persistent crash damage, dynamic reflections, a functional rear-view mirror, and more to create a vivid environment that translates well over AirPlay.
EA has included what it calls "Time Shifted Multiplayer," which populates a course with interactive AI-controlled versions of races previously logged by Game Center friends, Facebook friends and other online players. Basically, the feature allows two or more players to race the same course at different times.
Price: Free
N.O.V.A. 3 - Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance
N.O.V.A. 3 is a first-person shooter that has been on the market for some time, but is still among the best-in-class for the genre. With the third installment, Gameloft advances the story of Kal Wardin, who is tasked with saving mankind amidst impossible odds.
Set pieces are graphically detailed and level design is well thought out, especially for multiplayer modes. Control relies on a virtual analog stick and buttons that reside at the edges of the screen, making space a bit tight. This is not a problem with an iPad, but AirPlay streaming comes in handy for the iPhone.
Multiplayer options are substantial, with 12-player fights supported in seven game modes across seven maps. Voice chat is supported for iPad 2 or later and the iPhone 4S or later.
Price: $6.99
Developers are continually updating their apps for iOS 7 compatibility, though many have yet to implement the AirPlay protocol. This should change as Apple TV marketshare rises with Apple's continued rollout of enticing features for its set-top streamer.
Most recently, Apple released Apple TV software update 6.0 with AirPlay over iCloud, a feature that allows iOS device users to stream purchased content to an Apple TV that is not configured with their credentials. Instead of using on-board information for authentication, an iOS device provides the appropriate digital certificates wirelessly.
Comments
Can anybody confirm if it works perfectly now?
sigh.
With WiFi one simply doesn't know. It could be compared when switching from a 5 to a 5s on the same setup.
Sorry, I don't have the 5s yet, so I don't know.
Real Racing 3 game action seems fairly smooth with iPhone 5 and fifth generation iPod Touch (both running iOS 7.02
Still waiting on those mfi controllers.
Yep, can't wait, hoping to see a boatload of these released in the next couple of months.
I'm thinking that there will still be lag until they get wifi direct or peer to peer communication from the iphone to the Apple TV? Am I correct in this?
Not really. The iPhone is trying to wireless video-out the entire game, and act as a real-time controller. With a bluetooth connection or other peer to peer, the controller aspect could get more precise, but the Airplay factor is still a huge obstacle.
This has been around for quite a while, available to developers with fast iOS devices. It really has not taken off, save for a few types of games. You can see here, the examples in the article are no different than the first wave of examples that hit after AirPlay launched. Driving games, flying games, a first person shooter here or there. There isn't much else developers can do, as they are limited to motion control and blind tapping of the touch screen. It is not in any way comparable to traditional console gaming, because of the lack of hardware buttons. Hardware buttons are essential when you are looking at a different screen. Plain and simple. Touch is best when looking at what you're touching. But using a touch screen as a blind controller just doesn't work unless its little more than a dumb steering wheel (see: the list again).
The last saving hope for this is iOS 7. With the ability for hardware controllers to be built to connect physically to the iPhone, developers finally have the last piece of the puzzle. They can build an astounding console-level game, that can be powered by the A7 on the iPhone (and HOPEFULLY, be offloaded onto the AppleTV for processing when that box gains A7 as well), and at the same time write connectivity for a new Unnamed controller that will wrap the iPhone.
That is key to making this AirPlay gaming thing a real deal...hardware controller.
We all make mistakes lol?
But if these games played natively on the Apple TV, having the iPhone only sending controller data, the experience would be much better.