“The only thing that engages our 16 million players more than a good old fashioned competition, is a competition with prizes,” said Eros Resmini, VP of Developer Relations and Marketing at Aurora Feint. “We love working with developers like Bottle Rocket Apps who come up with creative ways to engage players.”

The contest runs through April 4th when winners will be selected  from the Top Overall Scores leaderboard to win their share of over $2,000 in cash prizes.

If you don’t already have a copy of Doodle Bomb, we have five codes to giveaway to the first five readers to leave a comment below.

The Rules:

Think you’re one of the best Bomb Masters out there? Prove it and earn your chance to win your share of over $2,000 in cash and prizes! Anyone who enters can win.

1. Pick up your copy of Doodle Bomb (full version) and join the thousands of other satisfied Doodle Bombers!

2. Enable OpenFeint by tapping on the “Scores & Awards” button on the Main Menu of the app and following the instructions.

3. Be sure you associate an email address with your OpenFeint account. This is done by tapping on the Edit Profile Button in OpenFeint and then complete the Enable Account Retrieval process in the app. This email address is used to contact you if you win and you won’t be added to any marketing lists by Bottle Rocket.

4. Bombs Away! Complete missions using as few bombs and as quickly as possible. You can check your rank on the * Top Overall Scores * leaderboard. This is the sum of all your scores from each mission. We will select winners on April 4, 2010 for the following prizes:

Grand Prize

We will randomly select one of the top 5 overall scores to be awarded $1,000 cash!

First Prize
We will randomly select one of the top 10 overall scores to be awarded $500 cash!

Second Prize
We will randomly select one of the top 20 overall scores to be awarded $250 cash!

Third Prize
We will randomly select one of the top 40 overall scores to be awarded $150 cash!

Fourth Prize
We will randomly select one of the top 100 overall scores to be awarded $100 cash!

… and more … everyone on the online leaderboard will be eligible to win one of 10 $25 Gift Certificates!

• Only one prize will be awarded per user.
• Winners outside the U.S. will be paid in US dollar value of the prize via PayPal.
• This contest is open to anyone 18 years or older.
• Void where prohibited by law. Winner responsible for any taxes or fees and must comply with any tax requirements.

The Solo is a midsize headphone weighing in at 6.56 oz./185.97 g. What strikes me is the sleek look, and the clean design. The Solo attracts a lot of attention from the younger crowd. I feel attracted to the clean lines, and the minimal use of colours. Just like big brother Studio the Solos come in a white and a black version. The headphones are collapsible, and fit into a rather small touring case included in the package. When not in use they are comfortable around the neck, even for someone with a couple of excess body fat like myself.

The headphones are quite tight over the ears, and during the first days of testing them my ears got sore. After a week this is no longer a problem as my ears have got used to the pressure, and I have been better at placing the headphones correctly. To get the most out of the sound and noise isolation the cushions have to create a proper seal. The noise isolation is fairly good blocking out most ambient low frequency noise, but not high pitched sounds or voices.

The sound of the Solos is on par with that of big brother Studio Beats by Dr Dre. Focus on heavy bass without loosing overpowering mid or high range. I find myself in the middle of a concert listening to metal or hip hop using the Solos. It is still possible to hear and feel the instruments around me as the sound is quite open in nature.

The microphone is much improved over the one shipped with the Studio Beats By Dr Dre. It turns the Solo into a working communication solution with the new ControlTalk microphone controls. The recipient has no trouble hearing me, and it doesn’t pick up ambient noise. The answer button doubles as iPod controls letting you control music playback, and use Voice Control. Volume controls are also available as large button beneath and above the answer button.

The cord needs to be mentioned as well. It is bright red, round and thick with zero tendency to tangle. It is detachable, and the microphone is placed at a good distance from my mouth. The connector is angled at 90 degrees, and it hugs the iPhone with only 3 mm to spare. This is cool if you have a compatible case, but for me it meant that OtterBox Commuter and Defender, Tech21 iBand and a couple of Contour cases were impossible to use. I find it a odd design choice as many iPhone/iPod Touch users use protective cases. When using the Solos together with my iMac the cord is slightly short at 3.94 ft./1.2 m.

This is a short one two week test of the Solos as I have to return them to the distributor for further testing. Needless to say they are in high demand. I have seen reports of Solos falling apart after about three weeks due to headband snapping. This is something I saw as a weak spot for the Studios as well. The point where the metal hinges end is vulnerable as it is just a plastic headband going head to head against the metal hinges in a war of endurance. I can not confirm nor deny if this is a common problem, and as such not take it in consideration in my final rating.

Summary

Pros
Great microphone with volume controls.
Powerful bass that can be felt.
Good noise isolation.
Affordable Beats by Dr Dre.
Stay on when exercising at a moderate level.

Cons
The angled cord connector is not compatible with all cases.
Need to be properly placed over the ears not to be uncomfortable.
Gets dirty easily, and the especially the white version is hard to get clean.

The Beats by Dr Dre Solo is a great product combining sleek looks, powerful sound and a great microphone into a complete communications solution. I can recommend it to anyone looking for some great sounding headphones who don’t want to use a protective case. Removing the noise cancellation has also lowered the price considerably making the Solos much more affordable.

Final Rating

Beats by Dr. Dre Solo Headphones with ControlTalk from Monster at the US Apple Store $179.95

Beats by Dr. Dre Solo Headphones with ControlTalk from Monster at the UK Apple Store £154.95

This game has no menu, settings, or difficulty selection. As you enter the app, the game immediately starts without warning. you are presented with either a new game of falling blocks or continuation of the previous game you aborted. There is a High scores list, but that is the only perk in the game. It is hectic, boring, and poorly done.

Version 1.1

FallDrop - $.99

The OtterBox Defender is the largest bulkiest most uncompromising protective case out there. For those who want to be able to hand their precious iPhone over to a child are always at risk of getting a scratchy slobbery phone back. Most people find the Defender to be a bit too much, but still want to have a complete protective solution. Thankfully the quirky little cousin of the Defender might be the perfect option. The OtterBox Commuter combines excellent coverall protection without sacrificing functionality.

The Commuter is based on three pieces of protection just like the Defender. The first is the included screen protector film. It seems to be a standard screen protector that sticks to the screen by self-adherence. It is quite easy to install with the included cleaning cloth and hard piece for removing air bubbles.
A silicone inner shell covers the back and sides of the phone. It has got a plug for the headphone socket protecting it against slobber and rain. Volume controls and silent/hold are also covered by the silicone, and they still function really well. The volume controls stick out quite a bit, and it is easy to accidentally lower or raise volume when the iPhone is carried in a pocket. A small flap covers the power connector at the bottom. It folds into the slot, and after several weeks of wear and tear there is no sign of the silicone being stretched or damaged.

The third layer of protection is an outer polycarbonate shell that holds the silicone firmly in place. It covers most of the back, and some of the sides. It helps the silicone from tearing and scratching. Openings for the camera and Apple logo are found on the back. I find it cool to have the logo visible, and as it has both silicone and polycarbonate around it protection isn’t compromised.

The Commuter Series™ gives added grip when playing games by the friction added by the silicone edges. It is also easy to find your way around the phone because of the different materials used. It doesn’t add more than 22 grams/0.75 oz of weight. My wife has been trying the Commuter after having had the Defender on the iPhone for six months. She has yet to find anything wrong with it except the volume controls cover. Without hesitation she hands her phone to the kids, and neither the 1-year old nor the 2-year old have managed to do any damage to either the phone or the case. The silicone doesn’t even show where the 1-year old has tried to chew on it with small pointy teeth.

Summary

Pros
A complete protective solution.
Light weight.
Great for gaming.
Cool vibrant colours.

Cons
The silicone covering the volume controls stick out quite a bit.
Not dockable.
No belt clip available.

The OtterBox Commuter Series™ is a great hybrid case giving great protection without losing functionality. It comes in some really cool colours that don’t fade. Definitely recommended to anyone looking for protection while keeping the iPhone slim.

Final Rating

OtterBox Commuter Series™ at OtterBox.com $34.95

Available in 7 different colors, and 3 different color combo packs.

The quality of Sena products is among the top of the market, and the Premium Stand is no exception. The Napa leather is smooth and soft, and the case comes in a variety of colors. I have used the sporty green, and found it really pleasing to the eye. As I haven’t spent months with the case I can’t speak for longtime durability. Some reports have been mentioning stretching to the material, and in the end the Touch has fallen out. I can neither confirm nor deny this as of now.

When the iPod Touch is inserted into the case you have full functionality to all ports and functions. It is much like a smaller version of the Sena WalletBook, and even comes with a handy credit card slot. It can hold up to 3 credit cards until they get kind of hard to remove. Twisting the case backwards, and buttoning it backwards makes it a movie stand.

The protection offered by the Premium Stand is really good as the case has extra padding. Even though it adds some bulk it doesn’t add more than 1,2 oz/34 grams. Of course it is not as easy to play games using a leather case. The side mounted front flap tends to get in the way. It interferes less in landscape mode than in portrait mode.

Summary

Pros
Good protection from both impact and scratches.
Great quality leather.
Looks sporty cool.
Full access to all ports and functions.
Can be used as a movie stand.
Large credit card slot with room for up to three credit cards.
Makes the iPod Touch feel more mature.

Cons
Harder to play games due to interfering flap.
The iPhone is not securely fastened inside.
Does the iPod Touch really need such a high-end case?
Strange hole in the middle of the front upper leather.
No belt clip or holster solution available.

The question to ask is whether you really need a great leather case for your iPod Touch. The iPhone is often used in a corporate environment, and good looks are always appreciated. The iPod Touch is more of a music/video/game device that seldom enters a boardroom. Having a great case is all about the level of luxury and protection you want for your iPod Touch. If you want a versatile high quality leather case definitely consider getting the Sena Premium Stand.

Final Rating

Sena Premium Stand at Sena Cases $42.00

Sena Premium Stand Case for iPod touch (2nd. Gen.) at the US Apple Store $39.95

What makes this game really stand out are it’s visuals. A highly detailed 3D engine gives everything a toy-like model village feel, with textures that look almost tangible. The style very much reminded me of a similar game on the GBA, the critically acclaimed but mainly unknown Karnajj Rally.

A play on words of the film Deliverance – the well known 70s movie starring Burt Reynolds and John Vioght who fall foul to a bunch of Hillbillies – the game presents racing across a similar slice of deep south US. You’ll get behind the wheel of pickup trucks, 18 wheelers and a Dodge Charger that bares more than a striking resemblance to The General lee. Various tracks are available taking in the sights and sounds of the country, across three game types. Dirt rally is a single player campaign where you take on computer controlled drivers as you race for gold to unlock new tracks and become champion. Then there is Hot Lap, a time trial event where you can race against online ghost cars, and finally the last type is Delivery, a crazy taxi style game where you must pick up and deliver items around the map within the time limit. As well as those single player modes the game boasts local and online multiplayer, though we have yet to test that out.

The game offers a menu of control methods to suit all players. The default mode is touch based, where you simply tap on the left and right icons to steer, and the gas or brake buttons to speed up, slow down, or move forward and reverse. Other control options include two types of virtual touch based steering wheels, along the lines of Horror Racing, as well as a tilt option with or without auto gas. All control options worked well, but the default controls worked best for me. Each car handles differently, but all had a great sense of weight to them, allowing you to power-slide around corners to gain ground on your opponents. Not to mention create some great doughnuts!

The build we played is still very much in development, but as it stands Deliverace is shaping up to be a stand out racer on the platform. Stay tuned for further news on this game, but in the meantime check out the screens and video of our hands-on time below.

The shooting gallery genre is big business on the App Store, which can be seen by the sheer amount of titles. They all try to do something new or unique, ranging from sniping to hunting. But, however you dress them up they all boil down to one simple game mechanic, ‘tap to shoot’. The iPhone can’t replicate the same light gun experience that the Wii-mote or console peripheral can, so the gameplay in a game like this can be lacklustre at best. Step up to the plate then Cocoto Magic Circus, an extremely polished product, which offers enough variation in the gameplay to keep you hooked.

Originally released on PS2 and more recently appearing on Wii, Cocoto Magic Circus is a carnival style shooter starring the Cocoto characters - as seen in their previous iPhone game Cocoto Kart Online. While not a well known, or established set of mascot characters, they succeed in pulling you in to their strange game world. It sees you helping them save their fairy friend from the clutches of an evil clown. As with any mad and evil clown, he’ll offer you various challenges as you battle his minions through various shooting mini games to free her.

This is where Cocoto Magic Circus succeeds, by taking the generic tap to shoot mechanic and turns it into a challenging, and more importantly ‘fun’ game experience. Across various themed worlds you are confronted by a range different challenges. As with all gallery shooters you’ll be tapping targets for points. But Cocoto Magic CIrcus throws variation in to the mix to keep things interesting. One minute you’ll be shooting advancing evil creatures, another you’ll be partaking in a variation of the card game snap, by shooting matching targets only. Each themed area also presents a ’save fairy’ game, where you must kill all creatures advancing on poor fairy to save her, only to have her snatched once more by the clown. These areas end in a boss confrontation requiring you to shoot furiously at the boss, while avoiding in coming attacks.

Each level has a time limit, and a hit quota which you must meet before advancing to the next level. There are power ups which you can collect or avoid which float on balloons that for the most part exist to obscure you’re view. But for every useful power-up, such as extra time, or slow motion, there are ones that hinder you. Screen flip is one particular nasty one, that flips your orientation upside down requiring you to flip the iPhone to continue playing. Others add screen shake or turn the lights out, making aiming particularly difficult.

The game offers you three difficulty levels. I would avoid easy mode entirely… it’s… well…. too easy! Instead go for the challenge with normal or hard settings. Should you complete the game though there is unlimited replay-ability with the online multiplayer. This takes each mini game and pits you against a friend or random player online. Here you must out-shoot your opponent to win that level, which takes place in a ‘best of’ style shootout.

Bringing a Wii shooter to iPhone could have been a recipe for disaster. But Cocoto Magic Circus works exceedingly well in replicating a similar experience. The higher production values expected on Wii translate beautifully on the iPhone, with great cell shaded 3D models married with 2D style pop-up book sets. The addition of power ups that hinder you as you frantically tap the targets adds a greater degree of timing and accuracy that no other gun game on iPhone can beat.

For $3.99 then I can heartily recommend that you take a look at what Cocoto Magic Circus has to offer… even if you have played more tap shooters than you can shake a stick at.

Blast Off is a port of a Xbox Live Arcade game, and the joypad controls have been translated into touch controls. Your little rocket propels towards your finger, and you have almost the entire screen available for use. Only the top right corner with the pause button is off limits. The controls are brilliantly executed, and it takes some practice to become as good as the game lets you become. Gravity from asteroids and planets let you perform some cool zero G acrobatics with the small rocket ship. It is really rewarding just to get a close call slingshot move to work.

There are two game modes available: Endless mode and Classic mode. In Endless mode you have to collect air and fuel to continue picking up abandoned astronauts. It is a high score mode that increases the difficulty the longer you survive. Crash into an asteroid or run out of air/fuel and the game is over. The Endless mode lets you choose among three different levels with their individual high scores. The main game mode is the classic mode giving you 12 easy levels, 12 medium levels and 10 hard levels. For each level you have to collect a number of astronauts to open the exit before you run out of air or fuel. You get rewarded depending on your air/fuel consumption, and the number of astronauts you pick up. Pick up them all to get the brick award. Each level is also scored, and there is a developer score to beat as well. Just playing through the 42 levels took me about 30 minutes, and I would have liked more of them.

The graphics are good with a cute rocket ship in the middle of a nice rendition of space. There isn’t much happening on the screen, and the quite simple graphics is definitely enough to make it enjoyable. The music is nonintrusive electronica, but I would like to have support for my own music. Sound effects are sparse with the thruster as the main sound you will hear.

With Openfeint integration you get both achievements and global high scores for both the Endless and the Classic mode. I would have loved about 100 more levels in Classic mode as not even the hard posed much of a challenge. Sure if I were to aim for the brick awards for all the levels I would have a couple of hours of extra game life. Blast Off would also be a perfect game to get the players to create some cunning levels.

Blast Off is a perfect game for the iPhone with quick load times, brilliant touch controls and Openfeint integration. It gets my total recommendation even though more content would be appreciated.

Final Rating

Blast Off $0.99
Version: 1.00
Seller: Halfbrick

In Sailboat Championship you basically get a top down racer, but instead of supped up cars you get sailing boats. The controls consist of one large steering wheel that you control with your right thumb. The challenge in sailing comes to finding the correct racing line much like you do in the racecar as well. At times the best racing line goes far outside what you might expect as the wind is the most important factor affecting the speed. You can see how the wind hits your sail by how it is angled. Arrows also show the direction the wind is traveling. It is impossible to go straight against the wind. When I fail to read the wind, and get stuck I have to circle and get as much wind in my sail as possible.

Sailboat Championship is a hard game, at least for my landlubber ways. It is not a simulation though, but rather an arcade racer take on sailing. I guess some readers would like to have a realistic sailing experience on the iPhone. This, however, is a combination of Supercars and Drawrace.

The game progression is based on how well you do, and you have to level up with experience RPG style. At times there is quite a lot XP needed, and it strange grinding in a sailing game. As you level up you can increase your skill affecting speed, acceleration, handling and general skipper skills. New boats also become available, and you can go back to earlier races to beat the gold. Each level has bronze, silver and gold requirements. As some races require a certain number of stars attained by getting the more valuable metals you have to win a lot of hard races.
The presentation in Sailboat Championship is quite all right. Nothing that blows me away, and the water could probably look better. Still it looks quite realistic, and organic. It is easy to “read” the sail, and for most levels it is easy to understand where to sail. There are some weird English translations here and there, but nothing that impedes understanding.

The music is light modern electronica, and you can play your own music as well. Once out sailing the sounds of the wind are well made, and I can almost taste the salt in the air.

Sailboat Championship has got Openfeint integration catering for online functionality, and achievements. The game comes with 9 stages, 6 ships, two rescue missions and a total of 33 gold stars to collect.
Worth noting is that the lite version is the training version mentioned in the full game. The full game still comes with a couple of screens worth of tutorial though.

I have found myself playing Sailboat Championship quite a lot. It is an enjoyable little racer that I feel myself getting better at all the time. Racing against the AI is really fun as it is varied, and you can actually tackle them off course. It takes some getting used to the wind factor, and not just go for the quick turn. Once that has been learnt you get an arcade racer that is both challenging and rewarding. Try the lite version first to see if you are ready to sail, and be king of the world.

Final Rating

Sailboat Championship Pro $0.99
Version: 1.o
Seller: Infinite Dreams
Sailboat Championship Free

Back at E3 last year, we got down and dirty with an unofficial port of Tony Hawk 2 running on an iPhone. We have just received word from Tony himself (via twitter of course), that the game will finally see the light of day. There’s no word yet if the original port code is being used, or if Activision have started from scratch, but be sure that when the game hits, it will be huge. THPS2 was without doubt the best of the series.

Original E3 2009 article: It’s ready. We played it. Why is it not out? When a random video of Tony Hawk 2 being played on the iPhone was released a few weeks ago, it was met with a lot of skeptisism. This was with good reason, as a fully functioning port of the original Tony Hawk: Pro Skater 2 game fits well into the “too good to be true” category of iPhone games. It also seems like a game that would be difficult to pull off on the iPhone.

I’m here to tell you that not only is it real, but it looks exactly like the original, and plays like a charm.

Tony Hawk 2 was arguably the best game in the long series of Tony Hawk titles. I played the hell out of that game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you did too - skater or not! It was released about 9 years ago, and is still fun to play today. So how does it fare on the iPhone?

Tony Hawk 2 looks exactly the same as the original games. The levels are the same. The music is the same. The sound effects are the same. It’s the same awesome as the original. We played on the famed warehouse level at the beginning of the game. There are the same gaps and moves… it was like a trip down memory lane for me.

The controls work amazingly well for TH2. You tilt to turn while automatically moving (at least from what I could tell). There is a button on each corner of the screen: jump, kick (flip), grab, and grind. Your trick is done based on how you tilt the iPhone (you can use it to rotate in mid air, do flips, etc). You can also flip the iPhone forward or back to manual while riding. It may sound complicated, but after just a couple minutes of playing, it worked out pretty dang well.

So why isn’t this game already out? Apparently there are some issues with Activision allowing it to be released. We don’t know the details (and if we did we probably wouldn’t be able to say), but what we do know is that LTI Gray Matter basically has a finished copy of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, and we want it. We want it bad.

Anyone else? Here’s the original video that everyone scoffed at. The dev said they should have a new one out soon.