Block Breaker Deluxe and Pole Position: remix

[Comet1984]

I notice that in the last two weeks these two games have been added to the avaialble games for the I pod Classic and Nano.

Can someone give us a brief review of these games ?

Thanks

[R36 #9346]

BBD is a good game. According to the iLounge rating system, I'd give it a B-, as many people have pointed out similarities to the brick-breaking games pre-loaded on iPods (Vortex on 3g Nano and Classic, Brick on older iPods). They claim that you can make customized levels, but I have yet to figure out how to get them to appear in the game.

The iTunes Store teased us with Pole Position Remix last week, but now it's available in the iTunes Store (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewGame?id=272017173&s=143441). There are some little things I like in there. Some of the billboards are album covers from your iPod library (I saw an album cover for Discovery (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=49269321&s=143441). I asked myself, "Does NAMCO endorse Daft Punk?" Then I saw another for Vitalogy (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=162507593&s=143441) pass by, and I thought, "They must be pulling album covers from my library!"

The controls are somewhat intuitive. The click wheel controls steering, the center button toggles the gear selector. Though acceleration/braking might take some getting used to. Touch the click wheel to accelerate. To brake, take your finger off the click wheel. This may be a bit strange for those who are used to braking before entering a turn. Overall, it is a good playing experience. I rate it a B.

[madmaxmedia]

It would seem controls are everything in this type of game (Pole Position).

The click wheel seems like a natural fit for a steering wheel control, as long as that is done reasonably well I don't care if the game itself is simplistic.

Heck, I would consider buying a port of Night Driver from the Atari 2600, if the controls are done right.

[badadiz]

They claim that you can make customized levels, but I have yet to figure out how to get them to appear in the game.

I've been trying to figure this out myself, but I've seen or heard nothing about it. Supposedly, the "customized levels" option is on the main menu, but it doesn't show up. Anyone have any ideas or solutions?

[jhollington]

Note that you can also now find iLounge's own reviews on the main site:

Namco Bandai Pole Position: Remix (iLounge rating: C+) (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/namco-bandai-pole-position-remix/)

Gameloft S.A. Block Breaker Deluxe (iLounge rating: B) (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/gameloft-sa-block-breaker-deluxe/)

[jhollington]

I've been trying to figure this out myself, but I've seen or heard nothing about it. Supposedly, the "customized levels" option is on the main menu, but it doesn't show up. Anyone have any ideas or solutions?
Well, "Custom Levels" appears on my main menu, and I haven't done anything special. In fact, I haven't even created a custom level. When I select it, it tells me that there are no custom levels available and that I need to use the level editor to create some and load them onto the iPod. This is done via a Java application that's linked from the game description in iTunes itself.

[badadiz]

Well, "Custom Levels" appears on my main menu, and I haven't done anything special. In fact, I haven't even created a custom level.

That is strange. I tried just about everything, including reinstalling the game and resetting it. I just e-mailed iTunes support with this issue. I'll post their response.

[badadiz]

Apple support has not been able to help me on the first try, so I'm having to repeat the process. I am racking my brain trying to figure out why the "Custom Levels" doesn't show up on the main menu. Any help is appreciated.

[Lizzie-lou]

I too have been puzzled by the claim that it is possible to create custom levels. There is no reference to it on the game menu on my Ipod video, which is running under Windows. I have contacted itunes support and they replied saying that I should ask Gameloft for more information. Today Gameloft have replied and said that there is no level editor available for the game so it seems the boasts about this in itunes are just a red herring. I have hacked into the files on the ipod and there are some text references to custom levels but I assume this feature was never actually implemented. The link from the itunes page for the game just puts up a blank screen with the words Hi there. If anyone ever finds out more about this then I would love to know as I have completed all the levels and would now like to create some of my own if possible.

[jhollington]

I'm still not sure why some folks aren't seeing the custom levels menu option, since I can't seem to make it not show up on any of my iPods, although I am primarily using a Mac, so that might have something to do with it.

The level editor, however, is linked from the game description page in iTunes itself. It links to a web-based Java applet that lets you create a level file and then save it in the appropriate folder to sync to your iPod.

[xsloader]

On my 5.5g I don't have custom level menu either.
Of course I put bbd files and synced BBD game.
I can see Games_RO/21004/levels folder. But no menu.

Do I have to unlock custom levels by clear the story? Or custom levels are only supported by 6G/nano3G?

[EDIT] I forgot to set "Instant email notification" option.

[jhollington]

Now there's an interesting question... Is anybody seeing the "Custom Levels" menu option on a fifth-generation iPod? Is anybody using an iPod classic or nano not seeing the Custom Levels option?

[badadiz]

I have a fifth-generation iPod and do NOT see the custom levels menu. It may very well be as simple as the type of iPod one has. That is unusual, though.

[WalkingSnake]

I noticed someone said that have a Mac. Could it possible be that the level editor isn't PC compatible?