Reiner Knizia's Robot Master for iPhone/iPod Touch coming soon!

Discussion in 'Upcoming iOS Games' started by conlan, Jun 25, 2009.

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  1. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    #1 conlan, Jun 25, 2009
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2009
    * UPDATE * Reiner Knizia's Robot Master has been approved and is now available!
    http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=321202624&mt=8

    Hey everyone,

    Reiner Knizia's third game for the iPhone and iPod touch is coming soon and this time it's Robot Master!

    FEATURES

    * Solo play: compete against players from around the world as you strive to be the best on the online High Score table!

    * Versus play: challenge a friend (Pass'n Play) or the AI to go head to head. This time, one player takes the columns, and the other takes the rows. The player with the lowest scoring line loses!

    * Not feeling our music? Play your own and still enjoy the game's sound effects.


    It will be priced at 99 cents in the Puzzle/Strategy categories.

    Look for it in the app store on July 7th :D

    Updates will be posted at http://twitter.com/conlan.

    *Also, a big thanks to playtesters mrbass, VeganTnT and Big Albie!*

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  2. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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  3. VeganTnT

    VeganTnT Moderator
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    I have a question...

    Why can't I beat 55 on solo mode!?

    I always come so so close and then the last few cards ruin it and I end up with a low score :(
     
  4. Big Albie

    Big Albie Well-Known Member

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    I'm probably missing what you're saying, but isn't the point to get the lowest score?
     
  5. DaveMc99

    DaveMc99 Well-Known Member

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    Hmm I hope the beta testers read the rules before playing the game ;)
     
  6. VeganTnT

    VeganTnT Moderator
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    Yes, but the goal is to get the Highest Low Score, haha

    So let's say I play a game and my lowest line was 30. You play and your lowest line is 36. Your low score is higher than mine so you would be ranked higher on the leaderboard
     
  7. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    I must admit, 55 is devilishly hard to beat. What sort of strategy are you using?

    I've been experimenting with a few, one of them is rather than go for triples, go for double pairs instead. So if you have three 4's, instead of putting them all in one line, make a double in one line and another double in a cross line so it'd look like this:

    4
    4
    4
    Not good because although you get 100 in a single column, leaves you weak in the rows...

    4 4
    4

    Better because sure, you only get 40 points, but you get that in a column *and* a row. And it makes you more versatile towards getting weaker cards later, because you've guaranteed 40 points in two lines.
     
  8. VeganTnT

    VeganTnT Moderator
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    That's what I'm doing with the two rows instead of the 100 on one. I just need a little more luck with the cards I guess
     
  9. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    #9 conlan, Jun 25, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2009
    Yup, so your final score is your lowest scoring line, but you still want the highest score possible!

    So if you're playing solo play and you got lines: 100, 119, 150, 99, 10
    Your final score would still only be 10 because that's your lowest scoring line. The bigger scores wouldn't help any :(

    So you have to build evenly!! And don't neglect any weak lines!
     
  10. Big Albie

    Big Albie Well-Known Member

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    Ah, ok that makes sense. High score, low score, got it. The game can be pretty addicting especially when you want a quick dose of strategy without the complexity.
     
  11. LordGek

    LordGek Well-Known Member
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    As far as I can make out from screenshots the deck has 5x every card which I guess would mean a deck of 30 cards, right? How many cards are you therefore dealt out in a single player? Do you get them all at once? I can only assume you never have your pick of all 30 cards since then it would just be matter of matching some ultimate pattern, right?
     
  12. VeganTnT

    VeganTnT Moderator
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    6 of every card, so 36 cards. But there is only space for 24 cards on the board (the center is placed before play starts)

    In solo the deck is shuffled and you get the cards one at a time.

    In 2 player each person gets 12 cards and can pick and choose.
     
  13. LordGek

    LordGek Well-Known Member
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    #13 LordGek, Jun 25, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2009
    So in screenshots where the player has multiple cards in his hand it must be of the Vs. Mode?

    Also, if I gather correctly from the screenshots, in single player you're free to place your card anywhere on the board but in multiplayer it must be adjacent to an already placed card?
     
  14. VeganTnT

    VeganTnT Moderator
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    You are correct sir. There is also another version of Vs. called Variant. You start with 5 cards and you draw a new one every turn.

    Only the very last screenshot is from Solo mode. The others are vs.

    Also, cards must be played in a spot adjacent to an existing card. Regardless of mode.
     
  15. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    #15 conlan, Jun 25, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2009
    Yup! VeganTnT is 100% :)

    • 6 of each cards to make 36 in the deck
    • Cards must be placed adjacent to ones already in play.
    • In Solo you get one card at a time.
    • In 12 Card Versus you get 12 cards at the start.
    • In 5 Card Versus you get 5 cards and draw a new one after each move.

    All in all, 3 different ways to play!
     
  16. LordGek

    LordGek Well-Known Member
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    Nice, count me enthused! :D
     
  17. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    Awesome!! :)

    There's also an easy mode for Solo play where you're allowed to recycle a card back into the deck and get a new one if you don't like it! (good for those 0's)
     
  18. The scoring method is reminiscent of Knizia's Tigris & Euphrates game where only the lowest score counts. Same with his Ingenious game too. One of my favorite card games of his High Society I love because you can blow your wad but you can't win due to the rule "if you have the least amount of money your disqualified from winning". Getting back to this game you gotta spread your love everywhere. Who keeps bumping me off the high score list? I call foul...hehe.
     
  19. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    Nothing foul on this end, just a *lot* of spare time while waiting for Apple :D
     
  20. conlan

    conlan Well-Known Member

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    Hey guys, just a quick update that the game is still in the approval process :( So hopefully you'll see it in the appstore sometime next week. Will continue to post updates!
     

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