New Star Soccer - by New Star Games

[pjft]

New Star Soccer is finally out guys.





Youtube link | Pop Up


It runs on my iPod Touch 2G, and it is a free app for now, with a full-game unlock for $0.99/0.79€.

Edit: Thanks to Toad in the Hole for teaching me how to post the link!

Edit 2: Here's a browser version where you can try out the game:

http://www.newstarsoccer.com/nssmobile.php

Cheers, and discuss away

[Gabrien]

The free portion of the game plays surprisingly good. Good enough for me to plonk down a buck to try the career mode...I think.

[pjft]

I've been playing the Android version for a few days now, and I have to say - it's an absurd time-sink. I can't recommend it enough - I'm already 7 or 8 seasons in, and I'm liking it more every day.

I believe that the Arcade mode doesn't do the Career mode justice. Looking forward to your opinions!

[Note: I am _not_ the developer, nor am I affiliated with him. I'm just a fan of NSS for a few years now, and a very enthusiastic mobile-version player now.]

[Gabrien]

Originally Posted by pjft

I've been playing the Android version for a few days now, and I have to say - it's an absurd time-sink. I can't recommend it enough - I'm already 7 or 8 seasons in, and I'm liking it more every day.

I believe that the Arcade mode doesn't do the Career mode justice. Looking forward to your opinions!

Question: is there any other IAP in the game besides the career and weather unlocks? The mention of "energy drinks" has me a little concerned.

[pjft]

So, as far as the game plays you buy the energy drinks with in-game currency, i.e. the money you get from your wage, sponsors, or even gambling :P

The drinks are not necessary, and unless something is fundamentally changed - which I wouldn't see why - you wouldn't need to buy IAPs for that. The Android version is a full-price release - $2,99 or something, and there are no IAPs for now.

All the drinks I ever chose to buy I afforded them with my in-game money.

Their use, in all fairness, is to recover your stamina, or to increase a bit your stats or relationships (i.e. you drink an energy supplement, or go have drinks with your friends). But you'll only really require them if you're getting overly tired during the week - i.e. investing too much in training, or in your relationships. If you balance these out (and it's tricky sometimes ), you shouldn't need them much. If you want to speed up things, and grind your way up to maxing your stats in your first two seasons, though, and be an 18-year-old titan, then hey, I imagine there are people willing to buy them in bulk

In all fairness, I haven't ever thought "man, I would need more drinks than the ones I can afford" - I just thought "ok, let me balance this out".

Worst case, if you're tired, the penalty is that the boss leaves you out of the squad, and your relationship with him deteriorates a bit because you're partying too much, and making yourself ineligible to help the team.

Does it make sense?

Edit: The developer posted a link to the browser version of the game in the other thread. You can play it here: http://www.newstarsoccer.com/nssmobile.php

[Gabrien]

Ok, note please: there is indeed a vast array of consumable IAP available for the game in the form of "star bux" that is only revealed upon unlocking the career mode. Not happy about this one bit.

The game itself seems good so far, and actually reminds me very much of some old classic Amiga games I used to play way back when. More's the pity.

[pjft]

Hmm... Curious. But is there any consumable IAP that you _can't_ get with the normal game flow?

[oooooomonkey]

Wow this is a true compliment to this game. I have absolutely zero interest in football. But I love this. Had a quick go of arcade mode before buying the career mode mad arcade mode really doesn't do it justice.
Even without a love for football I can see me playing this quite a bit. Never played a football manager game before so I can't compare it to anything but I'm loving the way the matches play out in text until you have the bll and get your turn.
Brilliant so far and a bargain for 69p (think ill be buying the weather and stadium pack pretty soon just because it was so cheap) :-)

[gncosta99]

It runs on my iPod Touch 2G, and it is a free app for now.

[Gabrien]

Originally Posted by pjft

Hmm... Curious. But is there any consumable IAP that you _can't_ get with the normal game flow?

Well, no, since the IAP is for currency only (in the usual variety of bundles.) Naturally you also gain currency while playing.

I am not interested (ever) in getting into an "is it needed?" debate with regard to consumable IAP. (With anybody.) Its presence undermines a game's integrity. Period. I would however be very interested to compare how much money you receive from playing and how much stuff costs, between the iPhone version and Android, (which I understand doesn't contain IAP?) or the PC version for that matter, to see if they actually rebalanced the game to actively encourage IAP for the iPhone.

The game itself by the way, is fantastic. I wish I could recommend it (as well as enjoy it) wholeheartedly, without this nonsense.