GAME REVIEW: An Assassin in Orlandes by Tin Man Games

$5.49 iTunes iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

"I caught my mouth dropping and my eyebrow raising! Game adventure is the correct word, because there's so much adventure packed into the story...no matter which route you choose." This comment is from my lead reviewer and set the tone for what I knew would be an interesting review.

GAMEPLAY:
Gameplay is easy...you just read the text, swipe left or right to turn pages, and pick where you want to go or what to do next. However, when you encounter battles against enemies, that's where the dice comes into play. Simply shake the iPod or iPad to roll the dice; you don't HAVE to shake, but it's just more fun than letting the dice fall. You want to "out-roll" your enemy, so that you will defeat them. You are given vitality, defense, and offense points. These stats are similar to that of magic card games, where, if your opponent has a higher defense than you, you are defeated. You roll the dice for you and your enemy--no computer-generated rolls--it's all you. You can also buy items, potions, weapons, and equipment as you get money throughout the game to increase your vitality/defense/offense points or to aid you in battle.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I really like the dark, descriptive illustrations in An Assassin in Orlandes. In fact, I would say the game could use more illustrations. My review team wasn't too sure about reading through a game, but, this storyline is very engaging. There is something shocking and interesting around each corner, or should I say at each turn of the page. I found myself wanting more of that - actually getting anxious about what else I was going to encounter. That said, Tin Man Games made it easy for you to dive into the world of the game with great use of sound effects, illustrations, and descriptive writing that combines well together to create a very vivid mental picture. And, as we know, games that pull you into a place of total engagement win us over every time.

UNIQUENESS FACTOR:
I agree with my lead reviewer on the art and the overall impact of the gamebook. It's amazing. The combo of "choose-your-own-fate" adventure reading with dice-play is pretty unique. This game relies more on your imagination than it does actual live-action gameplay to entertain, which will make avid adventure readers really happy.

MARKETING IDEAS: I'm going to think broader on these ideas than An Assassin in Orlandes.

• First off - read my home page article on odd niches for mobile game developers. I believe so strongly that there is a market with "Kindlers-turned-iPadders" that I mentioned it in that article - and mentioned Tin Man as a good example of a developer doing it right. If I were Tin Man, I'd think about putting a series together - making a string of gamenovels or gamenovellas. Pull in the female market and bundle the novella's together for sales. Get a great author to endorse. Think Kathy Reichs, the author who penned the works on which the popular TV show "Bones" is based. Someone kinda like that, but, maybe more accessible.
• Maybe look into doing a gamebook based on a real story or a particularly grabbing theme like "Paranormal Activity." Ah, and if you do, let me know.
• Consider making a junior version gamebook.