Shadow Cities (iPhone)

[Manic Velocity]

http://www.shadowcities.com/

I've been waiting for this game to release in the US for a few months now, and it has finally hit the US app store.  It's a pretty interesting take on mobile MMOs.  It's still in active development, but from what I've seen so far it's pretty solid.  

You're put in the role of a mage, and your city is the battleground against other players.  Using the phone's GPS, you travel around your city searching for "Energy Gateways", which act as hotspots for game activity.  I've already found two that are near my house.

You swipe runes on the touchscreen to enact various spells.  Attack, heal, etc.  "Spirits" are essentially NPCs that you have to defeat for XP and Energy points.

Campaigns open up where you and members of your chosen faction have to battle against players in the opposing faction.  You fight NPCs and eachother to build enough energy to "claim" your city.

Players can set up teleportation points around the city, so if one of your friends needs help, you can warp to them in the game instead of having to physically travel to them.  

The game is free, but you can get a bit more of an edge by buying mana potions.  Otherwise you have to wait for your mana to refill every 10 minutes or so.

If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend this game.

[Venlar]

What was your mana score? I got 86.9 =p and which faction did you choose? I went with the animators =p

[Manic Velocity]

I got the same mana score.  I think it's the same each time you start.

I went with Architects.  The description makes them sound steampunk-y.  Couldn't resist.

So far I'm at the top of the leaderboard in my area for the current campaign!

[Venlar]

Is there someplace that shows you what the runes are for different spells?

[Manic Velocity]

Tap the yellow icon at the top-left to bring up your profile. Scroll down to see what spells are available at your level. The spell's icon indicates the shape you draw to activate it.

The game teaches you new spells as you level up. It looks like you learn a new spell every two levels or so. I didn't learn to cast Beacons (teleportation points) until level 6.

And I'm not sure if this is a bug or what, but I noticed I would often go a couple hours without any NPC spawns in my area. And I noticed that by performing a "Dewarp" spell (drawing a "U" rune) it reloaded my map at my current position and dropped NPCs on me. So I'd just wait until my mana was full, and was able to call up a batch of NPCs to kill. Quick and easy XP and energy.

[Arawn]

Lol Manic... exploiting the game already

[Tbone]

I downloaded this. I want to go towards an enemy area that is on my map, but every time I click on a place to warp, it says my team needs to own it for me to go to it. I figured out I can put down a dominator which will let me move forward, but I can only have two of them, so I keep having to destroy one and losing any progress towards "capturing" areas.

Basically I can only hop between two spots where I put down dominators.

[Manic Velocity]

I downloaded this. I want to go towards an enemy area that is on my map, but every time I click on a place to warp, it says my team needs to own it for me to go to it. I figured out I can put down a dominator which will let me move forward, but I can only have two of them, so I keep having to destroy one and losing any progress towards "capturing" areas.

Basically I can only hop between two spots where I put down dominators.

I was able to place a third Dominator at level 5.  

I'm still learning as well.  I have a warp beacon attached to an Energy Gateway.  The Help menu says Energy Gateways are supposed to supply power to Dominators and beacons, but it doesn't seem to be charging my beacon.

What's everyone's name?  If we're on eachother's friends lists we can warp to eachother in-game.  I signed up as "ManicVelocity".

[Tbone]

I am "Tbone", but I am a plant dude...not an architect.

[Manic Velocity]

I am "Tbone", but I am a plant dude...not an architect.

So you and Venlar will be able to warp to eachother, since you're in the same faction.

But I can see you both in Cloud View whenever you're online.  :)

[eeth]

fun stuff, i'm "Eeth" in-game.

friend of mine has an iPhone app concept designed out which uses this same location-based control design. interesting "research" for us to do, ha.

Shadow Cities is pretty damn cool and well done for sure.

[Tbone]

Eeth and I will build beacons and then take over our neighborhoods. Then we will expand and take over Manic's neighborhood! Gwahaha!

[victoriah]

oh em gee.  totally downloading this.  what an awesome concept for a little game  
besides, angry birds is making me mental.  this sounds like a great excuse to drain my battery.
87.5 mana score
find me, victoriah.

[Tbone]

I have a beacon!

Victoriah, I can't find you

[victoriah]

boo its case sensitive  lol