This week we look at Universal's Pocket Blu app for getting more out of newly released Blu-ray discs and The Simpsons Arcade, an action and adventure game featuring everyone's favourite family on Evergreen Terrace.
Pocket Blu
While Steve Jobs & Apple's involvement in the Blu-ray format has been almost non-existent (despite actually sitting on the Blu-ray board), Blu-ray studio Universal is embracing Apple's App Store with their own iPhone app, bringing bonus content and extra features for Blu-ray owners who purchase specially marked discs - among the measly six films currently on offer are Universal's Funny People, Public Enemies and Inglorious Basterds. I bought the latter, and as advertised, the disc comes with a whole range of special features, most of which can now be accessed with my iPhone through the Pocket Blu app.
Set-up was easy, but not obvious. There's nothing inside the disc or package that instructs the less technically inclined to visit the App Store and download Pocket Blu from there - just a sticker on the front advertising bonus content for iPhones. Having said that, once you do download it, everything works well. Pop in your disc (in my case, Inglorious Basterds), load up the Pocket Blu app and away you go. The only requirement is that you have a BD-Live enabled player - not a problem for my PlayStation 3, but older Blu-ray players won't be able to connect up with it (software updates can sometimes solve this, so check your firmware if it isn't working for you). Finally, you need to (of course) be connected to the same wireless network on both your Blu-ray player and iPhone/iPod touch for them to see each other.
Once everything is hooked up though, your bonus features are 'unlocked' and you can navigate through disc menus with the included wi-fi remote, browse through disc scenes, look at other Pocket Blu enabled apps, or most interestingly, watch Blu-ray special features (such as the Nation's Pride short film, shown above) right inside the app. You can even save them for offline use later on. The remote is easy to control but I don't see much use in it. I'm not going to need to navigate through menus if I'm nowhere near a screen, after all. As for the bonus content, it's nice to have but there's much more that the app can do. In a dream world where studios cared just a little less about locking their films up (to the extent that you're mostly not even allowed to create a personal copy), I'd be able to watch the whole film on my iPhone (and my Mac) too. Personally, I'd rather just be able to create a free digital copy of Inglorious Basterds than have a largely pointless bonus app.
Version reviewed: 1.5
Price: Free
Developer: Universal/Deluxe Digital Studios
Size: 1.3MB
Category: Entertainment
App Store
The Simpsons Arcade
Electronic Arts' latest creation is part The Simpsons Game, part The (original) Simpsons Arcade. Gameplay is similar to that of the recently released platform game, while the controls and general interface feels remarkably similar to the latter. It certainly follows the same principal of the games it borrows from - simply guide your character through a series of challenges and tasks to win. Thankfully, the app does more than just provide a few minutes of entertainment on a long bus/train/ferry ride. From what I've played, I've found that it's actually a much more exciting and more importantly, addictive game than I initially thought.
The introduction to each challenge is impeccable. It's not just a skip-through-it-to-get-to-the-game show, it's actually quite fun to watch (and it provides you with just about all you need to start playing). As for the menus, EA's developers have put quite a bit of effort into really making it look like a true arcade-style app - right down to the opening animation, where a coin is inserted to start up the virtual machine (in a very Simpson-y fashion). It's kind of gimmicky, but I know I get a kick out of it every time. Right from the first challenge, if Homer happens to lose a life while you're engaged in combat with the approaching henchmen (as shown above), you have to slap him (by swiping across the screen, of course) to wake him up again. Again, gimmicky but fun.
The Simpsons Arcade was much better than I thought it to be. Unlike so many brand-games, if you will, The Simpsons Arcade is engaging and above all, enjoyable. The attention to detail that has so clearly been poured into the game has payed off for EA. It's already selling well on the App Store, and rightfully so. The Simpsons Arcade is definitely one of the better games to come out of EA, with enough depth to justify the $6 expense.
Version reviewed: 1.0.0
Price: $5.99
Developer: Electronic Arts
Size: 51.3MB
Category: Games
App Store
iPhone App Reviews - Pocket Blu, The Simpsons Arcade