MacGamer's iPhone Lounge, 05/10/10

Welcome back to MacGamer's iPhone Lounge

Good to see you again. We've saved your usual table.

The MacGamer iPhone Lounge is a short, quick rundown of games for the iPhone that you may never have seen or heard of before (or maybe you've seen and heard of them and just wondered if they were for you). Short, to the point and no bullsh**. If you enjoy it, we'll keep doing it.

Let's see what we have lined up for this week...

We Rule

Who makes it and how much does it cost? Ngmoco :) (http://werule.ngmoco.com/), FREE

What it is: FarmVille-esque social game of kingdom-building and expansion 

Why it's cool: It's sort of like crack cocaine, except not as easy to quit.

What's our spin? I cautiously recommend this one; Ngmoco's quirky "freemium" MMO is charming, easy to learn, and the perfect "what do I want to play for 5 minutes?" game... but there's still a lot to iron out where UI, stability issues and server uptime are concerned. For now, We Rule is a net win... but it's still a work in progress. 

And yeah, go ahead and add me. :)

Myst

Who makes it and how much does it cost? Cyan Worlds (http://www.cyanworlds.com/), $4.99

What it is: A beautiful and challenging classic adventure game

Why it's cool: It's frikkin' MYST... like, the WHOLE THING!!!

What's our spin? Myst is one of the biggest selling games in history and to this day is still thought of as how to do an adventure game "right". Now Myst - the whole thing - is available on the iPhone for you to play - either for the first time or to relive the fun you used to have. It even comes with an internet-enabled hint guide because, let's face it, you'll need one. 

Pocket Metaverse

Who makes it and how much does it cost? Pocket Metaverse (http://www.pocketmetaverse.com/), Free and paid versions ($2.99)

What it is: An iPhone Second Life client

Why it's cool: If you're a Second Life junkie, this is your way to get your fix.

What's our spin? Pocket Metaverse is a Second Life "Viewer" that allows you to connect to the Second Live grid and do almost all the stuff you like doing (sorry, perverts). Go through your inventory, chat, send private messages, pay people, teleport around and even move using a top-down map. It's not the full 3D experience but you can easily survive for a long time in the SL world using only this app.

Doodlejump

Who makes it and how much does it cost? Lima Sky Web (http://www.limasky.com/), $0.99

What it is: Fast-paced platform jumper

Why it's cool: Funky hand-drawn graphics, quick and challenging gameplay 

What's our spin? Good iPhone games let you get into the game within a few seconds, play your heart out, and then shut it down just as quickly. Doodlejump is charming to look at, easy to learn, fun to play, and serves up the magic in perfect bite-sized doses.

Blizzard's Battle.net Authenticator

Who makes it and how much does it cost? Blizzard Entertainment (http://blizzard.com/), FREE

What it is: Mobile authenticator which adds a layer of security to your Battle.net accounts

Why it's cool: The iPhone version is free, and you STILL get the Corehound Pup!

What's our spin? Obviously, this isn't a game per se... but if you're playing Blizzard Games through Battle.net, this authenticator adds a layer of security to your account (and trust me, you need it). Previously available for a cost as a physical key-fob device, you can download this for absolutely free and it does the same thing. You even get a World of Warcraft Corehound Pup pet for using it.