iPhone Web Apps vs iPhone Native Apps

iPhone Web Apps vs iPhone Native Apps

We have received many emails asking “when can I buy 4InARow touch and Tic-Tac-Touch” or “how do I buy FlipSide5’s games?” The simple answer is that you can buy the games in early July. The games will work great on the current iPhone, an iPod touch and the upcoming new iPhone 3G. 4InARow touch, with the unlimited online game service, is $4.99 USD and Tic-Tac-Touch is $1.99 USD.

Simple enough, right?! Now for the more detailed answer. The current free versions are simply web pages that will work in any web browser; i.e. 4InARow touch Web Edition and Tic-Tac-Touch Web Edition. Our “native” iPhone/iPod touch games are available for purchase through the iTunes App Store. The App Store does not exist yet, but will be available in early July. Existing iPhone users will have to upgrade their phones (for free) through iTunes when the App Store update is available. Just like the iTunes Music Store, you will be able to buy our games through the iTunes App Store. You don’t even need to have your iPhone or iPod touch plugged into your computer.

So what is the difference between the web apps and the native apps? Simply put, the native games are way way more fun with much better game play, animations, sounds and lots of compelling features like playing an opponent online, remembers your scores and more. The native iPhone games do NOT require an internet connection unlike the web counterparts. So now you can play on the airplane, on the train, or the kids can play in the backseat of the car no matter where you are driving. During our beta testing we have had some users stop referring the the games as the “web app” or “native app”, but as “the bad app” and “the cool app”. It is very exciting to see how much fun games can be on the iPhone with such great features, especially when compared to other mobile devices.

Our beta users, are really surprised how much better our games are than the traditional “real-world” games. No more pencils, paper to keep track of scores or a mess on the table to be cleaned up. The favorite feature so far is turning the iPhone upside down in 4InARow touch and watching the chips fly out the top! For the lucky ones that will have the new iPhone 3G, there will be no reason to upgrade to get the App Store as the iPhone 3G will have this already.

If you would like to be notified when the native iPhone/iPod touch games are available to be purchased, please contact us and we will notify you. Our waiting list is growing fast and we hope you will enjoy these games as much as our beta users.

peace,
- mike