Developed by Playtoniq, Just Fillin’ is a new strategy-based puzzler for iPhone and iPod touch. Based on a simple concept, the game combines water and physics simulations to create polished game play .. <\/p>\n
A couple of weeks back I got tipped off about Just Fillin’ by E.J Mablekos of Playtoniq, and to be honest thought nothing of it. On first looks it seemed very same-y to others titles I’d tried, and didn’t look to be anything unique – and then I played it. Using the iPhone’s full screen real estate, Just Fillin sees you trying to fill the screen with water by the method of blowing up different sized (and weighted) bubbles. <\/p>\n
The aim of the game is to drop enough super-sized bubbles into the water in order to raise the overall water level and fill the screen 100%. Based on the size and weight of bubble you create and the impact it has on the water level, the game will score you. However, with flying spiked covered balls floating about, it’s not as easy as it all sounds. The layout and style of the game very much reminded me of the popular flash game Bubble Trouble (http:\/\/bit.ly\/1WrRzk<\/a>).<\/p>\n Each level you receive roughly 22 bubbles to play with, and if you thought tapping frantically on the screen to create as many bubbles as possible was a viable strategy – think again. As well as this the game also limits how many pops you can receive before it’s game over. As the game progresses the amount of spiked balls on screen also increases. Not only that but they get faster too. Starting off these travel in parallel lines, but further on into the game they are affected by the weight and shape of the inflated bubbles – and if your quick, you can even trap these spiked balls in between your inflated bubbles, but only when they are fully inflated. The spiked balls will not pop already inflated bubbles.<\/p>\n In-game the water simulation does react to left and right accelerometer tilts, but doesn’t seem to simulate gravity as fully turning the device upside down didn’t alter anything. As the water level reaches the last 20% or so, you’ll then be able to see the amount of screen left to fill in the form of graphic indicator showing the percentage.<\/p>\n Controls<\/strong> Share<\/strong> Now, there are obviously caveats with this simple viral marketing [Wiki<\/a>] system. The first being, How secure is surrendering your twitter details to an application permanently connected to the internet anyway? Secondly – Why would you want to advertise a developer’s app on your personal Twitter stream? .. <\/p>\n With that said, I personally like the idea and would absolutely love to see it adopted over more high-profile titles.<\/p>\n Visuals<\/strong> Overall<\/strong> Recommended for fans of Up There [App Store<\/a>] [Review<\/a>], Topple [App Store<\/a>] Current Status:<\/strong> Recommended<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Reviewed at:<\/strong> v1.2 Compatible with: iPod touch Gen 1 & 2 \/ iPhone Classic \/ iPhone 3G<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Developed by Playtoniq, Just Fillin’ is a new strategy-based puzzler for iPhone and iPod touch. Based on a simple concept, the game combines water and physics simulations to create polished game play ..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,16,17],"tags":[1562,1127,12,13,3501,346,1561],"class_list":["post-8273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-app-store","category-iphone","category-ipod","tag-bubble-popping","tag-fun","tag-games","tag-gaming","tag-iphone","tag-ipod-touch","tag-just-fillin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8273"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8316,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8273\/revisions\/8316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arronhirst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe game features a very simple control system. To start blowing up a bubble you just tap and hold the screen. While blowing up bubbles you can move them to different positions on the screen by just sliding your finger. You can stop the inflation of a bubble at any time by letting go of the screen. Once you let go the bubble your were blowing up will fill up with colour letting you know it’s done. <\/p>\n
\nOne feature I did find interesting about Just Fillin’, and a feature I think more developers could adopt is ‘Share’. By surrendering your twitter login, you are able to send out a pre-defined tweet (set up by the dev) saying how much your enjoying (or enjoyed) playing Just Fillin’. The tweet then links back to the game through the App Store, or points to the dev’s website. <\/p>\n
\nFeaturing colourful, vibrant, almost Japanese-influenced visuals, Just Fillin’ sets a great mood for it’s overall game play. Throughout the game the use of physics simulation simulates the weight of bubbles dropped into the water. Even from the game’s main menu, the physics and water simulations are visible and fully interactive. Hint of kid? – Yep, but it’s a bigger kid this time. It feels polished. Mature.<\/p>\n
\nIt’s a great title to pass a little time away. It’s nothing overly impressive but the simple concept upon which it’s based, plus it’s addictive nature is enough to overshadow that. Don’t fancy dropping the 59p just yet? Try Just Fillin’ Lite [App Store<\/a>] free. The lite version features 8 levels compared to the unlimited number in the full version (59p). <\/p>\n
\nand Ian Marsh’s Scoops [App Store<\/a>].<\/p>\n
\nReviewed on Firmware:<\/strong> 2.2.1
\nDownload size:<\/strong> 1.1MB
\nReleased on:<\/strong> 16th Feb 2009
\nRetails for:<\/strong> 59p \/ $0.99<\/p>\n