Some video game genres fit pretty easily onto Apple’s iDevices. Platformers do extremely well, as do strategy games and turn-based RPGs. First-person shooters have been a mixed bag so far, though, and getting decent multiplayer FPS action on an iDevice has been an exercise in frustration.
That said, I’ve been playing a bit with Archetype, a sci-fi FPS from independent developer MunkyFun and published by Villain. The iPad version of the game just launched in the App Store. Here’s how they describe it:
Archetype HD players can join cross-platform online matches with the robust community that has quickly grown to more than 280,000 Archetype fans on iPhone and iPod touch while enjoying a full set of FPS features including player rank-based team matchmaking, melee combat, buddy lists, and radar-based player tracking. Archetype HD offers a console-style experience over Wi-Fi or 3G that gamers can enjoy on the go—or on the couch at home. Players can share their exploits via Facebook™ and go online to track and compare their stats to other players while competing to reach top-10 leaderboards.
[vodpod id=Video.4320879&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]
The multiplayer deathmatches that I’ve played on iPad have been smooth and fun. To let more people in on the experience, Villain’s given us three codes each to give away for Archetype on iPhone and Archetype HD on iPad.
Here’s how to win: Come up with an idea for a first-person shooter that doesn’t have futuristic or science-fictional elements and post it in comments. You’ve got all of history on your side, people!
Contest ends at midnight EST.