Aurora Feint

Infobox VG
title = Aurora Feint The Beginning


caption =
aspect ratio =
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developer = Danielle Cassley, Jason Citron
publisher =
distributor = iTunes
designer =
license =
series =
engine =
version = 1.1.0.0
released = July 11, 2008
genre =
modes = Single Player
ratings =
platforms = iPhone, iPod Touch
media =
requirements = 2.0 Software Update
input =
website = www.aurorafeint.com
price = Free

"Aurora Feint The Beginning" is a video game developed by Danielle Cassley and Jason Citron for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It combines the geometric shape manipulation of Tetris and Bejeweled with the character-driven elements of a role playing game. According to the developers, it will be eventually be updated to include features of a massively multiplayer online game.

Gameplay

There are four locations in the game: the Mine, the Store, the Smith, and the Tower. The Mine is where much of the gameplay happens, as a player acquires crystals and resources by manipulating blocks into combinations of three or more. With experience, players "level up" by adding additional capabilities and then go to the Store to buy blueprints to new types of blocks (built at the Smith) and magicbooks (activated at the Tower) which improve mining efficiency. There are 6 different types of new blocks:

* Dreameater: When activated this block will detonate a given number of blocks which surround it. With increased levels, the radius of the blast increases, destroying more blocks.

* Alchemist: When matched it will destroy all other blocks on the screen of the same element type.

* Time Stopper: When activated stops the blocks from moving up the screen for a small period of time. Useful for planning combos. With increased levels, the time the blocks stop for increases.

* Strategist: When activated any blocks around the matched area will glow for a short period of time. Creating a further match with these blocks within the time period gives a X2 bonus for the matched blocks. With increased levels, the amount of time the blocks glow increases.

* Furie: When activated any blocks around the matched area will glow for a short period of time. If you can create a further match with these blocks within the time period you will get a X3 bonus for the matched blocks. With increased levels, the amount of time the blocks glow increases.

* Sorcerer: When activated any blocks below the matched blocks are also destroyed. With increased levels, the number of blocks destroyed below the matched blocks increases.

Synopsis

Details of the plot and story are limited but text in the game's opening trailer provides some hints:

"What is it that separates reality from fantasy? For one little girl, the only way to survive our reality is to live in her fantasy."

Among items in the Store are 'scrolls', which are described as helping players "learn the story of the Aurora Feint."

Development

The Developers wrote in a forum post and discussed in an interview that the initial release of the game was created over the course of 10 weeks.cite web |url = http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com/index.cgi?board=intro&action=display&thread=1 |title = The Developers |accessdate = 2008-07-28 |author = Danielle Cassley |date = 2008-07-11] cite web |url = http://www.gameproarcade.com/article/99393/interview-the-creators-of-aurora-feint/ |title = Interview: The Creators of Aurora Feint |accessdate = 2008-09-07 |author = Terry Terrones |date = 2008-07-29] The developers set up and actively participate in an online forum at http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com/ where they address user questions and solicit feedback.

Soon after its initial release, reports circulated of privacy concerns regarding the game's community features.cite web |url = http://hwrms.com/blog/?p=272 |title = App Store Application detected Collecting Personal Info |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |date = 2008-07-21] cite web |url = http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1523 |title = Is Aurora Feint the iPhone’s first Spyware? |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |date = 2008-07-21] According to a forum post by the game's developers, on July 22 Apple removed the game from the iTunes App Store. The developers responded by explaining that the contact list was not actually stored on their server, asking for user feedback on alternatives, and asking for support on bringing the game back to the App Store.cite web |url = http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=crash&thread=346&page=1#3416 |title = Latest On AF Missing From App Store |accessdate = 2008-07-23 ] On July 24, the iTunes App Store began carrying version 1.0.0.1 of the game. According to the developers, the new version addressed the privacy concerns.cite web |url = http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=world&thread=369&page=1 |title = And we're back... Update Style! |accessdate = 2008-07-25 ]

Reception

Aurora Feint was one of the first games released through the iTunes App Store and was initially met with acclaim compared to other free games in the App Store.cite web |url = http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/16/mini-review-aurora-feint-for-iphoneipod-touch/ |title = Mini Review: ‘Aurora Feint’ for iPhone/iPod Touch |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |author = Doug Aamoth |date = 2008-07-16] cite web |url = http://gizmodo.com/5026532/iphone-apps-we-like-aurora-feint-the-beginning |title = iPhone Apps We Like: Aurora Feint The Beginning |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |author = Benny Goldman |date = 2008-07-17] cite web |url = http://www.lockergnome.com/digged/2008/07/17/aurora-feint/ |title = Aurora Feint Review |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |author = Matt McCarty |date = 2008-07-17] cite web |url = http://venturebeat.com/2008/07/18/aurora-feint-a-great-iphone-game-oh-yeah-and-its-free/ |title = Aurora Feint: A great iPhone game — and it’s free. |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |author = MG Siegler |date = 2008-07-18] cite web |url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-9995959-58.html |title = Five more must-have freebies for the iPhone and iPod touch |accessdate = 2008-07-23 |author = Rick Broida |date = 2008-07-22] One reviewer described it as "the most fun and addictive of the early iPhone games."cite web |url = http://artoftheiphone.com/2008/07/16/iphone-game-review-aurora-feint/ |title = iPhone Game Review: Aurora Feint |accessdate = 2008-07-28 |date = 2008-07-16]

References

External links

* [http://aurorafeint.com Official site]
* [http://aurorafeint.proboards100.com Official forum]