[Platform: iOS App Store | Price: $0.99]
Hasbro was kind enough to send us a review copy of their interactive iOS storybook, "Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day". Since Seth doesn't own any iOS devices, I installed it on my iPad and ran it through its paces.
I don't want to spoil the review, but you should get it.
Behind the break you'll find a written review and a supplementary video review, for the reading-impaired (or those who want to laugh at my voice cause I'm kind of sick).
The main idea of this app is that it's a storybook with interactive elements. You can swipe through the pages, tap on certain items in certain scenes to make them move or perform an action, and play the two minigames that are interspersed throughout the story. Along the way you collect words that can be used to fill Twilight's diary at the end of the tale.
The story itself is narrated with rather high-quality voice acting, but I can't tell who's doing the voice. It doesn't sound like a narrator we've heard from the show. As she reads the story, the words she's saying are highlighted for easier reading comprehension. There is also an option to simply read the story without a voiceover, or to record your own voice for each individual page using the iPad's microphone- a nice touch that I think prolongs the appeal of the story quite nicely.
The minigames are simple- one involves using the accelerometer to guide Twilight through different environments, and the other is a 'spot-the-difference' game between two pictures. They provide a nice break between story sections.
The other main section of the app is a biography area of sorts for all of the main cast, including Spike and Celestia; a useful feature for a young reader who may not know all the characters yet.
The app as a whole is well put-together, and uses the iPad's screen to great extent with high-quality artwork and clips from the show, even if the vectors they use are a little dated.
All in all: is this worth ninety nine cents? Absolutely. That said, I don't think I need to remind anyone that this app is most certainly aimed at younger children, or children just learning to read. If you have a child more in the target demographic of the show, or you know someone who does, this will make an excellent gift, and an introduction to the show and its characters to boot.
Verdict: BUY
91 comments:
Hahaha this is awesome
Obvious guy waiting to be first without saying first is obvious.
Cereal is only the fastest reviewer in all of Equestria.
DAT MAZE! So difficult.
WHOA WHOA WHOA
Slow down.
Hasbro personally sent Equestria Daily a review copy of an app that they're publishing?
This is officially the most amazing creator-fan connection ever.
...Oh yeah, and the review was great too! Shame I don't have any iOS devices. :(
Yes, make fun of Seth's (and Phoe's) hatred of all things Apple. They'll never experience such delight.
I PDF'd the story book earlier for anyone without an iOS device.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3794151/ponies/Twilight%20Sparkle%20-%20Teacher%20for%20a%20Day.pdf
Or make fun of us that can't afford a smart phone...
:(
Kind of sick?
If that's how you sound while sick, I can't imagine the difference when you're healthy.
Crosseyed Applejack is fail lol
I already finished it, but in some panels they use those creepy vectors.
I bought it first thing just so I could write a little review and give it 5 stars.
I must've visited Engadget by mistake. (That's a compliment)
No luna in the biography?
"you can tap that... and things happen."
overall highlight
Defiantly not Tara.
'Oh, missing Sweetie Belle.'
*Tap*
"SNow."
Wait, did they ACTUALLY send it as "Reviewer Copy"?!?
XD
Oh, lawdy, Cereal, you DO know this means that their PR group is going to be fishing through the review looking for positive comments to quote you on, right?
I wouldn't be surprised if this is part of their advertisers' scheme to use what seems to be a fictional quote source (Equestria Daily) that is actually a legit fansite... sounds like their kind of humor.
@RaveHooves
Isn't it rather presumptuous to criticize someone's post because you believe they were just trying to be first? How can you be so sure you know what RaveHooves was... thinking...
Oh.
Carry on, then.
that voice actor reminds me of the Derpy Hooves fandubs a little...
not a lot, just a little...
It's almost as if Cereal directed this review at parents, and totally sold me! I don't even have a kid!
Didn't know you had it in ya...
nice review, but now i feel a strange craving for some fruit-loops....or maybe lucky charms.
OMGTHEYAREUSINGDIFFERENTVECTORSTHANTHESAMEASALWAYS*faints*
Of course, the best thing to tap in the app isn't marked with a sparkle... :)
I don't think I've seen that Rainbow Dash vector before, I'm liking it alot.
Did anyone else notice that Derpy and Carrot Top are next to each other in the Spot the Difference activity? THEY KNOW.
Epic and certainly a job well done Cereal. :D
Wait a minute...
Who's that white pony with the wings and horn!?
Wait, Hasbro sent you guys a review copy?!
That's AMAZING!!
Also, those new vectors on the character bio pages are really cool looking, much better than the old ones.
Applejack is always creepy in these things..
WHERE IS APPLEJACK'S HAT
THIS ISN'T CANON
THEY CHANGED IT, NOW IT SUCKS
Two StepSisters. Can do.
On one hand, sending a review copy for a 99 cents app set them back, well, 99 cents.
On the other hand, they thought as far as to do it, proving once more that they care! About money that is, considering the moolah from the EqD frequenters. Best 99 cents they ever spent, that's for sure.
@mycutiemarkisagun
OMFG, FLAMES ON OPTIMUS PRIME, PLZ SIGN MY PETITION TO STOP THIS
WHERE THE FUCK IS APPLEJACK'S HAT
Cheerilees name is now canon!
Why not use Tara Strong for the voice? I wonder why they made the decision like that...
Either way, if this was on android I would download it now.
*hint hint*
The new vectors are clearly better, I especially like the Twilight on the character page. They make the old ones stand out, hopefully they'll replace them with better ones someday. Looks like a nice app, I'd get it if I had an iOS device.
So Cereal, assuming they were to do more of these, how would you assume they should improve these?
@Killsteal_Wolf
ONLINE MULTIPLAYER
I'll be getting it, gotta give all the support for more ponies.
For kids, this is ninety-nine cents for a fun little set of activities. For bronies, this is ninety-nine cents for pieces of the history of Equestria. It really is a perfect buy for everypony.
Be aware that if you have an older iOS device that iTunes will allow all non-supported devices to download this app and the game WILL crash with an error. The developers really should have put in what iOS devices are supported, rather than just the iOS version, and prevented non-supported devices from downloading this app. Really bummed since not only am I now out some money but I found out after the fact that that older iOS devices are out in the cold on this one. -_-
@Mint Jelly
I'm guessing she was too expensive for whatever kind of budget a 99 cent app gets.
What I wanna know is why kids books always seem to require the characters to mug for the camera at all times. If they're not staring at you and smiling, they're staring at somebody else and smiling.
I mean, if I were illustrating a scene where Twilight was helping Applejack harvest apples, I'd draw them both actually harvesting apples, not making weird googly eyes at Spike, or holding an apple aloft with glee as if to say, "OH MY GOD YOU GUYS LOOK IT'S AN APPLE."
@mycutiemarkisagun
WITH DEDICATED SERVERS
You didn't make it to the library. You've just doomed Equestria...
I feel ashamed for saying this, but this kinda makes me want an iPad or such now.
Is the voice actress Tiffany Grant?
@Sketchy
it's... always been canon...
I'm not really that interested in an interactive story book, however I really want to support the show in any way I can so I went ahead and bought it.
@Captain British
Can you extract Princess Celestia card as it is please?
Based on what I've seen, my only complaint would be the sound effect that plays when you tap an interactive area or do something correct in an activity will get very annoying very fast. Other than that, looks good!
You don't sound that sick to me...maybe it's all in your head.
Why would they put this on the app store, do little girls all own iphones/ipads/ipods?
Apple crap is overpriced...unless it's for PC and free...pass.
@Mike
I agree. It does sound a little like her.
Gah, so many errors. You can tell the people at Ruckus were more focused on getting money than quality. AJ went derpy on us, Rainbow Dash's red is all wrong, Rarity's left eye is popping out of its socket, Twilight's eyes in that last screenshot are just horrifying, and the disembodied cutie mark is the wrong color.
Obviously the target demographic won't really care, but still.
Everyone should buy this if they have a supported device, the price of .99 cents is nothing compared to the opportunity for supporting a beloved franchise. THEN we can start asking for new and different products catered to us bronies. Really, a corporation won't listen to anyone that's not buying their product, but prove you're a viable and/or influential customer base and they'll fall head over heels to cater to you. I'm going to be a father in a few months time, so guess what angle I'm coming from in my requests of Hasbro? Yep, I'm going to shamelessly use my child as a shill for getting the toys I really want for myself! I HAVE NO REGRETS.
When do us Andriod plebs get this?
@EvilHom3r
(Although to be fair, AJ and Rarity are mostly Hasbro's fault.)
Cool whens the android version coming out.
That way I don't have to figure out what to take off my ipod touch for this.
... I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of giving a very young child something as expensive as an iPhone to play with.
On another note, I'd like to give this a go, but I'm guessing there's no way to get the app for Android, is there?
Guys, Derpy's eyes were derped and she was talking to carrot top. Doesn't that make you happy?
Wow. Hasbro must love EqD. It can be their own free advertising blog for all their stuff.
Just went to try and buy this.
I only have 91 cents in my account...
Who says you have to use the app for the purpose it was made? I'm going to make my own story up and record it... as soon as I'm done poking the top of the flagpole at Cheerilee's schoolhouse. Hint. Hint.
I just bought this for my nephew (who is 4 and has just stared school) to use. He loves MLP, his favourite character is Spike because he "shoots fiyah owt of hees mowph!" *poor attempt at mimicking a four year old talk*
I'll have to wait for an Android version, if that ever comes.
Meh, I'll stick to the show and the grimdark fics and the shipfics and the PMVs and the trailers and the forums and the toys and the forums and the fansites and the denial.
I'll take a pass on this.
I originally bought it so my 4 year old cousin could play with it. And while I wouldn't give a child their own IPad, I definitely let them sit with me and play all sorts of games and apps on it. Every parent I know who has one or a smart phone does.
@Suzzle
Darn it Derpy! When I speak, pay attention!
OH. MY. CELESTIA. PAGE 33. CLICK THE FLAGPOLE. THIS GAME WAS MADE FOR BRONIES.
"You should definitely buy this for your little girl. The strange childless man on a pony fan site recommends it."
All joking aside, that actually looks pretty good. I think the number one important aspect of a child's product that is based on a source material, is how close they get it right to that material. Lest we remember the MLP Live show, it's important that characters stay in character, and act in ways that somebody would otherwise see them on the TV. I know it's kids, but if you show quality control to them now, they will hopefully appreciate and respect those memories as adults. After all, how many of our childhood memories that we later came to regret was based on poor quality material? Embarrassing knock offs of beloved cartoon characters are what keeps the Nostalgia Critic
neat!
@Prison
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS!
TELL ME NOW!!!!!!*
*please
Nifty little app. Defiantly aimed at the younger audience but neat non the less. Bought it to see what its all about and to support the show.
This is only the beginning my bronies.. Only the beginning.
I would so get this for my child xD
Spam poking page 33 made Derpy fly out in all er derp-eyed glory! :D
And here I thought the ipad didn't like Flash ^_^
Derpy Applejack!
If you will excuse me, I might just go buy an iPod/iPad right now. Thanks.
If I had an iPad, I'd get it.
Appaljeck y u no hat? :/
Seriously though. Hasbro (with a partner studio) puts together a pretty nice storybook app (custom vectors, embedded show clips, voiceover narration, minigames and bios). They even put in a number of brony nods (Derpy flagpole, Derpy & Carrot Top, etc). Then, they give a *review copy* to EqD? I can't be the only one thinking that Hasbro is starting to more seriously consider tapping the brony market. And I'm so on board.
The one downside of the app: record your own voiceover + bronies + YTP = Oh My Celestia... -_-
@Vic Viper / @Retl
My three year old nice handles her grandfather's iPad like an old pro... I sent her the link this morning, and have received many thanks from her mum ^.^
I really wanted him to say "we're done here" at the end :(. good review though, I'm looking forward to MOAR PRODUCT REVIEWS in future
I've never wanted an iPad...... Until now. o_o
I want it, but I don't have an iPad. :/
I don't want an iPad.
It would be nice if they released this for PC as well.
Hasbro, I think you did something right for a change, instead of using that... Derpy twilight vector. *shudder*
Goddamit :<
Can anyone extract Celestia and Luna's cards please?
DX I cannot find the Pinkie Pie sticker!
Looks good. When do they plan to port it to real phones?
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