Top Shelf Apps for week of February 9, 2010New apps added every Tuesday! |
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Hands-On with the New Apple iPad Courtesy of Engadget.com
Everybody's waiting to get their hands on the new Apple tablet dubbed the iPad. While the public might have to wait about 60 days for the chance to touch, pinch, and swipe, a lucky select few got their chance to play yesterday at Apple's live media event. While we might not be among the promised few, we still think it's worth sharing some hands-on video courtesy of Engadget.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – Cheat Codes Revealed
Not surprisingly, many players of the Grand Theft Auto series enjoy using cheat codes to gain access to otherwise difficult to acquire weapons, cars, and bonuses. Since the release of the iPhone app version, which uses a virtual control system much different than the DS or PSP version, players have speculated on the inclusion of cheat codes. Thanks to Touch Arcade forum members GTA: Chinatown Wars cheat codes are staring to be revealed. The cheats and method of entry are listed below.

To enter the cheats, visit any cheat house, scroll the screen to the side to find the magnet aboard and arrange the letters to make any of the following combinations. When the cheat is successfully entered, you’ll hear a beep, the letters will slide back to their original position, and the name of the cheat will flash at the bottom of the screen.
Weapon Arsenal Cheats:
LOADOA – Grenade, nightstick, pistol, minigun, assault rifle, micro SMG, and stubby shotgun.
LOADOB – Molotov, tazer, dual pistols, flamethrower, carbine, SMG, and dual-barrel shotgun.
LOADOC – Mine, chainsaw, revolver, flamethrower, carbine, SMG, and dual-barrel shotgun.
LOADOD – Flashbang, bat, pistol, RPG, carbine, micro SMB and stubby shotgun.
Power-ups & Bonuses:
CASHIN – Grants $10,000 extra cash.
LIFEUP – Refills your life to full.
SHELLY – Refills your armor to full.
TRIPPY – Unknown
COPIN – Raises your wanted level by 1 star.
COPOUT – Lowers your wanted level by 1 star.
Review: Grand Theft Auto - Chinatown Wars
Price: $9.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High
Pros: Authentic GTA gameplay experience; Tons of content; impressive implementation; the same GTA game seen on DS and PSP; Half the price of DS and PSP version.
Cons: Eagle-eye view sometimes awkward. Virtual control-pad not as precise as other portable systems.
Bottom Line: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is one of the first major portable titles—if not the first—to arrive on DS, PSP, and iPhone without being watered down. If you’re a fan of GTA-style games or simply looking for a game with lots of content GTA: Chinatown Wars is a great deal. And for those of you not familiar with the series, it’s primarily meant for mature audiences. Don't say I didn't warn you!
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Review: Battleship for iPhone Blows Old Fashion Board Games out of the Water!
Price: $2.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High
Pros: A smartly made version of classic Battleship with some fun new modes.
Cons: All multiplayer is local; no internet multiplayer
Bottom Line: If you’re a fan of Battleship, it’s hard to go wrong with this app. EA did a great job breathing new life into an old gaming concept when bringing this title to the iPhone.
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Video Review: OMG Pirates! - Get Your Ninja On!
Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High
Pros: Fun artwork; great gameplay, controls and combo system; high replay value.
Cons: Campaign mode is somewhat short and the plot line is lacking.
Bottom Line: OMG Pirates! is a highly enjoyable, fast-action, survival hack’n’slash. The fun cartoonish animation and simple controls give this app very unique appeal. If you’re a fan of Zombieville USA, this is a must!
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Video Review: Monopoly Classic - All the Fun, None of the Math.
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it
Replay Value: Very High
Pros: Great graphics and gameplay.
Cons: A few small imperfections, but nothing to quibble about.
Bottom Line: EA’s Monopoly app is a strong & fun adaptation of the original board game. The most frustrating part for most Monopoly fans might be that they already spent $5 dollars on EA’s previously released Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition app.
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Weekly App Challenge: Bejeweled Blitz - Win $10 in iTunes Cash!
For the FACEBOOK or iPhone App!
App: Bejeweled 2 (iPhone) & Bejeweled Blitz (facebook)
Dates: Tues., Nov. 17 – Mon., Nov. 23
Challenge: Earn a score of 100,000 or higher in Bejeweled Blitz
Prize: $10 iTunes Gift Certificate
To enter:
• Earn a score of 100,000 or higher in Bejeweled Blitz
• Take a screenshot as proof (see below for the how to)
• Email the screenshot along with your name to
• The winner will be notified via email the following week
To take a screenshot on your iPhone or iPod Touch: Press and hold the lock button (on top of the device) and then press the Home button while continuing to hold the lock button. Your screen will flash and a screenshot will be saved to your photo library.
To take a screen shot on your Mac: Simultaneously press Shift + Command + 3 (On older macs: Shift + Apple +3)
To take a screen shot on a PC: Checkout this web guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Take-a-Screenshot-in-Microsoft-Windows
The screenshot should look something like this:

(Screenshots from facebook app may look a little different. Be sure they include name and score)
Feel free to discuss strategy in the comments section below!
Click this link to view our full sweepstakes rules.
Weekly App Challenge: MASH - Win $10 in iTunes Cash!
App: MASH
Dates: Tues., Nov. 17 – Mon., Nov. 23
Challenge: End up in a “Mansion”
Prize: $10 iTunes Gift Certificate
To enter:
• Play MASH until you “live in a Mansion.”
• Take a screenshot as proof (see below for the how to guide)
• Email the screenshot along with your name to
• The winner will be notified via email the following week
To take a screenshot on your device: Press and hold the lock button (on top of the device) and then press the Home button while continuing to hold the lock button. Your screen will flash and a screenshot will be saved to your photo library.
The screenshot should look something like this:
Feel free to discuss strategy in the comments section below!
Click this link to view our full sweepstakes rules.
Weekly App Challenge: A Quest of Knights Onrush Extended!
To help kick off our Holiday Challenge Blitz, we’ve decided to extend the Quest of Knights Onrush App Challenge for an additional week until Monday, Nov. 23!
For details on how to enter for your chance to win a $10 iTunes gift Certificate, check out the full info.
We'll choose one winner for each week! (Non-winning entries will automatically carry over to the extended week)
Weekly App Challenge: A Quest of Knights Onrush - Win $10 in iTunes Cash!
App: A Quest of Knights Onrush (free)
Dates: Tues., Nov. 10 – Mon., Nov. 16
Challenge: Survive a distance of over 800 ft.
Prize: $10 iTunes Gift Certificate
To enter:
• Survive a distance of over 800 ft.
• Take a screenshot as proof
• Email the screenshot along with your name to
• The winner will be notified via email the following week
To take a screenshot on your device: Hold down the lock button (on top of the device) and then press the Home button while continuing to hold the lock button. Your screen will flash and a screenshot will be saved to your photo library.
The screenshot should look something like this:
Feel free to discuss strategy in the comments section below!
Click this link to view our full sweepstakes rules.
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