My Latest iPad Addictions

My wife recently got an iPad2 so of course the kids had to put lots of fun games on it from the app store. They have almost 4 full pages worth of games many of which seem totally pointless. But there are a few games which I have found to be occupying an inordinate amount of my time lately. Of course, my wife is upset that everyone is using her iPad more than her, but that is a topic for another time.

Tradewinds 2 is a game that allows you to test your skills as a Caribbean trader/pirate. There are story modes and free trade modes. The object is to sail from port to port purchasing goods at a low price and selling them at a higher price in order to make a profit. On the way, you might encounter pirates and have the chance to either fight or flee. Eventually you can make enough gold to purchase a larger ship with more cargo and cannon capacity.

It is a fun game, but once you have figured out how the game works it is easy to build up a substantial sum of money. I have built up over $1 billion in gold. By that point the game simply says you have "lots" of money in the bank. Then it is time to move on to the next game.

This is a fun game that uses the swipe feature of the touch screen to throw various objects such as a cupcake, stapler, or a fan at your cubicle neighbor. Hit him in the head, give him bruises, or make him see stars for extra credit. It is fun to kill some time, but after a while tends to lose its appeal. I am stuck at a certain score and haven't been able to get past that point.

This is the most recent game that I have been playing and the one to which I was referring when I wrote comparing video game skills to earning money online. The object of the game is to catch fish and slice them up to make sushi and earn gold coins. As you get more and more coins, you can purchase upgrades such as bigger hooks to catch more fish, weights to achieve greater depth where more valuable fish lurk, and an enhanced sword to more rapidly slice up the fish. Of course, you need to watch out for the dynamite which ends the round.

It is a fun game. I am in the process of getting more and more coins so that I can get the next level of weight. It can be a tedious process at the higher levels to get enough coins for the next upgrade. I just have to work a little at a time.

This one is actually my favorite. You have one minute to score as many points as possible by touching groups of 3 colored blocks which clear out and drop away. There are many such type games that I have played over the years. What makes this one special is that I can compete each week against Facebook friends. I find that especially appealing although there is someone who keeps getting first place most of the time which is annoying. I have won a few times. I think that is what makes it so addicting.

Finally, I enjoy watching movies on the iPad especially the first 3 Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Of course since those are 3 of the 4 iPad movies that we own, there is some selection bias. But the iPad is great for traveling. I took it to South Carolina recently which really helped to pass the time on the 11 hour drive. I am sure that it is very convenient for flying as well.

These are the things that I have been doing with some of my spare time instead of writing more Hubs. I suppose I should try to get busier writing this month.