Wolfenstein 3D Arrives in iPhone App Store

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id Software today released its classic first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D on the iPhone and iPod Touch via the iTunes App Store. The 9.9MB download is priced at $4.99.

Packing the original six episodes, complete with the famed MechaHitler boss fight, the game offers two different control methods. One has players navigating and shooting with the touch screen, and the other sees players tilting the device for movement.

id Software programmer and co-founder John Carmack personally led the project. The official debut follows yesterday's release of the Wolfenstein iPhone source code.

An iPhone release of DOOM can be expected "fairly soon," Carmack reckoned in his development notes for Wolfenstein 3D iPhone. In addition, he recently helped Electronic Arts with the upcoming iPhone port of the Wolfenstein RPG.

Thanks to Shacker burgertime for the heads up.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 24, 2009 10:49 PM

    I'm interested, but I'd like to hear some feedback first. I don't know how I feel about FPS games on the iPhone. How much screen real estate is taken up by buttons? How easy is it to move, shoot, and strafe--at the same time?

    I'm not expecting frantic multiplayer matches on the iPhone or any handheld, but i do want to be able to play somewhat comfortably, and without having to move awkwardly forward and shoot haphazardly.

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      March 24, 2009 11:16 PM

      i tried turning on tilt for strafing but it was really unwieldy. moving and turning is fine. Your fingers only take up the bottom left and right corner for movement/firing so its no big deal. Game plays pretty well all things considered.

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      March 25, 2009 12:08 AM

      The best control scheme for me so far is thumbs on bottom left and right corners for dual analog control. Tap top-right for fire.

      I find that I sway about a bit, but overall it's not bad. All the maps are as fun as I remember. The control isn't perfect, but it seems like great toilet gaming.

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      March 25, 2009 4:19 AM

      It's wolf3d, you dont need to strafe. if a bullet is coming your way, it hits or doesnt. This and games like Blake Stone are *perfect* for the iphone/ipod touch.

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      March 25, 2009 6:13 AM

      Depends on how fat your fingers are i suppose.

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      March 25, 2009 6:27 AM

      Alos comtrol method No. 3 is far superior to the default controls.

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      March 25, 2009 7:00 AM

      I think Wolf3D is the exception to the rule because it does not have jumping or mouselook and thus can get away with simple 4-direction movement and a button to shoot. That's about the extent of control that's acceptable for a touchscreen interface.
      i think in general FPS games on the whole have no place on the iPhone. It's just not an interface designed to control FPS games well. besides, if you want to play an FPS game, just wait til you get home in front of your computer.

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        March 25, 2009 7:48 AM

        right on. i think jumping and looking up / down would me a nightmare on any touch based interface.

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