Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

So, I was waiting in line this evening to watch the new moving picture titled “Transformers”. Naturally, I brought along the DS to pass the time while waiting the 2+ hours until the movie started. As soon as I busted it out, a couple kids in front of me in line asked me if I had any downloadable games and would be willing to play. I admit, I was a little surprised, as I am still mostly a DS noob, and must admit I’m unwashed when it comes to DS multiplayer.

“Well, I have Meteos. I think that allows download play. Doesn’t it?” I meekly replied.

They assured me it did, and so I fired it up and the three of us had some fantastic matches. Once they figured out that I was pretty good at the game, they started teaming up against me and focused all of their blocks on me. Losing my first planet in a 2-stock game prompted a unified cheer from the two of them, and we all had a good laugh. The matches ended up being pretty dang close all around. Good times were had by all involved.

I know this is nothing new to the vast majority of you that already own a DS and have enjoyed this kind of impromptu multiplayer experience, but the potential of this device to take a couple complete strangers and make us buds is completely fascinating. It triggered some flashbacks in this old soldier, I’ll tell you that. Days spent trawling video arcades, hoping for errant tokens, and enjoying the exact same kind of raw multiplayer experience that even the internet cannot duplicate.

Facing your random opponent without the benefits of matchmaking or ubiquitous anonymity as provided by the Magic Internet Tubes creates an automatic camaraderie. An esprit d’corp that tends towards the good natured among us. There was no talk of retardation, no quip about my maternal lineage, just pure fun and a handshake.

And it’s all thanks to the miracle of “download play,” that magical technology whereby only one person in your group has to have a copy of the game that all around him can enjoy. I love it!

I would love to see Xbox Live Arcade adopt the same ability. Imagine seeing your friend online and inviting him in for a game of Catan. So what if he only has the trial version? He can enjoy your game at your invitation and if he likes it enough, he will of course purchase the same title, himself. This is a win-win situation for Microsoft (or Sony, if they decided to implement this) whereby they add significant value to Live Gold subscriptions, which has been catching a lot of heat lately, and provide a great marketing tool. They would have to be fools to not adopt this kind of multiplay model. Nintendo wins AGAIN.

There’s a reason besides lower price that the Nintendo DS is consistently the best-selling video game hardware on the planet.

By the way, for any that are interested let me give you my spoiler-free review of Transformers: If you’re a TransFan like myself, you will love this movie. I’m not sure about the casual viewer, because, well, I’m not a casual viewer when it comes to Transformers. But it was definitely a great Transformers flick.