Gun Bros

Gun Bros is a poplar top down shooter that is currently available for free on the App store. It was released in 2010 as a game to bring hardcore gamers at the age of 9 + on the app-store together in a multiplayer shooter. In December 2010 it has been reported that 2.8 million but currently it has been announced on Pr Newswire that over 6.8 million have been downloaded with 5.5 million being from iOS devices. As a Freemium game Gun Bros has different in game ways of purchasing content, the main method is purchasing 'Warbucks' a type of in game credit. Orginally 'Warbucks' could only be bought using real life money but currently it can be earnt in the game but the idea is that if you pay u can unlock items that might take you weeks or months to unlock.

In game there are various weapons that can be bought either by coins which are the basic in game currency that are collected throughout playing the game as a standard or by 'Warbucks' usually the 'Warbucks' items are better than the once that can be bought with normal currency as the players haven't had to spend money to get the item, e.g. its more beneficial to spend money. Other items work in a similar priceable with armour and power-ups are also available to buy in game.

I have been playing and looking at all the items on the game using my Ipod touch. The game play is relatively simple and its mostly about playing to collect credit to then purchase items to upgrade yourself. This then pushes the want for weapons that are the best to save on time playing as it soon gets repetitive as the gameplay doesn't change. The better the extras the faster you earn credit and the faster you get the next items.

Here are some screenshots of the items:



This image shows different power ups that can be purchased in game.



This shows Armour that can be bought in the game, on screen is currently showing different types of helmets can be bought.



This image shows weapons that can be bought in the game, this is also interesting because currently there on sale to get more players to buy the virtual images. This isn't the only reason why they are interesting because this screen next screen shot will explain why.



'The kraken' is the last weapon on the list and it is also the most expensive costing 3499 Warbucks. Converted into real money the virtual gun would cost £308 or $500. This is crazy due to the fact you could by a new games console with this or a new ipod or iphone for that much money but in this game its the cost of one small piece of virtual data.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gun-bros/id393404730?mt=8
http://www.glu.com/category/category/gun-bros
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2011/aug/04/gun-bros-final-fantasy-tacticshttp://toucharcade.com/2011/08/03/glu-adds-500-unlockable-gun-to-gun-bros/ http://blog.flurry.com/bid/67748/Consumers-Spend-Average-of-14-per-Transaction-in-iOS-and-Android-Freemium-Gameshttp://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glu-announces-continued-strong-downloads-of-gun-bros-and-deer-hunter-challenge-at-gdc-2011-117303428.html