Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

This week's "App of the Week" is Catan By USM. Catan is available as separate downloads for both the iPhone and iPad. Both versions are $4.99 with an expansion pack costing $3.99. The game was updated recently with better graphic options and faster game play.

The Settlers of Catan is a fun and relaxing strategy game to play against the computer or with the family. I have played this game more than any other on the iOS this summer. Both of my elementary age kids love to play and watch me play it as well. If you never heard of this game, you have to give it a try.

This game is based on the board game "The Settlers of Catan". The expansion pack is based on the "Catan: Seafarers Game Expansion". While board games usually last more than an hour, games in the iOS generally last about 20 minutes on the fastest settings.

The object of Catan or "The Settlers of Catan" is to gain the most victory points. Generally, the board game winner is the first one to obtain 12 victory points. The number of points the winner needs can vary on the iOS version, and is usually set to 10 for the non-expansion pack, making the game go a little faster.

At the beginning of the game, players go one at a time placing two settlements anywhere on the board. Settlements, which are one victory point, can be upgraded to cities which are two points. More settlements can be built by first building two roads from an existing settlement. In order to build roads, settlements and cities, players must collect resource cards. Two dice are rolled at the beginning of each turn to determine who gets which resource cards. Resources include rock, wood, brick, wheat, and sheep. The player with the longest road receives two victory points.

The resource cards can also be used to buy development cards. Development cards can contain soldiers, victory points, and more ways to receive resource cards. Soldiers are used to move the robber, which steals resource cards away from other players. Players with the largest army also receive 2 victory points.

As I stated before it's a quick and fun game alone or with someone else, and something definitely worth investigating.

1 Comment

1. Bob ~ August 4, 2011 21:21
   You failed to mention that Catan for iPad/iPhone does not have multiplayer, other than hot-seat. Multiplayer is more or less required since: The original is a multiplayer boardgame. The competitors all have proper multiplayer. The Xbox version has proper multiplayer!

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