Here’s the changelist:

• Now requires OS 3.0 and up
• 3GS renderer with new special effects:
  • Reflective, rippling water
  • Distortion effect on explosion rings
  • Dynamically lit volume clouds
  • Extra up-close terrain detail
• Reduced memory usage
• New player ship model
• Repositioned HUD radar to avoid chase camera conflict

The move to OS 3.0 as a minimum is unfortunate, but the alternative was to release the 3GS version as a completely separate app. This way existing users get the update for free!

Should show up on iTunes in about a week! This is a big update, but not everything requested made it in, so stay tuned for 1.6. Here’s the changelist:

• Textured models!
• Terrain deforms from large explosions
• Textured water to differentiate from sky
• Option to rotate screen orientation and home button position
• Improved 3rd person chase camera, now less rigid
• Targeting diamonds are now hidden when up close
• Menu shows random battle at launch, current battle if paused
• Added loading screen with progress bar when changing levels
• Added altimeter under health meter
• Wingmen and enemy fighters can now launch missiles
• Added glow effect to lasers and engines
• Increased enemy ground turret rate of fire
• Improved AI aiming ability, tied to difficulty setting
• Added flaming chunky triangle explosion goodness
• Terrain and models are dynamically lit by nearby lights

I can honestly say I do not remember the last time I had so much fun with an iPhone game. Reminiscent of the classic Descent series, AirMaster 3D hits a home run… AirMaster 3D has the best executed use of the accelerometer and on-screen controls I have encountered on the iPhone… On the whole, AirMaster 3D brings back the classic good vs. evil, green vs. red that is in the heart of any true gamer.

Thanks Ian! Nice screenshots, too – capturing them at just the right moment on the iPhone is no easy task.

Air Master 3D is a fine addition to the Sci Fi Flying genre. It’s one of the first games that really gave me a good sense of flying and the shooting worked perfectly. I feel like a kid all over again.

Thanks Bob! They’ve got a very active review section at appVersity, and they’re already off to a good start with their new forums (where you can find even more app reviews), so if you’re into iPhone/iPod touch gaming at all, this place is worth going back to.

Stay tuned for update 1.5, which will address a lot of the issues I’ve been collecting feedback on from 1.4.

Air Master 3D‘s 1.4 update was submitted the other night! I hear there’s a bit of a backlog at Apple for update approval, so it may take longer than the usual week to go live on iTunes. Here’s the changelist:

• Added a radar map (can be disabled in options)
• Added seeking missile secondary weapon
• Improved terrain graphics
• Improved level load time 35%
• Added 3rd person chase camera as an in-game toggle
• Widened difficulty range
• Added option to disable auto-aim for an increased challenge
• Improved menu graphics
• Improved in-game UI text and icons
• Added UI feedback sound (button click)
• Screen shake is now triggered by ground collision when enabled
• Added an additional “how to play” screen, now shows on first run
• Difficulty and sensitivity sliders now slide when dragged

Air Master 3D is quite a little gem hidden among the App Store clutter.  We would love to see updates to include a more handsome interface with improved touch response. We would also expect a global leader board improved graphics to be included in the near future. And, as long as we’re on the subject, how about a local wifi feature where friends can team up to take out the opposition simultaneously?

In the meantime, we’re gonna give Air Master 3D a 4-Dimple rating for clever features and nearly flawless controls.  Hoping to hear more from Alex Nankervis soon…