SailBlaster

Your iPhone/iPod Touch is the best computer ever invented for simulating sailboat racing. SailBlaster takes advantage of its 3-D graphics processor, accelerometer, touchscreen, and wi-fi with 3 ways to sail : Solo, Split-Screen, and Wi-Fi match racing.



Solo

Race a single-handed dinghy, catamaran, or trimaran against up to 9 artificial intelligence (AI) boats controlled by your device rendered in true, smooth 3D with a realistic prestart (15 seconds up to 5 minutes), choice of courses (windward/leeward or Olympic, round marks to port or starboard), lengths and skill levels. Competitors who know the rules keep you on your toes at all levels. If you get too close, they will slam dunk you upwind and blanket you downwind. Do a lazy mark rounding, and they'll grab the inside. On the higher levels, they will cover you mercilessly if you let them get ahead.

Sailing could not be simpler. Just tilt your device to adjust your tiller and level it to hold course. Your sail luffs realistically when you are pointed too high to the wind. An optional color-changing wind arrow provides more visual feedback, turning green when you are in the groove. Pressing buttons on a touch screen view panel lets you see the competition from every angle including overhead helicopter views. Flag icons to exit or restart a race appear after pressing Pause.

Split-Screen

Race against another player and up to 8 AI boats on the same device. The visual interface is exactly the same as in Solo mode except the views are smaller and you use touch screen arrows to steer the boat relative to the wind. Press the down arrow to fall off, press the up arrow to point up.

Wi-Fi

SailBlaster takes advantage of your device's wi-fi capabilites, enabling you to match race against another sailor. The interface and controls with Wi-Fi are identical to the Solo mode. Wi-Fi requires a separate license on each device and a strong, unblocked signal.

Update History

July, 2009:
Version 1.0 released with support for a single player racing against up to 9 boats controlled by the device. Video on YouTube.

September, 2009
1.1: support for two-players over wi-fi. Video on YouTube.

November, 2009
1.2: professionally-designed graphics models, improved AI, race committee boat and optional wind arrow. Video on YouTube: search SailBlaster v12. This video gives a representative idea of the gameplay racing against the computer.

January, 2010
1.3.1: single-handed catamarans and trimarans and optional starboard mark rounding.

February, 2010
1.4: buoy guidelines to improve visibility and orientation.

July, 2010
1.5: instrument panel, digital compass, and support for 2-player split-screen.

August, 2010
1.5.1 : visible puffs and lulls.

November, 2010
1.5.2: improved graphics including an animated sailor, water reflections, and wake trail.

January, 2011
The next release/free update will feature a 60 foot/18 meter single-handed sloop-rigged keelboat with a spinnaker.