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Year 2009 in retrospect by Apple – Best of Games and Apps

Well, Apple’s grand 2009 is slowly coming to a close. The App Store hit the 100,000 app mark, and even big publishers have graced our favourite platform with some great titles. To mark the “Rewind 2009″ event, Apple have chosen 30 game and non-game apps they considered were the best of ’09, as well as listing the top sellers of the year. Before I publish the complete list I would like to note that I do not completely agree with them. And while it’s difficult to argue with sales numbers, the best apps and games rating is a bit baffling. That said, enjoy the “best of” after the break.

Best games

• Tiger Style, Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor – $2.99
• Firemint, Real Racing – $4.99
• GAMEVIL Inc., ZENONIA – $2.99
• Chillingo, Ravensword: The Fallen King – $6.99
• Low Five Games, Earth Vs Moon – $1.99
• Games Café Inc., Sally’s Spa – $2.99
• Backflip Studios, Ragdoll Blaster – A Physics Puzzler – $1.99
• Semi Secret Software, Canabalt – $2.99
• Gameloft, Blades of Fury – $4.99
• id Software, DOOM Classic – $6.99
• Illusion Labs, Sway – $4.99
• Critical Thought Games, geoDefense – $1.99
• Firemint, Flight Control – $0.99
• Meridian, Alive 4-ever – $2.99
• inXile Entertainment, Fantastic Contraption™ – $4.99
• Mad Finger Games, Samurai: Way of the Warrior – $1.99
• NaturalMotion, Backbreaker Football – $0.99
• Alley Labs, Meteor Blitz – $1.99
• ngmoco, ROLANDO 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid – $4.99
• IUGO Entertainment, Star Hogs: Online & Campaign Battles – $4.99
• Backflip Studios, Paper Toss – Free
• Jonathan Lanis, Boost 3D – $1.99
• Lima Sky, Doodle Jump – $0.99
• Chillingo, Zen Bound™ – $4.99
• John E.Hartzog, StickWars – $0.99
• ngmoco, Eliminate Pro – Free
• Tapulous, Tap Tap Revenge 3 – $0.99
• Activision, Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies – $9.99
• Cobra Mobile, iBomber – $2.99
• True Axis, Jet Car Stunts – $1.99

Top Selling Games

• Electronic Arts, The Sims 3 – $6.99
• Gameloft, The Oregon Trail – $4.99
• Electronic Arts, Need For Speed™ Undercover – $4.99
• Electronic Arts, MADDEN NFL 10 – $6.99
• Electronic Arts, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® – $4.99
• Gameloft, Assassin’s Creed™ – Altair’s Chronicles - $4.99
• Firemint, Flight Control – $0.99
• TAITO Corporation, Cooking Mama – $6.99
• 2K Games, Civilization Revolution – $6.99
• Sony Pictures Television, Wheel of Fortune – $4.99
• PopCap Games, Peggle – $4.99
• SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog – $5.99
• Gameloft, Let’s Golf! – $1.99
• Mika Mobile, Zombieville USA – $1.99
• Electronic Arts, ROCK BAND – $6.99
• Cyan Worlds, Myst – $4.99
• 2XL Games, 2XL Supercross – $4.99
• Firemint, Real Racing – $4.99
• Games Café Inc., Sally’s Spa – $2.99
• John E. Hartzog, StickWars – $0.99
• Backflip Studios, Ragdoll Blaster – A Physics Puzzler – $1.99
• Glu, Deer Hunter 3D – $2.9
• I-play, Fast & Furious The Games – $1.99
• Konami, Metal Gear Solid Touch (US) – $5.99
• SGN, F.A.S.T. – Fleet Attack Superiority Training! – $0.99
• GAMEVIL Inc., ZENONIA – $2.99
• Digital Chocolate, 3D Brick Breaker Revolution – $2.99
• Popcap Games, Bookworm – $2.9
• Gameloft, Modern Combat: Sandstorm – $4.99
• id Software, DOOM Resurrection – $6.99

If we take a look at the above lists we may notice that there is quite a big difference between the best and top selling lists. And what’s even more interesting is that despite the myth that a game must cost $0.99 to turn a good profit, next to none from the top seller list reflect this. Electronic Arts has dominated the top 10 and obviously quality games backed by a big name pays off big time in the store. I hope that aspiring developers will pay attention to this – to not be afraid of putting some extra work and thought into their products and even charge a bit more as a result.

Now to the app lists.

Best apps:

• Nexvio Inc., ReelDirector – $4.99
• Magellan, Magellan RoadMate 2010 North America – $79.99
• Zolmo, Jamie Oliver’s 20 Minute Meals – $7.99,
• Smule, I Am T-Pain – $2.99,
• CBS Interactive, CBS Sports: Live College Games – $4.99
• Autodesk Inc., SketchBook Mobile – $2.99
• Vito Technology Inc, Star Walk – 5 stars astronomy guide – $4.99
• Tapbots, Convertbot – $0.99
• Smule, Leaf Trombone: World Stage – $0.99
• Debacle Software, Pano – $2.99
• Pocket Pixels Inc, Color Splash – $1.99
• Shazam Entertainment, Shazam(RED) – $4.99,
• Marcus Satellite, Smacktalk! – $0.99,
• BRID, Awesome Note (+ ToDo) – $3.99
• Blue Lightning Labs, Mathemagics – Mental Math Tricks – $0.99
• atebits, Tweetie 2 – $2.99
• Musée du Louvre, Musée du Louvre – Free
• Silverware Software, Flight Update Pro – Live Status + TripIt – $9.99
• NBC Universal, CNBC Real-Time – Free
• ESPN, ESPN ScoreCenter – Free
• MacPhun LLC, Vintage Video Maker – $2.99
• Cinemek Inc, Storyboard Composer – $19.99
• Fandango, Fandango Movies : Times & Tickets – Free
• Beejive, BeejiveIM with Push – $9.99
• Zipcar, Zipcar – Free
• Inner Fence, Credit Card Terminal – $0.99
• MobiTV, NBA League Pass Mobile – $39.99
• acrossair, NearestWiki – $1.99
• Shotzoom Software, Golfshot: Golf GPS – $29.99
• Infinite Labs, Mover+ – $1.99

Top Selling apps:

• NAVIGON AG, MobileNavigator North America – $89.99
• MLB.com, MLB.com At Bat – Free
• Pinger, TextFree Unlimited – Send Text Messages Free – $5.99
• TomTom International BV, TomTom U.S. & Canada – $99.99
• Shotzoom Software, Golfshot: Golf GPS – $29.99
• Sling Media, SlingPlayer Mobile – $29.99
• Pocket Pixels Inc, Color Splash – $1.99
• Bolt Creative, Pocket God – $0.99
• Quickoffive, Quickoffice Mobile Office Suite – $9.99
• DistinctDev, The Moron Test – $0.99
• Smule, I Am T-Pain – $2.99
• Occipital, RedLaser – $1.99
• KendiTech, Camera Zoom 2 – $0.99
• ALLABOUTAPPS, AppBox Pro – $0.99
• Mitch Waite Group, iBird Explorer PRO – $29.99
• AOL, AIM – $2.99
• The Weather Channel, The Weather Channel® Max – $3.99
• id Software, Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum – $1.99
• Pinger, Picfree – Send Picture Messages (MMS) Free – $5.99
• AssistiveWare, Proloquo2Go – $189.99
• CNN Interactive Group, CNN Mobile – $1.99
• CodeGoo, Camera Genius – $1.99
• MotionX™, MotionX GPS Drive – $2.99
• Ben Kazez, FlightTrack Pro – Live TripIt Flight Tracker – $9.99
• Fox Mobile Entertainment, Family Guy – $0.99
• Hottrix, iSoda (iWater, iCola and more) – $2.99
• ESPN, ESPN Radio – $2.99

These lists offer less surprises, although for the love of God, I can’t imagine how Pocket God and Wolfenstein 3D got into the apps lists – they should be in games? Another interesting observation – The Top Selling list of apps has both Free or $0.99 apps and extremely expensive ones (up to $189.99).

There you have it folks. Check out the lists and pick up ones that interest you if you haven’t already. Also keep an eye out for our Christmas Specials sticky to help you save some cash on those items you really crave.