| Over the past couple years, The iPod Touch has | | | | you purchase the device. It's a purple icon on |
| quickly risen in popularity, not only as a digital | | | | your home screen. All you need to do is tap the |
| music player, but also as a portable gaming | | | | icon, and you'll instantly be transported to the App |
| machine. While portable gaming has in the past | | | | Store. |
| been dominated by companies like Nintendo and, | | | | Although it's called a "store", the best thing about |
| to a lesser degree, Sony, the iPod Touch came | | | | the App Store is that most of the games are |
| seemingly out of nowhere to offer a unique | | | | free! You can browse through all the games |
| gaming experience that its competitors have been | | | | available to you by choosing different categories. |
| struggling to match. | | | | You might be looking for action games, puzzle |
| One of the unique things about the iPod Touch is | | | | games, or even word games. Whichever type of |
| its full multi-touch screen. This has allowed game | | | | game you like, there is undoubtedly a category |
| developers to become extremely creative about | | | | for it. You can look under the most recently |
| the amount of functionality they can give to their | | | | released games or the most popular games in |
| game. Rather than relying on a specific set of | | | | each category. Apple also has a featured games |
| buttons, game developers can create virtual | | | | section, where they highlight the games that they |
| buttons on the screen which can change | | | | think are noteworthy. You can also browse by |
| depending upon the game or even the stage of | | | | the most popular games overall. |
| the game that the player is at. | | | | When you have decided on a game that you |
| The iPod Touch also features an "accelerometer". | | | | think looks interesting, you can read the |
| This allows the device to sense which direction it | | | | description, look at screenshots, and read reviews. |
| is being held. It also lets the device detect when it | | | | Then just tap the download button, and within |
| is moved. For example, race car games can allow | | | | seconds it will be on your home screen, ready for |
| the player to steer the vehicle simply by tilting the | | | | you to begin playing! |
| iPod back and forth. This can provide a more | | | | There are also games that cost money, and to |
| realistic gaming experience than using directional | | | | buy these games, you will need to put a credit |
| buttons. | | | | card on file with Apple through their iTunes |
| So how do you get all these great games on | | | | program. However, this isn't necessary if all you'd |
| your iPod Touch anyways? The way to get | | | | like to do is access the wide catalog of free |
| games is to use Apple's App Store. The App | | | | games. |
| Store comes included on the iPod Touch when | | | | |