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Don’t get the wrong idea from the headline; this article is about what iPad gaming is capable of with IPs created specifically for the device. We saw recently what iPhone games look like when played at their native resolution on the iPad, when they’re enlarged to fit the screen, and when they’re redeveloped at the iPad specs. But how about if they’re built specifically for the iPad from scratch? One look at the screenshot from Bloober Team’s Gender Wars: The Battle should let you know.

Gender Wars is a turn-based tactic game with a casual, story-driven approach and easy click-and-shoot interface. “We wanted to make tactic game that will be easy to pick and play by anyone, in a short burst of 2-3 minutes per game, while offering enough in-depth complexity to play for hours,” said Peter Bielatowicz, lead designer of the game.

The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi universe, and its storyline involves themes such as time travel, tragic love and epic military operations. “Everyone will find something for himself in the game, from space operas fans to hard military [sci-fi] geeks,” said Paweł Kobyłecki, one of the game’s main screenwriters.

This approach always makes me nervous, as trying to please everyone with games usually results in pleasing no one. But that aside, I’m impressed with the screenshot. There’s a level of detail there that can’t be achieved on the iPhone (or at least couldn’t be noticed on its smaller screen), and the concept of a touch turn-based strategy game is very intriguing. The larger screen of the iPad could make it more difficult to wrap your thumbs and fingers around, making twitch games even harder to play than on the iPhone. But a game that allows you to take your time tapping could certainly work, provided the iPad is comfortable to hold with one hand while tapping with another.

“We believe that tactic games will be one of best and most successful games on iPad platform,” predicted Piotr Babieno, one of the game producers. “This kind of touch device with big screen helps you to command your units in most natural and intuitive way.”

“You have to also remember that the people will play iPad in longer sessions and with more concentration than they did on iPhone,” comments Bielatowicz. “iPad is perfect device for people playing in train or airplane or at home rather than on the move like it was with iPhone. All designers shall keep this in mind when thinking about designing an iPad game.”

And he’s right. Although I love the convenience of playing an iPhone game in a short burst, I rarely used it for a prolonged gaming session. That could change with the iPad, especially with games such as Gender Wars: The Battle, which, in the tradition of free or lite iPhone games, will basically server as a teaser for a series of games. It contains only the battle game mode and will focus on gameplay challenges. “It may sound weird, but after first tests of the battle module it turned out to play so well and entertaining on its own that we decided to release it as separate title,” said Babieno. “We want to tease players a bit and prepare them for the final game.”

Gender Wars: The Battle will hit the Apple Store with the iPad release in late march. Details of the main game and its schedule will be released before then.

See [blooberteam.com]