The App Stork: Introducing new iPhone games LaserBug, Xpandaballs, Nukeball as well as...

Balls, the animal kingdom and lasers. Three things seldom united, but which bizarrely make up the thread of continuity that runs through our top three picks for games we discovered via our forums this week.

Themes aside, there's a heady mix of classic shooting and puzzling genres in there this week, though it'd be unfair not to mention that each offers something original. The iPhone is a hotbed of creativity at the moment and our forums are fast becoming the place to go to discover that creativity at the source.

Remember, if you heard about one of these games via our forums, or The App Stork, before you did anywhere else, be sure to let us know.

Better still, make sure you drop into the forums to give some of the developers your words of encouragement and/or constructive criticisms, should you end up buying one of their titles - it's what they're there for.

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LaserBug - Dirk Van Welden

As if insects aren't enough of a nuisance this time of year, the invertebrates of LaserBug come equipped with lasers to help them in their pestering. LaserBug is a cute, action platformer where the focus is on blasting anything that crosses your path into teeny tiny bits.

There are over 50 levels, several weapon and ability upgrades and some neat 3D graphics that boast dynamic lighting. Also, it might very well be the first game in history to allow you play as a buff ladybird, which is enough of a spectacle to warrant the asking price of £1.19 in itself.

Check it out.

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Company website

Xpandaballs - Craig Caldwell Before you ask, this is not a game about the recently expired reproductive organs of black and white asian bears that eat bamboo. You weren't thinking that? Okay, maybe that was just us. What this game is about is the precise positioning of expanding balls, which pop and disappear once they have been hit a certain number of times. It looks mind rottingly addictive and definitely one for high score hounds. Xpandaballs is out now, priced a modest £0.59.

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Nukeball - Lubos Kulisek Another title with ball in the title, Nukeball is reminiscent of dodgeball played with tanks. There are two opposing tanks which take it in turns to ricochet a ball with their lasers into one another.

You can also take out your opponent with your lasers, with the challenge being to squeeze off an accurate shot between fending off the ball every time it enters your side of the play area.

It's an original idea and, best of all, two players can play together on the same iPhone at the same time, which is all too rare a feature. And at less than the price of a carton of milk (£0.59), it has to be worth it.

Full version
Company website

More games from the forums

Art Thief
BEDEVILLED
Flipping World
GudeBalls
TrixDigger
Chickie Dominos