Review - App X-Wing Companion (english version)

Welcome Pilots and X-Wing fans,

todays blog won't be about ships, pilots and upgrade cards but a new app on the horizon that just recently hit the app store.
I would like to introduce the "X-Wing Companion" by Guido Kessels to you guys and show you why this is the ultimate X-Wing buddy in the field.

Ok let's get this thing goin': When you open the app your first stop is the main menu - wasn't hard to guess was it - here you'll find the current release notes as well as a history about recent changes. If you'd like to give the developer a feedback or rate the app you'll find the corresponding links as well.

But without further ado, let's get right to the main features by clicking on the nav button on the top left screen. A smooth little animation brings up the navigation bar and presents you with a first in-depth look of where things stand.

In the first section you'll find some quick links, to be exact: the main menu, a standard search function, a category browser and the usual "about" reference. By using the search-function we're able to search for pilots, card upgrades and so on by typing at least 3 characters. This will bring up the first results. Unfortunately there is no catchphrase search so if you don't remember the exact card name but only know a sentence of it your journey for wisdom ends here. But don't become desperate as there are categories for each upgrade slot so you may as well start from there.

Next stop is the topic Rebel Alliance with all the currently available ships including content that hasn't been released yet but made it's way to public (only valid information gets published here, of course). Same goes for the Galactic Empire. Newly added stuff is marked with a red "New" sign so you pilots know where to go first for the latest additions. If we select a ship we slide into a close up look. Here we'll find the cards stats like attack dice, available pilots and of course the maneuver dial. Now let's click a pilot and take a look at the corresonding card in beautiful high resolution. Wow, very nice.

What else do we have? Well, take a look at the bottom section "Found in". There we'll find every expansion pack containing the item we're currently looking at. That is a pretty nice feature and becomes very handy from time to time. Ever wondered where that awesome card you saw live at the last tournament was shipped with? No problem anymore - the solution is right in your hand.

I want to approach the awesome overall quality of this app and the passion for detail that comes with every image and design aspect that makes this app really shine. Really good from end to end. 

And it comes even better: just click a slot-button like Astromech or Crew and you will be directed to a complete list featuring all available correspondig upgrade cards.
You want to know more about that specific card? Just tap it and there you go - everything you need to know on first sight. Maybe you found something but aren't sure if it is in your collection - just scroll down to our already known "Found In" feature and find out. 

Personally I like apps that present themselves in a homogenous and smooth overall look-and-feel and that is definitively the case with this companion. And a real pleasure for me is the fact that you can go from like pilot to upgrade and from there to found in and dig yourself deeper and deeper into the app and almost never end up in a deadlock. What my point is? I don't have to click the "back"-button on my phone a million times, I can just move hand over hand through the app and if there is really a need to look up something specific just open the nav bar anytime and take your choice.

Last but not least you'll find the upgrade card section in the main nav bar which presents every available upgrade nicely sorted by slot and original "symbol"-picture for quick orientation.

So, what makes this app special? We have high resolution scans from the original cards making the app look truly amazing. Furthermore this app gets updated on a regular basis with new design features like the newly added panorama mode for tablets in the current version.
And very important for us X-Wing geeks: As soon as new information had been leaked or gets public by official news from FFG this info finds its way into the app within a day.
Newly added content was the Decimator for the imperials and the YT 2400 for the rebels as well as all the known upgrade cards within these expansions.
Furthermore this app doesn't need a permanent online connection and is fully functional in offline mode and ... wait a sec, here it comes.. it's free.
Yeah, right, it's free. Spend your money for more X-Wing miniatures cause this buddy won't charge you a buck.

Now I'll take the time to address some things I don't like so much: First of all I find the in-app-adds very annoying.
I know, I could just force myself to ignore it but these flickering adds with information no one really cares about just bugs me. But... I don't want a gift (or more specifically a great app like this one) without - let's say - compensation for the developer either so on top of my wishlist is a paid version to get rid of the adds.

Finally let us take a look at what's up next with further releases and you'll definitively like this one: a Squad Builder is heading our way. Isn't that great? List-building on the go, in the bus or while waiting for, well, whatever makes you waiting.... You have spontaneous ideas about "the killer list" - just grab your phone, start the X-Wing Companion and get started. Hopefully the squad builder synchronizes with the planned feature of the upcoming "my collection"-feature where you can keep track of stuff you own.

My final thoughts (or words): Two thumbs up. This app is great! Useful features, nice look, (almost) complete and up to date. With the upcoming features a definitive must-have for the serious X-Wing pilot.

Now you want to know where to get this baby, right.

Android pilots please follow this way to the Google Play Store

             X-Wing Companion by Guido Kessels 

Apple users please be patient. Guido has sent the app to Apple for review and hopefully it will hit the Apple store soon.
I'll update the article and post the link as soon as the app is available for iOS.

In case you need further information or some good looking screenshots here is the link to the official homepage http://xwingcompanion.com/

In the end: An app just like this blog "lives" from community feedback.
You like the app or have some suggestions or even criticism, please contact the developer and give him feedback. Write an e-mail, post a comment in the Play store - whatever, but tell the people sacrificing their spare free time that you appreciate their work. And I don't mean monetary appreciation or posting only positive comments but interact and commuicate with them because it'll be sad for us all if they stop working on great things just because they think nobody cares about it.

Alright pilots, get to your ships and remember "...stay on target. Stay on target!"

Cheers,

N