An iPad version of the popular Settlers of Catan strategy board game launched Wednesday, supplementing the already available version for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Catan HD, unveiled Wednesday by United Soft Media, allows either single-player mode or local hotseat gaming for up to four players, which can be other human players or built-in computer opponents. The game features iPod background music support and a high-resolution user interface that supports scrolling and zooming across the game board. Its release follows a summer of beta testing.
The game lets “colonists” on a hexagonal island build a civilazation over time. The iPad version—developed in collaboration with Catan creator Klaus Teuber—features the original Settlers of Catan rule set, along with comprehensive game statistics, a Catan almanac, and a tutorial. The new HD app is a separate app from the version of Catan that’s designed for iPhone and iPod Touch, though the iPad’s larger screen means that its interface looks much more like the actual Catan board game than the smaller iPhone version.
Catan HD is $5 through the iTunes store. It runs on iPads using iOS 3.2 or later.