GamePigeon

The app was first released on September 13, 2016, coinciding with the launch of iOS 10. The app was released for free, although it includes in-app purchases to unlock additional items, such as cosmetic skins, avatar items, new game modes, and an option to remove ads.{{cite web|last=Dirks|first=Brent|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/imessage-games-play-with-friends/|title= 9 Best iMessage Games and How to Play Them With Your Friends|work=MakeUseOf|date=December 7, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2020}}

The following is a list of games which users can play within GamePigeon:

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• 8-ball
• 9-ball
• 20 questions
• Archery
• Basketball
• Checkers
• Chess
• Crazy 8
• Cup pong

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• Darts
• Dots and boxes
• Filler
• Four in a row
• Gomoku
• Knockout
• Mancala
• Miniature golf
• Paintball

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• Reversi
• Sea battle
• Shuffleboard
• Tanks
• Word games
• Anagrams
• Word bites
• Word hunt

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Sources:{{cite web|url=https://wpst.com/cup-pong-social-distancing/|title=Here's How I'm Hosting a "Social Distancing Cup Pong Tournament" This Weekend|publisher=WPST|date=2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}}

Poker was one of the games included in GamePigeon at launch,{{cite web|last=Vorhees|first=John|url=https://www.macstories.net/roundups/my-favorite-imessage-apps-and-sticker-packs-of-2016/|title=My Favourite iMessage Apps and Sticker Packs of 2016|website=MacStories.net|date=December 23, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2020}} although it has since been removed and is no longer listed on the game's App Store description.

GamePigeon has enjoyed commercial success, with VentureBeat noting that GamePigeon was ranked number-one in the "Top Free" category of the iMessage App Store, six months after its release.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Khari|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/03/20/forget-stickers-imessages-top-15-apps-and-games/|title=Forget stickers: iMessage's top 15 apps and games|work=VentureBeat|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2020}} Critically, GamePigeon has been generally well received, being highlighted by online media publications early on shortly after the iOS 10 launch.{{cite magazine|last=Pullen|first=John Patrick|url=https://time.com/4534887/apple-messages-imessage-tips-tricks/|title=The Ultimate Guide to Apple's New Messages App|magazine=Time|date=October 18, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2020}} It has since been included on many "best iMessage apps" lists.{{cite web|last=Chokkattu|first=Julian|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-imessage-apps-games-stickers/|title=Own an iPhone 7? Try these 15 iMessage apps, sticker packs, games for iOS 10|work=Digital Trends|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2020}} Based on over 162,000 ratings, the game holds a 4.0 out of 5 rating on the App Store.{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gamepigeon/id1124197642|title=GamePigeon on the App Store|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=April 4, 2020}} Julian Chokkattu of Digital Trends wrote "GamePigeon should be like the pre-installed versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper that used to come with older iterations of Windows." On its launch day, Boy Genius Report included it on a list of "10 of the best iMessage apps, games and stickers for iOS 10 on launch day." The Daily Dot wrote, "GamePigeon is easily the best current gaming option within iMessages."

8-ball and cup pong have been particularly well received by media outlets.{{cite web|last=Bell|first=Killian|url=https://www.cultofmac.com/649048/apple-has-no-plans-to-scrap-imessage-apps-and-games/|title=Apple has no plans to scrap iMessage apps and games|website=cultofmac.com|date=September 3, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2020}} The Daily Dot had specific praise for the app's billiards game: "8-Ball controls shockingly smoothly with your fingers, and there’s nothing quite like destroying a dear friend in poker."{{cite web|last=Bond|first=John-Michael|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/best-free-apps-imessages/|title=Text like a champ with these 5 free apps for iMessages|work=The Daily Dot|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}} During his 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, Cory Booker was cited as playing the game with his family.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1056958/2020-presidential-democratic-candidates-reveal-their-pop-culture-favorites|title= 2020 Presidential Democratic Candidates Reveal Their Pop Culture Favourites |work=E! Online|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2020}}

In 2017, CNBC cited one teenager who expressed that GamePigeon was one of just a few reasons that those in her age range use the iMessage app.{{cite web|last=Castillo|first=Michelle|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/28/teen-internet-habits-instagram-snapchat-facebook-privacy.html|title=Teens explain how they really use Snapchat and Instagram, and why Facebook still matters|publisher=CNBC|date=February 28, 2017|access-date=April 4, 2020}} The game has received particular positive reception for allowing introverted individuals to exercise a form social activity; similarly, the game was highlighted as a way to maintain social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|last=Rao|first=Emma|url=https://tuftsdaily.com/features/2020/03/10/revisiting-introversion-extroversion-learning-part-2/|title= Revisiting introversion and extroversion: Learning from each other, part 2|work=The Tufts Daily|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Jack|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/imessage-games-how-find-play-iphone-a4396311.html|title=People are reviving iMessage games during self-isolation - here's how to find them|work=Evening Standard|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}}

As an April Fools' Day joke in 2020, The Chronicle, a Duke University newspaper, published that Duke's athletic program adopted GamePigeon's Cup Pong as an official varsity sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2020/04/duke-athletics-game-pigeon-cup-pong-varsity-sport|title=Duke Athletics adds GamePigeon 'Cup Pong' as official varsity sport|work=The Chronicle|date=April 1, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2020}}

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Category:2016 software

Category:IOS-only games

Category:IOS games

Category:Mobile applications

Category:Party video games