Trading card game Arena 9 gets IAP shop update

It's taken some time, but finally the in-app purchase element of trading card game Arena 9 has gone live.

The game itself is based around a relatively simple playing system.

Each of the five character cards in your hand has a number (one to nine) on each its four edges. Lay down a card with a higher number adjacent to your opponent's on the 3 by 3 grid and that card turns your colour.

There's enough layering of combos and other moves for real tactics to emerge too.

However, up to this point the game has been limited as only the lowest powered E-class cards have been available. You can buy additional packs of these using the points you earn by playing games.

Better cards, and the ability to upgrade your duplicates have been locked, as Apple's taken its time approving the update. This has now gone live.

In order to buy better cards, you have to spend cash upgrading your rank though.

If you're got 20,000 EXP, you can now pay 99c to become a Journeyman. It's a similar deal at 90,000 EXP to become an Adept and 450,000 to get Expert status. Each of these classes provides you with the ability to buy new card packs using your in-game points

In terms of IAP packs, the Premium pack ($1.99) gets you 10 cards of which one will be the top S-class, and one A-class. The eight card Super Value (99c) pack guarantees you one A-class and one B-class card.

An iPad version of Arena 9 has also been submitted for Apple's approval.

Arena 9 is out now and free to play.