Namco Bandai is making a push to capitalize on the iPhone gaming “gold rush,” as evidenced by the recent opening of its new Apple Games division. In an interview with Kotaku, Apple Games’ recently ordained manager, Jonathan Kromrey, explained exactly how the company was going to win over the mobile gaming crowd — by bringing arcade heavyweights “like Pac-Man, Galaga, Soulcalibur and Tekken” to Apple’s handheld device.
[via JoyStiq]
here’s a new game control pad for the iPhone that looks closer to reality, the iJoyPad. Here it is being demoed on an iPhone 3G S while playing Wipeout first, then Ridge Racer using psx4iPhone, and I must admit, it does look very promising.
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direkt
Sega
Sega of America wants to hear the vox populi’s suggestions for iPhone and iPod Touch games. Frankly, if you don’t give them ideas, you know the powers that be will just pump out more Sonic — they just don’t know any better! The community team is saying that all ideas are welcome and that they’ll add them to their upcoming presentation list. Two rules: the suggestions must be first-party Sega games; and they can’t involve original games (who would want such a thing?).
Sega is taking recommendations through Twitter, Facebook and on its forums. Feel free to leave some ideas below too, though we can’t confirm that Sega will read them here. We’re all for games from Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection receiving visual upgrades and loving ports, as unlikely as that may be.
[via JoyStiq]
Resident Evil 4
It’s available right now for purchase in the App Store — and suspiciously squashed down to 37.3 MB. While the game sits on the pricier side of the app spectrum (and is missing elements from the console versions), anything called “Resident Evil 4″ is almost impossible for us to resist. Almost.
Download on iTunes
[via Joystiq]
According to TechCrunch, Social Gaming Network’s (SGN) Fleet Air Superiority Training F.A.S.T. dogfight game “pulled in over $1 million in download fees alone in the first six weeks it was available.”
F.A.S.T was originally priced at $9.99 but SGN has varied the pricing as part of their launch plan. It currently sells for $1.99 and is said to be bringing in as much as $60,000 per day.
It’s not clear that F.A.S.T can maintain this trajectory or how much of a lifetime any iPhone application has. But, there is something to be said for the strategy of building an engine that allows for more games to be built and for licensing the technology to others.
[via CNET]
Blu-Ray on iPhone
iPhone and iPod Touch owners will be able to control certain features over their local Wi-Fi network and in the instance of Fast & Furious, they’ll be able to control and navigate the Virtual Car Garage. Said feature will entail control of “360-degree views of the movie’s supercharged street-racers and instantly punch up exclusive technical specs for the film’s high-tech cars.” Universal has not stated whether or not this will be the only feature enabled on the iPhone app.
Upcoming Universal Blu-ray releases will allow users to download bonus content directly to their iPhone or iPod Touch for on-the-go amusement. Other features will include access to additional info on the film, the cast and the ability to update your Twitter or Facebook account with news that you’re watching *insert upcoming Universal Blu-ray title* without having to leave the couch.
By harnessing Blu-ray technology and combining it with Apple’s highly acclaimed iPod touch and iPhone, we continue to raise the bar in delivering an array of unprecedented, user-friendly home entertainment experiences,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. “Bridging these platforms further broadens the scope of the digital landscape by paving the way for innovative new applications and interactive content enhancements that continue to uniquely engage consumers.
[via CrunchGear]
Dan Gilbert has released an iPhone version of the beloved puzzle game Triazzle. It costs $3 (through August 7, when the price increases to $4).
Triazzles are brain-teaser puzzles — in real life, they’re paper jigsaw puzzles in which each piece (and hthe entire board) is shaped like a triangle. The iPhone and iPod touch version continues that basic gameplay concept. There are 9 and 16 piece puzzle formats, three difficulty levels, special kids’ games for younger player, and more.
Triazzle makes use of iPhone capabilities — puzzle characters animate and “come to life” when they’re correctly solved, and puzzle pieces can be touched and dragged into place, or tapped to rotate. You can store puzzles in “docks” when you’re not using them and shake any puzzle to solve it.
Download on iTunes
[via MacWorld]
I was approached by AppGiveaway and was told I could participate in thier contests and to see if I would be willing to write a review. I am always skeptical about sites like these, but I have to admit this site is very well oriented and well maintained.
AppGiveAway describes themselves as the following:
AppGiveaway assists Application Developers/Publishers create a buzz around their iPhone/iPod Touch application by organizing promotional giveaways. The AppGiveaway site is updated throughout the day everyday to help keep your apps in the spotlight we promote newly launched apps as well as existing applications that are featured in the Apple store.
AppGiveaway lets developers give away promo codes and lets users register to win them. The site offers multiple giveaways per day and I don’t see a limit to how many you can enter which is a big plus. Entering a giveaway is very simple and only takes a few steps. All you need to do is register, activate your account and then entering the giveaways.
App Giveaway
App Giveaway
Overall this is a great site and a wonderful way for developers to get their applications out to the public. I was also told that they are releasing an iPhone app which should make it easier for you to enter the daily contests.
Make sure you visit them and let me know if you win any contests.
Those who were old enough during the 80s and mid 90s, the SEGA name rings a bell. For the rest of the readers, iPhone 3GS is the way to go for this classic game, Streets of Rage. It’s a port from the age of the classic 8bit and 16bit gaming consoles to the brave new world of the iPhone 3GS.
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direkt
[via DailyMobile]
Apple has adopted a new policy regarding promotional copies of iPhone applications. Instead of allotting all developers 50 free copies to distribute as they see fit, those that have a 17+ rating no longer receive any copies to give away, and this is causing a stir in the developer world.
Apple has taken away the ability for developers to give promotional codes to reviewers if their App Store offerings have a rating of 17+. This has caused quite a stir in the development world since the news broke yesterday, but not because developers are dying to give away free copies of iBoobs.
Since late 2008, Apple has given developers the ability to allocate 50 promotional codes per version of their application (these promo codes expire four weeks after the date of generation). At the time, the move came with many positive responses from developers who felt that it should have been implemented from the beginning.
17+ is defined as:
Applications in the category may also contain frequent and intense offensive language; frequent and intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence; and frequent and intense mature, horror, and suggestive themes; plus sexual content, nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17.
AppGiveAway Current Contests
