News
3 CommentsAngry Birds dev launches Rovio Stars, third-party publishing label
By Samit Sarkar on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Angry Birds maker Rovio Entertainment will soon begin publishing third-party mobile games under its new Rovio Stars initiative, the Finnish company announced today.
"Rovio Entertainment has positioned itself as one of the powerhouses of mobile entertainment, so moving into publishing is a logical step for us at this point," said Jami Laes, the company's new executive vice president of games, in a press release announcing Rovio Stars.
The first game the studio will publish under its Rovio Stars label is Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage. Developed by London-based Nitrome, which is known primarily for web-based Flash games, Icebreaker is a physics-based puzzle title in which you help a Viking apprentice survive obstacle courses by doing things like slicing massive blocks of ice. It is set for...
Mobile Watch List
3 CommentsMobile Watch List - Impossible Road, Sid Meier's Ace Patrol and Daddy Was a Thief
By Russ Frushtick on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Impossible Road (iOS)
In the tradition of impossibly difficult games like Super Hexagon comes Impossible Road. A groovy, minimalist art style, mixed with deviously difficult ball-rolling makes this well worth your time.
Sid Meier's Ace Patrol (iOS)
The makers of the Civilization series bring us a surprisingly deep turn-based strategy game on iOS this week. Rather than battling throughout history in Ace Patrol, you're really just dealing with World War I-era biplane combat, but there are plenty of tactics to master and missions to unlock. It's also free-to-play, which cuts down on your level of risk!
Daddy Was a Thief (iOS / Android)
Yes, it seems that even your daddy was a thief. I'm sorry to mention this to you now. Seems like an awkward time, and all, while you're in the midst of...
News
1 CommentQuell Memento launching May 23 on iOS for $2.99
By Samit Sarkar on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Quell Memento, the "zen" puzzle title from Fallen Tree Games, will be released May 23 on iOS for $2.99 in the U.S. and €2.69 in Europe, the studio announced today.
The iOS version, which BulkyPix is publishing, will be a universal app on iPhone and iPad.
In Quell Memento, players solve block-based puzzles to make their way through a story in which they're helping the narrator, an elderly man, remember his life. It is Fallen Tree's follow-up to its iOS titles Quell (2010) and Quell Reflect (2011). Quell Memento is also set for release this month on Android and PlayStation Vita.
You can check out four screenshots and a trailer for Quell Memento here.
News
43 CommentsNvidia Shield shipping in June to retailers for $349
By Griffin McElroy on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Shield, the now official name of Nvidia's Android-powered portable Project Shield, will arrive at multiple online and offline retailers for an MSRP of $349, according to a post on the company's official blog.
The units will begin shipping to stores in June, and interested parties can secure their purchase ahead of time once pre-orders for the Shield open up May 20. Anyone who signed up for the Project Shield newsletter on Nvidia's site can start pre-ordering today. Stores that will carry the Shield include GameStop, Newegg, Micro Center and Canada Computers.
The handheld will come bundled with two titles, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 and Expendable: Rearmed. Other titles on the Google Play store will be compatible with the device, and Nvidia announced new partnerships today to...
News
2 CommentsJacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery coming to PS Vita today, iOS Thursday
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
Liverpool-based Lucid Games will launch its episodic adventure puzzler Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery this week for PlayStation Vita and iOS, the company announced on Twitter.
The Vita version will be available today after the PlayStation Store updates and the iOS version will hit this Thursday, according to tweets from the dedicated accounts for the developer and the game. The Vita game will cost $2.99.
Looks like the cat is out of the bag then, Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is out this week, iOS release is on Thursday #jacobjones
— Lucid (@LucidGamesLtd) May 13, 2013
Looks like there will be a Bigfoot sighting this week on iOS and VITA!
— Jacob and Biggie (@JacobandBiggie) May 13, 2013
Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery follows young boy Jacob and...
News
0 CommentsBlastPoints goes free-to-play on Android devices
By Emily Gera on May 14, 2013 05.14.13
The second major update for Space combat game BlastPoints brings with it a number of new features, in addition to access on Android devices and the ability to play at no cost.
Updated features for the game include 15 new special abilities, a new objective system, four new planetary maps and four new game modes. The title was previously only available for iOS devices.
BlastPoints is developed by Melbourne-based indie studio Pub Games. The title is powered by Unreal Engine 3 and allows the player to customize and control a fighter ship as it dogfights across space.
News
0 CommentsSaban Brands appoints video game veteran Jack Sorensen as The Playforge president
By Jenna Pitcher on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Jack Sorensen, a 20-year veteran of the video game industry and former executive vice president of all studios worldwide at THQ, has been appointed president of Saban Brands' mobile social games division, The Playforge, the company announced.
At THQ, Sorensen oversaw numerous franchises including Saints Row, WWE Smackdown and Company of Heroes. Prior to his seven years at THQ, Sorensen served as president of LucasArts from 1991 to 2000, where he managed brands such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
"I am honored to have been provided with the opportunity to further grow such a talented studio's leadership position in the digital space," Sorensen said in a statement announcing his hiring. "Saban Brands has undertaken ambitious initiatives to expand its digital footprint in the last year...
News
0 CommentsTwitch to feature free-to-play games from Kabam
By Samit Sarkar on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Free-to-play gaming publisher Kabam will bring its catalog to streaming site Twitch on the web and mobile devices, Kabam announced today.
Starting this month, Twitch users will be able to play Kabam's own games, as well as third-party titles the company publishes. The Twitch website will feature a new "Play Games" section for web-based Kabam games, and the publisher's mobile titles will appear in Twitch's iOS and Android apps.
"Partnering with Twitch is an excellent way for Kabam to get our own popular games, as well as games Kabam publishes for our third-party developer partners, in front of a growing audience," said Chris Carvalho, Kabam's chief operating officer, in a press release announcing the companies' collaboration.
Kabam's top titles include The Hobbit: Armies of the Third...
Video
0 CommentsDouble Fine dev creates time-lapse video chronicling the development of Dropchord
By John Funk on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
A new video from a Double Fine employee covers the creation of rhythm/puzzle game Dropchord from start to finish.
"Throughout the production of Dropchord," says Double Fine senior gameplay programmer Patrick Hackett, "I regularly captured short videos showing new features or interesting developments. I sped these up and cut them together with one of the tracks from the game."
The resulting video shows the evolution of the game's score screen, how its look changed, and its show floor debut at PAX East in March.
Dropchord hits iOS, Windows and Mac this July.
News
9 CommentsAmazon launches Coins, virtual currency for Kindle Fire and Appstore purchases
By Samit Sarkar on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Amazon launched its new virtual currency, Amazon Coins, today, giving Kindle Fire users a new way to purchase content in the device's Amazon Appstore and within Kindle Fire apps.
The company said in February that it would debut Amazon Coins this month. Coins correlate directly with pennies — $1 equates to 100 Coins — and to mark the currency's launch, Amazon has given every Kindle Fire owner in the U.S. a free 500 Coins, $5 worth. Kindle Fire owners can buy Coins on Amazon, with discounts of up to 10 percent for bulk purchases.
"We will continue to add more ways to earn and spend Coins on a wider range of content and activities — today is Day One for Coins," said Mike George, Amazon's vice president of apps and games.
Amazon Coins don't change anything for people making Kindle...
News
2 CommentsGungHo's mobile title Puzzle and Dragons earned $199M in April alone
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Japanese game corporation Gungho Online Entertainment reported sales of Puzzle and Dragons were $113 million in April, according to the company's recent financial report as translated by Japanese consultant Dr. Serkan Toto.
On his website, Toto wrote that based of sales of the social puzzle/role-playing game hybrid in April, which currently boasts 13 million users in Japan, amounted to around $3.76 million per day.
Sales for the fiscal quarter ending on March 31, 2013 showed an 800 percent increase to 30.9 billion yen ($303 million), with a reported net profit of 18.6 billion ($183 million). Overall sales for the month of April were 12 billion yen ($199 million).
The company's overall sales for April show a year-on-year increase of 1,142.8 percent, according to Toto. GungHo's market...
News
2 CommentsFrozen Synapse dev on going multiplatform while staying indie
By Samit Sarkar on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Frozen Synapse developer Mode 7 Games exists in a challenging indie development climate, and the studio is responding by attempting to make bigger games and go multiplatform, said co-founder Paul Taylor in an interview with GamesIndustry International.
Oxford, U.K.-based Mode 7 launched Frozen Synapse, a squad-based strategy title, in May 2011 to a warm reception. At the time, the company was just trying to get noticed, and although the game brought Mode 7 a community of dedicated fans, Taylor said the indie competition has gotten significantly tougher since then. Countless studios of all sizes are now trying to revive so-called classic PC gameplay, including through Kickstarter, and controversial personalities in the indie scene grab headlines over developers doing relatively...
Culture
6 CommentsGet lost with Google Maps-based game GeoGuessr
By Jenna Pitcher on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Developed by Anton Wallén, GeoGuessr is a Google Maps-based game that sets the player in a random locale in the world and, by navigating with Google Street View, the player must work out where they are.
The player guesses their location by posting a pin on the map and greater accuracy awards higher points. Each game consists of five rounds of getting lost and deducing the global position. Players are given the option to share their final score on social media at the conclusion of each game.
According to the GeoGuessr Twitter account, new features currently in development include competitive play with the same locations and a "return to start button." The last update introduced better randomization, "less Australia," increased points for close guesses and general bug fixes.
Using a...
News
15 CommentsGoogle Play Games allegedly leaks, features multiplayer, cloud saves and achievements
By Jenna Pitcher on May 13, 2013 05.13.13
Upcoming Google Play Services v3.1.36 update will include a new platform called Google Play Games, introducing new features such as cloud saves, multiplayer and achievements, according to Android Police who obtained the leaked file ahead of the official roll out.
According to the website, Google Play Games will also allow matchmaking, in-game chat, leaderboards, invitations, icon badges and lobbies.
Through the Play Games Settings, players will be able to control game notifications and manage who can send notifications. Leaderboards can be displayed by time, week, daily, all time, player centered and filter by people in G+ circles. And synced game saves will be a function alongside the already established Gmail and Calendar syncing options. Additional details on Google Play Games are...
News
1 CommentGree reportedly lays off 30 staff in San Francisco
By Jenna Pitcher on May 12, 2013 05.12.13
Gree, the Japanese social networking service and game publisher, reportedly laid off "around" 30 staff from its San Francisco office last week, anonymous sources recently told GamesIndustry International.
"We have recently aligned Gree's US studio to focus on creating the next generation of mobile social games," Anil Dharni, COO of Gree International Inc. said in a statement issued to press. "This shift in focus has been clearly demonstrated by the success and growth of our games.
"As part of ensuring that we are operating as efficiently as possible, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our work force. The employees leaving today have made great contributions to our success and we wish them all the best."
The Gree San Francisco office is home to more than 400 employees and...
News
14 CommentsMagic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 breaks down the game's complications
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 12, 2013 05.12.13
There are thousands of playing cards to date and dozens of rules players must abide to, making it an intimidating hobby to take up. But those looking cut their teeth with this summer's core set need not start from scratch. Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 is the best way for new players to jump into the series, according to brand manager Adam Dixon.
As the fourth entry in the Duels of the Planeswalkers series, Magic 2014 helps players bridge the gap between the video game adaptation and the physical card game. The video game follows the same rules as its card counterpart, but with the benefit of virtual trial and error. During a demo with Polygon, Dixon said that new players will be able to easily make the jump.
"We've created a lot of connections between [Magic...
News
9 CommentsAt death's door: the dreams and decline of Ambient Studios
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 11, 2013 05.11.13
Even the studios' origins were plagued by instability. Its first in-development project was unceremoniously canceled by its publisher before it even saw the light of day, leaving the team of 11 at Ambient Studios with no work. And subsequently, no money.
"It was a game for the Vita," former Ambient Studios technical director Jonny Hopper told Polygon. "Unfortunately I can't say much about it. It went unannounced.
"That left us with a team and nothing to do, it was all such short notice, really. So we thought, okay that's not cool."
The team held a brainstorming session for the studio's next game. It had to be something they could produce quickly, something good but also a game they could publish fairly soon in order to bring money to the studio. From that brainstorming session came...
News
27 CommentsFez and Minecraft assets swiped by iOS game Ace Block Jump
By Michael McWhertor on May 10, 2013 05.10.13
Developer Polytron found its Fez art assets appropriated — alongside art from Mojang's Minecraft — in the recently published iOS game Ace Block Jump, a $0.99 app from a developer that also appears to have borrowed its very name, Infocom Games, from someone else.
Ace Block Jump is described as a "pixel based shooter game" in which players seemingly shoot Minecraft-like versions of Street Fighter's Blanka, the Power Rangers and Robin from DC Comics. "The first action game, in which we mixed PIXEL and MINECRAFT style ( PIXELCRAFT )," Infocom Games writes on iTunes. "The most exciting and amusing game ever, specially in this new style."
Infocom Games' previous iOS titles include Block Craft: Iron Ops and Ace Combat: Block Sniper, games done in the Minecraft visual style that borrow...
News
2 CommentsAscend: New Gods renamed Ascend: Hand of Kul to focus on story
By Dave Tach on May 10, 2013 05.10.13
Ascend: New Gods has been rebranded Ascend: Hand of Kul to focus more on the upcoming role-playing game's story, according to a post on the game's official website.
"Although the news came as a sudden shock to us, we agreed with their decision," reads a post on the developer's website, written as if the "New Gods" had demanded the change. "Left without a governing body, we decided on our own that it would be more appropriate to give the title a more story-centric name. How? Well, you're just going to have to play the game to find out. ;)"
The new "story-centric name" for Signal Studios' action RPC comes as the developers are taking registration for the upcoming beta. Ascend: Hand of Kul, is in development for Xbox 360, Windows Phone and Windows PC. For more on the game, you can check...
Warhammer Quest guides tiny titans through turn-based top-down tablet tactics
By John Funk on May 10, 2013 05.10.13
Mobile game developer Rodeo Games has released a video showing dungeon crawling in its official turn-based Warhammer Quest.
In the video, a quartet of Warhammer heroes — the Dwarf Ironbreaker, the Maurader, the Gray Wizard and the Wood Elf Waywatcher — venture through tiny, winding tunnels and fight goblins while a pair of Rodeo developers explain the action. As with most mobile games, Warhammer Quest is completely touch-controlled, with taps moving your warriors and commanding them to act in turn.
The developers also answer fans' questions while walking viewers through the gameplay. At least three more Warhammer heroes have been announced as day-one DLC: the High Elf Archmage, the Dwarf Trollslayer and the Warrior-Priest. There will be randomly-generated dungeons as in the...
News
19 CommentsSega reports 18.7 percent drop in sales, plans to focus more on digital
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 10, 2013 05.10.13
Sega reported total sales of 321 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, an 18.7 percent drop over sales of 395 billion yen last year, according the company's recent financial report.
The company reported a 53.3 percent increase in net income to 33.4 billion yen, which the company attributed to changes in employee pension funds, the liquidation of some U.S. subsidiaries and sales on investment securities. However, operating income dipped 67.3 percent since last year to 19 billion yen.
Net sales in the company's consumer business section, which includes Sega's video game division, were 84.740 billion yen, a two percent decrease from last fiscal year. Operating income loss was 732 million yen, far below the 15.2 billion yen loss the company reported last fiscal year....
Video
3 CommentsInjustice DLC trailer shows Batgirl in action with outfits from legendary tale 'The Killing Joke'
By John Funk on May 09, 2013 05.09.13
NetherRealm has released footage of Batgirl facing off against the Joker in DC Universe fighter Injustice: Gods Among Us.
The second downloadable fighter to be announced following Injustice's launch, Batgirl's release comes with extra costumes for the game's characters based on Alan Moore's famous graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke. In the acclaimed tale, the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon (that is, Batgirl) in order to torment her father Commissioner Gordon into madness. In the Injustice fight here, Batgirl gets some revenge.
Batgirl was the second of four DLC fighters to be announced following the game's release in April. The first was "Main Man" Lobo, who was added to the game on May 7.
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