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Valve is trying to end account smurfing in 'Dota 2'
Valve is changing the way Dota 2 is played, at least on a meta level. Beginning May 4th, players will be required to register a unique phone number to their accounts in order to queue up for ranked matches. That's one account per phone number, ostensibly placing a hard limit on the number of ranked accounts that any one player can have. Before you get any fresh ideas, Valve says online services that provide virtual phone numbers won't work in this new system. Nice try.
WayForward smurfing the Smurfs 2 game for Ubismurf
Yes, there's another CG and live-action Smurfs movie coming out this July, and Ubisoft is publishing the official game adaptation.However, instead of the truly off-putting dance game released for the first movie, Ubisoft has smurfed WayForward into making a 2.5D, co-op platformer for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Wii U, and an "interactive storytelling book and collection of mini-games" for DS. All versions will march into stores this July.Each playable Smurf has unique special abilities: Papa Smurf can throw potions, Grouchy can stomp, and Vanity can ... pose to become a platform. We don't expect too much from a licensed Smurfs game, but WayForward has a particular talent for licensed games, with Aliens: Infestation and Adventure Time as recent examples.%Gallery-185246%%Gallery-185247%
Federal Trade Commission is reviewing Apple's in-app purchase system
The FTC is reviewing Apple's in-app purchasing policy after reports of inadvertent purchases by children have continued to surface. FTC Chairperson Jon Leibowitz agreed to look closely at the matter after Representative Ed Markey of Massachusetts brought the matter to his attention. Leibowitz will most likely focus on Apple's 15-minute window, a single instance sign-in that lets iOS users log in once and make additional purchases and downloads for the next 15 minutes. It is during this 15-minute window that children left unattended with a device are able to rack up huge charges. The latest such incident involving exorbitant charges by children involves the Smurf's Village app. In this incident, the child reportedly purchased berries and other items totaling a whopping US$1400. Earlier reports singled out Fishies by Playmesh, a virtual aquarium game for children. Fishies offers pearls for your tank which can cost as much as $149. Children hooked on the game and playing unattended have charged hundreds of dollars to their parents' iTunes account. Apple has combated this problem by pointing out that parents can block all in-app purchases using iOS 4's parental controls. The ability to turn off in-app purchases places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the parents who should lock their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch before handing it over to their children. Though these parental controls may be enough to thwart any action from the FTC, Apple may also decide to limit this 15-minute window and require a password for each in-app purchase. To disable in-app purchasing on your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Restrictions and enter a passcode when asked. Then, tap on "Enable Restrictions" and scroll down to "In-App Purchases" and flick the toggle to "OFF."
Capcom denies rift with Apple over Smurfs' Village in-app purchases
Did Apple take Capcom to task over the in-app purchase fiasco in the company's Smurfs' Village game for iOS? That was the rumor going around earlier today, after Pocket Gamer reported that it had heard from a "well placed source" who said that Apple had some "strong words" for the game maker. Capcom has now come out and denied any such rift, however, saying in a statement that "we are in frequent communication with Apple, and at no point have they expressed any displeasure to any representatives of Capcom Mobile in regards to our handling of in-app purchases within Smurfs' Village." Interestingly, Pocket Gamer's original report also claimed that Apple was considering a change to its current 15 minute password window to reduce inadvertent in-app purchases, and Capcom says that it would welcome such a move -- although it's not aware of any impending change.
Well, that's just Smurfy! Apple reportedly talks to Capcom about Smurfs' Village
We reported last week on how a kid playing with the Smurfs' Village iOS app racked up hundreds of dollars in charges, prompting a variety of responses regarding how Apple and parents should treat such apps. Now PocketGamer.biz is reporting that Apple has taken game publisher Capcom to task for making it so easy for kids to go on a Smurfberry-buying binge. The site also adds that Apple is looking into reducing the current 15-minute gap between purchases down to 5 minutes -- still plenty of time to do some serious damage, as a few commenters on our last post noted. Capcom has written on the app's description that the ability to make these sorts of purchases quickly is a function of the iOS software and is not within its control. When you download and launch the app, there is a pop-up that warns about this concern. It flashes off within a few seconds, though, to prompt you to turn on push notification for the app, but the alert does return. The screen featuring Smurfberries also warns that they will cost real money. We won't know what Apple's true stance will be regarding this until we see an official statement and/or iOS update, but as always, we urge parents to be as cautious as possible with these sorts of apps. [via AppleInsider]
Smurf it all to smurf! In-app purchases ring up $1,400 in charges
It's not exactly a new thing, but the Washington Post reported on the latest episode of a child spending hundreds -- actually $1,400 -- on in-app purchases. In this case, the 8-year-old was buying Smurfberries to decorate the Smurfs' Village app. You can spend up to $99.99 for a single in-app purchase of the berries. Apple provided the family a refund after the mother received the bill. The article points out that these sorts of purchases are being blamed on Apple since there is a 15-minute window (after authorizing a previous App Store buy) where a password is not needed to make another purchase. Yes, Apple should add the option to require a password no matter how much time has passed or have parental controls be the default setting on an app, but a child could still potentially figure out a password and toggle the option off. In the end, it is up to the parents to make sure that the child's access to in-app purchases on any device is restricted. Do not give your password to your child, or link your App Store account to a credit card with a very small credit line that cuts off when it reaches its limit. Apple is not the only company out there to have in-app or in-line purchases. You can get Facebook credits for its games just as easily -- however, since Facebook's terms of service forbid young children from using the social network, presumably the Farmville players have a bit more adult judgement to help them avoid unexpected costs. [via Switched]
Video: Miniature, operational electric drill perfect for smurfing smurfs
The gang over at Make have dug up a pretty sweet electric drill that's looks to be about the right size for the Smurf in your life. Powered by a button cell battery, the inventor (a shadowy figure known only as s8) has plans to make these commercially available -- as soon as he figures out how to configure his website. Not too many details on how this was put together, but you can see several prototypes above. Video after the break.[Via Book of Joe]
