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Capcom developing social games for Android, Smurfs' Village hits 15M downloads
Capcom has made so much smurfing money off Smurfs' Village for iOS that its Smurfville simulator will also become available on September 28 for Android. The publisher announced that the app has reached 15 million downloads, making it the top-grossing title on Apple's App Store in 69 countries. Smurfs' Village is the first Capcom social game, under its Beeline brand, to make the move to Android. The publisher is "committed" to developing more social games that will be available on both the iOS and Android platform going forward. Mo' smurfin' social games, mo' money.
Smurfs Dance Party invites you to smurf that booty
When you envisioned the Smurfs movie tie-in games, you might not have pictured a dance floor beneath the diminutive blue folk. Ubisoft has received a classification for Smurfs Dance Party from the Australian Classification Review Board, giving a clear indication of the direction that at least one of the games will take. Smurfs Dance Party also appears as a Wii title on game rental service GameFly, which only lists items as they are submitted by publishers. If history is any indication, Smurfs Dance Party will be modeled after Ubisoft's mega-successful Just Dance series. It was recently announced that Just Dance spin-off Michael Jackson: The Experience reached 3 million sales globally. Ubisoft has yet to depart from the Just Dance formula with its rhythm titles, so we expect to gyrate and smurf along with the Smurfs later this year. [Note: The image above is not a real screenshot, no matter how much you want it to be.]
Apple doubles down on in-app purchasing security in iOS 4.3, password now required
As you might recall, a certain game was racking up credit card bills because of its in-app purchases -- something which probably resulted in some angry parents (or as the folks in Finland say, "birds"). In Apple's latest iOS update, a feature has been implemented that requires the user to input their password whenever an in-app purchase is made. Will this new security measure actually prevent those children from purchasing hundreds worth of virtual fruit? A big boon for grown-ups, a big downer for those who no longer have an excuse to explain their Smurfberry obsession.
Apple changes purchase policy so your kids don't max out your credit card
The Washington Post is reporting that Apple has changed its policy on in-app purchases on iOS devices to protect users from accidentally toting up huge iTunes charges. iOS 4.3 has a feature that requires a password when any purchases are made within an application after it has been downloaded. This is in response to situations where children were sometimes purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of in-app purchases within 15 minutes after an app was first downloaded. Two games in particular were responsible for numerous occurrences of big purchases by kids -- Smurfs' Village and Tap Zoo. Now that iOS 4.3 is making its way to many iOS devices, a password is not only required to purchase an app on the App Store, but the password will also be required when you make an in-app purchase. By doing this, the user is made aware of the iTunes charges being made by having to enter their password. Once you've made one in-app purchase and entered your password, you can make other recurring charges within 15 minutes without reentering the password. That makes it possible to quickly make multiple charges without having to reenter your password for every charge. The changes were added to iOS 4.3 as a response to numerous complaints from parents who were upset that their kids were buying "snowflakes" and "Smurfberries" at $99 a barrel without realizing that their parents were being charged actual money for those purchases. These complaints were beginning to surface in the Attorney General's office in a number of states, forcing Apple to look into the issue and respond. It will also help if developers take some responsibility and take the temptation to purchase expensive "virtual products" away from children. [via Techmeme]
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.
Parental supervision shocker! iPad use leads to costly in-app Smurfberry orders
After the Soviet Union collapsed, many of its so-called satellite states had to struggle to find ways to keep afloat -- none more so than Smurf Village, that bastion of communal living where everyone looks nearly identical, has the same surname, and works "according to his ability" (and in return lives "according to his needs"). How has Papa Smurf and Co. survived in the post-Soviet geopolitical climate? It seems that Capcom's Smurfs' Village game for iOS might be free, but the in-app purchases will cost you dearly. Actually, it's the in-app purchases that your pre-literate toddlers make that will cost you dearly. And this is a lesson that a lot of parents are finding out, according to a recent AP article, which notes that "warnings may alert parents, but it's doubtful that they'd deter children who can't read and don't understand money." Sure, Smurfberries may grow freely on magical trees, but a virtual wheelbarrow full of 'em will run you $60.
Allods Online Volume 2: Rise of Gorluxor explodes tomorrow
Oh Gorluxor, won't you ever learn? Why must your persist in your efforts to conquer the world with your fancy-schmancy magics? If the great wizard Gargamel had no chance against a gang of small but peppy Smurfs, then you're going to be bowled over when well-armored Allods Online players enter your sacred domain. Allods Online is set to launch its second volume tomorrow, entitled "Rise of Gorluxor." This sparkly update includes the titular raid boss, a great mage who sits in the middle of both a tower and a terrible mystery. The patch also includes a reworking of many Astral allods, the addition of new boss fights, several class changes, and an overhaul of the Arena of Death. Players who were rankled by the incense system will be pleased to hear that gPotato is giving away a free incense effect every day via a special NPC. Patch notes are available over at Allods Online, and a jazzed-up trailer for the release can be seen after the jump.
Trickster Online's Spring Poppuri Olympics flings out prizes
They all laughed at you when you told them you were playing a 2D sprite-based MMORPG with characters cuter than The Smurfs, Rainbow Brite and Pokémon all rolled into one. Now you have the chance to wave a brand-new iPod touch in their faces and crow "Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now?" as they fall to their knees and scream to the sky. Ntreev's Trickster Online continues to roll out special events and contests for its playerbase, as it just announced their Spring Poppuri Olympics, which starts March 18th and runs through April 7th. Players can net some snazzy prizes through this event, including an in-game pet, an iPod Touch 32G, an autographed 2010 World Cup soccer ball, and more. To win, players are tasked to drill for special "Poppuri Boxes" hidden across Caballa Island. If you are level 40 and find at least 200 of these boxes, you will be eligible to win the goodies. "We love to watch the fierce drilling spirit of our players during these Poppuri events," said Chris Lee, CEO of Ntreev USA. "Players will be rewarded nicely with some fabulous prizes for this exciting event and we hope to deliver more events in the future with even greater in-game and real-world prizes." Since Trickster Online is a free-to-play title, there's no reason why you shouldn't head on over to their website, and check it out to see if it's up your alley. And with the lure of a free iPod touch, there's no time like the present!
Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Smurftastic Edition
Welcome to another Smurfy week of Smurf Joystiq Nintendo! This week, a reader smurfed a question about a classic Smurf game, and I think I smurfed it appropriately, though the answer may not be as smurfy as Smurf fans may have smurfed.Do you want to smurf us a question about the Wii, DS, or anysmurf else related to Nintendo? Smurf us an email at asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!
April Fool's Alert #3: MGS4 on Xbox 360 and Blue Hobbits in LOTRO
This one is a cute April Fool's Day joke, despite Turbine announcing it on Friday, they did give it a dateline of April 1. What Turbine says is that in their upcoming Lord of the Rings Online, you'll meet the Sméorufolc, a version of hobbit who wear caps of white wool. They also have a passion for mushrooms and eating them altered their skin color to blue. Yes, they are Middle-earth Smurfs. The "press release" looks to be full of subtle anagrams and generally playful nonsense. Only a few more hours till Blizzard, a company known for their April Fool's Day jokes, steps up to the plate. What will it be?On the other end of the cute spectrum, a confirmation of Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Xbox 360. We still can't tell if this was intended as a joke, but VG Resource Center says they have confirmation of MGS4 on the Xbox 360. VGRC claims they have an email from Konami stating, "Yes, in fact, we are working on putting Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Xbox 360 and PC, which should both come out roughly 6 months after the PS3 release. However, we've been working with Microsoft so the 360 and PC versions will both take advantage of Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live, with such features as achievements and the ability for 360 and PC owners to play against each other in multiplayer. I'd love to give you some more details, but this is already pushing it. We are making the big announcement July 11th at this year's E3, so you'll just have to wait until then. Sorry!"So, the source at Konami acknowledged the game, announced another platform, said it would have Live capabilities, says the big announcement won't be till July 11, puts it all in a perfect quote and then apologizes that they can't give away any more information? Damn, you already gave away the whole cow, what are you apologizing for? We don't need anything else!
