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ESRB rates 'Asphalt 4' for DSi
Gameloft's mobile racing games Asphalt: Urban GT and Asphalt 2 were both released as retail DS cartridges back in 2004 and 2006, respectively. The fourth game in the series, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing, appears to be releasing as a downloadable game like its cell phone counterpart, thanks to the advent of DSiWare.The ESRB has added a rating for Asphalt 4 for DSi. It'll join Gameloft's lineup of DSi games including Real Football 2009, American Popstar, and Uno. Whether you like the Asphalt games or not, we doubt anyone can deny it's better to buy them from home and pay less for them.
Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles now available on iPhone & iPod Touch
In the spirit of its titular character, Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles has sneaked onto the App Store and ... well, it hasn't stabbed anyone, but we're sure the (approximately) seven-hour adventure has cut a few purse strings with its $9.99 price tag.It's at the upper end of the price range for iPhone games, and since we haven't laid our mitts on it, we can't give you any guidance as to whether or not it's worth it. If you give it a whirl, let us know what you think in the comments below.%Gallery-50072%
Assassin's Creed iPhone screens uncloaked
Although we were subjected to the "bait and switch" Gameloft pulled at GDC, IGN more recently managed to get some details about the upcoming Assassin's Creed iPhone game. The title is based on Altair's Chronicles, the Nintendo DS prequel to the main game, where the white-robed killer's guild covets "The Chalice."IGN speculates the game will cost between $6-$10, making its presumed three-hour length a little easier to digest than that of the $30 DS title. Check out some screens below to see what the game will look like on your iPhone or iPod Touch.%Gallery-50072%
Microsoft in talks with game publishers for mobile marketplace
In an attempt to become more relevant less irrelevant in the mobile space, Microsoft is looking to hook up with EA and Gameloft to create content for the upcoming Windows Marketplace. Edge reports the company is also discussing partnerships with Facebook and internet radio provider, Pandora.Microsoft has kept rather tight-lipped about its plans for gaming on Windows Mobile, but Robbie Bach, head of MS's entertainment and devices division (i.e. Xbox), is set to keynote at CTIA Wireless Conference in Vegas tomorrow. Considering it was almost impossible to get away from iPhone talk during GDC this year, it'll be interesting to see if Microsoft can capitalize on the current excitement in the mobile space for its platform.
GDC09: Gameloft's DSiWare plans include popstar, soccer simulators
Even though Nintendo has been tight-lipped about its DSiWare plans, Gameloft showed us a couple titles it has coming to the system during GDC last week.Although Gameloft wouldn't show us Assassin's Creed or its other iPhone titles, it did showcase two titles currently underway for Nintendo's new DS revision. Wannabe pop stars will have a chance to climb the social ladder in the adventure/mini-game American Popstar: Road to Celebrity, while footy fans will get to flex their sports-sim muscle in Real Soccer 2009. The ESRB also lists both titles as rated for the Nintendo DS, which either means the pair will see a retail release for non-DSi adopters or that it's an overlap measure on the ESRB's side. Either way, mobile pop stars and cellular soccer players are coming to the DS ... um, yay?
GDC09: Assassin's Creed for iPhone coming in the next few months
Assassin's Creed won't be sneaking its way onto iPhone until "end of April, early May," according to Gameloft. We were supposed to get hands-on time with the product today, but due to a development issue, the title has been delayed until the aforementioned release window. There is currently no price and no images are being shared.Gameloft also told us the mobile space was "getting old and dry," but the iPhone has re-energized the market. The company, which doesn't know the meaning of recession, has seen strong sales from The Oregon Trail, Hero of Sparta and Asphalt 4 Elite. Gameloft is also looking to work on more titles with Ubisoft ... but it'd be nice if we could see how Assassin's Creed is coming along first.
Gameloft says: Recession? What recession?
As the dwindling economy has most companies checking their coffers for cobwebs, developer-publisher Gameloft is sipping mojitos and enjoying a refreshing 15 percent uptake in its revenue over the previous year. In 2008, the company boasted revenue of 110.3 million euros, or $149.6 million, with profits likewise surging up 15 percent to $4.4 million during the fiscal year.Console releases were responsible for just 7 percent of Gameloft's results, though with the company set to deal Uno onto every platform imaginable this may soon change. For now, however, it's mobile games that are responsible for the lion's share of Gameloft's newfound wealth, making up 93 percent of the company's sales as even the unemployed refuse to give up their casual shovelware fix.
Brain Challenge title update adds Avatar support
Brain Challenge just joined the short list of Xbox Live Arcade games that support Avatars, as confirmed by Major Nelson's recent Tweet. Avatar support is installed into Brain Challenge via a new title update, automatically downloaded the next time you launch the game online. While we'll take our cameos wherever we can get 'em, Brain Challenge wasn't exactly the next destination we had in mind for our cartoon likenesses. Street Fighter II HD on the other hand ... now that's the kind of game we could really see ourselves in!%Gallery-14098%
First Look: Wild West Guns
We've been gushing over Gameloft's foray into iPhone game development for a while now, and it seems that the more good things we say about them, the better the iPhone games they make. Their latest game is no exception. Wild West Guns [iTunes link] brings gun fights and western themes right to your iPhone -- just draw your iPhone from its holster and tap to open this app. The game is composed of different levels ranging from saloons, stables, and a moving train (my favorite level). You tap on different objects (people, animals, tin cans, signs etc.) to shoot the gun; when you do, people will fall over in a realistically animated style. There are six different levels inside of 5 different difficulties (normal, hard, survivor, reload, and sniper) making for an extended life of the game. Probably the coolest thing in the game is that you aren't limited to only shooting the target at hand ... you can shoot pretty much anything in the background to earn points. My favorite scene was in a saloon where you were able to shoot the candle holders, windows, etc. to earn more points. Sometimes an enemy might grab you, and you have to shake your iPhone in order to break their grip. This makes for an interactive play experience that isn't found in most iPhone games.If you like apps that feature gunplay, then you'll no doubt find Wild West Guns entertaining and fun. If you do plan on playing this game in public, however, we suggest that you mute the volume or play with headphones. Wild West Guns is available from the iTunes App Store for $4.99US. %Gallery-46285%
Oregon Trail fords over to the iPhone
The Oregon Trail is hitting the road from standard mobile to a more evolved form on iPhone and iPod Touch. Gameloft is set to make the title -- in which players take their band of settlers from Independence, MI to Willamette Mall Valley in Oregon -- available on the App Store, either February 28 or March 1. Gameloft has yet to announce an official price for the game.This next-gen mobile Trail has eight "skill-based" minigames, with some using the accelerometer. Of course, the title will also include the standard laundry list of random events and diseases to keep players on their toes. 'Cause, you know, it's just not The Oregon Trail unless some poor child dies of dysentery.%Gallery-45232%
Gameloft surpasses 200 million game downloads
Gameloft, the mobile game developer and publisher, has reportedly hit 200 million downloads of its games. The company tells PocketGamer that its success comes from recognizing the consumer is "uncompromising" and giving them the "best games for the mobile phone" at the lowest price. The company currently has 300 titles across various mobile platforms and all current-gen consoles.The company is currently in the process of nuking every console, handheld and phone imaginable with Uno. The company also has a serious crush on the DSi. We'd be concerned about the amount of shovelware Gameloft is capable of producing, but we're still too distracted by its release of The Oregon Trail to care.
DS Daily: Uno or U-nooooo?
Gameloft has acquired the rights to the Uno card game for, well, pretty much everything, but most importantly DSiWare. Chances are, the DS version will be similar to the iPhone release, which is apparently pretty good, but lacks the theme decks and online infrastructure (i.e. Xbox Live friends lists and such) of the Xbox 360 game.Uno decks themselves are a classic, and the Xbox version has done very well, but will the success transfer to other platforms? Will people be as interested in playing online on the DSi as they are on Xbox Live, or does the online service make the game? Could it be a killer app for DSiWare?
Gameloft adds Uno to DSiWare
Gameloft has revealed the first part of their DSiWare strategy -- along with a new move in their mobile, PSP, PS3, and WiiWare strategies. Through a partnership with Mattel, they'll release a version of the card game Uno on all those platforms we just said. Is this the first official announcement of any specific DSiWare game for release outside Japan? We think so!Gameloft's president, Michel Guillemot said that "This agreement is the first step towards a long and successful relationship between Mattel, one of the world's premier toy companies and Gameloft, the global leader in video game development," which means we can expect more Mattel properties to be released on pretty much every platform. Uno is a big deal on the Xbox 360, becoming so successful that other companies release theme packs for the XBLA game. Will DSi players care as well?
Gameloft and Mattel team up to bring Uno to WiiWare
Why not, right? That's what Gameloft is saying, as they're set to bring the popular Mattel card game to WiiWare. Sadly, we've got no date to go on as of right now, but it can't take too long to pump this out now, can it? Also, the press release mentions that this is merely the first collaboration between Mattel and Gameloft, so there's a chance we could see other Mattel licenses make their way to Wii. A WiiWare version of KerPlunk? That's what we're talking about![Via Joystiq]
PS3 and PSP versions of UNO coming to PlayStation Network
The popular card game UNO is getting PS3 and PSP adaptations, courtesy of GameLoft. The two versions will be available on the PlayStation Store. Both versions will be available some time this year. Michel Guillemot, president of Gameloft, said: "UNO is one of the most recognized card games in the world and we are excited to extend it beyond mobile and onto a whole host of console executions."[Thanks, David B.!]
Gameloft shouts 'Uno,' coming to WiiWare, DSi Ware, PSN, microwaves, toasters ...
UNO isn't just a mega-successful game for XBLA anymore, as Gameloft plans to publish the digital incarnation of the card game for any mobile, console and handheld device it can. The publisher announced that beyond the iPhone and iPod versions available now, it expects to bring the game to mobile, PS3, PSP, WiiWare and DSi Ware.Furthermore, Gameloft's president states this is a "first step" toward a "successful relationship" between the publisher and Mattel. We'll take that to mean we can expect more Mattel-owned games to be published by Gameloft in the future. You know, unless Gameloft goes for third base on the second date. We hear Mattel's a prude like that.
Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes impresses as an iPhone shooter
Here we go -- Doom on the jailbreak aside, the iPhone hasn't really had a nice example of shooter gameplay, though Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes (iTunes link) seems like it might be the breakout. It's made by Gameloft, who've been making mobile games for a while now, but the good news is that it doesn't look like a mobile game at all. The graphics are 3D and vibrant, and the sounds are very impressive. The control scheme is interesting -- it's more of a third person shooter, as you use the lower left wheel to move your character, and you can use the touchscreen to move the aiming reticule (seems like there's a little autoaim help in there as well). There are even cutscenes, multiple weapons to choose from, vehicles to drive, and a cover system (though there kind of has to be, with aiming that slow in places).Still, very impressive for an iPhone game, and a very good bar-setter for the first major shooter we've seen on the platform. As you might expect, this isn't going to be cheap -- it's $9.99 in the App Store, and while this would be the perfect title for a demo (how else do you expect to sell a $10 app?), there's not one to be found at all. Still, if there's going to be such a thing as a premium game on the iPhone, this is probably it. For all of the colorful little puzzle and wordplay games on the iPhone, sometimes you just want to shoot some Nazis.
Gameloft planning DSiWare and hybrid DS/DSi games
When WiiWare launched in May, mobile publisher Gameloft was one of the first companies to support the service with the quiz game TV Show King. They've since followed with a few other games. According to a GameDaily interview with Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of publishing, Gameloft is planning to do the same thing with the upcoming DSiWare service for the Nintendo DSi. In discussing these plans, he shed a little light on the DSi-specific software situation, about which we have previously heard nothing.One of Gameloft's angles of attack: retail DS cartridges that work in both the DS and the DSi, "with the DSi version taking advantage of additional options like the cameras and advanced sound capabilities." We weren't sure that was possible, or allowed by Nintendo.The retail carts are secondary for the company, however, as de Vallois says that Gameloft plans to be "much more aggressive with the DSi Store than at retail." Aggressive about releasing Tokyo City Nights and Midnight Pool?%Gallery-36348%
VC Friday: Resistance is futile
EX-TERM-IN-ATE! EX-TERM-IN-ATE! Wait, no, those are the other ones. But whatever. The point is: after hearing nothing about Space Invaders Get Even! for months, the game has randomly appeared on the European and Australian Wii Shops. We are unashamedly jigging with joy as we type this. And the extra-terrestial goodness doesn't stop there, for Alien Crush Returns has also joined the line-up. Needless to say, we wholeheartedly welcome our new rulers (of all our spare time). The other game is Brain Challenge. Sorry, Brain Challenge. Alien Crush Returns -- WiiWare -- 800 Nintendo Points Brain Challenge -- WiiWare -- 1000 Nintendo Points Space Invaders Get Even! -- WiiWare -- 500 Nintendo Points %Gallery-25384%
VC Tuesday: Party time! Excellent!
How can the Wii have been in stores for two years without a Tetris game? At least Hudson is compensating for the lack of the staple video game with one that is both awesome-looking and cheap. It's being joined on WiiWare by a cheapo darts game and Brain Challenge -- which was actually pretty good on the DS. On the Virtual Console, a super old sidescroller from Sunsoft that looks like a slowed-down, more awkward Legend of Kage, and a totally cute Taito classic!Virtual Console releases: Kanshakudama Nage Kantarou no Toukaidou Gojuusan Tsugi (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) The New Zealand Story (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) WiiWare releases: Darts Wii (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Brain Challenge (1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Tetris Party (1-6 players, 1,200 Wii Points) %Gallery-18122%
