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Real Racing 3 finally gives players a taste of live competition on iOS
Real Racing 3's time-shift multiplayer mode was a great addition to the game, but the latest update for iOS makes playing with friends even better. Now, aside from being able to face the car ghosts of your friends' pasts to beat their records, four players can hit the virtual tracks for some real-time racing. As a nice plus, both the refreshed Android and the iOS apps now include playable digital counterparts of the McLaren P1 plug-in hybrid and the next-gen Lamborghini Veneno, though they cost a pretty (in-game) penny. If you're hankering to digitally drive certain BMW and Ford models, it may be best to look elsewhere -- otherwise, head over to iTunes where the game remains free to download and play.
Samsung's Galaxy GamePad brings precision Android controls to Europe first
Well, that took awhile. Remember the first-party gamepad Samsung trotted out at the Galaxy S4 unveiling? It's finally ready for release -- in Europe. The months of extra development don't seem wasted, at least: The revised pad sports a new facade that thankfully discards the odd Xbox 360/Wii hybrid look that the prototype flaunted, and there's a rechargeable battery pack too. What's more, the outfit says that the controller can handle devices from 4-inches to 6.3-inches running Jellybean and up. The controller's "play" button will also launch the company's new Mobile Console app on certain Samsung devices; a sort of virtual game shelf, if you will. At launch, that button promises to foster a list of some 35 compatible titles, with Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame leading the pack. We've reached out to Samsung for pricing and North American availability and will update this post if we hear back.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hits Android and iOS with long-lost Palace Zone stage
If you're looking to party like it's 1993, you can now do it on your Android or iOS hand-held device, thanks to a new Sonic the Hedgehog 2 reissue from Sega. On top of the 11 levels and seven special zones from the classic game, the portable version includes the Palace Zone, a rarely seen beta stage that was cut from the original game. There's also a widescreen mode for easier portable gameplay, a "boss attack mode" and the ability to play as Knuckles along with Sonic and Tails. It's now on Google Play at $2.99 (like the original version) and should hit iOS later today. So, if you'd like to revisit your childhood, but at 60 fps this time, hit the source.
Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is betting on iOS, Android to win mobile gaming battle against Nintendo
Nintendo is in a strange place right now. With its home console sales waning, the company has been leaning on the success of the 3DS handheld in order to keep it in the black. But as iOS and Android devices gain power and prominence, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is betting on the big N to lose the war. Speaking with the BBC, the 70-year-old Bushnell explains that dedicated handheld gaming systems just don't seem to make much sense any longer. "I don't think handheld game-only devices make sense anymore, not when you have an iPod or an Android microtablet. When it comes to the console market, I think the market is truncating," he explains. Of course, this is also the same man who went (jokingly) digging in the desert for discarded copies of the abysmal Atari 2600 version of E.T, so maybe we should take his opinion with a small grain of salt. I've written at length about the risk mobile platforms like iOS pose to gaming as a whole, and while I don't believe console or PC gamers have much to worry about, it's fairly clear at this point that portable systems like the 3DS are going to have to step up their game in order to remain relevant. Still, the battle isn't an easy win for iOS either, and the lack of physical control input is a definite hurdle that will need to be overcome before a victor can truly be declared.
DICE+ digital gaming cubes now shipping
After a year's wait, DICE+ is finally shipping its Bluetooth game die. The chance cube is available for $40 in the US, and €40 ($53) in many other parts of the world. While the selection of compatible Android and iPad games is limited to a handful of party and strategy titles, the developer kit should lead to more releases in the future. If you're eager to modernize your board game experience, you can buy the digital dice from DICE+ itself through the source link.
Facebook releases cross-platform SDK for Unity titles, looks to boost 3D and mobile gaming
If the folks from Facebook and Unity have their way, you -- and everyone you know -- will be playing mobile 3D titles directly on the social network. The two companies have been working together since March to boost user engagement with games on Facebook, and a cross-platform SDK released today should go a long way toward reaching a broader audience. Available for download via Unity's developer site, the new kit lets devs port their mobile games to Facebook.com and integrate social experiences -- such as posting achievements to your Timeline -- into core titles, regardless of whether gamers are on Android, iOS or the web. And the companies are making this process quite easy for devs; bringing titles to several platforms only requires a line of code. A handful of games, including Cmune's UberStirke, Madfinger's Shadowgun: Deadzone and Nival's King's Bounty: Legions, have already incorporated the new SDK, and Unity is no doubt hoping that other devs will follow suit. This isn't the first time the gaming engine has extended a helping hand to developers -- it's been known to drop licensing fees, for instance. Here's hoping this means a wider selection of Facebook titles is just around the corner.
Google Play bests Nintendo and Sony handheld devices in mobile gamer purchases, gets cozy in second place
All of the attention on Android-powered mobile gaming has paid off: Google Play is now in second place behind iOS when it comes to mobile gamer spending. A report from IDC and App Annie that tallies up Q2 2013 purchases indicates that Google's app repository has surpassed gaming-specific devices like Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's PlayStation Vita for the first time. The numbers also show that funds spent in both iOS App Store and Google Play combined account for around four times that of dedicated devices. It's worth noting that there are a few more smartphones and tablets in the hands of consumers than the aforementioned handhelds, but content for the latter usually carries a higher price tag. Of course, integration with the next-gen PS4 and a price cut is on the horizon for the Vita, so that functionality could help boost Sony's numbers next time around.
Facebook announces Mobile Games Publishing pilot program
Facebook has reportedly been toying around with the idea of launching a distribution platform for mobile games, boosting advertising revenue by also taking a cut of sales. As of today, the initiative is official: a new Mobile Games Publishing page is now live on Facebook's developers site. The pilot program is designed for small and medium-sized gaming developers -- after signing up, Facebook will help developers target consumers who might be interested in playing. Additionally, the site will provide feedback through analytics tools, enabling developers to refine their approach in response to customer interest. The program isn't open to everyone just yet, but if you're a small to mid-sized dev that Facebook identifies as "high-potential," you might just have a shot at joining up. Fill in your deets at the source link below.
Verizon to preload PlayPhone-backed Games Portal on Android devices
Carriers often want to provide unique device software as a lure for their services -- like it or not -- and gaming is undeniably one of the more attractive hooks. It makes sense, then, that Verizon now says it will use PlayPhone's SDK as the framework for a new hub, Games Portal, on its Android devices. The effort will give any optimized titles direct carrier billing and a social component, as well as theoretically better exposure than what they'd get on a very crowded Google Play. Verizon will preload the portal on new devices from this spring onwards, in addition to updating some existing hardware. The code should be comparatively simple to implement, but we'd add that there's no guarantee of success: Verizon's last experiment with reviving the carrier-controlled app gateway didn't quite pan out.
Real Racing 3 to be free-to-play, takes its place in EA's higher gaming pantheon
The Real Racing series has been a staple of mobile gaming, at least in some circles. However, EA now sees the game as big enough to matter for the entire brand, full stop -- and it's willing to make Real Racing 3 a free-to-play release to snag as wide an audience as possible. When the Firemonkeys-built sequel reaches Android and iOS on February 28th, it will follow the stereotypical freemium model, where any purchases are solely to unlock content sooner, including repairs now that there's a damage element. The team suggests that free-only play won't be a grind, however, and a rare I-go-you-go multiplayer racing mode should keep many of us entertained without a cash outlay. It's doubtful that RR3 will suddenly take on the stature of a perennial blockbuster like Madden, but the switch in business models shows EA treating mobile as more than just a sideshow.
Gameloft cuts many game prices to 99 cents, wants screen time on your gift phone
More than a few of us are getting phones and tablets as gifts this year, and Gameloft wants to be there the moment we're hunting for new apps to feed our devices. Accordingly, the developer has slashed the price on many of its recent games to 99 cents during the holidays, even including better-known titles like Asphalt 7 and Dark Knight Rises. Not surprisingly, the discounting doesn't include Modern Combat 4 and a few other releases -- there have to be profit-makers left somewhere, after all -- but it's a huge break for those who want a few starter titles and aren't concerned about always having the latest and greatest. Both Android and iOS gamers can splurge at the source links.
Microsoft may turn to mobile gaming for crowdsourced mapping data
Keeping map data relevant's a full-time job -- just ask Nokia, Google and, yes, even Apple. Which is why Microsoft may be gearing up to offload some of that heavy lifting to users in the augmented reality guise of mobile gaming. Or at least that's one possible future outlined by a recently surfaced patent application. The USPTO doc, filed back in June of 2011, clearly lays out a crowdsourced "data collection system" whereby users sent on virtual missions to specific real-world targets would aid in the gathering of up-to-date geo-location data. With its thriving Xbox gaming arm and reinvigorated inroads into the mobile space, it wouldn't be much of a stretch for Microsoft to leverage a bit of corporate synergy to make its own mapping service more accurate, or simply license the data. Whatever the case may be, it's all up in legal limbo for the time being. So, for now, you'll have to content yourselves with AR missions of the Ingress kind.
Dutchman celebrates Pong's 40th birthday with a global, augmented reality edition
Don't think the festivities surrounding Pong's 40th are limited to official channels. Sander Veenhof of the Netherlands is marking the occasion in his own way with an augmented reality version built as a Layar plugin. Instead of batting the ball across a TV screen, players play across whole continents: anyone who's been online recently is fair game as a fresh target, and the camera's field of view gives a sense of where opponents reside in real life. Games won't be nearly as fast-paced as you might remember from that classic system from the arcade or living room. However, they'll still be reminders that people worldwide have a soft spot for the Nolan Bushnell title that arguably started the video game industry -- and global Pong sure beats a game of global thermonuclear war.
Nintendo bundles red 3DS with Super Mario 3D Land starting November 23rd
Just because Nintendo is focusing its energy on the Wii U launch doesn't preclude a sweet deal or two in portable gaming. Starting November 23rd, the company is bundling Super Mario 3D Land with Flame Red 3DS models at the same $170 price as the handheld by itself; it even comes pre-loaded on memory to save some of the hassles of physical media. You can be sure the limited-run console is all about goosing Black Friday sales at a time when Nintendo really needs the boost, but we don't think too many mobile gamers will mind if it means entering 3DS ownership with one of the platform's better games in hand.
Steve Wozniak to co-star with Danny Trejo in iOS action game, we hope there's a Segway level (update: Woz fills us in)
No, it doesn't entirely make sense to us, either. And yet, here it is: Apple co-founder (and Segway enthusiast) Steve Wozniak is going to feature in an iOS game with action star Danny Trejo. ITN FLIX's and React Games' lengthily-worded Danny Trejo's Vengeance (Woz With A Coz) will have Woz trying to rescue his wife with Trejo's help, plowing through enemies with guns and, naturally, machetes. We're working to find out just what prompted the use of Woz's image for an out-of-character role -- other than an attempt at drumming up press for the game's Thanksgiving launch and a somewhat related 2013 movie, of course. There's no telling whether the title will be as fun as its concept is outlandish, although we might be swayed if Vengeance goes full circle with Woz and includes a Breakout mini-game. Update: We got in touch with Woz, who notes that both he and his wife Janet offered themselves on a volunteer basis for the game, including voice work. A friend who knows the producer recommended the involvement, he says. As to how well it plays? While Woz can't say much before the game arrives, his top-level view is that it's "entertaining and FUN." That piques our interest, at least a bit.
Nyko's TegraZone PlayPad game controllers now available: two different styles for $39.99 each
The PlayPad and the PlayPad Pro controllers from Nyko have just reported for Android gaming duties, each carrying a $39.99 sticker. There's no sign of the multicolored options we saw back in June, but the PlayPad does come in black or white and is bundled with a carry case and a folding stand for phones and tablets, while its larger and apparently more ergonomic sibling is offered only in black and is a GameStop exclusive. The wireless duo latch on to Android (3.0 or greater) devices using Bluetooth and are optimized for those with a Tegra processor, such as the Nexus 7 and the HTC One X+. There's an app -- called Playground -- which lets either controller work with legacy titles that don't specifically support its Bluetooth instructions, along with a mouse mode, PC and Mac support, and even the option to play on iOS devices loaded with iCade games. Sure, these controllers may not have faux-recoil or venomous branding, but perhaps they don't need to -- especially since they're cheaper than some of the competition.
Wikipad sees last-minute delay for new bundle and 'refinement'
Were you raring to go and buy a Wikipad instead of trick-or-treating? You might want to search around for some leftover chocolate bars and potato chips. The gaming tablet maker has postponed its shipments the very day they were meant to start after chances to both to improve the bundled content and make a "minor refinement" to the experience. We're interpreting that last mention as either a pleasant surprise or an unexpected hiccup. Any delay may be comparatively short when Wikipad says it's already in the last stage of firming up a new schedule, and it's vowing a gift in return for maintaining a pre-order -- still, the clock is ticking if the company wants to score some mobile gamers before the holidays are over. You can check the full statement for yourself after the break.
Feel the Force: Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th to iOS, Android, WP, Kindle Fire and computers
Rovio teased a certain film-inspired Angry Birds picture a long, long last week, and as expected, it's another new game -- Angry Birds Star Wars. Our furious feathered friends are assuming the likenesses of characters from the epic saga, with the trusty Red Bird taking on Luke Skywalker's role. It wouldn't be the Rebel Alliance without a dark side to fight, which is where the Pigs fit into the storyline; even the music and levels for gravity-based play will hark back to the film franchise. In addition to the software, details of related merchandise have also been uncovered, including table games, toys and costumes. The game is out on November 8th for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Kindle Fire and computers, and if it follows the original storyline, we wonder how Red Bird's going to feel about his porcine family history.
Rovio hints at Angry Birds tie-in with Star Wars on October 8th, Red Bird Five standing by
The green pigs have had their moment in the sun: it's time for the Angry Birds to come back. Rovio Mobile has posted a teaser of a collaboration between its frustrated avians and Star Wars that will get a grand reveal on October 8th at Toys R Us' Times Square location in New York City. No clear giveaways exist as to what's coming, although Rovio is promising animations, comics and other material in the weeks ahead -- we imagine it means more than a toy line, as unique as that can be. But does it mean an Angry Birds Space add-on that goes well beyond the Martian landscape, an entirely new game or something else altogether? We've asked the company for more details and will let you know if we're given more information. In the meantime, get ready for what's likely to be a geek culture explosion. [Thanks, Jaakko]
GDC Online coming to LA, rebranded as App Developers Conference
For the past few years, the Game Developers Conference has held a satellite show in Austin, Texas called GDC Online (and I went there a few years back for TUAW to cover the mobile gaming track). But GDC has announced that this year is the last year it'll do GDC Online in Austin. Starting next year, the conference (which has mostly been about online gaming) is moving to Los Angeles, and will be renamed the App Developers Conference. The event will be co-located with another show called GDC Next (which will apparently feature everything outside of standard mobile app gaming), and both will share an open expo floor. The two events will take place on November 5-7, 2013. Essentially, this all means that GDC is changing its focus for this satellite show, from the originally very popular market of MMOs and online games to the currently very hot market of mobile apps and tablet/smartphone gaming. For the last few years, even the original GDC conference in San Francisco has had a growing focus on mobile gaming (first adding a mobile gaming track and then filling it out to be almost half of the show's content), but this is the biggest change to the conference's lineup yet. Since I am based in LA, we'll plan to have coverage straight from the show next year; no matter what direction this new show takes, you'll be sure to hear about it.
