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The Daily Grind: What have you purchased in-game lately?
I'm always fascinated with gamers' spending habits. Some of us have plenty of disposable income to splurge on frills while others of us have to watch what we buy very closely. MMOs are littered with ways to spend your money, from outfits to boosts to character slots to lockbox keys. I am still burning through my virtual wad in RIFT, having accumulated a great amount of credits from my previous subscriptions. I indulged in a guilty pleasure of picking up a swimsuit for Summerfest the other day because I just had to be a Cleric kicking butt in a tasteful two-piece beachwear. But I also resolved to save the rest of my credits for RIFT 3.0's new souls when they come out. Other than that, I haven't bought a lot in MMOs lately. What about you? What have you purchased in-game this past month or so? Was it worth it? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
That store button is back, and it wants you to touch it
Guess who's back, back again on the patch 5.4 PTR... yes, it's that sneaky Store button. And yes, yes I did click it. I must have clicked it a hundred times, just in case this one was the time that it would work. I will log back in in a moment just to try again. Just in case. It still didn't work. This was the very best I got it to generate for me, and that was only on a fresh reload of my UI. The button itself, as much as you can discuss the quality of a button, isn't too obnoxious. Let's be realistic, Blizzard was never going to have a singing dancing button with big flashing arrows pointing at it, constantly in the player's face. But this little, subtle thing in the micro-menu is just fine. While we wait for more information, and for the store itself to appear on the PTR, rather than just that teasing button and this rather trolly UI error, WoW Insider has the things to keep you all Store-y. The WoW Insider Round Table waxed lyrical on how they'd happily pay for just about anything, the Community Blog Topic discussed what should and shouldn't be available, and we wondered whether Battle Coins could be a new in-game currency for the store. Is any of it serving to soothe your worries about the store?
Amazon optimizes MP3 store for iOS devices in the UK, makes it easier to access tunes
Just as it did earlier this year here in the States, Amazon has now quietly announced that it's brought some HTML5 tweaks to its UK-based MP3 store in order to make it more friendly with iDevices. Thanks to these under-the-hood enhancements, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users in the United Kingdom can now have access to more options within the web version of Amazon's music shop -- you know, things like downloading and streaming songs. Naturally, once you've purchased some tunes, they'll automatically be added to the Cloud Player, where they can then be played from any other compatible device (e.g. Sonos systems or an Android tablet / smartphone). You can check out the optimized Amazon MP3 hub over at the source below.
Google to help open Android Nation retail stores throughout India
Google may not be planning its own retail stores, but the truth is that it already has a semi-official footprint: it's been teaming with Indonesia's Erafone on a series of Android Nation shops. That physical presence is about to spread, as Google is partnering with Spice Global to open Android Nation stores across India later this year. The alliance should see Spice open new locations in addition to rebranding 50 of its existing Hotspot shops to accelerate the rollout. Google is also helping Spice bring CoolPad phones to the country. The two haven't said exactly where the first Indian Android Nation store will be, although the Times of India hears that it may open at New Delhi's Select Citywalk -- not that we'd recommend lining up months in advance. [Image credit: Erafone]
Apple now allowing Paypal payment for Apple Store purchases (in Germany)
German users have noticed one other change from the Apple Store downtime last night, and that is that Apple will now accept Paypal payments through their Apple.com store. You could previously use Paypal as a payment service on the iTunes and Mac App Stores, but you can't (in most places) on the official Apple website. The German store, however, has now implemented Paypal. So German users can now use that extra eBay money to pick up a new accessory or charger cable. Odds are that this is a pilot program over there, and it will likely make its way out to the rest of the world very soon. I just checked, and unfortunately this option isn't yet available on the American Apple.com store. But if German users can use their Paypal accounts to buy Apple products, there's no reason why the rest of us won't eventually get the chance to do the same. [via App Advice]
Limited edition Mass Effect 3 Paladin pistol replica available for pre-order
BioWare has just revealed this snazzy real-life replica version of Mass Effect 3's M-77 Paladin pistol, available for pre-order today. The weapon weighs 7 pounds, is hand-finished and hand-painted, and is one of a set of only 200 made by collectible firm Triforce. Buying one for yourself will run you a total of $400: You'll need to put down $200 now to reserve your own fake space gun, and then another $200 when it's ready to go, which is expected to be later this year. That's not cheap, but then again nobody said fighting off the Reaper Invasion would be.
iMakr 3D printing store opens in London, carries Solidoodle and more
The notion of a physical store dedicated to 3D printing is still new to us, and Solidoodle's Asia-focused plans didn't give much reassurance that we'd see more shops in English-speaking countries all that soon. iMakr may have just come to our rescue by opening what it claims is the world's largest 3D printing store in London's Farringdon area, occupying 2,500 square feet across two floors. The showroom has both workshops as well as printers to buy on the spot, including the Solidoodle 3; we've reached out to get the full selection, although iMakr's online channel already sells MakerBot's Replicator 2 and a few less immediately recognizable brands. We're still far from having a 3D printing store on every corner, but the London store gives the retail concept some legitimacy.
Apple adds iPhone upgrade, delivery reminders to Store app for iOS
If the bright lights, cheery attendants and hipsters are all too much, trips to the Apple Store aren't high on your list of priorities. Thankfully, Cupertino appreciates those who want the world to come to them, and has updated the iOS Apple Store app to match. The software bump now includes notifications that let you know the moment you're eligible for upgrade pricing on a new iPhone. When you've placed your order, the app will offer up delivery notifications, letting you chart your new gadget's journey every step of its way to your front door.
Temple Run coming to Windows Phone this week alongside several other games
We just witnessed the arrival of Pandora on Windows Phone last week, and sometime this week users will be able to enjoy another large title: Temple Run. The flee-from-evil-monkeys thriller has long been available for iOS and Android, but its arrival adds another popular app to Microsoft's arsenal. We've confirmed that the 99-cent title is in fact the original version, with no official word on when or if the sequel will land in the Windows Phone Store. The game is just one of six that plan to debut in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference. The list of the other five includes 6th Planet, Propel Man, Orcs Must Survive, Fling Theory and Ruzzle, and most (if not all) will be available as early as today.
The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices
Sometimes League of Legends gives us hard choices. As a jungler, I'm frequently tasked with the difficult decision of whether to gank or counter-jungle and where I should do so. After a lost teamfight, you also have to make a lot of decisions about how to turn the game around. Should you buy elixirs? Should you try to farm and stall the game out or force another teamfight in a better position? These are all difficult choices. However, most players have to deal with the toughest question of all: Which champion should I unlock next?
OUYA store ready for launch, will highlight devs with short documentaries
We're still a little bit away from the official launch of the much-hyped OUYA console, but the game store appears ready for takeoff. Today the company hit the reset button on the beta version of its shop and went back to square one. But, from now on, any app uploaded through the developer portal will be ready and available on day one when it starts shipping to Kickstarter backers on March 28th. Those who have already submitted will have to go through the process all over again unfortunately. In her inaugural blog post as a member of the OUYA team Kellee Santiago revealed a promotional push aimed at benefiting both the console and some of its early-adopter developers. The top three games, as measured by total play time over the first six weeks of availability, will become the focus of a series of short documentaries. To be eligible for the competition you'll need to get your title in before the March 28th shipping date. For a few more details and to review the developer guidelines yourself hit up the source link.
Solidoodle 3D printing stores set to bring 'upscale fashion shopping' to Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
Looking for an "upscale fashion shopping experience" in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan or Belarus? Solidoodle's got your back. The company is set to launch 3D printing stores in those areas, featuring its low cost 3D printers and "lifestyle" items created on said devices. The Russian store is set to be the first to open this summer. The company also used its press conference today to announce plans to sell printers in Brazil, Canada, Korea and Japan, as well as a join initiative with Georgia Institute of Technology's Mars Society to test the devices in "harsh environments like Mars" (places like Utah, apparently). More info on the announcements can be found in an exceedingly enthusiastic press release after the break. Update: Solidoodle shot us a note to let us know that the retail locations won't be offer existing printers, but rather a "yet-to-be-announced model" from the company. A 4D printer, perhaps? Fingers crossed.
Rumors claim Google will launch its own retail stores, maybe by the holidays
On Friday, a report surfaced on 9to5Google that Google was making serious plans to open permanent retail locations, and it's been followed up today by the Wall Street Journal indicating the same thing. Both cite unnamed sources, who claim that the company wants to provide space for customers to try out its Nexus devices, software like the Chrome browser and unnamed upcoming products. The rumors differ slightly on potential timeframe, with the initial one suggesting we could see shops open by the holidays this year, while the WSJ indicates a wider timeframe with the possibility that stores may not launch this year at all. Google's already opened a few pop-up shop temporary locations at airports and in other stores, like the one pictured above in the UK. As Google moves further into hardware the potential of Apple-style branded physical stores grows, whether just to sell the phones and tablets we've seen so far or alongside more secretive projects like that rumored "X Phone." Also, once moonshot attempts like Project Glass and self-driving cars hit, having trained retail staff for hands-on demos may be just what the doctor ordered for skeptics. There's no word on where these stores may appear of course, but if you spot any darkened storefronts in your local mall please drop a line in our tips inbox, along with its distance from the nearest Sbarro -- we hear Googlers loves Sbarro.
OUYA promises quick game approval process, reviews start by the end of February
OUYA CEO Julie Uhrman's promising a quick, simple approval process for games on her company's upcoming Android-powered game console, the OUYA. She told us in an interview this week: "It's similar to mobile: they'll submit their games, and we'll review for intellectual property infringement, and malware, and excessive pornography. But ultimately it's a quick review and you're in the storefront in one capacity or another." That's not the only mobile model OUYA's following; Urhman already said the OUYA hardware will iterate on an annual basis, similar to the mobile market. Despite the console's impending March launch to Kickstarter supporters, OUYA's yet to begin reviewing games for its storefront. "We literally just opened the ability for developers to upload their games into the store," Uhrman explained. The review process isn't too far off, however -- she's predicting a "middle-to-end of this month" timeframe. "We're building that right now," she said, when asked who's staffing that approvals process. "We are a start-up like any other start-up, it's just-in-time business." The first consumer-ready OUYA consoles are planned for a March launch, with availability at retail to follow in June. The $99 console made a big splash on Kickstarter, eventually raising over $8.5 million when the original goal was a meager $950K.
EE closing 78 overly cozy stores, keeps related staff
Merging two carriers' efforts invariably creates at least some kind of redundancy, no matter how much the two sides try to avoid it. In EE's case, it led to stores that were suddenly too close to each other -- so close that some were very literally next door. Rather than perpetuate the inadvertent comedy, EE says it's shuttering 78 stores that it believes are just wasting space. The provider doesn't want to put added strain on the remaining shops, however. It plans to move all affected staff to existing locations, and it's hoping to repurpose managers rather than oust them. The scaled-back retail operations theoretically "maintain momentum" while keeping customers and workers happy, EE tells us. When we see genuinely absurd situations like the photo above, we're inclined to agree. [Image credit: Lazygamer, Flickr]
GameStop offering Halo 4 and AC3 for $40, +50% credit on in-store trade-ins
The stockings have come down and the gifts have been unwrapped, but GameStop hasn't stopped kicking off deals for the season. The retailer's latest deals, which run now through Saturday, have Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed 3 for $39.99 each, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on sale for $49.99.Far Cry 3 is also on sale for $49.99, and you can pick up Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Future Soldier for $29.99, in addition to all of the other deals on recent and popular games. Finally, the company's offering a buy two, get one free sale on all used Wii and Nintendo DS games, and there's an ongoing promotion that will give you an extra 50 percent credit back whenever you trade any used games in. Just in case you didn't spend all your money on this year's previous sales, GameStop will be happy to help take the rest of it.
StoneBlade Entertainment (formerly Gary Games) shows off SolForge, coming next year
Ascension is still one of the best digital card games on the App Store -- it's a deckbuilding game that made the jump over to iOS, and it's probably the best example yet of how to take a great offline game, and put it on Apple's touchscreen device. Gary Games is the original creator of Ascension (though they worked with a company named Playdek to publish it on the App Store), and they held a Kickstarter earlier this year for a game called Solforge. The game is a card-based followup to Ascension that was set to be released as a physical card game, with versions available on both iOS and PC. That Kickstarter was eventually funded, and Gary Games has just emerged from their offices with a brand-new walkthrough video for SolForge, with a look at the game and how it works. And they're also going through a name change, so Gary Games is now known as StoneBlade Entertainment. As you can see from the video, embedded below, SolForge looks great -- the main mechanic is that cards you play can be transformed by leveling up, which allows for a lot of great strategies around not only deciding what to put down, but how and when to transform up the cards you've placed. I got to see the game in action at PAX earlier this year, and it looks like a whole lot of fun. StoneBlade has said the title is due out on iOS as soon as it's ready sometime in 2013 (and I'm sure the company is eager to recreate the success it's seen with Ascension), so we'll look for it sometime then.
Apple signs lease for new store in The Hague
Apple is reportedly moving into a new space in The Hague (Netherlands), but its arrival may disappoint holiday shoppers next year. According to a report in ifoAppleStore and iPhoneClub.nl, Apple has allegedly signed a lease to occupy a three-level space that once housed the Selexyz bookstore. As part of the terms of its lease, Apple prohibits the decade-long tradition of displaying a large Christmas tree in the rotunda of the mall because it will block the company's retail storefront. The new Apple store will occupy an 18,800-square-foot space in the historic The Passage mall, which was built in a Neo-Renaissance style and dates back to 1882. Apple will officially open in mid-2013 after the bookstore finishes moving out of the premises. [Via ifoAppleStore]
Online Apple Store adds app-enabled accessories category
Apple has introduced a new "App-Enabled Accessories" category of goodies to the online Apple store and it's a veritable one-stop shopping destination for the geek on your list. There's so much to peruse here, like the iOS-ready Philips Hue light bulbs and the super cool Parrot AR.Drone 2.0. You'll also find health products, things for music and more. A quick note to my family: I'll gladly accept pretty much anything on this page.
HTC opens store-within-a-store in Germany, hopes it's your One-stop shop
Electronics giants who want to compete for retail attention but can't always justify a full presence have a common trick: open a mini store. Apple did it, Microsoft did it, and Samsung virtually based the Galaxy S III launch on it. HTC is next at bat. While it has its own stores in Asia and parts of Europe, the smartphone designer is trying out a store-within-a-store at the giant Saturn-Markt shop in Hamburg, Germany. Swing by and you can buy or test a device like the One X+ or Windows Phone 8X alongside accessories -- including Beats headphones, naturally -- with dedicated staff to help. HTC didn't immediately have details of larger plans when we reached out, but there's talk at MyDrivers of further such stores as well as seminars that would help make sense out of Sense. There's no guarantee that HTC will benefit from carving out its own retail space in what's often considered hostile territory; even so, the move can't hurt when the company is fighting for relevancy.
