The Joystiq Podcast http://www.joystiq.com This is the Joystiq podcast http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Joystiq FancastJoystiqAnd it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from the Internet that all the ears should be rocked with video game podcasts. And all went to be rocked, every one into his own iTunes account. And Chris Grant also went up unto the city to be taxed with Ludwig Kietzmann, his espoused co-host, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there he should be delivered. And he brought forth their firstborn podcast, and wrapped it in swaddling jokes, and laid it in a Zune; because there was no room for them in the iPod. And there were in the same country gamers abiding in the field, keeping watch over their ... games by night. And, lo, the angel who was named Justin McElroy came upon them, and the glory of video games shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day a savior, which is the Joystiq Podcast."<![CDATA[Obama plays BrickBreaker ... on a military-grade smartphone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/obama-plays-brickbreaker-on-a-military-grade-smartphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/obama-plays-brickbreaker-on-a-military-grade-smartphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/obama-plays-brickbreaker-on-a-military-grade-smartphone/#commentsFiled under:


Bastion of hard news, Star Magazine, reports that President Obama may have an ulterior motive for wanting his (very fancy) smartphone: gaming. The article quotes a "confidante" who reveals Obama plays BrickBreaker on the device "to unwind," and that the freshly inaugurated leader does so "every night before bed."

The President made news on the gaming front by bringing a Wii into the White House. Obama's high score in BrickBreaker is "around 15,000," according to Star Magazine's source. We hail to the chief, but he's got nothing on this guy.

[Via GameCulture]

JoystiqObama plays BrickBreaker ... on a military-grade smartphone originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack-obamabrickbreakerobamapresident-obamaSat, 21 Feb 2009 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco drops Time Crisis Strike onto iPhone app store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/namco-drops-time-crisis-strike-onto-iphone-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/namco-drops-time-crisis-strike-onto-iphone-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/namco-drops-time-crisis-strike-onto-iphone-app-store/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've harbored a secret love for the Time Crisis series since our initial exposure during the PS1 era, though we've always had our reservations about the use of the light gun peripheral. Why introduce such an unnecessary middleman into the equation? We want to end the lives of our seemingly cloned adversaries by simply laying our fingers upon them. We then want to proclaim to all passerbys, "These? These are the hands of the Angel of Death! Tremble, all, before our mighty digits!"

Said fantasy can now be realized in inappropriate social situations thanks to Namco, who dropped Time Crisis Strike onto the Apple App Store today. In addition to the "finger of death" mechanic mentioned above, players can also tilt the handheld in order to dodge the enemy's gigantic, molasses-slow bullets. For just $5.99 -- a pittance, really -- you can imbue your hand's extremities with devastating power.

JoystiqNamco drops Time Crisis Strike onto iPhone app store originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeiphonenamcotime-crisis-strikeThu, 05 Feb 2009 01:27:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone dominates list of IGF Mobile 2009 finalists]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/iphone-dominates-list-of-igf-mobile-2009-finalists/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/iphone-dominates-list-of-igf-mobile-2009-finalists/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/iphone-dominates-list-of-igf-mobile-2009-finalists/#commentsFiled under: ,

Whereas last year's entries seemed more diverse (with a heavy Java slant), the 2009 Independent Games Festival Mobile finalists are almost entirely composed of iPhone / iPod touch games -- 11 of the 14 contestants, to be exact. The remaining three entries are represented by a Nintendo DS, Java and Flash game.

A trio of games lead the pack with three nominations apiece: Wardive, Edge and Fieldrunners (pictured). We're not anywhere close to calling it "the future of gameplay," but the iPhone's App Store -- not to mention massive install base -- has proven to be a viable and tempting business model for aspiring developers.

JoystiqiPhone dominates list of IGF Mobile 2009 finalists originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleigfigf-2009igf-mobileigf-mobile-2009independent-games-festivaliphoneipod-touchMon, 26 Jan 2009 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Peggle coming to iPhone in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/rumor-peggle-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/rumor-peggle-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/rumor-peggle-on-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,


The last vestiges of our dwindling global economic workforce will cease if rumors of Peggle coming to iPhone are true. According to Wired, PopCap Games announced Peggle's next mobile destination via its "official" Twitter feed. The company wouldn't comment further, and actually went so far as to remove the tweet; however, the internet doesn't forget, as evidenced by the image we captured above.

Peggle was actually one of our Top 10 games back in 2007. Hopefully, the company removed the tweet not because it was incorrect, but because it intends to keep the secret until iPhone Peggle receives FDA approval. The Peggle must flow.

Update: A PopCap representative confirmed to Joystiq that Peggle on iPhone is "launching in early March."

JoystiqPeggle coming to iPhone in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crackpegglepopcappopcap-gamesFri, 23 Jan 2009 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill and DanceDanceRevolution now on iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/silent-hill-and-dancedancerevolution-now-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/silent-hill-and-dancedancerevolution-now-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/silent-hill-and-dancedancerevolution-now-on-iphone/#commentsFiled under:


Though neither of them rhyme with "Petal Near Squalid", two of the four portable games Konami announced have arrived for your stroking and poking pleasure on the iPhone and iPod Touch this morning. The first, Silent Hill: The Escape, will run you $7.99 and allow you to "escape the suspense with full use of the touch panel and confront evil with the accelerometer." Watch your back, evil!

Also arriving in the iTunes Store is DanceDanceRevolution S Lite, an early version of the game - the "full version" is "currently in the works." It's being distributed for free, which seems like a bargain until you factor in the price of replacing your iPhone after you jump all over it.

Download - Silent Hill: The Escape [iTunes link]
Download - DanceDanceRevolution S Lite [iTunes Link]

JoystiqSilent Hill and DanceDanceRevolution now on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddriphonekonamisilent-hillsilent-hill-the-escapeThu, 22 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple rejects Yoot Saito's iPhone game, dev staff considered Seaman DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/apple-rejects-yoot-saitos-iphone-game-dev-staff-considered-sea/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/apple-rejects-yoot-saitos-iphone-game-dev-staff-considered-sea/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/apple-rejects-yoot-saitos-iphone-game-dev-staff-considered-sea/#commentsFiled under:


We're more than willing to give Apple's do-everything-device the benefit of the doubt if they want to try to make it a legitimate gaming platform, but when we hear a story like this, we can't help but develop a few hangups. Yoot Saito, developer of the unsettling/brilliant Seaman, recently wrote a blog post describing the fate of his in-development iPhone game, GABO (a spiritual successor to Seaman, but with a caveman instead of a manfish). That fate is unfortunately grim -- according to Saito, Apple gave the game the axe due to "unpleasant" gameplay.

He also mentions that the game's development staff had considered going to work on Seaman DS before working on GABO. We'd like to know how much money they'd need to follow through with this ambition, as well as the mailing address to where we should send said funds.

[Via Offworld, Translation via Kotaku]

JoystiqApple rejects Yoot Saito's iPhone game, dev staff considered Seaman DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gaboiphoneseamanseaman-dsyoot-saitoSun, 18 Jan 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Zork returns in 'Legends of Zork,' a casual MMO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/zork-returns-in-legends-of-zork-a-casual-mmo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/zork-returns-in-legends-of-zork-a-casual-mmo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/zork-returns-in-legends-of-zork-a-casual-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sometimes, it seems that games are created just for us. They're lovingly mixed together from base ingredients we can't resist, rolled out on a floured surface, cut into Joystiq-logo shaped cookies and baked to a delicious golden brown. That's exactly what Jolt Online has done by resurrecting the "Zork" franchise in Legends of Zork, a casual, browser-based MMO.

Aside from telling Gamasutra that the game would feature microtransations and that it could be played on a computer or iPhone, Jolt's hasn't spilled much in the way of details. But rest assured that we'll be buying the game (or buying a wicked cool sword in the game, as the case may be) on day one.

JoystiqZork returns in 'Legends of Zork,' a casual MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonejolt-onlinelegends-of-zorkzorkThu, 15 Jan 2009 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: EA may be sticking to Glu, Mobile that is]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ea-may-be-sticking-to-glu-mobile-that-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ea-may-be-sticking-to-glu-mobile-that-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ea-may-be-sticking-to-glu-mobile-that-is/#commentsFiled under: ,


Electronic Arts could be looking to increase its stake in the mobile market by eating paste. A new report suggests that the company may be mulling over the acquisition of Glu Mobile, currently the third largest mobile game publisher and developer behind EA Mobile and Gameloft. Financial site Seeking Alpha cites a recent bevy of rumors regarding EA's growing interest in the Asian mobile market, followed by Glu's bolstered stock price as key indicators of a possible buyout.

The move, if it happens, would certainly underscore EA's commitment to the mobile platform and games. We're just not sure if the world is ready for Diner Dash 2009.

[Via Mobile Entertainment]

JoystiqRumor: EA may be sticking to Glu, Mobile that is originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitioneaea-mobileelectronic-artsglu-mobilemobilephonesrumorThu, 15 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone adventure '1112' potentially WiiWare-bound]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/iphone-adventure-1112-potentially-wiiware-bound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/iphone-adventure-1112-potentially-wiiware-bound/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/iphone-adventure-1112-potentially-wiiware-bound/#commentsFiled under: , ,


According to a post by its developer on NeoGAF, the multi-touch intensive iPhone/iPod Touch adventure, 1112, may be headed to WiiWare. Alexandre Leboucher states that a friend working at "a small Wii/DS game company" approached him about bringing the game to Wii, and Leboucher is asking for feedback on an appropriate Wii Points value (part one of the episodic series is $7.99 on the iTunes App Store).

Leboucher says he feels the game is technologically well-suited for Wii, but has concerns about WiiWare's 42 megabyte limit; the game's first episode on iPhone is 128MB.

[Via GoNintendo]

Continue reading iPhone adventure '1112' potentially WiiWare-bound

JoystiqiPhone adventure '1112' potentially WiiWare-bound originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1112agharta-studioiphoneipod-touchwiiwareWed, 07 Jan 2009 06:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Kojima calls Metal Gear Solid Touch a 'simple MGS' shooter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/kojima-calls-metal-gear-solid-touch-a-simple-mgs-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/kojima-calls-metal-gear-solid-touch-a-simple-mgs-shooter/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/kojima-calls-metal-gear-solid-touch-a-simple-mgs-shooter/#commentsFiled under: ,


Both 1UP and IGN have poked and prodded new details out of Japanese mag Famitsu's recent Metal Gear Solid Touch reveal, lifting the touchable curtains somewhat off Konami's upcoming head scratcher. According to the article, the game will be based on MGS4, with Metal Gear mastermind Kojima describing the iPhone app as a "Simple MGS." Translation: It's a shooter.

In fact, Metal Gear's emphasis on stealth is being pocketed this time around in favor of something that is easier to pick up and play on the go, with much of the gameplay involving sliding and pinching the screen in typical iPhone fashion to move Snake's view and zoom in and out of targets. Additionally, shooting bad guys and exploding barrels is taken care of by tapping directly on the screen. We remain interested, albeit confused, about Snake's latest mission. But the weathered soldier isn't getting any younger, and with all of these fingers in the way, we wonder if he'll be able to see anything at all.

Read - Kojima Goes In-Depth on Metal Gear Solid Touch
Read - Metal Gear Solid Touch Detailed

JoystiqKojima calls Metal Gear Solid Touch a 'simple MGS' shooter originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fingersHideo-Kojimaiphonejs-twitterkojima-productionskonamimetal-gear-solid-4metal-gear-solid-touchThu, 18 Dec 2008 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[SimCity now available on iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/simcity-on-iphone-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/simcity-on-iphone-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/simcity-on-iphone-available-now/#commentsFiled under: ,


EA just sent word out by news ticker that SimCity is now available for iPhone (and iPod touch). The game appears to be in the vein of SimCity 3000 and is listed for $10 on the App Store.

We're curious to hear how it plays, so let us know in the comments. If it's a solid SimCity experience (and fat fingers friendly), $10 doesn't seem like a bad price.

JoystiqSimCity now available on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappstoresimcitysimcity-iphoneThu, 18 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Retail: Ubisoft releasing Grey's Anatomy game in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/retail-ubisoft-releasing-greys-anatomy-game-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/retail-ubisoft-releasing-greys-anatomy-game-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/retail-ubisoft-releasing-greys-anatomy-game-in-march/#commentsFiled under: ,


Several retail listings indicate that a Grey's Anatomy video game will release on PC next March. The beauty of this story is that the game is published by Ubisoft, which recently dropped the rights to a Heroes video game. So ... the top-rated sexcapades of the doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital make for a better video game than the Heroes crew?

If you can't wait until the Ubi title releases in March to get your McDreamy on, there's always the option of downloading Gameloft's mobile version.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqRetail: Ubisoft releasing Grey's Anatomy game in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greys-anatomytvubisoftWed, 17 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four Konami games coming to iPhone, including Metal Gear, Silent Hill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/four-konami-games-coming-to-iphone-including-metal-gear-silent/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/four-konami-games-coming-to-iphone-including-metal-gear-silent/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/four-konami-games-coming-to-iphone-including-metal-gear-silent/#commentsFiled under: , ,


And Dance Dance Revolution, if you can believe it. Konami has announced the impending arrival of four downloadable iPhone games, with all but one scheduled to arrive "from late December." The genres covered are "Music," "Action," "3D Shooting" and the slightly provocative "Touch Shooting." As for the corresponding titles:
  • Dance Dance Revolution S Lite, "a music game where you tap the arrow icons that appear at the bottom of the screen in time with music."
  • Silent Hill: The Escape, "a first-person 3D shooting game that lets players utilize the control features only found on the iPhone and iPod touch ..."
  • Frogger, "a simple game" which probably doesn't require any further explanation.
  • Metal Gear Solid Touch, "an original game that brings to life the world and characters" of MGS4. Eight "touch shooting" levels will be available in the initial release, with more to follow.
MGST is currently slated for a Spring 2009 release. All the games are coming to North America, Japan and Europe, with the exception of Dance Dance Revolution, which is apparently too hip for the electronic rectangles in Europe.

JoystiqFour Konami games coming to iPhone, including Metal Gear, Silent Hill originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsDance-Dance-Revolution-S-LiteFroggeriPhoneJS-TwitterKonami-TouchMetal-Gear-Solid-TouchSilent-Hill-The-EscapeWed, 17 Dec 2008 04:15:00 EST<![CDATA[A Next Metal Gear is ... Metal Gear Solid Touch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/rumor-a-next-metal-gear-is-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/rumor-a-next-metal-gear-is-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/rumor-a-next-metal-gear-is-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

Don't leave yet! At least let us tell you where this information comes from. According to 1UP and 1 of its tipsters, the latest issue of Japanese mag Famitsu shows what lies beyond the cryptic ellipsis appended to Kojima Productions' teaser website, which we last discussed on December 5th. Judging by a somewhat scrutable scan, the game appears to be an iPhone project dubbed "Metal Gear Solid Touch." [Update: Konami has confirmed the title.]

Little else is known about the touch-screen title, but we imagine many a soldier's neck will be snapped via some precision pinching.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqA Next Metal Gear is ... Metal Gear Solid Touch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FamitsuiPhoneKojima-ProductionsKonamiMetal-GearMetal-Gear-Solid-TouchRumorWed, 17 Dec 2008 03:50:00 EST<![CDATA[I *heart* Katamari *heart*s iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/i-3-katamari-3s-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/i-3-katamari-3s-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/i-3-katamari-3s-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,


click to open iTunes
Namco's net ninjas have silently slipped an iPhone version of Katamari Damacy (fittingly renamed i Love Katamari - lower-case "i") onto the iTunes App Store (clicking opens iTunes). The latest portable version of the eccentric action game is being sold for $7.99 and, as you'd expect, is mainly controlled using the accelerometer inside the iPhone and iPod Touch. We downloaded the game to take it for a spin tilt.

Apart from some weird hiccups (we wouldn't call them framerate problems since the game, well, freezes momentarily) and some early wrangling with the controls (tilt is used for turning and forwards/backwards movement, touching the left or right side of the screen "strafes") we found it to be an enjoyable pint-sized packaging of one of our favorite games. The art style is well suited to iPhone / iPod Touch - as is its overall pick-up-and-play-anytime nature. Hopefully Namco will push out an update soon to address the initial bugs, and iPhone can continue being "the future of gameplay" in the meantime.

JoystiqI *heart* Katamari *heart*s iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>i-love-katamariiphoneipod-touchitunes-app-storekatamari-damacynamco-bandaiMon, 15 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yoot Saito working on Seaman-related game for iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/yoot-saito-working-on-seaman-related-game-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/yoot-saito-working-on-seaman-related-game-for-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/yoot-saito-working-on-seaman-related-game-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under:


Oh wow, we're embarrassingly excited by this news: Yoot Saito is working on what appears to be a reworked version of Seaman 2 for the iPhone called Gabo. Though it's only headed to Japan at the moment, a worldwide release seems to be in the cards, judging from a shoddy translation of Saito's blog. The only bad news is we'll have to remember for 364 days to give thanks for the universe's kindness.

Though there doesn't seem to be any voice recognition in Gabo, what Saito's currently showing off (in a video you can see after the break) looks just delightful.

Continue reading Yoot Saito working on Seaman-related game for iPhone

JoystiqYoot Saito working on Seaman-related game for iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneseamanseaman-2yoot-saitoFri, 28 Nov 2008 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[National Geographic gets into gaming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/national-geographic-gets-into-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/national-geographic-gets-into-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/national-geographic-gets-into-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Taking a break from merely educating the world about bees with tiny radios and environmental dangers, National Geographic has announced that it is getting into the video game biz. The educational institution has formed a new game division shockingly called National Geographic Games, which will be focused on delivering educational titles across all platforms, including PCs, consoles and handhelds.

Some early fruits of this venture have already fallen from the tree, including Herod's Lost Tomb on the iPhone, as well as Namco Bandai's National Geographic: Panda for the DS. The division is also working with Sony on National Geographic: Africa, with future projects including Rain Forests and Greencity also in the works. The division describes each of these efforts as offering "entertainment with substance," though whether or not that will keep players from tuning out after they get bored of ogling topless natives remains to be seen.

JoystiqNational Geographic gets into gaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonenamconamco-bandainamcobandainational-geographicnational-geographic-gamesnational-geographic-pandanationalgeographicnggsonyTue, 18 Nov 2008 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pocket Gamer: Cheap games ruining the iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/pocket-gamer-cheap-games-ruining-the-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/pocket-gamer-cheap-games-ruining-the-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/pocket-gamer-cheap-games-ruining-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under:

We gamers tend to cheer getting things cheaply (to say nothing of free) but Pocket Gamer UK has a new piece lamenting that discounted games are choking the life out of the iPhone. Developers can't afford to spend a lot of time and money on a title, they argue, because they can't compete with the many, many 99-cent games on Apple's store.

PG insists that $9.99 entries like Super Monkey Ball aren't the answer, but calls for more leadership from Apple, something that, so far, the company has been unwilling to provide. Have you iPhone owners out there had much trouble separating the wheat from the chaff?

JoystiqPocket Gamer: Cheap games ruining the iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleiphoneWed, 12 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiger Woods 09 experiments in mobile-to-console gameplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/tiger-woods-09-experiments-in-mobile-to-console-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/tiger-woods-09-experiments-in-mobile-to-console-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/tiger-woods-09-experiments-in-mobile-to-console-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For players who wrestle with the virtual greens, Electronic Arts has announced a way to better your game while on the go. The newly launched mobile version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 includes a feature called Console Boost, which (as you might have guessed from the all-too-descriptive title) gives Xbox 360 and PS3 players a stat hike in EA's annual trip to the links.

Explains EA Mobile exec Adam Sussman, Console Boost "enables players to improve the skill level of their console character" by storing their mobile triumphs to their online EA account. Depending on the skill level completed in the mobile version, players will see their home version's stats likewise improved, hopefully ensuring a little more time on the fairway and a little less time fishing balls out of water hazards.

JoystiqTiger Woods 09 experiments in mobile-to-console gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-boosteaelectronic-artselectronicartsmobiletiger-woodstiger-woods-09tiger-woods-pga-tour-09tigerwoodsSun, 09 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turn your iPhone into an iOcarina with new app]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/turn-your-iphone-into-an-iocarina-with-new-app/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/turn-your-iphone-into-an-iocarina-with-new-app/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/turn-your-iphone-into-an-iocarina-with-new-app/#commentsFiled under:


We've seen the iPhone used for a great deal of useless enterprises -- the drinking of virtual beers, the swinging of virtual lightsabers, the placing of actual telephone calls to other people, etc. However, a new application from Smule serves a rather legendary purpose -- the salvation of Hyrule. Yes, by downloading the Smule Ocarina (now available on the iTunes App Store for $0.99), users can either travel seven years into the future to thwart the plans of an evil dictator, or three days into the past to prevent a lunar catastrophe.

Two demo videos of the iOcarina are posted after the break. The first shows a man blowing his way through the Legend of Zelda theme song. The second, when played in reverse, reveals hidden Satanist propaganda.

Continue reading Turn your iPhone into an iOcarina with new app

JoystiqTurn your iPhone into an iOcarina with new app originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstoreiphoneocarinasmuleSat, 08 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST