Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gameloft apologizes over unannounced move to free-to-play with Hero of Sparta 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/gameloft-apologizes-over-unannounced-move-to-free-to-play-with-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/gameloft-apologizes-over-unannounced-move-to-free-to-play-with-h/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/gameloft-apologizes-over-unannounced-move-to-free-to-play-with-h/#comments High profile iOS developer (and, er, taker of inspiration) Gameloft probably thought players would be excited by its character action homage Hero of Sparta 2 going free to play. And they were! They were very negatively excited.

Unfortunately, the iOS update to Hero of Sparta 2 affected everyone who downloaded it, including those poor souls who had already paid for the game. That update introduced advertisements to support Hero of Sparta 2's new free-to-play business model, which understandably annoyed paying players, and, by Gameloft's own admission, "deteriorated the gaming experience."

Luckily for those paying players, Gameloft issued a formal apology on their Facebook page, blaming "the craziness of the Christmas period" and stating that "this game update didn't go through our usual quality assurance process." Gameloft also pushed out a new update removing all ads from the game, and has switched Hero of Sparta 2 back to a paid app.

JoystiqGameloft apologizes over unannounced move to free-to-play with Hero of Sparta 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstoregamelofthero-of-sparta-2iosiphonemobileoopsThu, 22 Dec 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IGDA still unhappy with Amazon Appstore policies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/igda-still-unhappy-with-amazon-appstore-policies/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/igda-still-unhappy-with-amazon-appstore-policies/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/igda-still-unhappy-with-amazon-appstore-policies/#comments This past April, the International Game Developers Association published an open letter to its members, warning them of the Amazon Appstore's reportedly developer-unfriendly pricing and revenue splitting policies. Today, it reiterated its words of caution following the horror story of indie developer Bithack, which butted heads with Amazon over its latest piece of software, Apparatus.

Bithack's main point of contention with the retailer is its inability to filter Apps by which hardware they'll run on. After a number of shoppers using incompatible devices grabbed Apparatus, they trashed the game's reviews, to which Bithack was unable to respond to as Amazon had stripped the developer's contact info from the game's description. Amazon also made the decision to reduce the game's list price from $3.99 to $0.99 without first contacting Bithack.

The IGDA added to this Bithack report, saying, "We remain open to discussing these issues with Amazon and helping them create a developer friendly environment."

JoystiqIGDA still unhappy with Amazon Appstore policies originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon-appstoreandroidapparatusappstorebithackigdamobileFri, 08 Jul 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Doodle Jump creator backs off of other 'doodle' devs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/doodle-jump-creator-backs-off-of-other-doodle-devs/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/doodle-jump-creator-backs-off-of-other-doodle-devs/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/doodle-jump-creator-backs-off-of-other-doodle-devs/#commentsWe wish more stories ended this way. Yesterday, we told you about warnings issued by Doodle Jump developer Lima Sky and Apple to App Store developers with "doodle" in the title of their games. Today, not only has the sketch hunt (zing!) been called off, but Lima Sky's Igor Pusenjak, who admits he was overreaching, has taken the time to write a lengthy explanation of the situation, submitted to PocketGamer.biz.

We're happy to see this particular situation resolved as well as it seems to be but we can't shake the feeling that, considering the clone-heavy nature of the App Store, this won't be the last story of this sort we'll be covering.

JoystiqDoodle Jump creator backs off of other 'doodle' devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleAppStoredoodledoodle-jumplegallima-skymobilepocket-gamer-ukThu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NHL 2K11 passes the puck to iPhone and iPod Touch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/nhl-2k11-passes-the-puck-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/nhl-2k11-passes-the-puck-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/nhl-2k11-passes-the-puck-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2K Sports has announced that, tomorrow, puck enthusiasts on the go will be able to access a version of NHL 2K11 optimized for iOS devices -- the first officially-licensed hockey game to lace up its skates on the iPhone and iPod Touch, actually. Sadly, 2K Sports has not furnished us with any media for the new game, but has revealed that it can be yours for $1.99 during its first week of availability.

The company also promises the scaled-down skate-'em-up will sport "a new control system designed from the ground up; animations and graphics taken from the console version of the game; and fully realized season, shootout and free skate modes of play." You can find it on the App Store starting tomorrow.

JoystiqNHL 2K11 passes the puck to iPhone and iPod Touch originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-sportsapp-storeAppStoremobilenhl-2k11sportsTake-Two-InteractiveMon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 Live iPhone app won't be live for long]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/xbox-360-live-iphone-app-wont-be-live-for-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/xbox-360-live-iphone-app-wont-be-live-for-long/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/xbox-360-live-iphone-app-wont-be-live-for-long/#commentsIf you like the idea of the 360 Live iPhone app, which allows you to sign into your Xbox Live account and manage it on the go, you'd better drop your two dollars into the App Store (link) right now. Creator Xavier Larrea has informed us that, unsurprisingly, Microsoft has asked Apple to remove the program, citing the non-commercial usage restriction -- in other words, the company isn't happy about the app's not-free cost.

Larrea is complying with the request (meaning that it's on the way out), but notes that the app will continue to work for those who have already downloaded it.

JoystiqXbox 360 Live iPhone app won't be live for long originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360-liveAppleAppStoreiPodMicrosoftXbox-360xbox-livexbox-live-anywhereTue, 08 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone App Store tops 100K items, 2 billion downloads]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-store-tops-100k-items-2-billion-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-store-tops-100k-items-2-billion-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-store-tops-100k-items-2-billion-downloads/#comments
Apple's App Store has attained over 100,000 fart simulators apps and blown by the two billion download mark. GI.biz reports that games make up 19.6 percent of the store's content. EA Mobile VP Travis Boatman notes that the store, which is now available in 77 countries, has allowed his company to make high quality games that "have been a huge success with customers."

If Gameloft's sales figures are any indication, the App Store shows no signs of slowing down in the game department. Now, if only that alleged iPhone app piracy rate could be brought under control.

JoystiqiPhone App Store tops 100K items, 2 billion downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppleappstoreeaElectronic-ArtsgameloftiPodWed, 04 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone dev says AppStore is over-hyped]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/iphone-dev-says-appstore-is-over-hyped/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/iphone-dev-says-appstore-is-over-hyped/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/iphone-dev-says-appstore-is-over-hyped/#comments
Some sobering words this morning from iPhone developer Rick Strom, who has two applications on the AppStore's Top 100 paid list. He mentioned that an app sitting at the #35 slot (which one of his is) is bringing in (on average) around $20 per day. Strom goes on to say that the store is a little more like a lottery, with only a few getting the real wealth, than the gold rush it's been portrayed as.

Though Strom is clearly frustrated by the experience, we don't think $20 a day sounds too bad for hobbyists ... we're just not sure we'd want to base a career around it.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqiPhone dev says AppStore is over-hyped originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleappsappstoreiphoneiPodMon, 08 Jun 2009 22:30:00 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]]>appleappstoreMobilesimcitysimcity-iphoneThu, 18 Dec 2008 08:45:00 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]]>appstoreiphoneMobileocarinasmuleSat, 08 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST