Joystiq

Portable gaming's 'Race to Zero'

Steve Watts — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:00 EST

Despite their occasional protests to the contrary, both Nintendo and Sony have seen the pervasive mobile market take chunks of the portable gaming industry. The mobile app space burgeoned as game developers undercut each other constantly, in a race toward 99 cents that set a buck as the de facto price point for the new marketplace. This, in turn, made a massive price disparity between mobile games and their handheld competition, which tends to retail for much more. Why buy a $30 DS game, when you can buy 30 games for the same price?

However, we're now seeing yet another race all the way to the bottom: free. Even as the PC space is largely adopting a free-to-play, microtransaction-driven business model, the shift is similarly occurring in the mobile market. Recent F2P hits have started a run of similar titles, with some paid apps adopting a free-to-play option.

The change began subtly. Rovio's breakout hit Angry Birds may have stuck near the top of the Top Paid Apps charts, but the Top Grossing arena was ruled by little blue men early last year. Smurfs Village spent months as the Top Grossing app, no doubt bolstered by co-marketing for the then-upcoming film. Still, the free app had an inviting price point, and even a few 99 cent purchases per user would easily push it above the revenue for a one-time dollar fee. Then, Tiny Tower became the talk of the iOS App Store blogosphere, using a similar model inspired by social gaming on Facebook, even garnering recognition as Apple's official Game of the Year.

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Portable gaming's 'Race to Zero' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Street Fighter IV HD coming to Android Marketplace in May

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

The Android OS version of Street Fighter IV we originally caught wind of back in September is now Street Fighter IV HD. As per the original announcement, the game will initially be exclusive to the LG Spectrum, which launches on Verizon January 19.

After LG's limited exclusivity blackout expires, however, Street Fighter IV HD will hit the US Android Marketplace in May for $12.99. A Wifi-enabled VS. mode allows for local multiplayer, although it's unclear whether wireless VS. will require two of the same handsets. Also no word yet on system requirements for non-LG devices, although since the Spectrum is launching with Gingerbread and not Ice-Cream Sandwich, any dual-core Android device seems like a good bet.

Street Fighter IV HD coming to Android Marketplace in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gameloft puts all Android titles on sale to kick off 2012

Mike Schramm — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Most developers on the iOS and Android stores decided to put their titles on sale during the Christmas holiday, but not Gameloft. That rascally developer has announced it will have all of its Android catalog on sale this week instead, starting Thursday through January 5, for just 99 cents. From Modern Combat 3 to Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Halo-alike N.O.V.A. 2 HD, and WoW-alike Order & Chaos Online, every Gameloft title for Android will be just a buck.

iOS users have seen similar sales like this before from Gameloft, but now it's time for Android users to take a turn, and load up all of those newly unwrapped smartphones with all that Gameloft has to offer for just 99 cents each.

Gameloft puts all Android titles on sale to kick off 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R-Type coming to Android September 12

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST

"But wait," some of you youngsters might be thinking. "How can those stickers I'm always seeing on Toyota Celicas and Mitsubishi Eclipses be coming to my phone? Why would I even want that?"

Take a seat, junior, you might learn something: Before R-Type adorned the window/bumper of every import with a fat pipe and under lighting, it was the name of one of the most iconic and ground-breaking shooters ever made. And now, retro-game refurbisher DotEmu is bringing Irem's historic xenophobic extermination simulator back to life on September 12, via the Android Marketplace and Amazon's AppStore for Android.

All of the items and power-ups from the original are said to be present and accounted for, with touch controls taking over for the obviously absent joystick and buttons. Remakes like this strike us as perfect candidates for the Xperia Play, though no details were given as to whether or not Android devices with buttons will be able to circumvent the touch controls. No price point or Android OS version requirements have been given either, but we'd be surprised if it required anything newer than 2.2.

Continue reading R-Type coming to Android September 12

R-Type coming to Android September 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WipEout, Syphon Filter 3 join European Xperia Play library

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST

Despite slow initial sales, things are starting to look up for Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play phone/gaming device. Not only have games actually been announced for the platform, they're even starting to be released! In Europe, anyway.

WipEout and Syphon Filter 3 have been added to the European PSOne Classics Library, so if you're:

in Europe,
have an Xperia Play
and are sick-to-death of Jumping Flash,

these new additions might hold you over through the cruel, unforgiving summers. Both games are available in the Android Marketplace for £3.99.

WipEout, Syphon Filter 3 join European Xperia Play library originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robot Unicorn Attack on Android tomorrow, Adult Swim app in May

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Adult Swim plans to release its first magical Android app, Robot Unicorn Attack, tomorrow for $1 on the mobile platform with cross-platform Open Feint support. Jeff Olsen, VP of Adult Swim Digital and Games, told Joystiq that the "Heavy Metal" and "Christmas Edition" versions of Robot Unicorn (currently available for iPhone) may come to Android depending on how the original performs on the Android Market.

The company also expects to launch its free Adult Swim app for Android in May. The app allows users to access full episodes and clips from the Cartoon Network programming block's popular shows, including Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The app has surpassed a million downloads on the Apple App Store since its release in mid-February.

"We've gotten a lot of requests for our games on Android," Olsen told us, saying that Adult Swim's other top-performing iOS games, Amateur Surgeon and Five Minutes to Kill (Yourself), would likely be next for development. "We're starting with Robot Unicorn because we've seen the most call for it. If it performs well, we'll look at our whole catalog and bring over our other top titles."

"We haven't green-lit any projects for the console space," Olsen added, "but we are interested in the downloadable market; experimenting on multiple platforms on a variety of new platforms with Android being just the first."

The free, Flash version of Robot Unicorn Attack is available to play on AdultSwim.com.

Robot Unicorn Attack on Android tomorrow, Adult Swim app in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation emulator for Android goes free and open source

Mike Schramm — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:30:00 EST

PSX4Droid, the PSOne emulator for Android that got the smackdown from Google recently, has found a surefire way of getting around the ban: Go free and open source. The latest version of the software does just that, skipping out on Google's market completely and putting both the app and the source code online for anyone to download and check out.

Developer "ZodTTD" says that the original Sony complaint only had to do with a trademarked logo that had snuck into the app's icon, but since then, Google has closed both his Android Market and CheckOut accounts, leaving him unable to publish any apps. As a result, he's self-publishing PSX4Droid, and will be exploring other third-party markets to sell the app in. In the meantime, you can go enjoy the new version, which adds better compatibility and performance, though save files from the previous version will no longer work.

PlayStation emulator for Android goes free and open source originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSOne games begin appearing on Android Market, limited to Xperia Play

Randy Nelson — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:10:00 EST

As both Europe and North America count down the (still unknown) days until the launch of Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play smart phone, PSOne games compatible with the "PlayStation Phone" have started popping up on the Android Market. Five games, in fact, including Cool Boarders 2, Destruction Derby, Jumping Flash, MediEvil 2 and Syphon Filter. That's right -- the Play is ready to, er, play like it's circa 1995-97.

All of the games are selling for £3.99 ($6) -- the same going price as on PSN. MediEvil 2 and Syphon Filter are available in five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) while the rest are English-only releases. They're also all (predictably) platform-locked to the Xperia Play (Sony Ericsson R800i). All this one day after Google removed the PSOne emulator, PSX4Droid, attributing the action to a Content Policy violation.

PSOne games begin appearing on Android Market, limited to Xperia Play originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation emulator pulled from Android Market, dev suggests Xperia Play to blame

Randy Nelson — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST

With the launch of Sony Ericsson's Android-powered "PlayStation Phone," the Xperia Play, supposedly right around the corner, Google has pulled the plug on a prominent PSOne emulator for its mobile OS. According to its author, "zodttd," PSX4Droid was removed from the Android Market without warning due to a "Content Policy violation," though he suspects it has more to do with Sony's imminent smart phone offering. "Sony's Xperia Play must be coming soon," tweeted the dev, adding that, "The timing is suspicious with no remedy."

As for alternatives to the Android Market, PSX4Droid's maker says he's a "bit worried to go to Amazon App Store" since "people who own the Market version would have to buy it again to update." Meanwhile, another PSOne emulator for Android, fpse, remains available on the Market. We've contacted Sony for its response to the app's removal and are awaiting comment.

PlayStation emulator pulled from Android Market, dev suggests Xperia Play to blame originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In-app purchasing coming to Android Market next week

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST

Google has launched the final testing phase for in-app purchases in Android Market products, with the feature set to make its public debut next week. Developers are encouraged to upload and test in-app content and transactions on the Developer Console "right away."

But hang on: First, it's "absolutely essential" for developers to review the security guidelines, Google notes. You wouldn't want the Ring of Doom slipping through the cracks and into the wrong hands, would you? Obfuscate your code!

In-app purchasing coming to Android Market next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kongregate Arcade removed from Android Market

Randy Nelson — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST

Launched earlier today, the Kongregate Arcade app for Android-based phones has been removed from the Android Market for reasons unknown. Joystiq received word from a GameStop and Kongregate representative that it had been pulled, along with the following statement:

As reported earlier today, the Kongregate Arcade app was launched on the Android Market and was enthusiastically received by the gaming community, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars. Tens of thousands of users successfully downloaded the new app but, due to unknown reasons, Google has pulled it from the Market. Gamers wishing to experience Kongregate Arcade will be happy to learn it is now available for download at http://kongregate.com/android.

Additionally, Kongregate has updated its Twitter feed with word that it is "working with Google to restore access in the Market." We've contacted Google for comment and will update as soon as we hear back.

Update: Google has informed Joystiq that the app was in violation of the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement because the app itself was distributing other apps. However, there is nothing prohibiting Flash developers from making apps available on the market wrapped in an individual apk.

Kongregate Arcade removed from Android Market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony 'PlayStation App' for iPhone and Android coming to Europe

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST

It's not quite a PlayStation Phone, but Sony has announced a PlayStation app for phones. That's still pretty cool, right? SCEE will soon release "The Official PlayStation App" in Europe, offering light PSN interaction on your iPhone or Android device -- "light" as in you won't be playing games through it, but you can look at your Trophies and the status of your friends. You can also keep up with the EU PlayStation Blog from within the app.

The first version of the PlayStation App will be available soon in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. Sony is working to add more countries to that list and also planning new features. No announcements have been made for a release outside of Europe, however.

Sony 'PlayStation App' for iPhone and Android coming to Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget: Sony Ericsson making PlayStation-branded Android 3.0 'gaming phone'

Mike Schramm — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Our sister blog Engadget has been told by "a trusted source" that Sony Ericsson will introduce a cross between the PSP Go and an Android phone later this year. The handset (which is mocked up above -- not the actual product) is supposed to be a "landscape slider," but instead of a QWERTY keyboard like a mobile phone or regular game controls like the PSP, it will have PlayStation buttons, a d-pad and a "long touch pad" to mimic dual analog input.

Sony Ericsson's device will run Android 3.0, and games will be made available through a special section of the Android Market, with versions of God of War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and LittleBigPlanet reportedly used as examples of what sort of lineup we could expect. Additionally, games that meet certain requirements might be made available to other Android handset users and, eventually, titles might embrace other smartphone features such as augmented reality.

The phone is reportedly set to be introduced sometime this October. With the actual PSP already experimenting with phone-like functions like Skype, it's not a stretch to see Sony try and bring some of its gaming know-how to the mobile phone space in a PSP-like package.

Engadget: Sony Ericsson making PlayStation-branded Android 3.0 'gaming phone' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameFly releases GameCenter app for Android

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST

Good news, Android users, GameFly's GameCenter app is no longer just for your jerk iPhone-owning friends. That's right, GameFly has released an Android version of the app, putting the rental service at your mobile fingertips.

The app allows users to manage their rental queues, check out trailers and browse game news. Finally, you can watch GameFly inexplicably ship the game at the bottom of your list on the go! GameCenter is available now on the Android Market.

GameFly releases GameCenter app for Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:44:00 EST

Android and Me points out some ports of popular id games were once available on your snazzy superphone, including Quake, Wolfenstein and Doom. They didn't last long, however, as Zenimax has managed to get the games pulled from Google's Android Market service due to copyright infringement.

It's only natural for ZeniMax to want to get the titles pulled and doubly so if the publisher is thinking about releasing id's classics on the platform, though that's just speculation on our part based on id's readiness to work on the competing iPhone platform. Head past the break to check out some footage of what you missed out on, courtesy of the unofficial Android version of Doom.

We've asked ZeniMax to comment on any commercial plans for these titles on Android and to clarify the nature of Doom's open source codebase and why it was included in this takedown request.

[Update: A ZeniMax spokesperson got back to use, writing: "We did issue a DMCA takedown notice to the Android store to remove the unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake games as they contain our trademarks and copyrighted assets, including graphics, artwork, storylines and audio. Open source relates to the underlying engine source code, not to a game's content, trademarks and assets, all of which remain proprietary. If the game was a total conversion and did not use any of our trademarks or assets, that would be fine. But none of our data can be repackaged and nobody is authorized to make a Doom, Wolfenstein or Quake product."]

[Via Game Politics]

Continue reading Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market

Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1337pwn application available for Android OS

Xav de Matos — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

When Microsoft announced Xbox Live Anywhere, fans of the service were excited about checking in on their friends list and coordinating game sessions on the go with their trusty mobile device. Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to have all but ditched the idea. However, not content with giving up, other communities have picked up the pieces.

The team at 1337pwn.com are one of those communities, hell-bent on allowing you to check gamerscores, online status and all other things cyber stalking related. Now, Xbox Live gamers with an Android OS-based phone can enjoy a little "faux-Live Anywhere" with the latest release from the 1337pwn team. Check out this application, now available on the Android Market, to see what your friends are doing on Live when you're on the go.

1337pwn application available for Android OS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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