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[Fist Face Fight throws down April 18 on iOS, Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/fist-face-fight-throws-down-april-18-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/fist-face-fight-throws-down-april-18-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/fist-face-fight-throws-down-april-18-on-ios-android/#comments
Jared Bailey of developer Nocanwin has confirmed to Joystiq that Fist Face Fight will be available on Thursday, April 18. Fist Face Fight will be a free download on both Android and iOS devices, ad-supported with in-app purchases of in-game currency. Any in-app purchase will disable advertisements permanently.

Fist Face Fight is a self-described "frenetic physics based arena combat game" in which you defend your heart by punching back waves of encroaching ninja. They want your heart; punch them.

Gallery: Fist Face Fight (iOS, Android)

JoystiqFist Face Fight throws down April 18 on iOS, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storefist-face-fightgoogle-playiosipadiphoneitunesjared-baileymobilenocanwinWed, 10 Apr 2013 00:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Borderlands 2 straps in for a big 'ol Mac update today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/borderlands-2-straps-in-for-a-big-ol-mac-update-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/borderlands-2-straps-in-for-a-big-ol-mac-update-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/borderlands-2-straps-in-for-a-big-ol-mac-update-today/#comments Borderlands 2 gets big ol' Mac update todayBorderlands 2 secured a hefty update on Mac today, adding leaderboards, achievements and multiplayer co-op, Mac-to-Mac style. Let's keep it in the family, guys.

The update brings five DLC packs available via in-app purchases, including Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt, Captain Scarlett and her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage and the Mechromancer, a fifth playable vault hunter. PC and Xbox 360 players got the Mechromancer in October 2012, with PS3 not far behind.

Borderlands 2 is on sale for half off, at $30, for a limited time on the Mac App Store.

Continue reading Borderlands 2 straps in for a big 'ol Mac update today

JoystiqBorderlands 2 straps in for a big 'ol Mac update today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeaspyrborderlands-2gearboxmacmac-app-storeupdateThu, 04 Apr 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rayman Jungle Run grabs App Store GOTY award]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/rayman-jungle-run-grabs-app-store-goty-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/rayman-jungle-run-grabs-app-store-goty-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/rayman-jungle-run-grabs-app-store-goty-award/#comments Rayman Jungle Run grabs App Store's GOTY awardAccomplished auto-run platformer Rayman Jungle Run is the App Store Game of the Year 2012. Ubisoft's iOS evolution of Rayman Origins, which received 10 free bonus levels earlier this month, pipped word game Letterpress to the award.

On the iPad-specific front, Fireproof's 3D puzzler The Room came away with the main prize. The runner-up spot went to IGF finalist and Joystiq favorite Waking Mars.

There are at least a few pairs of raised Joystiq eyebrows at Super Hexagon being omitted, but Terry Cavanagh's twitch game did at least pick up the Runner-Up award from the App Store's UK branch. To celebrate, Cavanagh slashed 66 percent off the game's price, making it available for a limited time at a bargainous $0.99.

JoystiqRayman Jungle Run grabs App Store GOTY award originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeappleawardsiosipadiphoneitunesmobilerayman-jungle-runsuper-hexagonFri, 14 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai removing Noby Noby Boy from iOS App Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/namco-bandai-removing-noby-noby-boy-from-ios-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/namco-bandai-removing-noby-noby-boy-from-ios-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/namco-bandai-removing-noby-noby-boy-from-ios-app-store/#commentsNoby Noby Boy being removed from iOS App Store by NamcoThe iOS version of Noby Noby Boy, which isn't so much a port of the PlayStation 3 original insomuch as a weird collection of Noby Noby Boy-based activities, is being removed from the App Store on Tuesday, October 9, according to creator Keita Takahashi's personal blog.

The $1.99 app is being removed by Namco Bandai itself (rather than, say, Apple) for unknown reasons - though the app's Facebook integration and cumulative point goals haven't been functioning properly for a few months, which may have something to do with it. No announcements were made regarding the cancellation of any other Noby-related services, such as the PS3 version's worldwide goal of having GIRL reach the edge of the solar system.

"Thank you for playing this silly app," says Takahashi. Anyone interested in grabbing Noby Noby Boy for their iDevice of choice before it disappears can do so here.

JoystiqNamco Bandai removing Noby Noby Boy from iOS App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>App-StoreiosipadiphoneKeita-TakahashimobileNamco-BandaiNoby-Noby-BoyFri, 05 Oct 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bad Piggies is Rovio's quickest selling #1 game, free content update coming soon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/bad-piggies-is-rovios-quickest-selling-1-game-free-content-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/bad-piggies-is-rovios-quickest-selling-1-game-free-content-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/bad-piggies-is-rovios-quickest-selling-1-game-free-content-up/#comments Bad Piggies is Rovio's quickest selling #1 game, free content update coming soonA Rovio-developed gaming reaching the number-one slot on the App Store isn't really all that surprising in this day in age, so the Finnish studio has instead started measuring how quickly its releases make it to the top of the pile.

Bad Piggies, the company's swine/inventor simulator and latest release, shattered previous records set by Angry Birds Space and Amazing Alex by reaching the pinnacle of Apple's App Store barely three hours after its launch on September 27.

Rovio has also announced that Bad Piggies' first free update -- "Flight Into The Night" -- will be released within "the next few weeks" and will contain more levels, unlockable content and "exciting plot twists," which we can only assume will be M. Night Shyamalanish in nature. "It was me," the piggie thought to himself. "I was the angry one all along."

JoystiqBad Piggies is Rovio's quickest selling #1 game, free content update coming soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storebad-piggiesiosipadiphonemacmobilepcrovioWed, 03 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Middle Manager of Justice's accidental launch becomes beta test]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/middle-manager-of-justices-accidental-launch-becomes-beta-test/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/middle-manager-of-justices-accidental-launch-becomes-beta-test/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/middle-manager-of-justices-accidental-launch-becomes-beta-test/#comments Middle Manager of Justice's accidental launch turned to lemonadeDouble Fine's free-to-play iOS game Middle Manager of Justice accidentally launched on the App Store on September 5, as an incomplete, buggy version of the final game. Double Fine pulled it quickly, but not before potential players caught wind and downloaded it. Lead developer Kee Chi explains to Gamasutra how this all went down, and why it's not so bad in the end.

"Yeah, it was totally my fault," Chi says. "With the way you submit things on the App Store, you have to specify what the release date is, and a while back we had set the date to September, but at the time we didn't know if that would be final or not.

"Once we submitted the game, we realized we had a lot of things we still needed to tweak and fix, but at the same time, we didn't want to remove it from the [submission] process in case Apple catches other things we need to take care of, and we didn't want to do a double submission."

Chi's tech director called him on his way to work last week, saying Middle Manager was live in every territory. It appears Apple took that September release window to heart. "I just went 'What?'" Chi recalls. "At Double Fine, we pride ourselves on putting a solid product out there, so having something out there that was buggy and not quite ready yet was really frustrating."

This is Double Fine's first foray into full-on mobile gaming and it anticipated surprises. Chi and Double Fine decided to turn these accidental players into beta testers, reaching out on various forums to encourage feedback.

"I guess it kind of just turned into a beta test," Chi says. "I mean, if people find bugs that we haven't found internally, I'd love to know about them so I can fix them."

JoystiqMiddle Manager of Justice's accidental launch becomes beta test originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppledouble-fineiosipadiphonekee-chimiddle-manager-of-justicemobileSun, 09 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Terry Cavanagh's Super Hexagon out on App Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/psa-terry-cavanaghs-super-hexagon-out-on-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/psa-terry-cavanaghs-super-hexagon-out-on-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/psa-terry-cavanaghs-super-hexagon-out-on-app-store/#comments
Super Hexagon, the updated iOS version of Terry Cavanagh's psychedelic, pixelated musical-maze masterpiece of a flash game, Hexagon, is now available on the App Store. As in the original, players must navigate a series of concentric shapes by pivoting a cursor around a central point as said shapes grow and evolve toward the center.

Additionally, chiptune artist Chipzel returns to lend new jams to the iOS version, which also happens to be an iPhone/iPad compatible Universal app. It should be noted that the game's $0.99 price tag is a special 66-percent off introductory price, so if impossibly difficult musical frustration is your bag, baby, strike while the iron is hot.

Gallery: Super Hexagon (iOS)

JoystiqPSA: Terry Cavanagh's Super Hexagon out on App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storehexagoniosipadiphonemobilePSAsuper-hexagonterry-cavanaghThu, 06 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/#comments Bastion heading to iPad as New Zealand App Store listing outs the port
The kid is sauntering over to Apple's iPad tomorrow in Bastion from Supergiant Games. New Zealanders - beyond the beautiful rolling hills and verdant greenery - get iOS games ahead of the rest of the planet due to the position of the sun and how that relates to our definition of time, you see, so it's already available in that territory. The game has a set launch date of August 30, but some territories are already in the future.

Anyway, Bastion's iPad-only for now, which Supergiant says was a decision made due to "technical reasons." Additionally, the team, "felt the game experience would not translate well to the iPhone's smaller screen."

When it arrives on the US App Store, it'll cost $4.99 and there's no demo version - you could always try it out in Google Chrome first? Don't hesitate to let us know if you see it pop up on our digital shores, which should be sometime tonight around 11PM ET. And head over to Supergiant's page for a ton more info about the new release.

Update: This story was updated to reflect the official announcement of Bastion on iOS.

JoystiqBastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebastioniosios-app-storeipaditunesmobilenew-zealandsupergiantsupergiant-gameswarner-broswarner-bros-interactivewbieWed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[The World Ends with You Solo Remix out on iPad, iPhone, not universal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/the-world-ends-with-you-solo-remix-out-on-ipad-iphone-not-univ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/the-world-ends-with-you-solo-remix-out-on-ipad-iphone-not-univ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/the-world-ends-with-you-solo-remix-out-on-ipad-iphone-not-univ/#comments PSA The World Ends with You out now on iOS, not universalThe World Ends with You Solo Remix is available now for iPad - and iPhone. We want to be clear that it's not available for "iPad and iPhone," as in, both at the same time, for the same price. Each app is standalone, non-universal, with the iPad version for $20 and the iPhone iteration for $18.

The World Ends with You Solo Remix follows Neku and his partner on the same screen, rebooted in HD and with new music and remixes. The app allows wireless play between iPad and iPhone versions with the multiplayer game "Tin Pin Slammer" and profile exchanges.

Grab it on the App Store today for iPad or iPhone.

JoystiqThe World Ends with You Solo Remix out on iPad, iPhone, not universal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp-storeiosipadiphonemobilepsaSquare-EnixThe-World-Ends-With-Youthe-world-ends-with-you-solo-remixuniversalMon, 27 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/egls-to-modify-some-parts-of-its-ios-mmo-in-wake-of-torchlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/egls-to-modify-some-parts-of-its-ios-mmo-in-wake-of-torchlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/egls-to-modify-some-parts-of-its-ios-mmo-in-wake-of-torchlight/#comments Chinese developer Entertainment Game Labs will remove "some parts" of its game, Armed Heroes Online, the company tells Joystiq. Those "parts," it sounds like, are the ones that Runic Games is saying were stolen from its Torchlight franchise. "Players always come first," EGLS said in a statement. "There, we prefer to modify some parts of Armed Heroes Online where have caused those disputes rather than go on arguing. As long as this carves out a way out of angry disputes, it will be definitely worth our efforts," the statement reads.

Despite the alterations coming to AHO, its developer sticks by the game, remaining defiant that any of Runic's Torchlight assets were used in the creation of its iOS MMO. "We want to make clear, if necessary, that we would like to submit the documents, files, and other materials related to the game developing to Apple to prove the originalities of the game and the efforts we devoted into the game developing," the statement says.

Runic Games president Travis Baldree contends that he's already looked through AHO's files, however, and that they're far more damning that EGLS wants to admit. "I also downloaded the app, and you can just unzip them and look at any iPhone app. And there was a sound manifest that listed all the sound files in the game, and they were verbatim all of our sound files, including our own misspellings," Baldree told us in an interview yesterday. "Our technical artist Adam Perin did voices for a sword called 'The Sword of Adam.' And it had goofy little things that he would say when you swung the sword. And those were in there [Armed Heroes Online], even in one of their videos," he said.

For Runic, this solution - should it actually play out - is exactly what Baldree was hoping would happen. "We're really just trying to get the thing pulled down from the App Store and to have them use their own assets. We were a little baffled by their initial response, and we'd be more than happy to talk to them and see what's up," he said. As of right now, Armed Heroes Online isn't available via the iTunes App Store, and it's seemingly been pulled by Apple following Runic's takedown request.

See the full statement from EGLS after the break.

Continue reading EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations

JoystiqEGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storearmed-heroes-onlinechinaeglsentertainment-game-labsiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemmomobilerunicrunic-gamestorchlighttravis-baldreeThu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Torchlight art found in iOS MMO; MMO dev denies theft against strong evidence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/torchlight-art-found-in-ios-mmo-mmo-dev-denies-theft-against-st/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/torchlight-art-found-in-ios-mmo-mmo-dev-denies-theft-against-st/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/torchlight-art-found-in-ios-mmo-mmo-dev-denies-theft-against-st/#comments Torchlight art found in iOS MMO, MMO dev denies theft against strong evidenceArt assets from Runic Games' Torchlight franchise bear more than a passing resemblance to those used in iOS MMO Armed Heroes Online, from Chinese developer Entertainment Game Labs ("EGLS"). And Runic Games head Travis Baldree is calling foul, taking to Twitter this week to say, "So, wow - this game is releasing on the app store. They wholesale stole most of the assets from Torchlight," and linking to the EGLS game website.

Baldree made the image seen above as well, comparing the two games' art assets from source material he found in YouTube clips of Armed Heroes Online with those of his company's game. Beyond talking, Baldree tells us that Runic "have contacted Apple with a takedown request but haven't heard back yet." The company's goal at the moment is "simply to get the game removed from the App Store until it no longer infringes upon our copyright." It's unclear if representatives from Runic's parent company, Chinese MMO company Perfect World, have been in contact with EGLS separately.

Baldree says Runic "have been unable to directly contact the company," but a rep from EGLS posted on Touch Arcade's forums with a lengthy public statement today. "We can hardly agree with Mr. Travis Baldree who judged that EGLS 'wholesale stole most of the assets from Torchlight!' only based on the similarity between several small monsters. The judgment is simply untenable," the post reads.

It goes on to say that some EGLS employees "are both crazy game fans and ecstatic movie lovers," alleging that the comparisons drawn are nothing more than an accident at best. Bizarrely, the statement then compares Torchlight to WildTangent's PC RPG Fate, as well as Diablo 2 - both games that Runic employees were instrumental in developing.

Armed Heroes Online remains available via iTunes for now, but we don't expect it'll be there for much longer. The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases (read: microtransactions). An EGLS rep didn't respond to request for comment as of publishing.

JoystiqTorchlight art found in iOS MMO; MMO dev denies theft against strong evidence originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeapplechinaeglsentertainment-game-labsfree-to-playin-app-purchasesiosipadiphoneitunes-app-storemacmicrosoftmicrotransactionsmmomobilepcperfect-worldrunicrunic-gamesserena-zhangthefttorchlighttravis-baldreexboxTue, 17 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/swift-stitch-collects-shinies-on-ios-this-week-via-nicalis/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/swift-stitch-collects-shinies-on-ios-this-week-via-nicalis/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/swift-stitch-collects-shinies-on-ios-this-week-via-nicalis/#comments Swift Stitch comes to iOS this week via NicalisContinuing its partnerships with interesting indies (Studio Pixel, Nifflas, etc.), developer and publisher Nicalis is bringing Sophie Houlden's vector-style racing/puzzle/maze game Swift Stitch to iOS on July 5.

It's difficult to explain the mechanics - hold a button to turn, hit certain barriers to flip horizontal or vertical direction - so instead allow us to direct you to this browser-based demo. The simple one-button controls seem perfectly matched to touchscreen devices, though maybe our brains aren't perfectly matched to the game, as our frequent and sudden meetings with walls would suggest.

The iOS version will be free to download, with ten levels available in the initial version. The full game is available as an in-app purchase for .99, or $1.99 after launch week.

Gallery: Swift Stitch

Continue reading Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis

JoystiqSwift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeiosipadiphoneitunesmobilenicalisq3-2012release-datesophie-houldenswift-stitchMon, 02 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Brainsss: What Apple considers an App Store 'success' may be a developer's nightmare]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/brainsss-what-apple-considers-an-app-store-success-may-be-a-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/brainsss-what-apple-considers-an-app-store-success-may-be-a-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/brainsss-what-apple-considers-an-app-store-success-may-be-a-d/#comments Brainsss What Apple considers an App Store 'success' is really a developer's nightmareIn 2010, Rod Green and Yeong-Hao Han left lucrative, steady jobs in the mainstream gaming industry to enter the erratic world of indie development with their own studio, Lonely Few. They assumed making a complex yet accessible, high-quality zombie game for iPad would do well on Apple's App Store, and they were right.

Brainsss, Lonely Few's breakout title, became a featured app, generated a fair amount of media buzz and received stellar user reviews when it launched last month, and it is what Apple would consider a "success."

Unfortunately, Green and Yeong-Hao would consider it something else entirely.

The pair put $20,000 into the development of Brainsss, and at the end of the first month, after its launch-sales spike and the end of its "featured" spot, the game has generated $31,000. This has to cover the initial development costs -- which included paying for the engine license and Apple SDK -- and their salaries for the year.

Continue reading Brainsss: What Apple considers an App Store 'success' may be a developer's nightmare

JoystiqBrainsss: What Apple considers an App Store 'success' may be a developer's nightmare originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppleBrainsssIndieiosipadiphoneLonely-FewmobileRod-Greentim-cookYeong-Hao-HanTue, 12 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Portable gaming's 'Race to Zero']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/portable-gamings-race-to-zero/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/portable-gamings-race-to-zero/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/portable-gamings-race-to-zero/#comments 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.

Continue reading Portable gaming's 'Race to Zero'

JoystiqPortable 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidandroid-marketapp-storeblackberry-app-worldiosipadiphonemobilenintendoplaystationplaystation-vitavitawindows-phone-7Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blatant Hero Academy rip-off on App Store is the laziest yet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/blatant-hero-academy-rip-off-on-app-store-is-the-laziest-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/blatant-hero-academy-rip-off-on-app-store-is-the-laziest-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/blatant-hero-academy-rip-off-on-app-store-is-the-laziest-yet/#comments ImageIt's astoundingly easy to make an app and have it published on the App Store, a fact that has helped the dreams of many developers blossom into reality and is largely regarded as A Good Thing. However, as previous, blatantly plagiarized apps have proven, some people will take A Good Thing and use it to make a quick, dirty buck.

The latest scam may be the laziest yet: "Knights Fight" has stolen the screenshots, icon and dignity of Hero Academy, and is selling it for $0.99 on the App Store. Hero Academy itself is an intricate, free title from established indie developer Robot Entertainment, while "Knights Fight" is from Idea House, which exists only as a stark website and is apparently based in suburbia, Wisconsin. At least Idea House got the second half of its name correct.

Robot Entertainment told Game Informer it is aware of the fake title and is waiting on a response from Apple, who we assume is too busy counting its money to respond right away, or to thoroughly check the apps it puts in its store.

JoystiqBlatant Hero Academy rip-off on App Store is the laziest yet originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storehero-academyIdea-HouseiosipadiphoneKnights-Fightmacmobileplagiarismrobot-entertainmentstolenThu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA['What's it like to have your indie game stolen?']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/whats-it-like-to-have-your-indie-game-stolen/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/whats-it-like-to-have-your-indie-game-stolen/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/whats-it-like-to-have-your-indie-game-stolen/#comments

No journalist, friend or decent human being wants to ask that question, especially not to an 18-year-old first-time developer who recently saw success as a student finalist in IGF 2012. Unfortunately, today we asked Mattia Traverso that very thing about his game One and One Story, after the events unfolded live on his Twitter feed: Traverso alerted the community that One and One Story had been counterfieted with "THEY STOLE MY GAME" and a succession of five tweets that included seven capitalized f-bombs.

One and One Story hadn't been cloned or copied, but it was completely stolen -- code, graphics and all. The group that stole it implemented a few unused assets that were hidden in the game file, Traverso told Joystiq, and its version has completely broken animations and stretched graphics.

"It's kind of hilarious," Traverso said hours after his initial discovery. But when he first got the Google Alert and tracked down the stolen game to the App Store this morning, Traverso didn't find anything about the situation amusing.

"I panicked. I didn't know what to do, so I screamed on Twitter," he said.

His screaming didn't go unnoticed and it drew the attention of other indies, including Canabalt's Adam Saltsman. Saltsman instructed Traverso to fill out a DMCA takedown, and two hours after his discovery Traverso was able to breathe a little easier.

Continue reading 'What's it like to have your indie game stolen?'

Joystiq'What's it like to have your indie game stolen?' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeclonecopycopyrightcopyright-infringementDMCAigfigf-student-showcase-2012iosipadiphoneMattia-TraversoMaTXmobileOne-and-One-StorypcFri, 16 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Sketch Nation Studio, publish title you created in-game, profit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/play-sketch-nation-studio-publish-title-you-created-in-game-pr/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/play-sketch-nation-studio-publish-title-you-created-in-game-pr/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/play-sketch-nation-studio-publish-title-you-created-in-game-pr/#comments Making games is hard. Making games that make money is exponentially more difficult, but even that doomed opportunity isn't possible without first overcoming the initial problem -- making games is hard.

We've tracked the emotional and economic expense of making a game without a publisher, devoted backers or rich family members, and the personal sacrifice involved in devoting oneself to a passion of game creation is now in the glaring public light. Engineous Games wants to take some of the pain out of programming with its new app, Sketch Nation Studio, set to debut at the end of March for iOS devices, Engineous founder Nitzan Wilnai told Joystiq at GDC.

Studio is the follow-up to Sketch Nation Shooter, an app released in 2011 that allows users to draw their own creations and put them into a game instantly. Shooter sold 800,000 copies at $0.99 a pop, saw 100,000 games created and 10,000 available for sharing across the network. Studio takes the premise of Shooter one step further, and allows users to have their games published through Engineous on the App Store with a tap of a button.

Engineous will publish each applicable title for $0.99, and after Apple takes its standard 30 percent, Engineous and the Studio developer will split profits 50-50, each seeing $0.35 of every sale. Sell 1,000 copies and get $350; sell 10,000 and get $3,500. That's not a bad reward for simply playing a game, but it gets better -- Sketch Nation Studio is free.

Continue reading Play Sketch Nation Studio, publish title you created in-game, profit

JoystiqPlay Sketch Nation Studio, publish title you created in-game, profit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeAppleengineous-gamesgdc-2012iosipadiphonemobileNitzan-Wilnaisketch-nation-shooterSketch-Nation-StudioWed, 14 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cave's Watanabe on the benefits of premium app pricing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/caves-watanabe-on-the-benefits-of-premium-app-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/caves-watanabe-on-the-benefits-of-premium-app-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/caves-watanabe-on-the-benefits-of-premium-app-pricing/#comments Conventional wisdom says that expensive iOS and Android games don't sell, but in a speech at GDC, Mikio Watanabe, COO of shmup developer Cave, frankly stated the exact opposite. In a presentation entitled "Japanese Retro and Social Games on Smartphones," Watanabe gave advice to developers looking to port their companies' legacy IPs to the rapidly blossoming smartphone and tablet markets.

His advice? For starters, keep the games running at a good clip instead of focusing too much on graphical clarity. "When games are running quickly, the human eye misses tiny imperfections in the visuals," he noted, encouraging developers to try to shoot for an average of 50 FPS or better. To increase the profitability, he encouraged developers to include unique and interesting DLC to spur in-app purchases.

Continue reading Cave's Watanabe on the benefits of premium app pricing

JoystiqCave's Watanabe on the benefits of premium app pricing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storecavegdcgdc-2012iosiphonemikio-watanabemobileSat, 10 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Waking Mars lands on iOS March 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/waking-mars-lands-on-ios-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/waking-mars-lands-on-ios-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/waking-mars-lands-on-ios-march-1/#comments Waking Mars, the IGF finalist formerly known as Lost Mars, has been approved for human consumption and will be available on Apple's App Store come March 1, according to developer Tiger Style's Twitter account. The action-gardening platformer will set you back a solid $4.99, is both iPhone and iPad compatible, and as we discovered last September, looks "stunning."

The game's name change was a preemptive precaution inspired by Mojang's legal trouble over Scrolls: "We were paying attention to the silliness surrounding 'Scrolls' and 'Elder Scrolls' and we talked to our lawyer and decided that it was best to go with a name we absolutely can own," said Tiger Style's Dave Kalina in a statement on the developer's blog. As that old, interplanetary gardener's saying goes, it's better to plant stuff on Mars than to get planted by Martians. Or, something.

Gallery: Waking Mars (02/25/2012)

JoystiqWaking Mars lands on iOS March 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>App-StoreiosipadiphoneLost-Marsmobilerelease-dateTiger-StyleWaking-MarsSat, 25 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions hits iPad for $18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/final-fantasy-tactics-the-war-of-the-lions-hits-ipad-for-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/final-fantasy-tactics-the-war-of-the-lions-hits-ipad-for-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/final-fantasy-tactics-the-war-of-the-lions-hits-ipad-for-18/#comments Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions has been available on the iPhone for about seven months at this point, and when it finally launched back in August of last year we were a bit surprised by its $15.99 price tag -- the equivalent of a hundred million dollars in App Store terms. Square Enix has never released sales information for the iPhone version, but it must have found some justification in its pricing structure as the iPad version just launched for $17.99.

Now, we're not saying War of the Lions isn't worth almost 20 dollars, but for a game that isn't a Universal App, and is also available on PSN for a single sawbuck, it's kind of a tough pill to swallow.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions hits iPad for $18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp-storeFFTfinal-fantasyFinal-Fantasy-Tactics-The-War-Of-The-Lionsiosipadmobilesquare-enixuniversal-appThu, 23 Feb 2012 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[WWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/wwe-wrestlefest-on-ios-today-coming-to-xbla-psn-pc-android-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/wwe-wrestlefest-on-ios-today-coming-to-xbla-psn-pc-android-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/wwe-wrestlefest-on-ios-today-coming-to-xbla-psn-pc-android-i/#comments Well, this is definitely the craziest thing to happen in wrestling games in quite some time -- and wrestling is a sport built entirely on human insanity. WWF WrestleFest, the classic arcade game by Technos, has been updated for release on iOS by THQ. The new "WWE Wrestlefest" has smoother graphics and an updated roster of wrestlers (a rostler, if you will) including John Cena and Randy Orton, alongside old-school wrestlers like the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage. It's also been modernized with "an extensive downloadable content program."

The app is available in a free "Lite" version and a $2.99 "Premium" version for iPhone, and both "Lite" and paid for iPad.

THQ also plans to release this new WrestleFest on XBLA, PSN, Android, and PC, sometime in 2012. So we hope the new version is good.

Continue reading WWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012

JoystiqWWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storeiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemicrosoftmobilepcplaystationportps3technosthqwrestlingwwewwe-wrestlefestxboxTue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fake Pokemon Yellow ends up on iOS App Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/fake-pokemon-yellow-ends-up-on-ios-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/fake-pokemon-yellow-ends-up-on-ios-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/fake-pokemon-yellow-ends-up-on-ios-app-store/#comments A fraudulent version of the Game Boy Color classic Pokemon Yellow has somehow made it through Apple's approval gauntlet and wound up on the App Store. Published by "Home of Anime" with Daniel Burford listed as the author, the "game" runs for $0.99 and has a one-and-a-half star rating after 1,352 reviews. According to said reviews, the app crashes after the title screen and cannot actually be played.

As if the simple existence of a Pokemon game on the App Store weren't enough of a red flag, the listing's screenshots aren't even from Pokemon Yellow, they're actually from Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green. The app's description also contains unattributed "press quotes" and a statement that "all trademarks and copyrights are owned by their respective owners," because everyone knows that admitting your copyright infringement absolves you of all responsibility, right? We've reached out to Apple for comment.

Editor's Note: My faulty, old-man brain confused the fact that Pokemon Yellow launched with a Poke-themed Game Boy Color, with it actually being a Game Boy Color game (which it was not). I've exploded an Electrode in penance.

JoystiqFake Pokemon Yellow ends up on iOS App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storecounterfietfake-pokemonfraudiosipadiphonemobilepokemonpokemon-yellowscamMon, 20 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Bot farming used to boost App Store ranking, Apple warns of punishment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/rumor-bot-farming-used-to-boost-app-store-ranking-apple-warns/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/rumor-bot-farming-used-to-boost-app-store-ranking-apple-warns/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/rumor-bot-farming-used-to-boost-app-store-ranking-apple-warns/#comments A Touch Arcade forum user is making allegations that a company is offering to boost the ranking of free App Store apps using bots. According to "walterkaman," the unnamed company will set up automated, repeated downloads of a client's app in order to push it into Apple's Top Free charts. A representative from the shady ad company pointed out eight games on the Top 25 Free chart that were promoted in this manner, walterkaman said.

The company was not named, and the forum user's story remains unverified. However, Apple is definitely upset about some kind of chart manipulation on the App Store. In a brief update on the Apple Developer site, the company warned developers against using ad services that guarantee placement. "Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership."

JoystiqRumor: Bot farming used to boost App Store ranking, Apple warns of punishment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeapplebot-farmingbotsfraudiosipadiphonemobileTue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Call of Duty Elite iOS App now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/psa-call-of-duty-elite-ios-app-now-available/#comments As promised, the Call of Duty Elite app for iOS is now available via the iTunes App Store, and just like its console counterpart, it's totally free. The Elite app offers a chance for Modern Warfare 3 players to track stats, player progression, revisit past matches, and a variety of other services, though we're told it's all the more thrilling if you're paying for the annual Elite subscription. The application is expected to arrive on Android devices next week.

JoystiqPSA: Call of Duty Elite iOS App now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-eliteiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemobilemodern-warfare-3psapublic-service-announcementTue, 10 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Vlambeer's Super Crate Box hits iOS on January 5, 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/vlambeers-super-crate-box-hits-ios-on-january-5-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/vlambeers-super-crate-box-hits-ios-on-january-5-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/vlambeers-super-crate-box-hits-ios-on-january-5-2012/#comments We've been unabashed in our love for Vlambeer's Super Crate Box, so we were more than a little excited to discover that the incredibly difficult, multiplayer survival-shooter ... thing has a launch date for iOS: January 5, 2012. The news was revealed via Vlambeer's official site a little while back, actually, but we somehow missed it (we're gonna pin it on too much eggnog).

Vlambeer fans will no doubt be wondering whatever happened to the game's previously announced September 2011 launch window, as we were. It turns out that, between the Radical Fishing debacle and the PC/OS X version of Super Crate Box being a bit of a mess in terms of code, the porting took longer than expected. The game's launch is now officially official, though, as it's already been submitted to and approved by Apple for a January 5, 2012 launch. Vlambeer tells us it'll be a universal App (meaning one purchase works for both iPod Touch/iPhone as well as iPad), though pricing hasn't been set just yet.

JoystiqVlambeer's Super Crate Box hits iOS on January 5, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeappleiosipadiphonemobileq1-2012release-datesuper-crate-boxvlambeerThu, 29 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Alien Hominid: PDA Games adds new trial levels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/alien-hominid-pda-games-adds-new-trial-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/alien-hominid-pda-games-adds-new-trial-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/alien-hominid-pda-games-adds-new-trial-levels/#comments We get it. In this tough economy, it's hard to scrape together cash for a game sometimes, even if it is only a buck. And so you've been rationing the trial levels in Alien Hominid: PDA Games. Well, today The Behemoth has added more trial levels for its frugal fans.

You can download the free version over on iTunes and, should you change your mind about that buck, you can purchase the full game in-app. The full version sports 20 different achievements across 500 levels.

JoystiqAlien Hominid: PDA Games adds new trial levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien-hominidalien-hominid-hdalien-hominid-pda-gamesapp-storeiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemobilepda-gamesthe-behemothWed, 28 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iMame app pulled from iOS App Store after a few short days of freedom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/imame-app-pulled-from-ios-app-store-after-a-few-short-days-of-fr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/imame-app-pulled-from-ios-app-store-after-a-few-short-days-of-fr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/imame-app-pulled-from-ios-app-store-after-a-few-short-days-of-fr/#comments Apple has officially pulled iMame, the free, ROM-playing arcade unit emulator, from its App Store, killing one of the very few venues for getting old arcade games onto your iOS device of choice. The move is presumably due to Apple's long-standing policy of not allowing applications running on its devices to play emulated software (despite a few exceptions in Capcom and Atari).

As with other emulators to have somehow sneaked past Apple's App approvals process, it wasn't long before Apple got wind of iMame's uses and shut it down. That said, if you already snagged yourself a copy of the free App, it can't be taken away, though it can't exactly receive updates either. Unfortunate, yes, but at least you've got a few months of unadulterated, portable, emulated gaming ahead of you!

JoystiqiMame app pulled from iOS App Store after a few short days of freedom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeemulationemulatorsimameiosipadiphoneitunesitunes-app-storemobileWed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Creep out other commuters: Kinectimals adds iOS to its mobile roster]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/creep-out-other-commuters-kinectimals-adds-ios-to-its-mobile-ro/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/creep-out-other-commuters-kinectimals-adds-ios-to-its-mobile-ro/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/creep-out-other-commuters-kinectimals-adds-ios-to-its-mobile-ro/#comments With the recent launch of "My Xbox Live" on Apple's iOS platform, not to mention Halo Waypoint, Microsoft seems to have officially embraced the ubiquity of its competition's devices. And with today's release of Kinectimals for iOS (a port of the already released Windows Phone 7 version), that relationship is further solidified, but in a softer, furrier way.

Kinectimals for iOS puts you back on the adorably named island of "Lemuria," on which you raise virtual feline cubs. According to the game's iTunes description, it works on both iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch devices, and costs $2.99. Purchasing the game will also net you "five brand new cubs" for the Xbox 360 game (presumably of the feline variety), if you're in the market for some brand new animal cubs.

And for those asking, no, we're not exactly clear on how you get the "Cub Handler" certificate pictured above. We have some guesses, but they're all way lurid.

Gallery: Kinectimals (iOS)

JoystiqCreep out other commuters: Kinectimals adds iOS to its mobile roster originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storefrontierfrontier-developmentsiosipadiphonemicrosoft-studiosmobileq4-2011release-dateTue, 13 Dec 2011 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[It's not just you: Epic aware of Infinity Blade 2 issues on iPod Touch, iPad 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/its-not-just-you-epic-aware-of-infinity-blade-2-issues-on-ipod/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/its-not-just-you-epic-aware-of-infinity-blade-2-issues-on-ipod/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/its-not-just-you-epic-aware-of-infinity-blade-2-issues-on-ipod/#comments Hey, did you know that Infinity Blade 2 launched on the iOS App Store yesterday? If you didn't, hey, we hear it's pretty good, but if you did and you bought it, you may already be aware of some "issues" the game encounters when played on an iPad 1 or various iPad Touch devices, such as unbearably choppy framerates and outright crashing. Its publisher, Epic Games, is also aware of said issues, and wants you to know that it's working extra hard to get things fixed "ASAP."

VP and co-founder Mark Rein took to the company's forums after initially tweeting out news of the hitches, where he explained that some users on the aforementioned devices are running out of system memory. Apparently the issues weren't discovered in testing because the device must have a "large number of apps installed," which test units weren't equipped with. Regardless, Rein said the company should have a fix coming quickly, so, uh, maybe play some more Infinity Blade 1 for a few days?

JoystiqIt's not just you: Epic aware of Infinity Blade 2 issues on iPod Touch, iPad 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeepicepic-gamesinfinity-blade-2iosipadiphonemark-reinmobilepatchupdateFri, 02 Dec 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[(Rock) breaking news: new Asteroids game, more progress on Asteroids movie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/rock-breaking-news-new-asteroids-game-more-progress-on-aster/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/rock-breaking-news-new-asteroids-game-more-progress-on-aster/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/rock-breaking-news-new-asteroids-game-more-progress-on-aster/#comments
Last time we checked, it was 2011, and yet we have two news items about Asteroids for you. First, Atari has released a new free-to-play Asteroids game to the iOS App Store called Asteroids Gunner, which adds multiple selectable ships, power-ups, upgrade shopping, achievements, dual-stick controls and other modern amenities to the well-known game of shooting big rocks to make them smaller rocks.

In other news, Slashfilm reports that Universal has just hired Evan Spiliotopoulos to write a new script for the Asteroids movie, which tenaciously continues existing despite the objection of everyone on Earth with some common sense.

Gallery: Asteroids Gunner (iOS)

Continue reading (Rock) breaking news: new Asteroids game, more progress on Asteroids movie

Joystiq(Rock) breaking news: new Asteroids game, more progress on Asteroids movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeasteriods-gunnerasteroidsasteroids-gunnerasteroids-movieatariiosiphonemobileThu, 10 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed sneaking a third mobile entry onto iOS in 'Recollection']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/assassins-creed-sneaking-a-third-mobile-entry-onto-ios-in-reco/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/assassins-creed-sneaking-a-third-mobile-entry-onto-ios-in-reco/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/assassins-creed-sneaking-a-third-mobile-entry-onto-ios-in-reco/#comments Ubisoft is adding yet another Assassin's Creed title to its stable of iOS releases. Unveiled last night in San Francisco during an Ubisoft event, Assassin's Creed: Recollection is a melange of art exploration and real-time strategy, employing "key characters and locations" from across the entire AC franchise.

How does it work, exactly? We're just as curious as you are, as the PR only vaguely explains the RTS elements as a stand-in for "political battles" raging throughout the world of Assassin's Creed. We'll undoubtedly learn more soon, though, as Recollection is due to launch "before the end of the calendar year."

Update: We've added a gallery below that teases how the gameplay will work.

Gallery: Assassin's Creed: Recollection

JoystiqAssassin's Creed sneaking a third mobile entry onto iOS in 'Recollection' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeassassins-creedassassins-creed-recollectioniosipadiphonemobileubisoftThu, 27 Oct 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Jetpack Joyride update injects new jetpacks, reaffirms our loathing of Game Center friends]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/jetpack-joyride-update-injects-new-jetpacks-reaffirms-our-loath/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/jetpack-joyride-update-injects-new-jetpacks-reaffirms-our-loath/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/jetpack-joyride-update-injects-new-jetpacks-reaffirms-our-loath/#comments Our love for Jetpack Joyride is well documented, but we're not above admitting that accessing the game's leaderboard system is a bit on the cumbersome side. That's why today's surprise update with in-level leaderboard implementation is so, so exciting. Now, while flying along in your jetpack of choice, sign posts will point out friends' scores as you soar past them, maniacally laughing in the bathroom, all alone.

The update also adds a pair of new jetpacks and a trio of wearable items for Señor Steakfries, giving players even more stuff with which to dress up the chronically murdered main character. Another bonus: The update is totally free, and the full game still costs $0.99.

JoystiqJetpack Joyride update injects new jetpacks, reaffirms our loathing of Game Center friends originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebarry-steakfrieshalfbrickhalfbrick-studiosiosipadiphonejetpack-joyridemachine-gun-jetpackmobileupdateMon, 24 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hijacking the fun: Grand Theft Auto 3 on iPad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/hijacking-the-fun-grand-theft-auto-3-on-ipad/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/hijacking-the-fun-grand-theft-auto-3-on-ipad/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/hijacking-the-fun-grand-theft-auto-3-on-ipad/#comments It's hard not to react to seeing Grand Theft Auto 3 on an iPad with anything less than expletive-laden surprise. Approaching the Rockstar booth at New York Comic Con this past weekend, I knew that the game would be playable on iPad, but my reaction was still that of shocked disbelief when I actually saw the thing running. It's GTA3! But it's totally on a little portable tablet! Incredible!

Here's something, however, that won't surprise you: what I played was still totally Grand Theft Auto 3, flaws and all. And here's something else that won't surprise you: virtual buttons still totally suck.

Continue reading Hijacking the fun: Grand Theft Auto 3 on iPad

JoystiqHijacking the fun: Grand Theft Auto 3 on iPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storedma-designgrand-theft-auto-3iosipadiphonemobilenyccnycc-2011rockstar-gamesrockstar-northtake-two-interactiveThu, 20 Oct 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots is a thing, really; coming to iOS on Oct. 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/fruit-ninja-puss-in-boots-is-a-thing-really-coming-to-ios-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/fruit-ninja-puss-in-boots-is-a-thing-really-coming-to-ios-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/fruit-ninja-puss-in-boots-is-a-thing-really-coming-to-ios-on/#comments
As if the fruit on your phone, iPod, tablet, Android, and Kinect weren't already sliced thoroughly enough, Halfbrick is burdening yet more fruit with potential murder in the upcoming movie tie-in Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots. As you've likely surmised, the game is a Puss in Boots-themed Fruit Ninja release, which imagines the titular Puss slicing up fruit with his dutiful foil.

In addition to introducing a well-timed theme into the mix, FN: PIB adds the "all-new Bandito mode," which tasks players with surviving progressively more difficult levels with unique challenges, and the "Desperado" mode, which updates the first game's "Classic" mode. "We wanted to create something new and different for our fans while keeping the magic of Fruit Ninja intact, and we think Bandito Mode will keep even the most practiced players on their toes," Jetpack Joyride playable character and Halfbrick chief marketing man Phil Larsen notes in the announcement.

Oh, and tomatoes? Totally in there, definitively proving once and for all that they're fruit. Take that, science! Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots arrives on the iOS App Store on October 20 for $0.99 on iPhone and $1.99 on iPad.

Gallery: Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots

JoystiqFruit Ninja: Puss in Boots is a thing, really; coming to iOS on Oct. 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storedreamworksfruit-ninjafruit-ninja-puss-in-bootshalfbrickhalfbrick-studiosiosipadiphonemobilephil-larsenpuss-in-bootsq4-2011release-datethqFri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All Back to the Future episodes updated on iPad, on sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/all-back-to-the-future-episodes-updated-on-ipad-on-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/all-back-to-the-future-episodes-updated-on-ipad-on-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/all-back-to-the-future-episodes-updated-on-ipad-on-sale/#comments It's time to go back, Marty: Back to the Back to the Future. That is to say, if you were unsatisfied with how the time-traveling trilogy's adventure game adaptation performed on your iPad, it's time to give them a second shot. An update has launched for all five episodes of the game, improving performance, graphics and squashing a few bugs. Which is fortunate, because when traveling through time in a 30-year-old automobile, you want the experience to be as bug-free as possible.

Also, each episode of the series has been marked down to $2.99 until September 30, if, by chance, you'd like to dip your toes into the game's recently updated waters. Of course, all the diehard fans will lord over you their war stories from the pre-patch days, when Doc Brown had three arms, and Marty spoke in backwards Esperanto.

Continue reading All Back to the Future episodes updated on iPad, on sale

JoystiqAll Back to the Future episodes updated on iPad, on sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureapp-storeback-to-the-futureiosipadmobileTellTale-GamesupdateTue, 27 Sep 2011 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[VidRhythm adds user-uploaded tracks, has Harmonix eyeing iOS for the future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/vidrhythm-adds-user-uploaded-tracks-has-harmonix-eyeing-ios-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/vidrhythm-adds-user-uploaded-tracks-has-harmonix-eyeing-ios-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/vidrhythm-adds-user-uploaded-tracks-has-harmonix-eyeing-ios-for/#comments "Initial reception has been great," Harmonix creative director Josh Randall told me in an email exchange earlier today. He was speaking to Harmonix' latest music creation, VidRhythm, and the success it's seen both critically and commercially on the iOS App Store. "We're at 5-out-of-5 stars on the App store ... in just a few weeks we've seen over 1,000 videos uploaded to YouTube, and we presume over that number to Facebook."

And today, Harmonix launched its first major update to the bizarrely delightful application, albeit not one you'll find waiting in your phone as an update. The VidRhythm user-generated content creator is available now from the official site, allowing folks with the technical chops to cut apart their favorite tracks and add them to VidRhythm. "We can't wait to see what people do with it," Randall added.

But Harmonix isn't done with the application, nor is it done with the iOS platform. While declining my request for specific sales numbers, Randall said, "Suffice it to say it's doing well enough to keep supporting VidRhythm, and to think about what other experiences we can bring to iOS next." More specifically, he told me the VR team is working on adding "even more songs and video styles to play with" in the "next few months." Get your pets at the ready!

JoystiqVidRhythm adds user-uploaded tracks, has Harmonix eyeing iOS for the future originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeharmonixharmonix-music-systemsiosipadiphonejosh-randallmobilesalesuser-generated-contentvidrhythmFri, 23 Sep 2011 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: In-game transactions account for 72% of iPhone app revenue]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/study-in-game-transactions-account-for-72-of-iphone-app-revenu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/study-in-game-transactions-account-for-72-of-iphone-app-revenu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/study-in-game-transactions-account-for-72-of-iphone-app-revenu/#comments At the Verizon Developer Community Conference in Las Vegas, Hendrik Koekkoek of Distimo, a firm that monitors app stores, spoke about iPhone revenue. According to his research firm, most app revenue doesn't come from direct sales -- it comes from in-game micro-transactions.

The number of free apps on the App store has grown by 34 percent since last year, while paid apps have only grown by seven percent, he estimates. The real money's with in-game purchases, he says, with 48 percent of total revenue coming from in-app transactions of free titles. 24 percent comes from in-app purchases of paid titles, leaving 28 percent of iOS revenue to straight-up paid apps.

Of course, this is all an estimate: Apple certainly won't divulge exact revenue information, though if we're going to say any person's opinion carries weight, it's gotta be the guy's whose job it is to monitor App store revenue, right?

JoystiqStudy: In-game transactions account for 72% of iPhone app revenue originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storedistimofreemiumiosiphonemobilestudyTue, 20 Sep 2011 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[A Ridiculous Fishing story: Reel talk from Vlambeer and Gamenauts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/a-ridiculous-fishing-story-reel-talk-from-vlambeer-and-gamenaut/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/a-ridiculous-fishing-story-reel-talk-from-vlambeer-and-gamenaut/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/a-ridiculous-fishing-story-reel-talk-from-vlambeer-and-gamenaut/#comments While Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer was preparing to announce an iPhone version of its first game, the browser-based Radical Fishing, it discovered that the game was almost on the App Store. Sort of.

A game called Ninja Fishing, published by Gamenauts, bears an unmistakeable resemblance to Radical Fishing. In both games, you start by controlling a hook falling through the water, dodging fish on the way down. You then pull the hook up at high speed, grabbing as many fish as you can. Then you yank the fish out of the water and destroy as many as you can before they splash back down. The art is different, and there are some tweaks, but the two games are, at the very least, closely related.

Continue reading A Ridiculous Fishing story: Reel talk from Vlambeer and Gamenauts

JoystiqA Ridiculous Fishing story: Reel talk from Vlambeer and Gamenauts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storegamenautsmobileninja-fishingradical-fishingrami-ismaelridiculous-fishingstanley-adrianusvlambeerWed, 07 Sep 2011 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Portabliss: Jetpack Joyride (iOS)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/portabliss-jetpack-joyride-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/portabliss-jetpack-joyride-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/portabliss-jetpack-joyride-ios/#commentsDid you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Jetpack Joyride.
The free NES games in Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador Program arrived at an awkward time, because the standout of that group for me, Balloon Fight, is now getting overshadowed by the many jetpacks of Barry Steakfries. Like Halfbrick's Monster Dash before it (and Balloon Fight's "Balloon Trip" mode long before that), Jetpack Joyride takes the autorunning genre defined on iOS by Canabalt and adds a few kinks.

Unlike Monster Dash, however, Jetpack Joyride is deep, with a mess of power-ups, vehicles, and mechanical and aesthetic additions. I was repeatedly taken aback by how fleshed out Halfbrick has made its latest iOS game, and repeatedly charmed by the studio's presentation. Nods to past Halfbrick titles abound (beyond the main character's return from previous iOS games), and the inclusion of an entire vehicle poking fun at the iPhone's most popular franchise lends an extra layer of levity to the already cheeky proceedings.

Gallery: Jetpack Joyride

Continue reading Portabliss: Jetpack Joyride (iOS)

JoystiqPortabliss: Jetpack Joyride (iOS) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebarry-steakfriescanabalthalfbrickhalfbrick-studiosiosjetpack-joyridemachine-gun-jetpackmobilemonster-dashportablissThu, 01 Sep 2011 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Decide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/decide-o-tron-app-from-penny-arcade-will-help-you-decide-which-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/decide-o-tron-app-from-penny-arcade-will-help-you-decide-which-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/decide-o-tron-app-from-penny-arcade-will-help-you-decide-which-g/#comments With so many different games and platforms out there, deciding what to play is a tough task. We sympathize, we really do -- and now the Penny Arcade guys are looking to take some of the guess work out of the whole thing with a new iOS app.

The app will be free of charge when it launches next month and will suggest games based on your preferences. It'll also feature wishlists you can share and "play lists" of notable online and gaming personalities, beginning with Penny Arcade's Gabe and Tycho themselves, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins.

Hit the jump for the full press release. There's also a website you can check out, if that's more your speed.

Continue reading Decide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy

JoystiqDecide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeappledecide-o-troniosipadiphoneitunesmacmobilepenny-arcadeMon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST