Games

MMORPG Vendetta Online previewed on iPad

Guild Software's sci-fi MMORPG Vendetta Online has been available on Android, Linux, Mac and Windows (RT included) since 2004. It's coming soon to iOS, with the first public iPad preview having launched today on Kickstarter. Guild Software's John Bergman explains that the team is planning on shipping the iPad build "as soon as we can" before fully focusing their attention on gameplay enhancements. The video demonstration runs on a prototype build running on an iPad 2 connected over Wi-Fi...

Real Racing 3 hands-on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YkqG0lG98

EA surprised us and dropped the Firemonkeys developed Real Racing 3 a few weeks earlier than its scheduled release in some territories. We were fortunate enough to be able to go hands-on with the highly anticipated sequel to iOS' darling racing game franchise.

While we're just beginning to progress through the game, some things were readily apparent. Yes, Real Racing 3 is a so-called freemium game, and EA is hoping that you will open your wallets as you make speedy progress through the game. We also found that the "online" experience is heavily watered down. In fact, I'd hesitate to actually call it online at all, as it's actually more of an asynchronous affair, which pits you against your friend's "ghost" racers instead.

Although the freemium aspect and the lack of true realtime head-to-head play may disappoint, the game tries to make up for it with its stunning visuals. This is hands-down the best looking iOS game I've ever seen or played. It's just an absolute visual overdose. The game looks wonderful on the iPad mini, and the iPhone 4, but to really appreciate its beauty, fire it up on a Retina enabled full-sized iPad. Trust me when I say this, you'll be picking your jaw up off the floor.

Infinity Blade goes free for a limited time

Infinity Blade is arguably one of the most popular gaming franchises on iOS (aside from Angry Birds and maybe Real Racing). First released in 2010 by Chair Entertainment and Epic Games, the action role player pulled in some $1.6 million in its first four days.

The game was popular enough to spawn at least one sequel, Infinity Blade 2, and possibly a third. Still don't get what all of the hype is about? Well now's your chance to investigate, because the title that started it all was just discounted to $0 for a limited time...

The official Die Hard game hits, in time for the movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv6Sj5ot3c8

In support of “A good day to die hard”, the upcoming new installment to the 25-year-old Die Hard movie franchise starring the now aged action hero Bruce Willis, Fox Digital Entertainment today released the official iOS game, a movie tie-in. Die Hard, the shooter, puts you in the shoes of Jack McClane, the son of New York City’s most famous cop, as you battle ruthless mobsters, elite commandos and shadowy politicians in Russia, with locations like Moscow’s mean streets and the radioactive wasteland of Chernobyl...

EA announces Tetris Blitz for iOS and Android, a twist on the famous puzzler

Hot on the heels of launching its free to play Real Racing 3 this morning on the New Zealand App Store (two weeks ahead of schedule), games publisher Electronic Arts announced a new game for iOS and Android devices, Tetris Blitz.

It's an “innovative new twist on the world famous puzzle game,” says Electronic Arts. A bite-sized, frenzied Tetris Blitz experience challenges you with a two-minute sprint to clear lines and rack up as many points as possible before time runs out.

Electronic Arts, the super publisher which in 2011 alone raked in $1 billion in digital revenue, brought the original Tetris game to the iPhone back in December 2009. The iPhone version of Tetris costs 99 cents and the iPad version is an additional three bucks...

Valentine’s Day comes early: Real Racing 3 hits New Zealand, Australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ8SljDv0yw

Today is a big day for iOS gamers as Electronic Arts launches the third installment in its popular Real Racing franchise. The game was originally scheduled for February 28 release so it wasn't clear why Electronic Arts decided to post it today, but we're not complaining even though the game initially launched in the New Zealand and Australia App Store.

The good news don't end here: as promised, Real Racing 3 is a free download with some unaggressive in-app purchases, a major strategic shift for Electronic Arts which typically prices its most recent iOS games between $5 and $10.

It's a massive download: you will need to have up to two gigabytes of free space on your device to install Real Racing 3, but Electronic Arts swears "it’s worth it"...

All of Rovio’s iPad titles on sale for $0.99

Looking for something to do this weekend? Well if you own an iPad, you're in luck. Rovio, the studio behind the wildly popular Angry Birds franchise, has just put all of its iPad titles on sale.

Everything from Angry Birds Star Wars, to Bad Piggies, to the physics puzzler Amazing Alex has been marked down to less than $1. We've got a full list of the discounts after the fold...

Tamagotchi attempts comeback in upcoming iOS app

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 10 years, chances are you know what a Tamagotchi is. The digital-pet-on-a-keychain was released by video game-maker Bandai in 1996, and has since sold more than 76 million units.

The fad, however, like an unfed digital pet, has passed away in recent years. But it looks like the popular toy is getting ready to make a comeback. Bandai has announced its upcoming title for iOS and Android called Tamagotchi L.i.f.e...

Sega takes After Burner Climax to the skies on iOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXPDoFoauQ8

Originally released as an arcade machine way back in 1987, Sega's high-adrenaline jet fighter action, After Burner Climax, has made a jump to the iPhone and iPad (it's also coming soon to Android). The game puts you in the cockpit of the F-14D Super Tomcat, F-15E Strike Eagle or F/A-18E Super Hornet, each customizable with four paint jobs (standard paint, camouflage, special paint and low visibility).

Load your aircraft with a bunch of high-tech weapons, take off into the skies and barrel through twenty different landscapes - like volcanoes, jungles, ice caps and more. Of course, the game's really just an excuse for a bunch of orange explosions and total mayhem.

Nevertheless, fans of some heart-pounding action (gee, I sound like a PR bunny) should consider giving After Burner Climax a try...

Oh noes! Infinity Blade: Dungeons on hold as Epic shutters Impossible Studios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1aaC8WCAY

Last March, Epic Games president Mike Capps joined Apple's marketing honcho Phil Schiller to announce Infinity Blade: Dungeons. After he had finished demoing work in progress code, I nearly peed my pants out of excitement. What the team was able to pull off in terms of huge environments, menacing atmosphere and eye-candy visuals was nothing short of phenomenal, leaving me salivating for more. If there ever was such a thing as a Retina iPad system seller, Infinity Blade: Dungeons would have to be it.

Then we heard the game got pushed back until some time in 2013 because implementing all these great ideas required "a little extra time". As if that weren't bad enough, Epic Games CEO has just confirmed that the project is now on hold until the company figures out its future following the closure of Impossible Studios, the team which was working on the game...

Cut the Rope ‘Lantern’ box arrives in time for Chinese New Year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwziSZJ7gpk

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Ahead of the upcoming festivities which come with a seemingly endless stream of colorful lanterns being released in the sky, Cut the Rope maker Zeptolab and UK publisher Chillingo have issued a content update which brings a brand new Lantern box full of - you guessed right - floating paper lanterns. With the 25 new levels, Cut the Rope now has a total of 350 levels spread across fourteen different boxes. Not bad for a 99-cent game...

Temple Run 2 hits 50M downloads in under two weeks

After announcing last week that its new title, Temple Run 2, saw 20 million downloads in its first 4 days, Imangi Studios is back today with news of another record-breaking milestone.

Today, they announced that the sequel to the popular endless-runner game has been downloaded more than 50 million times on iOS, Android and Kindle devices in less than 2 weeks...