Kotaku: android

Google Yanks Android Ports of Doom, Quake on ZeniMax Demand

Owen Good — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:00 MST

A takedown notice sent by ZeniMax led to the Android Store's removal of several ports of Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein; one of the developers admits that, though the port used open-source Doom code, some of the game files were proprietary.

ZeniMax, which of course now owns iD software, filed the DMCA complaint with Google. Developer L!TH!UM told the site Android and Me that Doom for Android, offered for free, was built with open source code but "My mistake was allowing the download of the Plutonia and TNT WADs, at least that is what I suspect."

"Although I may not be able to distribute the application through the Market, the APK can still be downloaded and installed through the web," the dev said.

Other ports pulled include: Ultimate Doom; Quake Platinum; Doom II; Wolf 3D: Spear of Destiny (two versions); Wolfenstein 3D; Quake GL; Wolfenstein 3D Lite (Beta 2) and Doom Soundboard.

iD Software frags Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein ports for Android [Android and Me via Game Politics]

Guitar Hero, Now On Google Phone

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:00:00 MST

Activision like to exploit franchises. Guitar Hero is probably their biggest. So when a new platform - the Google Phone - comes around, you can bet Activision will be exploiting Guitar Hero on it.

Announced yesterday was an Android-ready version of Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile. It differs from the standard version of GHWTM by featuring touch-screen gameplay, as gamers literally tap the fret button at the base of the screen.

For those unfamiliar with GHWTM's particular brand of exploitation, the game features 15 tracks, most of them of the classic rock variety. Which is fine. Our question: if they can do a version for the Android, why can't they do one for the iPhone?

Android Phone gets Guitar Hero app [The Guardian] [Image: Gizmodo]

PerBlue Build A Parallel Kingdom For Mobile Gamers

Stuart Houghton — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:20:00 MDT

Parallel Kingdom is a Mobile Multiplayer Trans-Reality Game (That's MMTRG, acronym fans) for the iPhone (obviously) and phones running Android (ooh!).

The game overlays a simple 2D medieval RPG on a map of the real world - tracking your position via your phone's built-in GPS.

You can do all the usual RPG-type-stuff: PvP, trading, item crafting and building strongholds, competing against other players who wander too close to your personal space.

This video gives you the gist - although it is slightly fanciful compared to the actual gameplay.

‘Parallel Kingdom’, An Upcoming Location-based MMORPG [Touch Arcade]

Gameloft & Glu Announce Android Games

Stuart Houghton — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:20:00 MDT

Oh, it's on now. The first phone loaded with Google's Android operating system launched yesterday with a decidedly underwhelming games line-up of, er, just Pac-Man.

Hang on, though - Gameloft has just announced that it will be launching 10 Android titles in the new year and Glu is rolling out a new Android-exclusive title - the Zuma Deluxe-like Bonsai Blast.

Gameloft have not revealed what their titles will be, but they have a load of decent licenses to choose from. Midnight Pool and Lumines, anyone?

Game on with Google, Gameloft and Glu

Great, ANOTHER Handheld Platform To Worry About

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:30:00 MDT

Look, three home consoles to look after, that's OK. It's doable. Throw a PC in there, still doable. A couple of prominent handheld platforms, you're stretching it, but we can manage. The iPhone, though...well, that was almost a bridge too far. So we're less than thrilled to hear that there's now another major mobile device on the market that'll support games. Launched yesterday to quite a bit of fanfare, Google's Android phone may just give Apple a run for its money in the "do everything" phone market. May. Won't with its initial games lineup, though. Where the iPhone's app store launched with a range of big-budget titles from the likes of Sega and EA, the Android has...Pac-Man. Uh, great, thanks. On the bright side, the phone's meant to be an open source dream, so hopefully it's not too long before some more interesting titles come along. That or someone gets SCUMM working.

US, September 23, 2008 - Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of mobile games and entertainment for mass-market casual gamers, today announced the availability of the arcade classic Pac-Man on the first Android-powered device, announced today by T-Mobile. When the phone launches, Pac-Man will be available to consumers in the Android Market at no charge, giving owners of the new T-Mobile G1 handset full access to the game which usually retails for $9.99.

"We are thrilled to launch Pac-Man on the flagship Android-powered device," said Scott Rubin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Namco Networks. "To encourage consumers to checkout Pac-Man on the G1, we are picking up the tab for the game. We want consumers to see how great Pac-Man looks on this device and how well it plays on the Android platform."

Who can forget the countless hours and quarters spent avoiding the pesky ghosts while chompin' on the dots? In addition to the classic and addictive game play, Pac-Man, the most popular video game in American arcade history, has been upgraded to fully utilize the T-Mobile G1's features. Taking advantage of the device's large screen, Pac-Man on the T-Mobile G1 includes three unique control schemes:

Swipe Mode allows players to direct Pac-Man's path by simply swiping in the direction you want to travel.
Track Mode lets players zip through mazes using the phone's trackball.
Accelerometer Mode allows players to control Pac-Man by tilting the phone in the direction they want to move.
For more information on Pac-Man for the G1 or other mobile games by Namco, please visit www.namcogames.com.

Gizmondo 2.0 DEFINITELY Out By Christmas (This Year!)

Stuart Houghton — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:00:00 MDT

There is absolutely no way this will not happen. Rich Jenkins of Media Power has let a Swedish journalist see the new Gizmondo and confirmed it will be on sale by the end of the year. This year, before you ask.

The first Gizmondo was.. not very successful, but the new device - with its NVIDIA graphics and the option of either Windows CE or Google's Android as an OS is sure to be a winner, right?

A games handheld running Android could be a goer - there should be plenty of decent Android ports of around soon, but when was the last time you went out of your way to play a game on Windows CE? Can you even name 3 games that run on that platform?

Gizmondo 2 Is Here - Sales Start In November/December [The Nordic Link via MCV]