The new iPod Touch 2G runs at 532MHz as opposed to the 412MHz of earlier models - including the iPhone 3G (the G's mean something different, don't worry about it) and Handheld Games suspect there may be undocumented differences in the GPU speeds as well.

After some experimentation, the four iterations of the device are ranked as follows:

1. iPod Touch 2nd Generation
2. iPhone 3G
3. iPhone (original)
4. iPod Touch 1st Generation

This YouTube clip is meant to illustrate the difference in app loading speeds between the four models, although it would probably have been more visually effective if he has hit the icon on each at the exact same moment.

As it it, though, this is a bit like watching Rick Wakeman playing loads of keyboards at once.

2nd Generation iPod Touch Faster than iPhone [Touch Arcade]

"Everyone thinks we are a software company," said Bach. "That's true. But, we have been in the hardware market for 26 years now. Games and phones, we have only been in these markets for a short time but we are seeing great success."

Microsoft makes phones? Perhaps the great success lies in keeping me completely unaware of this! Bach spent some time during the conference talking up upcoming Zune features, such as the ability to play games, which I am almost positive will justify my Zune purchase whenever the choose to get around to adding that. Hey, did you hear the new models are hitting next week, allowing you to download songs directly from the Zune? Picking up the new iPod Touch instead? Just checking.

Game on, says computer giant [Alberni Valley Times]

Song Summoner uses a "tactics-based battle system" and is controlled via the iPod's click wheel. Your Tune Troopers allies can also be "powered up" by listing to the tracks used to create them. Sound cool? If your answer is "YES!", then make your way to the gallery and press release, both after the break.

SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes, a Full-Scale Role-Playing Game for iPod, Now Available on iTunes

LOS ANGELES (July 7, 2008) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced the release of SONG SUMMONER™:

The Unsung Heroes, on sale at the iTunes® Store worldwide (www.itunes.com) and available for play in English and Japanese on the iPod nano with video, iPod classic and fifth generation iPod.

SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes is a Role-Playing Game that transforms your iPod® songs into powerful "Tune Troopers" that you can control in battle! As the protagonist Ziggy, you will embark on an epic journey to rescue your brother from the clutches of the Mechanical Militia! Intriguing characters, an epic story and a tactics-based battle system combine for a rich RPG experience previously only available on home and handheld game consoles.

SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes
Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
Platform: iPod nano with video, iPod classic and fifth generation iPod\
Genre: Role-Playing
Launch Date: July 8, 2008
Price: 4.99 USD (iTunes Store download)

Story
From the days of old, Melodica was a land of music, a land of freedom. The people sang, played and danced to the music they so cherished. Until one day, they came — the Mechanoids, who enhanced their bodies with machinery. Those who were tempted by greed and power willingly gave away their souls for bodies of steel, forsaking their humanity to become cold, emotionless automatons. Now, they seek to destroy all that do not embrace their way of life.

But there is hope on the horizon. There are those who are fated to stand against the tyranny of the machines — the Superstars, who can turn sound into lethal weapons, and the Conductor, also known as the Song Summoner, who can summon powerful warriors born of music.

In their most desperate hour, Melodica awaits the arrival of their new Song Summoner...

Game Features
- Transform your iPod songs into "Tune Troopers" to combat the evil Mechanical Militia.
- Tune Trooper types and abilities are determined by the songs used to create them.
- Your Tune Troopers can be powered up even outside of the game—just by listening to the songs you used to create them!
- Control Ziggy, a "Conductor" that creates warriors out of music, and guide him through his journey to save his brother Zero from the Mechanical Militia.
- Experience a turn-based tactics battle system, divided into player and enemy phases where each side takes turns maneuvering their forces.
- Deploy the right troopers at the right time, and use contraptions found on the map effectively to achieve victory in battle!
- iPod Click Wheel allows players to play the game as easily as selecting music.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises -

FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 43 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing, and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.

The game was originally unveiled in March with four complete stages, but the finished game contains 110 stages across five worlds, featuring all four classic monkeys, said the spokesperson. The first world, Monkey Island, was unveiled at the game's debut in March, and the fifth world, Space Case, was unveiled today.

Users can accelerate, decelerate and turn using the iPhone's accelerometer and tilt control, and Einhorn demonstrated; our neighbors at Gizmodo snapped this pic.

"For Sega, the App Store represents an amazing opportunity, because we can now be in the same place where people are buying music and movies, and they can take that content with them wherever they go," said Einhorn.

"We can't wait to see what's possible with our other market characters."

[Image Credit: Gizmodo's Liveblog]

"EA Mobile continues to create and distribute games that compel potential customers to download and play games on mobile devices," said Travis Boatman, Vice President of Worldwide Studios, EA Mobile. "The wide range of handsets, from everyday devices to sophisticated 3G phones, and the iPod, provide great platforms that foster and satisfy consumer demand for anytime entertainment."

Here's the full break-down:
The Sims 2 Castaway (mobile)
The Sims Pool (mobile)
Monopoly Here & Now (mobile)
Yahtzee Adventures (mobile)
Merv Griffin's Crosswords (mobile)
Scrabble (iPod)
Yahtzee (iPod)

Screw the iPod, where are my iPhone games? Hit the jump for the descriptions if you're all out-dated and boring and don't own an iPhone...loser.

Games for Mobile Phones
The Sims 2 Castaway
EA Mobile invites gamers to get lost on a remote island with The Sims Castaway as they create, customize and guide a Sim to explore, survive and thrive on an uncharted tropical paradise. Vividly rendered lagoons, jungles, beaches and hidden pirate treasures await fans. The goal: provide your Sim with food, make clothing and build shelter. The Sims 2 Castaway continues The Sims franchise tradition of community: avoid isolation and keep your Sim happy by communicating with other inhabitants. With easy, one-button controls to move your Sim and interact with others, The Sims 2 Castaway unveils rich worlds new to The Sims universe!

The Sims Pool
With The Sims Pool, you can customize your Sim characters, and then hit the pool hall to compete against other Sims in exciting 8 or 9-ball action. Pool fans and newcomers can perfect their skills and watch their popularity soar as they sink balls, execute impressive trick shots and pull off slick combos. Advanced pool physics and an easy one-button interface deliver exciting pool fun for everyone.

Monopoly Here & Now
Monopoly Here & Now, developed via the EA and Hasbro, Inc. alliance, updates the world popular board game with a modern twist, allowing players to buy and sell properties like Waikiki Beach, Fenway Park, and more. Using simple controls to roll the dice, move around the properties, and keep score, gamers can buy, sell, and trade as they strive to put the competition out of business to win it all. Offering solo competition against the phone or pass 'n play with friends, Monopoly Here & Now delivers great fun - anytime and anywhere.

Yahtzee Adventures
Tour the world with Yahtzee Adventures! Play this new version of the treasured Hasbro dice game on your phone. Travel the globe, meet new characters and challenge them to a game, roll the colorful dice and be the first to score a Yahtzee! Enjoy Classic, Duplicate, Rainbow and Battle modes. Pass 'n Play with your friends, or try your hand at a Yahtzee single-player adventure. Dynamic, exciting gameplay, easy controls, and automatic scorekeeping deliver terrific mobile entertainment for you, your friends and family.

Merv Griffin's Crosswords
Experience all of the fun and excitement of the popular TV show with Merv Griffin's Crosswords - now mobile. Players can customize an avatar and choose to play in Timed Mode or Casual Mode. In Timed Mode, it's a race against the clock to enter answers as fast as possible, with virtual cash and prizes at stake. Or play at leisure with no time limits or opponents in Casual Mode. Simple controls make it easy to buzz in to the board, answer the word hint and complete the Crossword. Merv Griffin's Crosswords is great fun for all ages and skill levels!

Games for the iPod
Scrabble
Scrabble, under license from Hasbro in North America only, spells major f-u-n on your iPod! It includes flexible difficulty levels, a built-in word list, dynamic animations, scrolling and full-board views. Use the click-wheel to play alone, challenge the computer in your iPod, or enjoy pass n' play with a friend. The game offers tips, like the "Best Word" feature which suggests the optimal word that can be formed with your tiles. Scrabble on the iPod is great fun for all - from wordplay mavens to new Scrabble players.

Yahtzee
Let the good times roll with Yahtzee on iPod! Vivid dice animations, easy score-keeping, multiple game modes, and simple click-wheel controls deliver classic Yahtzee fun. Fans can play solo, against a friend, or against the computer in their iPod. With unlockable difficulty levels, help menus and pop-up hints to explain the basics, Yahtzee on the iPod is perfect for novices as well as experienced players. Enjoy the iPod version of this wildly popular Hasbro family game!

The Sims 2 Castaway, The Sims Pool, Monopoly Here & Now and Yahtzee Adventures are now available on wireless carriers in North America. Merv Griffin's Crosswords has launched on Verizon Wireless, and is coming soon to other carriers. For more information on carrier availability and pricing, please visit www.eamobile.com.

Yahtzee is available worldwide through iTunes. Scrabble is available via iTunes in the United States and Canada only. All iPod games are available for the iPod nano, iPod classic and fifth-generation iPod and can be sent as a gift using the iTunes gifting feature (www.itunes.com).

But this mock-up? It's a miss. As much as we love the iPod's click wheel, a proper d-pad it is not. Oh, and where the hell are the analog sticks?

iPSP: If Apple had designed the Sony PSP [Spicu]

It's priced at $4.99 US, which should make many of us thankful for more reasonable prices on fully-featured games via Xbox Live and PSN. Sorry folks who don't have an iPod nano with video, iPod classic or fifth generation iPod, you're out of luck.

MAKE WAY FOR THE Q Wii N [The People]
[via Videogamer.com]

It's the day after Christmas and, for many, a time to check out new gaming rigs.I suspect this may have been the year for many of those reluctant gamers to make the switch from old gen to current gen hardware, or for parents to take the plunge into the world of console gaming for the first time.

I know at least one of my neighbors were suspecting a Wii for Christmas and another a 360. I introduced my dad to the Wii last night and after spending a bit of time playing Carnival, Jenga, and Excite Truck I showed him how you could check news, browse the internet and get weather updates. Now he's talking about getting a Wii, or a next-gen console, when he retires in a few months.

I, of course, didn't get any new gaming hardware, because I've already got all of the systems, but my son received one of the newer iPods with a copy of Sonic installed on it. So even he get a chance to check out a new gaming platform. What about you, are you new to a gaming system today or did anyone in your family receive a new console this holiday?

"Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters of all time," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO of SEGA of America, "And with the installed base that iPod enjoys Sonic now becomes available to a whole new group of casual and hardcore gamers just in the time for the holidays."

Sonic The Hedgehog Comes to the iPod

Fan-favorite Sonic The Hedgehog Now Available for Purchase or Gifting on the iTunes Store

SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that Sonic The Hedgehog is now available for play on the new iPod nano with video, the iPod classic and the fifth generation iPod. Sonic The Hedgehog was originally introduced in 1991 and has become one of the most popular video game franchises in history, selling well over 45 million copies. Sonic fans can purchase and download the game from the iTunes Store for $4.99 (www.itunes.com). Sonic has been designed specifically for the iPod and is available on the 22 iTunes Stores around the world.

"Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters of all time," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO of SEGA of America, "And with the installed base that iPod enjoys Sonic now becomes available to a whole new group of casual and hardcore gamers just in the time for the holidays."

iTunes customers can buy the game for themselves, or easily give the gift of Sonic The Hedgehog. Similar to music and video content on the iTunes Store, customers simply find the game on iTunes and click the "Gift This Game" button.

We're all eagerly anticipating Rock Band, but yesterday morning Harmonix delivered one more thing: A surprise iPod music game called Phase. So I jumped on the phone with lead producer Kasson Crooker, who told me about whether Steve Jobs has played it, if we can expect an iPhone version, and, most interesting of all, whether the beat-detecting technology in Phase could soon be applied to a game like Rock Band.

Kasson: We have soundtracks, downloadable content, and this is the next step: re-experiencing your own music in a game. We wouldn't be able to separate out all the instruments and what not, but I think you'll see this kind of technology used in other Harmonix products down the road.

Geoff: Hey Kasson, thanks for taking the time to chat. How did this project come about?

Kasson: In the past all our games have forced you to play with a certain set of songs. We've always wanted to do something that would let you pick what kind of music you want to interact with and go from there. Of course the challenge is to come up with technology to analyze a user's songs and turn them into an actual game. About 18 months ago we started working on that technology to look for events in songs, pick up the tempo, the rhythm, and turn all of it into something fun on the fly. We started prototyping based off that technology with no idea where the game would show up. Would it be a console game? A flash game? A cell phone game? It was just about 8-10 of us working on it.

Geoff: So when did the iPod come into the mix?

Kasson: A couple months into it we got introduced to the iPod games guys and it just seemed like such a natural fit. The iPod is where you keep all your songs and it's a piece of technology that everybody has, so it really was exactly the right platform for a game like this.

Geoff: So do we know if Steve Jobs plays Guitar Hero? Rocka Band? Or has he even had a chance to check out Phase?

Kasson: I honestly don't know! His relationship with games is a little bit in question I think. I haven't heard about it if he has indeed played the game.

Geoff: How long did it take to develop the game?

Kasson: About a year. First we had to come up with the beat matching gameplay. It was important to take advantage of the unique interface of the iPod, so that's where we came up with the idea of moving your thumb around the clickwheel to catch things.

There have certainly been a lot of challenges too. We're used to working on consoles with a lot of memory and graphics horsepower. The iPod was never intended as a game device so there's a lot we couldn't do. The graphics are pretty simple. And we couldn't do things like put some audio filtering over the songs to tell you how well you are doing.

Originally the game was just going to be for the 5th generation iPod Video, but once the new Nano and Classic were announced we scrambled to get it to work on those too.

Geoff: This is an obvious question, but any plans for a version that works on iPod Touch or iPhone?

Kasson: Yeah, we've thought about it. One of the things that has been really important to Harmonix is the concept that our games are more platforms than just one-offs. But what I will say is that I don't think we'd ever just port Phase to the iPhone. Every interface dictates something new. There's no click wheel but you could glide things around on a touch screen and interact with the music in different ways. We'd want to re-sculpt the game around that interface.

Geoff: Any plans for a little mini-guitar peripheral that plugs into your iPod port? I had to ask.

Kasson: Not a bad idea! But no plans right now.

Geoff: One early complaint about the game is that you have to create a separate iTunes 7.5 playlist and convert songs to work in the game. In other words you can't just randomly select a song on your iPod and play it.

Kasson: We had a lot of discussions about the right solution and worked really closely with Apple since the conversion software is actually part of iTunes 7.5. When you convert your songs it creates a small little data file on your hard drive. But we didn't want to force people to convert 10,000 songs in their iTunes library. And the iPod isn't powerful enough to do that analysis on the fly by itself. But if you really want every iTunes song to work in Phase you can just convert them all and transfer them over.

Geoff: Now that you've developed this beat detection technology, could we see it applied to Rock Band? I'm imagining a mode where you put a CD in your Xbox 360 disc drive, the game rips the song and then let you play along to it.

Kasson: Totally! We have soundtracks, downloadable content, and this is the next step: re-experiencing your own music in a game. We wouldn't be able to separate out all the instruments and what not, but I think you'll see this kind of technology used in other Harmonix products down the road.

Thanks New Open!

A two-inch color LCD display isn't very big, no matter how you slice it (though it's large enough for Nintendo to make a jeans pocket-sized game system around, its Game Boy Micro). The clarity of the 320-by-240 display is remarkable, and the brightness is also quite good. Still, I can't quite get past the size. It's too small to see a lot of detail in the games. I was already a bit put off by Ms. Pac-Man's tiny dimensions on the larger iPod's display; here it's almost to the point of being ridiculous... Because of the overall tiny dimensions of the new iPod nano, I found my hand cramping up during long gaming sessions — it was just a tad awkward to have the iPod nano perched in my hand with my thumb on the Click Wheel all the time.

PAC-MAN Leather MP3 Player Case [Club Namco]
[via the bbps]

Live: The Beat Goes On [gizmodo]

It's no secret that Apple has been trying desperately to get a handle on the games market that has so woefully ignored their computer systems up to this point and the introduction of the iPhone has given them a perfect platform on which to dispense casual games. But, would the iPhone ever be able to come up to the level of the DS of the PSP? Perhaps, but with a price tag that costs more than your average console, I seriously doubt it will be able to get a leg up on the DS which is not only significantly cheaper, but has already sold and amazing amount of units worldwide. Then again as we've seen with the iPod, never underestimate the power of Apple.

NINTENDO AND APPLE PLATFORMS ARE GAMING EACH OTHER [New York Post]

The only catch is that the mod only works with 3rd or 4th gen iPods. But that's all right. It was all downhill after generation three when build materials became cheaper, and buttons transformed into a "click wheel."

NES Controller iPod Remote [via playgadgets]

Pocket Gamer has word that EA's latest port from mobile to iPod will be The Sims Bowling. The game, available now on iTunes, will let you earn Simoleons on the lanes to pay for skill-enhancing products like new balls, gloves and wax. You can also get spiffy new clothes.

Game modes include Classic, Strike-O-Thon and Spare-O-Thon. There's also turn-based multiplay. I wonder when EA will start churning out games for the iPhone, it's the next logical step.

EA's sixth iPod game is The Sims Bowling [Pocket Gamer]

Like other iPod games, Ms. Pac-Man will set you back $4.99 (practically free!) via the iTunes store. The reps from Namco call the iPod release "a great way to kick-off a year-long anniversary celebration." They are referring, of course, to the 26-year anniversary of Ms. Pac-Man's arcade release, a milestone no corporation should ever miss a chance to capitalize upon.

Ms. Pac-Man brings the iPod gaming library up to a very respectable twelve games. I can't wait to hit a baker's dozen! Michael McWhertor

What you know about us: I live in Japan, Crecente is a pirate, McWhertor needs to shave, Fahey gives away cookies to strangers, Plunkett has "LOVE" "HATE" tattoos, Mark Wilson's real name is actually Wilson Mark and Flynn is always five minutes late. Always.

But, what do we know about you? Not much! So, we want to learn all about whoever the hell reads this site and give you an iPod Shuffle (color of your choice) in the process. Hit up our survey, answer our questions and enter your email address by March 5th. All your info will be kept strictly private with data only distributed in anonymous aggregated. You won't receive any emails or sales pitches or crap like that. If you don't want to enter your email address, that's fine. Still do fill out the survey (though, you won't be eligible for the iPod Shuffle).

So go ahead, click here and take the survey, which takes less that two minutes. Here are our contest rules. Brian Ashcraft

I received this email over the weekend advertising games for the iPod. The funny thing is that I have a Zune. At $5 a pop, they seem like a pretty decent deal, too bad they're limited to what you can get on your phone. Brian Crecente

This has got to be the best Ipod mod I think I have ever seen. Creator sirljohns took an old Gameboy, disemboweled it and then inserted the the Ipod inside after doing a bit of fancy wiring work to get the Gameboy buttons to actually control the device.

Sirljohns has many more pictures of the process he went through to create the masterpiece and provides explanation as to exactly how he did it. Thanks to an internal dock connector, he says, no Ipods were harmed in the making of this Frankenmachine. Now if I can just get him to make me one.

Sirljohns Iboy [Flickr]
[via Engadget]

The thing about most mods is that they're pure show-off. Not this. It's not only neat, but functional as well. A guy (with dirty fingernails) over at Acid Mods apparently figured out how to dock his NES controller with an iPod so he can play Doom. If it's real, color us impressed! Brian Ashcraft

NES Controller iPod Hack [Hack A Day]

Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft will start introducing video games for their Zune music player within the next 18 months to match what Apple is doing with their iPod.

``I love the interface, I love the screen,'' Peter Moore said at a dinner with reporters during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The story goes on to talk about the Zune's expected sales versus iPod sales. Blah, blah, blah. Interesting timing, since I just mentioned like 10 minutes ago that rumor I heard about Apple beefing up games for their iPod. Brian Crecente

Microsoft Will Add Video Games to Zune by July 2008 (Update4) [Bloomberg]

Steve Jobs will be taking to the stage at Macworld 2007 any second now. We know he's going to be talking about the company's new phone, according to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, but there's been a presistent rumor that he's also going to be talking about gaming.

Specifically, what I've heard is that Apple want to rev up their casual game production for both the iPod and the new phone. Makes sense. Is it real? We'll find out in the next 30 minutes or so. Brian Crecente

So this seemingly has little to do with gaming, but bear with him for a second.

This morning I was checking out Penny Arcade when I came upon Tycho's Zune confessional. Not only did he buy a Zune instead of an iPod, he actually likes it. The thing is, I'm in the same boat. I had the choice of my family gifting me with a video iPod or a Zune and I went with the Zune. And I did this knowing full well what I was getting myself into because I wrote up a review of the player for the Rocky a month or so ago.

So far I've been mostly happy with my brown and greenish player, it's got a wicked sweet screen for playing all of that video content that falls into my computer from the tubes and its got the whole $15 all you can eat service, which is great for checking out new music. I think you college kids call that experimentation.

But I know that deep down that the real reason I picked the Zune, and I suspect this is true for Tycho too, is because I hold out hopes that one day Microsoft is going to announce some crazy, amazing connectivity between it and the Xbox 360. Like maybe it will let me use Live Anywhere and I can use it to track my Rainbow Six Vegas stats or stream video from the Live Store.

I actually pestered Microsoft about this prior to making my decision, haranguing them mercilessly until they finally capitulated with a "I'm sure that's possible one day."

I'm curious if a bulk of Zune owners also happen to have an Xbox 360. I can't imagine I'm the only one investing my loved-ones money on the potential of consumer electronics. Brian Crecente

Penny Arcade

The iPod may have an impressive install base, with some 67 million units sold, but the game selection kind of sucks. Maybe it's that only a percentage of those are full-size, fifth-generation iPods with screens capable of playing the downloadable casual games.

Fortunately gamers who've tired of Bejeweled and Cubis 2 now have two more options, bringing the total number of iPod games to eleven (woohoo!). EA has released (say it with me) Sudoku and Royal Solitaire which weigh in at 25MB and 45MB respectively and will set you back a mere $4.99. Cheap!

Interested parties (both of you) should check out the iTunes Music Store for you casual, downloadable fun. Me? I think I'll stick to my GBA micro. Michael McWhertor

The Wii? Whatever. The Xbox 360? Pffft. Sony's playing field is wider than that. Way wider! While giving his typical we-were-never-first spiel, he got down to brass tacks regarding whom Sony is competing with:

If you look back at the history of product launches we were never first. The real test comes when any other products are available in abundance so the consumer can walk into any retailer and pick up whatever console they want.

...and...

There have always been other entertainment options. Certainly YouTube and iPods are other entertainment options we are now competing with.

Not only that, the PS3 is also competing with sunlight. Oxygen, you're next! WATCH OUT. Brian Ashcraft

PS3 Takes On Everything [Yahoo]

Hey kids! It's time for everyone's favorite program: Wondering when Apple's game console will hit. Blog Cathode Tan and game site Next-Gen chime in and ponder if the code named iTV, an upcoming device that streams digital media from TV to computer, will include gaming capabilities. We don't know much at this point, but perhaps it could power those new iPod games. The Apple Remote could then be used as a game controller. But, honestly, what the hell's the point? Apple, we're sick of waiting around, speculating and rumor-mongering. Get to cracking on a new game machine. And, for goodness sake, make it good. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Cathode Tan]

CyberNet news reports that a WalMart website screwup listed the Zune's price in advance: $284.00.

With the new 30g iPods going for $249, this is not an especially competitive price point, despite the new features. Perhaps the price was pulled because it isn't the final price at all, but I may be overly optimistic on this point.

And with the new iPod gaming abilities, Microsoft better be taking a hard look at the further possibilities offered by such a neato little device. Unused hardware possibilities, as all PSP owners learned, only end in tears. There is a simmering resentment inherent in knowing a piece of hardware can do more, but not being given the means to use it.

I know they told us the Zune would not be a games machine, but rethinking that decision might be a good move at this point. Eliza Gauger

[CyberNet News]

Apple's recent annoucement of iPod games has visions of Doom and sugarplums dancing in our heads. I mean, we know you can already technically do Doom on the iPod. But we're looking for a solution that doesn't require us to install some godawful Linux OS.

Unfortunately, it looks like the iPod's game SDK is extremely closed... homebrew at this point looks like a virtual impossibility on a stock iPod:

Modifying the games is difficult at best, if not impossible, because of the checksumming of every file in the bundle, and then the certificate against the manifest.

Game resource files, particularly audio, aren't obfuscated and can be extracted successfully.

Homebrew is probably an impossibility at this point because of the expectation of a signed cert from Apple.

The fact that there are platform identifiers in the plists makes me wonder what Apple's future plans entail. Maybe this would just be for later iPod revisions, or maybe they're just looking forward. Still, quite interesting.

Cathode Tan, where we snagged this from, points out how absurd it is that while Microsoft releases an SDK for the 360 and Sony updates their PSP firmware, Apple won't even acknowledge the homebrew community one way or another. Then again, Apple has never made any attempt to capture gamers — that's why every Apple Intel Mac owner has Boot Camp installed. Florian Eckhardt

Dissecting iPod Games [Cathode Tan]

In downtown San Francisco earlier today, big brother site Gizmodo was deployed to cover the Apple Showtime event. Along with new Nanos, Shuffles, updated iPods, new iTunes movie store, and iTV, Apple unveiled its new video game line-up for the iPod. Titles include: Tetris, Bejeweled, Pac-Man, Cubis 2, Mahjon, Mini Golf, Texas Hold'em, Vortex and Zuma. Not bad for device whose previously "games" included Brick, Parachute, Solitaire and Music Quiz. The Giz guys even have a handy guide on how to get iPod games to work on your 5G iPod. Where are these iGames available? At the iTunes stores. When? Right now! Brian Ashcraft

Get Yer 5G iPod to Play Games [Gizmodo]

This should techinically be titled "shitting iPods = terrorism" but this is, after all, a gaming blog.

A member of the WoW.com forums posts that a simple trip to the airplane lavatory ended in disaster when his iPod fell off its clip and into the bowl. He didn't realize it was missing until some time later, and when he told the stewardesses they had already called the feds about the mysterious electronic device in the toilet.

After an emergency landing, the passengers were bussed to a warehouse and interrogated. Our hero's recreational habits fell under scrutiny.

They asked me why I was visiting Canada. I was to visit a friend I met on World of Warcraft, Cara. They took down her name and what I could remember of her address. They asked me how we met.

"In an online game."
"What online game?"
"Umm ... World of Warcraft," I responded meekly.
"What kind of game is this?"
"It's a fantasy game ... it takes place online."
"Fantasy ... like it's got wizards and warlocks?"
"Well, it's got warlocks." (And they need to be nerfed.)

Later on he talks about giving some lip to the fascist bastard that was searching his laptop for "propaganda". I hope this is true, as I am eager to hear about any sort of protestation against the clusterfuck that air travel has become. My last trip through John Wayne Airport was the best reason to move to Vancouver I've ever seen. Eliza "fuck the TSA" Gauger

Full post here [WoW.com] [pic]

2old2play is rocking a detailed report on the Zune, the little mp3 player that is being touted as the iPod killer. And it doesn't look so hot. Biggest issue I see so far is the button setup.

That Wheel Thing: Not so cool. Turns out that there's no touch-sensitive scrolling feature here - it's shaped like a wheel, but it's really just buttons. Zune has a menu button on the left of the circle, scroll buttons within the circle, and a play/pause button to the right of the circle. There's also a hold switch just like Apple's on the unit's top, near the headphone port. You press up and down on the "Wheel" to scroll up and down through menus.

Scrollwheel's pretty much de rigeur for handheld music players, I think. I've been reading articles about the thumb-twiddling action and satisfying clicking noises being highly addictive. Frankly, if this thing isn't A) incredibly amazing or B) insanely cheap, it's not gonna make a dent in Apple. Eliza Gauger

More here [2old2play]

Even with a plethora of pouches and accessories, some finicky folks can never find the perfect way to store their gear. Reader David dropped us a line to let us know what works for him. His criteria is pretty simple: He prefers not to have gaming logos all over it and no neoprene bulk. David, the floor is yours:

1) The Tom Bihn Small Organizer Pouch - http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/ACC/TB0317 Tom Bihn make some pretty nice laptop cases, and their organizer pouch is no exception. The small measures: 7" x 5" (180 x 125 mm) and fits the DS Lite very snugly. That being said there is room for a few games, and I have also managed to stick my Nano in there at the same time.

2) Eclipse mint boxes - http://www.wrigley.com/wrigley/products/products_eclipse.asp
Eclipse make some nice mints in metal cases with fliptop lids. Once the mints were finished, I gave the inside a clean with tissue and compressed air and it now fits 9 DS games perfectly. It might fit 10, but I only have 9 games so I haven't tested 10. I have been contemplating taking the paint off, so it's a plain metal case, but I am not sure of the best and easiest way to do this.

Carrying a Nano and a DS Lite? Together?! That isn't asking for a crack, but begging. Begging, David! Any other neat storage solutions in Kotaku-land? Brian Ashcraft

Note that one lucky reader will win an iPod.

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Music is okay, I guess. I listen to that. But what about games? Nothing yet! While we all can safely assume Zune will become a Live Anywhere enabled device at some point, gaming functions may not become a hardware reality any time soon. For now it seems that MS is planning "seven or eight" hardware configurations, with a focus on music and community.

According to Gizmodo, this whole "community" angle means that John B. Consumerist will see Zune:

...provide ubiquitous access to digital media from a wide range of Windows-powered devices in what ultimately aspires to be one part MySpace, one part iTunes and one part Xbox Live.

Duh! Take three hugely successful online services, roll 'em up into one big Microsoft product fantasy and you simply can't lose! Why didn't we think of that? That's why J Allard and Robbie Bach make the big bucks and we're still renting.

But sorry fellow nerds, with yesterday's announced functionality, it doesn't look like we're getting another DS or PSP, or that Argo/Zune will be the "Xboy" Windows fanboys have been creaming and dreaming of. Don't rule out the Zune's capability to be huge with the music, movies, and casual gaming crowd. We'll see this marketshare drama unleash this Christmas and beyond when the little monster is released.

Until then, keep your eyes on Gizmodo, whose coverage of the Zune shall surely continue to be nothing short of stellar, and check out the official Zune teaser site. There's very little to see at the latter, with the exception of some cute bunny patting, some swell indie-cred building, and a newsletter subscription form. Michael McWhertor

Zune Teaser Site
Microsoft's Zune Announcement [Gizmodo]
Zune News Trifecta [Gizmodo]

We've heard rumblings that the iPod is going to try to go head to head with Nintendo and Sony as a portable gaming platform before. For example, a couple of months ago, former Lucasarts technical director Mike Lampell headed up an Apple-endorsed group of "coders with a gaming background." And other such rumors.

More logs for the rumor fire: NVidia has allegedly won a contract to supply Apple with graphics chips for future video iPods. Not only that, but another rumor states that upcoming iPods will play old Nintendo games.

I'm more than a little skeptical. The iPod is a great little mp3 player, but the simplicity of the click wheel design doesn't lend itself to gaming in the slightest. Even Pong is a chore on it. So Apple would need to add a D-Pad or a touch-screen, upping the complexity factor of a device that is purposely streamlined to the maximum intent. And given how completely uninterested Apple is in encouraging Mac gaming, we're skeptical they really care enough to make a full pass at competing with the likes of the DS or PSP. Florian Eckhardt

Future iPods to morph into games consoles? [Reghardware.co.uk] (Thanks, Shaun!)