Our sources told us that the new iPhone will also tout much more robust Bluetooth support, an upgrade that will allow third-party developers to to release add-on products like a keyboard or game controller. One thing the new iPhone won't have is a physical keyboard, instead Apple plans to continue to work on "perfecting" the existing one.

The new network, which AT&T is currently working on, in theory may also allow AT&T to extend its exclusivity deal with Apple.

Both the new iPhone and the new firmware for the current iPhone will roll-out on July 17, sources tell us.

This rumor comes as word hits that Apple is also starting to hire in-house game developers.

The inclusion of the improved 3D graphics and hiring of developers are, in many ways, Apple's acknowledgment of the growing importance of gaming to the platform. Another thing the developer is considering to help bolster gaming on the iPhone include the possibility of a new store dedicated solely to gaming. The company will also be watching with great interest the roll-out of in-game microtransactions with the latest firmware.

We were unable to confirm any of this beyond our sources, so take this with a grain of salt and keep your fingers crossed for the big announcement hitting this coming Monday. We've contacted Apple for clarification on the matter.

The company's 2008 annual results, released this morning, show that seven percent of Gameloft's annual sales came from console games, a new market for the publisher.

Gameloft also points out that they now have 14 games on Google's Android smartphone.

While Gameloft is one of the world's leading publisher of mobile phone games, they owe the majority of their 2008 sales to the Apple App Store, surpassing all other methods of distribution last year, and their recent entry into the world of downloadable console titles has certainly helped as well.

"At Gameloft, we believe that consumers are uncompromising," said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft. "They want the best games for the mobile phone or console in their pocket or at home. They also want immediate access at the lowest cost. We channel our creativity and our determination into creating entertainment that corresponds to their expectations and their need for diversion. That includes adapting it to their lifestyle and their budget.

This would be the point where I would say, and for some reason they chose Gameloft titles instead, but Guillemot instead finishes off with "These are the reasons they buy our games in such great numbers." I suppose that's a much better ending for a celebratory press release. Nice going, Gameloft. You keep churning them out, and someone out there will keep buying them.

“A classic and beloved rhythm music game, Samba de Amigo has had fans shaking for years with its party-like soundtrack, colorful characters and casual yet addictive gameplay,” said Tammy Robinson, Senior Director of Mobile, SEGA of America. “Samba de Amigo is another great example of the fun that can be had on the mobile platform.”

Actually, it's a rather good example of how much better gaming is on the iPhone, but I suppose that wouldn't be a very good marketing blurb, now would it?

As for the remaining 850 handsets, this is a good time to check and see if your phone needs upgrading. If yours isn't one of the 850 you obviously need to step up to a newer model, unless that military field phone is part of your whole campy, retro vibe.

THQ WIRELESS UNLEASHES THE FORCE TO HANDSETS WORLDWIDE

Star Wars®: The Force UnleashedT available for download on iPhone, N-Gage and feature phone handsets

LightsaberT Unleashed now available to fans via the iTunes App Store

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - September 29, 2008 - THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI), today announced Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is now available for download on more than 850 handsets globally, including the iPhoneTM, iPod® touch and N-Gage devices. The game casts players as Darth Vader's secret apprentice during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed offers truly cinematic action in breathtaking 3D visuals. Players will assist Darth Vader in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. The game introduces the CellWeaverT mobile control system (created by THQ Wireless' development studio, Universomo) where players can form sequence patterns through the phone's keypad allowing them to feel and use the Force.

The LightsaberT Unleashed, available for free today on the iTunes® App Store, offers features directly from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, including: · Multiple lightsaber colors and hilts that correspond to the main characters in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, including Darth Vader, The Secret Apprentice and more · All-new music from the game · Hidden treats, including character dialogue directly from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed mobile game coincides with the worldwide debut of the LucasArts videogame which is now available on the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo WiiT and Nintendo DST, PLAYSTATION®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems and PSP®.

THQ Wireless' growing line of successful Star Wars titles span several genres including the side-scrolling Revenge of the Sith, space shooter Battle Above Coruscant, first person shooter Battlefront Mobile, and action titles like LEGO Star Wars Mobile and LEGO Star Wars II Mobile.

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.

Enigmo: $4.99 (was $9.99)
Cro-Mag Rally $1.99 (was $5.99)
Billy Frontier $3.99 was ($5.99)
Beer Bounce $1.99 (was $2.99)
Pangea VR Pro $14.99 (was $19.99)

If you're thinking about buying these or any other toys for your phone, see our complete guide to iPhone games.

Pangea Software News Release: Limited Time Price Cuts [Develop]

The App Store will be part of the iPhone 2.0 firmware update that is free to iPhone users, but $10 for iTouch owners. That's right, Apple is charging for a firmware update.

Why should you care if you own an iPhone or iTouch? Spore, Trism, Galga, Pacman and maybe, just maybe Puzzle Quest. Also there are the games announced at the beginning of the conference.

Games can be downloaded by cell connection if they are less than 10 MB and via WiFi if greater than 10MB.

So far it looks like games will run for $10 a pop, though it will ultimately be up to the developers to set prices. Apple keeps 30 percent of the revenues. If the dev decides to give the game away there is no charge at all from Apple.

Stay tuned here for other gaming news coming out of WWDC today and if you're looking for a deeper, more in-depth look at the whole show make sure to catch Gizmodo's amazing live coverage of the conference.

Poor mobile games. Always the hope for the future! Always the laughing stock of the present. And fair enough, too. Cheaply made, rubbish to control, the vast majority of mobile games are a waste of everyone's time. Oh, unless you're Japanese, and pick up a Panasonic p906i. If you do, well, you'll be able to play Professor Layton. In widescreen, no less! And if you can't be arsed counting matchsticks, there's a nice-looking Gundam game on offer as well. Can have in West, please? Kind of bored of my 4th successive phone with a Worms clone.

Panasonic P906i [Product Page]

Official N-Gage Site [via Gizmodo]

Samsung Unveils Mobile Application for Second Life [koreatimes via Gizmodo]

Maybe he's right. I'm still in the honeymoon phase with my iPhone, but my hype level for using the accelerometer to game is on par with the prospect of further SIXAXIS gaming. That's hovering around zilch, currently.

Pachter: iPhone Gaming Not Commercially Sound [Next-Gen]

METAL GEAR SOLID® MOBILE NOW AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY TO VERIZON WIRELESS CUSTOMERS

Popular Video Game Franchise Hits Verizon Wireless Phones With
3D Graphics and Original Game Play
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties, today announced Metal Gear Solid® Mobile is available for purchase exclusively through Verizon Wireless.

Metal Gear Solid Mobile is an award-winning game, having recently received the Grand Prix and Operator's Choice awards at the 2008 International Mobile Gaming Awards. Metal Gear Solid Mobile features never-before-seen dramatic 3D art displays and camera work that greatly surpass the current standard of mobile games and allows players to shift the viewpoint from first to third person and to control a variety of weapons. The game also takes advantage of the camera functionality - for example, Verizon Wireless customers can use their camera phones to capture images and the game will incorporate the image colors into the players' camouflage system.

Designed by the same team behind the Metal Gear Solid console games, Kojima Productions, and developed in conjunction with Ideaworks3D and utilizing its Airplay™ 3.5 SDK, Metal Gear Solid Mobile is an original game designed specifically for the mobile platform. Players face the same extreme tension of solitary infiltration that fans of the classic tactical espionage action game have come to expect from the Metal Gear Solid series, previously released to the PlayStation® and PlayStation®2.

Verizon Wireless customers can purchase Metal Gear Solid Mobile in the Get Fun & Games shopping aisle in the Get It Now® virtual store. The game is available for $4.99 monthly access or $10.99 for unlimited use purchase. Verizon Wireless customers can get Metal Gear Solid Mobile on more than 20 popular Get It Now-capable phones, including the Voyager™ by LG and the LG VX8700. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime or megabyte charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, customers can visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com. For more information about Metal Gear Solid Mobile, please visit www.konamimobile.com.

Yes, this does mean you'll most likely be playing some Paris Hilton-branded game with your accelerometer at some point. Feel better?

Gameloft Confirms plans to Develop For iPhone with over 15 titles in 2008

NEW YORK - As referenced during the company's keynote speech at the recent Game Developers' Conference, Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of games for mobile phones, today confirmed its intention to develop over 15 mobile games built upon Apple's iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK).

Though the SDK was recently released, games will only be available to purchase once the App Store, featuring third party applications that can be downloaded to your device via WiFi or EDGE, launches in June 2008.

Utilizing the SDK package, Gameloft development teams have started to create a strong line-up for 2008. As expected, iPhone proves to be a revolutionary gaming device, thanks in part to a 3.5-inch widescreen, the touch screen feature, a strong 3D processor and other exciting features such as the accelerometer.

"The iPhone gaming environment opens a new era in mobile gaming and is exactly what we've been waiting for" said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft. "The Apple iPhone has changed the way consumers perceive and interact with their mobile phones, and the release of the SDK is a tremendous opportunity for Gameloft to apply its creative and innovative approach to mobile gaming," said Guillemot. "Due to our investment in creating one of the most advanced and creative development studios to date, we are ideally positioned today to seamlessly integrate new opportunities and quickly produce games that are as evolutionary as they are enjoyable."

Gameloft has already proven successful in their recent relationship with Apple by developing mobile games that are uniquely adapted to the iPod, one of the most widely accepted technological devices in the mass market.

Gameloft sells over 200,000 games per day throughout 80 countries. Its 200+ titles, including 40 games that sold over 1 million copies worldwide, have received year after year the best ranking scores from media specialists. Gameloft is the worldwide number one mobile game publisher in revenues according to the official Q4 2007 figures published by mobile game companies for that quarter.

Gameloft is the leading international publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones. Established in 1999, it has emerged as one of the top innovators in its field. The company creates games for mobile handsets equipped with Java, Brew or Symbian technology. The total number of games-enabled handsets is anticipated to exceed four billion units in 2011.

Partnership agreements with leading licensors and sports personalities such as Ubisoft Entertainment, Universal Pictures, ABC, Dreamworks Animations SKG, Endemol, 20th Century Fox, Viacom, Sony Pictures, Touchtone Television, Warner Bros., FifPro, Lamborghini, Paris Hilton, Gus Hansen, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, Reggie Bush, Llewton Hewitt, Jonny Wilkinson or Robinho allow Gameloft to form strong relationships with international brands. In addition to the partnerships, Gameloft owns and operates titles such as Block Breaker Deluxe, Asphalt: Urban GT and New York Nights.

Through agreements with major telephone wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, specialized distributors and its online shop, Gameloft has a distribution network in over 80 plus countries.

Gameloft has worldwide offices in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Paris, London, Cologne, Vienna, Milan, Madrid, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Warsaw, New Delhi, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney. Gameloft is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000079600,
Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA)

For more information visit www.gameloft.com

Virtua Fighter Mobile [Game Watch]

Bloomsix Announces MMO Strategy Game for Java-enabled Phones

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, January 30th, 2008 - Bloomsix has announced the first mobile massive multiplayer online strategy game named "Armada: Kingdoms". Most Java-enabled phones will be supported, and public release is scheduled for Q2 2008.

"Armada: Kingdoms" is a mobile massive multiplayer online strategy game, where thousands of players own a town and form kingdoms with other people. The goal of the game is to manage your economy, expand and ultimately attack your opponents. The game is both competitive and cooperative at the same time and has a strong community aspect to it. The game's persistent world allows players to interact with you while you're logged out, a distinct difference between classic MMORPGs. "Armada: Kingdoms" is truly 24/7 and its short session game play allows you to take an active part of the game in a non-intrusive way; playing 10 minutes a day is enough to manage your town yet the game offers a deeper experience for more dedicated players.

Bloomsix has been working under the radar on "Armada: Kingdoms" for a year. However, the concept was created in 2001 and several prototype were created. Internet connectivity, one of the market barriers of multiplayer gaming, has gained momentum thanks to versatile smartphones and economic subscription plans. "After a year of
production, Bloomsix is happy to announce Armada: Kingdoms to the public", Joris Verschoor, one of the founders of Bloomsix added, "We're excited to invite the world to play our beta soon".

You'll play multiple card games against a nurse, secretary, actress, racing queen, police woman and volleyball player, all of the sexy variety, then watch with delight as they are beholden to their disrobing bets, exposing their fine washables. It's a fun sexy time. Technology is really wonderful isn't it? We've come so far.

Sexed Up Big Sister Flip Over [Famitsu]

POSDATA and sister company POSBRO announced at CES today that their portable online gaming device for cell phones, the G100, will be coming to America. US consumers can find the WiMAX device on sale late 2008 - early 2009, but the G100 and the WiMAX gaming network will be available and online in Korea early this year. No word yet on what the games will be, but the companies promise a "variety of online game titles... to meet customer's tastes". And why, exactly, do these companies think it will be wildly popular in the US?

The effect of portable online gaming device will be inspiring in US where video game through TV and online game on PC are quite popular among young people. In the near future, they will be playing high quality online games through G100 via mobile WIMAX network.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Jan 09, 2008 03:30

POSDATA Launches WIMAX Game Business in US

LAS VEGAS —(Business Wire)— Jan. 9, 2008 Today at CES 2008, POSBRO, POSDATA's subsidiary for mobile WIMAX device, announced the intention to launch mobile WIMAX online game business in the US market.
POSBRO has been developing mobile WIMAX specialized terminal under the brand name of FLYVO, and unveiled the world's first portable online gaming platform, named G100, at WiMAX World USA, Chicago, 2007.

KT, the world's largest mobile WIMAX operator currently servicing more than 100,000 commercial subscribers, already signed a commercial agreement with POSBRO to provide online game service via G100 to KT Wibro network starting early 2008 in Korea.

Continuing this success, the G100 will be launching in US around the beginning of 4Q, 2008, or end of 1Q, 2009, according to POSBRO. The G100 will be demonstrated at SPRINT's booth, in CES this week showing the potential of SPRINT's XOHM(TM) Mobile WiMAX network.

"We're delighted to bring this revolutionary mobile WiMAX device to US market, and it will dramatically change the way people enjoy games and Internet while they're on the move," explained Mr. Joonil Shin, CEO of POSBRO.

"We are pleased that POSBRO is expanding its presence to the U.S. market with its leading on-line game products," Mr. Bin Shen, VP, Product Management and Partnership Development for Xohm. "The development of devices and services like this will demonstrate the power of true WiMAX mobile broadband."

The effect of portable online gaming device will be inspiring in US where video game through TV and online game on PC are quite popular among young people. In the near future, they will be playing high quality online games through G100 via mobile WIMAX network.

POSBRO is currently adding up variety of online game titles which are optimized for G100 platform in cooperation with major game developers to meet customers' various tastes.

...it's a replacement for someone who had a Razr before. They still want their content but there's no distribution platform in place so there's a negative impact on the industry... These devices are capable and powerful. They'll be great in the long term but it will take some time as people adapt to devices.