A new year can often be a bittersweet experience, especially in the world of career moves. In this case, it's been sweet for DeNA-owned mobile game maker ngmoco and rather bitter for EA. DICE, the Swedish division of the veteran games publisher responsible for hit shooter franchise Battlefield and critically-acclaimed Mirror's Edge, has lost three staffers to ngmoco Sweden.
This is the second, third and fourth loss for EA to ngmoco in six months, the first being former EA-ran Easy Studios general manager Ben Cousins, who left in June 2011 to start the Stockholm-based studio. Cousins announced the new hires through his Twitter account, name-dropping senior programmer Torbjørn Lædre, senior artist Wille Wintertidh and senior programmer Malte Hildigsson.
Collectively, the trio have experience with successful hardcore EA games ranging from the brand new Battlefield 3 to Mirror's Edge and Far Cry 2. Ngmoco Sweden has been keen on recruiting talent from traditional game developers, having snagged members of Crytek, German creator of the visually-stunning Crysis series, last year.
Ngmoco, largely responsible for bringing Japanese social game giant DeNA's mobile social games network, Mobage, to the Western world, is likely staffing up its Sweden studio to fill the network up with original games. Whether those games will skew toward shooter fans or folks who dig FarmVille is uncertain, but the lot it's hiring suggests the former.
[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
Do you think ngmoco and DeNA will find success in the U.S. and abroad? Which mobile social game network do you prefer when playing smartphone games, if one at all?
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn mobile gaming. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn mobile gaming. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng
Thứ Ba, 3 tháng 1, 2012
Thứ Năm, 29 tháng 12, 2011
Resident Evil: Outbreak Survive infects Japanese social network GREE
Capcom has wasted no time getting its hands in mobile and social gaming, and now the developer brings the all-too-familiar grunts and groans of Resident Evil to social games. VG Chartz reports that Capcom will launch Resident Evil: Outbreak survive on GREE, one of Japan's most popular social gaming networks, this coming June. According to VG Chartz, the game will release on Japanese smartphones and task players with collaborating together to, you know, survive.
More specifically, survivors must share weapons, ammo and healing items as they complete missions together. Considering Resident Evil's immense popularity in the states as well, we're hopeful Capcom will smarten up and unleash this plague on the US. Only the best of plagues, of course: games.
[Image Credit: Capcom]
Would you play a Resident Evil game on Facebook? What if it were a Facebook Connected iPhone game
More specifically, survivors must share weapons, ammo and healing items as they complete missions together. Considering Resident Evil's immense popularity in the states as well, we're hopeful Capcom will smarten up and unleash this plague on the US. Only the best of plagues, of course: games.
[Image Credit: Capcom]
Would you play a Resident Evil game on Facebook? What if it were a Facebook Connected iPhone game
Thứ Ba, 13 tháng 12, 2011
Playdom searches for further success with Gardens of Time for iPad
Warning: This is one of those news pieces that you'll read and think, "Shouldn't I have read this months ago?" Playdom has finally launched Gardens of Time for the iPad, a long overdue expansion of its most popular Facebook game. The 9 million monthly and 2 million daily player-strong game will now likely gobble up the App Store, because it's completely free to play.
While that likely means the iPad version of the game is limited by the same design choices of the Facebook version (Energy, namely), that doesn't make the news any less exciting. Well, the game is also independent from the Facebook version, which could be a bummer for some. However, this version of Gardens of Time sports OpenFeint, Game Center and Facebook support.
The game will play out largely similar to the Facebook version in that you're the newest recruit to the Time Society, and it's up to you to recover misplaced objects in time and restore them to their respective gardens ... of time. As players complete the numerous hidden-object puzzles, they'll acquire new items to decorate their gardens with and thus unlock more locales to search. Well, showing off you garden to your friends is an added bonus.
This version of the game also allows players to challenge their friends in timed hidden-object matches. But really, we're just excited about getting to touch objects rather than click. We imagine the "ah-ha!" moments are so much cooler when you get to touch the objects with the finger you raised in the air in excitement, you know, if you own the $500 gadget.
While that likely means the iPad version of the game is limited by the same design choices of the Facebook version (Energy, namely), that doesn't make the news any less exciting. Well, the game is also independent from the Facebook version, which could be a bummer for some. However, this version of Gardens of Time sports OpenFeint, Game Center and Facebook support.
The game will play out largely similar to the Facebook version in that you're the newest recruit to the Time Society, and it's up to you to recover misplaced objects in time and restore them to their respective gardens ... of time. As players complete the numerous hidden-object puzzles, they'll acquire new items to decorate their gardens with and thus unlock more locales to search. Well, showing off you garden to your friends is an added bonus.
This version of the game also allows players to challenge their friends in timed hidden-object matches. But really, we're just excited about getting to touch objects rather than click. We imagine the "ah-ha!" moments are so much cooler when you get to touch the objects with the finger you raised in the air in excitement, you know, if you own the $500 gadget.
Canadians get to have all the fun: ForestVille testing way up north
Maybe it's consolation for being cold all the time? (Can you tell this writer has never been to Canada?) Inside Mobile Apps reports that Zynga is currently testing the recently-leaked ForestVille iPhone game on Canadian audiences. In fact, you can download the game on the Canadian iTunes App Store right now for absolutely nothing, but only if you have access (i.e. are actually Canadian).
The Facebook page has since been pulled, but we had enough time to catch a glimpse of the game's early promotional artwork. Now, we have a brief idea of what the game will look like, based on a few screen shots. The game looks decidedly more macro than previous 'Ville games on mobile phones, namely CityVille Hometown and Holidaytown. However, players can connect their ForestVille game to the two CityVille games and check pending messages from both while playing this new game.
ForestVille map
The play hooks seem to be all the same: Help a fledgling community (in this case, woodland creatures) build a thriving city, decorate said city, make money from said city, continue growing city, repeat. The visuals in ForestVille look less detailed than their CityVille counterparts, but that might be because the game view is more zoomed out than previous versions.
ForestVille will work on all iOS devices dating back to the iPhone 3GS, and it will feature Facebook Connect, according to the Canadian app page. However, keep in mind that this game is testing, which means it may not even make it elsewhere. (You know, like Kingdoms & Castles?)
ForestVille balloon
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited about this new 'Ville game? Based on these early images, what do you think of the game's graphics? Play mechanics?
The Facebook page has since been pulled, but we had enough time to catch a glimpse of the game's early promotional artwork. Now, we have a brief idea of what the game will look like, based on a few screen shots. The game looks decidedly more macro than previous 'Ville games on mobile phones, namely CityVille Hometown and Holidaytown. However, players can connect their ForestVille game to the two CityVille games and check pending messages from both while playing this new game.
ForestVille map
The play hooks seem to be all the same: Help a fledgling community (in this case, woodland creatures) build a thriving city, decorate said city, make money from said city, continue growing city, repeat. The visuals in ForestVille look less detailed than their CityVille counterparts, but that might be because the game view is more zoomed out than previous versions.
ForestVille will work on all iOS devices dating back to the iPhone 3GS, and it will feature Facebook Connect, according to the Canadian app page. However, keep in mind that this game is testing, which means it may not even make it elsewhere. (You know, like Kingdoms & Castles?)
ForestVille balloon
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited about this new 'Ville game? Based on these early images, what do you think of the game's graphics? Play mechanics?
Cool story, Storm8: Zoo Story 2, Pet Shop hit iPhone, iPad for free
Seriously, though. Mobile social game publisher Storm8 announced that two new games in its popular "Story" franchise of games have hit the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. (And for free, mind you.) Both developed by TeamLava, Zoo Story 2 and Pet Shop Story are available now on nearly all Apple devices, and mark the 10th and 11th releases from the developer in 18 months.
Zoo Story 2, according to Storm8 CEO Perry Tam, is "the most beautiful, fun and social zoo game on iOS." The game allows players to create their own zoos from scratch, choose from more than 100 animals to populate it and even crossbreed critters. Ever wanted to make your own gryphon? You got it. How about a flying monkey? Yours. Of course, players can invite friends to their zoos through Facebook Connect and help them build new habitats for their animals through gifting.
Pet Shop Story, however, sounds as if it's the same premise in a different setting. (Or would that be the other way around?) Players can create a thriving pet shop with a wide variety of domesticated animals. As with the former, you can also crossbreed your pets, though it doesn't sound like you'll be able to create creatures like winged dogs or cats with fins. Of course, this game too allows for friendly interactions via Facebook Connect, and we're sure you're going to need it.
Zoo Story 2
Storm8 is on a roll with mobile social games this year. In June, the publisher had its first million-dollar day, meaning it made $1 million in a single day from virtual goods sales. And now, it's one of the launch partners on the release of Facebook Mobile platform, with games like World War available in HTML5. So, yes: Cool story, bro Storm8.
Click here to download Zoo Story 2 and here to download Pet Shop Story for free Now >
Are you a fan of Storm8's Story series of mobile games? What are your favorite mobile social games these days?
Zoo Story 2, according to Storm8 CEO Perry Tam, is "the most beautiful, fun and social zoo game on iOS." The game allows players to create their own zoos from scratch, choose from more than 100 animals to populate it and even crossbreed critters. Ever wanted to make your own gryphon? You got it. How about a flying monkey? Yours. Of course, players can invite friends to their zoos through Facebook Connect and help them build new habitats for their animals through gifting.
Pet Shop Story, however, sounds as if it's the same premise in a different setting. (Or would that be the other way around?) Players can create a thriving pet shop with a wide variety of domesticated animals. As with the former, you can also crossbreed your pets, though it doesn't sound like you'll be able to create creatures like winged dogs or cats with fins. Of course, this game too allows for friendly interactions via Facebook Connect, and we're sure you're going to need it.
Zoo Story 2
Storm8 is on a roll with mobile social games this year. In June, the publisher had its first million-dollar day, meaning it made $1 million in a single day from virtual goods sales. And now, it's one of the launch partners on the release of Facebook Mobile platform, with games like World War available in HTML5. So, yes: Cool story, bro Storm8.
Click here to download Zoo Story 2 and here to download Pet Shop Story for free Now >
Are you a fan of Storm8's Story series of mobile games? What are your favorite mobile social games these days?
Do young folk get Alec Baldwin's thing for Words With Friends?
They might "understand" Mr. Baldwin's desire to play mobile games while on the runway, but we doubt they understand his ... handling of the situation. According to poll of 1,356 by Poll Position, 69.9 percent of people aged 18 to 29 years old think that passengers should be able to play electronic games with others while awaiting take-off in the plane. They got your back, Alec!
That's all well and good, but what about people that are the guy's age--the 45 to 64-year-old group? According to the poll, only 26.8 percent of folks in that group think you should be able to play said games while waiting for take-off. In that case, we almost definitely know that they wouldn't be down with Baldwin's reported outburst on an American Airlines flight last week.
The snafu had far more of a ripple effect than you'd might imagine. Not only did it lead to both American Airlines and the Greyhound bus company's embarrassment, but it drove Baldwin off of Twitter and (of course) garnered the support of Zynga. The Words With Friends creator enjoyed a fine week with its hit word game: Last week, the game skyrocketed by 500,000 daily players to oust competitor The Sims Social on the charts, knocking it down to sixth place. In short, Words With Friends is serious business. That is, if you ask over-privileged millennials.
[Image Credit: Jim Lopes]
Do you think people should be able to play video games while waiting for the plane to take off? Was Baldwin right in his outrage with American Airlines?
That's all well and good, but what about people that are the guy's age--the 45 to 64-year-old group? According to the poll, only 26.8 percent of folks in that group think you should be able to play said games while waiting for take-off. In that case, we almost definitely know that they wouldn't be down with Baldwin's reported outburst on an American Airlines flight last week.
The snafu had far more of a ripple effect than you'd might imagine. Not only did it lead to both American Airlines and the Greyhound bus company's embarrassment, but it drove Baldwin off of Twitter and (of course) garnered the support of Zynga. The Words With Friends creator enjoyed a fine week with its hit word game: Last week, the game skyrocketed by 500,000 daily players to oust competitor The Sims Social on the charts, knocking it down to sixth place. In short, Words With Friends is serious business. That is, if you ask over-privileged millennials.
[Image Credit: Jim Lopes]
Do you think people should be able to play video games while waiting for the plane to take off? Was Baldwin right in his outrage with American Airlines?
Keep the little ones off of Facebook: MokoFarm is FarmVille for kids
You love them to tears, but your kids want shut the heck up about FarmVille. And what (good) parent wants their toddler on Facebook? MokoMomo Interactive has released MokoFarm for the iPad for $1.99 on the App Store. This game is said to give kids the FarmVille experience and might teach them a thing or two in the process. And near everything in the game is touchable.
And we all know your kids like to touch things--you put those plastic things on the outlets around the house for a reason. MokoFarm doesn't look like it's limited by the boundaries of normal social games like energy or lengthy time constraints. However, kids can also share their farm creations through their parents' Facebook accounts. According to MokoMomo, the game is narrated to help the younger folks learn new words.
Of course, the common FarmVille-like tropes are all present like buying animals, crops and new buildings to deck out the farm. That said, nearly every piece of content, including the animals, appear to be interactive. Kids can tap the windmills to make them spin, touch trees to shake their leaves and tap critters to make them run. Your tike can even take pictures of his/her farm to send to you. Sure, it's no FarmVille, but for what it's worth it looks pretty darn close.
And we all know your kids like to touch things--you put those plastic things on the outlets around the house for a reason. MokoFarm doesn't look like it's limited by the boundaries of normal social games like energy or lengthy time constraints. However, kids can also share their farm creations through their parents' Facebook accounts. According to MokoMomo, the game is narrated to help the younger folks learn new words.
Of course, the common FarmVille-like tropes are all present like buying animals, crops and new buildings to deck out the farm. That said, nearly every piece of content, including the animals, appear to be interactive. Kids can tap the windmills to make them spin, touch trees to shake their leaves and tap critters to make them run. Your tike can even take pictures of his/her farm to send to you. Sure, it's no FarmVille, but for what it's worth it looks pretty darn close.
Canadians get to have all the fun: ForestVille testing way up north
Maybe it's consolation for being cold all the time? (Can you tell this writer has never been to Canada?) Inside Mobile Apps reports that Zynga is currently testing the recently-leaked ForestVille iPhone game on Canadian audiences. In fact, you can download the game on the Canadian iTunes App Store right now for absolutely nothing, but only if you have access (i.e. are actually Canadian).
The Facebook page has since been pulled, but we had enough time to catch a glimpse of the game's early promotional artwork. Now, we have a brief idea of what the game will look like, based on a few screen shots. The game looks decidedly more macro than previous 'Ville games on mobile phones, namely CityVille Hometown and Holidaytown. However, players can connect their ForestVille game to the two CityVille games and check pending messages from both while playing this new game.
ForestVille map
The play hooks seem to be all the same: Help a fledgling community (in this case, woodland creatures) build a thriving city, decorate said city, make money from said city, continue growing city, repeat. The visuals in ForestVille look less detailed than their CityVille counterparts, but that might be because the game view is more zoomed out than previous versions.
ForestVille will work on all iOS devices dating back to the iPhone 3GS, and it will feature Facebook Connect, according to the Canadian app page. However, keep in mind that this game is testing, which means it may not even make it elsewhere. (You know, like Kingdoms & Castles?)
ForestVille balloon
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited about this new 'Ville game? Based on these early images, what do you think of the game's graphics? Play mechanics?
The Facebook page has since been pulled, but we had enough time to catch a glimpse of the game's early promotional artwork. Now, we have a brief idea of what the game will look like, based on a few screen shots. The game looks decidedly more macro than previous 'Ville games on mobile phones, namely CityVille Hometown and Holidaytown. However, players can connect their ForestVille game to the two CityVille games and check pending messages from both while playing this new game.
ForestVille map
The play hooks seem to be all the same: Help a fledgling community (in this case, woodland creatures) build a thriving city, decorate said city, make money from said city, continue growing city, repeat. The visuals in ForestVille look less detailed than their CityVille counterparts, but that might be because the game view is more zoomed out than previous versions.
ForestVille will work on all iOS devices dating back to the iPhone 3GS, and it will feature Facebook Connect, according to the Canadian app page. However, keep in mind that this game is testing, which means it may not even make it elsewhere. (You know, like Kingdoms & Castles?)
ForestVille balloon
[Image Credit: Zynga]
Are you excited about this new 'Ville game? Based on these early images, what do you think of the game's graphics? Play mechanics?
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