Rumored Apple Tablet to debut next year?

Now I know what you are thinking. This is probably the 14th time this rumored Apple tablet has been talked about. But really this time, insiders have leaked some info that the tab might hit stores early next year. As early as January to be exact.

It would serve as like a MacBook sized iTouch, giving you all the functionality of a MacBook with the interface of an iTouch in one portable unit of badassery. Only time will tell if the tablet will become as successful as every other Apple product over the past decade, but if there's any hesitation, they can feel free to send me one to try out... please.

CNet

Golvellius: Valley of Doom (the other Zelda) hits iPhone

Publisher DotEmu has announced a partnership with D4 Enterprise to release title Golvellius: Valley of Doom, in August for the iPod Touch and iPhone. The game has long been considered the Sega Master system's closest thing to The Legend of Zelda.

"Golvellius is a wonderful addition to our license portfolio and we are pleased to bring Golvellius to the iPhone and iPod Touch for a great retrogaming experience," said Xavier Liard, co-founder and CEO of DotEmu.

The game originally debuted in 1987 by Compile Games , serving as one of the best adventure titles of the SMS.

Palm Pre girl freaks me the hell out

Anyone else get creep chills from this dame? If i saw her, i'd strap her down to a metallic structure in the blazing sun so she wasn't so blindingly white. Creepy, creepy girl. This makes me not want a Palm Pre.

G.I. Joe, PS3 screenshots & boxart

Who would have thought G.I. Joe would be made into a movie (and subsequently a game)? Can you believe this is happening!? I'm not sure if that's a good "can you believe this is happening" or a bad "can you believe this is happening." Regardless, I can't believe this is happening.

PlayStation iPhone case

I bet re-reading that headline 3 times still didn't have it make sense. Company Etsy created an felt iPhone case that is designed to look like a miniature PlayStation. (ohh! now i get it.)

For just $20, the cost of most iPhone cases, this PS clone promises to protect your iPhone all while looking adorable. The PS controller, however, is $7 extra. Whoever said coolness had a price?

Gizmodo

Top Gun now available on iPhone (Danger Zone not included)

Inspired by the film, a Top Gun game has just been released for the iTunes App Store. As a member of the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, your mission is to become the next Top Gun.

“Over twenty years after its debut, ‘Top Gun’ remains one of the most popular, iconic movies of all time,” said John Kavanagh, senior vice president, Video Games of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “This unique Top Gun app puts that thrilling cinematic experience at your fingertips. Using the accelerometer and innovative Multi-Touch user interface in iPhone and iPod touch allowed us to create epic aerial battles and hugely entertaining gameplay that's sure to bring out the Maverick in all of us.”

The game also includes mini games such as car flying and volleyball. Top Gun launches at just $1.99, and will rise to its regular price of $3.99 shortly after.

Report: Sony developing PlayStation phone

Not it, but looks pretty cool!

Nikkei, a reputable Japanese news source, announced that Sony is beginning development on a new PlayStation phone starting July, that will naturally act as a portable gaming handheld comparable to some Apple product no one's heard of. I think it's called the... iPhone? Yeah, that's it. The iPhone.

According to the report, it will combine functionality of an Ericsson mobile (those still exist?) with PlayStation interface.

I wonder how this would sell compared to the much hyped, upcoming PSP Go and uber popular iPhone?
Reuters

Facebook and Video Games converge

Gamasutra wrote a piece about several topics within today's social gaming spectrum. One, dealing with Facebook integration in gaming consoles. It's a bit lengthy, but I am telling you, as someone who is very curious to see the merge of gaming with social network capabilities, I suggest reading below:

So, yes: Facebook integration is coming to Xbox 360 and, in a more limited way, to Nintendo DSi, by the end of the year.

But the integration and collaboration between the traditional games industry and the social gaming industry has not seemingly gotten much further in the year since the last Social Games Summit, despite the obvious hopes of last year's speakers.

I think that there are really obvious reasons this isn't currently happening. Tech-oriented, web-trained, fast-paced, hard-nosed Silicon Valley culture is not really that similar to game developer culture. Outside of GDC Austin (operated by Think Services, which also owns Gamasutra) I haven't seen a lot of opportunities for the two industries to mix.

Most crucially, everybody's too damn busy trying to get their jobs done to really spend a lot of time or thought on the issue.

That said, Facebook's Davis is still optimistic that we're just in the run-up period. "I think we're at the beginning and it's going to take a few years. There's a lot to learn as both industries converge, and they're both complementary."

The reason for his optimism? Davis has seen unannounced projects from big companies that work with Facebook Connect. "It's still very early, and I don't think any of these projects are announced, but I'm very impressed." He describes them as "fundamentally social" and "device-based and hooked into a social network," with the "device" in question most likely to be an iPhone or Xbox 360.

Most developers get into games because they're fundamentally interested in the medium. Zynga's Mark Pincus has a different perspective on the function games serve on social networks: "People get fatigued on the news feeds and they want another experience they can share with their friends."

Games have always been used to kill boredom; but with all the statistics the packaged game industry trumpets about being the primary form of entertainment for so many, these days, the mindset that they're just second-string timewasters may be tough to swallow for many developers.

James Liu, COO of Oak Pacific Interactive, one of the biggest social networking companies in China and home to a 400-strong MMO development team made a really interesting observation about the reading material the OPI engineers have by their desks.

"These guys are [engineering] PhDs from top notch schools, but they study economy right now," as well as psychology: the better to understand and motivate user behavior in social networks. That's simply not broadly the case in the game industry as we think of it, right now.

The cultural difference between the extant game industry and the social gaming people does seem to be rooted in pretty deeply in pure terms of organization and process. The Silicon Valley term "engineer" was constantly thrown around; the game industry's "designer" was never really spoken of.

Back to Siqi Chen's obsession with metrics: "Internally I always consider metrics our most important project, probably to our detriment," he says, while Dave King pegs his engineering staff at "60 or 80 percent metrics and analysis, 20-ish percent to other stuff."

His engineers are experts in analysis, too -- they have to understand what the data represents to make the required changes to the games. The granularity that Chen and King showed on stage was extremely impressive.

These include RPG games broken down by level 1-100 showing exactly where users dropped off; multicolored charts showing every quest in the game and how frequently each is completed at a per-level basis; hourly reports on clickthroughs of different variations on promotional copy for the same game.

King's games are simple -- really, really simple -- but the thought that goes into making them sticky and making users pay is conversely rather complicated. In a weird way, it's almost the reverse of the packaged game industry.

As noted above, it's simple to get a lot of users quickly, but they may not be useful -- which is why King wants to figure out why the ones that are playing continue to do so, and make them pay when they reach content they enjoy. His engineers respond instantly with tweaks. He doesn't have a business otherwise.

Video Games Pwn Hollywood

Recent NPD reports show that more people are playing video games than going to the movies.  The NPD data shows that 63% of Americans have played a video game in the last six months, whereas only 53% have left the house to watch a movie.

What does this mean for the two industries?

Well, it means that both are making tons o' cash.  In a recession period with high unemployment rates, the fact that 53% of the population is going to see movies and 63% are playing video games means that a lot of money is being spent on entertainment.

But what the heck gamers, have a field day!  Tell all your "scriptwriter" and "film maker" friends to get real jobs and stimulate this economy.

Fast & Furious Mobile Game

If Wheelman doesn't cure your craving of Vin Diesel, maybe Fast & Furious will. A new mobile game based on the upcoming movie is set to debut. The game, published by I-play, will hit all major phone carriers March 24th.

The Fast & the Furious is the biggest selling racing franchise on mobile phones, this game marking the sixth installment. Overall, F&F titles have sold over 13 million units. With over 32 cars and 7 different racing modes, this an in depth mobile racing game. The fourth installment of the film series will hit theaters April 3rd.

G.I. JOE Video Game Announced

EA has officially confirmed that development for a new G.I. JOE video game is underway.

The game will release this summer 2009, the same time as the new action film, G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, which is set to hit theaters this August.

The game will launch on all major consoles as well as handheld systems and mobile devices. Fans will get a first look at the game during Hasbro's Showroom at the New York City Toy Fair between February 15th and 17th.

Source: Evil Avatar

Who Phones the Watchmen?

We all know Alan Moore's comic book masterpieces haven't received the best film treatment imaginable. I actually liked V for Vendetta, though many despised it. But the less said about From Hell or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the better. Unless, of course, you're one of the people in charge of making those abominations. In which case, please explain yourself.

And while Watchmen looks to buck the trend, the ancillary merchandising that must surround such a huge studio movie like some kind of crap moat just keeps growing and growing. We now have details on the upcoming Watchmen game for mobile phones. Despite the fact that it's a beat 'em up, the developer promises "gameplay variety". Impossible, you say?

Eh, you're probably right.

While your phone's battery lasts, you'll be able to take control of the Comedian and/or Nite Owl as they punch and kick their way through a plot that takes place before the original comic books or the movie. According to the press release, this game "can be appreciated by newcomers and diehard fans of the graphic novel", which is true only if you replace "appreciated" with "obsessively mocked".

Of course, I haven't played the game yet, so I shouldn't pass judgement. But despite that, I'm still passing judgement.

Source: Glu Mobile