Daily News: 04/18/13

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Army Rage Attacks with new Update

Army Rage Attacks with new Update:
The upcoming update of Army Rage will stir the game play and bring new thrills to players by introducing the new feature Skills, costume upgrades, skin weapons,

InnoGames snaps up Bigpoint analyst

InnoGames snaps up Bigpoint analyst:
Michael Lenz joins Forge Of Empires dev

Dubit hires new games writer

Dubit hires new games writer:
Richard Boon joins the team at family friendly developer

Oh Great, Skylanders Happy Meals. Just What I Needed.

Oh Great, Skylanders Happy Meals. Just What I Needed.:
You know you've made it as a children's entertainment property when Mike Fahey's car is filled with empty McDonald's Happy Meal boxes. Peek inside my 96 Nissan

RuneScape 3 beta begins

RuneScape 3 beta begins:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, News Items, RuneScape, Free-to-Play After opening the door for potential testers, Jagex announced today that it has begun the beta for

The Amazon Appstore is about to go global

The Amazon Appstore is about to go global:
The Amazon Appstore will soon go global, with the Android-based marketplace due to launch in nearly 200 further countries later this year. ...

Zynga Slots claims the top spot among this week’s fastest-growing Facebook games by DAU

Zynga Slots claims the top spot among this week’s fastest-growing Facebook games by DAU:
Zynga Slots is once again the top gainer among the fastest-growing Facebook games by daily active users, bringing in 1.8 million DAU for a 278 percent gain. The

Fruit Blast Mania (iOS) review

Fruit Blast Mania (iOS) review:
Fruit Blast Mania (known as Fruit Mania in the U.K.) is a new iOS game from TeamLava and Storm8. It’s available now as a free download from the App Store, and

9 million Russians playing Crytek's Warface

9 million Russians playing Crytek's Warface:
Free-to-play FPS keeps on growing

Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat

Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat:
Filed under: Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Casual, Free for All I took a look at Ecol Tactics Online not so long ago and mostly enjoyed

League of Legends Server Problems Are Pissing Off Korean Gamers

League of Legends Server Problems Are Pissing Off Korean Gamers:
In South Korea, League of Legends is popular—perhaps the most popular game at the country's net cafes. That's both a good thing and a bad thing. What makes being

5 tips for making successful kids' games in 2013

5 tips for making successful kids' games in 2013:
Some Disney veterans have founded a kids' games start-up which they will focus on creating experiences that will value compelling storytelling. Here, they discuss 5

nDreams dev starts indie studio Hoverfly

nDreams dev starts indie studio Hoverfly:
Nicholas Pendriis' team is spread between UK, Los Angeles and Tokyo

Dungeon Hunter 4 Takes In-App Purchases to a Diabolical New Low

Dungeon Hunter 4 Takes In-App Purchases to a Diabolical New Low:
In the latest installment of Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter series of Diablo clones, the most effective means of healing your character mid-battle is paying for it. Screw

Draw Something show announced for UK

Draw Something show announced for UK:
Back in September we learned that CBS was doing a casting call for an upcoming game show based on the popular Draw Something app. It's unclear as to whether or

Closed Beta Registration Announced for Prime World

Closed Beta Registration Announced for Prime World:
Nival Interactive has announced the beta registrations for its upcoming MOBA game Prime World. Continue reading Closed Beta Registration Announced for Prime World.

MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad

MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad:
Filed under: Screenshots, Game Mechanics, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-On, Casual, MMObility Dragon Eternity has always been

Standing In The Rain In A Trench Coat From The Future

Standing In The Rain In A Trench Coat From The Future:
Unrelenting rain drums on the tin roof of the shelter. I huddle from the chill in my standard-issue trench coat, bathed in the cool glow of the data terminal. This is how

Tough Guy Studios nets $350,000 for multiplatform project

Tough Guy Studios nets $350,000 for multiplatform project:
Danish micro studio behind Time Ducks secures funding

War of the Fallen is the Right Way to Make a Mobile Card Battler

War of the Fallen is the Right Way to Make a Mobile Card Battler:
I've been quite vocal in the past about my disdain for the current generation of 'collectible card games' blossoming in the wake of Rage of Bahmut's success. Games

Defiance: The Agony and Ecstasy of Codeveloping An Integrated TV Show-Game Experience

Defiance: The Agony and Ecstasy of Codeveloping An Integrated TV Show-Game Experience:
In Defiance, the Syfy cable channel and Trion Worlds gaming company tackle a never-before-tried $100 million transmedia experiment--a crossover TV show and an

Dan Teasdale leaves Twisted Pixel Games

Dan Teasdale leaves Twisted Pixel Games:
The lead designer leaves for "the next big thing"

Perils of Whale Hunting: When F2P Players Leave The Sea

Perils of Whale Hunting: When F2P Players Leave The Sea:
How big a problem is it when social games pull the plug on the hardcore players who pay so the free-to-play model can work at all?

Pocket Gems releases case study about its publishing program, first two published games both saw more than 2M installs in the first 2 weeks

Pocket Gems releases case study about its publishing program, first two published games both saw more than 2M installs in the first 2 weeks:
Mobile game developer and publisher Pocket Gems today released a case study about its publishing program, where the company explained its publishing

Digital Chocolate launches real-money gaming title Slots! Pocket UK

Digital Chocolate launches real-money gaming title Slots! Pocket UK:
Social-mobile gaming developer Digital Chocolate today launched its first real-money gaming title Slots! Pocket UK for iOS in the U.K. Powered by real-money gaming

Indie Fund backs Little Flag Software's Kachina

Indie Fund backs Little Flag Software's Kachina:
The "whimsical physics toy" receives full backing

Hypnosis Review

Hypnosis Review:
Gamezebo Rating: Have you ever been hypnotized before? It seems a little scary at first, but it’s also a proven psychiatric method of bringing all those inner demons

Order & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch

Order & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch:
Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Mobile Order & Chaos Online is definitely trending a bit closer to the chaos side today. Gameloft's mobile MMO is getting a major

Cocos2d-x stakes its claim as a top 2D game engine

Cocos2d-x stakes its claim as a top 2D game engine:
Cross-platform, open-source game engine Cocos2d-x is staking its claim as one of the leading toolsets for 2D video games, with top studios like Disney Mobile and Wooga

Ragnarok Online Now Available for Android and iOS

Ragnarok Online Now Available for Android and iOS:
Gravity Interactive announced the release of their most popular MMORPG as a free, multiplayer iOS application Ragnarok Online: Valkyrie Uprising which can be

The Spirit Of Homeworld Lives On In Hardware, A Bold New RTS Universe

The Spirit Of Homeworld Lives On In Hardware, A Bold New RTS Universe:
Given the abundance of expensive pre-rendered trailers and live-action commercials gamers are bombarded with these days, it was surprising to see people

Talking Shop: Assassin's Creed IV's Senior Public Relations Manager

Talking Shop: Assassin's Creed IV's Senior Public Relations Manager:
We chat with Ubisoft's Stone Chin about what it takes to be a great PR manager

Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes

Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes:
Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Classes, Culture, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Casual, Kids, Family, Livestream, Sandbox,

Cut the Rope: Time Travel resides in the future

Cut the Rope: Time Travel resides in the future:
ZeptoLab has unveiled Cut the Rope: Time Travel, the newest addition to the Cut the Rope series. Exciting, no? Perhaps even more exciting is the fact that they didn’t

EVE Online executive producer moving to concentrate on mobile

EVE Online executive producer moving to concentrate on mobile:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, PvP, News Items, Dev Diaries, Sandbox It looks like EVE Online's Jon Lander, otherwise known as CCP Unifex, will be moving on from his

Publisher 2.0 - Data Driven Marketing

Publisher 2.0 - Data Driven Marketing:
Steve Fowler on how big data affects game marketing

The slow-paced (but excellent) multiplayer strategy/diplomacy game Neptune's Pride now has a sequel,

The slow-paced (but excellent) multiplayer strategy/diplomacy game Neptune's Pride now has a sequel,:
The slow-paced (but excellent) multiplayer strategy/diplomacy game Neptune's Pride now has a sequel, which you and your friends can play for free right now. Warning:

Forget about 'mid-core' - and understand your audience

Forget about 'mid-core' - and understand your audience:
"Mid-core" has become a buzzword, but what kinds of players really fall under the label? This blog post suggests more practical ways of looking at your player

Southend Interactive splits from parent company

Southend Interactive splits from parent company:
Deathrow and ilomilo dev declares independence as it separates from Tactel Holding AB

Hands-on with RaiderZ's new Broken Silence expansion

Hands-on with RaiderZ's new Broken Silence expansion:
Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, First Impressions, Livestream,

SMITE: Banana ARAM

SMITE: Banana ARAM:
SMITE players will soon have a new game mode to play in SMITE. We spent some quality time with Hi-Rez Studios to check out their unique take on All Random, All Mid

Scarlet Blade Announced Japan Publisher

Scarlet Blade Announced Japan Publisher:
It seems that Scarlet Blade is expanding to the whole world. North America, Europe, Korea, Taiwan and China servers are all either announced or already in operations

Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond

Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond:
Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Darkfall, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, PvE, Free-to-Play, Guides, EverQuest Next, ArcheAge, Some Assembly Required,

Dragon Nest KR April 10th Update Adds New Exploration Mode

Dragon Nest KR April 10th Update Adds New Exploration Mode:
The Korean server of Dragon Nest added a new single-player game mode today, which is almost similar to board games such as Monopoly. Players roll a dice, move to 1 of

Fishing for dollars: CocoaChina brings rapid mobile growth to the West

Fishing for dollars: CocoaChina brings rapid mobile growth to the West:
The publisher of Fishing Joy on open-source development, one-hit wonders and emulating Chinese success

No One Can Stop Mr. Crab

No One Can Stop Mr. Crab:
Sometimes I buy a game in iTunes simply because it shows up in the new and recommended section of the store. Other times I purchase a game because it looks

Why monetization is our industry's next big problem - and opportunity

Why monetization is our industry's next big problem - and opportunity:
Some say that free-to-play is the bane of the video game industry. But rather than wishing free-to-play would go away, maybe we'll just have to get really good at using it.

Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta

Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively,