Category Archives: Mobile

Intel has appointed Brian Krzanich as its new CEO. He will replace former boss Paul Ottellini from May 16, and has already suggested that the company will set its sights on the mobile arena moving forward

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Mobile publisher Glu Mobile has laid-off around 68 staff members as it moves to a games-as-a-service business model. Those affected include Griptonite Games in Kirkland, San Francisco and Beijing. Glu closed its Brazil office last year. “We believe concentrating resources on fewer titles, with a greater centralized support infrastructure will accelerate revenue growth in Q4 2013 and beyond,” CEO Niccolo de Masi told IGN. “A reduction in force was commenced today to promote talent density throughout the studio, as well as fund over 80 new [games as a service] colleagues.” Thanks GI International.

DeNa has closed five titles hosted on its Mobage social hub in Japan, including Epic Games’ localised version of Infinity Blade Cross.

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One research firm believes that in the next few years more gaming will occur on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets than any other platform.

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Microsoft’s Xbox SmartGlass app is now available on Kindle Fire, meaning you can message your friends, explore bonus content, and control your console with Amazon’s proprietary tablet. Smartglass is also available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone meaning nobody has any excuses, ever, to avoid Microsoft’s multi-device schemes. Load up the Amazon app store to grab the free release.

Thanks, IGN.

Call of Duty publisher Activision has revealed that its shooter teams are currently researching ways to transfer the mayhem and bombast of their full-scale shooter experiences to tablets and mobile. It’s very much of-interest to the publisher, says Activision’s Jon Estanislao.

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Cambridge indie inkle has announced a May release for Steve Jackson’s Sorcery, a fondly remembered 1983 gamebook.

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Namco Bandai has released localised versions of three of its popular Idolm@ster games for iDevice. Rhythmic Record, Melodic Disc and Harmonic Score are ports of the Shiny Fest PSP games, and are available now from the App Store for $55 each. Each one contains an original animated feature, different idols, and free downloadable tunes, and weighs in at a hefty couple of GB each.

Thanks, Siliconera.

The talented and hardworking team at Vlambeer has once more fallen afoul of quick-and-dirty copycats, this time shamelessly stealing the lovely Luftrausers.

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Unity co-founder Nicholas Francis, who formed Framebunker, a mobile game development studio, is working on a sci-fi game called Static Sky. Francis announced his departure from the firm back in February, and he was joined by Unity’s former creative director, Charles Hinshaw. The studio’s philosophy is to create “unforgettable experiences that tablet gamers deserve,” and the firm will put this manifesto to the test when it releases Static Sky in early 2014. Thanks, GI International.

Google’s Android smartphone OS ias close to 1 billion activations, CEO Eric Schmidt said at the AllThingsD Dive Into Mobile conference.

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Although EA still isn’t keen to comment, it has made layoffs at at least one and probably two studios, with talk of a wider restructuring across its mobile and social divisions.

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The Wii U version of Injustice: Gods Among Us does not support content unlocks from the free iOS version, according to a report on Siliconera. Although it’s apparently missing this feature, supported by the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, the Wii U SKU does have off-screen play and a move list display for the Game Pad. NetherRealm’s latest is available now in Australia and the US and hits Europe on April 19.

Three popular geek interests combine in one App Store release today. Take your pick of which one you like best – webcomics; gamebooks; or Wesley Crusher.

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Sony Online Entertainment has released a companion mobile app for Planetside 2, available now for free on Android and iOS. PCGamesN reports the app allows you to voice chat with your compadres, which is kind of amazing if you’re trying to organise whatever the shooter MMO has instead of raids. It also connects to various social media and community destinations, provides information on game systems, has a news ticker, offers leaderboards and stores your character’s stats for bragging rights at the pub.

Electronic Arts CCO Richard Hilleman believes video games aren’t mass market yet, with the closest medium to reach the sector being the social and mobile space.

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Electronic Arts has laid-off some of its employees at EA Mobile Montreal, and while the firm has commented on the matter, it had refused to provide the specific number of those affected.

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Sony Xperia phones can now pair with Dual Shock 3 controllers using a new piece of software, letting users control many games on Google Play and PSN. Sony has released a video showing how it works.

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Injustice: Gods Among Us developer NetherRealm Studios has released a new mobile trailer that explains how battles play out using your device’s touch screen. Is it any substitute for physical controllers? Discuss below.

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Sega has announced a new version of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, remastered for Android and iOS. In a post on the Sonic Retro forums, prominent Sonic fan community members Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead and Stealth were confirmed as the power behind the port, with Whitehead stating the new version is a Retro-Engine remake like that Sonic CD was recently graced with. Expect the mobile release this month for $3; owners of the existing version will be able to update for free. A Sonic 2 remake is also on the cards.

Thanks, Destructoid.