Talking about Llamasoft games can often be a bit like trying to describe a recipe, and the studio’s first iOS title, Solar Minotaur Rescue Frenzy – the beginning of an entire App Store series, apparently – is no different. Minotaur Rescue’s mechanics may evoke ideas from Asteroids, Defender, and even good old Spacewar!, yet it still feels distinct, refreshing, imaginative, and original.
US firm Walker Digital cites 2002 patent for an “online distributed tournament system.”
Zynga and Activision Blizzard are being sued for an alleged online gaming patent infringement.
Format: Xbox 360, PS3
Release: Out now
Publisher: EA
Developer: Naked Sky Entertainment
It's clear that 'learning from one's mistakes' isn't something they emphasise at Corporate Future Science Academy. Its revolutionary medical nanobots have gone rogue, threatening the life of their anonymous host, but the company has a simple solution: send in another revolutionary medical nanobot - and this time, make sure it's player-protagonist blue and not evil-robot red.
Treyarch FPS still pointing and laughing from top spot at its lesser-selling contemporaries.
All-conquering Activision shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops is once again number one in the Nordic all-format chart, which comprises total sales across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, for the week ending January 1.
Players invited to sign up – in teams – for initial testing of Firaxis’ upcoming Civ World.
The long-awaited Facebook version of Firaxis’ Civilization has a new name, Civ World, and a closed alpha test for the game will begin on January 12.
Out award for the best indie game of 2010.
Runner up: Neptune's Pride
Format: PC Publisher: Iron Helmet Games Developer: In-house
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Nintendo president reveals working 3D tech dropped due to cost of screens; GBA SP could do it too.
Satoru Iwata, president and CEO of Nintendo, has revealed that its GameCube console had circuitry for 3D compatibility.
Multiformat shooter will cap level progress for second-hand buyers unless they cough up $10.
Upcoming multiformat shooter Homefront is to make use of publisher THQ’s Online Pass in its multiplayer component.
The Online Pass is THQ’s response to increasing second-hand game sales. New copies of the game will contain a single-use code that unlocks certain content, in this case the bulk of its online multiplayer.
Manufacturer breaks cover and comments on recent security breaches; network updates planned.
Sony has at last broken silence on recent developments which have seen its PlayStation 3's security measures completely defeated.
The firm has remained resolutely tight-lipped since news broke that a hacking group named fail0verflow had gained full control over the system, after reverse engineering the code used to sign authorised software as genuine.
Home computer equivalent of iOS App Store opens doors a little early with over 1,000 apps to download.
Apple’s Mac App Store, a version of its mobile software marketplace for Mac computers, has just launched in 90 countries, a few hours earlier than expected.
Users will need to update their Snow Leopard operating system to the newly-released Mac OS 10.6.6, and will find a link to the Mac App Store in their dock once the update completes.
Our award for the best audio design of 2010.
Runner up: Sid Meier's Civilization V
Format: PC Publisher: 2K Games Developer: Firaxis
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UK research firm claims advertising will be worth $894m per year by 2015; end-user revenues to hit $11 billion.
Global advertising spend on mobile games is set to increase tenfold in the next five years, according to a report.
The Mobile Games whitepaper, published by UK firm Juniper Research, says that by 2015 mobile ad spend will have risen to $894 million per year, compared to just $87 million last year.
Beyond Good & Evil HD, Torchlight, Bejeweled Blitz and more coming in February.
At its CES keynote last night Microsoft announced that House Party, the Xbox Live Arcade promotion that debuted last year, is to return next month.
Relentless announces intent to move away from disc-based 'hardcore' market after Blue Toad success.
Relentless Software, the developer of the Buzz! quiz games and Blue Toad Murder Files, has said it intends to move away from the disc-based retail market and go digital-only.
Format: Xbox 360
Release: Out now
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Southend Interactive
BBC report cites users experiencing dreaded hardware fault within days of Kinect purchase.
Microsoft has swiftly moved to deny an alleged link between its Kinect motion sensor and long-standing Xbox 360 hardware problem the Red Ring Of Death.
The BBC reported yesterday on a link between the two with Xbox 360 owners complaining that their console suffered the common hardware fault shortly after they used Kinect for the first time.
Sales of 8m in two months smash sales targets; video chat app Avatar Kinect incoming.
Microsoft has said that its motion-sensing peripheral Kinect has sold 8m units worldwide since its launch in November.
Sony CEO reveals figures during CES keynote; dwarfs Microsoft’s Xbox Live userbase.
Howard Stringer, chairman, president and CEO of Sony, has said that 60 million accounts have been created on its online service PlayStation Network.
Our award for the best visual design of 2010.
Runner up: Limbo
Format: 360 Publisher: Playdead Developer: In-house
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Our award for the best developer of 2010.
Runner up: Harmonix
Key Games: Rock Band 3, Dance Central
Publisher set to release toy tie-ins on every platform imaginable; uDraw Pictionary up first.
Publisher THQ has signed a multi-year deal with Mattel to develop and publish games based on the toy manufacturer’s many beloved brands.
An agreement which is very broad in scope enables THQ to design, develop and market games for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobiles and social networks, with the publisher indicating Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and He-Man tie-ins are planned.
Pressure group invites MPs, industry representatives and press to House of Commons gaming event.
Independent pressure group Gamers’ Voice have invited UK politicians to a special gaming event at the House of Commons.
Claims Viacom sold Harmonix for the price of a game; tax benefit and liability transfer sweeten the deal.
Rock Band developer Harmonix returned to independent status for the cost of one of its games, according to reports in the US.
Top Paid app on recently-launched software marketplace has seen just 75 downloads since last month.
Google’s Chrome Web Store, the App Store equivalent that runs within its Chrome web browser, has got off to a slow start.
Retailer to launch Android Marketplace competitor this year; has final say on pricing.
Online retail giant Amazon is launching its own store for Android apps. The developer-facing side of the logically-titled Amazon Appstore is now available.