After years spent 
dodging countless cars, hopping across millions of floating logs and gobbling an untold number of flies, Frogger has made the jump into his 30s.
Yup, it was this day in 1981 when the coin-op classic first leapt into gamers’ lives, inspiring plenty of clones and a legacy of sequels that’s still going strong today.
With the upcoming 
Modern Warfare 3 looking to set new industry sales records when it launches later this year, Gamasutra’s Chris Morris questions whether Activision’s behemoth franchise can keep it up.
Even if you slept through your high school physics courses, you’re probably pretty familiar with the concept of what goes up, must come down. And given how high up the Call of Duty franchise has gotten in the past few years, there’s a very vocal segment of the gaming world waiting for it to fall.
Part of that is this industry’s insatiable need to declare the leading publisher evil and wish them harm. Part of it is rooting for an underdog. But whatever the reason, it looks like despite all the bellyaching by Activision opponents, gravity’s not going to be pulling the franchise from orbit this year either.
Jetpack Joyride is the 
epitome of the “one more turn” title. It may be somewhat simplistic in its gameplay and not have a ton of original elements, but the game is so well polished and executed that you can’t help but continue playing again and again and again. From the variety of bonus weapons — like the stomp suit or the bad as hog (a clever pun on the more objectionable term) — to the fun enhancements you can buy with coins (earned within the game or available via in-app purchase), it’s downright charming. And the inclusion of Barry Steakfries, a hero in other games by the developer, is a nice nod to the team’s dedicated fans. For a dollar, it’s impossible to wrong with this one.
The digital transition is 
going pretty well at Activision-Blizzard.
The video game publisher, in an Analyst Day presentation, notes that its digital revenue over the past 12 months hit $1.7 billion, topping last year’s $1.4 billion and 2009’s $1.2 billion. That’s a 37 percent increase in just 24 months.
L.A. Noire developer 
Team Bondi might have created one of the most critically-acclaimed titles of the year, but now it’s a company fighting for its life.
Just three months after releasing its hit game, the Australian-based studio has been placed into administration, a financial condition that’s analogous to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. The protection gives the company time to attempt to regain solvency and reorganize by selling off assets and likely laying off staff.
The dubious history of 
Snuggle Truck aside (it was originally create as Smuggle Truck and players carried illegal aliens from Mexico in the back of their vehicle), this is actually a fairly well-done game. It’s quick to reward players and the physics is very responsive. The problem is, the app store is fairly flooded with side-scrolling racer arcade games, and there’s not enough here to really stand out from the crowd. It’s fun and perfect for snack gaming (3- to 5-minute bursts), but won’t be something you find yourself going back to again and again. The most redeeming feature is the Level Portal, an online community where people can share the levels they create, giving the game enhanced replayability, should it capture your fancy.
Just when the music 
game genre was going stale, Groove Coaster comes along and not only turns it on its ear, but delivers a wonderful breath of fresh air. Rather than staying put and waiting on the notes to come to you, you’ll hop onto a winding track, touching the screen as your icon crosses flashing beats. That not only gives the game a sense of motion, it keeps you on your toes as your perception is challenged. (Is the next beat far away or just over the next hill?) That winding sense also helps to visualize the music. The firework-like explosion of light that accompanies successfully hitting each beat makes things even more challenging — but also much more fun.
How enjoyable is this game? It’s one of the very few you’ll sit through the credits for multiple times — since even those are playable.
Reality TV has explored 
deserted islands, crowded cohabitation, romance, travel and primal fear. So why not video games?
Spike TV and Sony are teaming up to create a reality show centered on the upcoming Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.
Emberwind shows lots 
of potential, with plenty of areas to explore and sidescrolling mainstays like items to collect and enemies to vanquish. Unfortunately, a terrible control scheme makes the game an absolute chore to enjoy. The onscreen joystick is non-responsive, which can cause you to miss crucial jumps and makes it hard to retreat in a hurry. Other buttons seem randomly placed on the screen and are less than intuitive. The screen can become overly busy, which is especially frustrating when playing on an iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s particularly maddening because the game has plenty of depth. But because of its other issues, players may simply give up before they discover that.
Take-Two Interactive Software 
hasn’t formally announced the next installment of the massive Grand Theft Auto franchise, but it’s the industry’s worst kept secret.
Most industry analysts expect it to be unveiled (and released) next year – and the oddsmaking has started on exactly how big it will be. Right now, the most conservative guesses put the number just below the worldwide grosses of Titanic.
Chris Morris: Journalist 