Retail video game sales 
nosedived in July, hitting their lowest level since October 2006.
Year over year sales were down 26 percent, with declines across the board in all hardware, software and accessories — and no breakout hits. While July is often a slow month for the industry, the dip in software sales was more than twice as bad as Wall St. analysts were predicting.
There’s often a summer lull 
in the video game space, but this is taking things a little too far. Video game retail sales were down 26 percent in July, hitting their lowest levels in almost five years.
It was, frankly, a bloodbath for the industry. Physical game sales came in more than twice as bad as predicted, dropping 17 percent to $336 million and hardware sales plunged 29 percent. It was also a month where some seemingly bulletproof franchises were shot down.
Soccer sims on iDevices 
have been so-so so far, but First Touch Soccer offers almost everything the true fan could ask for. The game is challenging and well-paced, with terrific AI, impressive graphics, and (amazingly) a play-by-play/color commentating system that doesn’t get annoying. It’s as close to a console experience as we’ve seen on an iOS system. Additionally, there’s a headline feed of soccer-themed stories (which, sometimes, can be a bit much for younger players). There are also several customization options and a ton of teams, game modes, and other gameplay options. The interface is a bit busy, but in the end, this is a game that truly feels like a team experience — which makes it stand above most of its competition.
Zombie games are a bit 
played out in the App Store. Generally, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all — shoot the shuffling (or sometimes speedy) undead as they try to devour your cranium. Zombie Gunship turns the genre on its ear, though, taking you off the ground and reinvigorating things in the process. Using a grainy infrared camera, you’ll shoot the zombies from an attack airplane, while trying to save civilians running for cover. The game’s pacing is also slower than most zombie games as well, which works to its benefit.
Using a word like “realism” with a zombie game seems wrong, but the game does feel more like a simulation than a gory fantasy game — ditching background music and colorful graphics for a stark feel that works wonderfully with the formula. The result? One of the smartest zombie games to come out on any platform.
Activision is bringing in 
some Hollywood heavyweights to help it entertain the Call of Duty social community.
Director Ridley Scott, whose hits include “Alien,” “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” is leading the charge on “episodic entertainment” that will be available exclusively to Call of Duty: Elite subscribers. Included among the other contributors are actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman.
Cordy is one of the better 
platformers we’ve seen, which makes the game’s sneaky way of getting you to pay so maddening. Certainly, we have no problem with the price — $4.99 is fair for the quality the developers have put into the game — but it’s much too easy to download the game and not realize you’re merely getting a trial, as that’s not made glaringly clear in the app store. And the customization options (ranging from 99 cents to $2.99) are a greedy swipe at people’s wallet.
As for the game itself, it’s simply terrific: A good throwback to the glory days of Sonic with wonderful graphics, terrific pacing, and a difficulty level that’s top notch. (Beating a level is easy — but getting all the extras on each one isn’t.) It’s not revolutionary, but it’s a lot of fun.
The privacy debate that springs up 
around Background Check App is an extensive one — but ultimately a useless one. While many object to how easy it now is for someone to learn what can be very private details of your life, the fact of the matter is the information has been available online for a long time. And it was inevitable that it would make its way to the mobile platform. That said, this app (from BeenVerified.com, which provides an identical service on the web) can sometimes dig deeper than you’d like it to — listing the names of relatives (though, apparently, not underage children) as well as home addresses and criminal records, along with your entire online footprint, including photos, videos, blogs, etc. The scary part is: The information isn’t always accurate, which can create a false impression that sometimes is unjustified.
There’s certainly a curiosity factor that goes with this sort of app, but it’s not something you want in a child’s hand. The reliability questions that go with the data could lead them to gossip about a teacher or friend’s parents having a criminal record, when it was, in fact, someone with a similar name. The app could, however, be a good way to show children that they can always be held accountable for their past — and that they should think twice (or even three times) before posting something online, since someone can always see it.
Trainz Simulator is clearly 
aimed at true enthusiasts. For a general audience, the app can be described in a single word: Intimidating. Even in its easy mode, this app is complicated — certainly too complicated for young kids. For those who want to learn more about the locomotive world, though, there’s plenty to discover here. The app has a ton of options, including letting players create their own routes and environments. And the thorough collection of train types (and accompanying information about each) is a primer for newcomers.
Phone app fans of word 
games likely already knows about Words With Friends — but adding the popular Scrabble-like game to Facebook should make dwell times on the site soar. You can play multiple opponents simultaneously. And the more games you have going, the more likely you are to stick around. At its heart, the Facebook version is basically the same as the mobile version, but adds a couple new features like Brag Feeds (letting you gloat about triple word scores) and the ability to challenge friends directly through their news feeds. For word aficionados, this is one Facebook that will be hard to resist.
The king of retail is 
launching a new digital service just as it throws in the towel on another.
Wal-Mart has brought its Vudu movie streaming service to the iPad in a move to expand its distribution. But as it dives deeper into video, the company has announce plans to shut down its MP3 download service by the end of the month.
Chris Morris: Journalist 