The name’s a mouthful, but ABBY MONKEY – Animal Games 
For Kids HD by 22learn is a good collection of educational games for children with a good variety of settings so parents can gradually ramp up the difficulty to keep kids challenged. For example, the number of cards in the Animatch game (essentially the classic card game of concentration) can range from 8 to 18. And the reading of words can be toggled off and on for kids who know the words. The cartoon critters you’ll encounter are charming, and the game greatly encourages children as they get answers right. The promotional links at the start of the app are a bit too much, but it’s not enough to detract from the quality of the games. By the time they tire of this app, kids can learn up to 80 different animals.
Author Archives: Chris Morris
Steve Jobs re-elected to Disney board
Steve Jobs will remain on the 
board at Disney.
Investors voted Wednesday to re-elect the CEO of Apple (and one-time owner of Pixar), despite proxy advisors who lobbied against the action, citing continuing concerns about Jobs’ overall health.
Game companies line up to aid Japan
As recovery efforts continue in Japan after a 
devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and accompanying tsunami, the video game industry is rallying to aid in the relief.
Some publishers are reaching into their own pockets to donate, while others — along with select members of the development community — are leveraging their customer base to raise money.
Interview: PopCap’s Roberts Talks IPO Reports, Why ‘Good Games Are Good Games’
[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris talks to PopCap CEO 
David Roberts about the rise of casual gaming, the possibility of an initial public offering for the company later this year, and why Bejeweled’s popularity rises from the fact that “good games are good games.”]
PopCap Games, to borrow (and slightly mangle) a phrase from Barbara Mandrell, was casual when casual wasn’t cool.
Long before companies like Rovio and Zynga were dominating headlines, the Seattle-based development house was building a loyal following with titles like Bejeweled and Bookworm. And that gives it some perspective in this fast-growing market.
Vidgames face great divide
Forget Xbox vs. PlayStation. In the videogame
industry, the biggest brewing battle these days is the one between traditional developers and the new breed — those who specialize in Facebook and iPhone titles.
While social networking games and mobile gaming apps are still dwarfed financially by franchises like “Halo” and “Call of Duty,” they’re stealing eyeballs — and talent — from the console world. And, according to some high-ranking execs, they’re putting the future of the industry at risk.
Duke Nukem courts controversy with cheeky multiplayer mode
No one would ever accuse Duke Nukem of being 
a closet feminist, but the cigar-chomping, buzz-cut sporting, alien butt-kicker is stirring the pot once again.
The multiplayer modes for the imminent Duke Nukem Forever have been announced (via the April issue of Official Xbox Magazine) — and one, dubbed “Capture the Babe,” has raised some eyebrows.
App review: Angry Birds Rio
New Angry Birds levels are never a bad thing — and 
Angry Birds provides plenty. With 60 initial levels and commitments from developer Rovio for additional updates in May, July, October and November, this will keep fans of the runaway hit franchise happy for a while. Veterans of the game, though, might be disappointed with how easy half of the levels are this time around, although there are other elements, such as hidden fruits and new achievements to keep them busy. The marketing parts of the game are relatively tame, which is refreshing as well. While the visceral thrill of the game is still there, the gameplay is starting to show very early signs of aging. Angry Birds has been around for a while now and there are lots of clones on the market. It’s still a lot of fun, but Angry Birds Rio is noticeably less addicting than Angry Birds.
PBS to stream ‘The Civil War’ free via iPad/iPhone
With the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War 
fast approaching, it probably won’t come as a surprise that PBS has plans to rerun Ken Burns’ acclaimed series on the War Between the States.
What might be a bit more unexpected, though, is that the network plans to offer a free stream of the series’ first episode to showcase its PBS App for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The stream will become available March 24 for a 10-day window.
Fans to choose the next Madden cover athlete
For NFL players, being named the cover athlete 
for EA’s Madden franchise beats the pants off getting their face plastered on a Wheaties box.
Historically, the company has decided who gets the honor, but this year, it’s letting fans make the decision.
Sony’s next-gen handheld to keep a digital focus
The PSP Go, which shunned physical media 
for a download only model, might not be a roaring success, but Sony’s doubling down on digital distribution as it prepares its next generation handheld gaming system.
The head of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe says that every game on the so-called NGP (Next Generation Portable) will be available to buy as a download the same day the physical game appears on store shelves.
Chris Morris: Journalist 