Author Archives: Chris Morris

Angry Birds gets a sequel – and a film tie-in

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Because there are so many app games on the market, we don’t write about them too often here at Technotainment, but we’re willing to make an exception for “Angry Birds.”

The sequel to the most popular game on the iPhone, iPad and pretty much any other mobile device it’s on has finally been unveiled. And this time, the birds are turning their wrath on… other birds. The game – called “Angry Birds: Rio” – is due out this spring and will have 45 initial levels. But to get you pumped up, creator Rovio and 20th Century Fox have put together one heck of a trailer.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

App review: Dead Space for iPad

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Dead Space for iPad isn’t a game for everybody – and certainly isn’t one for children – but as a survival horror game, it’s masterfully done. Rather than retelling a tale from an older game in the series (or cramming the plot of the just-released Dead Space 2, which this is meant to promote, into an app), this is a completely new adventure. The story is a fun ride for those who have the stomach for the gore — well-paced and packed with jump-out-of-your-seat moments. The game is best played with headphones, instead of the iPhone or iPad’s speaker, as they make it a much more immersive experience. Graphically, Dead Space is superb and it’s one of the few iDevice titles that really feels like a console experience.

Read more at Common Sense Media

Doodle Jump’s different sort of big screen debut

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Game titles in the app store have rewritten the rules of video game development – so it makes sense that they would rewrite the rules of tie-ins as well.

“Doodle Jump,” one of the most popular apps on iDevices, has announced a film partnership with Universal Pictures that will work a bit differently than the usual game/movie tie-in.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Disney nabs EA Mobile chief

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As Disney was busy laying off a substantial portion of its games division this week, it was also doing some hiring.

The Mouse House has lured away Adam Sussman, vice president of Electronic Arts’ mobile division. Sussman will become Senior VP of publishing for Disney Games – further indicating the company’s plan to focus almost entirely on mobile and social titles moving forward.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Sony, Nintendo, and Apple: Battle of the next-gen handhelds

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If this were a typical video game console cycle, the talk these days would be about things like the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Us (or whatever they had decided to call their new machines). But things are different this time around.

The major console systems may not be showing any signs of updating themselves soon, but the handheld marketplace is heating up fast. Both Nintendo and Sony have announced new portable game devices – the 3DS and NGP (a code name that will almost certainly be changed) — that will be in the hands of consumers before the end of the year.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

When will YOU get to see the Nintendo 3DS?

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It’s no secret that Nintendo is trying to shake up the gaming world with the 3DS — and if history is any indication, it’s probably going to have plenty of initial success. Gamers and mass-market consumers have shown an extraordinary level of interest in innovative gaming advances over the past few years.

The problem is, Nintendo devices tend to fly off the shelves at a rapid clip. And even if you manage to find one, spending $250 on blind faith is a pretty daunting task these days. So how can you find out if the 3DS — a handheld gaming device that allows users to play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses — is something that should be on your “must-have” list?

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Sony unveils PSP successor

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Sony is doubling down in the handheld gaming space.

Company unveiled its next-generation handheld system Thursday in Japan, then surprised the gaming world by also announcing a new initiative that will bring games from the original PlayStation to Android-based smartphones and tablets. Both the system and the initiative will launch before the end of the year.

Read more at Daily Variety

Sony Unveils Next Generation Handheld System

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As Apple and Nintendo prepare for a showdown in the portable gaming space,Sony won’t be sitting on the sidelines.

The company unveiled its next generation handheld system Thursday – the successor to its six-year old PlayStation Portable (PSP) device. Additionally, Sony announced a new initiative that would bring PlayStation games to Android-based devices, marking the first time the company has opened up its catalog to third-party systems.

Read more at CNBC.com

Sony unveils next-gen handheld, Android integration

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Most of the gaming world figured Sony would be rolling out the successor to the PSP at its Business and Strategy Meeting being held in Tokyo – but no one guessed it would embrace the smart phone market as well.

The company unveiled its next generation handheld system Thursday as well as a new initiative that would bring games from the original PlayStation to Android-based devices, as Sony prepares to launch its own ‘PlayStation Phone’.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Intel’s latest employee: will.i.am?

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Intel is taking a page from Polaroid’s playbook: Grab a hot musician, give them an official sounding title and hope the PR blitz surrounding that will result in something good.

With the camera company having already snapped up Lady Gaga, the chip maker went with Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am. His title: Director of Creative Innovation. His duties: No one seems to have any freaking idea.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog