As social gaming companies get snatched for e
ver-escalating amounts, the wave of acquisitions and investment money has turned to makers of mobile videogames.
Over the last two weeks, there have been three substantial buyouts and investments in the mobile market — and the transactions could signal the beginning of a larger trend in use of mobile devices for gaming.
[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris 
looks at how initial releases in game franchises are extending across film, books, action figures and beyond, talking to THQ’s Danny Bilson about the just-announcedHomefront prequel novel and why the “fiercely competitive” market demands that extra transmedia step.]
The video game industry, if you haven’t noticed, isn’t just about games any more.
Sure they’re important, but for many publishers, they’re the hub of a broader entertainment property.
Super Mega Worm doesn’t take itself the
least bit seriously — and that’s what makes it so fun. The deliberately archaic graphics and the ripped-from-a-cheesy-1950s-horror-film premise add to the kitsch factor. While technically violent — in that you’re killing tiny people – it doesn’t seem realistic. If you like the idea of being a super-ravenous, all powerful bad guy, this is the app for you.
Read more at Common Sense Media
Shooters are hard to pull off on the
iPhone, but Gameloft has done a terrific job with Modern Combat 2. The graphics are sharp (especially for folks using an iDevice with a Retina screen). The action is tense and well-paced. And the missions are varied. There is, however, a fair bit of predictability — particularly for players who have put in some time with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, from which this app borrows quite liberally. It is, however, a realistic portrayal of violence and isn’t something that is meant for kids.
My Town has quickly become
one of the most popular location-based apps around, with more than 4.5 million users. It has achieved this success by moving beyond simple check-ins and adding a fun gaming element to the app. That said, it’s not something that’s suitable for younger users — or even young teens. While the privacy issues are not as worrying as apps like Fourquare and InCrowd, there’s still the potential for users to inadvertantly reveal their location to strangers.
1 Little Boy is not just good. It’s wonderful. 
The story is basic, but the twist that the entire trip has occured in a child’s imagination is a great way to encourage your kids to dream. The apps enhances the story with gorgeous artwork and a bare-bones approach to letting the story unfold. It’s one of the few apps that allows parents to record their own voice to narrate the story, which makes it more personal for young readers. The price is a little higher than we’d like, but it’s by no means excessive. This is a wonderful addition to your app collection if you have young children.
Read more at Common Sense Media
Knowledge Adventure has a strong 
reputation as a kid’s software creator for a reason. Through the JumpStart brand, the company has honed learning exercises into fun games – and the JumpStart Preschool Magic of Learning 1 proudly continues that tradition. The games are challenging, but not too difficult and are full of educational opportunities for young children. While geared toward younger users, a few of the games — especially Bug Catcher — might even appeal to slightly older children.
Read more at Common Sense Media
My Very First App is good at what it does, 
but unfortunately, it doesn’t do an awful lot. The color identification games it offers are useful and have varying degrees of difficulty, making the app useful for a range of age groups. And Eric Carle’s distinctive artwork is, as always, wonderful to look at, but you’re paying a premium for it here. From a strictly educational standpoint, you can get a more complete set of learning tools for the same amount somewhere else. But if you’re a fan of Carle and willing to pay a bit extra for it, this app will easily satisfy you.
Read more at Common Sense Media
It was pretty much a foregone 
conclusion that the Kindle would be a hot seller in the fourth quarter. The combination of the holiday season and a new, lower priced device made it a certain hit.
But no one was expecting it to be this hot.
Two years ago, Nintendo could do no 
wrong. The Wii was at the height of its retail domination and competitors were scrambling for second place.
Today it’s a much different story and the looming holiday season could be a crucial one that determines the strength – and perhaps the future – of the company’s core console business.
Chris Morris: Journalist 