Tag Archives: mobile games

Opinion: ESRB Mobile App Initiative Underscores Industry Power Shift

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Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris picks apart the ESRB’s recent push into the mobile app space, and wonders how these ratings will fare without Apple and Android’s support.

While you have to admire the Entertainment Software Ratings Board’s push into the mobile app space, it’s hard not to be disappointed with Tuesday’s joint announcement with CTIA.

Getting AT&T, Microsoft, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless on board is a step, yes, but it’s akin to announcing a new Grand Theft Auto that’s being made by first year game development students. It sounds great, until you think about it for a couple seconds.

Read more at Gamasutra

Report: Mobile game income surpasses Nintendo/Sony handhelds

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The growth of the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad as gaming devices has done plenty to worry executives at Nintendo and Sony for a while now, but new numbers from Flurry Research may cause even more agita.

The mobile analytics firm says revenues from the iOS and Android gaming markets are now higher than that generated from traditional portable systems from the two gaming giants. And in a $3.3 billion market, that’s noteworthy.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainmen blog

OpenFeint Launching Cross-Platform Social Network

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Gamers on Apple’s iDevices who want to compare scores can do so pretty easily through the company’s GameCenter. But what happens when their friends are playing the same game on an Android phone – or the PC?

OpenFeint is planning to build a bridge to solve the problem. The company has announced the private beta launch for OpenFeint Connect, an API solution that will allow developers to release games on any app store – for any device – and incorporate OpenFeint game data.

Read more at Gamasutra

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

Interview: Kongregate CEO Jim Greer On The Move Into Android

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Kongregate is launching its ‘Kongregate Arcade’ app for Android devices. Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris talks to CEO and co-founder Jim Greer about discovering opportunity on that platform.

With its presence already well-established in the Web space, Kongregate is branching out into the world of mobile. The Gamestop-owned game portal on Tuesday announced the launch of the ‘Kongregate Arcade’ app for Android devices.

With an initial library of 300 games, the app represents one of the biggest collection of games on the platform. And Jim Greer, CEO and co-founder of the company, says Kongregate plans to build that number rapidly – conservatively estimating the company will add “dozens” of games per month (versus the 1,500 or so that the desktop client sees in the same amount of time).

Read more at Gamasutra

Windows Phone 7 takes aim at Apple

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While Microsoft’s previous efforts in mobile technology haven’t generated a lot of support or enthusiasm, the company is incorporating a variety of entertainment elements into its upcoming phones — which could be key to winning marketshare.

A trio of handsets featuring Windows Phone 7 — which many analysts feel is the company’s last chance to make a real impact in the mobile space — will hit AT&T stores on Nov. 8. Other carriers will follow shortly thereafter. (Some European customers will get the phones on Oct. 21.)

Read more at Daily Variety