If you love turning watermelons and oranges into gushing half-circles of juicy deliciousness, then today is your lucky day. Halfbrick announced that the movie-themed sequel to its hit Fruit Ninja is available for Android for free once again. That's right, Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots is available for Android for the fine price of zilch on the Amazon Appstore one more time.
We personally adored the Puss in Boots edition when it released in time for the Dreamworks flick for iPhone and iPad. As you know, we're quite accustomed to ... branded properties here at Games.com, but Halfbrick truly treated this sequel as if it were Fruit Ninja 2. With a refreshingly challenging Bandito Mode that puts players through the gauntlet of fruit-based tests of finger flinging dexterity, there's no way we couldn't recommend downloading this gem immediately.
Seriously, because this deal is only good for today. So, get to it already. And don't hang too tightly on that "Fruit Ninja 2" quip, because that's coming too. If you love Fruit Ninja even remotely as much as this guy, you owe to yourself to pick this one up.
Click here to download Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots for Free Now >
Thứ Bảy, 18 tháng 2, 2012
Infinity Blade 2 takes notes from Mafia Wars's playbook next year
Let's just hope that seven bucks it's asking for comes down by that time. Chair Entertainment, the creator of Infinity Blade and its critically-acclaimed sequel, has announced that an ambitious social update is coming to the game in 2012. The new social feature is known as Clash Mobs, and it call thousands of players together both in real-time and asynchronously to take down massive enemies. Sound familiar?
"Clash Mobs will appear in an update of the game and incorporate players from all over the world," Infinity Blade 2 lead designer Donald Mustard told Mashable. "Right now, you play the game by yourself, but Clash Mobs will let you partner with thousands of other players in real-time to help you reach a goal in the game."
The update, which is expected to land within the next six months, will reward all players that contribute to each massive battle with new weapons and experience points. "We want gaming apps to be a massive social event, and this will be a step in the right direction," Mustard said to Mashable. "The concept is already available on certain games such as Words With Friends, so we wanted to incorporate a social component to this role-play games, as well."
According to Mashable, Mustard said that these collaborative efforts could take upwards of 24 hours with thousands of friends and strangers alike lending their blades to the fight. Again, sound familiar? This all sounds like the boss battles common to Facebook role-playing games like Mafia Wars and its new mobile counterpart, though in real time rather than asynchronous play. Now, the biggest differential between the two is that hefty $6.99 price tag.
What do you think of hardcore-skewed games like Infinity Blade taking cues from more casual social games like Mafia Wars?
"Clash Mobs will appear in an update of the game and incorporate players from all over the world," Infinity Blade 2 lead designer Donald Mustard told Mashable. "Right now, you play the game by yourself, but Clash Mobs will let you partner with thousands of other players in real-time to help you reach a goal in the game."
The update, which is expected to land within the next six months, will reward all players that contribute to each massive battle with new weapons and experience points. "We want gaming apps to be a massive social event, and this will be a step in the right direction," Mustard said to Mashable. "The concept is already available on certain games such as Words With Friends, so we wanted to incorporate a social component to this role-play games, as well."
According to Mashable, Mustard said that these collaborative efforts could take upwards of 24 hours with thousands of friends and strangers alike lending their blades to the fight. Again, sound familiar? This all sounds like the boss battles common to Facebook role-playing games like Mafia Wars and its new mobile counterpart, though in real time rather than asynchronous play. Now, the biggest differential between the two is that hefty $6.99 price tag.
What do you think of hardcore-skewed games like Infinity Blade taking cues from more casual social games like Mafia Wars?
Could social games inspire players to help out in the real world, too?
Social games may be about using your friends as resources to progress, but that's a two-way street, you know. (And if you're the type that's only going one way, don't expect to have many friends for very long.) The same applies to the real world, in a way, no? Iowa State University professor of psychology Douglas Gentile's recent findings might point in that direction.
In an article published in the December issue of the journal Nature Reviews/Neuroscience, Gentile puts forth the idea that social games might inspire players to be helpful to others in real-life social situations. Titled "Brains on video games," the article is a collection of independent studies from six researchers on the psychological effects of video games.
Particularly speaking to social games, Gentile found in experimental studies across the U.S., Japan and Singapore that playing "pro-social" games led to more "helping behavior" in players as a result, according to Medical Xpress. In one longitudinal study, or one conducted over an extended time period, it was found that students that started their school year playing social games displayed increased helpful behaviors later in the school year.
"If content is chosen wisely, video games can actually enhance some skills," Gentile said to Medical Xpress. "But overall, the research has demonstrated that they're far more powerful teaching tools than we imagined. But the power can be both good and bad." Of course, Gentile was referring to the potentially negative psychological effects of violent video games like desensitization and everyday aggression.
While it can't be said for sure that helping one another through social gaming directly leads to players feeling driven to help others in the real world, it makes sense on paper. While the motivations are far more simplified, social gamers use their friends to advance much like folks make friends to advance. Whether that real-world motivation be emotional fulfillment or scoring a carpool to work, there's still a possible connection there, right?
Do you think social gaming could lead to more helpful behavior in real social situations? Do you find yourself more cooperative in your day-to-day, thanks to FarmVille or another Facebook game?
In an article published in the December issue of the journal Nature Reviews/Neuroscience, Gentile puts forth the idea that social games might inspire players to be helpful to others in real-life social situations. Titled "Brains on video games," the article is a collection of independent studies from six researchers on the psychological effects of video games.
Particularly speaking to social games, Gentile found in experimental studies across the U.S., Japan and Singapore that playing "pro-social" games led to more "helping behavior" in players as a result, according to Medical Xpress. In one longitudinal study, or one conducted over an extended time period, it was found that students that started their school year playing social games displayed increased helpful behaviors later in the school year.
"If content is chosen wisely, video games can actually enhance some skills," Gentile said to Medical Xpress. "But overall, the research has demonstrated that they're far more powerful teaching tools than we imagined. But the power can be both good and bad." Of course, Gentile was referring to the potentially negative psychological effects of violent video games like desensitization and everyday aggression.
While it can't be said for sure that helping one another through social gaming directly leads to players feeling driven to help others in the real world, it makes sense on paper. While the motivations are far more simplified, social gamers use their friends to advance much like folks make friends to advance. Whether that real-world motivation be emotional fulfillment or scoring a carpool to work, there's still a possible connection there, right?
Do you think social gaming could lead to more helpful behavior in real social situations? Do you find yourself more cooperative in your day-to-day, thanks to FarmVille or another Facebook game?
Coco Girl maker MetroGames lets go of employees after failed buyout
Unfortunately, even developers that appear to be doing well aren't safe, it seems. Inside Social Games reports that, after failing to close a deal that would have sold the company to a larger publisher, MetroGames has begun to ax its staff. Best known for hits like Coco Girl, which released earlier this summer, the company enjoys a seemingly healthy 5.5 million monthly players.
"We informed our staff of our financial condition last week," MetroGames CEO Damián Harburguer told ISG. "A significant number of really talented employees have left the company and we will be forced to make additional reductions very soon. We regret that this happened during the Holiday season, but we did not want to take drastic action while any chance remained that a deal would be successful. We are doing everything we can to help our former employees find new positions with other companies in Buenos Aires and elsewhere."
According to the website, Harburguer's statement follows an email that arrived at several news outlets last week from someone that claimed to be a MetroGames employee. The supposed employee reported that both Harburguer and MetroGames COO Julián Lisenberg had publicly asked staffers to continue working throughout December holiday bonuses or even wage payment. The anonymous employee also claimed that the two had privately pressured employees to quit simultaneously.
The news comes as a shock considering MetroGames' top game is home to over 3 million monthly players and 530,000 daily players. There has been no official mention of MetroGames closing down, but the nameless employee does warn of "imminent closure," according to ISG. Best wishes to those affected, and sadly, this is just latest in a string of layoffs in the social games scene this year.
Are you bummed at the thought of MetroGames closing down? What do you think of the rampant closures and layoffs in social games this year?
"We informed our staff of our financial condition last week," MetroGames CEO Damián Harburguer told ISG. "A significant number of really talented employees have left the company and we will be forced to make additional reductions very soon. We regret that this happened during the Holiday season, but we did not want to take drastic action while any chance remained that a deal would be successful. We are doing everything we can to help our former employees find new positions with other companies in Buenos Aires and elsewhere."
According to the website, Harburguer's statement follows an email that arrived at several news outlets last week from someone that claimed to be a MetroGames employee. The supposed employee reported that both Harburguer and MetroGames COO Julián Lisenberg had publicly asked staffers to continue working throughout December holiday bonuses or even wage payment. The anonymous employee also claimed that the two had privately pressured employees to quit simultaneously.
The news comes as a shock considering MetroGames' top game is home to over 3 million monthly players and 530,000 daily players. There has been no official mention of MetroGames closing down, but the nameless employee does warn of "imminent closure," according to ISG. Best wishes to those affected, and sadly, this is just latest in a string of layoffs in the social games scene this year.
Are you bummed at the thought of MetroGames closing down? What do you think of the rampant closures and layoffs in social games this year?
The breakdown of Japanese social gamers is a lot like the U.S., actually
As it turns out, older women in Japan like social games just as much as they do in the states. Major Japanese social gaming companies including DeNA, GREE and Mixi have released detailed demographic information regarding their players. And, aside from a few interesting caveats, Japanese social gamers don't differ too much from their Western counterparts.
According to GREE, 53 percent of its players are women, while 34 percent of those are aged between 20 and 29 years old. Just under that is 27 percent, accounting for Japanese gamers 30 to 39 years old. GREE also breaks down its player base according to geographic location. Of course, those based in Tokyo dominated the graph, making up 34 percent of all GREE players. Following that is Kinki with 16 percent of players.
GREE gamer demographics
As for DeNA, the company has only provided aged-related data, but Serkan Toto guesses that its gender demographic split is similar. Since March 2011, a whopping 41 percent of Mobage--its mobile social game network--players are aged 30 years or older.
Japanese media publisher Enterbrain has provided its own unique demographic data of social gamers focusing on occupations. According to the company's findings, nearly 15 percent of all Japanese social gamers are housewives, followed by office workers coming in at around 13 percent. It looks like, no matter where you're from, the current crop of social games just speaks to the ladies.
[Image Credist: GREE, Kotaku]
Are you surprised at all that social demographics in Japan don't differ terribly from those in the states?
According to GREE, 53 percent of its players are women, while 34 percent of those are aged between 20 and 29 years old. Just under that is 27 percent, accounting for Japanese gamers 30 to 39 years old. GREE also breaks down its player base according to geographic location. Of course, those based in Tokyo dominated the graph, making up 34 percent of all GREE players. Following that is Kinki with 16 percent of players.
GREE gamer demographics
As for DeNA, the company has only provided aged-related data, but Serkan Toto guesses that its gender demographic split is similar. Since March 2011, a whopping 41 percent of Mobage--its mobile social game network--players are aged 30 years or older.
Japanese media publisher Enterbrain has provided its own unique demographic data of social gamers focusing on occupations. According to the company's findings, nearly 15 percent of all Japanese social gamers are housewives, followed by office workers coming in at around 13 percent. It looks like, no matter where you're from, the current crop of social games just speaks to the ladies.
[Image Credist: GREE, Kotaku]
Are you surprised at all that social demographics in Japan don't differ terribly from those in the states?
2011's hottest gadgets all have one thing in common...
Games. And those hopelessly addictive casual games, at that. According to an end-of-year poll put together by SodaHead, a leading opinion-based web community, the five best gadgets of this year all provide game entertainment. The website's poll of 962 people declared Apple the clear winner, with its iPhone 4S and iPad 2 taking 39 and 25 percent of the vote, respectively.
Of course, it's pretty clear at this point that the iPhone and iPad game scene is thriving, especially when it comes to "free". Following Apple's empire is Amazon's Kindle Fire with 17 percent of the vote, the Nintendo 3DS winning the hearts of 12 percent of voters and the Nook Tablet scoring 7 percent of the vote.
While the 3DS is billed as more of a hardcore mobile gaming device at the moment, Nintendo promises that more casual games are the way. The Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire, however, have made casual games a major pillar of their strategy since day one, with game franchises like Bejeweled, Words With Friends and Angry Birds available on both devices already.
A sample of just under 1,000 might be considered rather small, but we're willing to bet that more than 1,000 folks would generally agree with the results. A look at any of these devices' sales numbers--well, the 3DS's later numbers--can attest to that. As for 2012, you can likely expect our prediction for 2011 ring even truer: Mobile games will burn hotter than ever. Check the infographic in full below.
What do you think was the best gadget of 2011? If you own one of these devices, what's the number one thing you use it for?
Of course, it's pretty clear at this point that the iPhone and iPad game scene is thriving, especially when it comes to "free". Following Apple's empire is Amazon's Kindle Fire with 17 percent of the vote, the Nintendo 3DS winning the hearts of 12 percent of voters and the Nook Tablet scoring 7 percent of the vote.
While the 3DS is billed as more of a hardcore mobile gaming device at the moment, Nintendo promises that more casual games are the way. The Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire, however, have made casual games a major pillar of their strategy since day one, with game franchises like Bejeweled, Words With Friends and Angry Birds available on both devices already.
A sample of just under 1,000 might be considered rather small, but we're willing to bet that more than 1,000 folks would generally agree with the results. A look at any of these devices' sales numbers--well, the 3DS's later numbers--can attest to that. As for 2012, you can likely expect our prediction for 2011 ring even truer: Mobile games will burn hotter than ever. Check the infographic in full below.
What do you think was the best gadget of 2011? If you own one of these devices, what's the number one thing you use it for?
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