Comics As ‘Top-Level’ Category For New iPad
March 14, 2010 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
The new bookstore for the iPad (see “Is iPad a Gamechanger?”) will include comics and graphic novels as one of 20 “top-level” categories, according to the blog on AppSlice, a new tool for browsing and finding apps. Manga will be included as a sub-category within the comics and graphic novel category, along with others. The 20 top-level categories will include around 150 sub-categories over-all.
This represents a significant improvement in the merchandising of digital comics as compared to the current sales through Apple’s app store, which will make comics easier to find for readers using the new device.
Resident Evil 4 Now Available For iPhone
July 27, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
Remember that super-polished version of Resident Evil 4 we saw strutting its stuff on iPhone? Well, it’s available right now for purchase in the App Store — and suspiciously smushed down to 37.3 MB. While the game sits on the pricier side of the app spectrum (and is missing elements from the console versions), anything called "Resident Evil 4" is almost impossible for us to resist.
Almost.
[Via App Advice]
Resident Evil 4 (Capcom, $7.99): 
Financial Times Says Apple Tablet Debuts In September
The UK’s Financial Times newspaper that “confirms” Apple will release a touch tablet in September. This account various in timing from two leading theories: an October release and a ship date in “early 2010.” But as I wrote in a recent column, regardless of when the tablet ships, the device will transform the industry.
Meanwhile, there is other evididence of a tablet in September or October, such as Toshiba “ramping up” production of flash memory chips during the month of August.
iPhone Game Earning $10K Per Month Via Ad Revenue
iPhone app developer MobilityWare just let us in on some pretty impressive revenue stats for its game Word Warp. On average, Word Warp brings in just over $10,000 a month.
That isn’t revenue from sales of the app, however, but via advertising, at an eCPM rate of $1.91 since September 2008. iPhone owners have the option of buying the game for 99 cents, or downloading a free version that feeds interstitial ads in between matches, sent via iPhone ad network Greystripe. In a phone call yesterday, MobilityWare marketing director Dave Yonamine told me that less than 20 percent of total Word Warp owners opt for the paid version; instead, they overwhelmingly go for the free, ad-driven version, downloading it roughly 1.5 million times.
“We’re going to give consumers that choice,” Yonamine told me, “and whatever they go with is fine with us.” By offering that choice, the company gets another healthy revenue stream besides app purchases, on a game, which by Yonamine’s estimation, cost mid-five figures to develop.
The advertising income also helps the company fund updates and enhancements to the game, which in turn helps keeps Word Warp relatively popular. More than a year after being in the Store, Yonamine said, the app still gets thousands of downloads a day. As he put it, “I find it humorous that people say the ad-support model is flawed.”
The Official Comic-Con iPhone App Is Here
July 21, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
iPhone owners who are headed to San Diego this week should download the official Comic-Con iPhone app. It basically provides all the information you would normally find in the official Comic-Con International program book, including maps of the halls and exhibit floor, program schedules, and a news feed without having to lug around that heavy program. Plus the programing line-up and exhibitor listing is easily searchable, and the maps are multi-touch zoomable (of course).
I’m sure this will come in handy during the five-day convention. Its not perfect. The maps don’t switch to landscape mode, and the exhibitor and panel search could be improved if they actually integrated with the maps (showing you where to go). But my hats go off to Comic-Con for putting the extra money into a possibly very useful tool. Best part is it’s FREE.
And I’m sure in future years the app will only get better. Social integration would be awesome, allowing you and your friends to create and share customizable schedules. Fantastic Fest and SXSW have some great social features like this on their website.
Sega Brings ‘Streets Of Rage’ To The iPhone
Sega today announced intentions to bring Streets of Rage to the iPhone. When’s it coming out you ask? How’s about right now! That’s right, folks. Because of Apple’s policy on speaking about iPhone apps/games before release, Sega simultaneously announced the game’s existence with its release.
Unfortunately, our friends at Touch Arcade were none too impressed with Sega’s port, saying the game suffers from tremendous slow down and renders the game “unplayable on the 3GS.” Oh no! We’re too busy spending our time with Drop7 to play anything else on the iPhone, so how about you tell us, Joystiq Biomass[TM]. Anyone drop the $4.99 for Streets of Rage today and encounter any problems?
An iPhone Server Farm - What?
July 15, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
In recent months some have chirped that the iPhone is really a sort netbook in disguise, and now with the debut of a new prototype, the iPhone may start doing double duty as an ultra portable server solution.
Created by Japan’s FreeBit, the iPhone server farm prototype houses up to five iPhones and is really just a showcase for the company’s Serversman software.
The free software supports the iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile phones allowing you to use your phone for network storage, as a file viewer or as a mini-web server. You can see a video explanation and demo of the entire set-up here.
Via IT Media
Resident Evil 4 Coming To The iPhone in July
July 15, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
We know, we were shocked too! Well, maybe not shocked, considering that Resident Evil 4 popped up on the Japanese App Store before it was pulled right down. The game will return (legitimately this time) to Japan by month’s end.
If you’re nowhere near the Land of the Rising Sun, fear not! Capcom says the game will roll out to the rest of the world soon after.
Very Cool Mini-Speakers For Your iPod
July 8, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
Japan-based Elecom today announced the Soundblack [JP], an iPod dock connector/speaker for use with a number of iPod models (iPod 5G, iPod touch 1/2G), iPod classic and iPod nano 1/2/3/4G). The 0.04W mini system doesn’t support the iPhone though.
The Soundblock will be available from the middle of July exclusively in Japan, but Geek Stuff 4 U already accepts preorders from people living outside this country (price: $42+shipping). Users are able to choose between 10 colors.
The Einstein Sound Master Photon Ball iPod Dock - Wow!
July 1, 2009 by tcgames · Leave a Comment
If you’re on the lookout for a dock, this one definitely has a little bit of that mad scientist appeal that would definitely keep life interesting. The colors within the ball on it will actually move about along with the beat of the music. Which would give a cool lighting effect while you’re listening to your favorite songs. While you’re becoming entranced with the shining bright lights, your iPod gets to sit on the dock and charge up.
Not only can it charge and be played through the dock, but you can also hook it up to your computer to have it synced with your computer. The dock also has a clock on it, which has an alarm that allows for you to wake up to the music directly from your iPod. If you’ve had enough of your iPod, you can switch modes and listen to the AM/FM radio instead.
It actually claims that it will work with any iPod, that can hook up to a dock, so yours should work with this. You can purchase it for $34.99.
