FingerGaming

Five months after launching Mirror’s Edge as an iPad exclusive, Electronic Arts has released a new version compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Mirror’s Edge ($4.99), previously available on consoles as a first-person action title, arrives on iOS devices as an autoscrolling platformer in the vein of games like Canabalt and Robot Unicorn Attack.

This new take on Mirror’s Edge features much of the same parkour-styled action of the original console title, while its fast pace and varied challenges require players to think fast as they run, jump, and slide throughout 14 rooftop levels.

Mirror’s Edge is compatible with all iOS devices, but is optimized with Retina Display support for the iPhone 4 and the upcoming fourth-generation iPod Touch.

Tags: Action, electronic arts, iPhone, iPod Touch, mirror's edge

Apple has announced the release of an improved generation of its gaming-focused iPod Touch hardware, now available for pre-order and shipping next week in the United States.

The fourth-generation iPod Touch hardware includes many features previously introduced with this year’s iPhone 4. New iPod Touch devices will include a pixel density-boosting Retina Display, an A4 processor that improves performance for graphics-intensive games, and a rotation-sensing three-axis gyroscope supported by titles like Gameloft’s N.O.V.A. and ngmoco’s Eliminate GunRange.

Other hardware additions include a built-in-microphone, a front-facing camera for Apple’s FaceTime phone application, and a rear camera capable of capturing high-definition 720p video.

The new iPod Touch will be available with 8GB of storage capacity for $229, 16GB for $299, and 32GB for $399.

At today’s Apple event, company CEO Steve Jobs noted that the iPod Touch “has become the most popular portable game player in the world. The iPod Touch outsells Nintendo and Sony portable game players combined.”

Jobs adds: “It has over 50 percent market share for both the U.S. and worldwide. It has by far become the most popular game player in the world. And over 1.5 billion games and entertainment downloads have been downloaded from iTunes just to the iPod Touch.”

Jobs additionally revealed that App Store downloads have surpassed 6.5 billion units across 250,000 hosted applications. iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, have sold more than 120 million units worldwide.

Revamped iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle hardware will launch alongside the new iPod Touch next week. New iPod Nano devices will feature a multi-touch screen, while iPod Shuffle hardware now includes navigation buttons and support for playlists and VoiceOver.

Tags: Apple, Industry News, iPod Touch

Every week, FingerGaming rounds up the most popular paid and free iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top paid titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. The Oregon Trail ($0.99)
3. Scrabble ($0.99)
4. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
5. Jaws ($0.99)
6. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
7. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 ($2.99)
8. Where’s Waldo? ($0.99)
9. Fragger ($0.99)
10. Skee-Ball ($0.99)

Halfbrick Studios’ Monster Dash disappears from the charts after an impressive second-place debut last week. Gameloft’s The Oregon Trail moves up to challenge Angry Birds in its absence, as EA claims third place after dropping Scrabble to 99 cents.

Bytemark’s adaptation of the classic film Jaws takes fifth in its debut week, as Fruit Ninja overtakes Doodle Jump for fourth place. Sega’s Genesis-era platformer Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also finds chart success during a week-long sale, while Where’s Waldo? beats Fragger and Skee-Ball for eighth place.

Here are this week’s top free applications:

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Tags: charts, Free Games, iPhone, iPod Touch, top paid apps

In this weekly feature, FingerGaming rounds up the top-grossing iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top iPhone titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. Madden NFL 11 ($7.99)
3. Monster Dash ($0.99)
4. The Oregon Trail ($0.99)
5. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz ($2.99)
6. City Story (Free)
7. Tetris ($2.99)
8. Plants vs. Zombies ($2.99)
9. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
10. Carnival Games for iPhone ($3.99)

Fruit Ninja creator Halfbrick Studios claims third place in this week’s chart with its recently released autoscrolling action title Monster Dash. Clickgamer’s Angry Birds retakes the top spot, pushing EA’s Madden NFL 11 to second place.

Gameloft captures fourth place after discounting The Oregon Trail to 99 cents, as TeamLava’s free-to-play City Story enters the top ten behind PopCap’s Bejeweled 2. Tetris and Plants vs. Zombies remain strong sellers at seventh and eighth place, as Fruit Ninja and 2K’s Carnival Games for iPhone finish out the top ten.

Here are this week’s top-grossing iPad applications:

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Tags: charts, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, top grossing apps

Every week, FingerGaming rounds up the most popular paid and free iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top paid titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. Monster Dash ($0.99)
3. The Oregon Trail ($0.99)
4. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
5. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
6. iPark It 2: Park the World ($0.99)
7. Fragger ($0.99)
8. NFL 2011 ($0.99)
9. Wheel of Fortune Platinum ($0.99)
10. Skee-Ball ($0.99)

Halfbrick Studios claims second place in today’s charts with its recently released action title Monster Dash. Last week’s second-place title Fragger falls to seventh in today’s results, as Angry Birds once again leads in overall sales.

Gameloft finds chart success this week with price drops for The Oregon Trail and NFL 2011, the latter of which proves popular enough to bump EA’s competing Madden NFL 11 out of chart range. MTV’s iPark It 2 debuts at sixth this week, meanwhile, as Wheel of Fortune Platinum and Skee-Ball close out today’s rankings.

Here are this week’s top free applications:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: charts, Free Games, iPhone, iPod Touch, top paid apps

In this weekly feature, FingerGaming rounds up the top-grossing iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top iPhone titles are:

1. Madden NFL 11 ($7.99)
2. Angry Birds ($0.99)
3. Fragger ($0.99)
4. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz ($2.99)
5. Tetris ($2.99)
6. Plants vs. Zombies ($2.99)
7. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
8. Scrabble ($2.99)
9. The Sims 3 ($6.99)
10. Carnival Games for iPhone ($3.99)

EA’s Madden NFL 11 takes the top spot among today’s highest-grossing iPhone games, unseating Clickgamer’s longtime chart leader Angry Birds. Miniclip’s Fragger climbs up to third place following a recent rise in popularity, as Bejeweled 2 leads over Tetris at fourth place.

Hemisphere’s Osmos drops out of the top ten after a promising second-place showing last week, while 2K’s Wii-ported minigame compilation Carnival Games ranks behind Scrabble and The Sims 3 at tenth place in its debut week.

Here are this week’s top-grossing iPad applications:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: charts, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, top grossing apps

Every week, FingerGaming rounds up the most popular paid and free iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top paid titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. Fragger ($0.99)
3. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
4. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
5. Skee-Ball ($0.99)
6. Hungry Shark: Part 2 ($0.99)
7. Madden NFL 11 ($7.99)
8. Bejeweled 2 ($2.99)
9. The Incident ($1.99)
10. Tetris ($2.99)

Miniclip’s strategy title Fragger climbs up to second place after taking third last week, landing behind Clickgamer’s Angry Birds in today’s chart results. Hungry Shark: Part 2 drops from third to sixth, meanwhile, as Doodle Jump, Fruit Ninja, and Skee-Ball move up into the top five.

EA’s Madden NFL 11 takes seventh in its premiere week, as Big Bucket Software’s retro-styled action title The Incident debuts between Bejeweled 2 and Tetris at ninth place.

Here are this week’s top free applications:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: charts, Free Games, iPhone, iPod Touch, top paid apps

In this weekly feature, FingerGaming rounds up the top-grossing iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top iPhone titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. Osmos ($2.99)
3. Madden NFL 11 ($7.99)
4. Fragger ($0.99)
5. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz ($2.99)
6. Tetris ($2.99)
7. Plants vs. Zombies ($2.99)
8. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
9. Monopoly ($2.99)
10. Hungry Shark Part 2 ($0.99)

The recently released iPhone version of Hemisphere Games’ Osmos finishes at second place in today’s top-grossing games chart, coming up just short of Clickgamer’s reigning champion Angry Birds. EA’s Madden NFL 11 claims third place in its first day of release, as Miniclip’s updated Fragger follows at fourth.

PopCap’s Bejeweled 2 and EA’s Tetris remain popular favorites, as Future Games of London’s Hungry Shark Part 2 enters the chart behind Monopoly at tenth place.

Here are this week’s top-grossing iPad applications:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: charts, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, top grossing apps

Every week, FingerGaming rounds up the most popular paid and free iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as current that day on the iTunes App Store. This week’s top paid titles are:

1. Angry Birds ($0.99)
2. Hungry Shark: Part 2 ($0.99)
3. Fragger ($0.99)
4. Doodle Jump ($0.99)
5. Osmos ($2.99)
6. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
7. Asphalt 5 ($0.99)
8. Finger Balance ($0.99)
9. Skee-Ball ($0.99)
10. Bejeweled 2 ($2.99)

Hungry Shark: Part 2 climbs up to second place in App Store game sales as the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week concludes. Angry Birds keeps the top spot, as a recent content-expanding update puts Miniclip’s Fragger ahead of Doodle Jump at third place.

Hemisphere Games’ iPhone version of Osmos claims fifth place in its debut week, outselling Halfbrick’s Fruit Ninja and Gameloft’s discounted Asphalt 5. Newcomer Finger Balance arrives at eighth place, as Skee-Ball and Bejeweled 2 close out today’s results.

Here are this week’s top free applications:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: charts, Free Games, iPhone, iPod Touch, top paid apps

Members of the iPhone Developer Program report that the latest beta of iOS 4.1 has dropped Game Center social networking support for earlier generations of iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

Announced earlier this year, Apple’s Game Center is a unified social networking platform for App Store gaming applications. The Xbox Live-like infrastructure adds matchmaking, leaderboards, achievements, and other social features to supported games for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Consumer weblog Engadget notes that beta 3 of the iOS 4.1 firmware update limits Game Center support to iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and third-generation iPod Touch devices. Previously, Game Center support was included for all iOS 4-equipped devices, excluding only first- and second-generation iPhones and first-generation iPod Touch devices.

User speculation suggests that Game Center’s infrastructure proved too taxing for earlier generations of iPhone and iPod Touch hardware. Many features introduced in iOS 4.0 — including multitasking — were exclusive to iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod Touch devices.

Though Apple has not commented regarding the possibility of Game Center for the iPad, future support for the device remains likely, pending the release of an iPad-specific iOS 4.0 firmware.

Tags: Apple, game center, Industry News, iPhone, iPod Touch