New Steam App Available on iOS and Android

Yesterday, Valve announced and launched Steam applications for both the iOS and Android platforms. The app, “Steam Mobile,” allows users to chat, read gaming news, browse groups and profiles as well as purchase games while on the go. Like many Valve products, the App is launching in limited beta, with only invitees currently able to log in. Snagging the App and attempting to sign in lets Valve know that you’re interested, and select users will then receive an invite should they be chosen.

Gabe Newell, company president and co-founder, stated that the app comes at the request of many fans; it will be Valve’s first step into the mobile space.

“Mobile is changing the way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone,” Newell said.

There has been no news as to whether this could translate as to purchasing iOS/Android games through Steam further down the line but it isn’t a likely move.

Minecraft Pocket Edition Pockets Big Bucks

Now, we all know that Minecraft for the PC has been incredibly successful but did we ever expect the mobile version to be as popular? Apparently it is and is selling surprisingly well.

Minecraft Pocket Edition for iOS and Android has broken the 700,000 sold barrier, according to Mojang’s Daniel Kaplan. Between iOS and Android versions, Mojang is selling around 5,000 copies per day, which is a pretty amazing feat considering the game costs£4.99 ($6.99) and has no crafting or survival elements. Well, not yet, anyway.

Square Enix Brings the Award-Winning Koozac to Smartphone and Tablet Devices

Today, Square Enix announced it had acquired the license for the award-winning puzzle game KooZac, and will soon be bringing it to iOS and Android devices.

Described by the BBC as “the ultimate in brain training” and “utterly addictive”, KooZac is an immersive puzzle game devised by Ben Cusack which has racked up 15 million plays online and picked up a Channel 4 “Best International Interactive Viral” award. With the original concept created following years of research into what makes an evergreen puzzle game, Square Enix recently moved to acquire the KooZac license, and also hired Ben Cusack in the process to head up its expanding mobile division.

“KooZac has all the makings of a classic puzzle game and heralds a new style of casual game for Square Enix Ltd and our expanding digital portfolio,” says Antony Douglas, Digital Sales Director, Square Enix Ltd. “Since its original online launch the game has enjoyed huge recognition from the media, the industry and its fans. The addition of Ben joining as Head of Mobile also gives us unparalleled expertise and insight into the world of mobile entertainment.

Unfortunately, no release date has been confirmed but we can expect to see KooZac sometime in Q1 2012.

Taito’s Rayforce blasts its way onto the iPhone

Rayforce, the classic arcade and Sega Saturn shmup game from taito, will be making its grand return onto the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The iPhone has become a hotbed for shmups, with Cave showing that the smartphone wonder can actually handle shmups very well, with Dodonpachi Resurrection and Deathsmiles showing how it’s done. Now Taito will attempt to prove that one of their shmup gems, Rayforce, will be just as playable and addictive as it was in the arcades back in 1993.

With this being an iPhone app, it won’t just be a simple port as it will come with, according to the press release: “Specially Enhanced for iPhone with Customizable Options and Game Center Support!  RAYFORCE includes a variety of features intended to provide the most optimized iPhone experience possible. Intuitive smartphone controls allow players to guide their X-LAY fighter with simple sliding gestures and a number of customization options have been included, allowing players to change the game to best suit their individual play styles. Purists may choose to view the game with its original arcade aspect ratio, while others may enjoy the game in the full-screen zoomed mode. Manual weapon controls are available for experienced shooting fans, but automatic firing has also been provided for those preferring a button-free experience. Finally, Game Center support with stage-specific global rankings and a wide variety of challenging achievements complete the iPhone experience.”

If Rayforce proves to be a success we may see it’s sequels Raystorm and Raycrisis in the future. Rayforce is available now from the app store for £7.99. You can check out the screenshots and trailer below.

 Rayforce Trailer

Rayforce Screenshots

The Call of Duty Elite iOS App Is Now Available

Firstly, Call of Duty Zombies invaded the App Store and we had a ball killing the undead with the touch of a screen, now we have the Call of Duty Elite app at our finger tips to keep us up-to-date on the move. Similar to the service you can get on your Xbox 360 and PS3 (coming soon to PC), the app delivers lifetime statistics from Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, as well as a multitude of social-networking options.

The app, which launched today following numerous delays, includes the following features;

• Check your Career Summary for deep details on your multiplayer activity. Analyse your progress over time to see which areas you need to improve in and which areas you excel in.
• Review Recent Matches to track your performance on a match-by-match basis.
• View and edit your Custom Classes on the go. Push your changes into the game so you’re ready to play the moment you load up multiplayer.
• Track our Challenge progress to help you work toward the highest XP gains.

Interested? If you click right here you’ll be taken straight to the App Store, that or Narnia I really can’t be sure.

Netflix Arrives in the UK and Ireland

Today it was announced that the popular entertainment streaming service Netflix would be crossing the pond. Yup, if you’re living in the UK or Ireland and you’re willing to be separated from £5.99 a month you can access Netflix and its bountiful selection of films and TV programmes. If you’re not quite sure about the service and in need of a little persuasion then you’ll be happy to know that the first month is free for everyone across multiple platforms, all you need to do is head over Netflix.com. If you’re wondering what devices support Netflix then look no further than about an inch below this paragraph;

• Smart TVs
• Game Consoles (Wii, 360, PS3)
• Blu-ray Players
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Mobile Phones

“We are starting 2012 in the best possible way: by giving consumers in the UK and Ireland an amazing entertainment experience,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive officer of Netflix. “Now, you can enjoy as many great films and TV programmes as you want, when you want, where you want, for one low monthly price with no contracts or commitments.”

At launch, Netflix is offering films and TV programmes from All3Media, the BBC, CBS, Channel 4’s 4oD, Disney UK & Ireland, ITV, Lionsgate UK, MGM, Miramax, Momentum Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Viacom International Media Networks, there will be more than enough to satisfy anyone that is thinking of adopting the service into their home.

Review: GTA III 10 Year Anniversary (iOS/Android)

When I heard that Rockstar Games were porting one of their all time greatest games over to the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, I was more than a little sceptical, and for good reason. Now, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past ten years, then you’ll all be pretty familiar with the Grand Theft Auto franchise, but for those who aren’t, I’ll provide a quick rundown of the third instalment.

Originally released on October 1^st 2001 for the PlayStation 2, GTA III is set in the infamous Liberty City, a fictional metropolis loosely based on New York City. The game follows the story of the equally infamous Claude, a criminal who was betrayed by his girlfriend during a bank heist and who is now required to work his way up the crime ladder of the city before confronting her. Obviously, as this is a direct port, the portable edition hasn’t deviated from story, so you’ll experience the same plot points, missions and characters you did when you first played GTA III all those years ago.

Graphically, GTA III: 10 Year Anniversary is surprisingly good. The iOS port mirrors, if not betters the graphics of the original PlayStation 2. The cut scenes look and feel the same and really hit you with a nostalgia factor that very few games can provide these days. One of my initial concerns was that because of the smaller screen the graphics and general look of the game would feel limited, but I’m happy to say that I was wrong. At this point I should probably mention that I played GTA III on the iPhone 4S and would recommend that if you have the choice to play it on either an iPhone or an iPad then go for the latter, primarily due to the extra space that the bigger screen provides, so the onscreen controls don’t obscure the gameplay as much.

With regards to the controls of GTA III, it’s really a mixed bag. Sadly, I really struggled to get to grips with the way in which you manoeuvre Claude around Liberty City. It was simple enough to walk around on foot but when it came down to the fast car chases, drive-bys and races, it became just that little bit more… fiddly, for the lack of a better word. As you can see below, the on-screen buttons on the bottom left of the screen are used to manoeuvre your car around the city. You can also take advantage of the iPhone’s gyroscope controls, although these can sometimes interfere with your driving skills with the touch buttons if you’re not holding it exactly horizontal. When walking, you’re provided with an on-screen analogue stick, but these controls can be mixed and matched in the options menu. The part where the iOS version really does come unstuck is the Auto Aim function. When confronted by more than one or two enemies, which is often, you’re put at a serious disadvantage as you struggle to shoot at the correct person.

When it comes down to GTA III’s audio, I was left wanting. Using both the default iPhone headphones and the internal iPhone speakers, I felt that the audio of the cut scenes in particular sounded tinny. The ambient noise of the city, mixed in with the odd gunshot, didn’t seem as affected, which is one good thing. It may not be the most important aspect of a game like this, but it can certainly make a difference when playing for long periods of time.

Overall, I think that Rockstar’s iOS port didn’t quite live up to the masterpiece they delivered to the PlayStation 2 but in all honesty, who expected it to? Despite the controls, I believe that GTA III: 10 Year Anniversary is definitely worth your consideration.

GTA III 10 Year Anniversary Edition is currently available from the iOS AppStore and the Android Marketplace. Due to the game’s size and scope, it’s recommended that you play on one of the supported devices below -
Apple iOS Devices: iPad 1 & 2, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch 4th Generation
Android Phones: HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, T-Mobile G2x 
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive

Introducing the Official Xbox Live iOS App

Yesterday, Microsoft added to the already bulging list of apps in the iTunes App Store by releasing their official Xbox Live app. The app in question is called My Xbox Live and is free in the app store. My Xbox Live will allow users to stay connected to the Xbox Live community and all of their friends. Some of the features include;

• The ability to read and send message
• Manage your friends list
• The option to read and edit your full LIVE profile (i.e. name, bio, motto)
• Changing your Xbox Live Avatar’s features, clothes and props
• Viewing and comparing your Achievement progress with friends

If the ability to have your Xbox Live experience on the go with your iDevice then click here to view and download the app, check out the sceenshots below.

Head back to Liberty City next week with GTA III for mobile devices!

Arriving for your Andriod and iOS handsets on the 15th December, relive the breakthrough title GTA III which defined the open world genre back in 2001.

Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition will be available for select mobile devices for £2.99 and available either via the Andriod Marketplace or the App Store (depending on your platform of choice)

Apple iOS Devices: iPad 1 & 2, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch 4th Generation
Android Phones: HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, T-Mobile G2x
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive

Also, a few screenshots have been released, with a trailer due for release next week alongside the launch of the game.

Android Screenshots

Apple iOS Screenshots

RAGE HD Becomes Free Untill August 25 Thank’s To Facebook

If you are a fan of Facebook and Bethesda’s upcoming title RAGE then you would of probably liked their page. Thanks to the 100,000+ likes the iPAD RAGE  HD title has become free, for a limited time of course.The special offer will be stopping on August 25th so there is no waiting around, unless you wish to pay £3.99.

For those who are not sure what RAGE HD is well the title is an on-rails shooter where the computer will do all the walking you just have to do all the slaying with your aiming and guns. The handheld version of RAGE puts you into the hit wasteland TV show,Mutant Bash TV.  Survive to keep continuing the show, and because you probably want to live.

Pick up this stunning FPS handheld title now by clicking here and leave a comment below and let us know what you think of the title.