When Venan Entertainment released Ninjatown: Trees of Doom! earlier this year, it was very well received indeed – scoring highly in reviews around the web, including a very respectable 4.5/5 stars over on 148apps.com.

If you’re not familiar with the game, it sees you taking control of a cutesy, little ninja who’s hopping, climbing and roping his way between two trees – reaching heights that, well, only a ninja could. Now, Venan have upped the ante, by not only releasing an HD version for the iPad, but also updating the iPhone to version 1.3. Bringing with it iOS4 multitasking support and Retina Display graphics for those lucky enough to own an iPhone 4. As well as that, they’ve also added two new unlockable ninjas and three new warp bomb checkpoints at 2500, 5000 and 10,000 meters.

“We’re tremendously excited by the iPad version, but we wanted to make sure we had something for everyone.” said Brandon Curiel, CEO of Venan Entertainment. “With new device support, new graphics, and new gameplay, we’ve been able to deliver our biggest Trees of Doom release yet!”

This is a game that already looked very nice with it’s cartoon-like styling, so I’m sure it’s absolutely amazing on the iPad and iPhone 4 – and Brandon seems to agree: “Ninjatown has a very unique and vibrant art style that up until now we’ve been forced to cram onto really tiny screens. With the iPad, we’ve finally been able to bring Shawn’s fantastic world to life, no-holds-barred. The result is absolutely stunning.”

You thought that was all, though, didn’t you? Not only have they released a new HD version and an iPhone update, but to make sure you get the very most for your money they’ve been put into Venan Arcade’s “Back to School” sale – making them a mere $1.99 and $0.99 respectively.

Definitely one worth checking out, which you can do so here for the iPhone version and here for the new HD one.

Everybody loves a shooting gallery once in a while.  It is a good way to not only let off steam, but it also can help improve your hand-eye coordination.  Do I have any scientific information to back that claim up? Heck no.  Honestly, though, what other pretext can there be for a game that revolves around launching lawn Gnomes at a revolving gallery of baddies?  Chuck Gnome is a game that we covered in a recent iCasual and now it is back in the headlines with an awesome new update.

Not all updates are created equal.  In many cases, apps need functionality and bug updates as time goes on, just to keep things running smoothly.  While updates like this don’t normally add new functionality, sometimes developers like to go above and beyond.  The latter is the case with the new 1.1 update to Chuck Gnome from Movable Sprites, which not only adds new functionality, but an entirely new episode and much more:

Enjoy the arcade-style shooting gallery game now with new progress indicators that let you know what targets you need to hit to unlock new levels. The Chuck Gnome V1.1 update introduces a new episode, music, achievements and mini-game that add to the fun and value of this quirky pick-up-and-play title.

I wish more developers would do things like this.  it is the best way to thank fans for supporting your product.  One thing that I never expected when I started covering iPhone games is how open and honest the developers are about listening to community feedback and Chuck Gnome’s most recent iteration looks to be no exception:

“We added the graphical indicators because it was the most requested feature from our fans. We know our fans will enjoy this new episode and we hope they continue to share their feedback so we can keep delivering what they want.” — Steve Tompkins, Co-founder of Movable Sprites VIA VerticalWire.com

Simply put, Movable Sprites are doing what makes the platform truly unique, catering to the needs and desires of their audience.  Probably the best part of the entire deal is that the update is not only free, but the app is also currently on sale for ninety-nine cents.  So run out and pick it up, the Roamin’ Gnome will thank you for it someday.  Enjoy the art asset orgy below.

The gaming world is growing into an ever increasing expensive wasteland of shovelware, new gadgets, yearly console replacements, and free services going to the profit dark side. Yet, as gamers we will happily shell out money to support our habit.

Just look at the iPhone. When it came out people were skeptical if Apple had the balls to play in the big leagues. Four revisions later, we now see every company and their sister trying to duplicate what Apple has done. Where does this put iOS gamers?

The world is a funny place. When the iPhone went from iPhone slowass to iPhone 3G within a year, original iPhone buyers cried foul. AT&T saw a nice opening to snag some money and let customers upgrade at the cost of an ever-growing phone contract. Customers happily slapped down over $200 for a phone upgrade. Let us not forget the monthly pillaging of your wallet at $100+ a shot.

Next, we saw the iPhone 3GS hit the Internet and people went crazy yet again. Customers once again cried out with a fury even Kratos would be envious of. AT&T and Apple happily took more money from consumers to upgrade yet again. Another $200 for a phone, and another contract extension all in the name of shiny new toys.

We also saw the introduction of the iPad. To many this was just an overblown iPod that had a really stupid name. Yet, like the sheep we consumers are, we flocked to this new toy. Salivating at the mouth, we bought this new iPad device in massive hordes. The base price for this new toy was $500 just to get the low-end model. Do we even think that for $500 we could get a computer that does so much more….NOPE!

Consumers will drop a small fortune on gadgets at the drop of the hat. $200 every year to upgrade a phone is no big deal. $800 for a device that can’t even do everything the $200 device we have in our pockets is like buying toilet paper on a weekly basis. We have needs, and those needs need to upgrade every year.

We drop all this money, yet we piss and moan like little babies over a bad $0.99 app we bought. Really? Dropping $500 for an iPad was no big deal, but that $0.99 will have customers up in arms demanding their money back? Where did we become such whiney little kids?

It is time to take a step back and realize just what we are bitching about. If a measly buck is going to cause you to grab your pitchfork in anger, it might be time to reconsider you priorities. If this rambling didn’t put things into perspective, then maybe this comic will.

Quiz games on the iPhone are beginning to become a genre that is becoming seriously crowded in the App Store.  Whether you are developing a for a special genre of niche questions or an interesting presentation type, there is a serious need to do something unique in order to stand out.  Now you would think that if you were a developer you would be trumpeting your special new features from the rooftops, right?  Well, Volt Gamer is actually taking the exact opposite approach.

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, they are keeping the intriguing features of their new game, The Impossible Mission Quiz a complete secret. I have to admit, I am just curious enough to find out what that the caveman featured in the app’s icon has to do with anything.  Here is what they have for the official app description:

“So, how does the game work? Without revealing much, because that would take away from the fun of actually playing the game, we can say that this is a quiz game with a difference. If you think you have played quizzes and you know how it works, you really need to play the Impossible Mission Quiz quiz to see how it works. It is going to have you racking your gray cells right from the word ‘Go’. If you already love your iPhone, which you most certainly do, this is one more reason why you just won’t be able to do without it and will merrily be spending several more fun hours with it!”

The mystery might be enough to sell an app like this, and it seems rather intriguing, especially at the dollar price point.   If you are interested in taking a gander at the very little that is offered up, glance over the screenshots below.

As a child of the nineties, I can cop to not only being a member of the original Tamagotchi’s target audience, but I was also a proud owner of more than one egg shaped, digital beast.  Of course they were a cheap little gadget that I wasted a lot of my time on, but I was a kid, so I didn’t know any better.  There have since been numerous different iterations on many devices and even a movement to portable video game systems like the Nintendo DS, but it has yet to come to the iPhone.

Thank goodness that somebody out there realized that we need another way to waste our time on the iPhone, and thus, Floret was born.  A Floret is defined (according to FreeDictionary.com) as the following:

flo·ret (flôrt, -t)n.

1. A small or reduced flower, especially one of the grasses and composite plants, such as a daisy.

2. Any of the tight, branched clusters of flower buds that together form a head of cauliflower or broccoli.

---

[Middle English flouret, from Old French florete, diminutive of flor, flower; see flower.]

See how informative that that was?  Not only have you learned about a new game, but you also learned a new word!  But back to the topic at hand…

As the name would imply, instead of micromanaging the growth of some digital ingrate that just eats, sleeps, craps and dies, you get to raise a pixelized plant.  I have to say that despite the idea sounding slightly ridiculous I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt based on one key aspect to the game: weather.  Now we are not talking about some kind of randomly generated weather, this is the genuine weather of your location.  Here is the official description of the feature:

“Floret shows you the current weather for your chosen location and the forecast for the next three days – so you will have realistic weather conditions.  Your flower will profit from good weather like rain but needs protection against rough influences like frost or heat.” — VIA Mr. Fridge Development Blog

Not only is this a neat concept, but it is something original that I have genuinely never considered before.  Sure, raising a plant may sound a little bland, but who knows?  This might be the next wave in games.  Maybe it might be worth the purchase, just to see this new concept in action.  If you are still on the fence, check out these screenshots below and see if they help coax you along.

Spider-Man is a name that has not only been one bantered about among Comic Book (ahem…) I mean Graphic Novel fans, it has become a part of Americana.  As several successful film releases have proven, the webslinger has drawing power far beyond the printed page.  With that in mind, it was only a matter of time before a Marvel approved Spider-Man game was going to climb onto the iPhone.

Brought to you by the good folks over at Gameloft and previewed by network site 148apps.com, Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem has now been christened with a September 1st release date and trailer to boot!  So without further ado, lets dive into the footage:

As you can you can see in the trailer, it looks like the game will feature quite a bit of high octane action, but I must note the trailer’s lack of actual gameplay footage.  I wonder if they might be trying to hide something from us?  That said, it is Gameloft and they do not half-ass anything, so I am not too concerned. If you would actually like to see more gameplay you can check out Jeff Scott’s E3 preview over on 148apps.

Developers say that they are trying to stay as true to the series as possible.  Here are some of the things that they think will help win over the loyal fans:

SEGA.  The name is synonymous with all things both awesome and retro.  As one of the original innovators in the home video game console space, the company has a gigantic back library of amazing titles. Now that they are out of the console business, they have focused on publishing games that harken back to their franchises of old, while bringing new innovations to the gaming space.  Something else they have started doing recently is going back through their extensive archives and picking select titles for re-release on iOS devices.

Among the more storied games from their illustrious history, titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage and most recently Phantasy Star II have all hit the App Store for prices ranging from three to eight dollars a pop.  Well at least that was the case until earlier this morning, when Sega announced a massive Back-to-School Sale.  Here is what you can get for upwards of 66% off:

• Super Monkey Ball 1 $2.99 $1.99
• Super Monkey Ball 2 $5.99 $2.99
• Sonic the Hedgehog $5.99 $2.99
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 $5.99 $2.99
• Golden Axe $2.99 $0.99
• Shining Force $2.99 $0.99
• Streets of Rage $2.99 $0.99
• Ecco the Dolphin $2.99 $0.99
• Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition (iPad) $7.99 $3.99
• Phantasy Star II $4.99 $2.99

When it comes right down to it, what is it that can be said about this awesome collection of games that has never been said before?  Darn near all of these titles should be considered classics and really deserve to be permanent fixtures in your portable game collection.  Especially when you consider the dramatic price breaks that you are getting, this should be a no-brainer.  But move quickly, because these sales will only last through September 1st.

Now if you don’t mind I think I have a few games to go download – if I can ever manage to coax the App Store to load on my iPhone 3G with iOS4.  Oh patience, you are a virtue.

Lets just get this out of the way right now: Rock Band, though completely competent on the iOS, is not meant for the device.  In my personal opinion, rhythm based music games are meant to be played on a peripheral that can provide tactile feedback, much like what you would find in a traditional Guitar Hero or Rock Band guitar.  That is not to say they these games don’t work on the iPhone, it is just less than an optimal playing experience.

All of that said, the Tap Tap Revolution franchise was bringing rhythm based music games to portable devices long before an iOS version of Guitar Hero or Rock Band were even being murmured about.  Once the franchise took off and became a huge success they decided, much like their console counterparts, that the smart direction to take the series was band specific entries.  This has since led to the highlighting of such bands as Metallica, Kings of Leon, Justin Bieber, Nirvana, and even (ugh!) Nickelback.

With over fifteen million downloads since the inception of the series you knew that the next artist would have to be a heavy hitter.  How does Katy Perry strike you?  Sure, her music is skyrocketing up the charts right now, but she seems like a very unlikely choice. If we are going to be forced to consume more bubble gum pop, the likes that only Justin Bieber has ever seen, please tell me that the track list is at least semi decent:

• California Gurls
• I Kissed a Girl
• Hot N Cold
• Teenage Dream
• One of the Boys
• Thinking of You
• Waking Up In Vegas
• Firework
• Last Friday Night
• Circle the Drain

While I am not a fan of her music, at least the smart folks over at Tapulous had the good sense to gussy the visual appeal up with some eye candy.  Thats right folks, Katy herself will make glorious appearances all over this app and believe me when I say that it certainly gives me a desire to tap something… notes, of course!

Yep, you heard right, folks. They are making a movie out of one of our favorite games: Angry Birds from Rovio Mobile. If it was spring I would think it was an April Fool’s joke. The news comes to us from Variety magazine, a well respected publication, and we WANT it to be true, so why not.

How can they turn this addictive game into something watchable on the big screen? It looks like the company has been working this around for a while. They seem to not want to try and do other games, but live off the success of Angry Birds and cross over to other mediums. Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio, tells Daily Variety “It doesn’t make sense (to produce a slate of different games) when you have a hit of any caliber.” Their plan is to put Angry Birds on every mobile platform, every game platform, in front of everyone’s eyeballs with cartoons for TV and the big screen and create a toy line. We wonder if they’ll do a cereal. Not a bad idea, as long as pig lovers don’t start picketing their office building.  If just half of the people who downloaded the game see the movie they will have a big hit on their hands.

So now I put it in your hands readers: I have 2 questions for you.

1. Will you see a movie if its made?
2. Who do you want to voice the characters?

Leave your comments below and maybe you’ll get your wish.

Source: Variety

If there is one thing that gamers have become very accustomed with, it is futuristic scenarios where you step through the end of humankind.  One thing I have never experienced, however, is taking an active role in wiping out the human race.  In the upcoming game from Deceased Pixel, you are earth’s last line of defense against… ourselves.

Releasing later this month, Super Mega Worm is an intriguing new game that tasks puts you in the rapidly shedding skin of an earthworm that would make Jim quiver in his space suit.  The game’s back story is described as the following:

Mother Earth is on the brink of extinction and has released her last defense, the Great Death Worm Wojira. Wojira is on a revenge mission to destroy the parasite they call Humans. Crawl and eat your way through waves of humans and their robots of destruction. You are the last line of defense, can you save the world?

I have to say that this story seems a little more than just odd.  That said, maybe a gameplay trailer might help to gain a better grasp of what exactly is going on.

Wow!  After checking out that collection of 8-bit awesomeness, those were the first words to pass through my mind.  I know I am a sucker for anything that looks a decade old, but I am pretty sure that this game has my face directly in the crosshairs of its target demographic.  There is just something about the simple nature of the presentation that seems charming, despite having seen very little of the actual game.

As for concrete facts about the game, there is very little that we actually do know.  The few things about Super Mega Worm that we do have written confirmation of are that there will be a grand total of twenty-eight stages, over twenty edible items, and three different powers of destruction.  If the trailer is any indication, I would bet the farm that one of the abilities includes special flamethrowing powers.

One thing that we do not know for sure is the control mechanism for the game.  If I were to venture a guess, using my completely un-expert opinion, it seems to be custom fitted for tilt control.  I draw this conclusion due to the lack of any evidence of a d-pad in the trailer, as well as the arching curves that your character makes while maneuvering the environment.  It seems to be lacking the pinpoint turns that are characteristic of a d-pad input interface.  Or perhaps you control movement using the slider seen in the screenshot at left…

Of course all of this is just speculation, until the game comes out. However, one thing can be assured: Super Mega Worm has the potential to be AWESOME!