Mobile GD

When people think of fun, a health insurance company isn’t one of the subjects that leaps to mind.  However, US company Humana is looking to change that with their new “Games for Health” initiative.  You might be wondering how a mobile game could improve your health more quickly than just going outside for a walk, but hold your skepticism: at least Humana is trying something unique.

The first game, “Colorfall”, was released in June.  The game is puzzle-based and requires the player to take pictures of objects in accordance with differently-colored tokens.  The player then arranges those tokens in the color of the rainbow.  Further confounding expectations, the game currently has all 5-star reviews. Read more…

Those of you who are excited about the release of the Windows Phone 7 this October now have yet another reason.  Microsoft has announced the creation of a new development studio which will be specifically targeted at gaming on the WP7 and other platforms.  This means seeing a Microsoft Games Studios title like Halo or Age of Empires might not be so far off.  Another feature, announced all the way back in March, is the WP7’s ability to sync with the Xbox 360 and Windows PC—a first across smartphone platforms.  This will allow users to play the same game across all three platforms, continuing it as they go about their day. Read more…

In the world of next-gen consoles, a company that published titles as diverse as Guitar Hero, Project Gotham Racing, and Sonic the Hedgehog would be one of the most well-known and beloved in the business.  The fact that Glu Mobile publishes titles on mobile devices means its name is less familiar, but doesn’t mean its games are any less developed.  Plus, Glu has partnerships with brands like Atari, Konami, Microsoft, and more, meaning it can develop titles in a variety of well-respected brands.

Glu also develops original properties, such as the recently-released Jump O’Clock.  The game promises a fully unique experience, putting you in control of a diminutive robot named LE0 in an upwardly-scrolling platformer with infinite size.  That means the game ends when you do, whether you fall prey to a spinning buzz-saw or simply miss a jump.  There are also challenges to complete in the vein of PS3 Trophies or Xbox 360 Achievements.  The most distinctive aspect is the art style, though, which draws the player into a captivating steampunk universe and is sure to have you checking out more of Glu’s titles. Read more…

In today’s next-gen world, developers have more tools than ever when it comes to crafting beautiful-looking games.  While graphics aren’t an automatic indicator of fun gameplay, they can still blow the socks off people who never expected they’d be holding such a good-looking game in the palm of their hands.  Here are a few that have wowed us recently.

• Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor – This action/puzzle game for the iPhone looks even better on the iPad, where you can see all the details that developer Tiger Style worked in.  You take control of a spider spinning his way through the aforementioned manor.  Gnats, ladybugs, wasps, and more fly through the foreground, and the background is made up of decorative columns, platforms, and mysterious objects like wedding rings and picture which add to the story.
• Broken Sword: Director’s Cut – The Broken Sword series dates back to 1996, and has garnered critical acclaim since then.  Due to the simple point-and-tap nature of gameplay, there’s a lot of room for beautiful graphics as you uncover a mystery related to the Knights Templar. Read more…

A new competitor could eventually be stepping into the ring that currently includes Apple’s iPhone, Research in Motion’s BlackBerry, and other next-gen smartphones.  A representative for Amazon’s Lab 126—the Amazon development team which created the Kindle e-reader—mentioned that Amazon was considering whether such a project was “out of reach” for its next device.  Considering the popularity of the Kindle, as well as the international success of Amazon itself, the answer feels like it should lean toward “no”, but we’ll have to wait and see.

A mobile phone would be as monumental a leap for the company as the Kindle was in 2007.  But then again, Amazon is a company devoted to growth.  Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, the site grew from an online book retailer to one of the largest online stores worldwide.  In the UK, Amazon is the number one music and video retailer, and the third biggest retailer overall. Read more…