Mobile

Square Enix announced the Square Enix Market at the Tokyo Game Show which the company will use to offer their games and apps for Android devices. As an Android owner I've been quite jealous of iOS users who got access to Square games, so this is just awesome for me. However, before we get too excited I should note that the market is currently scheduled to launch later this year and only in Japan.

• DETAILS: The Best Mobile Games - Week of September 11: G4's Knuckle Up

Games that are coming to the Android and the iOS market include the famous Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Legends, Itadaki Street, and Dragon Quest Monsters. Final Fantasy 1, Final Fantasy 2, Chaos Rings, Chaos Rings Omega, and Crystal Defenders were all shown for the Android marketplace as well.

Hopefully the SE Market will come over to the United States early next year, as I'd love to play some of these games on my phone when I'm on the go. Would you be interested in some classic Square Enix games on your Android device, or are you set with Game Dev Story and Angry Birds? 

Source: IGN

Have something to share? Sitting on a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter! 

The best mobile video games can be hard to find, simply because of the sheer amount of titles out there. But, worry not! Welcome to G4's Knuckle Up, where we bring you a byte-sized view of our five favorite mobile games every week. The mobile space is filled with incredible games that will keep you busy for minutes, hours, or even days -- we'll let you know what we're playing and why we're playing it. Here's our top five games this week.

MACHINARIUM (iOS – iPad 2 only)
iPad: $4.99 

Do you remember the point-and-click adventures we used to love back in the 90’s? If so, you’ll love Machinarium, a game from Amanita Designs. It’s eccentric, gorgeous, and everything a point-and-click puzzle game should be. Machinarium revolves around an adorable little bot trying to rescue his friend from some fiendish metal jerks. Exploring the world consists of picking up objects, solving great (sometimes seriously mind bending) puzzles, and interacting with other mechanical beings.

Make no mistake, this game (ported from Flash to iOS via Adobe AIR) is a beast; unfortunately, because of the demands the game makes on memory and processor, it’s currently only compatible with iPad 2. In addition, I wish it were longer (I hope they have plans to release more chapters in the future).

Despite these shortcomings, Machinarium is a sight to behold, and a wonder to experience. There’s a free demo available on the developer website (the flash version of the game) if you’re on the fence… but be warned, Machinarium will suck you in faster than a Hoover.

Read More »

Ignition Entertainment's El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is an unusual game. Visually striking and totally weird, it's an action-platformer but it's also so much more. In what ways? How about this: a cellphone-wielding Lucifer serves as your save point.

The game also features a handful of moments that break away from the bizarre 3D worlds, shaking things up by dropping players into 2D side-scrolling environments. The positive reception those moments received surely fueled Ignition's decision to go with El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Android Version.

Read More »

You may have seen men and women in white lab coats under extremely large, orange banners from the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab if you attended PAX East 2011. They were a contingent showing off the results of their collaborative efforts meant to promote and discover inventive directions in game design.

You may already be familiar with some of the Lab’s work, but didn’t realize it. Carneyvale: Showtime was released as an Xbox Live Indie title in 2008, and in 2009 was featured as part of PAX 10, which promotes the work of indie creators. Critics praised the game’s polish and design, and a version was released in 2010 for Windows Phone 7 was described as the platform’s “early, lofty, benchmark.”

Carneyvale is just one of four “featured games” on the GAMBIT website, but it’s important to remember that the primary focus of the Lab is not commercial product, but experimentation. The first time I ever met a GAMBIT member was earlier this year in May, during the Games Beyond Entertainment conference held in Boston, MA. Lab Interaction Design Director Marleigh Norton gave a short presentation of an audio-only, single-button game she was developing. This sort of research is one of the Lab’s primary mandates.

Read More »

MolleIndustries, creators of excellent indie game Every Day the Same Dream, recently released a mobile game called Phone Story on Android and iOS. The game, meant to "provoke a critical reflection on its own technological platform," may have worked better than the makers intended: Apple pulled the app from its store a few hours after release.

The game sheds light on the manufacturing process by which we come by our shiny smart phones, and Apple, makers of shiny smart phones, objected. Specifically, Apple pulled the game for violating the following rules:

Read More »

Game retail chain GameStop has just announced that it plans to release its own Android-powered gaming tablet. The touch-screen device will be available some time next year, and, according to GameStop president Tony Bartel, will offer "a few benefits that you're not going to get elsewhere."

GameStop's yet-unnamed device will come with some "casual" games pre-installed, and the company is also working on a streaming game service like OnLive for the device. Not only that: GameStop plans to create a dedicated controller for the tablet, so you won't be playing every game by swiping your fingers.

Read More »

Rockstar just announced that the original Max Payne is coming to mobile devices. According to the company Max Payne will come out in HD and will be available this fall.  Max Payne for mobile will have connectivity to the Rockstar Games Social Club and boast the "same features as its PC counterparts."

It would have been hard to imagine 10 years ago that a AAA game like Max Payne would be playable on a mobile phone. We're living in a science fiction movie, people. My thought: In another decade, can you imagine the kinds of things we're going to be playing on our Apple Mind-Phones.

Welcome to G4's Knuckle Up, where we bring you a byte-sized view of our five favorite mobile games every week. The mobile space is filled with incredible games that will keep you busy for minutes, hours, or even days -- we'll let you know what we're playing and why we're playing it. Here's our top five games this week, plus a bonus look at the brand-new iPhone/iPad game from Harmonix: VidRhythm: 

JETPACK JOYRIDE (iOS)
iPhone/iPad: $0.99 

Halfbrick Studios captured our hearts with their smash hit Fruit Ninja, and they’ve done it again with Jetpack Joyride, a side-scrolling arcade game that challenges you to go as far as you can when Barry Steakfries takes a science lab’s jetpack for a spin. The controls are simple enough – touch the screen to ascend, and release to descend – but the game itself is a challenge.

Read More »

According to several sources, GameStop will begin offering the entire lineup of Apple's iOS mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPods, in their store. This week, GameStop will also begin accepting iOS devices for trade-ins and in-store credit.  According to 9to5 Mac, GameStop is first buying and selling used products before phasing in new ones, like the Apple iPhone 5 which is supposed to launch in October.

We're not sure how much exactly you get for trading in these devices, but with all the fall blockbusters coming out in November it may be a good way to stock up some extra credit. Will you be buying or trading in any of your iOS devices to GameStop?

Source: 9to5 Mac

Welcome to G4's Knuckle Up, where we bring you a byte-sized view of our five favorite mobile games every week. The mobile space is filled with incredible games that will keep you busy for minutes, hours, or even days -- we'll let you know what we're playing and why we're playing it. Here's our top five games this week: 

CONTRE JOUR (iOS)
iPhone: $0.99
iPad: $2.99 

I’m a huge sucker for the Indie game Limbo, which probably explains why I love this game so much. French for “against daylight,” Contre Jour is a perfect description of the game’s look and feel. It’s a game you’ve played before in terms of “it’s a physics game where you get 1-3 stars/dots/smileys/whatever when you beat a level,” but there’s something so magical and so… right about it. You’ll pick it up and find yourself unable to put it down, especially if you love Burtonesque art and creepy crawly darkness.

The controls are responsive and the mechanics prove a delight as you manipulate the landscape and guide Petit through the hauntingly beautiful levels. Right now there are three chapters filled with levels (a-la Angry Birds), with more chapters on the way. The game plays beautifully on iOS, with gorgeous, fun visuals and interesting physics puzzles for you to attempt to perfect. Take the game’s advice and wear headphones when experiencing Contre Jour the first time!

Read More »

Welcome to G4's Knuckle Up, where we bring you a byte-sized view of our five favorite mobile games every week. The mobile space is filled with incredible games that will keep you busy for minutes, hours, or even days -- we'll let you know what we're playing and why we're playing it. Here's our top five games this week: 

STAR LEGENDS: THE BLACKSTAR CHRONICLES (ANDROID)
Tablet/Phone: FREE

Spacetime Studios had a huge hit on its hands with the freemium mobile MMORPG Pocket Legends, and they've hit another home run again with Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles. This time, the adventure happens in space, and your character must help various factions and people aboard the UCS Blackstar carry out their requests.

All the standard MMORPG bits are in Star Legends, from upgrading your gear and skills to guild management and group dungeons. I'm a huge fan of the freemium model, which allows you to play the game for free and then purchase extras: powerful weapons, elixirs, vanity items, and more. The character design and robust universe Spacetime Studios has created in Star Legends is both fantastical and futuristic. Grab it in the Android Market for free (or via VCAST) and give it a whirl. And if you're using iOS, fret not: Star Legends will make its way to the App Store in the coming months.

Keep reading for our other top mobile gaming picks!

Read More »