Apple

Yetis! Ahem.

Some developers are updating their existing game releases with support for the iPad, but it's already looking much more common for companies to release a separate application. Plants vs. Zombies, Flight Control, Need For Speed Shift are just a few iPhone games with all-new "HD" iPad versions.

The iPad versions are more graphically intensive than their iPhone counterparts, which has lead many developers to start charging more for the iPad version. Here's how some companies doing it:

iPhone vs. iPad Games Price Comparison

• Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies -- $9.99 / $14.99
• Need For Speed Shift -- $9.99 / $14.99
• Plants vs. Zombies -- $2.99 / $9.99
• Flight Control -- $0.99 / $4.99
• Civilization Revolution -- $6.99 / $12.99
• Jelly Car -- $0.99 / $2.99
• Tetris -- $4.99 / $7.99
• Diner Dash -- $0.99 / $4.99
• Cogs -- $0.99 / $4.99
• Fieldrunners -- $2.99 / $7.99
• Scrabble -- $2.99 / $7.99
• Words With Friends -- $2.99 / $4.99
• Pac-Man -- $4.99 / $4.99

Take note of that last one, Pac-Man. It's one of the rare instances where an iPhone game seems to cost the same price on both iPhone and iPad. There does not seem to be feature differences between the two, but despite that, in order to play across both platforms, it's $4.99 for access to each of them.

The price war on iPad is just beginning. The race to the bottom doesn't happen in the first few days; it happens after launch fever (which prompts impulse buys) has disappeared and people discover how an iPad fits into their daily consumption habits. It will be a little while before that hits iPad.

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

Apple was smart to open the doors to the iPad section of the iTunes App Store ahead of the actual launch of the iPad, as it's giving consumers and content makers a chance to see what people are willing to pay for iPad games right out of the gate. Right now, the top end for games is $14.99.

At the moment, Electronic Arts is asking $14.99 for Need For Speed Shift and Activision's charging the same price for the iPad version of Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies.

Access Need For Speed here and Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies here. Both links open iTunes.

Of course, very few people in the world have an iPad and the screen shots featured on the iTunes store don't provide a great idea of what the games will look like on an actual iPad.

Nonetheless, $14.99 appears to be the ceiling for iPad games for now, unless someone can point to something above that price point. There are some 700 games already lined up for iPad's launch.

The prices should eventually come down, as they did with the iPhone, after the launch period.

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

Apple and its content partners are doing a great job of convincing me to hit "buy" on Apple.com right now. The latest? Activision's dropped Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad on the iTunes App Store.

No, I don't know how Geometry Wars will work on an iPad, but the idea of a touch-based, HD-sized version of Geometry Wars that can come on the road with me and sit in my lap...oh, boy.

The screens above are from the iPad version. There's more, including game features, below.

"Geometry Wars: Touch utilizes higher graphics and faster processing to enhance the game experience and immerse players deeper into non-stop shooter pandemonium. This is sure to be a must have game for the iPad. In addition to the six original Geometry Wars gameplay modes, Deadline, King, Evolved, Pacifism, Waves and Sequence, Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad will feature a brand new, adrenaline-filled mode -- Titans! -- exclusively on the iPad. The new mobile iPad platform provides Geometry Wars fans a versatile new way to annihilate enemy hordes and clear endless waves of attacks while they're at home or on the go."

Wallet, thy time is near. Check out official listing on the iTunes App Store.

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

iPad fever is beginning to hit a fever pitch as we approach the release date this weekend. Apple has turned on the iPad section of the iTunes App Store early, however, giving us an early glimpse into what iPad owners will be purchasing after turning on their newest device.

There are many iPad games to accompany iPad's launch, from a tablet-sized (and gorgeous) Civilization Revolution to a bigger version of iPhone favorite Super Monkey Ball. No Yeti games yet...

If you want to peruse the whole lineup, click this link (which will open iTunes), but keep reading for a series of highlights from the current lineup of iPad games. Expect this section to explode.

Read More »

A lot of people around G4 are planning to get an iPad when the thing comes out this weekend. So on a scale of "I'm going to camp out!" to "I'm totally iNdifferent" where are you when it comes to the iPad?

I'm iNdifferrent. I'll wait until the second generation to decide whether I'm going to get one -- let other people deal with the inevitable problems that come with a new product launch.

I'm following the development of augmented reality ghost-hunting game Ghostwire pretty closely; I just think using the camera capabilities of the iPhone to put ghosts in a person's real life environment is a cool idea. Today, we learn that the game is breaking free of the Nintendo DSi and coming to the iPhone as well as the Google Android.

An October launch is planned for the DSi version of the game, and it seems the plan is a by-Halloween release for the other versions as well.

Source: Joystiq

LucasArts has revealed that Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition is officially a go. The publisher just confirmed the game via the screenshot to the right that was just posted on Twitter. The game is scheduled for release on PSN, XBLA, Mac, iPhone, PC.

LucasArts also announced that Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition will be coming to Mac and PlayStation Network sometime soon.

These updates seem to be rolling at a steady pace, so all you Monkey Island lovers should keep your eyes and ears open.

Source: LucasArts

Apple's entry into tablet computing isn't that far off. While the iPad had originally been pitched as a late March release, a small bump in the road means it's coming a tiny bit later: April 3.

The iPad will be available for pre-order on March 12 at Apple's online store. Prices for the iPad start at $499, depending on the amount of memory inside it and whether your model includes 3G. The 3G model, however, won't be on sale immediately. That model will be coming a little later.

Are you going to buy one? I'm still on the fence, but I'm leaning towards the $499 model...

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

While the potentially revolutionary streaming game service OnLive remains a question mark for most (the service is still in limited beta), OnLive continues to emphasize its service will be available from pretty much every device you own. It looks like that'll include the iPad, too.

OnLive president and CEO Steve Perlman pitched OnLive to the DICE 2010 audience today. During his presentation, Perlman pointed out the devices OnLive will be hooked to. Perlman's slide included things we'd heard before -- TVs, PCs, Macs, phones -- but one new one: tablets.

I seem to remember a certain company announcing a much-hyped tablet device recently?

While Perlman didn't call out the iPad specifically, if OnLive is coming to the iPhone and OnLive is talking about tablet support, it's a safe assumption OnLive has the Apple iPad in mind.

G4's continued coverage of DICE 2010 continues. Watch this page!

Yesterday, Stephen reported on the imminent update coming to Battle.net. Today, Blizzard sent us their developer preview video with Project Director Greg Canessa discussing all the new features in detail.

For a great deal more, whenever the StarCraft II beta decides launch this month, expect to see Brian Leahy's interviews with:

• Battle.net Project Director, Greg Canessa
• StarCraft II Lead Designer, Dustin Browder
• StarCraft II Lead Producer, Chris Sigaty
• and Blizzard Exec. VP of Game Design, Rob Pardo

Hope you're all set and registered for the beta it's been a long time coming.

The amount of hype leading to Apple's iPad reveal this week was astounding. You couldn't avoid it if you tried (but why would you?). It's difficult to imagine how even Apple could have lived up to the expectations for their latest product. The iPad has been revealed, however, and we decided to check in with some of the same iPhone developers we previously asked to make predictions about the then-mysterious new tablet device. Did the iPad live up to their expectations? Not for everyone -- yet.

Read More »

The leader of the modern casual gaming revolution, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, was not impressed with Apple's latest offering, the just-revealed iPad. In an interview with The New York Times, Iwata brushed away concerns the iPad would encroach on Nintendo's own offerings, like DS.

''It was a bigger iPod Touch," said Iwata.

Of course, Nintendo's own DSi XL is really just a bigger DS, too.

Iwata was equally dismissive of the potential for 3D video games in a post-Avatar world, and based on reaction around here from CES's 3D push, that's a feeling most TheFeed readers can get behind.

''I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home," he said, echoing a common criticism of the concept. "How is that going to look to other people?''

Source: The New York Times

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

On Monday, we presented our expectations...our hopes and dreams...for the Apple tablet. Now that we have actual information to go on, our hopes and dreams have been amended accordingly. And in the case of Steve Johnson, his life has been given a whole new meaning. But first, enjoy this video presentation of myself and Patrick Klepek discussing Apple's new baby.

Eric Eckstein, Director of Gaming Editorial

Naturally, no one was surprised that the device in question was a tablet, but as a gamer, I'm a bit disappointed in the end product.  Sure, it's a mass market presentation, designed to get children to buy for their parents and gadget fiends to impulse buy only to sell it on eBay a month before generation two streets, but I was hoping for something a bit more revolutionary in the hardware. In the end, everyone's joking that it's essentially a giant iPhone and, as suspected, gaming is just a byproduct.  Maybe if they had figured out a way to work with Ubisoft to show off R.U.S.E. or another game that utilizes the screen real estate and touch mechanics, I'd be interested but gaming seems to be just one of many things you can do with the iPad, but it's not done significantly better or different than before.

Read More »

Adam Sessler infiltrated Attack of the Show today to give Kevin Pereira his thoughts on gaming for the Apple iPad and Mass Effect 2. Does he consider this latest device to mark a revolutionary change in the gaming industry? Also, what's the best way to get in bed with that hot alien? I guess you'll have to watch to find out.

While most of us were forced to watch the events of today's Apple iPad event from afar, Attack of the Show's Chris Hardwick was actually there and went hands-on with the iPad. What's he think?