Mmm... Donuts.

Since I got my iPhone last August, I have been on the hunt for ways to make the little machine reflect me and my interests. I have over 600 pictures and five pages of apps. The memory on the little poor device is almost bloated with the 572 songs and three movies I have on it. However, I keep pushing it's limits.

I love the Simpsons. Especially the games. I remember countless hours I spent as Lisa, running around Springfield in The Simpsons Arcade Game, Road Rage, Hit and Run and the recent The Simpsons Game.

Now, EA has cranked out another Simpsons game to occupy the time I don't have. This time it's free and for the iPhone - sorry Android users. 

The Simpsons: Tapped Out is the newest addition to the Simpsons game collection and it is wonderful! I've only begun the tutorial, but I'm already in love with the plot and the gameplay. In this game, Springfield is wiped out by a nuclear explosion, thanks to Homer. He is the only person left in what used to be Springfield. It has become a large field of grass with scattered products of nuclear waste. It is your job to rebuild the iconic town. With a simple tap and a bit of money, you have ability to place buildings, foliage and decor wherever you desire.

The controls  can be a little tricky at times. Tapping something once doesn't always complete the action desired. Precision is key, and when the target is only a few pixels big, it can be a little tedious. Despite this hiccup, the game has already become addicting. So much for doing my Japanese homework.

If you download this game, what do you think? Let me know in the comment section below!

Yours truly,
HavokRose

Threats and Benefits

The industry that brought you Jelly Car, Words with Friends, and Angry Birds is striking agitation in the hearts of big shots like Nintendo's CEO, Satoru Iwata.

                               Kim White/Nintendo of America, via Associated Press

Satoru Iwata speaks at the Game Developers Conference in San Fransico.

The reason Nintendo is the only company who has made a fuss is because they are being threatened the most by the all-in-one smartphones that can be bought at a cheaper price with even cheaper games. The audience that is often attracted by Nintendo's handheld games can be easily lured away by the games these new smartphones have to offer. Here is a list of a few games that are very similar (or exactly the same game), but for a cheaper price.

Although these games are substancially less expensive, they don't provide the same quality as the DS games, which is the main point Iwata is trying to get across to consumers. The DS versions of the games often have better developed story lines and more game play. Despite these advantages, causual game players are less likely to purchase a DS due to the price difference.

Competitors Microsoft and Sony are taking the opposite approach when it comes to the smartphone craze. Microsoft has developed apps for Windows 7 phones that allow users to access xboxlive. Not only can they check their XboxLive accounts and view their achievements but they can also play exclusive games on their phones with others that can boost their gamer score. Currently, Windows 7 phones are available for major service providers including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. By making this available on a wide varaiety of phones, consumers who own an xbox will probably be more active on Xbox live.

Sony took the most direct attack on the smartphone beast. Catering directly to their fans, Sony has created a phone that completes the smartphone experience while still utilizing their handheld systems. The Sony Xperia Play, released this past April, has all the basic phone capabilities, android apps, and complete PSP controls. Sliding the top layer of the phone up reveals the buttons and analogue touch joystick. (To find out more about this phone, click here.)

Overall, I believe Microsoft has the best approach. Its subtle, yet at the same time more widely available to consumers. Sony's Xperia play is just flat out cool. I personally wouldn't purchase it, but it is unique and I am sure it'll please some of its fans. Nintendo does have a problem on their hands but those who are truly dedicated to its products and games, will keep their handhelds on the map. 

Yours truly,

Havok Rose 

Smartphone advances hurt console gaming industry

The console game industry is being challenged by a growing platform for gaming: Smartphones.

            These phones are widely available and used by 42.7 million Americans, according to a 2010 study by comScore.

Smartphone users are creating an entirely new audience as the demand and popularity for these games grow.

         “It takes away a lot of my boredom and I can just get out my phone and play,” HTC Aria user Amanda Segura said.

            Due to the rising demand for game efficiency on smartphones, Sony has dedicated a new phone entirely to gaming.

            The phone is the Sony Xperia Play. According to the Sony Ericsson website, it slides up to reveal the same gaming controls as the PSP and was released March 2011.

            In addition to this type of phone, developers are equipping other smartphones to have more effective gaming programs that appeal to xbox users.

            “Many of the Windows 7 phones are capable of connecting to their Xbox at home,” AT&T sales associate Brian Luna said. “There are mobile versions of the games that you can only play with these phones.”

            Despite these new developments there is one feature that smartphone users value the most.

            “I like the quickness,” iPhone 4 user Briana Murray said. “It’s only one thing and you don’t have to set it up to play.”

         The ease of access of the games pose the biggest threat to the console game industry Mobiledia reported. However, there are still some people prefer to stick with the console games for detailed reasons. 

         “Smartphone games are very addicting, but you don’t get as involved,” PS3 owner Tricia Workman said. “They are basic games that don’t have the full story mode experience.”

        The work that goes into a console game also has a stern advantage over smartphone games and provides a unique experience claims Xbox 360 owner Gilbert Lopez.

         “The average game on a console can take up to two years to develop,” Lopez said. “There are in-depth storylines, graphic designers, and a lot more that make it a long process.”

         The price reflects the immense detail and work that is put into the console games. The average price for a console game is $60 while a large variety smartphone games can be downloaded for free.

            “I don’t spend money on the games I get,” Segura said. “I get their free ones, like a Pokemon one I downloaded. They are still pretty good quality, but not the best.”

           Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has said the inexpensiveness of the games could cause a threat to the console gaming industry, according to Mobiledia. But for others like Murray, it’s a new opportunity.  

“I think [smartphones] help the gaming industry. Its just like another console, you just have different ways to play different types of games,” Murray said.