PC

Yule Love These Holiday Fireplace Apps For Gaming Consoles And Mobile Devices

In 1966, TV station WPIX filmed a a fireplace at New York’s Gracie Mansion, cancelled $US4,000 worth of advertising and broadcast it for two hours on Christmas Day as a gift to viewers who had no fireplaces in their apartments. Its spirit lives on screens large and small to this day.


December 21, 2011
In Real Life

Bag It! Magically Finds The Joy In An Unrewarding Menial Task

Some 21 years ago I spent the summer as a bag boy, filling paper sacks with other people’s groceries. It was the most boring and demeaning summer of my life. Hidden Variable Studios has somehow transformed these bad memories into a hell of a good time. I might hate them.


December 7, 2011
Mobile

Inertia Catapults From Xbox Live Indie Darling To Android Excellence

If you’re not moving forward you’re doing it wrong. That’s the philosophy that launched Inertia: Escape Velocity from its humble beginnings as an Xbox Indie student project to a full-featured mobile game for Android and iOS devices.


June 15, 2011
Mobile

I Can Put Up With Ads While I Hang, Thanks.

The newest addition to Zynga’s game family is Hanging With Friends, an app for iGadgets big and small. It’s a twist on classic hangman, with elements of Scrabble and other word games thrown in.


April 26, 2011
Mobile

The Android Dogfighting Sim That Even Michael Vick Disagrees With

A recently released video game for Google’s Android platform has drawn the ire of the Humane Society for its violent content that includes the ability to train, electrocute and fight virtual dogs. Kage Games‘ Dog Wars (not pictured) has even been frowned upon by former dogfighting enthusiast Michael Vick.


April 23, 2011
News

The Gossip Lead Singer Beth Ditto Is A Fruit Ninja Enthusiast

The last page of Marie Claire‘s May issue features Beth Ditto talking about what’s inside her handbag. The contents are refreshingly down-to-earth: “101″ straggler earrings; a maxi pad; a Burger King receipt; a screwdriver. But Ditto also has an iPhone. On which she plays Fruit Ninja.


April 8, 2011
Mobile

Atari’s Greatest Hits Shoves Loot Of Garage Sales Onto Your iPhone

Atari just dropped a whirling, aliased asteroid in the iTunes App Store: Atari’s Greatest Hits brings 100 classic titles to iOS in a single application.


March 28, 2011
PC

Dragon Age II Coulda Used Dave’s Mapper

Maybe Dragon Age II, criticized for its repeating dungeon structure, could have benefitted from something like this nifty dungeon randomizing web application. Not that I’m any better at it myself. I suffered the same criticism the only time my D&D friends, all older than me, let me DM an original dungeon. “Is there a secret door in every room?”


March 19, 2011
Mobile

The Week In Gaming Apps

Kart racers, panda launchers and shuriken dodgers lead this week’s mobile games for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. There’s even a non-game on this week’s list of gaming apps, thanks to the official PlayStation Network app for iOS and Android phones.


December 26, 2010
In Real Life

Everything Your New IPad Needs Right Now

Well, weren’t you a good boy and/or girl this year! That iPad’s going to be your favourite new toy no matter what, but here’s how to squeeze the most out of it from day one.