Carmack: iPhone a serious threat to other hand-helds

In an interview with Chris Morris for CNBC, id Software founder and chief programmer John Carmack said that Apple’s iPhone may be a serious threat to the hand-held gaming market - specifically Nintendo’s DS and DSi.

It’s a pretty interesting comment if you consider that earlier this week a prominent analyst (who I won’t name here) said that the iPhone - in the long term - will not be a viable game platform. Carmack sees it another way - and he should know, he’s been working on the platform and selling his games via Apple’s app store for quite some time.

Earlier this week it was announced that there are now 100,000 apps available on the iPhone, and while not all of those are games, a good portion of them are and many of them sell for anywhere from 99 cents to $9.99 USD.

“I think mid- to long-term it’s a significant threat,” he says. “I don’t carry a DS or a PSP around, but I’ve got my iPhone everywhere. So if it plays good games, I’m less likely to pick one of the others up. … I think the stars could align and it could start to eclipse those other systems in terms of unit sales.”

While Carmack is a PC guy through and through, he has fallen in love with developing games for the iPhone. He describes his time developing games on the system “fun.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked if someone has one in development right now, though they probably don’t realize it will run that high yet,” he told CNBC. “If a title could do well at $9.99, you could put [Nintendo] DS level development expenses into it.”

id Software has made it their goal to release one iPhone game every quarter over the next year. Most recently the company released an iPhone remake of the classic DOOM game called “Doom Classic.” iPhone versions of one of my favorite id Software titles - Quake - and a follow-up to the popular Doom RPG are also in the works. id Software is also planning on having its latest game, RAGE, ready to go for the iPhone when it is released in 2010.

Source: CNBC

Al Lowe cracks wise on your iPhone

Jokemaster and Leisure Suit Larry scribe Al Lowe has released an update for his latest venture, Al Lowe’s CyberJoke 3000, currently available for download on the iTunes App Store. Comedy fans can listen to over 110 of Al’s jokes, with more updates on the way. In addition to updating the application with new jokes, Al now offers those looking to preview his app with a brand new Lite version. Featuring twenty jokes from the full application, Al gives mobile users a taste of all the edgy content found in Al Lowe’s CyberJoke 3000.

Developed by The Binary Mill, Al Lowe’s CyberJoke 3000 Lite is available for download on the iTunes App Store. The full version is available for $1.99. Go Al, go! Learn more about Al Lowe at www.allowe.com.

Vancouver 2010 cover athletes revealed

SEGA of America is partnering with top American and Canadian gold medal contenders Lindsey Vonn (USA; alpine skiing), Seth Wescott (USA; snowboard cross), Kristina Groves (Canada; speed skating) and Matthew Morison (Canada; snowboard) to appear on the cover of the upcoming video game Vancouver 2010 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games.

The game will be available for purchase at North American retailers on January 12th, 2010 for the Xbox 360, the PS3 and the PC via digital download.

The games are being developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software. Find out more at www.olympicvideogames.com.

White Stripes make Rock Band debut next week

Harmonix and MTV Games will release a three pack of tracks from The White Stripes and singles from The Damned and Kasabian will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

Tracks from No Doubt and Dropkick Murphys will be available for download next week for Rock Band Unplugged on PSP.

Sadly, no LEGO Rock Band content mentioned unless I am missing something here, which Is highly doubtful. Anyway, here’s the completel list:

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Nov. 10) and PlayStation 3 system (Nov. 12):

- The Damned – “Smash It Up (Part II)” 

- Kasabian – “Club Foot”

- The White Stripes – “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”

- The White Stripes – “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine”

- The White Stripes – “Icky Thump”

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (Nov. 12):

- No Doubt – “Excuse Me Mr.”

- Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”

Fallen Earth MMO getting an iPhone app

FALLEN EARTH and Icarus Studios, developers of the self-titled massively multiplayer online game (MMO), Fallen Earth, announced today the development of a cross-platform iPhone application, which allows players to connect into the live game server and interact with the game remotely via their iPhone.

Through the new iPhone application, players will have access to Fallen Earth, and allow Fallen Earth players to view their in-game character stats, mutations and trade skills as well as provide access to equipped and stored items. Players will also have be able to view maps for each of the three sectors in the 1,000 square kilometers of the game’s landscape.

The app is scheduled for release in Q1 2010, and will feature real-time management of several key in-game systems like players’ crafting queues, recipes, craft items, commerce at the Auction House as well as the ability to interact with friends, Clan members and other online players through multiple chat channels, mail and private messaging.

Find out more about this app and the game by visiting www.fallenearth.com.

The many Lords of Good Old Games

Good Old Games is now offering three classic four classic Impressions games - two of which comes in one package.

The deals include the original Lords of Magic and the expansion Lords of Magic: Legends of Urak in one box, the Lords of the Realm: Royal Edition pack (Lords or the Realm 1 & 2 in one box) and Lords of the Realm 3, for only $4.19 each. At that price these classics should keep you busy for a fortnight or two.

Find out more about all the new games at GOGO including several new Majesco games - by visiting www.gog.com.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey announced

Atlus U.S.A. announced Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, the very first first-person science fiction RPG for Nintendo DS set in the ultra popular Shin Megami Tensei RPG game universe. Strange Journey is set in the near future, where a mysterious and ever-growing, black void appears at the Earth’s southern pole. Unsure of what to do about this void, humanity sends an elite team of explorers (four ships carrying humanity’s finest soldiers and most cutting-edge technology) into the heart of the phenomenon in hopes of stopping its deadly expansion. Obviously this rift, black hole or whatever you want to label it as demonic and otherworldly in nature.

According to Atlus, Strange Journey’s game mechanics and presentation herald a return to the series’ roots. The game feature a first-person view, the ability to team up with more than 300 types of demons, plenty of options to build your party and party strategy and a mature rated storyline that long-time fans should appreciate.

When the black spot appeared in the Antarctic, mankind became nervous; when it began to spread, that anxiety turned to panic. The Joint Project, convened to discuss how to deal with the expanding anomaly, decided to send in four ships carrying humanity’s finest soldiers and most cutting-edge technology. The mission: to investigate what lay on the other side of what had been dubbed the Schwarzwelt and find out if there was a way to stop it from eventually covering the Earth.

You play as one of the many elite soldiers hand-picked for the Strike Team, but you are outfitted with a Demonica environment suit and posted to the Red Sprite under Commander Gore. Upon entering the Schwarzwelt, or pocket world, the crew finds itself forced to deal with harsh conditions, supernatural interference, and throngs of demons populating within the world.