1. Announce your intent to release a game.
2. Finish the game.
3. Upload the game.
4. Post, spam and generally inundate all forms of social media that your game exists in hopes that it will stand out, if for but a few short weeks. (or days…or hours….)
5. Wait for sales revenue to accumulate.  (While waiting, entertain yourself by reading the user reviews.)

http://2dboy.com/2011/02/08/ipad-launch/

World of Goo developer, 2D Boy, decided to take control of this final step by providing a response to the user reviews and a publicly viewable design analysis.

2D Boy delivers an interesting read about their experience with releasing an established title in the AppStore. Often reserved for industry publications and conference presentations, design analysis and project postmortems are seldom made available at the consumer level.   World of Goo has met with considerable success on the PC as well as a downloadable Wii title.  (You can check out World of Goo (PC), in our store.) After a failed attempt to launch the game on the iPhone last year, the game did successfully launch on the iPad via the AppStore.  As we have discussed many times here at DDGW, the AppStore is a wildly different environment for selling games that requires a different approach to developing, launching, and marketing your game.

As for a review of the game, I believe their own design analysis says it all.  That said, I gave it 5 stars in the appstore and 4.5/5 here at DDGW.  It is truly original, captivating and addictive.  What more could you ask for in a casual game?

The app comes with all the standard features of other Kindle apps, as well as the ability to browse, buy, read, annotate and sync books across devices, and two minor features that are not available in any other app: personalized shopping recommendations and the ability to send book recommendations to friends.

As of late December, Microsoft has reported selling approximately 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 units. For some perspective, Mashable has reported that Google has around 300,000 Android devices are activated daily, and 3 million iPhone 4 devices were sold in its first three weeks on the market.

The Kindle app for Windows Phone 7 is now available in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Features of Kindle for Windows Phone 7 include:

*Kindle’s Worry-Free Archive automatically backs up your Kindle library on Amazon, so your books can be re-downloaded wirelessly anytime.

*Integrated shopping experience allows you to shop without leaving the app.

*Send an email to a friend with a link to the book you’re reading or to any book in your library without leaving the app.

FOR MORE DLC NEWS AND INFO YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @The_GeekJock

Related articles

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• Amazon announces Kindle app for Android and Windows Tablets (downloadsquad.switched.com)
• Amazon Kindle Optimized for Android and Windows Tablets (webpronews.com)

There are a lot of great apps for hard core gamers, like Madden, Fifa, Battlefield: Bad Company, Command & Conquer, and The Sims (are there hard core Sims players?). In any case, if you are a fan of these major brands, then chances are you have already picked these games up at the regular price. If you aren’t a hard core enough gamer for that, then the 99 cent price tag probably won’t turn you into one.

EA also have a lot of licensed board game properties like Monopoly, Battleship, Trivia Pursuit, and the Game of Life. Again fanboy rules apply here as well. If you like these games you should probably already have. (If not, go get them, its only a buck)

The true hidden gems are games that are just really great to play on your iPhone or iPad:

Mirror’s Edge – If you only get one game in this sale, get Mirror’s Edge. The art style, soundtrack, and game play are truly outstanding. It’s a platformer, but it does not feel “copycat” in anyway. The look is exactly like the console counterparts, simple and mostly red and white. The swipe control scheme and almost constant forward motion make the game good quick fun.

Dragon’s Lair – Yes this is the same Arcade / Laser Disc classic that has been released on every platform know to gamers, but it is just so perfect on the iPhone. The sounds and graphics will take you back to your favorite 80s arcade. Dragon’s Lair is unforgivably challenging, requiring precise timing and much memorization of move patterns. It is hard to be frustrated with the difficulty when the death screens are so entertaining. The touch screen controls and especially the unlimited lives option make this the most entertaining version of “Simon” available in the app store.

Need For Speed Hot Pursuit – There are at least 3 Need For Speed apps to choose from, but Hot Pursuit is the latest engine build and a return to the Cops and Robbers car chases from the earliest NFS games. The tilt steering and auto accelerate free you up just enough to manage your nitro and special traps. It has wifi multiplayer and a rich career mode (which was just updated). Without a crash mode this is the closest the iPhone will come to a Burnout game.

Spore – This is a relaxing little time killer. You start as a small organism and tilt around eating smaller organisms and avoiding bigger ones. You eat, grow, and evolve. The customizations of your organism (including using the iPhone camera to paint textures) makes the game really flexible. It’s like they took the “trippy” out of That Game Company‘s Flow on PS3 and added some “cutesy.”

Mass Effect Galaxy – The XBox 360 juggernaut RPG Mass Effect gets a mobile tie-in game. The gameplay may not be top notch, but the art, soundtrack and most of all story line makes this a good selection for someone looking for a game with some plot to take with them everywhere.

All of this has made our job of choosing the best of 2010 even harder.  With bloodshot eyes and bleeding thumbs, we are pleased to provide to you, our loyal readers, part one of the DDGameWorld best DLC of 2010 list.

Best Digital Download Multiplayer – 2010

Monday Night Combat, Uber Entertainment

MNC is a lofty accomplishment that provided gamers with the most bang for their buck by providing a full featured FPS shooter that rivaled the biggest franchises in the game world.  It’s tactical release captured players falling out from Battlefield 2 and well before MoH or CoD.   A game filled with innovation and design originality.  This is the first ever combination tower defense and squad shooter.  It is a  highly polished production with excellent ongoing support from the developers.  MNC’s only downfall is like that of many new multiplayer game innovations, it’s a great game – when people are playing it.

Ambitious as it is, few games can keep their audiences from Halo, CoD, MoH and BF franchises.   That said, UBER Entertainment is still keeping the game fresh with frequent updates and fine tuning, so there is still plenty of Monday Night Action left for fans.

Best Digital Download RPG Action – 2010

DeathSpank, Hothead Games

This is the best action rpg game we have seen in awhile.  DeathSpank incorporated a fantastic alotment of whimsical writing – courtesy of Monkey Island creator Ron Gilber – with a standard gameplay format that is familiar to any dungeon conquest fan.  What made DeathSpank stand out is the attention to writing, it’s superb audio quality and amount of content delivered within the confines of a digital download price point. In addition to all the above mentioned, it is the combination of all the little things that made DeathSpank stand out. The game features a vast inventory of items, weapons and clothing. Gilbert provides laugh out loud descriptions for literally all of them. Little nuances like this, allow the player to be continually drawn into the charming and crazy world of heroic hyperbole at every point of the game.

Plus props to the developers and Gilbert for putting animals in the game called Swamp Donkeys.

Best quotes:

“I need demon poops, Just use this Special hammer to beat the crap out of demons…. Literally”

——

Orphan: I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.
DeathSpank: I’m not a stranger. I’m DeathSpank! Now get in the bag…
Orphan: Aren’t you supposed to give me candy first?
DeathSpank: There’s candy in the bag.
Orphan: Oh, no. I’m not falling for that again.

——

DeathSpank: I have a fever… and the only prescription is more sidequests!

——

Need we say more...

Best Digital Download Platformer – 2010

Ilomilo, Southend Interactive

IloMilo is a the sleeper hit of the year, launched exclusively for the Xbox Live Market Place.  It is a 3D based platformer featuring stunning art, design and music.  The game has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike and it has been referred to, more often, as art than game.

Beautiful?, yes, fun to play?, absolutely!  The game is addicting and fun.  The action gamer in you may eventually want to poke your eyes out due to the nauseatingly happy music in this game.  Should this happen to you, I recommend immediately switching to our next game in the list. …

Best Digital Download Button Masher – 2010

Shank, Klei Entertainment

Coming from Vancouver`s Klei Entertainment, Shank delivers bloody violence in a simplistic gameplay model that gamers can often crave.  The most notable achievement in Shank is the incredible art and animation.

I would liken the gameplay experience to a combination of watching an awesome, late night, cartoon on Adult Swim while mashing buttons on your controller to achieve the satisfaction of pure violence.  Klei CEO, Jamie Cheng described the game as an “ode to Double Dragon with a Tarantino film feel to it.”

While some critics flag this game for lack of depth, I applaud it it for its simplicity.   Every once in awhile, you gotta take a break and just let the demons out (with a chainsaw).

Best Digital Download Puzzle Game – 2010

Babo Crash HD (iPhone, Android, iPad), Playbrains

With so many huge titles dominating the Top 10 AppStore list, it is difficult to find the true gems.  With so many AppStore customers being so careful not to cross the devastating $0.99 pricepoint unless they know other people are playing the game, many titles reach the top simply based on following the crowd.

For great game design, Babo Crash HD gets the highest marks for addictive puzzle action.  Reviewed by one source as `Bejewelled on Steroids`, we even tried this game out against its rival Bejewelled 3 and found it no contest.

A content companion to Playbrain`s popular action shooter from Steam and Xbox Live Babo Crash, Babo Crash is a match 3 drop puzzle game that features appearances from the Babo Game Characters.  Paired with a compelling soundtrack, multiple game modes to suit your playing style this game has great mass appeal and something for everyone.

Stay tuned for part 2 where we announce the winner of theBest Digital Download Game 2010 Award!

PvNvZvP is a classically addictive physics-based demolition puzzler based on the historic and well documented conflict between the afore mentioned armies. Fight for dominance and take control of three factions, form alliances, and use each armies unique abilities to eliminate the fourth faction.

The game utilizes the simple touch and drag interface to select your projectiles trajectory and fire power. As we mentioned, each faction also has something a little special to offer:

• Burn away bamboo and wood using an incendiary rum-soaked pirate.
• Obliterate reinforced roofs with a well-placed ninja chop.
• Devastate hideouts with explosive cluster-zombies.
• Seek out hard to reach foes with the guided fart panda (yep, that’s right…).

PvNvZvP comprises 45 levels over 4 campaigns, ensuring hours of destructive fun in which players can fine-tune their tactics (and their aim) and share their high scores via Apple Game Center.

Download PvNvZvP now from the App Store:http://itunes.apple.com/app/pirates-vs-ninjas-vs-zombies/id396930625
Look out for PvNvZvP HD coming to iPad in the very near future.

View the new PvNvZvP gameplay trailer here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCcb_HFNB0

Or download the gameplay trailer from here:https://files.me.com/thomasapage/aissq2.mov

For more DLC news and info yo can follow me on Twitter @The_GeekJock

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Prism3D (HyperBees Ltd.)

Prism3D is a simple game in concept:  the player must guide a bouncing ball along a track made of blocks to the finish line by tilting the phone to make the ball move left, right forward or, backward.  If the ball falls off the edge of the track 3 times the player must restart the level. Each bounce gives the player points and certain blocks offer more points, some blocks take points away, some blocks can push the ball in different directions, some blocks collapse when landed on,  and so on. What sets this game apart is the complexity of the levels, the addicting points based leaderboard, and a map editor to allow players to create their own courses to bounce along. The myriad of block types and the fact that the higher point blocks are more difficult to get to makes Prism 3D a fun and challenging game.

Graviturn (Team Graviturn)

Another game with a very simply concept:  tilt the screen to make all the red circles fall off the screen (any edge of the screen counts).  However the game eventually introduces green circles that cannot leave the screen unless the player wants to start the level over.  This simple concept leads to some incredibly challenging levels that verge on the impossible.  This is a great game for people on the go as each level can be finished fairly quickly (until one reaches the more difficult levels).  Again online leaderboards offer some competitive spirit into the mix.

Newton (Badlogic Games)

The player must guide a bullet fired from a yellow spaceship to a hole positioned somewhere on the map.   The bullet can only fire in a straight line but the bullet can bounce off certain objects to provide new trajectories, certain objects pull the bullet towards it while other objects push the bullet away.  Most of these objects (except for the bullet) can be maneuvered around the level by touching and dragging them creating a fun and at times frantic puzzle shooter.  Newton also features a map editor and one’s own creations can be uploaded online for other players to enjoy.

LightUp (ChickenBrick Studios)

Another simple concept:  the player drags his or her finger over the grey squares to turn all the grey squares blue.   Sounds easy enough, the catch?  The puzzle must be solved in one go and in one line.  In other words, once a square is turned blue the player cannot drag his or her finger along that square to finish the puzzle.   Once a square is blue it locks that square out of play.  As the puzzles get more difficult it becomes increasingly easy to leave a few stranded grey squares requiring a level restart.  LightUp is surprisingly addictive and a great puzzle game for when one is on the move.

Speedx 3D (HyperBees)

Speedx 3D is a fast paced 3D racing game that has the player hurtling down a track while avoiding obstacles by tilting his or her phone left or right.  Certain coloured tracks will offer lives and  power-ups. The star of this game is the track itself, which moves and uncurls itself from a tunnel to a flat surface to a tube the player rides along the outside of.  Though Speedx is not the most original game on this list the graphics look great, the music is perfect, online leaderboards offer some competition, and the game is just fun to play.   Also Speedx 3D offers a stereoscopic mode, so get out those old blue and red 3D glasses because it’s race time.

Android specific games may be slow to come out but if what has been created so far is any indication it seems that Android users can expect a bright future for innovative, addictive, and fun games.  The games listed here are not all of the high quality games offered on the Android Market but these games highlight the variety of experiences Android gamers can have.  So if you are an Android user, and you think that the iPhone has all the fun, remember that there are some great games for your phone ready for you to try.

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The Impossible Game has already reached some impressive landmarks for a minimalistic Indie game, such as making it to #2 in the US app charts and being hand-picked as “App of the Week” by Apple (as well as being described by Destructoid.com as “insanely addictive”). And now The Impossible Game is now available for Google Android and Windows Phone 7.

Also available as downloadable content for iOS devices are two brnad new levels, featuring awesome new music, wild effects and a ego crushing difficulty level designed to test even the hardiest of players. For those who own the game on console, the levels are also available for 360 via the Xbox Live Indie Games market for only 80 MSP.

If you’ve never experienced The Impossible Game, either on console or mobile, it’s a must. It’s one of my all time favorite Indie games and as much as I loved it on the 360, I think it’s better suited for mobile devices.

Last month we broke the news that Cedemo was launching a video game barcode scanner app for the iPhone and Android SmartPhones. The App initially launched only un the UK and France but has just been released in the North American market.

The free app allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions on-the-go by delivering video game details and media, with the scan of any barcode or through the integrated search feature. Compatible with all iPhones running iOS 4.0+ and Android devices, the app is free to download from the App Store and Android market.

By scanning a video game barcode or using the search feature consumers can retrieve information and media for over 20,000 games across all major platforms dating back to 1999, including videos, trailers, screenshots, exclusive content, ratings and more.

Other useful features include a Top 10 list of the latest videos for the hottest games, an “Oldies” list highlighting some of the best classics, random videos generated with a “shake” of your phone, and the ability to share game media with Facebook friends.

Cedemo also kicked off a contest today in celebration of the application’s launch. One grand-prize winner will be randomly chosen to receive a pair of ezVision Video Glasses and ten additional contestants will win a video game of their choice. To enter, just download the app, “Like” the official Cedemo Facebook page, scan a game and share the video with your Facebook friends, all by following the on-screen instructions. Users may submit additional entries for each game video they scan and “share” with Facebook friends.

To download the free Cedemo Video Game Barcode Scanner app, visit the Android Market from your Android device, or the Apple App Store for iPhone users at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cedemo-video-game-barcode/id391359052?mt=8

For more DLC news and info you can follow me on Twitter @The_GeekJock

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Images via Games Press

Pan Vision and Tactile Entertainment’s physics-based demolition puzzler for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad makes its way to the Apps Store this winter.

The universe can breath can take a deep breathe a little easier now that Independent Nordic publisher and distributor Pan Vision has announced that their new game Pirates vs Ninjas vs Zombies vs Pandas (PNZP) will be available to Apple handheld gaming fans this coming December.

Developed in partnership with Tactile Entertainment, PNZP is an addictive new physics-based puzzle game for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Players will take control of the four factions, each launching their minions as projectiles at opposing armies in an effort to destroy their enemy’s defenses and ultimately eliminate them.

You’ll like this if…

You’re someone who absolutely loved Angry Birds, or Worms, and is looking for something similar to continue scratching that aerial bombardment itch – only this time with everyone’s four favorite colloquial characters.

For more DLC news and info you ca follow me on Twitter @The_GeekJock

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WHO:

WHAT: Gobliiins, first in the Goblins trilogy, an Atari/Amiga game series from the early 90’s that was one of the original success stories in puzzle platformer genre, is now available on the iPhone.

STORY: King Angoulafre suddenly falls ill from a terrible ailment. An unseen foe has used a voodoo doll to cause the king to howl in pain. In Gobliiins, a team of three goblins, each featuring a unique skill, is tasked with finding out who is responsible for tormenting the kind and must discover a cure.

MECHANICS:

Players will control a team of three goblins, each with a special skill: A warrior goblin, a magician goblin, and a technician goblin. Each different skill set must be used to take advantage of unique items throughout the levels. Touch and lead the goblins through numerous puzzles, traps and levels, all of which must be completed using all three of the goblins special skills.

THE GAME:

Gobliiins will offer a mix of elements of adventure and challenging puzzle gaming. The game consists of 22 levels all with amazing graphics and sound effects.The game is challenging and frustrating at times, but gamers who enjoy solving twisted, illogical puzzles will love working their way through its various worlds.
WHEN: Gobliiins is available NOW.

WHERE: Worldwide on the Apple App Store.http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gobliiins/id394372440?mt=8

PRICE: $0.99

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