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New “Mobile” Game Brings Back The “Social” in Social Situations

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Mobile phones bring a lot of conveniences for everyone. Gone are the days when you have to desperately look around for a phone booth (you still remember those?) if you need to call someone. Mobile phones allow people to reach us wherever we are. It’s a great benefit, but also one that has become a great annoyance, as attested by anyone who has attended a dinner party and everyone’s more busy playing with their phones than talking with the people in the same room. [Read more…]

Originally posted on January 18, 2012 @ 8:17 pm

Zynga Acquires Four Game Companies

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Zynga is very intent on strengthening its already secure position as the top provider of casual games in the world. The company, who makes highly popular games like Words With Friends, has announced that it has recently bought four different mobile game companies over the last few months.

The acquisitions Zynga made, as told to Reuters, include Gamedoctors, a German company and the maker of the hit game ZombieSmash. Zynga also said that it has bought Astro Ape Studios, a New York based company. [Read more…]

Originally posted on January 19, 2012 @ 12:02 pm

ESRB To Begin Rating Mobile Games

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The Entertainment Software Rating Board or ESRB is an organization that gamers know quite well. It is the main organization that provides ratings for games in the United States. The ESRB’s domain has always been limited to video games that come out on game consoles, PCs and gaming handhelds. But the organization is now setting its sights on the fastest growing gaming niche in the market today, mobile devices.

The ESRB, along wth the CTIA Wireless Trade Association, is planning to release a new rating system that is aimed solely at mobile games. The unveiling is reportedly scheduled on November 29. The ESRB’s presentation will be held in Washington DC at an event that will be hosted by ESRB President Patricia Vance and CTIA President Steve Largent. The event is going to have some political flavor with US Senators Kelly Ayotte and Mark Pryor attending as well. [Read more…]

Originally posted on November 22, 2011 @ 5:39 pm