According to Fast Company, the iPhone version 3 (still a rumored device) will be a “powerful portable gaming machine.” Kit Eaton, the writer, claims that rumor of Apple’s plans for $20 “premium” game apps telegraph such a move. Kit suggests that the cost of writing big ticket video games are hard to recuperate without charging such a premium. The iPhone version 3 is expected to add 3D graphics functionality, which on power-sucking games like Sim City, the iPhone 2 still can’t cope with.
Only time will tell if the iPhone version 3 will be a true competitor to the PSP-3000 (the latest PSP) or the Nintendo DSi, but the clues suggest we know they want a big piece of the portable video game market. According to John Geleynse, Apple’s Director of Technology Evangelism, the iPhone is not a phone, its a “console experience”.
Here are popular predictions on which top video games will be most successful in 2009.
Activison:
Prototype, Singularity, the Bizarre Creations racing title, a new Guitar Hero release, the new Tony Hawk, a new Call of Duty, and Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3. Tony Hawk, Diablo, and the Bizarre Creations game.
Electronic Arts:
Madden NFL 10, NCAA Football 10, Skate 2, Sims 3, the Beatles-themed Rock Band, and “at least one major IP potential hit, Dante’s Inferno.”
Take Two:
Grand Theft Auto release for the DS, Chinatown Wars. Bioshock 2, Mafia 2, and potential new IP hit Borderlands.
THQ:
New Red Faction game, new WWE game, and a new UFC franchise.
Also: new Halo titles from Microsoft (MSFT) for the X360, and both Killzone 2 and God of War 3 published by Sony (SNE) for its PS3.
Just when Auld Lang Syne has finally left your head, another New Year is approaching. Don’t worry, there won’t be much Dick Clark in this spectacle. On January 26th, Chinese everywhere will be celebrating their calendar New Year, often called Lunar New Year by those outside of China, and this year is the Year of the Ox. According to Hong Kong-based feng shui master Raymond Lo, it is also an Earth Year. Obama himself was born in an Earth Year, and the coincidence is auspicious, says Lo.
“An Earth leader in the Year of Earth would produce a particularly pronounced effect. Most of his work this year will be about meeting new faces all over the world, building diplomatic networks,” Lo said. While Earth Years are known for being calm, and Earth people for their charming demeanors, it is not a financially prosperous year. For that, you’ll have to wait until 2010, Year of Gold. Like the Ox then, Barack Obama and the rest of us, are to put our shoulders to the grindstone and make peace with the world.
photo: girl celebrating Chinese culture, New York City, by yewenyi via Flickr CC
Australian English teacher and author Harry Nicolaides, 41, has been sentenced to three years in jail for lèse-majesté, or insulting the royal family of Thailand. Thailand has the strictest lèse-majesté laws on the books, and Harry Nicolaides case is no exception. His book Verisimilitude was self-published and sold fewer than 12 copies. It is no longer in print.
According to the presiding judge, the book illegally concluded that there was abuse of power in the Royal family. Mr. Nicolaides has expressed regret and shock “I would like to apologize…this can’t be real. It feels like a bad dream.”
On Oprah, Joe and Jill Biden are currently chatting with Oprah in her gorgeous Washington, D.C. set. In their discussion, Oprah asked how he decided on accepting the V.P. nomination. Jill then blurted, “Joe had the choice of Secretary of State or V.P.,”. Apparently Hillary Clinton was second choice, even for Secretary of State.
