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Sony Ericsson makes good on Motion Gaming F305 and S302 Snapshot handsets


We'll make this quick since we've already given you all the details related to Sony Ericsson's Motion Gaming F305 and S302 Snapshot. The F305 quad-band GSM/EDGE slider relies upon a motion-sensing accelerometer (pictured bowling), dedicated gaming controls, and stereo speakers to create the gaming experience -- an experience hampered by a wee 2.0-inch, 176 x 220 display. It ships with a standard 8-hour battery with an optional CPP-100 backup battery pack to extend play. The quad-band GSM/EDGE S302 Snapshot is just a regular ol' candybar with 2 megapixel sensor, photo light, video recording, and plenty of build-up trying to position it as a camera first, phone second. Both hit in Q4, and the gallery is right over here.

Read -- F305 Motion Gaming
Read -- S302 Snapshot

Sony Ericsson F305 concept leaves little to the imagination for June 17 event


With the Paris, Shiho, Alicia, BeiBei, and this F305 all seemingly scooped at this point, what else could Sony Ericsson possibly have up its sleeve for its big event next Tuesday? Odds are they don't have much left in the tank -- but with the breadth of models expected on the stage, that's not necessarily a bad thing. What you see here isn't an actual picture of the F305, but the concept sketch is said to represent "80%" of what the actual device will look like, a gaming-focused low to mid-end slider with an FM radio and stereo speakers. There's more interesting hardware undoubtedly dropping on the 17th that'll more desperately deserve our attention, sure, but as cheap sliders go, this could be a winner. See what we did there? It's a gaming handset. You know, "winner." Never mind.

Tetris, MobiTV favorites for AT&T customers

What are AT&T subscribers buying, downloading, and using on their handsets? The carrier has released its top-selling apps for the first quarter, and we've got to admit, the results aren't very surprising at all. Not including games, MobiTV takes the top spot -- likely in part because AT&T pushes it so hard -- and the ubiquitous thriller Tetris is the number one game. Makes sense, but do you agree? What have you been downloading lately?

[Via mocoNews]

Prototype iControlPad proves itself on video


Hah, did you really have the nerve to doubt CraigIX? The iPhone gamepad add-on that we heard about just last week is already inching closer to reality, and there's a video to prove it. In the somewhat unexciting clip posted up after the jump, you'll see a PCB mockup of the device doing its thang, though it's quite inelegant in its current form. If you just needed one more something to boost your interest / confidence that this critter was real, you know where to head.

[Via zodttd]

TurboGrafx-16 emulation hits the iPhone


Finally, the ultimate dream of all iPhone owners has come to pass: TurboGrafx-16 emulation. Thanks once again to the massive talents at ZodTTD, Apple's phone has gotten another piece of the emulator puzzle in the form of Temper4iphone, a fully functioning recreation of everyone's favorite under-performing game console. The app can play both TurboGrafx and PC-Engine games, as well as CD-based ROMs. Right now the software is only available to beta testers (and donation-makers), though it's expected to hit wide release soon. Check the video after the break and see for yourself.

[Via Joystiq]

Nokia promises to let N-Gage users transfer games

Well, that didn't take long. Just as the mini-brouhaha over N-Gage games being tied to handsets was starting to percolate, Nokia has now come out and said that users will be able to take their games with them to a new handset after all, eventually. According to Nokia communications manager Oskar Södergren, some "miscommunication" on Nokia's part is apparently to blame for users being left up in the air on the matter, something that apparently led to some "mixed messages" being passed around inside Nokia as well. He went on to add that Nokia has in fact "been working on a way for this to work since the relaunch, but it is taking some time for everything to fall into place."

N-Gage users N-Raged by Nokia handset lock-in

N-Raged... see what we did there? Sigh. Anyway, Nokia's strategy of handset lock-in has its N-Gage subscribers in a fit. Seems somebody didn't read the EULA and now is upset that they must re-purchase N-Gage titles when they switch Nokia handsets. The terms and conditions do state that, "Content shall be... limited to one private installation on one N-Gage compatible Nokia device only." Forever. Come on Nokia, we're all for reading, but purchased games should at least be transferrable to newly purchased, substitute Nokia devices. After all, that's what you claim for music downloaded from your forthcoming Comes with Music service. Don't turn N-Gage v2 into another sidetalkin' fiasco.

Danger testing out an NES emulator for Sidekicks? Sadly, no.


Our first thought when we heard the news that there was an NES emulator in the works for the Sidekick series of text machines was one of pure, unabashed elation. The classic Hiptop form factor is pretty much exactly what the doctor ordered for effective old-skool gaming, after all -- and let's be honest, any time Nintendo playtime comes to a new platform is cause for immediate and overindulgent celebration. Our second thought was, "wait, what?" It's pretty unclear how the emulator would be loaded with legally-obtained ROMs and we have our doubts that Nintendo signed away the rights to any binaries, so we're a little confused about the word that this would be officially offered through the Danger's Software Catalog. Let's all cross our fingers, continue to pay our T-Mobile bills on time, and hope that tomorrow might bring countless hours of Skate or Die while we're... you know, actually skating or something.

Update: While not technically fake, it turns out that this 80s-vintage action is going to remain a pipe dream (and no, we're not talking about the NES game Pipe Dream, either). Danger's developer tools allow arbitrary Java to be loaded into the Hiptop emulator -- not just approved stuff, obviously -- so odds are that someone loaded an NES emulator (like, say, vNes) and went to town with the screen shots. Official offering through the Catalog, though? Not so much. Thanks, Jim!

Android does one better at CTIA, plays Quake


While largely steering clear of the limelight, Android managed to make the occasional cameo at CTIA last week, including a prominent presence at Qualcomm. PC Magazine checked out a very fresh build of the platform running on some weird, giant, prehistoric-looking prototype handset running Qualcomm's MSM7201 silicon, but be cool -- the phone certainly won't see the light of day looking anything like this, and more importantly, it runs Quake at a nice clip. They've got a full gallery highlighting a new UI and the rather hilarious handset itself, so we really do recommend a quick peep.

Nokia's new N-Gage gaming service goes live

It's apparently saving the full, official announcement until Monday, but Nokia just dropped word on its N-Gage blog that the final version of its new N-Gage gaming service / application is now live and ready for your taking. To take advantage of that right now, however, you'll need an N81, N81 8GB, N82, N95, or N95 8GB handset, although Nokia says that support for additional N-Gage compatible devices is "coming soon," including the N73, N93, and N93i. If that doesn't preclude you, you can download the application straight to your device from Nokia's mobile site (n-gage.mobi/d), or you can hit up the link below to download it the old fashioned way.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia bringing N-Gage beta testing to an end, dishes out free game

Well, it looks like we're now one step closer to a full-fledged launch of Nokia's N-Gage First Access service, with the company announcing today that the beta testing phase will end on March 27th. As was announced before, that means all your scores and other data will be reset and, while you won't have to repurchase any games you've bought during the beta test, you will have to reinstall them when the final version launches. As a bonus for beta testers, however, Nokia is giving away a free copy of the upcoming Mile High Pinball game to anyone that completes a survey, along with 1,000 "community points." There's still no firm word on the rollout of the final version of the service, however, with Nokia only going so far as to say that it's coming in the "next few weeks."

[Via All About Symbian]

iPhone SDK downloads exceed 100,000, upcoming games get outed


Just four days after Apple announced that the beta version of the iPhone SDK would be available to developers, some 100,000 downloads have taken place. 'Course, it's not like we're shocked by Cupertino's latest horn tooting, but we've all ideas that number pales in comparison to the amount of requests for unlocks. Nevertheless, the real news from the Apple camp is that companies such as Namco and PopCap are apparently on board to bring titles such as Pac-man, Galaga, Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle to the iPod touch / iPhone via App Store. Furthermore, Six Apart's CEO admitted that it's already developing a "native iPhone application for TypePad," and the VP of THQ Wireless implied that we'd be seeing some of its wares surface here as well. As for release dates? Your guess is as good as ours.

Gameloft plotting 15-plus iPhone games this year


Spore aside, we imagine we'll all occasionally need something just a little less cerebral and involving to pass the handful of minutes between trains, buses, meetings, connecting flights, and the like when third-party games hit the iPhone in full force come this June. To that end, Gameloft's got your back, announcing that it'll be flush with "over 15" titles for Apple's piece before the year's out. No specific games have been announced in the company's initial press release, but it does mention that they've "started to create a strong line-up" already, so here's hoping a solid percentage of 'em won't suck.

Great news, Guitar Hero Mobile fans: it's on AT&T now


We don't report on terribly many games here, but the Guitar Hero franchise seems to carry a godlike clout that demands a certain amount of respect, so we thought we'd just throw it out there that rockers, groupies, and wannabes on AT&T can now get their power chord on as of last week following a December release on Verizon. Hands-On Mobile's adaptation of the console classic will also be adding three head-bangin' new tunes as part of its April song pack: "Crazy On You" by Heart, "Laid to Rest" by Lamb of God, and "Hush" by Deep Purple. As they say, rock on.

EA Mobile's Spore becomes first 3rd party iPhone game -- available September


Just in case you didn't catch the blip earlier between Steve's announcement of the iPhone SDK and the App Store, here's some fantastic news for the thumb-happy sect: Spore is coming to the iPhone. In fact, the EA Mobile title will go down as "the first 3rd party game on the iPhone." Sadly, it won't actually be available until September, but at least you've got a month to circle on your calender, right? Additionally, EA affirmed that there were "other games in early stages of development," and that it was "actively using the new iPhone SDK to develop games for the iPhone OS." Jump on past the break for the full release.




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