game

25 'game' stories December 2011 - July 2016

PSA: Pokémon Go is getting full access to Google Accounts for iPhone players

Stephen Hall Jul 11 2016 - 8:57 am PT

Update: Niantic has issued the following statement:

We recently discovered that the Pokémon Go account creation process on iOS erroneously requests full access permission for the user’s Google account. However, Pokémon Go only accesses basic Google profile information (specifically, your User ID and email address) and no other Google account information is or has been accessed or collected.

Once we became aware of this error, we began working on a client-side fix to request permission for only basic Google profile information, in line with the data that we actually access. Google has verified that no other information has been received or accessed by Pokémon Go or Niantic. Google will soon reduce Pokémon Go’s permission to only the basic profile data that Pokémon Go needs, and users do not need to take any actions themselves.

Google lets you see the apps connected to your account at the My Account section of its website, and today we noticed something interesting: Pokémon Go, the new hit smartphone game that’s pretty much taking over the world, is getting full access to many users’ Google accounts. That’s the same privilege that Google Chrome and Chromecast get. Currently, this appears to affect those that have used the Google sign in feature in the iOS app…

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More Pokemon Go beta gameplay appears on YouTube [Video]

Stephen Hall Apr 26 2016 - 7:51 pm PT

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We told you last month when the first gameplay from Niantic Labs and The Pokemon Company’s upcoming mobile game surfaced, and now even more footage has popped up on YouTube showing the first full 9 minutes of the experience…

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‘Ghostbusters: Slime City’ mobile game coming alongside new movie, first screenshots & trailer [Video]

Jordan Kahn Apr 15 2016 - 8:46 am PT

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The new Ghostbusters movie reboot is set for release in theatres this July, and alongside the film Activision and Sony announced today they will release Ghostbusters: Slime City for mobile devices, including Android. The companies just sent over a first look at the game including a trailer with brief gameplay shots and some screenshots below.

The storyline in the game will take place after the events that unfold in the new movie, and the characters will not be clones of the film’s cast but rather a new selection of heroes. The new Ghostbusters movie is a reboot of the original film and features an all female cast in the main roles, including: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones.

The rundown on gameplay in Ghostbusters: Slime City from the press release:

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Nintendo’s first Android game Miitomo will launch in US & other countries on March 31

Jordan Kahn Mar 29 2016 - 5:51 am PT

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Update: The Miitomo app is now available on the Play Store.

The game is already available in Japan— that’s how Jeff managed to go hands-on in our first look video earlier this month— but today Nintendo confirmed that its first smartphone game, Miitomo, will officially arrive in the US on March 31st.

The game isn’t exactly bringing over any of Nintendo’s very popular first party franchises to Android devices, but it does feature known Mii characters and, as we noted in our review, the release feels very much like a Nintendo title:

When you first start Miitomo, it’s immediately recognizable as a Nintendo title. It feels like someone took my Nintendo Wii and shrunk it down to fit inside of my iPhone 6s. The music and sound effects, most notably, are of the characteristic Nintendo style. The Miis themselves look just like the Miis on the game-maker’s handheld and home consoles. The writing — witty, with just a hint of corniness thrown in for good measure — is classic Nintendo.

Nintendo noted in its press release today that Miitomo was downloaded over a million times in the first three days after launch in Japan and it also managed to become the #1 most downloaded free app in both the App Store and Google Play.

While Nintendo didn’t mention other countries by name today, it did say that “several other countries” will receive the title on the 31st alongside users in the US.

Check out our review of the game on our sister site 9to5Mac from earlier this month to get a first look before it officially arrives in the US and other countries on the 31st.

Google Store is setting up a crazy huge claw game at SXSW, and we’re going to play it

Stephen Hall Mar 10 2016 - 9:24 am PT

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Google has typically had at least a little bit of presence at SXSW in the past, but we’ve never been there to cover it. That’s changing this week, and it looks like I already have some Google-y fun to look forward to. The Silicon Valley company is heading down to the Silicon Hills to set up a huge game called “I’m Feeling Lucky,” allowing anyone to try their hand at winning some Google Store swag…

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Fallout 4 companion app ‘Pip-Boy’ now available for Android and iOS

Stephen Hall Nov 5 2015 - 6:56 am PT

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The much-anticipated Fallout 4 from Bethesda is just around the corner (it’s scheduled to hit stores on November 10), and of course a companion app chock full of mini games and cross-platform interaction with the full game is now available. Even though the majority of the app’s functionality doesn’t even work without the full game (which, obviously, isn’t out yet), this app is already pulling almost unanimous positive reviews on the Play Store.

With Fallout Pip-Boy, your Android or iPhone (yes, it’s also available on Apple’s platform),can interact with Fallout 4 on your Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or PC. Even when you aren’t near your game system, Pip-Boy keeps track of your character’s status on the go. Among other things, the app lets you see your stats, inventory, map, and radio. There’s also a bunch of mini games (your holotape games) that are at your disposal, that you can play right from within the app.

The app is free on the Google Play Store, and you can grab it on the iOS App Store as well. Oh, and if you’re in the fewer than 1% of mobile phone users that rocks Windows Mobile, there’s surprisingly an app available for you too (although it doesn’t seem to be available yet)

There are a couple more Fallout 4-related apps available on the Play Store, as well, including the C.H.A.T. app that you we told you about earlier this week and the Fallout Shelter mobile game.

Niantic Inc. has raised $20 million from Google & Nintendo, could raise $10 million more

Stephen Hall Oct 15 2015 - 3:07 pm PT

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Niantic Labs isn’t part of Google anymore (it’s actually Niantic, Inc. as of this past summer), but it does look like Google still has a marked amount of interest in the famed Ingress maker. According to a report from TechCrunch, Niantic, Inc. is about to secure $20 million in investments from Google, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company. This comes just a month after the group came out to announce an upcoming mobile game called Pokémon Go that ties in a real-world social aspect much like Ingress…
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Walking Dead creator releases new Android game ‘Road to Survival’

Chance Miller Aug 27 2015 - 3:08 pm PT

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Robert Kirkman, creator of the hugely popular TV series The Walking Dead, has today unveiled a new game for Android based on the show. Dubbed “The Walking Dead: Road to Survival,” the game is described as a “thrilling, mature adventure constantly toeing the line between life and the undead.”

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Valve’s Half-Life can run on Android Wear, but it isn’t playable at all [Video]

Stephen Hall Jul 23 2015 - 12:25 pm PT

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Valve is known for many games, but perhaps none as well as Half-Life. And if for some reason you have an intense itch to stir up some nostalgia and run the game on your new Android Wear smartwatch… well, there’s a guide for that. But if you’re like me and understand that there’s really no reason to waste time doing this if someone else has already done it for you, then check out the below video…
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Play Store apps can now be listed as ‘coming soon,’ let you ‘pre-register’

Stephen Hall May 9 2015 - 8:55 am PT

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As of sometime yesterday, apps in the Play Store can now be listed in search results as “Coming soon”, and clicking on them takes you to a standard listing page that offers the opportunity to “Pre-register”. The first app to take advantage of this functionality is the upcoming Terminator Genisys: Revolution game from Glu…
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‘Marvel Future Fight’ action RPG for Android arrives as Avengers: Age of Ultron movie hits theaters

Jordan Kahn Apr 30 2015 - 9:47 am PT

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HlJSTVX7KA]

With the North American release of the new Avengers: Age of Ultron movie hitting theaters tomorrow, Korean developer Netmarble has perfectly timed the release of its anticipated “Marvel Future Fight” action RPG for Android.

Available on the App Store now for free, the game features 36 officially licensed Marvel characters, including The Avengers, Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Loki, Doctor Octopus and Ultron.

The game includes a single player campaign, 3 vs. 3 battles, one-finger gesture control or a virtual gamepad, and a familiar RPG leveling system.

With a storyline penned by best-selling Marvel comics writer Peter David, players can experience the world of Marvel firsthand across four action-packed modes. In addition to the PVE Mission Mode, Marvel Future Fight also includes a PVP three-on-three Timeline Battle that will see teams of players fighting heroes from other dimensions. For players looking to take it to the next level, the Villain Siege mode taps on players’ knowledge of the Marvel Universe to uncover evil plots of the most infamous villains, while Dimension Rift Missions will offer a true test of skill for players seeking the ultimate challenge.

To celebrate the launch of the title, Netmarble and Marvel are offering players the ability to unlock Iron Man armor as an in-game item during the first week.

Marvel Future Fight is available for free on Google Play now.

Google Maps makes the world a playable game of Pac-Man

Jordan Kahn Mar 31 2015 - 8:25 am PT

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Google has started the April Fools Day fun a bit early with a new Pac-Man easter egg allowing users to play the classic arcade game on the streets of Google Maps. Here’s how to do it:
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OnePlus is teasing something gaming-related for its next product

Stephen Hall Mar 19 2015 - 10:35 am PT

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OnePlus’ Carl Pei came out to say earlier this month at the Mobile World Congress that the smartphone maker is about to enter a new product category, but the company has reiterated multiple times that the product will not a tablet nor a smartwatch. It wasn’t until just today that we had any idea what kind of product it would be, and based on the latest teaser images, it looks like OnePlus has plans on entering the gaming market.

“Start a new game,” one of the teasers says. OnePlus has taken to its forum to push the #OneGameChanger hashtag, but we’re otherwise left pretty empty handed in trying to guess what could be up the company’s sleeve. “It’s not a tablet, and it’s not a smartwatch. But it is a game changer,” the post says. The most logical guess in my mind seems to be an Android TV device of some kind, along the lines of the Nexus Player.

Personally, I just hope that I don’t have to stand in line for months before I can get the opportunity to order one. Here are a couple more images:

‘Google Feud’ combines popular game show with Google search autocomplete

Mike Beasley Mar 11 2015 - 7:51 pm PT

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Surely by now you’ve seen various jokes about Google’s autocomplete feature, which suggests endings for your search terms based on what other people commonly search for, but now a new game will test your ability to predict those sometimes nonsensical queries.

The game is called Google Feud, and, as the title suggests, it works in basically the same way as the popular TV game show Family Feud. The game presents players with an incomplete search item and asks them to guess the top ten crowd-sourced recommendations Google makes to complete the phrase. The answers are pulled in via the Google API in real-time to ensure the most up-to-date information.

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Minecraft maker Mojang finally releases ‘Scrolls’ for Android tablets

Stephen Hall Dec 11 2014 - 9:19 am PT

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It’s been a long time coming, but the maker of the famed Minecraft has released its much-anticipated card-collecting game, Scrolls. It’s been about 18 months since the game first entered beta, but during that time Mojang has spent countless hours perfecting the card-based strategy game that intends to give players an experience that mashes both card trading and board games into one medieval-themed adventure.

Here are the game’s main features according to the app’s description:

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: Building your army is only half the battle. Develop strategies and take control of the battlefield. The best bits of card and board games, combined.
BUILD YOUR ARMY: We currently feature over 350 scrolls spread across 4 unique factions. You can mix and match them as you please.
PLAY SOLO, OR WITH FRIENDS: Scrolls includes single player challenges along with online competitive and casual play.
CHAT AND TRADE: Trade with other scrolldiers on the black market, or spend your hard-earned gold in our store. Chat with other players both in and out of battle. Please be nice.
CROSS PLATFORM: Develop your skills and scrolls library by playing on Tablet, PC, or Mac. Battle with others, no matter which platform they’re playing on.
JUDGEMENT MODE: Build a unique deck in Judgement mode, then see how it fares against other’s creations.

The game is available today on the Play Store to download for free, but freemium content is available in-game ranging in price from $4.99 to $19.99 per item—and unlocking the full version of the game is going to run you that $4.99 price tag. Additionally, the game is available for Mac and PC and you can try it out for free as long as you have a Mojang account. Anyone who participated in Alpha or Beta testing of the game, or purchased Scrolls at any point in the past, will get the full version for free.

Mojang has said that an iPad version is also on its way, but won’t be available until sometime in 2015.

Here’s a gallery of screenshots:

Google Maps and Bungie team up to promote upcoming ‘Destiny’ console game

Stephen Hall Sep 2 2014 - 3:22 pm PT

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The next big probably-hit from the famed game studio behind Halo is about to be released, and to help promote it Bungie has teamed up with Google Maps to create a virtual world built to resemble that of the one in-game. It’s called Destiny Planet View, and you’ll find the way you navigate the first person shooter’s worlds within the new website to be very familiar.

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SWIP3 is the first game designed specifically for Android Wear

9to5 Staff Jul 22 2014 - 1:31 pm PT

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Android Wear is still in its infancy, with the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live the only devices on the market, but that hasn’t stopped developers from taking advantage of the new opportunities that the platform presents. SWIP3 is a new match-three puzzler that now holds the accomplishment of being the first game designed specifically for Android Wear.
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Google’s Smarty Pins map game tests your knowledge about location-based events

Mark Hearn Jul 1 2014 - 1:37 pm PT

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Google released another web-based game today called Smarty Pins that will most likely distract you from other things that you should be doing. Powered by Google Maps, this quiz game tests your knowledge about historical and current events by asking you location-based questions. To answer a question, players drop a pin on the correct location and instead of earning points, you’ll rack up miles to keep the game going. As a slight help, the pin starts out in the same region as the correct answer, so there’s no need to move too far across the map.

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Google Play adds new demographic stats for Android game devs

Jordan Kahn Jun 3 2014 - 7:54 am PT

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Google has announced some new features for Android game developers via the Google Play Developer Console. For developers using Google Play Games Services, stats on those playing your games are now available by country, age, gender dimensions and more. That’s in addition to the new game statistics Google added back in March.

Google provided a few examples of how developers can take advantage of the new data:

You just launched your new game globally, and expected it do particularly well in Germany. Using country demographic data, you see that Germany is much less active than expected. After some digging, you realize that your tutorial was not properly translated to German. Based on this insight, you immediately roll out a fix to see if you can improve active users in Germany.
After Looking at your new demographics report you realize that your game is really popular with women in their mid-20s. Your in-app purchase data corroborates this, showing that the one female hero character is the most popular purchase. Empowered by this data, you race to add female hero characters to your game.

You can access the new insights through existing reports in the Developer console today: You’ll see demographics integrated into Overview stats as well as the Players reports for New and Active users.

Popular iOS game Monument Valley arrives on Google Play for $3.99

Jonathan Kizer May 14 2014 - 9:37 am PT

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC1jHHF_Wjo?list=UUadEYJR8MgdLjzmFDuMuzeQ]

Monument Valley, a popular and critically-acclaimed game that was released recently on iOS, is now available for Android devices. The game, available today for $3.99, features beautiful graphics and an interesting storyline.

In Monument Valley you will manipulate impossible architecture and guide a silent princess through a stunningly beautiful world.

Monument Valley is a surreal exploration through fantastical architecture and impossible geometry. Guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments, uncovering hidden paths, unfolding optical illusions and outsmarting the enigmatic Crow People.

While somewhat expensive for an Android game, Monument Valley is well worth the cost. It’s one of the best games I”ve played on a mobile device in the past year. My only complaint is that it’s relatively short — hopefully now that the game is available on both major platforms, the developers can start adding additional levels.

Portal and Half-Life 2 come to Android, but only if you’ve got an NVIDIA Shield (currently)

Jonathan Kizer May 12 2014 - 8:08 am PT

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Two of Valve’s most recognizable games are now available for the Android-powered NVIDIA Shield, after being teased last week to several online publications. The above crowbar — a tool that is used throughout Half-Life 2 — was sent to AndroidPolice‘s Michael Crider, depicting both an NVIDIA Shield device and the lambda, which represents the Half-Life series.

Besides Half-Life 2, Valve also released Portal for Android today. Both games are on sale at the Play Store for $9.99, though they are only compatible with the NVIDIA Shield.
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 game swings onto Google Play

Jonathan Kizer Apr 17 2014 - 1:27 pm PT

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLN3olo7xzA]

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 — the game, not the movie itself, which is due to be in theaters on May 2nd in the US — is available right now for Android. The game is priced at $4.99, and follows the same story as the movie (so you might get a sneak peek at some storyline). Developed by Gameloft, this movie-based title may not live up to the hype surrounding the movie. Regardless of how the graphics look, the gameplay seems solid, so this Spider-Man game may well make for a nice way to kill fifteen minutes here and there.

After 5 million downloads, popular game ‘Dots’ makes its way to Android

Jordan Kahn Aug 15 2013 - 6:13 am PT

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After hitting 5 million downloads and over 1 billion games played since launching on iOS a little over 4 months ago, betaworks-backed game “Dots” is today making its way to Android users for the time. The simplistic puzzle game, which sees users “connect as many same-colored dots” as they can during a 60 second timeframe, will be available as a free download sometime later today.

The announcement also comes with a new “moves mode” that does away with the time restriction but introduces a 30 move limit, as well as new trophies and support for a number of new languages, including: German, Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic.

Keep an eye on the Google Play store for the Dots game arriving any minute now.

Google celebrates 100th Tour De France with interactive game

Chance Miller Jul 8 2013 - 11:43 am PT

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In honor of the 100th Tour De France, Google has published an interactive game that takes you through each stage of the event. The game, called Your Tour, takes you through the entire 3,000km route with a combination of Google Maps and Streetview data. You start off on June 29th at the “Grand Depart” and move through each stage, though some are still locked until the event actually happens in real life.

The game is centered around using your mouse to scroll along each stage of the event. You can choose between a realistic view from the eye of the bike rider, or a simple Google Maps interface.

You can play the game here.
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