Apple iPhone, iPod, and iPad Will Support Browser-Based Communities

As part of their latest software package update, Apple has just released the Game Center, which is essentially a gaming network for the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. This new service will include community-based features, such as leaderboards, friendlists, and achievements.

Apple has indeed taken notice of the increased role of gaming in online activities and communities and is setting out to be a more established player in this area of the market. Many of Apple’s customers are casual gamers (i.e. more used to a social networking setting) and some have been highly involved in online gaming in browser-based communities for years.

Gaming on the iPad — once more developers create games for it, that is — in particular will no doubt be a new and innovating way for players to be immersed in browser-based games. Only time will tell what Apple has in store. We’ll make sure to keep you updated on any new developments.

Via GamersDailyNews.

Add FarmVille (and Other Browser-Based Apps) to your Web Browser Bar

Conduit Ltd. may not sound familiar to you, but you’ve probably seen some of their technology at some point in your lifetime. Recently, they created a program that allows publishers to nest browser-based applications at the top of their web browsers.

Toolbars aren’t exactly new technology, but what Conduit is bringing to the table is. The technology that the company has created essentially allows its customers to create browser-based applications that run in a toolbar near the top of the internet window. For example, the FarmVille toolbar is one of Conduit’s creations.

According to Conduit’s president, Adam Boyden, the company currently has 220,000+ publishers creating applications and 100+ million active users. Growth in those numbers is expected to continue as browser-based games grow in popularity, especially in China.

Boyden says that Conduit has “been very popular within the game space because companies have been able to build tools which have helped them make their games more easily accessible or interact with their game-related content more easily within the browser. It gives game publishers, developers, and community sites a constant engagement potential with end users.”

Via Kotaku.

Apple iPad Will Help the Future of Browser-Based Gaming

As usual, Apple’s newest piece of hardware, the iPad, is quite impressive. With a sleek 10″ touchscreen, this netbook-rival device will quite possibly be (or maybe is even already) an eyesore and a hot commodity for gamers.

According to Trip Hawkins, the president of Digital Chocolate (a video game developer based in San Mateo, California), the iPad will change the portable gaming market. The market for games and gaming will expand as individuals who were not big gamers in the past start playing browser-based games through social networking sites (like Facebook) and/or downloading games from the App store.

The base price for a 16 GB Apple iPad with wi-fi capabilities is currently $499, but maybe in the future when demand is high enough, the price of a unit will decrease. For an Apple iPad with the same amount of storage in addition to 3G capabilities, the base price is $629. If you’re interested in checking out some of the features of the device, visit Apple’s website.

Wondering Why Electronic Arts Have Stuck with Tiger? Keep Reading.

While most of Tiger Wood’s corporate sponsors have bailed as sure as the sun is going to come up tomorrow, game development company Electronic Arts has stuck by its icon since the formation of the partnership. The company is even planning on releasing the Tiger Woods PGA Tour ‘11 video game for the Nintendo Wii, as well as an online version and iPhone version of the game.

Why you ask? Well, historically, Tiger Woods has had a successful golfing career and that’s enough to convince Electronic Arts of his value. The company’s reason in continuing to support the golf star is due to Tiger’s superior performance on the golf course instead of his behavior off the green.

It’d be hard for EA to pull away from Tiger now, so hopefully for the company’s sake, the worst of the Tiger scandal is over and the star will soon return to golf. Tiger might not be able to sell the concept of integrity for consulting firms, but he can still sell the sport of golf.

Via Newsweek.

Runescape Game Updates Barbarian Assault Minigame and Adds Agility Benefits

There have recently been some updates to the Runescape browser-based game.

In the Barbarian Assault minigame within Runescape, there have been newly-implemented changes as well as new and improved rewards for spectacular performance.

The creators of Runescape have also introduced new Agility benefits for the Fishing, Hunting, and Thieving skills. Gamers with high Agility levels in the game are now able to catch more fish, capture more loot from a successful pickpocketing endeavor, and catch more butterflies using their hands.

Via Mpogd.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour Game To Be Available This June

Even though Tiger Wood’s not doing so hot in the press these days, Electronic Arts is continuing to move forward with its release. In this upcoming June, EA will release the golfing game for the following consoles: Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, XBox 360, and the Apple iPhone.

According to the President of EA Sports, Peter Moore, the company would continue to keep up its relationship with Tiger Woods despite the fiasco that recently occurred, “By his own admission, he’s made some mistakes off the course. But regardless of what’s happening in his personal life, and regardless of his decision to take a personal leave from the sport, Tiger Woods is still one of the greatest athletes in history.”

EA will also have a free preview open beta for the online version of the golfing game. The official version of the Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online browser-based game is rumored to be released later this year. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

Via USAToday.

Should Browser-Based Game Runescape Have Age Restrictions?

Runescape’s current audience consists of kids and adults of all ages, but could this actually be a rising concern?

Some think so. In the game, players have noticed suggestive themes that are not suitable for children. Within minutes of signing up, players can find references to adult-themed activities, such drinking beer and wine to heal their in-game characters. There are also characters in the game that act drunk, and the game has a few parts where the characters have to get drunk to proceed further.

And get this — there’s a specific part of the game that asks players what they wish for and the choices given include food, wine, wealth, or women… what?! Definitely not appropriate for young children.

In the game, there are also insults and curse words dealt out by outraged players, which Jagex has a poor censorship system for. Certain words and phrases may be very influential on young players, which is no doubt a bad thing.

There is an option to turn off the in-game chat, but this could be a problem as well, as players may then be accused of using bots to man their account (when they don’t answer questions that are directed at them).

Have any comments on the whole situation? We’d love to hear your take on the features of the game.

Via AssociatedContent.

Runescape Cards Available in Canada

The creators of the Runescape browser-based game have just released one- and three-month pre-paid subscription cards for the game, which can be purchased at Best Buys and Future Shops in Canada. If you’re a student and aren’t able to easily access these retail locations, no worries. Runescape cards are also available at the Universities of Toronto, Capbreton, and Calgary. Other major Canadian retailers are rumored to stock these items in their stores soon as well.

Runescape cards are also available within the United States, in select branches of Target, 7-Eleven, Wal-mart, and Rite-Aid.

Once you have purchased your own card, you can use the PIN number that’s located on the back to begin your subscription and start playing. If you’re interested on checking out the game before committing to a pre-paid subscription, you can visit the game’s official website at www.runescape.com.

Via Mpogd.

Crown of Byzantus Browser-Based Game Challenges Leading MMO Games

With the creation of the Crown of Byzantus browser-based game, the Finnish Casual Continent aims to provide some competition for existing massively multiplayer online (MMO) games on the market.

In Crown of Byzantus, players begin as a knight errant and rise to the top by building armies and waging war against other gamers. The game is set in medieval times. Sound familiar?

Casual Continent’s newest browser-based game is available in closed beta starting today, and will be available to the public later this year — the current rumor on the street is that this latter version will be available to the public this spring.

ArcticStartup had 40 invites for the game earlier in the day, starting at 12:00 p.m., but these are probably all gone by now. The code you would’ve used at signup to snag a closed beta account was “arcticstartup.”

Via ArcticStartup.

Bigpoint Creates Chief Game Officer (CGO) Position within Company

Computer game publisher and developer Bigpoint has recently created and filled a Chief Game Officer position within the company. Marko Hein was the man appointed to this position as of January 11th, 2010. Hein is responsible for managing the development and orientation of Bigpoint’s product strategy and leads the company’s community operations. The CGO reports directly to the CEO, Heiko Hubertz, who in this case is also the founder of the company.

Here’s what Hubertz had to say about the company’s newest addition to the team, “Game development is the company’s heart and soul. That’s why it was imperative that we find an experienced, creative and well-connected candidate for the position of CGO. Marko Hein has what it takes to work at Bigpoint. His creativity, passion, sharp business acumen and sound strategic thinking make him a valuable new addition to the executive team.”

Bigpoint has a great deal in the store for the future and you can be sure we’ll keep you posted on any future developments.

Via GamersDailyNews.

Image via Bigpoint.