World of Fourcraft brings battle of the boroughs to Foursquare

World of Fourcraft

There’s a war on in New York City. The lines of loyalty were drawn way back in 1898 and, ever since, it’s been battle for borough superiority. A team of hackers has ushered this county rivalry into the internet age, turning the Big Apple into a giant Risk board where check-ins replace dice rolls and armies are gathered on Foursquare. In World of Fourcraft users pledge fealty to a particular locale then, for the honor of their homeland, check-in to wrest control of neighborhoods from their residents and defend their own turf from potential usurpers. The whole project was whipped up last weekend during a hackathon at New York’s General Assembly. At the moment it does little more than tally check-ins, but the creators plan to add new features in the future. Now, go forth and do battle for your block but, don’t stray too far — to the north and east of the Boogie Down Bronx, and the south and west of the Slums of Shaolin, lies The Waste Land.

World of Fourcraft brings battle of the boroughs to Foursquare originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink USA Today  |  sourceWorld of Fourcraft  | Email this | Comments

Angry Birds lands on Windows Phone 7, ready to explore the third ecosystem

Nowadays, you can’t really claim to have a mobile OS worthy of the title if your users can’t run Angry Birds on it. Good news from Microsoft, then, as Windows Phone 7 can finally be admitted at the grown-up table now that it has released its port of Rovio’s epic bird-launching experience. $2.99 is the Marketplace price for the full version, though there’s also the option to try out the first few levels for free. Because, you know, there might still be people out there who haven’t yet been exposed to the charms of this perniciously addictive little game.

Continue reading Angry Birds lands on Windows Phone 7, ready to explore the third ecosystem

Angry Birds lands on Windows Phone 7, ready to explore the third ecosystem originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source@majornelson (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video)

OnLive Viewer Droid X

Those of you toting around an HTC Flyer probably just got an update that loaded OnLive Viewer on your 7-inch tablet. Don’t get too excited though, the name of the app says it all — this is a viewer not a player. So, if you’ve got a voyeuristic streak, you can watch others shoot their way through F.E.A.R. 3, but you won’t slowing down time yourself. If that sounds like a blast but you don’t have a Flyer, fear not, the folks at the XDA forums were kind enough to rip the APK and post it for all the world to enjoy. We successfully tested it on a Droid X, and reports are that it’s up and running on the EVO 4G, Desire HD, and even a hacked Nook Color. Once installed you’ll just need a WiFi connection (the app kicks you back to the homescreen on 3G) and low expectations — the video quality was less than impressive. Hit up the source link to download it for yourself, and check out the video our tipster sent us after the break.

[Thanks, Phil]

Continue reading OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video)

OnLive Viewer hits HTC Flyer, ripped and posted for other Android gaming voyeurs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceXDA Developers Forum  | Email this | Comments

appBlaster iPhone accessory lets you kick AR alien butt, bubblegum not included

AppBlaster

Gun accessories for your Wiimote or Move wands are old hat but, we can’t help but be at least a little intrigued by this rifle-like dock for the iPhone. The appBlaster is an accessory from apptoyz designed specifically for use with the company’s Alien Attack iOS game. Slide in your iDevice and fire up the AR shooter and you’ll be treated to a bit of Piper-vision, exposing the invisible aliens in our midst. Pull the triggers and two capacitive pads touch the screen to fire at the invaders that only you can see. The appBlaster is available for pre-order now at RED5 for £19.99 (about $32) and will official hit shelves on July 7. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading appBlaster iPhone accessory lets you kick AR alien butt, bubblegum not included

appBlaster iPhone accessory lets you kick AR alien butt, bubblegum not included originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Madfinger demos and dishes details on its forthcoming Shadowgun game

Shadowgun looked good when we saw footage of it last month, and at E3 2011 we got to chat with the game’s creators about the Tegra-optimized title. Madfinger, the game’s creator, worked closely with NVIDIA to wring the maximum performance possible out of the Tegra 2 platform, but it said Shadowgun will still look stunning on other silicon. The game is built on the multi-platform Unity engine and will be coming to iOS and Android devices around the world in September (prices TBD). As you can see in the video above, it runs smooth as silk on an LG G2x (55-60fps) and Motorola’s Xoom (30fps). Madfinger said we can also expect 60fps on the iPad 2 and devices packing Kal-El chips, and 30fps on other Android handsets and the iPhone 4 when the game debuts. If you’ve got a hankering for some more video of the game, check the official trailer after the break.

Continue reading Madfinger demos and dishes details on its forthcoming Shadowgun game

Madfinger demos and dishes details on its forthcoming Shadowgun game originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nintendo bringing ‘Red Flare’ 3DS, new Wii package to Japan this summer

Now that we’re all sitting on summer’s doorstep, Nintendo has decided to add a little heat to its 3DS lineup, with a new ‘Red Flare’ handheld, coming to Japan next month. Offering a sanguine alternative to the Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black variants, this little fireball will retail for ¥25,000 (about $312) when it hits Japanese stores on July 14th — just in time for the release of Star Fox 64 3D. The company is also planning to unleash a new Wii bundle on June 23rd, which will package two Wii Remote Plus controllers (one in black or white, one in blue) with Wii Sports Resort software, for ¥20,000 (around $250). No word yet on whether these offers will be coming Westward anytime soon, but you can find more information in the translated press release, after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo bringing ‘Red Flare’ 3DS, new Wii package to Japan this summer

Nintendo bringing ‘Red Flare’ 3DS, new Wii package to Japan this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink GameWatch  |   | Email this | Comments

Minecraft Pocket Edition on Xperia Play hands-on (video)


Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play is clearly all about gaming, so we weren’t surprised to see a fair amount of E3 footage dedicated to the PlayStation Phone. Minecraft was among the 20 odd games on display at the booth, and the version we had a chance to play with happens to look remarkably similar to that demo we saw pop up a couple weeks ago. The game will be exclusive to the Play when it hits online stores in Q3, but there’s no word on pricing just let — though here’s to hoping it’ll be free. In the demo we played, you select your blocks on the touchscreen — or you can just cycle through them with the circle and square buttons. You won’t find Creepers, crafting, or night mode in this version, but we’re still a few months away from the launch, so there’s a chance we’ll see those features when it’s fully baked. You’ll need to wait a bit longer before playing on your own device, but check out our hands-on video after the break for a taste of Mojang’s pocket-sized Minecraft.

Tim Stevens contributed to this report.

Continue reading Minecraft Pocket Edition on Xperia Play hands-on (video)

Minecraft Pocket Edition on Xperia Play hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400

The E3 2011 announcements from Microsoft just keep on coming, though this one’s a little more superficial than the rest. An Xbox 360 console, specially refashioned with a set of blood-red Gears of War 3 visuals, is set to launch on September 20th, equipped with a 320GB hard drive, two matching wireless controllers, and the obligatory copy of its headline game (plus some DLC goodies). The whole bundle will set buyers back $400, but if you already have a 360 of your own and just want one of those snazzy-looking crimson controllers, your wait and expense will be significantly reduced — you’ll be able to buy the GOW3 control pads for $60 on August 11th. See a closeup of it after the break.

Continue reading Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400

Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceJoystiq  | Email this | Comments

McDonald’s interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow’s lunch

You could enjoy that Big Mac in the peace and artery-clogging quiet of your local McDonald’s, or you could just catch the next flight to Stockholm, where Ronald apparently serves his meals with a side of interactive, outdoor gaming. It’s all part of something called Pick n’ Play — a new (and pretty ingenious) ad campaign that invites pedestrians to play a game of Pong on a giant Mickey D’s billboard, using only their smartphones. All you have to do is stand in front of the display, log on to Pick n’ Play’s site from your handheld, and wait for your phone to verify your location. From there, you’ll have to manipulate an onscreen paddle using your device’s touchscreen, while doing battle with a game that gets increasingly more difficult. Last thirty seconds, though, and you’ll get a free, lipid-drenched treat of your choice, courtesy of the Golden Arches. Best of all, you won’t even have to download an app to get your Pong on — putting you one step closer to that coronary you’ve always wanted. Trot past the break to see it for yourself.

Continue reading McDonald’s interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow’s lunch

McDonald’s interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow’s lunch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |  sourcePick n’ Play  | Email this | Comments

Life-size Angry Birds comes with giant slingshot, more realistic explosive death (video)


Angry Birds was designed to be played on a device that fits in your pocket, so playing the game projected on a wall doesn’t exactly feel natural. Throw a life-size slingshot into the mix, though, and things really get zany. The slingshot was on hand at the University of Queensland (Australia) last night, and had apparently been “months in the making.” Details are scant, so we’re not sure exactly how the slingshot communicates with the game, but however it works, it appears able to do its thing fairly well — with only a brief delay after release. This slingshot appearance may be a one-time deal, so if you want to try flicking the bird on the big screen, Angry Birds for Chrome (and a mouse) may be your best option for now.

Continue reading Life-size Angry Birds comes with giant slingshot, more realistic explosive death (video)

Life-size Angry Birds comes with giant slingshot, more realistic explosive death (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nowhere Else  |  sourceUniversity of Queensland  | Email this | Comments