Adobe believes over 200 million smartphones and tablets will support AIR-based applications by the end of this year.
Runtime environment AIR allows, amongst other features, the operation of Flash-based apps and games on a broad range of mobile devices. Currently, Android is the primary platform for this.
It is the cornerstone of Adobe's cold war against Apple, with the latter famously refusing to support Flash on its iOS devices. However, it has recently relented – now at least allowing exported versions of apps that originated in Flash/AIR.
Adobe's senior vice president David Wadhwani told VentureBeat that over 20 million smartphones with Flash 10.1 were shipped last year, with the platform itself having been downloaded some 7 million times from the Android Market.
Of the 200 million device projection, Adobe believes 132 million will be smartphones, with tablets constituting a large portion of the leftover.
In addition, developers had created some 1500 AIR-based Apps during the first two months of its availability for Android.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-air-this-year
...

Apple has confirmed that it will be introducing a subscription package program for content-based apps such as magazines and video services, but will be taking 30 per cent of all subscription fees in return.
The move is presumably intended to encourage more bespoke content apps for the iPhone and iPad, mimicking The Daily, an iPad specific newspaper which launched earlier this year. Subscription fees will be paid via the same App Store account as any app purchase.
Different packages have been planned, according to length of commitment. Publishers will be entitled to offer subscriptions to the app externally, and keep 100 per cent of the revenue, but the same offer or better has to be available to purchase from the app itself too.
"Our philosophy is simple," said on-leave Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "When Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing"
"All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app. We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers."
It's not known at this time whether the offer could be extended to any future iPad specific MMO's or subscription based titles.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ption-packages
...

Disney has confirmed that the upcoming LEGO: Pirates of the Caribbean game will also be setting sail on the 3DS this May.




First announced in November last year, the game will be based in the world of the Pirates franchise, incorporating storylines, locations and characters from the first three films. It'll feature over 20 levels, 70 playable characters and two player co-op.

The 3DS version will also include support for the console's StreetPass and Play Coins features, with a 'Pirate Duels' mode that will have your pirates fight one another as you pass other 3DS users. The winner earns extra Play Coins in addition to the ones they get simply for walking.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is due for release on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS and now 3DS in May 2011 alongside the film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

Namco has confirmed that PSone classic, Ridge Racer 4, is set for release on the PlayStation Network for play on PSP and PS3 next month.

Ridge Racer 4 is considered by some to be the best entries in the entire series, and one of the best games on the first PlayStation console.




"Released in 1999 in Europe and North America, Ridge Racer Type 4 is a legend of arcade-style drift racing including 48 cars, eight tracks, legendary soundtrack, two-player split-screen and...... Reiko Nagase," says Namco.

The release date sits at a vague 'March' for now but we don't mind because it'll be well worth the wait. Or maybe you'll be too busy with the new Ridge Racer 3D on 3DS, which looks awesome.

While you're at it Namco, get Soul Blade on the go please.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

Business unit Union to port games across; Unity Engine update inbound
Unity will use its content delivery service, Union, to allow developers to port games onto Sony Ericsson‘s new PlayStation Phone.
Yesterday Sony revealed it had struck a partnership with Unity, creators of the hugely popular 3D game engine, to provide a stream on new games on the Xperia Play smartphone.

That stream of content will be channelled via Union, the engine maker’s business unit that aims to syndicate any single game across a wide range of devices.
Unity typically takes a twenty per cent revenue cut from games ported via Union.
In return, Sony Ericsson has pledged to “prominently feature” Union games on the Xperia Play through its games recommender application.



By opting in to the Union scheme, Unity developers will have their game evaluated by the engine vendor to see if the project can be ported to a whole range of other platforms.
Unity will build a profile of the developer/studio, and with its industry links will pitch the projects to a number of publishers and digital portal owners.
By making it free for developers to opt-in, Unity hopes its users will open up access to a greater number of revenue streams.
Via a customised API, Unity has already ported three key games to the Xperia Play. Racer by Luma Arcade, Guerilla Bob by Angry Mob Studios and AirAttack HD by Art in Games have all been optimised for the Xperia Play.
Unity will also pre-integrate and optimise its engine for Xperia Play, and will allow developers to build for the platform, via an engine update, within months.
“Sony Ericsson has a beautiful, ground-breaking gaming smartphone on its hands with the Xperia Play,” said Brett Seyler, General Manager of Union.
“Through our partnership with Sony Ericsson and Union, we look forward to working with our developers to deliver mind-blowing gaming experiences for consumers.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...yStation-Phone ...

Spanish police apprehend man who stole details on 4,000 Nintendo users

A man was arrested in Spain for allegedly stealing details from thousands of Wii owners.
The unnamed individual managed to access data on 4,000 gamers and apparently threatened to blackmail Nintendo by way of contacting the Spanish data protection agency, according to the BBC.

Police said he began leaking some of the user information online after the Wii manufacturer did not respond to his accusations of negligence. It is unclear whether or not the stolen details were accessed from Nintendo’s computer system or that of a third party.
Nintendo stated it was unable to comment on the case because it is the subject of an active investigation by the Spanish authorities.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/43057/Wii-...ested-in-Spain
...

News via http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/02/14/g...0-2-by-kazt-u/

The first contestant for the Genesis Competition is an update to KaZT.U’s Recovery Menu. Compatible with all CFW and HEN, this is a very useful tool packed with many essential features. In other words, a swiss army knife for all PSP users. Functionality varies depending on your console (possibility to flash a full recovery menu on hackable consoles, for example).

Full changelog

• Now Working on 6.31/6.35 PRO (Make sure you have the latest version)
• Now able to access Configuration
• Added Systeminformation in configuration
• Added Recovery.prx in Plugins ( Able to launch cfw recovery menu )
• Added VSH Menu in Configuration
• Added Reset Device in vsh menu
• Added CPU Speed in vshmenu
• Added Reboot PSP in advanced
• Added Preparations for Fake Region in Configuraton -> Launch Vsh Menu
• Fixed Some Plugin Problems (some more plugins working)
• Fixed some bugs in plugins and in the menu
• Added ZeroWare Option (A CFW for TN-HEN Developed by NightStar3)
• Added Install VSh Menu, installs a permanant vsh menu developed by me (KaZT.U) for only HACKABLE PSP’S. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL ON A PSP GO PSP 3000 OR PSP 2000
• If Firmware Does not display it will displays as “0×000000″
• Added Fake Region Menu (now can set region to japan unitedkingdom and others)
• Added Screenshot Function in Configuration->Vshmenu. Takes a Screenshot in the vshmenu (plan to add L+R = Screenshot but ill see after)
• Added RemoteJoyLite To Plugins (GAME Plugin – Make sure its RMJL for TN HEN)
• Fixed a bug in Launching RemoteJoyLite, Still might not work though :S fix later
• Changed Redirections to go back to previous options instead of MAIN Menu

Download Here ...

News via http://retroactionmagazine.com/retro...leased-on-c64/

Lady Kakerlak has beeb released on the Commodore 64 courtesy of DATA-LAND. This is essentially an update of Lady Bug, a classic C64 Pac-Man style arcade conversion. However, this version comes with multiple levels plus an excellent editor to create your very own levels. The game is freely available to download from the CSDb, so if you’re after some old-school gaming, check it out.
Weblink: Lady Kakerlak + Editor at the CSDb ...

News via http://psx-scene.com/forums/f6/ps3mf...eleased-80601/

The moment we have been eagerly awaiting for the past two weeks has arrived! PS3MFW Builder v0.1 has finally been released to the public.

We just received a tip from one of the anonymous contributors of the project that the project has been uploaded to gitorious and were given a readme text.

The project seems to require the ps3tools to be installed, including the newly released self_rebuilder program that was recently uploaded to ps3tools in ps3free - Gitorious as well as the Tcl/Tk 8.5 interpreter.

You can get PS3MFW Builder v0.1 from here: http://gitorious.org/ps3mfw/ps3mfw_b...ve-tarball/0.1

We will be testing this ourselves and will soon post instructions on how to use it.

Here is the README file that came with the first release of PS3MFW Builder…


Quote:
Code:
================================================== ============= .------. .-------. .-----. .. .-. .--------. .--. /_____ \/ _____//_____ \ / \/ \ /_ _____/\ / / / ____/\____ \ __(__ < / \ / __)\ \/\/ / / / / \/ \ /\/\ Y / \ //___/ /________/_________/__/ \___|__/ \__/\__/PS3MFW Builder v0.1============================================== ================
INTRODUCTION

For years, the security system of PS3 remained unbreached because Sony had a very good defense mechanism: Consumers could use it for more than just gaming by installing Linux via the “Other OS” feature. Therefore there was little motivation for security researchers to investigate the PS3.

However, then Sony (or SCE, SCEA, SCEE or whatever, we aren’t exactly sure what is going on there anymore) made an unprecedented move: Not only did they introduce a new PS3 model that no longer allowed the installation of an Other OS, but with a firmware “upgrade” they removed it from previously sold consoles.

While removing advertised features from a product (several years after its purchase!) is blatantly unlawful, having highly paid lawyers apparently allows you to get away with it- in a legal sense.

But when the law fails to protect the people, then some of those people, being clever and resourceful, help themselves. And that is what happened here. Sony sunk its own battleship.

PS3MFW is the next step in the process of returning to consumers control over their own hardware. Your PS3 belongs to you. You didn’t lease it, and you signed no contract when you purchased it. It is your right to use it however you choose. It is your responsibility to do so within the legal boundaries.

PS3MFW allows you to tailor your PS3′s firmware to your specific needs, giving you a level of control you previously lacked. PS3MFW is open source. That means it is completely transparent, and anyone with the necessary programming knowledge can help to improve it and create new plugin tasks.

It is with great pleasure and joy that we are now able to present you with the first public release of PS3MFW Builder. A lot of hard work went into this during the past five weeks, by some incredibly dedicated and inspired people. We would like to thank everyone who contributed, the people who got this project underway, and those who did all the programming and testing.

PS3MFW Builder v0.1 has been successfully tested on all major PS3 hardware revisions, and in conjunction with OFW 3.10 – 3.55. It is NOT compatible with OFW 3.56.

Remember that this is only the very first release of PS3MFW Builder, version 0.1. With your support and feedback, we intend to create the definitive PS3firmware solution that makes all other closed-source custom firmwares obsolete.

PS3MFW Builder is not distributed with any program code copyrighted by third parties.

PS. KevinButler, you sunk your own battleship.

REQUIREMENTS

To use PS3MFW Builder, the following is needed:

* The latest version of the f0 tools
* Tcl/Tk 8.5 ( Tcl/Tk 8.5 )
News Source: Official Site ...