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EU suspects discrimination in US Internet gambling laws

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online-gambling.gifDon’t discriminate us! That’s the cry of many European online gambling companies hurt by the decision of US in 2006 to bar American banks and credit card firms for transferring payments to online betting companies operating outside its territory.

According to a news article, the powerful 27-nation European Union is investigating the Internet US gambling laws for any sign of violation under world trade rules. This probe could lead to a formal lawsuit at the World Trade Organization. [Read more…]

Originally posted on March 11, 2008 @ 10:28 am

Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands online adventure enters open beta

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magination.pngCookie Jar Entertainment announced that North American online gamers and Magi-Nation fans alike can now experience the enchanting online world of Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands as open beta testing has started for the web-based multiplayer adventure game.

Magi fans are invited to sign up and be among the first to experience the interactive fantasy game that is based on the Magi-Nation animated television series. Marking a major step in Cookie Jar’s entertainment strategy to extend the Magi-Nation property to their fan-base on a multi-pronged approach via television, consumer products and online worlds, the free-to-play, web-based game is geared for children ages 8-14 and incorporates a parent-friendly micropayment model, which allows players the flexibility to upgrade their gaming experience.

Originally posted on February 13, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

Gameloft launches mobile games for touch screen handsets

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Gameloft announced the launch of games designed especially for touch screen mobile handsets, the first publisher to cater to this new generation of mobile phones.

Using the company’s expertise from developing stylus-based games for the Nintendo DS, Gameloft sought out ways to best utilize the touch screens, which transform gameplay into a more intuitive experience and remove the limitation of small keyboards.

Gameloft already has more than 15 touch screen games in its catalogue, including Block Breaker Deluxe, Brain Challenge and Brain Challenge 2, Bubble Bash, Platinum Solitaire, Chessmaster, Miami Nights: Single in the City, Paris Hilton’s Diamond Quest, Sexy Poker Manga, Catchphrase, Deal or No Deal, Shrek the Third, Real Football: Manager Edition, and CSI Miami. These games were developed for the first touch screen mobile phones available on the market, including the LG Viewty, LG KS20, the HTC touch screen line, and the Samsung SGH-F700. Gameloft’s touch screen games were initially developed in Java, though some will also be developed on the Windows Mobile platform.

Originally posted on February 11, 2008 @ 2:49 pm

Trivya.com launches Facebook application

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trivya.pngTrivya.com, developer of the web’s biggest and fastest growing trivia game-platform, is launching a trivia game application for Facebook.

The Trivya application features exciting, fast-paced trivia games played against other members for play-money. Additionally the users will be able to participate in cash competition tournaments (wherever applicable by law), allowing them to win great prizes for sharpening their brains.

Trivya is a real time multiplayer service that enables people from all around the world to simultaneously compete against each other for fame, honor, glory and prizes. The featured games that can be accessed through the application include popular topics such TV trivia, movie trivia, sports trivia, and general knowledge. Players can pick a game according to their favorite subject and compete for the prize pool with other members who signed up for the game. Each game runs no more than 2 minutes, and the prize goes to the player who accumulates the highest number of correct answers. The game has player-friendly features such as the option to skip up to 4 questions, and to cut in half the number of answers in 2 multiple choice questions.

Originally posted on January 17, 2008 @ 2:47 pm

PlayFirst, RockYou to roll out casual games on social networks

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playfirst.pngPlayFirst and RockYou announced a joint initiative to distribute the first casual game, Wedding Dash, on social networking sites beginning with Facebook. The distribution and integration of casual games onto social networks will create a new way for users to engage with casual game content and will open an avenue for audiences to receive promotions from PlayFirst.

As more users find and share content with friends in centralized locations, like social networks, game publishers will need to give users access when and where they want it. The PlayFirst and RockYou partnership marries the expertise of two leading companies that understand the needs of their users and the importance and urgency of migrating successful game experiences onto social networks.

PlayFirst’s Wedding Dash is a top selling game evolving from the wildly successful Diner Dash franchise, which has garnered more than 200 million downloads across the PC, Mac, mobile and handheld platforms. With PlayFirst’s new game application, Facebook users will be able to challenge their friends in an exciting game to determine who can plan the ultimate wedding.

Originally posted on December 28, 2007 @ 7:30 am