• Apple iPhone 4, App Store, iOS Games Awarded Guinness World Records


    Guinness World Records’ gaming editor, Gaz Deaves has released a list of newly awarded records. As the LA Times reports:

    The iPhone 4 was named the fastest-selling portable gaming system by Guinness after selling an estimated 1.5 million handsets on the first day it was released on June 24, 2010.

    Guinness also said Apple’s App Store is the most popular application marketplace:

    “With over 6.5 billion downloads since its launch in July 2008, the Apple App Store is the most popular downloadable app service in the world,” the world-record-tracking organization said.

    About 259,470 apps were available for purchase or free download as of September 2010, while about 50,000 other apps that were once available in the App Store have been discontinued, Guinness said.

    The App Store is also the largest downloadable video game store, with about 37,362 games available for download as of last September, Guinness said.

    The App Store was also given a world record for the largest launch lineup of any gaming system with more than 145 games available on July 10, 2008.

    Angry birds and other games have their own shares too:

    Angry Birds was recognized at the top paid-for App Store game in most countries, having sold more than 6.5 million downloads of the iOS version of the game since it was first released in December 2009.

    The Tap Tap Revenge game series, from game developer Tapulous, was cited as the most popular game series in App Store history, “having been downloaded more than 15 million times since the first game in the series was released in July 2008,” Guinness said. “Market research firm ComScore reports that the games have been installed by 32% of all iPhone/iPad users.”

  • Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Full Details Revealed


    The final chapter in the Ezio trilogy has been detailed. The latest issue of Game Informer has first information on Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, which sees Ezio searching for the lost ‘seals’ of his assassin ancestor, Altair.

    • Ezio is over 50 years old in this game
    • Ezio is looking for seals in Revelations. These seals hold the memories of Altair. They’ll allow Ezio to peek into Altair’s life (just as Desmond uses Animus to peek into his ancestors lives).
    • You’ll control Altair through these sequences.
    • The bulk of the game is set in Constantinople which will be split into 4 huge districts (Constantin, Beyazid, Imperial and Galata)
    • You’ll also visit Cappadocia
    • Ezio has a new item called the hookblade which allows him to use ziplines throughout the city. UBI says that it speeds up navigation by about 30%
    • You can also use the hookblade to reach out and pull enemies in for a combo
    • Ezio can now make bombs through a crafting system. UBI says that there are over 300 bomb types
    • They’ve modified the control scheme so that circle/B will control the hookblade and triangle/Y will control project weapons and bombs
    • Eagles vision has become eagle sense. “Eagle sense let’s you focus on a character and see where he’s been,” Amancio says. “You’ll get an approximation of where he will go. If you’re able to detect the path a guard will take, you can run ahead, set a bomb, and create a trap or an ambush.”
    • They’ve expanded on the Borgia Towers concept in order to create a new system. Throughout the city there are Assassin’s Den’s, you’ll need to complete various assault scenarios in order take down the Templar presence (UBI says that there’s more variety than in the Borgia Towers). Once you obtain a den you’ll be able to upgrade the buildings in that region along with adding ziplines across the rooftops. You’ll also be able to change the guards from being hostile to neutral.
    • You can lose control of you dens as you gain notoriety. You’ll be able to send your own troops after the templars if you’re unable to make it back to the specific den that’s being attacked. You can do that by making it to any of the other dens that you currently control. You’ll also be able to install a master assassin to control a specific den and you’ll never have to worry about it being taken over.
    • The assassin leveling mechanic has been increased from 10 to 15.
    • In order to make the world more immersive they’ve done away with traditional side missions in favor of random events. For example you may be traveling through a city and notice a shop owner being robbed or a little girl asking for help
    • They’re using a new type of capture facial technology called Mocam that GI describes as an “intriguing amalgamation of traditional animation, performance capture and the fascinating new style of performance on display in games like LA Noire.”
    • Desmond is placed back inside Animus where he finds a safe mode called the ‘Black Room’. You’ll be able to access Desmond’s lost memories through that back door
    • The gameplay during Desmond’s game is described as narrative-fueled puzzle sequences. “Through the manipulation and creation of geometry with the game world, Desmond seeks to reintegrate the splintered layers of his subconscious.”
    • Multiplayer is returning but this time they’re trying to give more focus to the narrative since that’s a big part of AC
    • You’ll be able to custom your character appearance and weapons as well as create guilds.

    Collected by NeoGAF.

  • Assassin’s Creed Revelations New Teaser Hints at Istanbul Setting


    Ubisoft has launched a fresh teaser trailer for the new Assassin’s Creed game ahead of its reveal later this month.

    Posted on the publisher’s Assassin’s Facebook page, the trailer appears to flash the date 24.06.1459 atop an image of Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Another Assassin’s Creed teaser trailer was released earlier this week, shortly after Ubisoft accidentally confirmed the game will be subtitled ‘Revelations’.

    For a brief moment the official Assassin’s Creed Facebook page displayed a link to a mysterious teaser site, along with the message, “The day you have been waiting for has arrived!!! Click the link below to help reveal an exclusive look at the upcoming Assassin’s Creed game!”

    Naturally the teaser site disappeared as quickly as it turned up, but not before ravenous fans were able to dissect its every last detail, including a logo for Revelations and confirmation of a May 13 reveal in US mag Game Informer.

    Most interesting though was the translation of an Arabic message on the briefly-online teaser, which mentioned the name of original Assassin’s Creed protagonist, Altair Ibn La Ahd.

    We’ll know for sure when it’s unveiled in US mag Game Informer on May 13.

    [via CVG]

  • EA Acquires Firemint


    Indie Studio Firemint, the Australian company that has produced iPhone and iPad gaming hits like “Flight Control” and “Real Racing,” which have 4.5 million and about 2 million downloads in the App Store, is about to be acquired by the game giant within the next four weeks. EA announced that they’ll likely close the deal soon, giving no financial details regarding the acquisition.

    “The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success,” said Barry Cottle, Executive Vice President and General Manger of EA Interactive. “Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms.”

    The agreement follows EA’s recent acquisition of Mobile Post Production Inc. (MPP), the worldwide leader in high quality cross-platform development and porting of games for smartphones.

    Late last month, Firemint released an HD version of “Real Racing 2,” which allows users with the iPad 2 to hook up the device to a 1080p HDTV. Users can disconnect without interuppting the game, Firemint said.