Latest news with #mobilegames
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Help me, I have been Candy Crushed
As long as I can remember, my wife has started each day with 30 minutes of a Candy Crush game. As long as she can remember, I have started each day by telling her it is pointless casual gamer cack. Now I write for the Guardian, I need to find a more eloquent way of putting that, so I thought I would have a go myself. I am begging you: do not do the same. Candy Crush Soda Saga nearly ruined me in a week. I like the game mechanics. As Oscar Wilde said, the man who doesn't love sliding stuff to form chains of three or more matching shapes does not love life itself. This one is wrapped in a cute candy veneer, all fizzy bottles and gummy bears. And that makes the visuals so alluring. When you slide a Colour Bomb into a Candy Fish all the candies that colour get Candyfished and your eyes are treated to a bazillion of them fizzing around the screen destroying everything, while the firm yet gentle haptic feedback makes it a multisensory burst of pure, effervescent joy. 'What's that clicking noise?' my wife asks. 'Don't you play it with the haptic feedback on?' 'Oh, I turned that off because I thought it was hurting my phone.' 'In what way?' 'I felt it was putting too much … pressure on it.' She says, like her phone is the USS Enterprise and she is Scotty diverting a dangerous amount of power away from the shields. We had many chats about Candy Crush while we both played the game in bed. I'm all for increased interspousal communication, but we used to do this kind of thing with broadsheet newspapers and now we're matching jelly beans on phones. Luckily, you just need one hand to play, so the other is free to punch yourself repeatedly in the face as you realise how pointless your life has become. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion And this game is utterly pointless in the long run. There is no story, no real achievements. It uses a board game path to fake big-time progression, but whether it's me on level 150 or my wife on level 8,452 (gulp!) the pattern is the same: a few easy levels then a super hard one which, if you haven't accumulated enough power-ups, is virtually impossible. That's when the game drops its trousers and flashes its microtransactions. And by that stage you are so hooked by the mechanics and the colour you hand over your few quid for some extra virtual visual bobbins quicker and easier than those crazy kids getting drugs in The Wire. Oh yes! Candy Crush Soda Saga is the game Stringer Bell went to business school to invent. The cigarette was once hailed as the most efficient poison delivery system ever invented. Not now. This game 'suggests' moves to you. These are frequently not the best ones. That is no accident. This is a game designed to make you fail. It's a compulsion loop, sure, but one that encourages you to pay for the pleasure. It's not gambling per se, because you know what you are buying, but, while gambling company ads now scream about setting limits and walking away, this game screams at you to have one more go. I have been addicted to so many things in my life that I stopped counting. (I became addicted to counting my addictions as well.) But this ranks as one of the worst. It only takes three days until I am dangerously hooked. Last Sunday I played Candy Crush Pop Saga for three solid hours. I nearly missed the Scottish Cup final as a result. Unlike my wife, I was dipping into it during the rest of the day as well, thinking, 'Oh it's been 15 minutes, I may have ended up getting a power-up via the Bake a Cake sub game my Candy Crush team are helping me with.' The self-loathing of the addict envelopes me. I know this is not nurturing me in any way, but I cannot stop. At least cocaine was quick. In terms of time? In one week I wasted what could have been, in Zelda terms, one third of a Breath of the Wild, one half of a Twilight Princess or an entire Majora's Mask. And at least they tell stories. If the deadline for this article hadn't made me stop, I would have had to have buried my phone in a lime pit and set it on fire to escape from Candy Crush. The irony is that there's no real difference between this and the arcade offerings that made me fall in love with gaming as child. Pacman, Frogger, Space Invaders et al were all designed to make you pump another coin in the slot when it winked CONTINUE Y/N at you. They were even more repetitive. So I guess by the definition detailed in this Candy Crush castigation, those games were also a waste of time. But why didn't they feel like that? Because back then, all I had was time. It wasn't the dwindling commodity it is in my 50s. Maybe if I played Galaxian now it would feel like playing Candy Crush: a descent into a gaming horror world so uncomfortable it's like watching that Event Horizon movie on treadmill while wearing Lego pants. A game that offers nothing repeatedly. Waiting for Godot with gummy bears instead of tramps. Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes – it's awful.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Mobile-Game Makers Poised for Windfall Following Win Over Apple
Mobile-game developers may reap billions of dollars more in revenue this year as a result of a court ruling freeing them from rules imposed by Apple Inc. 's App Store. Aldora Intelligence, led by industry analyst Joost van Dreunen, estimates that $4.1 billion in revenue could shift from Apple to developers, based on 2024 figures from the top 25 mobile-game publishers. More of the billions spent each year on digital currencies and items will end up in the hands of individuals and companies that create mobile games.
Geek Culture
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
10 Digital Multiplayer Games To Play With Your Family (June 2025)
If you can't beat them, why not join them? Even as the younger generation prefers to stay glued to their mobile devices, choosing to ignore the person right beside them, there are now games that allow adults to participate. Well, technically, these games weren't designed for parents to play with their children, but one of the fun elements of multiplayer games is that there are a small handful of well-designed and fun games that both the young and old can indulge in. And just so we're clear – these are not mere multiplayer games where the players can be in different places, but are merely connected online. These are multiplayer titles that encourage playing together in person, be it enjoying the same game session together in the same room across multiple screens, or in group party games that require just a single device, with all players in the same room. So if your kid can't maintain in-person eye contact, perhaps you can beat them at their own game, by beating them in these games. Here are 10 multiplayer mobile games that families can enjoy together during the holidays: Developer: Hipster Whale Platforms: iOS Crossplay: Yes Number of players: 1 – 4 Price: Exclusive to Apple Arcade As a multiplayer spin-off to the hit 2014 mobile game Crossy Road , Crossy Road Castle takes the familiar endless runner formula and spices things up with a co-operative twist design for one to four players. Decked out in developer Hipster Whale's signature pixel art style, players can run, jump and climb together to compete for the highest scores across procedurally generated sessions, If you're looking for light-hearted yet chaotic fun to scratch that competitive itch, Crossy Road Castle provides it in spades. There are even unlockable characters and silly hats too, so there's always something new and wacky to discover. Developer: Marmalade Game Studio Platforms: Android, iOS Crossplay: Yes Number of players: 2 – 5 Price: S$8.49 on Google Play, S$5.98 on App Store As the digital version of the original strategic party card game, Exploding Kittens 2 brings the game to a whole new level, enhancing the familiar card game with new features like animated cards with exclusive additions, customisable avatars and multiple game modes with full cross-platform support, letting the whole family experience its cutesy exploding mayhem with sleek new animations for that added oomph. It's like playing a card game against other players, except the cards come to life, and you no longer have to shuffle the deck. Developer: Marmalade Game Studio Platform: Android, iOS Crossplay: Yes Number of players: 1 – 4 Price: S$8.49 on Google Play, S$4.98 on App Store, also available on Apple Arcade As a modern digital update to the classic board game, The Game of Life 2 enhances the experience with new choices and crossroads, allowing players to not just succeed via wealth, but also win by maximising their happiness, knowledge, or a combination of the three. Additionally, players can now play past retirement, unlock new outfits and vehicles, or even set forth into new purchasable themed worlds, with unique jobs, properties, outfits and vehicles to discover. Apart from its online options, the game also supports pass-and-play multiplayer, allowing families to play together with a single device at home without the need for the internet. Developer: Marmalade Game Studio Platform: Android, iOS Crossplay: Yes Number of players: 2 – 5 Price: S$8.49 on Google Play, S$6.98 on App Store Similar to its physical board game counterpart, players in Ticket to Ride are dealt a number of tickets and train cards each round, drawing cards to complete routes on the map and claiming that route by filling it up with train pieces, competing to earn the most points to claim victory. Don't be intimidated by its complex game board of sprawling train lines either, as the game's rules are elegantly simple, and can be learnt in under 15 minutes. The game can be played in the traditional multiplayer format, or in couch co-op using the free Ticket to Ride companion app, allowing players to interact with their personal decks, while watching the action unfold on a bigger screen. Developer: Triband Platform: iOS Number of players: Up to 2 Price: Exclusive to Apple Arcade Known for their tongue-in-cheek comedy games like 2019's What The Golf? And 2023's What The Car?, Triband's latest title, What The Clash? serves up the same goofy fun now in a competitive online package, maintaining its signature humour that can now be enjoyed with friends or family. Players can compete in hundreds of mini-games solo or with their friends and family, spanning multiple genres like puzzle, racing or platforming, collecting modifier cards to transform classic games into something much weirder, with simple touch controls so anyone can pick up and play. Developer: JindoBlu Platform: Android, iOS Number of players: 2 Price: Free For those looking for a simple two-player game that can be played on the same device, 2 Player Games: The Challenge provides exactly that, offering over 80 minigames, spanning classics like Ping Pong, Air hockey or pool, with the ability to save scores between matches to create a pseudo championship among players. Controlled using just one finger, the game is easy to pick up even for younger (or older) players not used to mobile gaming. This, coupled with its minimalistic art style and library of both traditional and modernised titles, makes it well-suited for quick bouts of friendly competition between players of all ages. Developer: Warner Bros. Platforms: Android, iOS Number of players: 2 – 6 Price: Free on Google Play, S$2.98 on App Store Inspired by the party game played by celebrity host Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen Show, Heads Up! offers a unique twist on the classic charades formula, allowing one player to receive a random word from over 100 categories ranging from movies to celebrities, while the others must act or shout out clues for them to guess on time, using the phone's motion controls to pass or move on from a correctly guessed word. The game can also be played through FaceTime on iOS, allowing friends and family to join in on the fun no matter where they are in the world. Developer: Steel Crate Games Platform: Android, iOS Number of players: 2 – 4 Price: S$13.99 on Google Play, S$14.98 on App Store Adapted from a VR game originally released in 2015, Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes is perfect for those who want their family fun time with a healthy sprinkling of tension and chaos. The game can be played entirely on a single device, although a separate defusal manual is needed, which can be accessed from another device. In the game, one player is tasked with diffusing a bomb on the screen, while the others must guide the defusal process using the manual. The catch? Neither party can see the other's screens, so they will need to rely on communication to beat the clock and defuse the bomb before time runs out. Developer: Tuokio Inc. Platform: iOS Number of players: 1 – 4 Price: S$3.98 Take the stage and knock each other out of the spotlight in King of Opera, a goofy party game where up to four players each control a rotating tenor on the same screen, timing their movements as he spins using one-touch controls to keep inside a moving spotlight while avoiding being knocked around by other players, with matches lasting from one minute to 30 seconds across five different game modes. With its simple control scheme and charming cartoon aesthetic, King of Opera promises hours of goofy fun that's sure to be full of laughs for the whole family. Developer: Twin Sails Interactive Platform: Android, iOS Number of players: 2 Price: S$5.49 on Google Play, S$5.98 on App Store Rounding out the list is Patchwork The Game, a digital adaptation of the award-winning strategy board game. Players compete against each other to fill up their quilt using fabric pieces of different shapes, colours, and designs, using each piece tactically to maximise space without leaving gaps to accumulate the most points and emerge victorious in a deceptively simple gameplay loop. Players can choose between local play on the same device, offline play against AI with multiple difficulty options, or even put their skills to the test in worldwide cross-platform multiplayer. Chances are that parents recognise the futility in having their children engage with them all the time, but maybe a new connection can be made, via a few rounds of digital games through a mobile device. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Android Holidays iOS Mobile Games Smartphone
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Craig-Hallum Upgrades PLAYSTUDIOS (MYPS), Raises Price Target
On May 23, Craig-Hallum upped PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYPS)'s stock to 'Buy' from 'Hold,' increasing the price objective to $3 from $2. The firm mentioned that PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYPS) continues to covertly test its sweepstakes casino 'The Win Zone' with the help of selected players. As a result, Craig-Hallum managed to get a chance to try this out. The firm is optimistic about the site's future prospects. A close-up view of hands holding a modern gaming device, highlighting the company's mobile games. Craig-Hallum thinks that PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYPS) is a solid competitor to several other popular sweepstakes sites. The company enjoys the benefit of an established database of millions of players throughout the US. It has made strong progress in Q1 2025 on numerous initiatives, which include advancing sweepstakes capabilities, scaling of the direct-to-consumer channel, evolving playAWARDS ecosystem, and developing its new casual title, Tetris Block Party. At the same time, PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYPS)'s reinvention plan continues to drive greater efficiency and focus. The company has been developing sweepstakes promotional capabilities, which are expected to launch externally in limited release in Q2 2025. Furthermore, it plans to scale through H2 2025. PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYPS) develops and publishes free-to-play casual games for mobile and social platforms. While we acknowledge the potential of MYPS to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MYPS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geek Wire
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Wire
Seattle studio Reflection Games raises more cash for mobile battler ‘Mutant Forge'
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . (Reflection Games Image) Reflection Games, an independent studio founded in 2021 by several veterans of Seattle's Big Fish Games, is raising more cash. A new SEC filing reveals that the company raised $1.1 million in a new investment. We reached out to Reflection for more details. The company's debut project is Mutant Forge, a free-to-play 'strategy battler,' soft-launched out of beta in September for iOS and Android. Reflection's CEO, Paul Thelen, is the founder and former chairman at Big Fish Games, which was acquired in 2014 by Churchill Downs Inc. Other Big Fish veterans at Reflection include chief operating officer Patrick Wylie, senior backend engineer Christopher Warwick, and game design director Michael Tapley. In Mutant Forge, players are given an assortment of disposable monsters with which to attack enemies and destroy fortifications, in an experience that mixes mechanics from tower defense and 'auto-battler' games. Each type of unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, but you have to work around their recharge timers, rather than simply building up your force and flooding the zone. Players of Mutant Forge can take on both CPU-controlled opponents and other humans as generals of their own bespoke mutant armies. It began its second season of content, the 'Season of Hearts,' in February.
