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The Playforge has announced the release of Zombie Farm for the iPhone/iPod Touch. The game combines two popular types of games, simulation farming games and tower defense games. The catch is, players don’t try and stop the zombies from invading their land, instead they raise the zombie army to invade the enemy.

Players make money by farming crops and then selling the crops for a profit. The money is used to make the farm great. Players will also plant their zombie army as well. When the army is ready they will harvest the zombies and send them off to invade neighboring territories. Players can combine plants and zombies to get a mutant breed.

“Tower defense games have become wildly popular, we wanted to create a game where you play the other side trying to overwhelm the defenders, while keeping the game as casual as possible,” says Vince McDonnell creator of Zombie Farm. “This game broadens the horizon of conventional farming sims, here is a farming game where users can farm toward a different goal beyond farming veggies for gold.”

If you are into simulation farm games with a twist, try Zombie Farm. Zombie Farm is free so there is nothing to lose.

Press Release Follows:

Burlingame, CA. –February 9, 2010 — The Playforge, an iPhone development studio, today introduced the immediate availability of Zombie Farm, a comical and quirky farming game for the iPhone suitable for all fans of the farming sim genre.
Designed and developed by Vince McDonnell, industry veteran and founder of The Playforge, Zombie Farm puts you in the shoes of a countryside farmer making a living off the land by farming both crops and zombies. To build your farm to greatness, you must earn gold by selling crops and invading the enemy with your farm fresh zombie horde. In this game, you are commander a horde of lovable living dead, and the enemy will do all they can to defend their farm from your darling zombies. Zombie farm is free and available for all iPhone and iPod touch users to download and play.

“Tower defense games have become wildly popular, we wanted to create a game where you play the other side trying to overwhelm the defenders, while keeping the game as casual as possible,” says Vince McDonnell creator of Zombie Farm. “This game broadens the horizon of conventional farming sims, here is a farming game where users can farm toward a different goal beyond farming veggies for gold.”

Featuring two different systems of play that go hand-in-hand, Zombie Farm presents you with a challenge to literally grow an army by planting them in the ground and waiting until they’re ripe for the harvest. Once you have enough units, you must strive to raid the enemy farm with your legion of zombies. Choose from fifteen different zombies to plant or even combine your crops with zombies to add bizarre zombie-plant mutants to your army. In stark contrast, you can just as easily play the game by planting your favorite fruits and veggies and fill your farm with peace loving garden-type zombies. Watch as these benevolent undead darlings help fertilize your crops so you get the most from your harvest.

Features of the game include:
- Plow, plant, and harvest farm fresh veggies and fruits – Plant corpses and harvest zombies to raise your army
- Customize you farmer, and watch him toil about your farm
- Enjoy watching your zombies wander around your farm
- Behold bizarre zombie mutations as you plant corpse and crops
- 15 different zombies of different shapes and sizes
- Pester Old’ McDonnell next door by invading his barn
- Upgrade your farm’s size
- Connect to Facebook to publish your farming exploits
- Invite your Facebook friends and share the zombie farming experience
- Hours and hours of gameplay
- No Internet connection required
- So funky and fetidly fantastic, you’ll keep farming for more foul festering friends
- It’s FREE!

NinjaBee has announced A World of Keflings will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade. A World of Keflings is the follow up game to the popular A Kingdom for Keflings.

“A World of Keflings is much more than a sequel,” said Steve Taylor, President of NinjaBee. “It’s a new game with a ton of new features, including some innovative ideas that stand out from both Live Arcade and full retail games.  A World of Keflings also has a new story focus, with new exotic lands, characters, quests, buildings, customization options, and a lot more.”

Players will be treated to a more complete chronicle of the Kefling world than in the first game. Players can play as their Xbox Live avatar and build Kefling lands. Each land contains its own climate and culture as well as unique resources, buildings and tech trees.

If you are into building type arcade style games, check out A World of Keflings when it arrives on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010.

Press Release Follows:

OREM, Utah – Jan 5, 2010 – It’s official. Those oddly cute, yet addictively sweet Keflings are back… in a big way. Independent video games developer NinjaBee has confirmed that A World of Keflings, a sequel to the enormously popular A Kingdom for Keflings, is coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade in 2010.

“A World of Keflings is much more than a sequel,” said Steve Taylor, President of NinjaBee. “It’s a new game with a ton of new features, including some innovative ideas that stand out from both Live Arcade and full retail games.  A World of Keflings also has a new story focus, with new exotic lands, characters, quests, buildings, customization options, and a lot more.”

A World of Keflings is the bigger, more complete chronicle of the Kefling world where players can play as their Xbox LIVE® avatar and explore and build in the different Kefling lands. Each new kingdom has its own climate and Kefling culture. In addition, each kingdom contains its own unique resources, buildings and tech tree.

“When we set out to make a second Keflings game we decided that we were going to do it right and make it a whole new experience that clearly was bigger and better than the first,” said Brent Fox, NinjaBee’s Art Director. “A World of Keflings captures all the charm and casual-style of play of the first game, but adds more depth, humor and a ton of features players have requested.”

One of the most asked-for features included in the Keflings sequel is local multiplayer. Players will be able to build an entire world for the Keflings together with their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, kids, friends or whomever on the same console.

NinjaBee has been teasing concept art for the new game each week this month. To see the revealed artwork visit www.NinjaBee.com/blog/.  NinjaBee plans to release A World of Keflings later this year, though a specific release date has not yet been established.

A World of Keflings is NinjaBee’s third XLA title to support playable avatars and is the second title NinjaBee has announced it is bringing to XLA in 2010. The other, Ancients of Ooga, was announced last fall.

99Games has announced the release of Create a Mall for the iPhone/iPod Touch. The game is a building simulation game and requires players to fill the mall with stores people want to shop at and will spend their money at. It is not good enough to just get one mall up and running, players have to create thriving malls across six different cities.

Players take on the role of Kelly, an up and coming mall developer. As the players complete the levels, they will earn money and can spend that money on jewelry, clothing or office decorations. Players will have the chance to earn shopping credits, as well, but they have to make the goal of the level or will not be rewarded with the shopping credits.

”We are very excited to work with 99Games on the iPhone version of Create A Mall, the game did wonderful as a casual download and the iPhone should extend this IP to millions of new customers,” said Lloyd Melnick, CCO at Merscom.

If you are into building simulation games, check out Create a Mall.

Press Release Follows:

New Udupi, India, January 26, 2010: 99Games, leading developer and publisher of iPhone and iPod touch games, today announced the release of Create A Mall for the iPhone. Create A Mall is an interesting new addition to the exciting new genre of ‘building simulation’ games. The game is a result of the partnership between Roiworld, a fashion and gaming web site acquired by Lifetime Networks in 2008, and Merscom, a global publisher of social media and computer games.

In Create A Mall, players assume the role of Kelly, a rising star in a mall development company. As Kelly, players are challenged to become world-class mall developers by filling their venues with enticing stores for customers in six different cities throughout the world.

Create A Mall is the first game where players have the opportunity to use the money they have earned to buy jewelry, clothing or office decorations. Additionally, users have the chance to earn shopping credits for their stores at each level, provided they have met the level’s goal.

”We are very excited to work with 99Games on the iPhone version of Create A Mall, the game did wonderful as a casual download and the iPhone should extend this IP to millions of new customers,” said Lloyd Melnick, CCO at Merscom.

“We see that women over-index men in their usage of the iPhone as a gaming device,” said Kris Soumas, Head of Roiworld, “So we are thrilled to work with 99Games on releasing an iPhone version of Create-A-Mall to Roiworld’s fanbase of millions of women from around the world.”

“Create A Mall is our first simulation game and we couldn’t have asked for a better game to enter this genre”, said Anila Andrade of 99Games. “The game was extremely well received on PC and Mac and we are confident that iPhone users are going to find it equally engrossing”, she added.

The game is now available on the App Store for $3.99.

The other titles developed by 99Games for the iPhone and iPod touch include Chess Elite, Pocket Clinic, Christmas Sudoku, Fish Fun, WordsWorth and Wordulous.

"Perhaps I should write about Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker!," I mused. "But of course they can't play this thing, since it's not only out of print but incredibly obscure, and basically no copies are available anywhere."

No problem; I emailed JFD and got his permission to put the game up here.

In one sense, Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker! is a truly exotic bit of esoterica -- a game on the Columbia riots, printed back in 1969 in the pages of the Columbia Daily Spectator, and designed by James F. Dunnigan, one of the finest and most prolific designers of board wargames.

But in another sense, you can argue that it is a seminal title: Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker! may well be the first commercial simulation game not on a military theme.

That is, military simulations for use in military training date back at least to the 18th century, and by 1969 think-tanks like the RAND Corporation and many businesses were using simulations of one kind or another, often computer-mediated ones (running, of course, on mainframes). And commercial wargames date at least back to Little Wars (1913), and by 1969 were a small but thriving market, mainly served by Avalon Hill. But commercial boardgames then, as today, tended to treat their ostensible themes as useful for marketing, but not as something that should inform actual gameplay.

In Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker! you play either as Columbia University's administration, or as the radicals who have seized control of Fayerweather Hall. You are attempting to influence the opinions of various stakeholders in the university -- students of different sorts, the alumni, and so on. Random event cards influence play. Ultimately, the side that gains the greatest sympathy on the part of university stakeholders wins.

It's not what you call a deep simulation; I suspect that Dunnigan, Avorn, and Glynn bashed this thing together in an afternoon, and probably played it only a handful of times before printing it. It's more of a goof than a serious game, and indeed, it's quite unbalanced -- the Administration will win, barring a lot of luck (and a well-timed Motherfucker Gambit) on the part of the Radical player. But of course, you can argue that this is realistic; only at Brown did student protests make deep and lasting changes in the way the university is administered (without, it should be noted, a riot).

The mere title of the game has proven somewhat controversial; when SPI published Chicago, Chicago (a game on the Chicago riots during the Democratic National Convention of 1968), there was an internal debate about whether or not to republish UATW,MF! along with it -- they decided not to, lest the title offend some subscribers. When Boardgamegeek first listed the game, some of its members objected, as well, and the title on the site is now censored. To me, at least, these objections seem rather hilarious, particularly given the existence of games such as Cunt.

JFD was purposefully cocking a snoot at Avalon Hill, in particular, his then-publisher. Eric "Papa" Dott, its head, went so far as to change the title of a game called "Grand Prix" to Le Mans because he feared how American shopgirls would pronounce the original title. You could get away with shit in a university paper that you certainly couldn't in anything like mainstream media. And JFD has certainly never objected to shocking; he not only funded SPI's early operations by stealing and reselling Ma Bell equipment from his dayjob as a security guard at one of their warehouses, but is perfectly open about that fact today (the statue of limitations having expired).

Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker! resonates well today with the punk aesthetic of modern indie gaming, and we're proud to offer you this important document in the evolution of modern games.

Hands-On Mobile has announced the release of Trump Tycoon for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Now real estate entrepreneurs can try their hand at working for the most famous real estate businessman, Donald Trump. 

Trump Tycoon is a unique simulation game where players work for Donald Trump.  In order to keep their jobs they need to amass a fortune and impress Mr. Trump before the annual review. Players amass a fortune by using the tips, provided by Donald Trump, to buy and sell the right properties in an ever fluctuating market.  Players buy and sell the properties in and around three major cities, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

“This game fills a niche for gamers that want an immersive role-playing business-centric experience and also for fans of Donald Trump and his many exciting business endeavors,” said David McCaman, head of marketing for Hands-On Mobile. “Donald Trump certainly has a loyal following that we know will enjoy playing Trump Tycoon on iPhone and iPod touch.”

If you are looking for a real estate business game or want to see what it is like to work for Donald Trump, check out Trump Tycoon.

Press Release Follows:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 6, 2010 – Future real estate tycoons can experience what it’s like to work for the world’s most famous businessman, Donald Trump, in Trump Tycoon from Hands-On Mobile for the iPhone and iPod touch. The world’s leading developer and publisher of connected games and applications, Hands-On Mobile, Inc. today announced the game is currently available exclusively for download on the App store.

Trump Tycoon is a unique speculation game in which players find themselves in a dream job – working for Donald Trump. “We are thrilled to have partnered with Hands-On Mobile to bring Donald Trump to the App Store,” said Cathy Hoffman Glosser, Executive Vice President of Global Licensing for The Trump Organization. “Not only is the game unique, challenging and fun, it provides another platform by which Donald Trump can share his tips on how to succeed in real estate.”

In order to keep the job, the player needs to impress Mr. Trump by amassing a fortune prior to his annual review. Players will use Mr. Trump’s tips to buy and sell real estate, and make the right deals to achieve success in the game’s fluctuating market. With an innovative first-person-perspective interface, Trump Tycoon players navigate in and around three key markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

“This game fills a niche for gamers that want an immersive role-playing business-centric experience and also for fans of Donald Trump and his many exciting business endeavors,” said David McCaman, head of marketing for Hands-On Mobile. “Donald Trump certainly has a loyal following that we know will enjoy playing Trump Tycoon on iPhone and iPod touch.”

Key game features include:
1. Fully 3D world – players interact with other employees through screen-tapping
2. Uses iPhone and iPod touch multi-touch for dual-analog control
3. Free movement within three-dimensional environments
4. Limited number of game days and fluctuating markets create more volatility and a unique game play experience every time

The game is game is available for $2.99 on the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

KarjaSoft has announced the release of Wildhollow, an adventure game/pet raising game for the PC or Mac. The goal of the game is to find your parents. The player can play as a boy or girl character and they embark on an adventure to find their parents.

Players return home to find that their parents are missing and the situation seems a bit suspect. Players set out on an adventure and on that adventure they are tasked with solving quests and figuring out what happened to their parents. The adventure is progressed using dialogue and there is a balance between adventure and pet raising aspects in the game. Players can raise animals and even cross breed them.

If you interested in adventure games with a pet simulation mix, check out Wildhollow.

Press Release Follows:

Sweden, November 27, 2009 — Independent game developer KarjaSoft proudly announces the release of tongue-in-cheek adventure/pet raising game Wildhollow for Windows and Mac.

Wildhollow introduces the story of a young boy or girl returning home to find his or her parents missing under mysterious circumstances. The player is tasked with solving quests and ultimately discovering the fate of his/her missing parents, while also restoring the titular Wildhollow ranch to full glory. The game features an original mix of dialogue driven adventure gameplay and pet simulation elements in which animals can be raised and crossbred. A wide variety of breeds can be discovered, and varied food gathering minigames spice things up even further.

The game world is filled with colorful characters and humorous dialogue, and provides many hours of open-ended entertainment. The player encounters inept adventurers, cowardly dragons, greedy merchants, dwarf lords in love and much more as the story progresses.

“If you enjoy funny dialogue, adorable pets to raise and clever jabs at common fantasy cliches you’re going to love Wildhollow,” says Miro Karjalainen, owner of KarjaSoft, not at all deterred by the fact that his opinion might be slightly biased.

Wildhollow is available for Windows and Mac at the price of $19.99. More information, screenshots and trial downloads can be found on the official webpage:

http://www.wildhollow.com

Features:

- Loads of wacky characters to interact with
- Adorable animals to breed
- Tongue-in-cheek humor poking fun at fantasy cliches
- A colorful fantasy world to explore
- Hours of adventurous quests
- And much more…

System requirements:

1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM. Windows 2000 or higher, or Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher.

Alawar Entertainment has announced the release of Farm Frenzy 3: American Pie. Farm Frenzy 3: American Pie is the business economic sequel to Farm Frenzy 3. The biggest change in the new edition is a robot. The robot will help with chores around the farm.

Players help Scarlett build a succeeding ranch with the help of her robot. The machine can help with all kinds things including mining ore. The ore can be used to make different products, which can be sold in the market place to earn money to perform upgrades around the farm.

Alawar has added a few silly jokes spread throughout the game. If a player has a keen eye, they may be able to notice a bear dancing like Micheal Jackson or a cow playing basketball. There is an incentive to play to the end of the game, as well, players will find out a deep dark secret of one of Scarlet’s neighbors.

If you like the Farm Frenzy games or enjoy business simulation games, check out Farm Frenzy 3: American Pie.