The iPad mini has been announced, but how does it stack up against its rivals? We compare it to the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 to find out which tablet might be the best bang for your buck.

If you’re hunting for a small tablet then you’ll have the wares of Apple, Amazon, and Google on your radar. Which is the best small tablet for you? We compare the iPad mini, Nexus 7, and Kindle Fire HD to help you choose.

Size isn’t everything. As smartphones have grown larger, tablets have been shrinking. The 7-inch tablet market was already competitive before Apple unleashed the iPad Mini. It was a hotbed of budget Android temptations like the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7. So how do these high profile tablets measure up? Let’s take a look at the iPad Mini vs. Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HD.

(For more information, check out our full reviews of the iPad Mini, Nexus 7, and Kindle Fire HD.)

Price

It may seem unusual, but we’re going to start with price because there’s a big gap here and it informs all the other comparison points. The Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD have extremely slim profit margins and you can pick up the 16GB versions for $200. The 16GB version of the iPad Mini costs, on the other hand, will run you a clean $330. All three of these tablets are Wi-Fi only.

The more expensive versions are harder to compare directly because they don’t offer the same connectivity. The top of the line Kindle Fire HD is 32GB and you can pay to remove the adverts, which results in a price of $264. For a 32GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ cellular connectivity you’ll pay $300. Only the iPad Mini supports 4G LTE connectivity, but the 32GB version with cellular is $560.

While 32GB is the maximum for the two Android tablets, you can throw down another $100 to get a 64GB iPad mini with 4G LTE for a whopping $660.

Display

Tablets are all about content consumption and so the screen is important. The iPad Mini has a bigger display than its Android rivals at 7.9 inches, but a lower resolution at 1024 x 768 pixels. Both the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD sport 7-inch displays with a 1280×800 pixel resolution. But it should be noted that most of the difference in resolution comes from their aspect ratio. Both the Nexus 7 and Fire are widescreen, while the Mini has a more square-like 3:4 aspect ratio

You’ve got a lot more screen real estate to play with on the iPad Mini, but the picture on the Android tablets is sharper and more detailed. This could be particularly important if you intend to read a lot on your tablet. Text is definitely sharper on the Android offerings, especially the Nexus 7.

All of them use IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Amazon has also equipped the Kindle Fire HD with anti-glare technology, but it’s tough to see much difference between it and the Nexus 7 in direct sunlight. The iPad Mini is more reflective, but it remains perfectly legible most of the time.

The lack of the Retina display on the iPad Mini is definitely a disappointment, especially if you’ve used a Retina iPhone or full-sized iPad. It doesn’t look as good next to its Android competitors.

Design

The iPad Mini is slightly taller than its competitors, but it is also slimmer and lighter. It’s one of the most comfortable and well-built tablets we’ve ever used. The Kindle Fire HD is the widest, thickest, and heaviest of the bunch, to a fault. The Nexus 7 actually has the lowest width, making it easiest to hold with one hand, but it is still quite weighty. Despite the larger screen, the iPad Mini has a thin bezel and a slim form factor that makes it very portable.

The rubberized, dimpled backing on the Nexus 7 is good for grip, but the aluminum construction and the light weight of the iPad Mini make it more comfortable to hold and better looking than the plastic and glass Kindle Fire HD or the Nexus 7. When it comes to design and feel, it is our favorite.

Specs

Take a look at the chart for the complete rundown of specs and we’ll just highlight the key differences.

Performance is fairly similar across the board, despite the use of different innards, though the Kindle Fire lags behind in overall speed. For watching movies, playing games, running apps, and web browsing you should have a good experience on all three, but the Nexus and Mini stand a leg ahead.

The Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7 only have front-facing cameras, so if you want to take photos, the iPad Mini is the obvious choice, but who buys a tablet for taking photos?

The Kindle Fire HD also lacks Bluetooth, but Amazon claims that the dual antennas and MIMO support makes the Wi-Fi up to 40 percent faster than the competition. If you do a lot of content streaming then that could prove important.

The iPad Mini has a proprietary Lightning connector which means you’ll probably need to splash out for adapters to use it with existing accessories or to hook it up to your TV’s HDMI port (Lightning to HDMI adapter is $50). The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD both have standard Micro USB connectors. However, the Nexus 7 does not support HDMI or MHL out, so you can’t hook it up to your TV to watch content on the big screen. The Kindle Fire HD has a Micro HDMI port so you can plug it into your HDTV and watch content hassle free with a Micro HDMI to standard HDMI cable (you can get one for under $10).

Ecosystem and content

Most people buy a small tablet for consuming content. Amazon and Google are banking on that. Their tablets are essentially sold at cost because the companies plans to make money through content sales. Does that mean it offers the best content? We’ll split this into three distinct areas to compare.

Apps and games

The iPad Mini has a clear advantage here. There are loads of apps and games optimized specifically for the tablet in the App Store. There are also more premium apps and games in general on iOS. You will find a much greater choice of polished games and classic ports. You’ll also find more stylish, top quality apps.

Android is catching up, so the Nexus 7 does have access to a good range of apps and games through Google Play. You’ll find a higher percentage of free options than in the App Store, but overall quality is not as high and few are designed specifically for the tablet. Integration with Google services is better on the Nexus 7, but you can also access some of them on the iPad Mini.

Amazon has limited access to the Amazon App Store on the Kindle Fire HD and that means a much smaller subset of apps and games than you’ll find via Google Play. The advantage is more quality control and a Free App of the Day promotion.

Movies, TV, and Music

Content is king. Amazon is pitching the Kindle Fire HD as a window onto its content and it has plenty to offer. There are 140,000 movies and TV episodes to rent or buy which compares favorably to iTunes or Google Play. However, you can get access to all of Amazon’s content on the iPad Mini or the Nexus 7, as well. You can also access Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, and many other services on all three devices.

Since you can’t access Google Play or iTunes on the Kindle Fire HD it’s actually the most limited for movies, TV shows, and music.

In terms of services and cloud storage, Amazon offers free, unlimited cloud storage for all of the content you buy on your Kindle Fire HD. For other content, Amazon Cloud Drive gives you 5GB free and an extra 50GB will cost you $25 per year. With the iPad Mini you get iCloud, but that only offers 5GB of free storage. For an additional 10GB, you’ll pay $20 per year; an additional 20GB will cost you $40 per year; and an additional 50GB will cost you $100 per year. Google Drive also gives you 5GB for free and you can add up to 16TB of extra storage. An extra 100GB will cost you $60 per year.

It’s worth noting that Google Music also allows you to store up to 40,000 songs, Gmail offers 10GB, and you can store as many photos as you like in Google+.

If you have a mixed collection that you want to add to your tablet and you want to store more than 5GB of content in the cloud, then the Nexus 7 is the best choice. Google’s cloud services are the cheapest and the most reliable, followed by Amazon. With Apple you will pay more. Even adding your existing music to iTunes will cost you $25 per year for iTunes match.

The displays on the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 are better for watching movies. When it comes to audio, you should really use headphones for the best experience, but the Kindle Fire HD beats the Nexus 7 with Dolby audio, dual-driver stereo speakers.

Books and Magazines

Amazon has the biggest library and the most experience with books, but you can get access to it on your Nexus 7 or iPad mini as well via the Kindle app. The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD offer the best reading experience because of that higher resolution and better anti-glare.

There are some good magazine apps available on all three and you can manage subscriptions through the various stores, but the iPad mini and the Fire HD offer more magazines. You may prefer the extra space and the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad mini for reading them.

Battery life

The iPad Mini edges the win on battery life, but the other two are not far behind. They should all get you through a day of normal use. If you do a lot of gaming, then you’ll notice the iPad Mini’s superiority. For streaming video, you should get about 9 hours out of each.

Little Extras

It is worth mentioning Amazon’s Prime service. For just $80 per year, you get access to 30,000 movies and TV shows, 180,000 books for free with the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (one per month), and free two-day shipping on eligible Amazon purchases.

Amazon also offers the X-Ray feature for books and movies which gives you extra information on what you’re reading or watching, such as the actors on screen with links to IMDB profiles. Whispersync allows you to switch between devices and keep your place in the book you are reading or the movie you’re watching. You’ll also find Kindle FreeTime which gives you an easy to use set of parental controls.

If you get the Kindle app on your iPad Mini or Nexus 7 you’ll also have Whispersync (it only works for Amazon content though). You can also get apps for the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini that will give you a reliable and easy to use set of parental controls like FreeTime.

In terms of Kindle Fire HD exclusives, that just leaves the Kindle Lending Library and the X-Ray feature.

Decisions, decisions

Before you buy one of these tablets, consider what you want to do with it. If you already use Amazon a lot and you want the tablet for movies, TV shows, music, and reading, then the Fire HD with Amazon Prime could be your best bet. But just realize that the iPad Mini and Nexus 7 have access to most Amazon content as well through official apps.

The iPad Mini wins on dedicated apps and games. It is a better tablet in some ways, but you pay a premium for that quality. It also makes the most sense if you already have an iTunes library of content, but the extra cost will be enough to turn off a lot of people. It’s not just the upfront price either, you also have to factor in the accessories, content, and cloud services. Though the Apple App Store has more apps, they are also slightly more expensive than Android.

If you’re looking for the most versatile, well-rounded tablet for the cheapest price, we recommend the Nexus 7. It runs the latest and greatest version of Android, has the best integration with Google services, and a great range of free and affordable apps and games. Any of Google’s 700,000 Play Store apps will run on the Nexus 7.

Are you going for Android, Apple, or Amazon? What gets your vote? Post a comment and tell us.

Likely piling up in a drawer somewhere, Americans are keeping their old mobile phones rather than selling, donating or recycling the mobile devices.

Detailed on Lockout’s official blog, the mobile security company detailed a new study about the volume of old mobile phones that are still in the possession of consumers based within the United States. Conducted through the Google Consumer Survey program, the company discovered that sixty-two percent of U.S. consumers have a stash of unused mobile phones that were retired for newer models. According to the results, forty-one percent of the respondents have between one to two unused phones, nine percent have three unused mobile phones and eleven percent have four or more unused mobile phones stored at home.

When asked why they were still holding on to those older mobile phones, twenty-seven percent of the audience said they simply had no idea what to do with the old phones.

Seventeen percent said they hadn’t erased personal data from their old phones and six percent wanted to hang on to the older phones in order to access applications as well as information still stored on the devices. Thirteen percent of the respondents were concerned about someone else seeing personal information on the old devices, so they ended up keeping the phones in storage for safekeeping. 

Of course, someone that wants to ditch their older phone should plug the device back in to check for data such as old contacts or photos still stored on the memory card. If they plan to sell the phone on eBay or Craigslist, it’s a good idea to revert the phone back to factory settings and remove the SIM card to avoid any future issues.

Other popular places to sell old mobile phones online include Amazon, Gazelle, Glyde and Nextworth. These sites typically require the owner to assign a quality rating to the current condition of a phone as well as include items such as original packaging, charging cables, instructions and headphones. If a mobile phone has been damaged significantly and no longer functions correctly, those older mobile phones can be dropped off at organizations that offer mobile device recycling. 

Over half of the respondents stated they wouldn’t mind giving up their old phones if it went to good cause. When a Verizon customer upgrades to a new phone, the wireless provider sends out a white plastic bag with prepaid postage for returning old mobile phones. These phones are reconditioned by the Verizon Hopeline project and may be redistributed out to shelters for battered women.

According to the company site, Verizon has collected nearly nine million old mobile phones since the project started. While some of the phones are sent out to victims and survivors of domestic violence, the majority are resold in order to generate funds to keep those phones in operation.

Another good cause for donating older mobile phones is the Cell Phones for Soldiers project. This organization has recycled over ten million mobile phones since 2004 and sends out approximately 12,000 minutes of prepaid calling cards per week to help troops place free calls back home. The group recently expanded the project to help returning veterans communicate with their loved ones. Called Helping Heroes Home, the program also provides assistance to veterans in regards to “physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.”

At this point, it’s almost a cliché to talk about the growth and potential of the app economy. We can all rattle off reports about the number of jobs this market has created or the likelihood of how much further it will reach – but really, it’s just fact now. Apps are the avenue for our digital lives and the job growth the lies behind them is unstoppable.

But that makes for a flood of products, some good, some bad, some hidden at the bottom of app marketplaces never to be seen. Which is why if you’re going to create an app, you best get serious. Creator platforms like Swebapps, AppsBuilder, TheAppBuilder, and AppMakr have been in this business for awhile, but a handful of new outlets with innovative ways to take you from idea to launch continue to surface.

Really, who among us doesn’t have a brilliant app idea? Not to get too meta on you, but here are some of the best apps to help you build apps.

SellanApp

SellanApp has been building noise for nearly a year now. The idea behind the platform is to create a community around app building that includes everyone – from developers with extensive knowledge, to “big picture” people, to beta testers.  SellanApp is an iPad-based program that allows you to make simple mockups and app prototypes via tablet. From there, you can invite others to test it with you and export it to the SellanApp platform – which is where the real work starts. Here, you start building interest around your app idea and try and court developers. There’s a crowdsourcing element as well, in which users, if you allow it, are able to come in and help fund the project.

“There are a lot of people who have app ideas,” SellanApp co-founder Milan Van Den Bovenkamp told me earlier this year. “We want to make app ideas happen, and that means you need a lot of people who can believe in a concept. If people believe in a community that wants to have ownership of the app and app ideas happen in a social way, then they can become a reality.”

The way revenue is split is that developers get paid first, then the producer or creator – whoever came up with the idea – gets second dibs, and anyone who pledged above a certain amount will also share in a designated percent of the profits.

Ooomf

Ooomf launched this past fall as both a creation and discovery platform. “Our ambition is to help anyone considering building a mobile product, whether they’ve created multiple mobile apps already or are just getting started on their first project,” CEO and co-founder Mikael Cho says.

Getting started with creating an app is as easy as entering your email address, your app’s name, and then you’re launched into Ooomf’s step-by-step guide to getting your idea up and running. These are bracketed into different areas, taking you from idea, to design, to push, all the way through launch day.

Ooomf helps you target specifics like how to create an engaging splash page and make a demo video, as well as how to get press for your app. Now you’ll have to come to Ooomf with the code of your app developed – think of this tool as a way to fine tune all the little details that lead to a successful launch. There is, however, the Ooomf Toolbox, which provides a bevy of useful tricks and guides for app developers of all skill levels. Of course, if all you have is an idea, there are options as well. “We allow people to participate in the creation of an app,” Cho said at launch. “So if you have an idea or a prototype or a design, you can put it in Ooomf and let the community vote on features and participate in [making] it.”

And once you’ve gone through the Ooomf process of perfecting your app, you also get to enjoy the discovery element it has to offer. It’s an engaging, personal way to explore the iOS App Store and see everything new hitting the market – and given the state of iPhone app discovery, it could be a boon to your project.

Tiggzi

The most convincing part about using Tiggzi for your app creation purposes is its drag and drop functionality. The cloud-based program was originally a tool for UI creation, so that developers and designers had an accurate, easy way to image what their projects would look like. From there, the Tiggzi team decided creation as a whole should be similarly engaging and visual.

Don’t be fooled by Tiggzi’s icon-heavy looks, though: This is a serious development tool you’ll need a decent amount of coding knowledge to use. You’ll need HTML, Javascript, and CSS background to effectively get started with Tiggzi. From there, however, you’ll find that the process is incredibly streamlined thanks to the ability to see your project working in real time.

Better yet, Tiggzi runs in-browser with no download or install needed – and it’s an incredibly versatile system that allows you to create HTML 5, Windows Phone, Android, and iOS apps (Windows 8 support was also recently added). For all of the complexity Tiggzi allows you to add to the backend of your app, the process is refreshingly simple, flexible, and visual.

AppThwack

While AppThwack isn’t a platform for creating apps, it serves an incredibly important and far too neglected service: Cross-device testing. At the moment, AppThwack is only available for testing Android and HTML 5 apps, although given the former’s issues with fragmentation, it’s not a bad place to start. At PIE Demo Day this fall, however, the team said iOS testing is on the way.

The process is fairly literally: The AppThwack labs have an impressive inventory of smartphones and tablets they use to run your app and then provide you with easy to read reports documenting any issues. There’s further customization to these reports available as well, like adding team members or testing multiple apps. 

The Nintendo 3DS is a proven success, but it only got there thanks to a drastic price cut six months after its release. Is Nintendo planning to drop the price of the Wii U in the same time frame?

The Wii U’s off to a promising start in the US. On Friday, Wii U debuted across Europe as well as in New Zealand. Next week, Wii U goes to Japan. Nintendo’s in a good spot but its last new console, the Nintendo 3DS, had an equally promising debut. Sales dropped quickly, though, and Nintendo was forced to dramatically cut the price. Is a similar price cut waiting in the Wii U’s future?

Not as of now according to the company. Nintendo UK executives Shelly Pearce and James Honeywell said during the console’s UK release that the company has confidence in Wii U’s price.

“The 3DS was a strong launch for us—we’re hoping the Wii U will be just as strong or even stronger,” Honeywell told Eurogamer, “As for whether there will be a future price cut we certainly have no plans for that at the moment.”

“We have no plans for a price cut,” said Pearce, “If someone really wants it this Christmas they should go and but it.”

Nintendo sold 400,000 Wii Us in one week, a promising debut for a console that created a lot of confusion earlier in the year. Following E3 2012, as Nintendo began the slow process of marketing its machine, it wasn’t always clear what Wii U was. Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon thought the Wii U was just a new controller for the Wii, as did a CNN reporter that wrote a story about the console. Now that the Wii U is out, though, people are responding but it won’t be until the holiday period is over that the Wii U can prove itself.

$300 or $350 for a new Wii U may prove too expensive next spring when the post-launch period begins and Nintendo has trouble bringing new games to market. The Nintendo 3DS price drop came within six months of the device’s release. With only two Nintendo-developed games scheduled to come out between now and May—namely Pikmin 3 and Game & Wario—Nintendo may ultimately find itself in a similar situation with Wii U.

In 2011, Facebook relied on FarmVille studio Zynga for 12 percent of its total revenue. At the end of 2012, Zynga is a fast shrinking business with a equally shrinking audience. The social network and the game company have renegotiated their partnership.

FarmVille studio Zynga’s precipitous decline over 2012 has affected both individuals and massive corporations. On the micro scale, numerous employees at Zynga’s Austin, Chicago, and Boston offices were laid off at the end of October. On the macro, Facebook reported that revenues from its gaming business dropped 9 percent between the beginning of April and the end of September. Since Zynga accounted for 43 percent of the $176 million Facebook earned from its payments and fees segment, the studio’s fall has more than a little to do with the social network’s earnings trouble.

That’s no doubt why Facebook is no untangling its business from Zynga. Develop reported on Friday that Facebook has ended its exclusive agreements with Zynga that saw the game maker receive preferential treatment over other companies hosting games on the network. From this point on, according to an SEC filing detailing the new deal between the two companies, Zynga games will “be governed solely by Facebook’s standard terms and conditions for game developers.”

In 2010, Zynga signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Facebook that gave them undisclosed advantages compared to other social game makers, but it was suspected that Facebook shared more revenue than it did with others. Facebook agreed to those terms because at the time Zynga was responsible for a huge portion of the social network’s revenue. In 2011 alone, Zynga’s games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars accounted for 12 percent of Facebook’s total revenue.

The new deal isn’t just beneficial to Facebook. While the social network is freed from having to share a larger portion of revenue with Zynga than other publishers, Zynga no longer has to exclusively use virtual currency like Facebook Credits in its games. With user numbers down for Zynga games, its questionable how much the studio will want to rock the boat by introducing a new virtual currency.

In the short term, Zynga certainly came out on bottom in the new deal as it further shook investor confidence in the company. Shares in Zynga dropped 12 percent following the news.

Zynga’s short-lived empire was never sustainable. Its games grew popular in tandem with Facebook, and while it borrowed most of the ideas for its games, it benefitted from being so recognizable. Now its competition has overtaken it in every way and its audience has stopped growing. Zynga’s CEO Mark Pincus should invest in innovation rather than mass imitation next time.

Sixteen years after it hit store shelves, legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo wants to apologize for the Super Mario 64 soundtrack, and instead offers what he considers to be a "fully realized" version of his classic gaming tunes.

When it comes to video game music, there are few people as important to the industry as Koji Kondo. A quick look at Kondo’s IMDB listing reads like a roster of the best games ever created. Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Star Fox 64 — these are just a few of the games in which Kondo is credited as composer. Thus, when Kondo has something to say about video game music, it’s probably for the best that we all pay attention and learn from the maestro.

This morning a short piece appeard on Play4Real in which Kondo explains why he’s spent the past 16 years unsatisfied with the inarguably catchy soundtrack he composed for the Nintendo 64′s most popular title, Super Mario 64. “When Super Mario 64 was in development, the Nintendo 64 had not been finalized,” Kondo said. “There were extra sound channels I had used that were cut when the final version of the system was given to us.”

“One particular channel would have directly affected gameplay,” Konda added. “The concept was finally utilized in the New Super Mario series. The enemies dancing to the music was my idea. I am sure there are people who have found unused enemy animations in Super Mario 64. This would have been a very integral part of the game.”

By itself that would be an interesting apology from one of gaming’s foremost minds, but that’s not all Kondo has in store. Instead of merely complaining about the shortcomings of the Nintendo 64 sound hardware and leaving the soundtrack as is, Kondo has instead recreated his composition using modern technology to achieve what he describes as a “fully realized version of the Super Mario 64 soundtrack.” We only have a preview of Kondo’s new Super Mario 64 tunes, but you can find the entirety of what Kondo has created in the YouTube video embedded below this text (again, courtesy Play4Real).

Before we get to that though, Kondo’s apology has us suddenly wondering about something. Kondo is an undeniably talented composer who has more experience creating songs for Nintendo hardware than anyone else on the planet. If he is unable to make then-new technology like the Nintendo 64 perform to his standards and properly recreate his vision for the ideal song, then how many other classic gaming tunes have been similarly hamstrung? Further, given that so few composers have Kondo’s clout and recognizability, what happens when they wish to publicly release a new iteration of one of their classic tunes? How many iconic gaming themes might be drastically improved, if only we collectively paid more attention to gaming’s largely unsung musicians?

It’s widely regarded as one of the best smartphones on the market today and now you can get a killer deal on the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G. It’s just $59.99. That’s pretty darn cheap!

The Galaxy S3 deal is being offered through Amazon and it’s for the Verizon version of the Android smartphone. As a quick reminder, this phone has a 4.8-inch 720p display, Android 4.0 ICS, 8MP camera, 16GB memory, microSD slot, and it’s mobile hotspot capable. It also takes advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE network, giving you average data rates in the 5Mbps to 12Mbps range.

Specifications for an unnamed Asus tablet have surfaced on the web, hinting that a lower-end Nexus 7 could be in the works.

This month Google announced three new additions to its Nexus family, but the search engine giant may not be finished just yet. Rumors indicate that a $100 version of the Nexus 7 tablet could be in the works, and recently discovered benchmarks have sparked further curiosity in this notion. A new set of test results on the GLBenchmarks website indicates that manufacturer Asus could be testing a new tablet. The device, branded with the model number ASUS ME172V, delivers tech specs that appear to be a toned-down version of those found in the current Nexus 7.

The rumored tablet will allegedly come with a 400MHz Mali GPU, a 1GHz CPU core and a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 megapixels. There has been no mention of a screen size, but the low cost hints that it will be a scaled-down version of a seven-inch tablet. According to the website, the device will also ship with Android 4.1 out of the box.

While these pieces of hardware bear similarity to the Nexus 7, there is one feature that strays from the 7-inch tablet’s build: the device found on GLBenchmarks has a microSD card slot. This is probably the biggest piece of evidence against the argument that this Asus gadget is a lower-end Nexus 7.

However, until we hear more information from the manufacturer or Google, there is no way to know for sure. Asus could be creating a new low-cost Android tablet to sell in markets around the globe where affordable prices are held at a higher priority than speedy processors and mind-blowing specs.

The specifications found on the benchmarking website also align with previous rumors that surfaced on iAfrica.com just a few days ago. In addition to the hardware mentioned above, the African news source also said that the device would come with 8GB of storage and a 4270mAh battery. An Asus company representative reportedly shared this information with iAfrica.

Since its debut back in July, Asus’ Nexus 7 tablet has seen a largely positive reception in the tablet market. At the end of October, the Wall Street Journal reported that sales of the 7-inch slate are clocking in at about one million units per month. While this still falls behind Apple’s iPad sales, the Nexus 7’s numbers could grow following the introduction of a 32GB model.

Mirroring Steam as a whole, Valve's ubiquitous software distribution platform now includes non-gaming, productivity software among the list of titles awaiting your approval on Steam Greenlight.

This morning Valve Software revealed the latest list of titles added to its nascent Steam Greenlight service. That happens almost every week now, so why highlight this particular occurence? Simple: With today’s update, Steam Greenlight now features both video games and the kinds of programs people might use to create those games.

But wait just a second, what is Steam Greenlight? To put it simply, Greenlight is a service through which Valve Software offers its legions of Steam users a chance to decide which programs will be available through Steam via a relatively standard democratic voting process. Imagine Greenlight as a low-key reality television competition in which the creators of prospective Steam programs attempt to put their best feet forward with the hopes that the audience (in this case, Steam users) will decide that their offering is worthy of inclusion on the world’s most popular gaming-centric software distribution platform. As we said, it’s very low-key, even compared to the most reserved, classy television shows, so while you won’t see developers battling it out in physical challenges while coated in a layer of pig fat and downy chicken feathers, you will see full disclosure of what these programs can do for you, as well as informed users piling on to convince other Steam fans of why they should or should not support a given piece of software.

As for today’s new round of Greenlight offerings, Valve offers a comprehensive list:

New Steam Greenlight Games

Blackspace

Darkfall Unholy Wars

Dawn of Fantasy

Dragon’s Lair

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Gear Up

Kinetic Void – Space Adventure

The Light

No Time To Explain

Primordia

Sang-Froid : Tales of Werewolves

StarForge

Waking Mars

 

First Steam Greenlight Software Titles

Action! Screen Recorder

Bandicam: Game Recorder

Construct 2

Display Fusion

HitFilm 2

You Need A Budget 4

While mere titles don’t tell us nearly enough to judge these various software packages, Steam Greenlight has more comprehensive profiles of each of these titles on its official site. Actually, that site is a pretty invaluable resource for anyone looking for new, interesting ideas. Not only does Greenlight offer extensive information on each new game and program added to its roster, it also lays things out in a familiar, Kickstarter-esque fashion, making it quite easy to select your favorite new addition and throw the weight of your support behind it.

Having announced these new titles, Valve also made mention of a few Greenlight stats of which it seems particularly proud. This latest batch of games and productivity software brings the total number of titles on Greenlight to a very respectable 50. Given that Greenlight only launched in August of this year, that’s a pretty impressive milestone to have already reached. Further, Valve claims that the advent of Greenlight has spawned a massive uptick in overall Steam sales, which is particularly noticeable among indie games that would otherwise escape the attention of most players.

“With the help of Greenlight, the indie games market share of games sold on Steam has increased by 50 percent for a third consecutive year,” said Valve’s Alden Kroll, a UI designer who has also had an extensive hand in the development of both the Steam store as well as Steam Greenlight. ”That’s a stat we are proud of, but one we also hope to increase as we learn more about Greenlight and continue to refine it in the new year.”

On Friday, eBay posted a notice to its users issuing guidelines for the sales of Google and LG's Nexus 4 device.

With the Nexus 4 floundering in and out of stock in the Google Play Store, its no surprise smartphone enthusiasts have flocked to eBay to get their hands on the device. In fact, demand for Google’s most recently announced handset is so high that the online auction giant has placed some restrictions for Nexus 4 sellers.

In a notice to users, eBay posted the following guidelines on Friday:

• Authorized resellers will be allowed to list an unlimited number of items per week.
• eBay Top Rated Sellers will be allowed to list up to 8 items per week.
• All sellers meeting minimum performance standards will be allowed to list 4 items per week.
• New sellers who’ve confirmed their personal information may list 1 item per week.
• Note: Sellers not meeting the minimum performance standards or that haven’t confirmed their personal information will not be allowed to list the Google Nexus 4 during the post-launch sale period.

Basically, this means that eBay is regulating how many Nexus 4 devices are sold through its website in order to prevent fraudulent transactions. These guidelines also mean that it could be more difficult for new users to sell a Nexus 4 through eBay. The website’s restrictions come just after some eBay shoppers have already paid upwards of $700 for the LG-crafted smartphone.

According to the website, at least 36 Nexus 4 16GB factory unlocked units have been sold for $700, leaving only three remaining in stock. One member managed to sell the handset for $720, and the post had 36 bids before being sold to one eager buyer. The Google Play store advertises the Nexus 4 at a starting price of $300 for the 8GB model and $350 for the 16GB variant. 

Google introduced the Nexus 4 alongside the Nexus 10 tablet on Nov. 13, completing the search engine giant’s family of sequentially sized devices. The company also unveiled the second generation of its Jelly Bean operating system that same day, and both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 come with Android 4.1 preinstalled out of the box. Both devices also sold out on launch day, but have returned to the Google Play store since.

People love motion controllers like Kinect but video game enthusiasts still want the precision of a controller. A newly published Sony patent suggests Sony is trying to make a device that manages to be both.

There’s been no shortage of rumors and hearsay regarding the future of Sony’s console gaming business. The fourth generation PlayStation will be a more developer-friendly machine than the PlayStation 3 according to sources within the industry, describing the machine as more of a “modified PC.” There has been little discussion of what the next PlayStation’s controller will look like, though. Is Sony planning on sticking with the Dualshock gaming controller that’s stayed relatively unchanged for fifteen years or will it opt for a next-generation version of the PlayStation Move motion-sensing wand? Patents suggest the PlayStation 4’s controller may be a mix of both.

A patent filed by Sony in 2011 describing a gaming controller called a “Hybrid Separable Motion Controller” was made public on Thursday. The device seen in the above image and in other figures on the patent shows what is an explicit cross between Sony’s existing controllers. It features the same bulbous heads as the PlayStation Move and the swim twin analog stick design used in all Sony controllers since the original Dualshock came out in the late ’90s for the original PlayStation.

On bulb is fixed on each side of the controller and it can be split in two with each half containing the accelerometer and gyro technology in an individual Move wand. This device would do away with the need for the analog stick companion for the move and would also ease audiences into games that use two Move controllers, like the original Sports Champions. According to the patent, this new controller will still need a PlayStation Eye camera to work.

While the number of PlayStation 3 games to support the move controller has been limited, Sony has managed to sell 15 million of the motion controllers in two years. The popularity of the Wii and more recently Microsoft’s Kinect has guaranteed that motion-based video games will remain a popular fixture of the console gaming business. The Move technology is still cumbersome, though, offering precision lacking in Kinect and Nintendo games, but also necessitating a more complex set up process. Part of the reason Kinect has been so successful for Microsoft is its ease of use.

The Hyrbid Separable Controller is a recent piece of technology conceived by Sony, but it’s unlikely that it will be a highlight of the PlayStation 4.

Source: NeoGAF

Is your computer slowing you down? Here’s a user-friendly guide that anyone can use to get his or her hardware and software back into tip-top shape speedily and for free.

If you still find yourself checking your watch while your computer starts up, even after installing your system updates, fret not. Whether your computer is still under it’s one-year warranty or is several years old, our handy instructions, tips, and tricks will help keep speed up your computer so that you won’t have to buy a whole new machine. Read our guide and learn how to make your computer spry again.

Cleaning your vents

Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re talking about your computer. Dust and lint can easily get into your computer’s vents, often leading to overheating of the central processing unit, which can cause poor performance, crashes, and random reboots. The solution is simple: clean it. You can use a compressed air canister (available at office supply stores or computer dealers) to flush dirt out of your vents. Your other option is to get bold and take apart your computer yourself.

If you choose to be daring, you’ll probably have an easier time with a PC than a Mac, which are notoriously hard to tinker with. You’ll most likely not be able to take your Mac apart and will have to visit an authorized repair center to do so. Another warning: opening your computer case could void your warranty, so check your manufacturer’s policy before proceeding. Still want to go ahead with it? Here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. Shut off your computer and unplug everything.

2. Grab a standard or Phillips screwdriver; this should be enough for you to open your computer.

3. Take it apart outdoors, if possible, as there could be scary amounts of dirt that may pour out. Wear shoes and stay away from carpets. If you have a desktop, flip your case so you’re facing the back panel. To release the side panel or the entire enclosure, check for either small knobs that you can turn by hand, or for buttons you can press. If you see neither of these, you may need to remove at least two screws.

If you have a laptop, find a clean, stable surface, cover it with a towel to prevent scratches, and place your computer upside down. Take out the battery. Next, use your screwdriver to remove the screws holding down the panel where the vents are located. Remember where each screw came from so you can replace it when you’re done.

4. While touching your computer’s innards as little as possible, use a compressed air canister to blow air all over (including into the power supply box and the fan, and any CD/DVD drives and ports), while using short bursts of air and maintaining the canister upright and at least a couple of inches away from your target. (Note: While blowing air on your fan, consider placing a toothpick or cotton swab between blades to keep it from overspinning.) If there’s any dirt left at this point, use tweezers or cotton swabs to delicately get it out. Whatever you do, do not use a vacuum cleaner. You are now ready to put the machine back together.

5. While you’re at it, clean out your keyboard. Whether it’s a lone keyboard or your entire laptop, flip it over and lightly shake it to encourage dust and crumbs to dislodge from between the keys. Use the compressed air canister to take care of any stubborn leftovers. If you want to really get in there, gather some cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol and wipe the outsides of each key with a moistened (not wet) swab. Run a moistened cotton swab along the touchpad as well, if you have one. This kind of cleaning can be done on a monthly basis.

Defragmenting

What is defragmenting and why should you care? We’re glad you asked. This is why defragmenting is a good idea: saving and deleting files causes your data to be strewn across your drive in bits rather than whole pieces. So, when your hard drive wants to find something, it may have to search in multiple locations instead of one, thereby slowing your whole system down. Defragmenting takes care of the mess by organizing your data so your hard drive can spend less time searching for it.

Now that you’re sold on the genius of defragmenting, you’ll be extra happy to learn how easy it is: if you’re running Windows Vista or later (or Mac OS X), your computer is already defragmenting itself automatically. On Windows, you can access your Control Panel, click on System and Security, and head to Administrative Tools where you’ll find the option to defrag your hard drive yourself. You’ll also be able to check when defragmenting is already taking place (and change the schedule if you wish).

If you’re using Windows XP, though, your machine is not defragging itself automatically. In this case, make sure you can leave your computer on overnight to allow for the astoundingly time-consuming process. Auslogics Disk Defrag is a free piece of software you can use to streamline your defragmenting and can save you several hours. Plus, it lets you schedule automatic defragging. To save time, if you are not using Auslogics Disk Defrag, first run CCleaner (see below) to get rid of useless junk that doesn’t need defragmenting and will only drag out the process.

Note: if you have a solid-state drive (SSD), you may want to defragment everything except this drive. Defragmentation is negligible for SSDs and often destructive: it can cause excessive wear as it makes added writes. If you are using Auslogics Disk Defrag, you’ll be able to set it to not show your SSD drive in the list of defragmentable drives.

Free software solutions

Try out the following programs to destroy viruses and malware, remove unnecessary files and histories, shorten how long it takes for your system to start, and otherwise unburden your system of time- and energy-sucking paraphernalia lurking in your machine’s insides.

AVG

Checking for a virus infection is crucial since viruses are often to blame when your system loses its mojo. You don’t need to shell out any money to get a quality program. Try the award-winning AVG Antivirus. It offers a fast, comprehensive virus scan with free updates. It also detects threats and malware – and stops them in their gritty tracks. Once you download it, the program provides step-by-step instructions to scan and clean your system, as well as free phone support in case you get lost.

CCleaner

CCleaner is a favorite cleanup tools because it is quick, easy, efficient, and free. It will help you clean up your files by checking all of your browsers and clearing up temporary Internet files, cookies, caches, and passwords and download histories, as well as temporary Windows and log files, and recent documents. It’ll even take care of applications and clean out your registry. Configure it to run automatically on a schedule and you won’t even have to think about it.

Autoruns

Do you have to wait awhile once you start your computer before you can actually use it? If so, you probably have too many programs configured to run when Windows starts. Enter Autoruns. Download this user-friendly tool and you’ll discover which programs – whether in your startup folder, Run, or other Registry keys – are slowing your system down to a crawl at startup. You can configure it to show you other locations and any third-party auto-starting images that may’ve been added to your system against your will. Simply uncheck the box next to the auto-start entry you want to disable.

Revo Uninstaller

Whether you’ve fallen prey to crafty marketing schemes that led you to download embarrassing amounts of software you don’t use, or whether your new computer came loaded with it, Revo Uninstaller will do a better job than Windows alone to destroy unwanted programs. This freeware not only uninstalls but also removes leftover traces of software. Not sure what a program does? Change the view from List to Details to see more information. One of its other neat features is the Hunter, which allows for convenient click-and-drag uninstall and process killing. Should you need it, free professional tech support is included. A paid pro version with multiple extra features is also available.

Soluto

Soluto is an “Anti-Frustration Software” that examines your system and uses an online knowledge base to compare its findings and suggest solutions to improve your computer’s overall performance. Its Chop Boot focuses on curbing how long your system takes to start by determining which applications are slowing it down. Lighten Web Browser optimizes your Web browser to increase speed, and Heal Crashes attempts to cure any issues leading to program crashes.

Auslogics Registry Cleaner

Registry cleaners are practical because, as you install and uninstall software over time, your registry gets muddled with outdated and corrupted entries that can provoke system errors and crashes. The solution? Use the easy-to-use Auslogics Registry Cleaner to clean out junk and fix errors. This program selects a default list of drives and items on your computer and swiftly scans and repairs issues before they become more troublesome. In case it deletes something you later decide you’d rather keep, you can go to the Rescue Center under File and restore your files from backup.

Wipe it fresh and start from scratch

With proper upkeep, you may end up replacing your computer altogether before you get to this point, but if you’ve had your computer for years and nothing seems to work, the best solution may be to start anew. If this is your chosen path, here’s what you’ll need to do.

Start by backing up all your data. You may opt for an external hard drive, a solid-state drive (SSD), or a cloud service to do this most comfortably. Be especially careful to back up e-mails if you use a non-Web-based program like Outlook or Thunderbird.

You may also wish to keep the bookmarks or favorites on your browsers, as well as your passwords and even cookies. For Firefox, use Mozilla’s Firefox Sync in the Tools menu to set up an account, or try MozBackup. If you’re a Google Chrome fan, you can use its sync function to save your settings to your Google account. Once you log onto it with Chrome on any computer, you’ll have all your settings with you (including bookmarks, extensions, apps, and themes). If you use more than one browser, try the free software Xmarks to sync the data from all your browsers (it works with Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari). To back up your drivers, try DriverMax or SlimDrivers.

If you own a big brand computer, it may have come with a recovery CD that will make restoring your operating system super easy. If not, you’ll need to locate an install disc and a product key unique to your copy of Windows, which you may find on a label on the PC itself (you can also locate the key code from your computer before you reinstall the system using a free product key finder program).

Final step: upgrade

You’ve tried all our tricks and even reinstalled your operating system, but you’re still not satisfied? It seems like your computer’s hit its limits. It may be time to upgrade.

RAM

If you run heavy programs like Photoshop, or just tend to run a lot of programs at once and notice that your system slows down when you switch from one to the other, installing more random access memory (RAM) could make your life easier. To find out how much RAM you already have, visit your Control Panel and check under System (on a Mac, click on the Apple icon on the top left corner of the screen and then on About This Mac). Next, you must find out how much more RAM your computer can handle and what kind you can install in it. Crucial and Kingston Technology are good resources to figure out what kind of RAM will work for you at this point.

Solid-state drives (SSDs)

Switching from a regular hard disk to a solid-state drive (SSD) (sometimes called a solid-state disk) can make a huge difference in speed and in reliability because an SSD has memory instead of moving parts, making reading data off it much faster than reading it off a hard disk, which uses quickly rotating discs. When you have an SSD, it doesn’t matter whether your file fragments are located in adjacent spots or scattered loosely all over: they’re just as quick to read. SSDs can even purposefully store pieces of files in different places to even out wear. In addition to making it lighter and less energy-dependent, the lack of moving parts also makes SSDs shockproof and more durable, further extending the life of your machine.

If you’re going for an SSD, you’ll need to find out what kind is compatible with your computer. Again, Crucial and Kingston Technology are your go-to resources to find out. Once you’ve chosen your new SSD, you’ll be able to add them to your system yourself using an upgrade kit — with no experience necessary.

Video card

If you play 3D games on your computer and have noticed sluggishness, you’ll want to consider upgrading your video card as well. Inexpensive machines tend to come with integrated graphics built into the motherboard, instead of a separate graphics processing unit (GPU), which boasts much more impressive graphics capabilities. Even if you have a GPU, you might want a faster one, depending on the game titles you’d like to play. Just like with RAM and SSDs, you must first figure out which card will work with the computer you already have, as not all cards will jive with your motherboard. Do you have an accelerated graphics port (AGP)? Most likely PCI Express (PCIe)? Is it integrated into the motherboard or is it a separate card? Investigate before you buy, especially because some video card upgrades also necessitate an upgrade in your power supply. Check out this guide on how to buy a video card on to get started.

Anxious to start hunting your friends in God of War: Ascension's online multiplayer modes? Instead of waiting for the game's release, why not try for a spot in the public beta test?

When God of War: Ascension finally makes it retail debut on March 13, 2013, the game will mark a seismic shift in the series’ traditionally action-focused solo gameplay. Whereas prior God of War entries have all focused heavily on their respective singleplayer campaigns, Ascension’s big addition to the franchise is that it’s the first God of War entry to feature online multiplayer gameplay options. That image you see at top comes from one of the game’s online battles, and as you can see not only must players contend with one another, they also have to be wary of giant set pieces like that angry cyclops in the background. With such a complex, novel take on third-person multiplayer action, it should come as little surprise that Sony plans to test Ascension’s multiplayer modes extensively prior to the game’s release. We’ve known that a beta would take place for a few months now, but as of this morning, Sony opted to pull back the curtain and reveal a host of new, concrete facts likely to excite long-time God of War fans.

From now until noon on Friday, December 7, Sony will be accepting applications from God of War devotees who would like to both assist the company in its efforts to test Ascension’s multiplayer functionality, as well as get an early shot at playing the game. If your interest is piqued, pay a visit to Sony’s newly-launched beta sign-up site to drop in all your relevant information. You’ll need PlayStation Network login credentials, but any of you suitably interested in this test likely already have a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network account set up. Assuming you’re fortunate enough for Sony to pull your name from its metaphorical hat, the company will contact you via email to fill in the rest of the necessary details. Further, you’ll also be granted access to a special section of the PlayStation Network specifically dedicated to disseminating information about the God of War: Ascension beta test.

Unfortunately lacking from this wealth of new information is any word on when exactly Sony plans to hold this test. Given the game’s near-term release date and the level of polish already seen in pre-release previews of the title, we’d expect the beta test to start no later than mid-December, but that’s subject to all manner of variables, any of which could push it forward or delay the test by days, weeks or even months. For all we know, the test could be a massive success in uncovering bugs in the game’s code, only to force the Ascension development team to delay the title’s official release while they patch up the new list of flaws. Hopefully that won’t happen, and we’ll be sure to let you know if it does, but in the mean time there’s little for you God of War fiends to do other than sign up for the beta and hope you luck upon a spot. Then, at the very least, you’ll be able to tell your friends all about how cool Ascension’s online battles are, months before any of them have a chance to enjoy the game — and let’s face it: Bragging rights are at least half the reason anyone ever signs up to beta test an unreleased game.

Welcome to Digital Blend, your one-stop shop for coverage and recommendations of all things relating to mobile gaming, digital marketplaces, and indie titles (for the week ending December 1).

Welcome back to Digital Blend, our weekly look at the world of downloadable video gaming that exists at the fringes of the mainstream. That means we look at the hottest new mobile game releases, downloadable content drops on consoles and PCs, indie darlings that deserve your love and attention, and the best gaming values under $20.

Keep your comments and feedback coming. We want to hear from you! Did you try something you read about here and enjoy it? Is there a particular game you think we’ve overlooked or news you want to share? Any questions you are dying to ask? Let us know! Your thoughts, feedback, suggestions and (constructive!) criticism are welcome, either in the comments section below or directed at yours truly on Twitter, @geminibros.

Making headlines…

* TimeSplitters is going to be a thing again, but not the way you might expect. A dedicated group of fans has been working on developing a CryEngine-powered TimeSplitters, something that would tie the classic FPS series together into a single package. Crytek UK, formerly known as TimeSplitters creator Free Radical, stepped up and pledged to support this initiative. Read that again: Crytek will officially support this fan-led development of an “all-in-one” package. The closest analogue that we’ve seen in the industry is the fan-made, Valve-approved Half-Life remake, Black Mesa. This initiative seems to be aiming for something bigger though, and I wish them the best of luck now that Crytek’s blessing has been handed down.

* Dean Hall and his team at Bohemia Interactive have been working long hours to get work done on the standalone DayZ in time for its targeted December 2012 launch. While work continues to go smoothly, even quicker than expected in some cases, Hall urged caution and patience earlier this week. Nothing’s been confirmed yet, but a delay into 2013 seems possible given the “massive departure from the previous [ArmA 2] engine,” the Bohemia game that the DayZ mod was born into. The good news is that it’s not a final, thoroughly polished release that the team is shooting to start with for public play. Hall has said previously that he intends to follow Mojang’s model with Minecraft, incorporating new features into the game as the community plays with it in a live environment. It’ll certainly be sad if DayZ slips into next year, but you can at least take comfort in the fact that the developers are taking care to ensure that your first experience with the unconventional zombie apocalypse game isn’t a broken mess.

* The Binding of Isaac, Edmund McMillen’s wonderful indie roguelike, is headed to consoles. It’s not clear yet which platforms it will be coming to, but Cave Story publisher Nicalis is taking point, the Team Meat developer reveals. McMillen’s requirements for the planned port — dubbed The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth — include adding in the original game’s upcoming DLC expansion, a local co-op mode, and remade 16-bit graphics. He also demanded that he be kept out of all business dealings. Nicalis agreed and Rebirth is incoming. Joy.

* Nintendo has been making with a pretty steady supply of DLC so far for the Nintendo 3DS-exclusive, New Super Mario Bros. 2, but there’s more to come. The next offering is meant to appeal specifically to longtime fans of the developer/publisher. The Golden Classic Course Pack is revealed as a free download that re-creates levels from classic Mario games; specifically, the first, second, and fourth levels from Mario Bros., the fifth level from Super Mario Bros. 3, and (awesomely) level 1-1 from Super Mario Bros.

* The classic cyberpunk pen-and-paper RPG-turned-strategy game Shadowrun Returns scored a lot of love from fans during its Kickstarter campaign, more than enough, in fact, to get development going. Developer Harebrained Schemes had set a January 2013 launch for the planned game, but we learned earlier this week that the intended release target will not be hit. The game is still planned to arrive in 2013, but now it likely won’t be until May or June. Harebrained explains that the huge show of support — and the laundry list of added features that the additional funding will bring to the game — has tacked on a considerable amount of work for the dev team to push through.

Top buys for the week…

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault :: PlayStation 3 :: $19.99

This light week for Digital Blend-friendly releases is highlighted by Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault, a game that mixes the third-person action/adventure of the blockbuster series from Insomniac with the simplistic, combat-oriented mission design of tower defense. There are some cool ideas at work in this new offering, available as both a boxed retail package and a downloadable PSN title. Note as well that one purchase gives you access to both the PS3 console game and the feature-complete PS Vita portable version… with one catch. The Vita release isn’t coming until January 2013; you’ll still get your cross-buy joy if you buy FFA now, but you’ll be waiting if all you’re looking for is Ratchet on the go.

Miasmata :: PC / Steam :: $14.99

Miasmata is a Steam Greenlight success story, the work of brothers Bob and Joe Johnson. It’s an open-world survival game with elements of horror thrown in, sending players off on a journey across a mystery-filled forest island that is home to a fearsome, invincible creature. While it’s sure to be overlooked amidst the end-of-holidays release rush, it remains an effort that is well worth your time. The open island’s gorgeous surroundings alone are worth the entry fee, and the game that unfolds as you explore the island amounts to much more than the $15 price tag would suggest. Pick of the week, right here.

Jet Set Radio :: iOS :: $4.99

We’ll round out the quiet DB week with yet another version of this fan-favorite Sega classic. Jet Set Radio is already available for PlayStation 3/Vita and Xbox 360; now you can add iOS and Android to that list as well. I haven’t tried this mobile port so I can’t speak to how well it controls on a touch screen, but there’s a reason Jet Set is considered a classic. Definitely worth a look on whatever your platform of choice is.

Transformers Prime offers a sort of finely tuned, brawler-based action that should serve as a good entry point for the budding, young gamers in your life.

Much like the TV series that it’s based on, Nowpro’s video game treatment of Transformers Prime is designed to appeal to a younger audience. That isn’t a bad thing at all, and there’s actually a (mostly) solid little brawler tucked away here,  but it’s best to set your expectations properly before diving in. If you’re the sort who spends countless hours with a gamepad or gaming mouse/keyboard beneath your fingers, this isn’t a game that will give you any trouble. It’s a “gateway game,” the sort of experience that will challenge a youngster, but not in an overpowering way. It’s Final Fight, it’s Golden Axe, it’s [insert nostalgia-fueled brawler of choice here] for a younger generation.

Exactly What Meets The Eye

I was chatting with Digital Trends contributor and fellow 30-something Anthony Agnello yesterday about my review assignment for Transformers Prime. “You and I both know that isn’t Optimus Prime,” he said in reference to the Peter Cullen-voiced character who leads the Autobots in the new series, just as he did back in the ’80s. That offhand comment says a lot, I think, about where this Transformers Prime game sits in the context of the larger industry.

It’s kids who are are watching the new TV series, for the most part. They’re busy forming connections with these new (or newly re-imagined) characters in the same way that Anthony and I did almost 30 years ago. These characters will stick with today’s youngsters for decades to come. They’ll be framed with the same sort of rose-tinted nostalgia that leads Anthony and I to agree now that Prime‘s Optimus is not the Optimus we know. And I have to say: viewed through that lens, this Transformers Prime game delivers pretty much exactly what those future nostalgia trips might look back to.

In adult gamer terms, Prime is a pretty straightforward brawler with a fun and engaging combat system that is built around a mixture of melee and ranged combo attacks. There’s more depth than just light punch and heavy punch, though not so much that a 10-year-old couldn’t grasp it. It seems to strike a good balance, offering up an expected assortment of close-up and ranged attackers that all require different strategies to take down. I say “seems to” because I’m more than two decades removed from my 10-year-old self, but if my 2-year-old niece can zip around an iPad with the ease that I’ve seen then I have to assume that a 10-year-old in 2012 can handle the limited depth of Transformers Prime. Especially if an adult gamer-type sits down as well to enjoy some local two-player co-op.

Nowpro’s efforts also score big for offering up a varied experience in other ways. You get to play as the series’ five “Team Prime” Autobot characters: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, Ratchet, and Bulkhead. Each one brings a unique feel and flavor to the game both in their robot and vehicle forms, but each one is also ultimately driven by the same core mechanics. The story is a standard-issue Transformers outing, with the good-hearted alien robots pushing back against the latest plot from Megatron and his Decepticon forces, a world domination plot that position Earth as the many battleground.

Environments are simple, boxy battle arenas for the most part, colored over with limited detail and tailor-made for plenty of robot-on-robot punching. The tropes of arcade brawlers are leaned on heavily in the offering of breakable, pick-up-concealing boxes while console gaming get an investment-focused nod in the form of collectible Cybertronian Artifacts that unlock gallery content. Then there’s the unique Transformers flavor that washes over everything, with each playable character able to transform into a vehicle on the fly. This is helpful for zipping around the larger environments, but vehicle form is also useful in combat for strafe-shooting and the occasional rushing combo. As I mentioned previously, there’s a surprising level of depth here.

The only real stumble comes in the form of vehicle-focused mission sequences that locks a character in vehicle form as he or she races ever-forward for one reason or another. The sequences themselves offer a nice change of pace, but Nowpro bafflingly forces players to rely on tilt-based motion controls for steering (in the Wii/Wii U releases, at any rate). The tilt controls are, as you might expect, not the greatest. Your vehicles veer left and right all too slowly, which gives way to tilts that overcompensate and send you careening into an endless Pit O’ Death.  This is further complicated by driving sequences that add a timer to the mix as well, especially since the timer doesn’t reset to where it was if you fall off the path and have to respawn.

A nitpicker could also reasonably take issue with the game’s visual execution, at least in the Wii U release. The game just doesn’t match the visual flair of any of the other launch titles for Nintendo’s new console. Of course, the game was also designed first for the Wii, which means that the Wii U SKU is actually a port. The graphics are noticeably sharper on the new platform, but they’re still bound by the limited graphical bells and whistles that the Wii is locked to. The Wii U version also doesn’t do much with the new console’s second screen interface. You can use it to chart your mission and challenge progress as you play or you can instead simply play entirely from the second screen. That’s all though.

Conclusion

Transformers Prime earns a well-deserved place in the holiday 2012 calendar as a worthy, worthwhile gift for younger gamers. It’s entertaining enough as a Transformers romp, with a lot more depth than you’d typically expect to see in a kid-friendly brawler. Perhaps it won’t convince a 30-something like me to cast aside Call of Duty, but that’s also not at all what it’s trying to be. This is gateway gaming for a younger audience, the sort of accessible play that threatens to stick around long after it’s been outgrown by its intended audience.

Score: 7.5 out of 10 

(This game was reviewed on the Wii U, using a copy provided by the publisher)