Where in the world is Obleo

News in the gaming front is that in the very near future GameHouse and Real Arcade are combining there game websites.

Improvements that gameHouse says well see soon are;

More Games, over 900 titles and new games added weekly.

More value. Only with a game membership subscription.

More features, like a forum (oh ok. that not too exciting)

More Choices. They say they will equally support mac and windows with the same titles

(I will believe it when I see it. Generally all these casual game stores, sell only one boring genre for the mac and that is hidden object. There so many hidden object games that if I personally see another I will scream.)

There hundreds of developers making awesome games for mac, but gameHouse seems to like selling only hidden object or match 3 games. Hopefully real Arcade can change that and bring fun and awesome titles to gameHouse more than what was just once a year or twice a year in the past.

I think that actually is possible because real arcade actually has many genres covered and deliver many great game titles, and have for years.

Here the press release on gamehouse and real arcade merging. http://www.gamehouse.com/news

Another tool, GameSalad has drop there price. The once ridiculous fee of $500 for Express is now $99. Game Salad free for web publishing and now just $99 for iPhone Publishing.

The only thing is GameSalad is not a real programming tool. Personally I like programing with code. As you can do anything you want to, and it really pretty simple once you learn the syntax. GameSalad as reviewed a few months ago in this blog is like automator. The news here is another tool, has drop its ridiculous price. Specially consider GameSalad not a real programming tool. It more of just a publisher.

I hope any other development tools entering this realm soon of mobile publishing takes notice of these new price points. And comes down to reality.

In the most shocking move in history. Unity Indie licenses is now free. publish to the web, mac and PC for nothing. The indie version was $199. But as of now It is completely FREE!!!

The only really bad news is if you where like us and had the indie version of unity pre the new licensing of 2.6 and have the iPhone basic. And want to use Unity to publish to the iPhone. Pre October 27th 2009 it cost $699.00 total in annually updating the tools to do that with unity. Now it going to cost 10 times the amount money it did Pre October 27th to publish with the iPhone using Unity. Why? Because a very expensive pro license is now required.

That is really really bad news, consider we make less money with iphone builds than desktop builds. (19.99 a title desktop to under 4.99 a title iPhone is a major difference, specially when 40% of that skimmed off the top of the under 4.99 price point. Then add the mix of production cost and it hard to stay out of the red with mobile publishing.)

If your an indy developer or small shop these 3rd party over priced licenses to build out to the iPhone, are really become ridiculously over priced. It makes no more since to use any development tools besides Apples SDK and xcode. Unless your a huge company and making big profits of selling mobile apps for peanuts in price points.

Well go get the free unity It worth it. Not because it free, because it awesome and just works.

For the iPhone I guess it time to switch back to xcode. Now that it cost $1,101.00 more than yesterday. Because it now requires the pro version licenses to update (will be $2000.00, Total, annually!) to use Unity to build out to the iPhone. 

rejoice unity is free to some degree. The bad half just means, hello xcode good bye Unity iPhone publishing.

Update; if the people that commented below are actually unity staff, then it might be true that unity iPhone may not need a pro license. (I hope so) Why it worded like it should is beyond me? I have to send in a support email. as I will only believe the one person that help us with all our unity questions up to this point. As our free updates are over, for our current license #.

get it here @ http://unity3d.com/

here to unity news on the free version of unity.@  http://unity3d.com/company/news/unity2.6-press.html

This is the best independent developer made game I've ever seen or played.

Machinarium is a puzzle / adventure game. The puzzles are a real challenge. The overall feel of the whole game is the same feeling I had when Myst was first released back in the early 1990's. I personally put this in the top 10 games ever played, It worth getting and playing. This game is can't miss for anyone that every enjoyed a great puzzle game.

The demo and full versions can be found here for mac @ http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-MACHINMAC/machinarium-mac

and for windows @ http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-MACHIN/machinarium

Machinarium is really worth the time to try out, seriously go get it.

This has to be the best thing I seen for a while. On the Developers site it says and I quote. "Buy it! It Cost Whatever You Want(ish)!"

With a field to add the amount you wish to pay and a button to buy it (note A minimum of $1 is the least amount accepted.) How can anyone really pass that up???

It a fun game shooter game for mac or windows. But the pure willingness to offer it for whatever you want(ish) . surprised me enough to write about it.

More info @ http://www.charliesgames.com/wordpress/?page_id=203

A very interesting strategy game. Creeper world does not jazz you up with a tons of eye candy. But it does bring a very challenging and fun strategy game play.

After a month of seeing hundreds more of those boring Hidden Objects and match 3 games (which if you played one, you played enough, there all the same cookie cutter type games)

Creeper World hits the OSX platform almost under the radar. This truly is one not to miss. It's a fun unique challenge worth the time.

Check it out @ http://knucklecracker.com/

A fun free word game. These guys have no web site, on there products. But you can download by apple/ downloads @ http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/games/cards_puzzle/cubaletra.html

pretty good play.