Week after week has seen the same champion atop the pile of iPhone app games from the App Store. Bejeweled 2 has been challenged a few times, but it has continued to lead the way until this week. There is finally a game worthy of taking the top spot and it is none other than Call of Duty: World at War Zombies.

The hefty price tag of $9.99 did not scare anyone away as this much anticipated game quickly took over the top spot. While Bejeweled 2 is great for killing time on the train, Call of Duty is just great for killing. If you have not yet played the video game, you have no idea what you are missing. If there was ever a game that could make anyone an obsessive, this is it.

The iPhone version is about as good as it gets for a hand held game. The graphics are solid and they have captured the overall feel of the game very nicely. While nothing will ever replace playing the game on a big screen TV with all of the effects, this is the next best thing for the true Call of Duty junkie.

The game is expandable and with the quick success, it is only reasonable to expect that updates will be available in the future. Some of the concerns of the previous versions were also corrected. Specifically, weapons damage levels, lack of support for 1st generation devices and inconsistent play connections. All things considered, this game is a lot of fun in the palm of your hand.

While the initial push was expected, don’t be surprised to see Bejeweled 2 back on top in the very near future. It is another addicting game with a very small price tag that has a cult following of its own. After the Call of Duty loyalists finish their downloading, it will probably be business as usual in the old App Store.

1. iPhone welcomes Bejeweled 2 from PopCap
2. Bejeweled for iPhone
3. SpotMe – iPhone Puzzle Game

While the purpose of your phone is supposed to be for talking, every now and again it is nice to have a little fun with it. I stumbled upon this great new app and after purchasing and giving it a try, it is something that is highly recommended. Air Tennis only costs $.99 and turns the iPhone into a Wii.

One of the staple games of the Wii video game system is the tennis game. That specific game has been made famous by a couple of different movies and is an absolute blast to play. By the end of a single session, you realize that you are doing everything but running around the courts. Well the iPhone now has an app that brings that very same type of game play to it.

In order to use Air Tennis, there must be 2 iPhone users present. Once they open the app, it is time to get going. One player will have to touch the screen and serve the ball and then the iPhone barks out commands as to what type of stroke is needed in order to return the ball. The stroke must be completed immediately or the ball will be missed.

The sound effects on this are great and while there is no true video screen to look at like the Wii has, the thrill of the game is there. The app communicates through its Bluetooth capabilities, so both players will have to be relatively close to each other. If this game goes viral we can see cubicles everywhere sounding like New York during the US Open. Give this one a try and spring for the $1 to get a playing partner. It is an absolute blast.

1. Play music with your breath with Ocarina for the iPhone
2. Play Vegas poker without leaving home through your iPhone
3. Can’t get enough of Mahjong? Play it in your iPhone!

Rockstar Games announced Monday that it would port its portable version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars from the Nintendo DS to the iPhone. The game is expected to arrive this fall.

“Chinatown Wars is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch. We are very excited to bring this incredibly ambitious version of Liberty City, with this level of detail and immersive gameplay on Apple’s new gaming platforms,” Rockstar President Sam Houser said.

Chinatown Wars is one of the best-reviewed games for Nintendo’s mobile device. After lackluster sales following the title’s debut, Rockstar also announced its intentions to port the title to the Sony PlayStation Portable.

Rockstar also announced that Beaterator, its rhythm game already announced for the Sony PSP, will also make its way to the iPhone and iPod touch this fall.

“The simple, pick-up-and-play nature of Beaterator lends itself so well to the Apple platforms,” Houser said. “We are happy to deliver an application that allows for such unprecedented sharing and ease-of-use.”

1. May the force be with the iPhone
2. iPhone games sweep IGF mobile game awards
3. Popular RPG/Match 3 game Puzzle Quest coming to iPhone soon

Duke Nukem 3D for the iPhone has just made its debut in the App Store. This version of the popular first person shooter game first appeared in 1996 for the PC, with subsequent ports to other platforms along with multiple expansion packs and add-ons made available in the years since.

TouchArcade has taken a first look at the app, noting that it “appears to be a rather full implementation of the PC original” though there are some on-screen analog control issues that hamper gameplay. Here’s the full first look link: http://toucharcade.com/2009/08/10/duke-nukem-3d-hits-app-store-with-control-issues/

According to a post in the TouchArcade forums by George Broussard, who co-authored the original game, these issues will be reviewed and addressed in an update.

Duke Nukem 3D became available in the App Store yesterday and currently has an introductory price of $2.99.

1. iPhone vindicated of false accusation from Duke University
2. iPhone taking down Duke infrastructure
3. TouchArcade.com – For all your iPhone Gaming Needs

The Quake onslaught is in addition to a slew of other id games hitting iPhone: Wolfenstein RPG, Doom 2 RPG and Doom Classic. Interestingly, why he’ll be farming out most of the port work, Carmack says he’s personally interested in working on some of the stuff made possible by the iPhone 3GS’s more advanced hardware: “I certainly want to do this MegaTexture demo for the 3GS stuff, work on that myself.”

While there’s 40 million current-gen iPhone OS devices out there, we’re totally ready for developers to ditch them so we can see what’s really possible on the platform in terms of speed, graphics and detail. It could herald the first 3GS exclusive release at some point.

1. iPhone on Doom!? Or is it the other way around?
2. Doom is close to the iPhone
3. iPhone As A Gaming Platform

Here’s the details from the creators’ web site:

“I-Play, Oberon Media’s publishing division and the world’s leading multi-platform casual games publisher, today announced the launch of Turbo Subs for iPhone™ and iPod® touch. Based on the best-selling PC game with over 1.5 million downloads, Turbo Subs is now available in the Apple® App Store.

Turbo Subs brings the Big Apple into the palms of players’ hands as they embark on a tasty adventure in New York City. Players manage Rebecca and Robert as they attempt to create successful sandwich shops by satisfying impatient customers and fending off villainous thieves in peculiar sites all around New York City.

Serving hungry customers has never been more fun with gameplay perfectly tuned for the iPhone’s flawless touch screen controls. Players open up shop in whimsical locations all around New York City throughout 60 challenging levels. Sub shop masters can fire up the kitchen hustle and unlock expert objectives in each level to keep the challenge alive and the sandwiches supplied.”

It’s available for immediate download in the App Store for $1.99.

1. Bladox reopen shop – Turbo Sim available
2. iPhone Unlocking Instructions Using the Turbo Sim method
3. Real Soccer 2009 game released for the iPhone

The gist is that the massively popular Command & Conquer real-time strategy game series is coming to the iPhone soon – according to Planet Command & Conquer:

“Apoc has just confirmed on his Twitter page that “Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPhone will be at E3. Obviously, that doesn’t clarify whether it’s a port, a spin-off, a tie-in, a mix of all three RA games, or something else entirely. It also doesn’t make any mention of pricing details or a release schedule, but at least now we know that something set in the Red Alert universe is heading to iPhone.”

Apoc is a “communtity commander” for the game and is well know in the C&C world, so this seems like a lot more than a rumor. Big name games continue to march onto the iPhone, a good indication of the iPhone’s gaming fortunes in the future.

1. EA to release several big name games for the iPhone this year
2. Tag Games soon to release Rock ‘n Roll for the iPhone
3. Atari releases 2 classic arcade hits for the iPhone, and uses a unique marketing tool: Lawyers

The description and features are from the previous mobile release, but should be a good indicator of what we can expect from the iPhone release.

Brief Description from website:
“Several centuries have passed since the Empire of Light defeated the Empire of Darkness and destroyed the gates of Hell. But now the howls of the Orcs can be heard once again, compelling men, dwarves, and elves to come together under the banner of Light. Hell’s gate has been rebuilt: a new war is inevitable! Download Rise of Lost Empires onto your mobile phone and become the Master of Light or Darkness. Just a few clicks will have you building cities, raising armies, going through dungeons, and launching offensives against opposing forces. Can you lead your Empire to victory?”

Feature set from the site:
* A true game of strategy: colossal armies to lead, cities to build, and resources to manage.
* 2 campaigns – one with humans, the other with Orcs – and no fewer than 20 missions.
* Easy to pick up and play: build a city or lead an army with just a few clicks.
* More than 20 units to control and 20 different buildings to construct.
* 6 heroes with tremendous strength and magical powers that will lead your armies.
* Digitized voices: hear your troops respond to the call of their master.

This should raise the bar for RTS strategy gaming on the iPhone (of which there hasn’t been much overall).

1. KingdomGame iPhone Game
2. iPhone The lost Manual Released
3. David Pogue’s lost Manual for iPhone available for pre-order

Myst has now come to the iPhone. It’s a 730MB download that requires 1.5GB of free space to install (yes, that’s a lot). It costs $6, which isn’t bad when you think when it was first released, it was a $50 game, and people eagerly paid it.

Anyone who counts themselves a classic game fan simply has to get ahold of this one; it’s smooth and well-done, and the graphics are close to as stunning as the original ones on the PC, based on screenshots (one seen here).

It’s available in the App Store right now.

1. Coming Soon on your iPhone: Myst
2. Classic Apple II game Lemonade Stand being released for the iPhone
3. Pig Shooter iPhone Adventure Game

We can’t tell how the controls will work, but the graphics and gameplay really do look great. iPhone as a game platform is advancing in leaps and bounds.

Early reports indicate the game is very smooth and complex, and we can tell from the trailer than specifics of gameplay will be varied (different weapons, vehicles) and full of things blowing up. We don’t have a price or release date for you, but Gameloft says it’s “coming soon,” which means before the end of the summer or so. Early reports indicate a mid-summer release.

Here’s a gameplay video for drooling purposes:

[youtube]IWDDPAmZd5k[/youtube]

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2. Sneak preview of upcoming Labyrinth update
3. iSnap iPhone game released by Phelios Inc