iLounge

MumboJumbo has released a new iPad hidden object game, The Midnight Mysteries: Haunted Houdini. The fourth entry in the company’s long-running Midnight Mysteries adventure game series, Haunted Houdini takes players on a mystical journey where they must help the spirit of the famed illusionists wife Bess unravel the secrets of what really led to her husband’s death. Along the way, players will discover aspects of Houdini’s life such as his obsession with debunking mediums and his passing involvement with a vindictive secret society while they solve puzzles, adapt objects into tools and consult with famous ghosts such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Howard Thurston. The game provides highly detailed visuals and sound effects along with dozens of challenging puzzles to solve, story-driven hidden object scenes and a detailed hint system. Players can choose from three game modes with different levels of difficulty for the novice and experienced player alike. The Midnight Mysteries: Haunted Houdini is available from the App Store for $7 with an optional Collector’s Edition upgrade available via in-app purchase for $3. The Collector’s Edition adds an exclusive bonus chapter and game mode along with a detailed illustrated strategy guide and additional fan content such as wallpapers and sketch art.

Epic Games and Chair Entertainment have released Infinity Blade II: ClashMob the first major content update to the acclaimed iOS game. Available as a free update for Infinity Blade II, ClashMob introduces the ability to compete in cooperative challenge events online with friends; players can create a new mob and recruit friends via Facebook and Game Center or join an existing one to work with hundreds of other players to cooperatively take down enemies with vast amounts of health, gaining special perks, achievements and rewards exclusive to ClashMob. Multiplayer game play in ClashMob is uniquely asynchronous, meaning that players can fire up the game on their own schedule to participate in their own segment of the quest at any time.

Version 1.1 also adds a new Gem Forge allowing players to combine gems to create their own more powerful versions along with a dozen new weapons and other items to collect and master; a number of balance tweaks, optimizations and bug fixes have also been taken care of in this update. Infinity Blade II requires an iPhone 3GS/4/4S, third- or fourth-generation iPod touch or iPad and is available from the App Store for $5. A Facebook account is required for the new ClashMob online play features.

Rockstar Games plans to release a port of its original Max Payne title for iOS. According to a Kotaku report, the game will feature “HD” graphics, high definition textures, user-configurable controls, and Rockstar Social Club functionality. Max Payne Mobile will be released on iTunes April 12, and will require an iPhone 3GS or later, fourth-generation iPod touch, or any model of iPad.

At today’s new iPad launch event, Epic Games unveiled its newest iOS title, Infinity Blade: Dungeons. A followup to Infinity Blade and Infinity Blade II, Dungeons puts players on a quest to craft the ultimate weapon—the Infinity Blade. The game builds on the swipe-to-attack fighting mechanic, and allows for chain attacks within a 3/4 perspective Gauntlet-style environment, rather than the first-person perspective of prior Infinity Blade titles. Epic noted that the new iPad has more memory and higher screen resolution than an Xbox 360 or PS3. Infinity Blade: Dungeons is coming soon.

During Apple’s iPad event today, Namco unveiled its new flight simulation game, Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy. The game puts players in the cockpit of a jet fighter, and is optimized to take advantage of the new iPad’s Retina display and A5X processor, with Namco calling it “console-quality.” Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy will be exclusive to iOS, and launch later this month.

Fishlabs has released the much-anticipated update to Galaxy on Fire 2 HD adding support for the Valkyrie HD expansion pack. Released last fall, Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is an enhanced version of the popular original Galaxy on Fire 2 that has been optimized to take full advantage of the improved graphic capabilities of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 along with support for synchronizing saved games via iCloud. The latest update brings the Valkyrie expansion pack to Galaxy on Fire 2 HD adding enhanced 3D models, console-quality visuals and increased textures, resolutions and effects to the original expansion.

The expansion continues the storyline of Keith T. Maxwell’s galactic adventures as he now attempts to unravel a conspiracy orchestrated by a mysterious and cunning new enemy. The new add-on provides new spaceships, weapons and equipment along with nine new planets across four solar systems and a new black market trading system. Users can also now purchase their own space station, the Kaamo Club, in order to store additional spaceships and valuable goods. Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is available from the App Store for $10 and is compatible with the iPhone 3GS/4/4S, third- or fourth-generation iPod touch or iPad, although the enhanced graphics are only available on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. The Valkyrie HD expansion is available as an in-app purchase for $5; users with the original Galaxy on Fire 2 standard edition installed on their device will receive the Valkyrie HD expansion for free when first opening the new version.

Yahoo reports that Rovio is planning to release a new instalment in its popular Angry Birds franchise, launching the eponymous birds into the final frontier in Angry Birds Space. This fourth title in the series will change things up by providing not only a new graphical theme but also introducing appropriate new gameplay elements such as realistic zero-gravity physics, slow-motion puzzles and “light speed” destruction. Rovio has also confirmed that the game will feature some completely new, additional birds sporting new super powers, although many of the traditional game play elements such as the three-star level rating system are also expected to remain. Rovio will also be releasing Angry Birds Space simultaneously in mobile gaming, retail and animation channels and plans to announce more specific partnerships and other gameplay details via its official Angry Birds Space website over the next few weeks leading up to the scheduled launch date of March 22.

Capcom has released an iOS version of the popular Nintendo DS mystery adventure game, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. Originally created by Shu Takumi, father of the critically acclaimed Ace Attorney series, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective combines Takumi’s signature style of quirky humour, logic puzzles and an intriguing storyline wrapped in a unique art style. In the game, players take on the role of Sissel, the ghost of a murder victim with no memory of who he is or what happened to him; players must unravel the mystery of Sissel’s demise by guiding him through dynamic environments, possessing and manipulating objects and solving puzzles before time runs out at daybreak. The game features intuitive touch screen controls optimized for the iOS platform, enhanced graphics and incorporates Game Center support. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a universal app requiring iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store as a free download and includes Chapter 1 and 2; subsequent chapters are available via in-app purchase in three different packs for $5 each or $10 for all chapters.

Telltale Games has released Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space for iOS. The latest instalment in the classic comedic gaming series brings back the eponymous dog and hyperkinetic lagomorph duo Sam & Max to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad platform with the release of the first episode in the new series, Ice Station Santa. In the initial episode players must help the Freelance Police duo fight the most ancient and powerful opponent they’ve yet faced: Santa Claus and save the world’s children from a holiday tainted by tears, turmoil and Torture-Me-Elmer toys. This latest title also includes two iOS exclusive features: a ‘Whack da Ratz’ mini-game where players can compete for the top score in the Freelance Police Hall of Fame and a soundboard to allow players to create new and deranged quotes from their favourite Sam & Max lines. Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space Episode 1 is a universal app and requires an iPhone 3GS/4/4S, third- or fourth-generation iPod touch or iPad running iOS 4.2 or later and is available from the App Store for $7.

Game developer Valve has released Steam Mobile, a new iPhone app that allows users of the popular gaming service to participate in the Steam community directly from their device. The new app allows Steam users to chat with their friends on Steam, browse community groups, gaming pages and user profiles as well as reading the latest gaming news and keeping track of sales on games. Users can also view the catalog of featured, new and popular games and manage their wish list from within the app. Steam Mobile available from the App Store as a free download, but is reportedly still in closed beta requiring users to request an invitation before they can sign in to use the app. [via MacStories]

id Software has released an update to Rage HD adding a Mutant Bash Store and enhancements for iOS 5 and newer iOS devices. Rage HD 2.0 now provides additional content, available from the Mutant Bash Store, beginning with a new $1 Episode Pack that includes two new episodes titled Kraken and Aqueduct and more content to come. The new version also adds higher resolution player and weapon models, support for video output using the Apple Digital AV Adapter and improvements to video output when using the VGA and component cables under iOS 5. Numerous performance enhancements, bug-fixes and iOS 5 compatibility issues have also been addressed in the update. Rage HD requires an iPhone 3GS/4/4S, third- or fourth-generation iPod touch or iPad running iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store for $2.

Gameloft has released Dungeon Hunter 3, the third instalment in its Dungeon Hunter series of action RPG games for iOS. A sequel to last year’s Dungeon Hunter 2 (iLounge Rating: B+), the new game takes players back into the dark fantasy world of Gothicus where they must again fight the forces of evil across 16 massive arenas. Dungeon Hunter 3 provides the same style of hack and slash game play from the previous titles with epic real-time fights and four different levels of difficult to challenge players. Users can choose from four unique new character classes: Warlod, Astromancer, Trickster or Shaman and can also now choose the gender of their hero; each character class provides different skills paths and abilities and players unlock additional skills as they gain experience points and level up. Dungeon Hunter 3 expands on previous titles with a larger in-game world and higher quality graphics that take full advantage of modern iOS devices including refined textures, advanced shaders, lighting effects and more. Dungeon Hunter 3 is available from the App Store as a free download.

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar Games has released an iOS version of the highly acclaimed console and PC title. Grand Theft Auto 3 for iOS takes players back into the dark and seedy underworld of Liberty City, with a massive and diverse open world that players can explore at will and a wide variety of characters to interact with in an immersive storyline. The game includes redesigned HD graphics designed to take full advantage of the latest iOS device capabilities alongside high-quality voice acting and touch-screen optimized controls. Grand Theft Auto 3 requires an iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2 or fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later and is available from the App Store for $5.

Foundation Games has released Lumi HD, a new action-puzzle game for the iPad that challenges players to explore unique powers of light and magnetism. Challenged with no less of a task than saving the universe, players take on the role of Lumi, a small but powerful creature with special powers based on magnetism and light. Lumi must venture through a darkened world to save his friends and restore peace to the land by moving through a wide range of game environments, collecting fireflies to brighten and revive Light Trees, discover new paths to explore and fight dangerous enemies. Users control Lumi using a touchscreen joystick to jump, fly and fling using magnetic attraction and fight epic boss battles. The game provides a wide variety of exciting worlds with high-quality graphics and different game environments with regular updates promised to evolve the game beyond its initial release. Lumi HD is compatible with the iPad and iPad 2 and is available from the App Store for $3. An iPhone and iPod touch version is also scheduled to be released later this month.

Microsoft has released an iOS version of Kinectimals, the mobile adaptation of its Kinect for Xbox 360 game of the same name. First released for the Windows Phone platform in October, the iOS version provides similar features, taking players to the virtual land of Lemuria where they are given their own cub to play with and care for through a series of mini-games. The game can be played as a standalone experience or can be used in conjunction with the Xbox game to unlock new cubs on the console side. Kinectimals is a universal app requiring iOS 4.2 or later and is available from the App Store for $3.

Rovio has released a special update to its highly acclaimed Angry Birds for iOS in celebration of the application’s second birthday. Angry Birds 2.0 unlocks all in-game episodes and adds fifteen new “birthday cake” levels, providing access to 300 levels of Angry Birds in total. The update also adds a new expandable organ bird, new menus and graphics and special birthday achievements to challenge players. Angry Birds is available from the App Store in two versions: Angry Birds ($1) for the iPhone and iPod touch and Angry Birds HD ($5) for the iPad.