1）据Touch Arcade论坛用户曝料，继限制奖励式下载模式以及调整应用排名算法之后，苹果App Store最近又有新动作——限制使用开发商促销码的用户对产品发表评论或评价。

在此之前，不少开发商会采用免费发放促销码的策略来推高应用排名，因为促销码用户往往比付费用户更愿意对产品给予好评，而苹果很显然已经采取措施限制这种人为刺激下载量的现象。但苹果目前尚未正式对此事做出回应。

apple-app-store

2）法国游戏发行商Gameloft打算在美国路易斯安那州新奥尔良市开设一家新工作室，并于针对13个不同的全职工作岗位进行招聘。据互动娱乐行业人才招聘服务机构The Mary-Margaret Network透露，Gameloft是这一行最有可能在新奥尔良招聘人员的公司，但未来该地区还有可能迎来更多游戏公司。

早在今年初，EA就与当地的路易斯安那州立大学签订合作协议，入驻该校并利用其设施测试EA的体育类游戏项目，EA驻扎该校成员将达200人。

3）手机社交游戏平台Mobage最近登陆iOS和Android平台，通过ngmoco平台吸收了2000万用户，再加上从DeNA过续而来的2500万用户，Mobage平台目前手机游戏玩家超过了4500万。该平台支持开发者采用Javascript开发框架创建应用程序，并通过Mobage Social API绑定社交功能。Mobage将于今年6月15日向开发商群体开放其API，并计划在美国上线以抗衡竞争对手木瓜移动和OpenFeint。

4）手机游戏公司Glu Mobile宣布与畅销书作家James Frey的发行公司Full Fathom Five合作，将该作者的四部原创作品以手机游戏形式，推向智能手机和平板电脑平台。据Glu Mobile公司所称，他们打算通过这种跨媒体合作关系，吸引这四本畅销书的1000万名读者的关注，关于该作品的项目合作还有可能延伸到电视和电影领域。

Office Jerk

5）由Fluik Entertainment工作开发的手机游戏《Office Jerk》成为英国、美国和加拿大App Store的免费游戏冠军，发布仅四天就实现了160万次下载量。该游戏在23个国家的App Store中居于免费游戏榜首，在62个国家中均跻身前五强。该游戏发行商是Big Fat Simulations，Fluik工作室之前发布的游戏《Airport Madness Challenge》下载量在75万次以上。

Flight Control

6）美国游戏发行商EA宣布收购澳大利亚工作室Firemint，但并未公布成交金额，仅表示这项交易将在未来四周内正式完成。据EAi高管Barry Cottle所称，收购Firemint有助于EAi成为业内领先的手机游戏、在线游戏公司。Firemint在2009年3月发布的iPhone热门游戏《Flight Control》在今年1月份的下载量超过了380万次。

7）Glu Mobile公布的2011年第一季度财报显示，该公司的非GAAP智能手机业务营收比去年同一季度增长了98%；第一季度的游戏装载量为2000万次，在iOS、Android移动设备以及社交网站的装载量为7020万次；《Gun Bros.》的非GAAP营收是230万美元，占非GAAP总营收的13%。

该公司在第一季度的GAAP总营收为1640亿美元，去年同期的收益是1730亿美元；基于非GAAP的总营收为1720万美元，去年同期的收益是1750万美元。第一季度的GAAP运营亏损是260万美元，去年同期的亏损为270万美元。

Bubble Popper XXL

8）手机游戏开发商Lunaforte宣布旗下的《Lunagames XXL》休闲游戏系列收获了100万的日活跃用户，该系列包括《Bubble Popper XXL》、《Gems XXL》和《Cube Touch XXL》（游戏邦注：该系列原先运行于Android、Symbian、bada和黑莓平台），这三款免费游戏不久将进军苹果App Store，支持iOS用户通过积分排行榜功能与Symbian、Android、黑莓用户实现跨平台互动。

9）据iphonedownloadblog透露，Infini Dev Team计划推出基于网页浏览器的越狱iPhone应用商店，支持越狱iPhone用户通过Safari浏览器获取应用程序，但目前并未公布具体上线日期。Infini Dev Team推出的另一个越狱应用商店是Icy软件包管理程序。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，转载请注明来源：游戏邦）

1）Report: Review Restrictions Add To App Store Manipulation Crackdown

In what appears to be a continuing effort by Apple to restrict ranking and rating manipulation on its App Store, the company is no longer allowing users to rate an app if it was downloaded using a developer promo code, according to reports.

An alleged letter from Apple customer support was posted by a Touch Arcade forums user (via MacStories), with the unnamed rep saying “It is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer’s promotional code.”

A popular strategy to help increase an app’s rating has traditionally been to give an app away for free using a complimentary code, the assumption being that users would rate a complimentary app higher than they would have had they paid for it. It appears that Apple is cracking down on such manipulation.

As Gamasutra recently reported, Apple has changed its ranking algorithm to make Top 25 manipulation more difficult.

This additional ratings restriction — which appears to have been activated at around the same time — is believed to be a part of a larger crackdown that Apple has yet to officially acknowledge. （source:gamasutra）

2）Report: Gameloft To Open New Orleans Studio

French game publisher Gameloft is looking to open a development studio in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is currently looking to fill 13 full-time positions, according to media reports.

The developer jobs appeared recently on a New Orleans job board. Games site Joystiq received a statement that explained, “Gameloft is currently recruiting in New Orleans for a variety of game development positions. We’ll have more information about our exciting endeavors in New Orleans soon.”

Interactive entertainment recruiting service The Mary-Margaret Network noted, “Gameloft is the primary company potentially hiring for positions in New Orleans, but there will be many more companies to come in the near future.”

Earlier in the year, Electronic Arts signed a deal with Louisiana State University to expand its presence in the state with a new facility. The company has been part of the university since 2008, when it teamed up with the school and the state’s department of economic development to establish a testing facility primarily used for EA Sports games.

The new LSU facility will house up to 200 new employees on top of the 400 staffers it already employs in Baton Rouge. （source:gamasutra）

3）Mobage Launches in Japan on iOS & Android, API Coming June 15

The mobile social gaming network Mobage, the offspring of DeNA and ngmoco, has finally launched in Japan on April 26 on iOS and Android. Mobage has 20 million users from ngmoco and 25 million users from DeNA, bringing its total starting userbase to over 45 million players. Currently Mobage is in talks with major cell phone manufacturers to OEM its app on their devices.

Mobage allows developers to create applications using the Javascript development framework and integrate social features through the Mobage Social API. The Mobage API is best suited for social game development and adheres to Open Social standards.

So far Mobage has been relatively quiet about their launch, but I expect that they will be one of the largest (if not the largest) mobile social gaming networks, especially given the prominence of DeNA and ngmoco and their strong presence in the Asian markets.

On June 15 Mobage will open up its API to the development community and also plans to launch in the U.S. to rival Papaya & Openfeint.（source:socialtimes）

4）Glu signs deal with best-selling author James Frey to serve up novels as mobile games

The notion of books serving as the perfect inspiration for video games is nothing new, and Glu will be hoping a deal with best-selling author James Frey will further extend that close relationship.

The firm claims it has entered into partnership with Frey’s publishing company, Full Fathom Five, to ‘bring to life’ a minimum of four original story ideas across an initial two year period.

Said stories will also see the light of day across other media, helping to establish them as firm franchises.

Five alive

“We are thrilled to announce this groundbreaking partnership with James and Full Fathom Five,” said Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi, CEO of Glu.

Describing the deal as a transmedia partnership, Glu claims the games that result will come with a social bent, with the publisher aiming to lure in the 10 million readers of his four, chart-topping best-sellers.

“Glu and James Frey have a shared vision for the future of mobile and transmedia digital entertainment. We look forward to developing compelling original content which will be published across different media,” added de Masi.

“Properties will begin as novels and games on smartphones and tablets, with potential expansions for the most successful creations into television and film.”（source:pocketgamer）

5）Fluik Entertainment’s Office Jerk hits 1.6 million downloads in first 4 days

Flying straight to the top of the free charts in the UK, US and Canada, developer Fluik Entertainment has revealed that total downloads of Office Jerk have hit 1.6 million in the game’s first four days on the App Store.

The title topped the charts in 23 countries, placing in the top five in 62 countries in all, with the studio claiming download numbers are continuing to rise.

No fluke for Fluik

“We are thrilled to see the enthusiastic response to Office Jerk, and couldn’t possibly be happier with the game’s success,” said Victor Rubba, CEO of Fluik Entertainment.

“We had high hopes for the game, and reaching the top of the App Store charts in so many countries is truly humbling; we’ll continue to support the franchise in the future, and I assure you that this is just the beginning for Office Jerk – and for Fluik, as a developer of top-quality, highly engaging games that players of all ages can enjoy.”

The game is the latest in a string of collaborations between Fluik Entertainment and publisher Big Fat Simulations, with previous release Airport Madness Challenge having clocked up more than 750,000 downloads in total. （source:pocketgamer）

6）EA acquires Firemint for undisclosed fee

Six months after it made its move for publishing powerhouse Chillingo, EA has announced it is to acquire Australian studio Firemint for an undisclosed fee.

The company claims the deal for Firemint, best known for the likes of Flight Control and Real Racing, will be closed within the next four weeks.

Flying high

“The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success,” said EA Interactive executive veep and general manager VP Barry Cottle.

“Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms.”

Flight Control, which launched on iPhone in March 2009, surpassed sales of 3.8 million on the platform back in January.

Deal derby

Cottle says the Firemint deal, which is not material to the company, directly follows on from another buyout, this time of cross-platform development and porting specialist Mobile Post Production (MPP).

“The added technical expertise of MPP, combined with the creative talent of Firemint and our EAi studio teams, fuels EA’s leadership in delivering top selling, high quality games across mobile phones and smartphones, tablets and future digital interactive entertainment platforms,” he added.

It’s not yet been revealed what impact, if any, this will have on Firemint’s 60 strong team. （source:pocketgamer）

7）Glu Reports First Quarter 2011 Financial Results

– 98% quarter over quarter non-GAAP smartphone revenue growth

– 20.0 million installs during the first quarter of 2011 and 70.2 million installs life to date across iOS and Android devices and social networking websites

– Gun Bros non-GAAP revenue of $2.3 million, or 13% of total non-GAAP revenue

Revenue: Total GAAP revenue was $16.4 million for the first quarter of 2011 compared to $17.3 million in the first quarter of 2010. Total non-GAAP revenue was $17.2 million for the first quarter of 2011 compared to $17.5 million in the first quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP revenue excludes changes in deferred revenue.

GAAP Operating Loss: GAAP operating loss was $(2.6) million for the first quarter of 2011 compared to a $(2.7) million loss in the first quarter of 2010. （source:businesswire）

8）Lunaforte’s Lunagames XXL bound for iOS as series hits 1 million DAUs

Stretching across Symbian, BlackBerry, bada and Android, Lunaforte has announced that its Lunagames XXL casual games series now boasts 1 million daily active users (DAU).

Consisting of three free games in all – Bubble Popper XXL, Gems XXL, and Cube Touch XXL – the Dutch developer has announced its XXL roster is now bound for the App Store in celebration.

Free fest

The news comes after Lunaforte announced its line-up of free and paid games had surpassed total downloads of 30 million in 2010, pinning its success down to its “dedication to apps that are

easy, fun and accessible”.

“We want to thank the amazing support we’ve had from enthusiastic gamers all around the world to help make our XXL games so successful,” said head of games Dennis Medema.

“We welcome the iOS gamers to join the competition.”

The developer claims iOS users will be able to compete against those playing on Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry via the game’s leaderboards from day one. （source:pocketgamer）

9）Infini Dev Team plans browser-based iPhone app store

Infini Dev Team plans browser-based iPhone app store

New Lima store for jailbroken iPhones to compete with Cydia.

iphonedownloadblog says Infini Dev Team is planning to make its store purely browser-based, with no launch installer.

This means jailbroken users can simply navigate to a website in Safari to get apps.

Infini Dev Team is behind the Icy package installer, another jailbroken app store, but one which has been absent since iOS 3.0.

That’s back now. But it seems that Infini Dev is also working on this browser-based system.

No launch date is available yet.（source:mobile-ent）