1）ABI Research最近报告预测，2017年采用NFC技术的设备（包括手机和其他消费者电子产品）出货量将达20亿部。其中手机将占据多数比例，而包括平板电脑、PC配件和游戏控制器在内的NFC消费者电子产品出货量也将达到3.95亿部。

nfc-phone(from ubergizmo.com)

预计2012年底，采用NFC的手机出货量将从原来的8000万部增长至1.02亿部。

2）据pocketgamer报道，英国手机游戏开发商Hogrocket日前宣布关闭工作室，该公司代表作为《Tiny Invaders》，由前Bizarre Creations成员于2011年创立，目前其成员已转向其他项目。

tiny invaders(from pocketgamer.biz)

其联合创始人Peter Collier表示，关闭工作室有多种原因，包括三个成员的地理位置及财政情况等因素。

Collier目前就职于位于英国柴郡的工作室Playdemic，他与Ben Ward和Stephen Cakebread（《几何战争》开发者）在2011年1月动视关闭利物浦工作室Bizarre Creations时联合成立了Hogrocket。

3）据games.com报道，Zynga不久前向Zynga.com平台发布了由Sava Transmedia开发的Facebook游戏《Rubber Tacos》，最近这两家公司又联手推出了该游戏的iOS版本。

Rubber Tacos(from games)

这个免费的手机版游戏支持玩家创建自己的关卡，向好友发起挑战，并将在不久后入驻Google Play。

4）据gamasutra报道，英国工作室Eurocom（代表作《007 Legends》）在最近的业务重组中裁减了“多数”员工。该工作室成立于1988年，在过去数十年中向不同平台发行了多款游戏，最近推出的是基于邦德007题材的授权游戏《GoldenEye 007: Reloaded》以及《007 Legends》。

007 Legends(from calmdowntom.com)

该公司主管Hugh Binns承认主机视频游戏市场份额下滑迫使工作室取消了一系列项目，并裁减大量员工。

5）据games.com报道，为迎接即将到来的“世界末日”——12月21日，Zynga最近与CyArk合作，在Facebook寻物解谜游戏《Hidden Chronicles》中推出了两个与玛雅文明有关的新场景。

Hidden Chronicles(from games)

即日起至12月22日，玩家将可在游戏中购买El Caracol和El Castillo 这两个付费场景，这两者均包含奇琴伊察这个玛雅古城遗址，每个场景的售价都是1美元，玩家的款项将直接用于帮助CyArk（游戏邦注：该公司已创造了拉什莫尔山、复活节岛、意大利比萨斜塔有关的数字目录）保存玛雅文明的“数字保护项目”。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转载，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

1）2bn NFC-enabled devices to be shipped in 2017

by Zen Terrelonge

Is tap-to-pay here to stay?

Contactless communications tech NFC allows the transference of data such as music and payments, but while Samsung and BlackBerry have entered the space, Apple notably snubbed use of NFC in the iPhone 5.

However, ABI Research says two billion NFC-enabled devices will ship in 2017, a mixture of mobile handsets and consumer electronic (CE) devices.

Although phones will dominate the space, CE-based NFC usage is set to hit 395m devices to enable device pairing, data exchanges and so on, with the tech found in gadgets including tablets, PC accessories and games consoles.

Phil Sealy, research analyst, said: “2012 is the first time that ABI Research has raised forecasts for NFC-enabled handsets, up from 80 million units to 102 million for year-end 2012.

“Nine out of the top ten OEMs now have NFC-enabled handsets commercially available, with most housing an embedded secure element solution. We expect handset shipments to more than double next year with NFC inclusion likely to become a default technology integrated into flagship handsets.”（source：mobile-ent）

2）Bizarre ending: Tiny Invaders outfit Hogrocket closes

by Keith Andrew

Formed by three former Bizarre Creations staffers back at the start of 2011, UK mobile developer Hogrocket has closed its doors indefinitely, it’s been announced.

The studio behind iOS release Tiny Invaders has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that those behind the venture are now working on other projects, with the company’s longterm future now in doubt.

‘Indefinite hiatus’

“Unfortunately Hogrocket is on indefinite hiatus and the three of us have all moved onto new things,” Hogrocket co-founder and former Bizarre Creations level designer Peter Collier told the site.

“This was due to a combination of factors, ranging from geographical to financial. It’s sad but the three of us all learned a lot.”

Tiny Invaders

Collier, who is now working at Cheshire studio Playdemic, was one of three founding Hogrocket members, with the studio having been formed out of the fires of Activision’s decision to close Liverpool-based Bizarre Creations in January 2011.

Also on board were communications man Ben Ward and Geometry Wars creator Stephen Cakebread.

‘Extremely refreshing’

Following the launch of the firm’s debut game, Tiny Invaders, Collier had described working on iOS as “extremely refreshing”, claiming the firm believed iOS had “a greater and varied market penetration” than console.

“The triple-A developer pool has been utterly decimated over the past couple of years by publisher cutbacks,” said Collier in September 2011.

“All the redundancies mean developers out in the cold but with a bit of money in their back pocket.

“That, coupled with an understandable aversion to re-entering console development again, makes going it alone or with friends an attractive proposition.”（source：pocketgamer）

3）Sava Transmedia and Zynga fling Rubber Tacos onto iOS

by Brandy Shaul

When Sava Transmedia developed and Zynga published Rubber Tacos launched on Zynga.com and Facebook earlier this year, we were shocked at how well the “flinging” genre was given new life. In fact, we called Rubber Tacos one of the best new social games you’ll play all year, but if playing the game on Zynga.com isn’t enough for you, you can now take your friendly luchadores with you wherever you go via the game’s launch on iOS.

If you’ve yet to try Rubber Tacos, the game challenges players with flinging luchadores from one side of a level to another while using power-ups to avoid obstacles like electric eels, cannons, floating cacti and much more. The mobile version of Rubber Tacos allows players to build their own levels and challenge their friends to complete them, and the game is now available to download for free on both iPhone and iPad. Rubber Tacos will also launch on Google Play sometime soon, but for now, check out the game’s trailer to see what to expect.（source：games）

4）007 Legends studio Eurocom lays off majority of staff

By Mike Rose

Derby, UK-based studio Eurocom, most recently the developer behind 007 Legends, has laid off “the majority” of its workforce as part of a restructuring move.

The studio was originally founded in 1988, and has had a hand in dozens of games for various platforms over the last couple of decades. Most recently the company has been involved with the James Bond license, creating GoldenEye 007: Reloaded and the aforementioned Legends.

In a statement to Eurogamer, Eurocom director Hugh Binns admitted that the decline in the console video game market has forced the studio to cancel a number of projects and layoff many of its staff.

“Eurocom are undertaking a restructuring which I regret to say has meant we’ve made the majority of our workforce redundant today,” he explained.

“This includes many very experienced, talented and highly skilled employees, and we’d like to thank them all for your hard work and efforts.”

He went on to say, “We’ve fought to try and save as many jobs as possible, but the steep decline in demand for console games, culminating in a number of console projects falling through in the last week, left us with no option. Eurocom has retained a core staff of just under 50 employees and will be focusing mainly on mobile opportunities moving forward.” （source：gamasutra）

5）Zynga partners with CyArk to preserve Mayan culture in Hidden Chronicles

by Brandy Shaul

No, really. Whether you believe in the upcoming doomsday prophecy or not, Zynga has partnered with CyArk in the company’s efforts to digitally preserve the cultural history of the Mayans in anticipation of the supposed “end of the world date,” December 21. CyArk’s “digital preservation mission” has seen the company create digital catalogs of Mount Rushmore, Easter Island and even the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and now, Zynga has jumped into this technological partnership to bring two new Mayan-inspired scenes to Hidden Chronicles on Facebook.

Until December 22, interested players can purchase two premium scenes in Hidden Chronicles – El Caracol and El Castillo – which both contain images of Chichen Itza, one of the largest Mayan cities. Each scene can be purchased for $1 US, and the full purchase price will go directly to helping CyArk’s digital preservation goals.

Again, even if you think the doomsday prophecy is bogus, it’s still worth looking into this promotion as CyArk’s mission is definitely sound. After all, these digital versions of real world ruins and other famous structures may be all that’s left one day, when the real world items are lost to time or the elements. If you’re interested in learning more about CyArk, check out the company’s website. Or, if you just want to get right into finding new items in Hidden Chronicles, you can do that too by clicking below.（source：games）