Apple Adds Online Gaming Options for Mac Owners

The 451 Group: Inorganic Growth submits: By Brian Satterfield

Paolo Gorgo submits: Tablet devices and smartphones could soon represent the replacement for consoles as the most attractive platform for the gaming sector. This is at least the opinion of several insiders in the multibillion industry – here is a quote from Heiko Hubertz, chief executive and founder of online gaming firm Bigpoint, taken from his recent interview with Reuters:

Computer Entertainment has agreed to acquire online gaming startup Gaikai for about $380 million. Gaikai provides technology for cloud-based gaming, providing the ability for people to play high-quality games on their desktop computers, tablet devices and televisions. The question the deal raises is what the acquisition means for ?s gaming direction. Gaikai has championed cloud ...

Microsoft on Friday announced plans to open an online shop stocked with downloadable games for play on personal computers running on its software.Games for the Windows Marketplace website will launch at gamesforwindows.com on November 15, according to the Redmond, Washington-based software titan."We set out to create a digital store built for PC gamers end-to-end," said Microsoft PC and gaming senior global director Kevin Unangst.

As an electronic reader, Apple's iPad has been touted as a possible "Kindle killer" but what has videogame makers buzzing is the potential of the touchscreen tablet computer as a gaming platform."It's going to be a really powerful handheld game console," said Asbjoern Soendergaard, founder and chief executive officer of Tactile Entertainment. "It's going to be an awesome gaming experience."

Ubisoft flexed its muscles, embracing new trends in digital play while rolling out blockbuster titles for consoles and handheld gadgets at the E3 industry extravaganza that ended here Thursday.The France-based videogame titan's creations took center stage before the big three console makers -- Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.Ubisoft's booth on the show floor was perpetually packed with press and industry insiders eager to try upcoming games, including "Watch Dogs," in which players can hack the networks that control a futuristic "smart city."

If you’re acquainted with a kid between the ages of nine and eighteen, encourage them to start designing games and enter Microsoft’s Imagine Cup Kodu Challenge. Kodu is software that enables kids to design video games using a simple visual programming language. Think of it as a game that empowers kids to design their own games. Kodu is a free download for PC and a $5 download from the indie games channel of the XBOX marketplace.

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