Halo: Spartan Strike Released on Windows 8 and iOS April 18, 2015

Halo: Spartan Strike is a twin stick shooter which takes place during the events of Halo 2.  In it, you control a Spartan operating on a classified mission to save the planet Earth from a massive alien invasion.  The game is very similar in style and control to Halo: Spartan Assault, which was released on Windows 8 devices a few years ago, and was followed by a console release on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One a few months later.  Microsoft was planning to release Halo: Spartan Strike for the Windows 8 platform before the end of last year, but after the botched release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, 343 Industries decided to focus on stabilizing the buggy Xbox One title before finishing Halo: Spartan Strike.  Now the game is out, and not only for Windows 8 PCs, Tablets and SmartPhones, but for iOS equipped Apple iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

The cool twist on this story is that Microsoft also decided to release Halo: Spartan Assault on iOS platforms, and Apple users can download it right now.  Both games can be purchased on their platform’s respective App Stores for a price of $5.99 US a piece, however, Apple is offering customers the chance to bundle a copy of Halo: Spartan Assault with their purchase of Halo: Spartan Strike for a total price of $9.99 US.

There currently seems to be a demand online for the game to be ported to Android platforms, but there has not been any official word if that is happening.  If you ask me, they really should have released this on the Xbox One.

Club Nintendo Gold and Platinum Gifts Now Being Awarded April 12, 2015

Nintendo is in the process of shutting down their customer loyalty program, Club Nintendo, but that hasn’t stopped them from offering their customers their yearly Gold and Platinum Status rewards, and this year, they’re offering a lot of great games for download!

Users who achieved redemption of 300 coins or higher before April 1st of this year is eligible for Gold Status. Users who were awarded 600 coins before April 1st was awarded Platinum Status.

Nintendo is offering a huge list of titles for free download this year on either the Nintendo Wii U or Nintendo 3DS. This is a great promotion for loyal Nintendo customers.  Platinum members can download a free game of their choice from either the Gold or Platinum awards catalog. Gold members can only download games being offered for members awarded Gold status.

Games currently being offered for free to members who achieved Platinum status include the Wii U titles Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and various 3DS games including Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Mario Party: Island Tour, and New Super Mario Bros 2.  Members who achieved Gold status can choose from several games already offered on the Virtual Console services including The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Super Mario Bros 3, Metroid Fusion, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.

Any codes awarded can then be redeemed on the game platform’s perspective eShop.  You will need to have an Internet connection on your Nintendo console or handheld to redeem the code and download your free game.

Pokemon Rumble World Now Free to Download on Nintendo eShop April 9, 2015

A new free to play game has just been released on the Nintendo eShop for all 3DS and 2DS owners, Pokémon Rumble World.

Based on the Pokémon Rumble series of games, you take control of a new type of Pokémon trainer based on your Mii, in a kingdom inhabited by Toy Pokémon.  Your objective is to fly from land to land collecting as many Toy Pokémon as you can to please your king.  This may take users a while as Nintendo promises that the game offers over 730 Toy Pokémon in the game.

Pokémon Rumble World is out now exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems.

iOS 8.3 Released April 8, 2015

A brand new system update for various personal Apple devices has been released today. On paper the new update, version 8.3, includes a new emoji keyboard and several various bug fixes, but if you look closer at the update’s complete list of patch notes you’ll see a phone book’s worth of fixes including a possible fix for the dreaded WiFi bug that has been known to drain batteries.

The new update should be compatible with all iOS 8 devices including iPhone 4S and newer phones, 2nd generation and newer iPads, and newer iPod Touch devices.  Apple TV users may also need to download a separate update for their set top box, so be sure to check your Apple TV for updates as well.

If you previously had iOS 8.2 installed on your device, the download should not take up more than 200-300 MB of space.

Xbox One April 2015 Update Live April 6, 2015

A new system update for the Xbox One was released earlier today.  As of the time of writing, it is not currently required to download in order to use your Xbox One online, but after taking a look at all of these new features coming with the update, I would consider updating it as soon as you can.

If you were already running the March 2015 version of the dashboard, the new April update should only require a download of about 260MB in size.

Quantum Break GDC 2015 Presentation Added to the GDC Vault April 3, 2015

If you’re like me you’re probably still bummed out that the Xbox One exclusive game Quantum Break was delayed until next year.  However, fans of the game and the studio making it can get a small bit of solace as some new information about the game has just hit the web.

Quantum Break had a small presentation at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference but it wasn’t streamed or broadcast, so you could only see it if you were literally attending the event.

Thankfully, it looks like the presentation has finally been archived on the official GDC Vault.  You can watch it here.  Since this is a presentation for game developers and not the public, it may get pretty technical, but I’ve been eagerly anticipating any new information about this game.

Quantum Break is coming to the Xbox One in 2016.

Gears of War: Judgment Now Free to Download on Xbox Live Marketplace for all Xbox Live Gold Members April 2, 2015

The fourth and most recent title from the Microsoft exclusive Gears of War series and the Xbox Live Arcade title Terraria, have just been made free to all Xbox Live Gold Members through Microsoft’s Games With Gold promotion.

You can download both games for free right now.  Gears of War Judgment and Terraria will continue to remain free until April 15th, 2015.

Anyone who downloads either game for free will be eligible to keep it on their Xbox 360’s purchased history forever, meaning that even if they delete the game or their Xbox Live Gold Account expires, they will never lose access to it.

Nintendo Adds Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS Virtual Console Support to The Wii U April 2, 2015

That’s right, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS games can now be purchased and downloaded on the Wii U.  And yes, not only will you be able to play these games on the Wii U Gamepad, games which featured rumble through the optional Rumble Pak support will rumble plenty on the gamepad.

Currently, the only two games you can buy through the service is Super Mario 64, originally released on the Nintendo 64, or Yoshi’s Story DS, originally released for the Nintendo DS.  Nintendo promises that more games will be released through the service throughout April including Paper Mario, Mario Kart DS and Donkey Kong 64.  Personally, I’d like to see some of the harder to find titles for these platforms make an appearance, like the Pokémon Stadium titles from the Nintendo 64, or Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS, but hopefully the service takes off and more titles will get added.

Nintendo 64 games will range in price from $9.99US to $11.99 US.  Nintendo DS titles will range in price from $6.99 US to $9.99 US.  While Nintendo has not offered downloadable DS games in the past, you could purchase Nintendo 64 games on the Wii using the Wii Shop Channel.  If you had previously done this on your Wii U (or a Wii who’s data you transferred to your Wii U) you can buy a Nintendo 64 game at the discounted price of $2.00 US).

Nintendo Direct – 4/1/2015 April 2, 2015

A huge set of announcements were made yesterday by Nintendo during their semi-regular Nintendo Direct web videos.  Take it away, Tom.