App Store Update: October 3

Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.

Game Debuts

NBA 2K13 – ($7.99)

EA's rollout of 2013 editions of its on-going catalog of sports sims continues, and today it's the NBA series in the spotlight. This latest iOS version boasts new "One Finger" controls alongside its expected visual tweaks and roster update.

Price Drops

Dexter: The Game – ($0.99)

This video game interpretation of the adventures of everyone's favorite serial killer who kills serial killers scored an 8 out of 10 review when it launched a few years back, and today you can bring it home for just 99 cents.

Slice & Splice – (Free)

This free puzzler challenges you to carve apart an oddly shaped shape, then reassemble its smaller piece into an even weirder-looking goal shape. Nifty!

The Treasures of Montezuma – (Free)

It's been a little while since we featured a good old match-three puzzler, so take the original Treasures of Montezuma for free today.

Swingworm – (Free)

And while you've got the App Store open to download those other freebies, take this touching tale of a little worm violently swinging his way up a tree too.

Updates

Scribblenauts Remix – ($0.99)

5th Cell's incredible game that lets you write anything you can imagine and bring it to life is a little more incredible now, thanks to an all-new Halloween-themed content pack that just debuted for free.

That's all for today! If you haven't already, consider subscribing to the App Store Update via email. It's extra convenient!

Lucas M. Thomas is IGN Nintendo's longtime champion of downloadable titles across the Wii, DSi and 3DS. He's happy to now be helping Justin round up the best options for App Store shoppers. You can follow him on Twitter.

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FBI offering $50G reward for Massachusetts man wanted for supporting Al Qaeda

A Massachusetts man who the FBI says has traveled to Yemen and Pakistan for training in how to kill American soldiers now has a $50,000 price on his head.

Ahmad Abousamra, 31, last lived in the U.S. in a tony Boston suburb and has relatives in Detroit. He left the United States in 2006 and may now be living in Aleppo, Syria, with his wife, at least one daughter and other relatives. He was indicted in 2009 for taking multiple trips to Pakistan and Yemen to seek jihad training and has been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to Al Qaeda.

“Knowing that the public is the FBI’s best ally in finding fugitives, today we’re requesting your assistance to locate Abousamra,” said Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office.

One of Abousamra’s distinguishing characteristics is his higher-pitched voice, which can be heard on the FBI’s website. He also has dual U.S. and Syrian citizenship, is fluent in English and Arabic, and has a college degree in computer technology.

“We can only assume Abousamra is still on the same path and remains a threat to our soldiers overseas.”

- Sgt. Thomas Daly, Lowell Police Department

Abousamra’s co-conspirator, Taerk Mehanna, was convicted of terrorism charges by a federal jury in December 2011. He was sentenced last year to more than 17 years in prison.

“Both men were radicalized and used the Internet to educate themselves,” said Special Agent Heidi Williams, a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Boston. “They came to it independently, but once they found each other, they encouraged each other’s beliefs.”

Both Abousamra and Mehanna were inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, she said.

“They celebrated it,” Williams said.

Lowell Police Department Sgt. Thomas Daly, a member of Boston’s JTTF since 2002, said apprehending Abousamra will “close the chapter” on another alleged terrorist intent on killing American troops abroad.

Abousamra, who has dark brown hair and brown eyes, stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed roughly 170 pounds at the time of his disappearance. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact FBI officials at (800) CALL-FBI.

“These two were actively radicalizing others,” Daly said. “We can only assume Abousamra is still on the same path and remains a threat to our soldiers overseas.”

Source : foxnews[dot]com Read More

App Store Update: September 25

Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.

Game Debuts

FIFA Soccer 13 – ($6.99)

Leading off today's Tuesday update is EA's latest iteration in the FIFA franchise, which arrives in the App Store today boasting improved touch screen controls.

Infectonator – ($0.99)

Based on Armor Games' popular Flash title that lets you take over the planet by willfully infecting the global population with a zombifying virus, Infectonator is made more robust as an iOS app thanks to the addition of new characters.

Price Drops

Fantasy Chronicle – ($0.99)

Kemco's old-school RPG has dropped under a dollar, making it the new best bet for fans of turn-based battles and stylish 16-bit era protagonists.

Pygmies●Hoglet●EX – (Free)

This Tamagotchi-ish game about raising a virtual baby hedgehog has gone free for the first time.

Tone Sphere – (Free)

Also free right now is Tone Sphere, a wild 3D rhythm action game that might just boggle your eyes and ears simultaneously.

Infinite Warrior – (Free)

And Infinite Warrior has completed its drop to the bottom. We first featured this app when it launched at $2.99 earlier this month, then recommended it again when it hit 99 cents roughly a week ago. Now, it's free. No more excuses for anyone who hasn't grabbed it yet:

Sword of Fargoal – (Free)

As sometimes happens, an original has gone free since a sequel's on the way. Grab Sword of Fargoal for no cash now, do some old-school dungeon crawling, and then maybe toss some money toward the developers when Sword of Fargoal 2 launches soon.

Mos Speedrun – (Free)

One of the best platformers available in the App Store, Mos Speedrun is made even better if you have friends to play it too and compete against for high scores. Since it's free, you should be able to make that happen.

Avengers Initiative – ($2.99)

Finally, our last pick for the day coincides with the release of Marvel's The Avengers on DVD and Blu-ray. You can go pick up your disc of choice to own the film, and save four bucks off this tie-in game's asking price. Check out our video review right here:

That's all for today! If you haven't already, consider subscribing to the App Store Update via email. It's extra convenient!

Lucas M. Thomas is IGN Nintendo's longtime champion of downloadable titles across the Wii, DSi and 3DS. He's happy to now be helping Justin round up the best options for App Store shoppers. You can follow him on Twitter.

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App Store Update: September 24

Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.

Game Debuts

Puzzle Saga – ($0.99)

Match-three puzzling and an RPG quest get fused together once again, this time from Flipscript Co. Though we've seen this hybrid of genres before, the game promises "never-before-seen gameplay" –so seasoned Puzzle Questers might want to give it a try.

Price Drops

Bag It! HD – ($0.99)

The sales celebrating the release of iOS 6 started last week and are now overflowing into this one. Here's the latest to drop down to 99 cents, a grocery-sorting puzzler that might just get you hired as a Walmart bagger if you get a high enough score:

Paper Train HD – ($0.99)

Also dropped down to the 99 cent level is Istom Games' Paper Train HD, which plays like a railroading version of Flight Control sketched out on a notepad.

The Maze Game?– (Free)

This week's first freebie challenges you to help a happy, boxy robot finds his way out of a series of mazes.

R-Tech Commander Colony – (Free)

For something just as free but much more complex, check out the interstellar battles and world-building of R-Tech Commander Colony.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP – ($1.99)

A nearly pixel-perfect point-and-click adventure title from the talented team at Capybara Games, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP was one of the highest-scoring iOS titles reviewed across IGN last year – it earned an almost-flawless 9.5 out of 10. (Check out that review here.) Needless to say, this one's definitely worth your notice with its price dropped down to under two bucks – and if you go with the iPhone-only edition, it's just 99 cents.

Dynamite Jack – ($0.99)

And let's round out today's recommendations with Dynamite Jack, a 2D stealth action title that fuses elements of old-school Metal Gear and Bomberman games into one incredibly pleasing mash-up:

Updates

Galaxy on Fire 2 – ($4.99)

Finally, an update we've been waiting on for the last few months has at last gone live – Galaxy on Fire 2's Supernova add-on. Tons of new missions, gameplay modes, ships to fly and star systems to explore are now in play, complimenting the all-new 10+ hour extra storyline. Check out the trailer right here:

That's all for today! If you haven't already, consider subscribing to the App Store Update via email. It's extra convenient!

Lucas M. Thomas is IGN Nintendo's longtime champion of downloadable titles across the Wii, DSi and 3DS. He's happy to now be helping Justin round up the best options for App Store shoppers. You can follow him on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com Read More

App Store Update: September 21

Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.

Game Debuts

Jewel Factory – (Free)

It's an assembly line of gemstones, and you're the one tasked to sort them all into the appropriate bins. Can you keep up with the quickening pace?

Price Drops

Angry Birds Space HD – ($0.99)

The iPad edition of Rovio's latest bird-flinger leads off our list of recommended games on sale today.

Burnout Crash – ($0.99)

Next up at the 99 cent level is Burnout Crash, the racing series spin-off that's all about causing as much mayhem as possible at a terribly dangerous urban intersection.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4– ($0.99)

The brickified retellings of J.K. Rowling's book series are on sale heading into this weekend as well. You can get started with Harry's first four years at Hogwarts for 99 cents . . .

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7– ($0.99)

. . . and then finish his fight against Lord Voldemort for another 99.

Gorilla Gondola – (Free)

Here's a no-cost option for your consideration – the App Store's very best game about a giant ape riding a cable car. (Sorry, no Venetian watercraft here.)

7 Wonders: Magical Mystery Tour – (Free)

And here's a freebie for all our puzzle genre fans out there.

Don't Run With a Plasma Sword– (Free)

Here's a game that flagrantly ignores the advice of its own name, casting you as a Luke Skywalker-esque hero with a lightsaber-esque weapon running through a Star Wars-esque futuristic setting.

Yesterday – ($2.99)

Those of you on the look out for something deeper would do well to take notice of Bulkypix's Yesterday, an intriguing adventure title that's just had four bucks knocked off its asking price.

Osmos – ($0.99)

One of our absolute favorite iPhone (and iPad) games is on sale once again, with both versions available for 99 cents. Watch the trailer and click the link just below for the iPhone version . . .

Osmos for iPad – ($0.99)

. . . or click the link below this one for the iPad edition. Seriously, check this one out. We kinda like it a lot.

Infinite Surf – (Free)

Finally, a way to send off the summer season in style as the temperatures outside drop and fall officially takes over. It's Infinite Surf, the game that lets you cruise the beach forever:

That's all for this week! If you haven't already, consider subscribing to the App Store Update via email. It's extra convenient!

Lucas M. Thomas is IGN Nintendo's longtime champion of downloadable titles across the Wii, DSi and 3DS. He's happy to now be helping Justin round up the best options for App Store shoppers. You can follow him on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com Read More