AT&T Limited Plans: Bad For iPhone, iPad Users?

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AT&T recently announced their new data plan which would offer 2 GB of data for $25 a month ($10 for every extra GB), compared to their previous unlimited plan costing $29.99. According to AT&T, 2 GB is worth 10,000 emails without attachments, 1,500 emails with attachments, 4,000 Web pages, posting 500 photos to social media sites, and 200 minutes of streaming video combined.

While that sounds like roughly a month’s worth of usage, those that use their iPads on the go to stream video may be in for quite a shock when their bill comes in. For Netflix users, they’ll get between three and six two-hour movies, or four and eight one-and-a-half hour movies a month.

“It’s a lot like the early days of cell phones, where 100-minute plans didn’t get you too far,” said Al Hilwa, analyst at IDC. “Video is an obvious data hog, and [AT&T’s new plan] presents an opportunity for customer backlash.”

While AT&T estimates that only about two percent use over 2 GB a month,  with more and more media rich materials coming to both the iPad and the iPhone, it could quickly become an issue. A Nielsen survey from 2009 said mobile customers watch 3 hours and 15 minutes of mobile video each month, up 70 percent from 2008, while teenagers watched 6 hours and 30 seconds.

“While AT&T asserts that its high-end 2 GB cap will only impact the heaviest users, the fact is that today’s heavy user is tomorrow’s average user,” said Chris Riley, policy counsel Free Press and net neutrality advocate.

Also, with many apps for the iPhone and iPad designed to consume bandwidth, their business models could be affected.

“If you’re in the business of selling streaming video a la Hulu, streaming music a la Pandora, … AT&T just changed consumer perceptions of those businesses for the worse,” said Carl Howe, analyst at Yankee Group. “Now those consumers are going to have to pay bandwidth charges as well as whatever subscriptions they may have. And that’s going to make those business leaders not very happy.”

Source: CNN Money

Activision Reveals Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock

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Activision has confirmed that the next entry in their music franchise will be called Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The game will come with a redesigned rock-inspired guitar controller, compatibility with 500 songs from the Guitar Hero Music Library and all the Party Play multi-player functions of the franchise.

“Guitar Hero has set the standard for music based gaming and with Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and the game’s all-new Quest Mode, robust and authentic set list, over-the-top challenges and rock-inspired new hardware, we are once again bringing the soul and energy of rock n roll to fans around the world,” said David Haddad, Chief Operating Officer for Guitar Hero.

Additionally, the game will have an all new Quest Mode. Hosted by Gene Simmons of KISS, this mode will take players from the stage of CBGBs to the molten lava fields of rock treachery where various rock heroes must team up to help Demi-God of Rock take down The Beast and save rock n roll.

“The world is a boring place. Come with me, and enter a world populated of Demi-Gods and Beasts. Transform from an everyday person and become the savior of rock and roll,” said Simmons. “It was an honour and privilege to narrate Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, even more so, to voice the Demi God. From the God of Thunder to the Demi-God, how cool is that…”

iPhone 4G Looks Good In White

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Even more images of what appears to be the iPhone 4G have leaked out onto the Internet. The twist on the story is the color of the iPhone in this prototype: it’s white.

The model number on the device is listed as “XXXXX,” indicating it is a prototype. Depending on the timing of when these photos were taken, it may imply that the iPhone 4G is not ready for a launch soon after all.

Source: Powerbook Medic

Gizmodo Shut Out Of WWDC Keynote

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Gizmodo has revealed that they will not be attending the keynote of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. This was done tactfully in a post looking for volunteers to help the site liveblog the event.

“It’s no surprise: Apple has not responded to our requests to attend the WWDC keynote on Monday at 10 a.m. PST. But we’ll still cover the news. Want to help?” writes Brian Lam. If you’re going to the keynote, and want to be a part of the exciting Apple coverage that so many of your fellow Gizmodo readers enjoy, here’s your chance.

Gizmodo recently ran an article detailing an iPhone prototype that came into their possession. After returning it to Apple, local police began a criminal investigation into the event to determine if the phone was, in fact, stolen by the contact that sold the iPhone to Gizmodo.

Source: Gizmodo

Zynga Takes Up The Challenge

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Zynga announced recently that it will acquire Challenge Games for undisclosed terms. The company will immediately become Zynga Austin, with Challenge Games’ Co-Founder CEO Andrew Busey becoming Zynga’s general manager and vice president of the Austin studio.

“Austin is an ideal location to extend our studio operations with its rich talent in the games business”, said Mike Verdu, senior vice president of Games at Zynga. “We look forward to building out our Zynga Austin studio with the best and brightest in the industry as we continue to bring social games to more users worldwide.”

This move gives Zynga access to Challenge Games’ fantasy collectible card game Warstorm and tycoon game Ponzi. The web games, which are supported by digital purchases, will be further developed by Zynga.

The Mummy Goes MMO

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Bigpoint announced today that it’s building a browser based MMO based upon The Mummy film franchise from Universal. A free-to-play title, it will let players explore Egypt in the early half of the 20th century, meet key characters and explore similar environments to those in the movie.

“The Mummy franchise is chock full of exotic settings, supernatural enemies, exciting quests, and over the top action,” said Bill Kispert, Vice President and GM Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. “It is ripe with gameplay possibilities, and we look forward to extending our relationship with Bigpoint to bring the world of The Mummy to life for gamers.”

“We are excited to adapt this popular film franchise for the global online games market,” explains Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder of Bigpoint. “By leveraging our mastery of browser-based games technology and Universal Pictures popular entertainment property, Bigpoint is quickly becoming one of the leading publishers of licensed games.”

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with The Mummy film franchise,” said Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games.  “The action-packed story of Egyptian mythology and 1930’s fortune hunters provides a great backdrop for our team to build an awesome online game experience.”

A teaser site for the game can be found at www.themummy.bigpoint.com {link no longer active}.

Total War Reclaims Japan

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Shogun: Total War was a seminal game for the PC strategy genre and Creative Assembly’s first major independent product. While multiple sequels and expansions have released since then all dealing with Western history, jubilation met the announcement of a true sequel to where Total War began.

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