Verizon Testing Game Trials

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Verizon has announced that they will be offering try-before-you-buy options with certain titles on VerizonGames.com. The company also offers a subscription service that gives consumers easy access to all titles.

“Verizon continues to expand and enrich the online games experience for our customers,” said Jason Henderson, Verizon Games product manager. “Now they can try new titles or buy and download their favorites at Verizon Games without first subscribing to our popular monthly game plans. The question is, how does the customer want to acquire games If it’s a subscription service or to try out a service and then subscribe, we can do that; and if it’s to just buy one title at time, we can do that, too.”

“From casual games like ‘Jewel Quest: Heritage’ to puzzle games like ‘Luxor’ to children’s games like ‘Bob the Builder: Can-Do Zoo,’ Verizon offers a game catalog as diverse as the rapidly growing population of online gamers,” Henderson added. “At the same time, we’ve created a gaming community as an added value for users.”

PlaySpan Enhancing Facebook Credits

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PlaySpan will work with Facebook to help reach more users with their Facebook Credits. Deborah Liu, manager of product marketing for Facebok Credits, indicates that this comes at a time when Facebook is looking to better push Credits over all its apps.

Facebook Credits is the social network’s own virtual currency which can be used for virtual goods in games like FarmVille. Facebook tries to push the game apps that use the ecurrency, and in return, they keep 30 percent of every transaction.

Right now, 75 developers are using Facebook Credits in 200 games on Facebook, including 22 of the top 25 games. What PlaySpan will do is help give Facebook Credits over 20 new payment methods, which will help them reach new customers internationally.

Liu aims to make Facebook Credits an international virtual currency like the Euro, which is apt since 70 percent of Facebook’s users are outside the U.S. She hopes to ad four to five times as many developers to the program with PlaySpan on board.

Source: VentureBeat

Netflix Streaming Without Disc On PS3

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It was announced that Netflix will be able to stream movies and TV shows on PS3 without a disc starting October 18. There will also be a new UI with an improved browsing experience, better content search and faster playback.

“There is even more good news for PS3 owners: starting on Monday you ll be able to instantly watch some movies and TV shows in 1080p high definition, listen to Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound, and view an increasing portion of our content library with subtitles,” writes Greg Peters, VP of Product Development for Netflix. “This will bring the home theater experience right to your living room and make instantly watching movies even more enjoyable.”

Source: PlayStation.Blog

Verizon Trots Out iPad

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Verizon Wireless and Apple have announced that they will be offering the iPad. The tablet device will be available in over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores on October 28.

“This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.”

Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot; iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi will be $629.99, the iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi will be $729.99 and the iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi will be $829.99. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month and Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”

Nathan Fillion Pleads For Uncharted Role

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With David O. Russell back on board the Uncharted movie many are wondering who will get the plumb role of protagonist Nathan Drake. Nathan Fillion (whose depiction of charming rogue Malcolm Reynolds in the show Firefly clearly influenced Nathan Drake’s character) is putting out a call to his fans from Firefly and Castle to help him land the role.

If ever there was a Twitter campaign, let this be it,” Fillion tweeted. “Rise, ye Browncoats. Rise, ye Castillions. RISE!”

While Fillion helped provide the template over which Nathan Drake was cast, Nolan North provided the voice of Drake in the games and is most closely associated with the role. Casting assignments for the film have not been announced.

Apple Going ‘Back To The Mac’

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Apple is ever so fond of sending out teaser invitations for its events, and the next one on October 20 will be no different. The invitation-only event is titled “Back to the Mac,” heavily implying that the focus will return to personal computers.

Think Mac OS X 10.7 is named Lion

It is believed that the version 10.7 of Mac OS X could be unveiled as “Lion.” The last version of Mac OS X, titled Snow Leapord, launched in August 2009.

Source: The Register

Tony Hawk: Shred Going On Mall Tour

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Activision announced recently that it will be launching a 10-city Mall Tour for Tony Hawk: Shred. These experiences will be available to all mall visitors and give them an opportunity to try out the game’s board controller for both simulated skating and snowboarding.

The Tony Hawk: Shred interactive experience will be set up at the following mall locations:

  • Square One Mall, Saugus, MA October 16 17
  • Rockaway Town Square, New York, NY October 23 24
  • Plymouth Meeting Mall, Philadelphia, PA October 30   31
  • Virginia Center Commons, Washington, DC November  6 7
  • Orland Square, Chicago, IL November 13 14
  • Mall of Georgia, Atlanta, GA November 20 21
  • Katy Mills, Houston, Texas November 27 28
  • Irving Mall, Dallas, Texas December  4 5
  • Brea Mall, Los Angeles, Calif. December 11 12
  • Stoneridge Mall, San Francisco, Calif. December 18 19

Tony Hawk: Shred will release October 26 for PS3, Wii and Xbox 360.