With yesterday’s iPhone post listing some merits of game development, there is a seedier side to owning what amounts to a GPS handheld computer wherever you go. A lawsuit has been filed with Studio8, makers of the popular Vampires Live, Ninjas Live, Racing Live, and a number of other (insert noun) Live games. The suit alleges Strom8 knowingly inserted an electronic backdoor to farm phone numbers from downloaders.

Is it all worth the fervor? Some would say no, I mean everyone has access to your telephone right? You give your number to universities, pizza chains, and a number of other businesses. Whether it be an error in judgement, although Storm8 notes it’s a bug, the point of contention for me is a privacy issue. As a business decision recording phone numbers may be a way just to track who is downloading it, but as a marketing decision I see a way to profit by selling my private information to 3rd parties. If you take my information tell me. If I find out later you’ve done it secretly, I’ll be none too pleased. Wouldn’t you be upset if Domino’s and PizzaHut sold your information and home address to telemarketers or am I just being crazy?

[BoingBoing]

Last year we felt Apple’s chest pounding on the iPhone being the greatest mobile gaming device ever, was a bit premature. Now with nearly 100,000 apps and counting, the iPhone continues to be in the headlines as both indie and corporate developers further exploit the technology producing rich content and memorable experiences, although I’d add we continue to mock said statement. In the case of Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies (CoDWaRZ?), the IdeaWorks Game Studios port of its console counterpart delivers. While one of the more expensive apps, the $9.99 goes a long way and is sure to suck down your battery life.

The app allows for multiplayer over WiFi and Bluetooth, with a promise of DLC in the future. After I got it installed and played the first tutorial round I found the controls a little wonky, but you have the option of using the accelerometers in leu of the onscreen virtual controls which provide the feeling of more control. It takes some getting used too, but I know I’ll be playing this for some time.

CoDWaRZ iTunes

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All screens from me.

Two undeniable truths: otaku will buy anything moe and people will do anything for a quick buck. Put two and two toghether and what do you get? The MoeCamera! This iPhone app adds the moe your iPhone was lacking, even when your background image of choice. It does this by putting a lazily drawn, generic maid character on the screen while you take a picture. She can spill out a few phrases like “Look at me please” and tell you when your image is saved and also… no wait, that’s it. I’m serious that’s it.

So this is what its come down to, an overlay of a bad drawing covering up nearly half of your screen while you take a picture. Even moe rice had more merit than this. I’m sorry, this is neat and all but its a cheap shot. We can and should demand more. There’s no way we should fall for generic patronizing shit like thi… What? It’s only $1.99? I’ll take a dozen, now!

[MoeCamera]

Last year when apple bravely proclaimed the iPod Touch/iPhone to be officially a handheld gaming device we laughed it off as all the iPod really had were some casual games and a Doom port. Fast forward a year later and here we have Kill-Test, a full 3D First Person Shooter game for the iPhone/iPod touch, and guess what? It’s not looking bad at all!

In fact this is pretty impressive for what’s basically a cell phone game. Now that the iPhone is fully 3D capable and has a big multi-touch screen all bets are off. If Apple can get its hands on a couple of key developers we’ll have to acknowledge a serious 3rd player in the handheld market.