At least half of the owners of portable devices are using their devices about the same if not more today than they were three months ago. This is especially pronounced among smartphone owners, with 46 percent claiming they use their smartphones more, says NPD.  The report details the features and functions that consumers are most aware of and using on their portable entertainment devices including the Playstation Portable (PSP), the Nintendo DS, iPods, iPhones, and smartphones by examining feature use and awareness, purchased content, purchase influencers, the frequency of purchases and downloads, as well as the amount of money spent. (more…)

Ad-funded mobile games outfit 123play.com announced that after the success of its UK launch earlier this year, it has expanded its free ad-funded mobile games service into France, Germany, Italy and Spain.  From today, millions more mobile gamers can get their hands on some of the very best mobile games available.  Hundreds of thousands of free mobile games have already been downloaded via the web. (more…)

New study indicates significant user growth among teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 17 on web based games and virtual worlds. While the total female online gaming audience in August 2008 grew 27 percent versus last year to nearly 43 million visitors, the number of female gamers in the 12-24 segment grew at a
substantially faster rate. (more…)

Harmonix and MTV Games have turned up the heat on this summer’s concert season by putting Rock Band on the road. The best-selling video game is going mobile and bringing music to the masses — hitting State Fairs across the country and some of this year’s biggest tours and festivals, including Bonnaroo, the Vans Warped Tour and Crue Fest, to name a few. So grab your family and friends and live out your own rock ‘n roll fantasies at the following locations: (more…)

Jetix is calling on all kids that dream of being a national football hero to take part in the Euro Galactik Cup. Kids from all over Europe will be playing against each other in a competition that aims to crown one nation the European Galactik Champions.  And, in addition to helping Britain onto glory, kids across the UK could win a trip of a lifetime for them and their friends to the prestigious Soccercamp Marbella training facility. (more…)

Dell promises:
- Crysis at full 1920×1200 resolution and 30+ FPS with Quad Graphics
- Enhanced optional patent-pending H2C cooling solution keeps gamers in the red zone, CPUs out
- Choice of Painted Anodized Aluminum H2C chassis or Silver Brushed Aluminum air-cooled chassis with optional X-View clear panel for under-the-hood ogling (more…)

One week from tuesday, “Grand Theft Auto IV” hits the stores, and it will be one of the biggest pop culture events of the year. Analysts predict it will sell roughly six million copies in the first week, smashing “Halo 3″’s current sales record, and potentially becoming the biggest entertainment release in history (unseating “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” which currently holds the record at $404 million in the first week). (more…)

The playing field is virtual, but the rivalries are real in Dell’s new College Gaming League. Established exclusively for college students, the CGL provides a community and framework for avid PC and console gamers to connect and compete. League membership is free and open to all college students . (more…)

It’s nice to see how nice are people when it comes to competition. The head of Nokia’s games division went on the assault at a recent press event for its brand spanking new N-Gage client, saying “I’m not scared about anybody. (more…)

Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2008 hosted more than 18,000 game industry professionals last week at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The world’s largest industry-only event dedicated to the advancement of interactive entertainment attracted the full spectrum of game industry enthusiasts from known luminaries, to aspiring and established game developers, to publishers and deal makers to members of the working press. With over 400 sessions, a robust expo and career pavilion featuring more than 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and numerous networking events, the five day conference provided interactive engagement and insight for the industry. GDC will return to the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA in 2009 taking place March 23-27. (more…)