Casual News – Dec. 11, 2009

Apple releases lists of the best-selling iPhone games in the App Store for 2009; An increasing number of Flash game developers are making games full-time; and GameHouse releases a new video trailer and pricing info for Mortimer Beckett and the Lost King. These headlines and more below.

News

• Mortimer Beckett and the Lost King – New video and pricing info
• Study: Increasing amounts of flash devs make games full-time
• Playdom names Christa Quarles as Chief Financial Officer
• Playfish launches Poker Rivals on Facebook
• RealNetworks launches multi-platform version of Collapse!
• Wadjet Eye Games shows heart this holiday season
• Funcom establishes casual MMO games subsidiary SweetRobot
• The App Store’s biggest (official) hits of 2009
• PopCap launches Chuzzle iPhone
• PopCap launches Bookworm for the Nintendo DS
• Masque Publishing to bring Youda Games to retail
• Hotel Mogul makes lucky App #13 for Alawar Entertainment
• Kellie Stanford: Turn of Fate collection – the first meta-quest at the App Store
• IGF Mobile announces record entries for 2010 competition
• Sonic Boom named exclusive mobile publisher for PlayFirst
• FeistyLittleDroid.com provides online community for Droid phone users
• Friendster gets a new look, on lookout for buyers
• eGames launches social game initiative in Brazil
• Publishers Clearing House and Arkadium partner to launch PCHGames.com 2.0
• Matchmove Games opens online store

Features

• FarmVille, social gaming, and addiction
• Will Leitch asks REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin about the new REO Speedwagon video game
• The Globalization of casual games
• How My Grandfather Won The War: Designing For One
• iPhone development – everything you need to know
• Appanda expands Resolute Games’ reach beyond iPhone
• Interview: Oceanhouse Media
• Gratuitous Space Battles Q&A with Positech Games’ Cliff Harris

Erin Bell