Google invests $100 million in Zynga, with plans to launch Google Games [Rumor]

Talk about Google's desire to get into the games business has been floating around for some time, and now a big, juicy rumor says the company is starting to invest big bucks in those plans -- dropping between $100-$200 million at Zynga's doorstep. TechCrunch, which initially published this rumor, says the purported deal has not been finalized yet, though part of it includes using FarmVille and other Zynga games as the foundation for Google Games.

    Not only will Zynga's games give Google Games a solid base of social games to build on, but it will also give Google the beginning of a true social graph as users log into Google to play the games. And I wouldn't be surprised to see PayPal being replaced with Google Checkout as the primary payment option. Zynga is supposedly PayPal's biggest single customer, and Google is always looking for ways to make Google Checkout relevant.

While Google might be spending boucoup bucks to form a partnership with Zynga, it's not immediately clear how this will affect 60 million+ devoted FarmVillers. The farming game is already on Facebook, FarmVille.com and Yahoo -- what could Google possibly bring to the table that would make people migrate to Google Games? Outside of turning more people into click-farming junkies and offering access to the game via iGoogle and Gmail, it's hard to imagine what Google's killer app will be. Then again, thinking about tending virtual crops on an Android phone makes things (a little) more interesting.

Rovio flings Angry Birds Rio update with 30 beach ball-bouncing levels

Angry Birds Rio Update 1.1
What do you to keep the title of best-selling mobile game? Update, update, update! Rovio practices this mantra without missing a beat, as it releases Angry Birds Rio version 1.1. Dubbed "Beach Volley!" the update reigns in 30 new levels packed with new achievements and secret bonuses, and it's free for those who already bought the game. (Are you sold yet?)

The levels all seem to revolve around evil, tropical moneys and beach balls, which hopefully explain why this game is being updated long after the Rio film was released. If your interest in flinging flightless birds into poorly-erected structures has been piqued, download the update through this iTunes link.

Rovio recently released Angry Birds to Chrome using HTML5 at Google's I/O Conference, and already a hack was created for it. Now, get to work on unlocking these new levels, guys.

[Image Credit: Apple]

Have you downloaded this new Angry Birds update? If so, what do you think of the new content? How fare do you see the Angry Birds franchise going?

The Top 10 Free iOS and Android Games -- July 2011

The second glorious month of summer will soon come to close. After wiping that single tear from your cheek, remember that with a new month comes a list of (mostly) new free games to try on your Android or iOS device.

Look, we know you're putting off that summer reading (or helping the tikes with their book reports), until the last week in August. So, at least do it in style. Click each title to head over to its download page:

Top 10 Free iOS Games:

1. Stickman BMX Free
In this second outing by Traction Games, players must guide likely the most extreme-looking stick man, named simply Stickson, through 60 plus BMX courses filled with hidden paths. Players can pull off a litany of tricks, but with spike pits and Death himself awaiting your treads, expect to crash ... a lot.

2. Prize Claw
Long gone are the days of dropping $10 worth of quarters for that awesome Homer Simpson doll. Game Circus LLC brings the grab machine right into your iPhone, allowing you to collect over 60 prizes across a bunch of different grab machines. A grab machine that you can play sans quarters? Count us in.

Futura Head in a Jar
3. Nuts!
You can probably already guess what this gem is all about. Limbic Software puts you into the role of a bushy-tailed squirrel as it climbs trees in search of coins (not nuts...?). Climb as high as you can, avoiding obstacles like icy zones and power-ups like the fireball.

4.Doodle God
No, this is nothing like Doodle Jump, thank heaven. This game allows players to play out God's role in creation as you mold four basic elements together with your fingers into (almost) everything in existence. Along the way, you'll come across a litany of poignant or hilarious sayings and create over 100 advanced combinations.

5. Pokerist
Wha? Where's Zynga Poker? Anyway, this mobile poker simulator for Pokerist.com features standard and VIP tables with each player's face displayed. Alright, I'm not afraid to admit it: I'm terrible at poker. But hey, don't let that discourage you. Poker fans, why not give it a shot? It has Facebook Connect and in-game chat, too.

6.Futurama Head in a Jar
Fine, this (pictured above) isn't a full-blown game like the rest on this list, but it has avatar creation! While that's pretty much all it is, MTV Networks has made a game that lets you create heads in jars--just like in the show--and share them with their friends via Facebook. And who doesn't love Futurama? At least it's funnier than the Simpsons. (Flame away in the comments.)

7.Rollercoaster Builder Travel
Man, if Super Mario World was titled this literally, it would be "Man Jumps on Turtles." The game is about as bare-bones as the name, tasking players with creating roller coasters that will reach the end of the linear level unharmed, collecting as many coins as possible along the way--because roller coasters just got to have coins.

Zenonia 3
8.Texas Hold'em Poker Pro
(Another poker game? Ugh, what to say...) Oh, sorry. Well, this game allows players to invite new and old friends to their tables, send them gifts and chat with them using status bars. Oh, and it has Facebook Connect and integrated music options, too.

9. CataGugl
The successor to Smack that Gugl by Yann Le Coroller, this version has players catapulting the Gugl rather than smacking it, hence the name. The game also has voice acting and original music, as well as leader boards. Though, we're kinda lost on why Coroller didn't go with "Throw that Gugl"--would have been genius.

10. Zenonia 3
Legend of Zelda fans: This is your new ish for August. Released by Gamevil, Zenonia throws players into an isometric roleplaying action adventure spanning 136 quests and hundreds of maps. Players can choose from four unique classes, and go toe-to-toe with their friends in three player vs. player modes.

Top 10 Free Android Games:

1. Angry Birds
Again?! Seriously, no one can top these wingless birds? They need a slingshot to travel for Pete's sake! And I'm tired of this naming convention trend it started. If I see one more game titled using only a cute adjective and some type of woodland creature, I'll write angry letters! Watch yourselves.

2. Angry Birds Rio
... No words can express the rage.

Burn the Rope
3. Words with Friends Free
Well, at least it's an intellectual game. Run by Zynga since its acquisition of Newtoy (now Zynga with Friends), the game is a turn-based game of Scrabble with anyone around the world. Between that and the added chat features--but minus the ads--what else could you want in a word game?

4. Burn the Rope
This popular game (pictured above) by Big Blue Bubble pits you in the scorching-hot shoes as the most adorable flame we've ever seen. Your goal? Tilt your phone to keep the fire going on a series of increasingly more complex ropes and knots to score the most points. This'll put that gyroscope to good use.

5. Angry Birds Seasons
Look, I'm tired of this. You all know what Angry Birds is--it's the Mickey Mouse of mobile gaming. I'm not going to tell you anything you didn't already know about this game, so just go and play it already. We'll see you back here for winter break.

Drag Racing6. Drag Racing
Another returning champ that bumps up another spot, Creative Mobile's racing game allows players to drive and tune up over 50 cars ripped from the real world. Blast past players with nitrous online in a Veryon SS, or tune an Integra to perfection for the Pro League.

7. Blast Monkeys
These poor monkeys return (and hop up two spots) to be shot to their peril through a cannon in hopes of--what else?--bananas. Yobonja allows players to shoot Moki the monkey through a number of puzzles to grab all the bananas. And don't forget those hidden ones.

8.Fruit Slice
Wait ... that sounds familiar. Halfbrick, creator of Fruit Ninja, better be on the phone with somebody, because this game spared nothing in its source of inspiration. We're sure this one is appealing due to the lack of a price and all, but trust us: If slicing fruit for hours is your shtick, go with the real deal.

9. Aliens Invasion
In this side-scrolling shooter, players survive wave after wave of aliens that look strikingly similar to those in that famous 80s movie with Sigourney Weaver. iTreeGamer included 12 different guns to puts the intergalactic bugs down with, and three different difficulty levels.

10. Racing Moto
This DroidHen game (pictured right) is a take on the classic Spy Hunter style of racing games. Players control a biker that must avoid other vehicles as it passes them by tilting the phone and tapping the screen to accelerate. The game will take players through several environments as they boost their scores.

This Scrubs game for Android says, 'It's never too soon for nostalgia'

Come on, Scrubs was canceled a little over a year ago. And it's last few seasons weren't even that great. (Yeah, I said it!) Luckily, it looks like mobile game maker HeroCraft has opted to focus on the golden years of J.D., Turk and Dr. Cox's escapades in its Android game based on the hit comedy. Simply know as "Scrubs", the game is scheduled to hit the Android Market on Dec. 14.

The Scrubs game, which was first revealed this summer for both iOS and Android devices, will throw players into the role of Sacred Heart's newest intern. With that, players will have to help patients and solve mysteries to help restore the hospital's reputation, according to PocketGamer. In other words, and based on the trailer below, it looks a lot like a hidden-object game.


However, HeroCraft has mixed things up with a few mini games to mix things up amongst the slew of hidden-object scenarios. Of course, the developer has made strides to inject some of the show's quirky humor into the game. The game has yet to be priced, but we're going to ballpark it somewhere between $.99 and "free"--call us dreamers. But for unlimited access to that version of Zach Braff's mug, we'd pay much, much more for the laughs alone.

Were you a big time Scrubs fan when the show was still on? Is an Android game enough to feed the need for J.D.?

Official Pokemon Game Coming To Smartphones

The Pokemon Company is set to bring an official Pokemon Online game to smartphone devices, marking the first time that an official Nintendo-copyrighted app will be available on the iOS and Android.

Called Pokemon Iie Tap (rougly Pokemon: Say Tap?), the app appears to be a rhythm game where players “tap on Pokemon indigo trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime,” according to a translation by consumer video game site GamesRadar.

According to the game’s official announcement, it will be available for most iOS devices, as well as Android devices running version 2.1 of the platform.

Though this is the first iOS or Android application to carry an official Nintendo copyright, it is not the first mobile app of any kind: a Pokemon mobile phone game called Pokemate was released in Japan in 2006.

Though it is a rarity, Nintendo does have a history of releasing official games on platforms that are not its own, including a promotional Flash game to promote its Tingle character.

A release outside of Japan has not been announced.