Android Tablet Update

Looking for a new Android game to sink a ton of hours into? Electronic Arts just released Mass Effect Infiltrator for Android to the Google Play Store and you can buy it now for $6.99. This fast-paced, duck and cover shooter comes from the same team that ported Dead Space to mobile devices, so we expect it will live up to the hype. Most high end devices like the Galaxy Nexus, One X, Transformer Prime, and more are supported, so go grab it now.

MASS EFFECT INFILTRATOR Electronic Arts Inc PLAY QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

From the Developer:

• YOU’RE A CERBERUS AGENT – GONE ROGUE! - As Commander Shepard battles Reapers across the galaxy, veteran Cerberus agent Randall Ezno procures aliens for illicit experiments at a secret facility. But when the Director of the facility goes too far – Randall fights back and vows to bring Cerberus down!
• ENTER A NEW DIMENSION IN ANDROID GAMING - Move freely through massive exteriors and a fully realized Cerberus base. Featuring groundbreaking graphics and intensified audio, enjoy a console-like experience that marks the next leap in Android gameplay.
• ENGAGE ENEMIES WITH SWIPE & TAP COMBAT - Featuring both manual and assisted aiming, use intuitive tap controls and for fast-paced fighting. Fluidly dive and roll for cover with a simple swipe. Engage in epic boss battles against Cerberus Mechs and twisted experiment victims.
• IT’S YOU AGAINST AN ARMY! - Harness the fury of high-tech armor and weapons. Unleash biotic powers, stealth cloak abilities and devastating melee attacks. Upgrade your gear and performance with credits – the quicker and more stylish your kills, the more credits you’ll earn. Also, access the bonus Turian mission and escape the medical bay…alive!
• IMPACT YOUR MASS EFFECT 3 EXPERIENCE - Gather valuable intel and upload it to Galaxy at War to boost your Galactic Readiness Rating in Mass Effect 3. Complete the game to increase your War Assets. Improve your chances in the final Mass Effect 3 battle – on the go!

If you grew up playing sports videogames during the 90′s you probably remember the phrases “Boomshakalaka”, “He’s heating up”, and “He’s on fire!” NBA Jam was one of my favorite games as a kid, so I was thrilled to see that EA Mobile ported the iOS version to Android this week.

Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that NBA Jam supports Android 4.0 devices, so I can’t play it on my Galaxy Nexus or Transformer Prime. From the early reviews coming in, it looks like this port lives up the the classic. NBA Jam features an average review score of 4.5, which is rare for EA Mobile games.

Highlights of NBA Jam include:

• 3 modes of play let you ball the way you want: Play Now – Select a team and jump right into the ballgame. Classic Campaign – Defeat all other teams to win the championship, and unlock legends, hidden players, and outrageous cheats. Local Multiplayer – Go big head 2 big head against a friend via  local WiFi or Bluetooth
• Play as your favorite Stars from all 30 NBA Teams
• Featuring the voice of Tim Kitzrow (the original NBA JAM play-by-play announcer), you’ll hear all the classic catchphrases plus a few new ones
• Unlock legends from the classic arcade and Open up outrageous cheats.

If your device is supported, you can pick up NBA Jam right now on the Google Play Store for $4.99. It’s nice to see multiplayer mode over local WiFi, but I’d love to see EA add online play.

NBA JAM by EA SPORTS™ Electronic Arts Inc MARKET QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

This week EA also released FIFA 12. I’ve never been a fan of soccer games, but I know the sport is huge in about every country but the United States. So far the early reviews are what we have come to expect from EA’s Android ports, as the game averages a mediocre 3.7. If you are looking for a good soccer game, keep in mind Gameloft has Real Soccer 2012 available for free.

Highlights of FIFA 12 include:

• Experience vibrant graphics and ultra-realistic animation like never before
• Play like a superstar with famous footballers like Kaka, Rooney, and more
• Dominate leagues like the English Premiership, La Liga, MLS and beyond
• March toward glory in 32 real stadiums
• Handle the ball with precise new controls optimized for Android
• Stay in the game as you take on daily challenges

FIFA 12 by EA SPORTS Electronic Arts Nederland BV MARKET QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

Sadly, it now sounds like Borderlands 2 is not coming to Android so now we need a new epic game to get our hopes up for. EA Mobile looks to fill that void with their new flagship, action RPG title Mass Effect Infiltrator. The game just launched today on iOS, but EA Mobile has finally started to take Android serious and we expect a port in the coming months.

Infiltrator is based on the popular Mass Effect series and features a new story line exclusively for mobile devices. This time you take the role of Randall Ezno, a rogue agent who has vowed to bring Cerberus down. EA promises a console-like experience that offers groundbreaking graphics and intensified audio.

Highlights of Mass Effect Infiltrator include:

• Explore the massive exteriors of a fully realized Cerberus Base
• Dive and roll between cover with simple swipe gestures
• Use intuitive tap controls to battle Turians, Asari, Krogans, Droids and Cerberus
• Engage in epic Boss Battles against Cerberus Mechs and twisted experiment victims
• Take control of a massive arsenal of weapons and Biotics
• Earn credits for your performance in every combat encounter
• Collect valuable Intel from slain foes and upload it to Galaxy At War
• Improve your chances in the final battle of Mass Effect 3 – on the go

While you wait for this game be sure to pick up EA Mobile’s The Sims FreePlay and Dead Space (on sale for $0.49). Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.

Today EA Mobile announced that The Sims FreePlay is now available in the Android Market. I’m not sure how many Sims fans we have around here, but earlier comments suggest that your wife will love the game. This time around, players will be have more than 1,200 customizable ways to design their dream home and neighborhood.

Highlights of The Sims FreePlay include:

• Create up to 16 customized Sims from head to toe
• Design dream homes or get fully-furnished houses for your Sims
• Care for pets, grow gardens, even bake a cake
• Give your Sims careers and earn Simoleons to improve their situations
• Complete goals for Lifestyle Points, then spend them on hip items
• Live with your Sims in real-time (when it’s day or night for you, it’s the same for your Sims)!

As the name implies, the game is free so go ahead and grab it now. Use caution though, because the game eats up around 640 MB of storage when installed. EA also recommends connecting to WiFi to download and play, due to the “rich, immersive quality of this game.”

Early reviews are positive, but let us know what you think of the game if you try it out. It’s not supported on the Galaxy Nexus, but I’m installing it on my Transformer Prime right now.

The Sims™ FreePlay Electronic Arts Inc MARKET QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

Is EA Mobile finally ready to take Android serious now? They have ported a handful of their most popular iOS games to Android, but most have been met with a lukewarm reception (averaging review scores of 3/5). A quick browse of EA Mobile’s site shows that they haven’t updated their Android section in years, with only the original T-Mobile G1 being listed as a supported device.

We don’t know much about EA Mobile’s future plans for Android, but their PR team has started to made an effort to reach out to Android bloggers and open a channel of communication. For example, to promote their upcoming Android game The Sims FreePlay, EA mailed me a Sims coffee mug, scarf, and paper speakers. I’m still not sure what the point was of these random items, but I’m sitting here writing this article so I guess they got the job done.

No release date has been announced, but we have heard that The Sims FreePlay should be available in the Android Market by the end of this month. The game previously launched on iOS devices back in December where it won several awards for best freemium game of the year.

EA’s current game The Sims 3 is priced at $6.99 and did relatively well selling between 100,000-500,000 copies (most came when the game was on sale for $0.99). Unfortunately the game has not been updated since September, which has led to many complaints about support and earned the game a 3.5 rating in the Android Market.

Even though most of EA’s titles have been disappointing compared to their iOS versions, we know they are capable of producing some awesome Android games – see Dead Space. Hopefully The Sims FreePlay will receive their best effort and more resources will be allocated to support the game after its initial release.

Do we have any Sims fans in the house?

Gallery

Super Bowl XLVI is coming this weekend and EA Mobile has lowered the price of Madden NFL 12 to $0.99 to celebrate the big game. Most of EA’s Android games have been disappointing compared to their iOS clones, and Madden appears no different. It’s not compatible with the new phones (like the Galaxy Nexus) and many users are reporting problems downloading the game’s content after their initial purchase.

However, some people seem to genuinely enjoy the game and it is $4 cheaper than the normal price, so you might want to give it a shot while the sale lasts. Just remember to visit the Android Market page and check out the user reviews filtered for your device to see what people are saying about the compatibility.

MADDEN NFL 12 by EA SPORTS™ Electronic Arts Inc MARKET QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

And for those of you without a credit card, check out the free NFL Pro 2012 from Gameloft. Android Market also has a list of Official Super Bowl Apps that include some fun games like NFL Kicker and NFL Flick Quarterback.