The award-winning KooZac game, which has racked up 15 million plays online and picked up a Channel 4 “Best International Interactive Viral” award, is coming to iOS and Android according to a recent statement from Square Enix. A cross between Tetris and Sudoku, KooZac is a puzzle game that has players position falling blocks on top of each other to hit the target number and complete the set amount of combinations to finish each level.

The mobile version will include new ways to play, including Puzzle, which brings the player through 60 levels of destroying silver blocks and cleaning the board by completing the targets, Endless for no level and no stage parameters and the ability to compete against the world as well as Blitz for completing targets and using boosts to achieve even higher scores within one minute. The game’s creator Ben Cusack was hired by Square Enix to head up its expanding mobile division.

Grow tired of the same old Tetris on iPhone? The current version dates back to 2008 (fun fact: the game used to cost $9.99), so it may just be proper time for a new version of the game. Well, EA is hard at work on a new Tetris that will help mix things up. First, a brand new visual look offers a glowing design that colorizes each individual piece. A new rank feature appears to be in place, to allow players to reach the tile of “Tetrismaster.” The ability to earn coins to spend on in-game poweruos is also now available, potentially keying in on this being a free-to-play release, or even just a premium release supported by in-app purchases as well. Details are very scant at this moment, as no release date, potential iPad availability, or anything beyond these screenshots is currently available, but we will have more on this new Tetris release as they come in.

As the year winds down and we look ahead to the next decade it’s time for all those wonderful end-of-year lists we all get so excited about. Today we have some exciting news, as Apple has detailed all the top paid and free apps for the iPhone and iPad, as well as the top grossing apps on each platform. Here’s the full rundown, for your edification.

Top 10 Paid iPhone Apps

1. Angry Birds
2. Doodle Jump
3. Skee-Ball
4. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz
5. Fruit Ninja
6. Cut the Rope
7. ALL-IN-1 GAMEBOX
8. The Moron Test
9. Plants vs. Zombies
10. Pocket God

Top 10 Free iPhone Apps

1. Facebook
2. Angry Birds Lite
3. Words With Friends Free
4. Skype
5. Tap Tap Revenge 3
6. The Weather Channel®
7. Paper Toss
8. Bing
9. ROCK BAND FREE
10. Talking Tom Cat

Top 10 Grossing iPhone Apps

1. MLB.com At Bat 2010
2. Angry Birds
3. Call of Duty: Zombies
4. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz
5. FriendCaller 3 Pro
6. Zombie Farm
7. TomTom U.S.A.
8. TETRIS®
9. Plants vs. Zombies
10. Doodle Jump

REad even MORE lists after the jump.

Continue reading Apple Lists 2010 Top Apps »

Lets just face facts and admit that as much as we would like to believe otherwise, the “match three” puzzle game is here to stay.  The success of the gametype could be chocked up to everything from its simple to grasp concepts to the use of bright colors and often flashy animations, but the problem is that no developers are willing to mess with the formula.  Hoping to take the nauseatingly stagnant bull by the proverbial horns, a new game named Virus Strike looks to change all of that in one quick swoop of their handkerchief.  How are they hoping to breath new life into the stagnant genre?  The answer is simple: give it a personal touch. Well, line drawing controls at least.

While much of the competition fumbles with fake analog sticks and gimmicky finger shuffling, Vertigo Software may be onto something with their unique new line drawing scheme that has more in common with Flight Control than it does Tetris.  To help you better wrap your brain around how this awesomely simple schema works, glance over the brief gameplay footage below:

After viewing that video, I think it would be reasonable to assume that we have never controlled a “match three” in quite this manner.  This may be the kind of change that has been needed for quite some time.  Though, I do have to say that I have some concerns over the precision of the above methods; if nothing else, it will give a much needed change of pace that could further drive innovation.

Place your bets on how long these controls are exclusively in Virus Strike.  Sadly, I am guessing it will be not long at all before someone from a larger publisher “borrows” it.  However, the genre may be better off because of it.  Be sure to give credit where it is deserved and take the innovator out for a test spin.  The game will only stay free for a limited time.

$0.99

Virus Strike

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-10-24 :: Category: Games

April showers bring May flowers, and while May is just around the corner, the rainy days are in full force. What better way to get through a rainy day then by using an iDevice? Here are a few apps that we think will be the perfect companion.

Netflix

There has already been a lot of coverage on Netflix, but it truly is an MVP of the app store. As of this print it’s an iPad only app, but there are confirmed reports of Netflix making a debut on the smaller iDevice lineup eventually. It’s a sure fire bet that watching a movie or television show on a rainy day will help to pass the time.

Alternative: For those that don’t have an iPad, or those not subscribing to Netflix, the YouTube app, NBC.com through the Safari Web Browser, and the Pandora app are a couple alternatives to provide some entertainment. Unfortunately the video streaming offerings have been limited up until Netflix. With Netflix expected on the pocket sized iDevices, and rumors flowing on Hulu’s debut on the iDevice line up, you can expect that to change sooner than later.

FREE!

Netflix

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Entertainment

Tetris

Maybe it’s just me, but I can play Tetris for hours without getting bored. Whether it’s the WiiWare version of Tetris, my old cartridge version, or the app version, I can’t get enough. Nothing beats relaxing on the couch watching some TV and playing some Tetris.

$0.99

TETRIS®

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: AVERAGE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Games

101 Classics (or other free book app)

I used to be an avid reader, but responsibilities have really limited the time I can devote to it. When I did read more, there was a vast collection of books I used to read. With an app like 101 Classics, large quantities of books are collected into one app for free and easy access. Make some hot chocolate, grab a blanket, and pop up a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer the next time it’s raining.

$0.99

101 Classic Novels

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: FREE BOOKS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2009-12-30 :: Category: Books

Articles

They say that knowledge is power. “They” tend to be those people always looking to get a hand up in Trivial Pursuit, but a little extra knowledge can’t hurt anyone. With the “Surprise Me!” feature in Articles, you can relax inside, check out the rain, and educate yourself on little random pieces of the world one Wikipedia page at a time. Available on the entire iDevice line-up, this app is sure to equip you for battle the next time Trivial Pursuit night comes up.

$2.99

Articles

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: NICHE, BUT GOOD
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-03-15 :: Category: Reference

$4.99

Articles for iPad

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Reference

Honorable Mentions:

Rainy Day apps really are just boredom fillers, and to that end there are hundreds of possibly apps available. An epic RPG Series like the Final Fantasy (One or Two), Zenonia (One or Two), and Inotia (One or Two) are great options. Point and Click games such as Nick Chase, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Broken Sword, or any number of apps have the potential for filling that void. Take a look at the games I offered here or figure out a specific genre of game you are looking for and check out 148apps vast database of reviews to find something that provides a great product to fill your time with.

If you would like a specific recommendation for a genre, shoot me an email at ryan.wood@148apps.com and I would gladly toss you one. If I don’t have a lot of experience in one genre, 148apps has a plethora of talented staff members who might.

Our very well reviewed Tetris clone, Tris, is to be pulled from the App Store Wednesday.

Apparently the copyright holders are none too happy with it and the developers have no resources to fight the legal notice.

So, our advice, grab it now!
[via Two Finger Play ]