:: CYNICAL TAPPINGTwentieth Century Fox is joining forces with TinyCo to create a new Family Guy game on iOS. It will feature an original story as the development team is working directly the show's writers as they look to create an authentic experience for gamers. It will be released as a free-to-play title on iOS in 2014.
"Mobile platforms are a new frontier for engaging with your favorite characters and worlds," said Rick Phillips, SVP at Fox Digital Entertainment, in a press release. "With over more than a decade on the air, FAMILY GUY has built a world like no other with some of the most beloved characters in entertainment today. This game will bring the best of the FAMILY GUY experience to mobile gamers all over the world."
Peter Griffin also chipped in by saying, "It's really fun! Plus, if you play it for more than three hours it counts as going outside!"
“FAMILY GUY is an amazing show that’s famous for its sharp wit, unpredictable storytelling, and hilarious cast of characters,” said Suli Ali, CEO of TinyCo, in a press release. “We’re capturing that essence and providing players with an awesome way to get their FAMILY GUY fix every day.”
In addition to Magic Life and Gun Bros. launching soon, there are a few other games we got to take a look at recently. All of them coming later this year from Glu.
Toyshop Adventures - launching late September, price: free
This is a cute puzzle / platformer based in a toy shop. The owner of the shop has literally lost his marbles in the store and you, a animated toy, are tasked with finding them. While mainly a platformer, there are some puzzle elements to get you through the levels and find every marble. While not as deep and with no announced customization options, the game does have some elements that remind me of Little Big Planet. The camera angles / 2.5D graphics and the overall fun, toy-like qualities remind me of LBP.
Toyshop Adventures will be released in September with the first 10 levels included free. There will be additional episodes, each with multiple levels available for in app purchase. Further episodes will be released over time.
Family Guy: Time Warped - launching mid-November, price unknown
This Family Guy game is based on the episode where Stewie builds a time machine and gets stuck jumping through time when that time machine breaks. The games is developed for and by fans of the show, so expect lots of inside jokes. You'll be able to play the game as Stewie or Brian in this 2D action platformer. That's about all we know so far. Expect more as the game release gets closer.
Lord of the Rings - Middle-Earth Defense - launching early December, price unknown
This movie tie-in game is as interesting as it was unexpected. Middle-Earth Defense will be a tower defense (TD) game based in the Lord of the Rings world. The game uses the actors' faces from the movie to represent the characters from this Tolkien classic series. It's a modifiable path type TD game, wherein the enemies have a set path which you can modify slightly by placing barriers to redirect them. You only have a limited amount of resources, however, so you can only change the course so much.
Different characters will obviously have different capabilities. Some characters are stationary while others will travel within their circle of influence to attack. To add a bit of an RPG element, you can upgrade characters in multiple areas -- unlike normal TD where you can only do an overall character upgrade.
Expect this one to ship in early December for an unknown price.
Yesterday we got a chance to get our game loving fingers on some new games from Glu. The biggest of which is Super KO Boxing 2, a continuation of one of Glu's biggest selling games on feature phones. We also got a chance to see a new tube racing game, Alleygator, a Family Guy game, and the nearly final version of Minigolf Wacky Worlds. Also got some great news about updates for Glyder and the Transformers Cypertoy.
Super KO Boxing 2
Super KO Boxing 2 is a very fun, comical boxing game that works well on the iPhone, even in the early version I saw. The game controls were an incomplete early version that we played but consisted on taps and combinations on certain hot spots on the screen.
You can play in multiple modes, career, challenge, verses, and endurance modes in 3 different circuits. Your opponents include some favorites from the original game and a some new ones, 12 fighters in all.
[caption id="attachment_14433" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Meet Big Gip"] 
Super KO Boxing 2 is currently scheduled for a September release. No multiplayer is currently planned, but they are considering adding it.
Super KO Boxing 2 - Name A Tough Guy Contest
In conjunction with the release, Glu are holding a contest to name one of the new boxers in Super KO Boxing 2. It's this cave-man looking guy, one of the games most powerful boxers that you need to come up with a name for.
The winner will get a $250 iTunes Gift Card and an iPod Shuffle. 4 runners-up will also win prizes.
For full contest details and to enter, you can submit a comment on this post, or enter at the event page on Facebook.
Alleygator
Alleygator is a casual game title from Glu, what they call a Glu Snack. In this timed racing game, you are an alligator trying to get out of the sewers as quick as possible. You swirl around the sewers avoiding obstacles and grabbing powerups on your way out.
There are 6 different sewers in the 25 different levels.
Alleygator is expected to release in September.
Family Guy Uncensored
A series of 7 different mini games, all of which contain lots of little inside jokes for Family Guy fans. The mini games in general look really fun and re-playable, and there's also a very cool story mode that guides you through all of the 54 levels. I think overall this will be a pretty good title. The only problem I see with it is that it doesn't have any voice acting in the game.
September is the planned release for Family Guy Uncensored.
Glyder Update Coming!
We also got some good news for Glyder fans. If you have completed the game, you'll be happy to know that Glu have submitted an update that gives you more gems to collect.
Transformers CyberToy
We also got to see an update to the Transformers CyberToy that takes great advantage for the music library access in iPhone OS 3.0. With this upcoming update you can make Bumblebee dance to the music you are playing on your iPhone. He has 4 different dance routines and will choose one based on the genre of music you are playing.
Transformers CyberToy is available now. The version 1.2 update will be available soon.