Opinion: Apple vs. Samsung Ruling (US)

Today the jury released their verdict in a surprising amount of time. Besides agreeing that Samsung did not infringe on the iPad the ruling came down solidly on the side of Apple.

The $1.04billion (originally $1.05billion before some corrections of inconsistencies) awarded to Apple shows a strong sign that Patent Infringement will not be tolerated. This ruling will have wide-spanning implications across the industry. On the surface this looks to punish copying (and it does) it also affirms an over-arching interpretation of Patents. The so called "patent wars" just went nuclear. This puts the button in the hands of patent owns against copiers, but they're all patent owners. The litigation hasn't ended, not by a long-shot.

We should all be paying attention to the injunction hearings and keep an eye out for future litigation and the impact it'll have on not only the manufacturers but consumers as well.

Dust: An Elysian Tail Review (XBLA)

Dust: An Elysian Tail brings with it some of the most stunning art style and fluid combination of Action-RPG and Metroidvania genres. Don't let the cutesy "furry" animation turn you away from what is sure to be one of the best XBLA games of the year.

Read the full review: http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2012/08/14/ftg-review-dust-an-elysian-tail/

Rigonauts Review (PC - Steam)

“A physics-based strategy game inspired by Frozen Synapse and Gratuatious Space Battles.”

If that sentence makes you smile, then Rigonauts – award winner of Activision’s first Independent Games Competition – by Engient, will be one to look forward to. For those unfamiliar with this genre, think of Rigonauts as an old “windup and release” car and replace it with “loadup and release” battleship.


Read the full review: http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2012/08/06/ftg-review-rigonauts-pc/

Windows Phone YouTube Video How-To's

I've started to create and upload short 30second to 2minute videos demonstrating features and applications on the Windows Phone mobile operating system.

I also have some older videos ranging from the NJHalo Gaming tournament, PAXEast 2012 video interviews and random personal videos. Hope you enjoy and leave comments. Let me know what you like or would like to see more of.

My YouTube channel can be found: http://www.youtube.com/user/Paneafsey84

Deadlight Game Code Giveaway

Front Towards Gamer is giving away code for the XBLA Summer of Arcade title Deadlight by Tequila Works. I interviewed the CEO and Creative Director in an earlier post (Deadlight Interview) and even had the chance to review Deadlight (Deadlight Review).

Enter the giveaway here: http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2012/08/01/ftg-giveaway-deadlight-xbla/

Tabletop Review: Zombie Dice

My wife reviewed Zombie Dice by Steve Jackson Games. A tabletop dice game that can be played with two or more people from five minutes to fifteen minutes of length.

For her full review read it here: http://fronttowardsgamer.com/2012/08/01/ftg-review-zombie-dice-tabletop/