So it would appear that some third-party developers are getting what Stardock meant - the fate of PC gaming is on the hands of the developers. BioWare, a reputable PC developer of the past, has also expanded to the console market like many others, but they aren't about to abandon the gaming platform. Speaking to MTV, CEOs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk said that the role-play experts might keep developing PC exclusives in the long run. And there's a little hope for Apple iPhone games from them as well. More on that when you click "read more".

Two new games are lined up from the Singapore-based dev team who worked on the Phoenix Wright ports to the mobile platform. Mikoishi will be showing off their new titles at the Games Convention Asia on September 6 to 8 of this year. Sorry. No. Not Phoenix Wright games. But they definitely look promising enough to hold their own ground despite the courtroom big shot eating up the market.

SteamIron. This title will be spanning across various platforms; its epic journey will start on 3G mobile phones later this year, with other installments on the Nintendo DS and PC platforms to follow. It's a sci-fi fantasy game that is set far into the future in an alternate timeline where electronic revolution never happened. Think futuristic technology (space ships and satellite radars included), but all of which are designed in a retro fashion. The game isn't called SteamIron for nothing. It probably hints on something very much like a steampunk world.

DropCast. Mikoishi's DropCast will follow the life of Ingrid and her living, breathing plush dolls. While a series of casual games are planned across different platforms, the first installment will drop in as an action-puzzler on the Nintendo DS early next year.

Specific details about gameplay for both titles are close to none, however, if there's one thing to keep an eye on, it's that upcoming game convention in Singapore where Mikoishi will finally reveal their games. And with that, watch this space!

Former Electronic Arts executive D2C games founder">Scott Orr and technology expert Bart Besseling founded D2C Games, a new video game developer that focuses on making downloadable games taht can be played socially. D2C Games aims to partner with other companies to make games for various platforms, such as next-gen consoles, handhelds, 3G mobile devices and PCs.

Scott Orr says that what will set his company apart from the others is social networking, "allowing users to create game content and personalize the game". He says that D2C plans to cater to both the hardcore gamers, who might be looking for something new in their gaming experience, and the casual gamers, who simply don't have the time to devote hours to a game.


"It goes back to basics, and being able to easily pick up and play a game without having to figure out or have to read a 50 page manual. We wont have one," he said. Orr also added that his company will focus on two specific areas, with casual social sports on one end and episodic sci-fi on the other.

For starters, Orr and his group plans to throw support to Sony's handheld, and will officially be announcing D2 Comics at the upcoming Game Developers Conference. D2 Comics will offer interactive comics to PSP users.

Coming up from D2C is Chalkboard Sports, a series of real-time strategy sports games, which will use the company's focus on user generated content, though specifically what this content will be remains unknown.

Drew Markham, former Chief Creative Officer of Vivendi Games, is a veteran of the video games industry with over 15 years of experience under his belt. The titles he worked with have Game of the Year awards tied to them, so you could say we're curious as to what Vivendi Games felt when Markham moved over to the new development company, 3G.

3G Studios appointed Markham to head the 3G Tahoe Studio for next-generation development. They have a line up of several original games for the Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3 and PSP, Microsoft Xbox 360 and the PC.

The production line up also includes an AAA title being developed in conjunction with Vivendi Games. Another title under development was mentioned, but it was in partnership with another major publisher.

3G Chief Executive Officer James Kosta said:

Drew Markham is a very talented and creative leader in the video game industry. His broad industry knowledge, creative insights and years of gaming experience have seen him create some of the most successful video games in the industry's history. His experience will bring tremendous advantages to 3G. We anticipate that Drew will add that extra creative edge to the games we are developing.

The list of games that Markham has worked produced and designed include Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Redneck Rampage and Kingpin. He founded Gray Matter Studios and worked with several other publishers in the past including Activision and Interplay. Details regarding the titles being developed by 3G Studios may be revealed in this year's upcoming Game Developer's Conference.