Crush your Facebook friends.
From this week's Game Developers Conference, EA has announced a significant update to iPhone Scrabble alongside a quick preview of its 2009 lineup. The Scrabble update uses the Facebook Connect technology to connect to any of those U.S. players. (EA only holds the Scrabble rights in that region.) The update is scheduled for release today.
The Facebook connection is added to the current pass-and-play and local Wi-Fi multiplayer modes. After entering account details, gamers can see their buddies who have the free Facebook scrabble game, and challenge them to matches. The iPhone app supports the same features; including multiple, concurrent games; the ability to take turns whenever you have time; and a chat window for text messages.
As for adding the peer-to-peer Bluetooth multiplayer available to developers in the iPhone 3.0 SDK, Travis Boatman, VP of EA Mobile worldwide studios says, "It's very likely... I think the Bluetooth stuff is awesome."
Tell them how you really feel with in-game chat messages.
In the next few weeks, EA will release Trivial Pursuit for the iPhone. This version of the board game will let up to four people compete, either on a single device or on a local, Wi-Fi network. Pieces move around a 3D board, in a similar approach as Monopoly. Gamers will choose from multiple-choice answers, including picture-based questions.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour and Need for Speed are due in the next few months, and with no additional details, EA announced the rest of its 2009 roster. Upcoming games include FIFA, Madden, NBA Live, Spore Creatures, Mystery Mania, Wolfenstein RPG, American Idol, Command & Conquer, SSX, Connect 4, Battleship, Need for Speed, Sims 3, RISK, Monopoly classic, and Clue.
While nearly all of those names are familiar brands, Boatman is interested in new projects. "We are bringing original IP to the iPhone," he notes. "We'll have something this year for sure." Could it be Mystery Mania?
