With the popularity of Tap Tap Revenge on the iPhone, I am surprised it took EA this long to bring Rock Band to mobile gamers. The iPhone game also has multiple player capability.

You and up to three more players can all play at the same time via Bluetooth. That is very cool and the game looks just like the console version from the screen shots I have seen. Pricing is not announced, but I would expect it to go for about $10.

Today my kids and I prefer video games when it comes to family game night. EA has announced that it is offering The Game of Life video game for the iPhone. The game is rendered in 3D and offers the game elements you remember from your youth.

You can get a job, get married, become rich, all of the things that could happen in the real world. Only when you tire of your job with the game you can simply pack the game up and go about your business. The game is available for download now.

[via KnowYourMobile]

There are several differences between Spore Origins and the PC game. For instance, the mobile version uses the accelerometer to tilt, turn and twist your way through the “primordial ooze.” You can also pinch, pull and otherwise manipulate your creature with the Creature Editor using touch. Plus, you can skin your created creature with photos of your choosing.

Currently, there are two game modes for Origins–Evolution and Survival. With 30 levels in all, this seems to be the most complete and in depth game for the iPhone I’ve seen yet. You can download it now for $9.99.

[via MacRumors]

Lots of Apple industry news to report. First, a pay-as-you-go plan for the iPhone 3G is set to launch on the carrier O2. The eastern European sales figures for the device have been rather disappointing on the global scale and China Mobile and Apple are still in talks to try and figure out how to bring the iPhone to the country.

Best Buy is officially going to be a retailer for the iPhone 3G, and they will even set up the phone for you and your email for free, that is, if you buy an accessory package. Another angry iPhone user is suing the company but the reasoning this time is rather interesting. They are claiming Apple and AT&T knowingly sold more iPhones than their network could allow, making for shoddy service all around. Apple has also filed a patent for a multi-touch plus function that would combine touch gestures with other actions like speaking.

EA Mobile will be bringing Spore Origins to the iPhone shortly along with a variety of other EA games like The Sims 3. Two new home automation control systems have also come to the iPhone this week, allowing those with home automation devices like Control4 or Crestron Control to manage the systems by means of an app on their phones. Some developers have been getting their apps rejected from the App Store because their creations have “limited utility.” Plus, the Phonofone II is a super expensive iPod dock that nostalgia lovers and gadget enthusiasts alike will adore.

We also found out that an Apple iPod event is set to happen on September 9th. Much speculation has covered iPhone Buzz about what that event will or will not contain, but we do know a completely retooled iPod nano should make its debut and the iPod touch will get a minor facelift. Dimensions of both devices leaked this week, as well. We also learned that iPhone 2.1 firmware may be released as well as iTunes 8.0. And be sure to check in on all the happenings by watching our live coverage of the iPod event on Tuesday at 10 a.m. PST at http://live.slashgear.com/.

Before moving forward with the review, let me just say that Scrabble for the iPhone and iPod Touch doesn’t disappoint and it is well worth $9.99!

EA seem to have put a lot of thought into the opening splash screen with all the fancy animations.  That being said, if they’d put a little more thought or even placed themselves in our shoes, they’d understand that it gets annoying after sitting through the splash screen three or four times.  There isn’t a way to skip through or speed up the LONG 20 seconds, so your only option is to patiently wait for it to finish.  After the fifth or sixth time, I have this urge to launch my precious iPhone 3G towards the nearest wall (yes, I know it’s misplaced anger and the iPhone doesn’t deserve it – but hey it’s the only tangible object in my hands).  Once you get past the 20-second load time a menu pops up with options for Quick Play, Custom Play, game Options, Statistics or see More Games by EA.

Quick Play is you vs. computer.  In Custom Play menu, you’re presented with options to select game modes (Solo Game, vs. Computer, and Pass ‘n Play).  Solo Game lets you change the Game Style to Classic or to 75 or 150-point and 8 or 12-rounds.  Depending on how good you are with formulating words from letters, you can pick the difficulty level ranging from Easy, Normal or Hard.  If you like, you can even turn of or on the Duplicate words.  The Game Style doesn’t change for Pass ‘n Play option.  It allows 1-2, 1-3 or 1-4 players.  Make sure to Pass ‘n Play with people you know and trust, and not to mention has good personal hygiene [Vincent's tip] With the iPhone 3G in short supply, you never know if that dude is going to run off with it!  Since you actually have to hand over the iPhone to the other players, make sure their hands are clean; last thing you need is for your iPhone to be the conduit for unwanted GERMS.  Of course, these would be moot points if EA implement a new feature for multi-player over WiFi or 3G.

Under the Option menu, you can turn on or off the Game Music and Game Tips, change volume, SFX Level and Rest the game.

Visiting Statistics provide you with date pertaining to your Best Game, Best Word, Best Turn Wins, Draws, and Losses.  Should you need help, it’s only a click away.  If you love EA games and want to learn more about the company, click on About, and to see other offerings, click on More Games.

Moving tiles to the game board is as easy as holding your finger down on a tile until it turns dark and then drag it up where you want it.  The game board automatically zooms in, in placement mode.  I found that it doesn’t matter the size of your fingertip, you might find it difficult to see where you’re trying to place the tile.

[Scrabble's tip]: TWO-FINGER CONTROLS, let you use two fingers to hold a tile and move/zoom the board at the same time.

I don’t know about you, but when I play Scrabble, I like to move my tiles around in the tray.  The process helps me to think through creating the best words possible.  I’m delighted that EA lets me do just that, move the tiles around with my fingertip.  Or, if I just want random jumbled tiles, all I need to do is press the Shuffle button or shake the iPhone or iPod touch and voila – the titles are randomly rearranged.  Other game play includes swapping out a completely new set of tiles by tapping the Exchange bag; by doing so, you’re forfeiting points for that round.

EA gives you the option to “sort of cheat”, if you’re really-really stuck figuring out a word.  You can press the heart button and bam – the Scrabble word-god places the best word possible on the game board.  You do have the option to decline using it.

Every now and then, you get a “blank” tile that you can use as any letter you like.  When you place it on the game board, a window pops up letting you choose the letter that you want to use.

Scrabble is available for iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch running iPhone OS 2.0.  It’s an awesome implementation of Scrabble mainly due to the iPhone’s gorgeous 3.5-inch touch display.  It’s intuitive and easy to learn to play, and I highly recommend it.  And as I stated earlier in the review, it’s worth the $9.99.

Scrabble for iPhone & iPod touch OS 2.0

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZQwmo3ZxqA[/youtube]