The Rumour Mine: Unreal Engine 3 for iPad, Splinter Cell, DJ Hero

Don't think for one second that the announcement of iPad means there ain't no more rumours for me to mine. Oh no, I've got my pick axe swinging away with a new batch of rumours that are just as juicy as all that pre-iPad speculation.

Epic working on Unreal Engine 3 for iPad

With Unreal Engine 3 already up and running on iPhone and iPod touch, you'd have to be silly to think that Epic hasn't already started working on porting the popular engine over to Apple's newest platform.

In fact, executive Mark Rein was at the presentation earlier this week and proclaimed how impressed he was with iPad.

Interest in the iPhone version of the engine has been high, but the expense of licensing it is just way too much for small developers.

It's a different game, however, on iPad. Epic hopes that Unreal Engine 3 will attract interest from bigger developers with enough cash to invest in the software for iPad development. Moreover, porting the engine could encourage console developers to utilise it for the production of games on the device.

Before getting too excited, remember that work has just begun. Apple only informed a small group of developers about iPad two weeks ago, so Unreal Engine 3 is a long way from being a done deal. The first games leveraging it are even farther off still.

Last splinter of Gameloft-Ubisoft partnership

Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front won't be the last Gameloft title carrying a Ubisoft brand onto iPhone and iPod touch. A certain stealthy action star may well be creeping onto the platform within the next few months.

In fact, I'm told to expect firm details within the next few weeks.

It's not altogether too surprising that there's one more Ubisoft franchise in the works at Gameloft. Said game has been in production for months now, which makes it only reasonable for Gameloft to release the title instead of delaying it while Ubisoft takes the mantle.

Quite frankly, that's a good thing because Gameloft has done well by us with key franchises like Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X..

Hey, mister DJ Hero put a record on

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has been sounding off on DJ Hero 2 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but conveniently has left out another platform on which the game will be laying down the sick beats: iPhone and iPod touch.

While it won't go by the same title as the console sequel, you can bet that DJ Hero will end up on the App Store with a subtitle (a la Guitar Hero: On Tour).

After the underwhelming Hip Hop All-Star, there's definitely room for a decent mixing game on iPhone and iPod touch. Of course, music will be key and if Tiesto and David Guetta come on board (as rumoured for the console versions) that would be a good start.

Speaking of Guitar Hero, the company has decided to go with DJ Hero because of the entrenched competition between Rock Band and Tap Tap Revenge 3. The feeling is that DJ Hero has a unique appeal that would avoid directly competing with either title.

Furthermore, some slowdown in the market for these games has Activision wary about throwing Guitar Hero into the mix. How DJ Hero completely avoids that concern, however, isn't clear.