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The Rumour Mine: N.O.V.A. 2, Star Defense 2, space MMO

It's a veritable iPhone star trek

The Rumour Mine: N.O.V.A. 2, Star Defense 2, space MMO
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iOS

What a week, eh?

Rumours are swirling all over the place with iPad out, but don't let that make you forget that there's a more popular device that's still with you.

iPhone and iPod touch are still going phenomenally strong and this week I have some great info and two big sequels of your favourite iPhone games.

Plus, it looks like Pocket Legends will get a partner in crime sometime in the future.

Pocket Legends developer considering space MMO

Spacetime Studios has just launched the first 3D massively multiplayer role-playing game for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, but that isn't stopping it from considering future online endeavours.

While it's committed to supporting Pocket Legends with tons of downloadable content, there's word it might be considering a completely different universe for a second MMO.

The technology the studio has built is impressive and could easily be used to create a dramatically different online universe.

Imagine a space saga or wild west RPG - the possibilities are limitless. I'm told their leaning toward building a space MMO with alien worlds and unique character classes. With the recent success of Star Trek Online on PC, why couldn't a space adventure work on iPhone?

Whatever it decides, Pocket Legends has proved to be a phenomenal leap in terms of portable gaming and more from Spacetime Studios is exactly what I'd like to see.

Ngmoco to launch freemium Star Defense sequel

Star Defense sequelWhile it may have won over critics with its phenomenal tower defence gameplay, Star Defense wasn't exactly a commercial hit.

The game's arrival with iPhone OS 3.0 was predicted to boost sales, but it had a tough time gaining much attention last summer. Ngmoco isn't ready to give up on the series yet, though.

A well-connected source has hinted that a freemium Star Defense sequel is on the way, with the talented producer who coordinated the first game back for a second tour of duty. I have no clue as to how the game will be structured, but hopefully it doesn't involve paying for individual towers.

It's more likely that in-app purchases will be used for special currency that boosts your towers or unlocks certain levels. An approach like the freemium version of Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid would be ideal.

The game is unlikely to be called Star Defense 2 either, mainly because it isn't be a premium successor and so ngmoco doesn't feel like it ought to carry forward with a numerical sequel.

Instead, look forward to a subtitled name like Star Defense: Freemium Frontier or Star Defense: We Couldn't Sell the Last One so This One's on the House. Maybe...

N.O.V.A. 2 in production, being designed especially for iPad

N.O.V.A. 2You may have not even finished playing N.O.V.A. HD on your shiny (well, not-so-shiny thanks to all those fingerprints!) iPad, so you better hurry it up because the sequel is on its way.

Gameloft has already given the green light for development on N.O.V.A. 2.

Following the original's December release, the company was so pleased with the critical and commercial response that it started considering the idea of a follow up. After Apple revealed the iPad, the decision was made to engineer N.O.V.A. 2 with the new high-powered device in mind.

The team is working from the top down when it comes to the platform, with the game being built for iPad and scaled down to run on iPhone and iPod touch. This means we can expect lush graphics developed with the higher processing power of iPad in mind, while iPhone and iPod touch will run a modified version that should be pretty in its own right.

Don't expect Gameloft to talk about the game anytime soon, though, because pre-production is still on-going and the game isn't expected until the end of the 2010 at the earliest, or potentially early 2011.