FPS classic Duke Nukem 3D coming to an Android smartphone near you

Independent mobile application network Tapjoy has announced that it has partnered with MachineWorks NorthWest, in order to bring the iconic video game Duke Nukem 3D to the Android Market. The company stated that the game will be "available very soon" (we’ve heard that one before, Duke) on Google’s app marketplace for Android-running smartphones and tablets that are operating on Android 2.1 and higher.  

The third installment in the highly acclaimed Duke Nukem series, Duke Nukem 3D, is set in Los Angeles "sometime in the early 21st century" in which players blast away invading alien scum and mutated humans attempting to take over the world.

The launch of Duke Nukem 3D in the Android Market marks the first time any of the Duke Nukem titles are available on Android devices. Hopefully it will fair better than the recent franchise revival attempt with the disappointing Duke Nukem Forever.

Duke Nukem Forever DLC arrives

Speaking of Duke, the "Hail to the Icons Parody Pack" DLC (downloadable content) arrived this week. According to Kotaku, the DLC boasts new game modes as well as maps.

Included is the new Freeze Tag, Hail to the King, and Hot Potato game modes and four  new maps based on some of the best first-person shooting titles such as Call of Duty, Halo and Team Fortress. These are Call of Duke, Sandbox, Inferno and 2Forts1Bridge.

The "Hail to the Icons Parody Pack" is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC for $9.99 (approx. R79) or 800 Microsoft points, but it’s free to members of the Duke Nukem Forever First Access Club.

GTA III to hijack your mobile and tablet soon

Duke Nukem isn’t the only title to be reborn on a mobile platform as Rock Star Games has announced that Grand Theft Auto III will be coming to select new generation iOS- and Android-running devices later this fall (spring for us).

The company provided a list of mobile devices currently confirmed to be supported at launch:

• Apple iOS devices: iPad 2, iPhone 4S
• Android smarpthones: Droid X2, HTC Evo 2, LG Optimus 2X, Motorola Atrix, Samsung Galaxy SII
• Android-powered tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

GTA III’s debut on these popular mobile operating systems comes on the tenth anniversary of the birth of the GTA franchise this month. The company also recently revealed the release date for Max Payne 3 and also released the first trailer for the title.  

Nintendo DS hits sales milestone

It’s not only smartphones and tablets that are prolific contributors to the rise of portable gaming. Nintendo has announced that its DS range of handheld gaming systems, including the 3DS, has surpassed another milestone during September.

The company managed to pass a lifetime sales figure of 50 million units, according to the NPD Group, for the Nintendo DS family of gaming systems.

“The Nintendo DS forever changed the gaming landscape, and the fact that consumers continue to embrace the platform is a testament to its value and mass appeal," said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One drops in a week

Platform and action adventure gaming fans can look forward to the release of the next title in the popular Ratchet & Clank series, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, which will be released for the PlayStation 3 next Friday.

The game not only brings a new story, but also improved visuals and a four player drop-in, drop-out co-operative mode. This mode will enable players to team up as the merry band of heroes Ratchet, Clank and Qwark. They will be assisted in completing their biggest challenge yet, strangely enough by the Galaxy’s most notorious villain Dr. Nefarious.

As has become the trademark for the franchise, a plethora of wacky weapons will be available, as players will compete against each other to collect bolts to upgrade their arsenal. You can view gameplay footage for this new forthcoming title in the trailer posted below.