While Apple has managed to keep the App Store free from malware, it seems the Cupertino company has a hard time filtering out scams. Every so often, a shameless developer tries their luck at selling a title that promises to be something it isn’t. The latest claims to be a Halo 4 clone that is “iPhone/iPad exclusive.” They’ve gone through the trouble of writing a lengthy App Store description in an effort to fool you into thinking it’s the real thing. But in reality, it’s just a $4.99 game of chess.
Apple’s App Store is widely considered the king of mobile marketplaces — even Android fanatics will admit that it offers a greater selection of high-quality apps and games. But it’s Google Play that’s currently seeing the most growth, according to the latest data from app analytics firm Distimo, while the App Store enjoys more than four times as much revenue.
One of the better Yuletide traditions is the venerable holiday Advent Calendar, in which each day of December leading up to Christmas is marked off on a special calendar by opening its corresponding door to find a small gift, toy or chocolate squirreled away inside.
This year, we here at Cult of Mac decided we wanted to give our readers their very own Apple-themed advent calendar, filled with the year’s best apps, gadgets, stories and other curios. So each day in December, we’re going to lovingly peel back the door on the Cult of Mac 2012 Advent Calendar to reveal another delicious morsel, something really special that came out this year that we think every one of you should enjoy.
So what’s behind the door on Saturday the 15th? Arcane Legends for iOS, a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that’s bound to please.
This week’s must-have games roundup begins with a wonderful new building game called Middle Manager of Justice, in which you take charge of Justice Corp., a team of superheroes that are on a mission to save the city’s inhabitants. We also have Monsters, Inc. Run, a new running platform game from Disney; Sport Interactive’s latest Football Manager Handheld title, and more.
When Apple rolled out a new App Store redesign with iOS 6, the Cupertino company removed the ability for customers to gift apps and games to their friends via email. Just in time for Christmas, that’s now back, making gift-giving for those getting new iOS devices a whole lot easier.
When you think of hugely successful mobile games, Cut the Rope from ZeptoLabsis right up there with Angry Birds; it’s been a big hit on Android and iOS. With that in mind, we’re super excited about ZeptoLabs’s next game, Pudding Monsters, which it’s now teasing with a brand new trailer.
Gameloft has announced that Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, the latest addition to its series of first-person shooters, will make its debut on iOS this Thursday, December 6, before arriving on Android “shortly after.” We’ve been following the title’s development since Gameloft released its first teaser tailer back in September, and we couldn’t be more excited. If you’re a fan of FPS games, this is the title to look out for.
ThinkGeek’s awesome 8-Bitty controller is included in its Black Friday sale.
I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it hard to keep up with all these awesome Black Friday deals. If you’ve picked up a reduced iOS device from Apple — or another third-party retailer — during today’s sales, you may want one of ThinkGeek’s iCade controllers to accompany it. The company is now offering up to $50 off.
If there’s one thing I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving, it’s iOS developers. They price their apps at tremendously great prices, then make big reductions at almost every opportunity. This Thanksgiving, EA, Gameloft, Sega, and more are slashing the prices of their most popular iOS titles — most of which are now just $0.99.
So that you don’t miss a bargain, we’ve compiled a list of the best titles that are now going cheap. Check it out below.
That’s right: The game Verticus, which dropped onto the App Store today, was crafted with input from comic legend Stan Lee (is the “comic” part even necessary?), who wrote the story and created the titular character. Oh, and did I mention that he also lent his 89-year-old voice for the game’s Mission Commander?
![Google Play Grows Fastest, But App Store Sees Four Times As Much Revenue [Report]](http://www.cultofandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/gs3iphone.jpeg)
![This Week’s Must-Have iOS Games: Middle Manager of Justice, Monsters, Inc. Run, Football Manager & More [Roundup]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-Shot-2012-12-15-at-09.54.55.jpg "Screen Shot 2012-12-15 at 09.54.55")
![ThinkGeek’s iCade Controllers For iOS Have Up To $50 Off For Black Friday [Deals]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Screen-Shot-2012-11-23-at-14.23.55.jpg "iCade-8-Bitty")
![EA, Gameloft, Sega & More Are Slashing iOS Prices For Thanksgiving [Deals]](http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Screen-Shot-2012-11-22-at-16.53.53.jpg "Screen Shot 2012-11-22 at 16.53.53")
