id Software's second game for the iPhone and iPod Touch comes in the form of a new Doom installment.

Although posted on June 26, id Software's Doom Resurrection finally became available on iTunes earlier today. Unlike id's slick port of its infamous FPS Wolfenstein, Doom Resurrection is an entirely new game built especially for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Weighing roughly 80 MB, the $10 game only offers eight levels-- six on Mars and two in Hell--all of which pull straight from 2004's Doom III assets and concepts rather than the pixilated, older (yet classic) installments. In fact, the game sports a level of detail 'one level down' from the original PC game's resolution, and frankly looks and flows fantastic.

Developed by Escalation Studios under id Software's supervision, the storyline runs in parallel with Doom III: scientists in a remote Mars facility have lost control of their experiment and all hell (literally) breaks loose. The player assumes the role of the last survivor of a group of marines originally sent in to investigate the accident. Naturally, the task at hand is to save the scientists, and to discover a way to stop the infernal invasion using an impressive arsenal of weapons. According to this interview, Doom Resurrection's setting actually takes place in a different part of Doom III's facility.

Unlike most FPS games currently available on the iPhone and iPod Touch, the game takes Doom in a different direction and removes free-roaming gameplay. This may disappoint many die-hard Doom fans, but previous FPS titles on the iPhone and iPod Touch have proven to be more difficult in mastering the touch screen controls rather than any difficulty settings the game may provide. With that said, Escalation and id chose to throw the player on 'rails,' pre-scripting the game's progression while providing 'free-look' controls to the player.

Does it work? This type of gameplay certainly puts the focus on the experience, however ultimately whether the railing flies or dies depends on the individual preference. Doom Resurrection takes advantage of the device's accelerometer: tilting forward moves the aiming cursor upwards, tilting to the left moves the cursor to the left. Thus, the simplified schematic provides a limited set of on-screen controls including a situational dodge button, a fire button, and a weapon switch button.

Earlier this month, id Software's John Carmack said that the current aiming mechanism wasn't the first version implemented into Doom Resurrection, that the game originally featured a 'Whack-a-mole,' tap-to-shoot mechanic. 'Tapping is actually too efficient of a control mechanism,' he told Slide to Play. 'It felt like a productivity app. There was no tension, and you couldn't see the damage animation on whatever you were shooting at because your finger was in the way. But the game really turned the corner when we put in the new aiming mechanism.'

For now, Doom Resurrection only offers the eight-level single-player campaign, however downloadable content and bluetooth-enabled multiplayer are planned for future updates (free-roam patch perhaps?). id Software also announced that the original Doom (Classic) title is getting ready to hit iTunes as well, supporting OS 3.0 along with bluetooth multiplayer and additional downloads.

Sony filed a patent that looks to bring backwards-compatibility back to the PlayStation 3.

If a recent article posted by Siliconera holds true, Sony plans to re-fit the PlayStation 3 (PS3) console with the ability to emulate PlayStation 2 (PS2) games once again. Earlier models of the PS3 (20 GB and 60 GB NTSC) originally featured the PS2's Emotion Engine processor, enabling the newer model the ability to play older games without the need for software emulation. However, to cut down the overwhelming cost of the PS3, Sony decided to remove the chip and attempt software emulation on two models (60 GB PAL, 80 GB NTSC). Those who bought the newer PS3 console without hardware or software emulation have been forced to pull out the older PS2 from the closet, or pick up a fresh new PS2 Slim for roughly $100.

But a patent filed by Sony back in December 2008 could change all that, as it describes a method that would allow the PS3's Cell processor to translate code from the PS2's Emotion Engine processor. Apparently, this process will be unlike the previous emulator that was limited to playing certain games. Rather, the new method will serve as a complete replicator of the PS2 processor. This would mean that every existing PlayStation 3 console will be backwards compatible. It's also speculated that this emulator will be built into the rumored PlayStation 3 Slim, and will more than likely be offered as a system update for all current PS3 owners.

The big question to ask Sony is why it didn't install this emulator in the beginning. And what exactly is the difference between the old emulator and the one used in the patent? Siliconera explained it as: the old emulator acted like a translator, as if someone converted English to Japanese twenty-four hours a day, non-stop. The new process instead, translates a set of words and then stores them in a 'dictionary that can be referenced.' In this case, it will translate instructions based on the Emotion Engine chip into referenced chunks.

Currently PS3 owners can purchase, download and play digital versions of PlayStation (One) games through the PlayStation Store. This may also be the case for PS2 games in the near future rather than allowing gamers to play the older disks. Of course, everything is mere speculation at this point--despite the patent filing--until Sony comes forward with an official announcement.

Twenty four hours after Sony's plans for Green Dam surfaces, China announces that it is postponing the controversial program.

Just one day after Sony's plans to ship PCs pre-installed with China's controversial Green Dam Youth Escort software appear online, China has temporarily pulled the plug on its mandated software deadline. As reported today by the Associated Press, China released a two-sentence announcement through the government's Xinhua News Agency, saying that regulators are now delaying the plan. Unfortunately, China did not specify when the plan would eventually resume, if at all, nor did it provide any additional details as to why Green Dam is now on hold.

The original schedule called for PC manufacturers to pre-install Green Dam on new desktops and laptops by July 1. As we've reported over the last few weeks, China has come under fire within and outside the country, with many suspecting that the software may actually record personal data and monitor Internet usage. Free-speech advocates accused China of censorship while security specialists warned of possible issues. But China stood firm on its mandate, and many PC manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba and Acer were ready to comply.

As stated earlier, China's Green Dam Youth Escort program was promoted to help parents protect young Web surfers from pornographic and other lewd material found on the Internet--one of the many parts in the country's overall plan to block questionable content from its more than 298 million Internet users. However, analysts probing the software also discovered that Green Dam contains code that filters out what China considers politically objectionable material. Currently China already has Green Dam installed on many PCs used in internet cafes.

According to Reuters, California-based Solid Oak Software Inc. is preparing to take legal action against Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co., the developers behind Green Dam. Earlier this month, Solid Oak protested that its Chinese rival stole and implemented its code into Green Dam, and demanded that U.S. PC manufacturers Dell, HP, and Gateway stop shipping computers with the software pre-installed.

'With the cease-and-desist letters, we've asked them to not ship the units as well as make accounting for any units that had been shipped,' Solid Oak spokeswoman Jenna DiPasquale said.

Jinhui naturally denied stealing the code. However, the recent halt in the software's mandatory distribution may be related to Solid Oak's claims against Jinhui. But without further elaboration on part of China and/or Jinhui, this may be merely speculation. Many reports today indicate that China is merely caving in to criticisms from the free-speech advocates, security analysts and industry groups.

China has announced a ban on trading goods or services for virtual currency.

The decision was announced by the Ministry of Commerce for the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Culture yesterday. The press release cites media reports as saying virtual money trade topped several billion yuan last year after rising around 20 percent annually and claims that the new rule is an effort to limit the impact of virtual trading on the real financial system.

The new rule states that virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services. Prepaid cards of cyber-games are to be included in the "virtual currency" bracket. The new regulation also means that using virtual money for gambling will be punished by public security authorities, and minors may not buy virtual money.

Long and short of it is, gold mining is pretty much out. For those in the dark, gold mining is when players work in-game to earn currency and then sell it to another player for real cash. China has said the new regulation is aimed mostly at QQ coins, the virtual credit issued by Tencent.com, which Gamasutra says is often traded for real money or services as well as in money laundering schemes. With 220 million users, Tencent is said to support the move.