So there she is, the GameBone...Pro! What's better than an actual photo of the device itself? A Photoshop rendering of course! The controller comes by way of Australian manufacturers 22Moo, who so happens to have an equally fantastic name. 

The release of the iPhone 3.0 software gives 3rd party manufacturers the ability to come out with accessories that can be used with other 3rd party games/apps. This is the first official announcement (that I'm aware of) for a gaming accessory. Sorry GameBone Pro but by the looks of it you appear to be a pretty rushed, poorly designed, cheap controller. I appreciate the effort, I really do, but any peripheral that resembles an object most people associated with canine chew toys probably isn't too hot. Wait, what's that I hear off in the distance? The sound of several dozen manufacturer's coming up with equally questionable products. Uggh, let's hope a good one rises to the top. 

The GameBone Pro features :

• Dual connectivity – Connect with Bluetooth wirelessly OR use the 30-pin dock connector cable
• 2000mAh Lithium-ion Battery for additional power for your iPod touch / iPhone*
• LED showing charging state and capacity
• 8-way D-Pad with 6 buttons
• Bluetooth button for pairing and status
• Built-in speakers, mic and 3.5 audio headphone jack
• “Made for iPod” and “Works for iPhone” certification

We're making a handful of changes to the site today. If you see anything funky going on (like large titles right now) don't be alarmed!

Ngmoco's recently announced Plus+ Network has been given the promo video treatment. After seeing this I'm extremely impressed. Check out what the Xbox Live-ish service for the iPhone will be capable of:

It's finally here. The iPhone 3.0 update is upon us. Cut and paste! Push notifications! Spotlight Search! Exclamation points! The update just went live for me and I can hardly wait to give it a go. Far and away the most exciting feature for me is the ability to cut and paste. This will allow me to get siginificantly more work done on my phone than I have been able to in the past. For a quick reminder on how this update pertains to iPhone gaming head on over to this post.

 

Leaving a huge high profile gig for one of gamings most well known companies to join an iPhone game developer? If you need proof to see just how far iPhone gaming has come in less than a year look no further. Gamastura is reporting that Sega's CEO Simon Jeffery is going to be leaving the company to head Ngomoco's new branch Plus Publishing. One of the most appealing parts of the job, Jeffery says, is the democratization of video games.

"I've been in the video game business for a very long 22 years, and I've pretty much worked in big, established companies that whole time since the beginning," Jeffery tells Gamasutra. And he says he's excited to see a "polarization" in the industry, an alternative to the hit-driven blockbuster model.

"People have stopped talking about the $25 million games, and we're talking about the $25,000 games," he says. "That shift in gaming has happened remarkably quickly, and I really want to be part of that."

Plus Publishing, aside from publishing games from various developers, is looking to create a network for mobile titles similar to Microsoft's Live service. Gamasutra speaks to Ngmoco's co-founder Joe Keene about the new project.

Another way will be the company's Plus Network -- for now, Keene won't share specifics. But one thing he'll say "is that building a community of gamers in these kinds of experience is really core to our future strategy, and one of the things that will be leveraged highly in the work that Simon will be doing."

"Making sure we can always address that audience, and that that audience is connected to one another and communicating with one another about what they're doing, what they're playing -- competing with each other, challenging each other ...that, we think, is an important new way to keep successful."