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Apparently taking a hint from Rovio with two versions of their game, Angry Birds [99¢ / HD] and Angry Birds Seasons [99¢ / HD], Doodle Jump [99¢ creators Lima Sky just released Doodle Jump Christmas Special [99¢]. The game is basically little more than Doodle Jump with a Christmas theme, which is a-ok by me.

If you already own Doodle Jump, I'm not sure how much sense there is to re-buy the Christmas Special, but if you're the kind of person who likes endless jumping games who also happens to like Christmas, I can think of worse ways to spend 99¢. Doodle Jump Christmas Special is home to both Game Center and some fantastically detailed Retina Display graphics, and all the new Christmas enemies couldn't be cuter.

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Back in September developers Krabl and FDG Entertainment released the follow-up to the quirky platform puzzler Ynth [$2.99] titled Beyond Ynth [$2.99/HD]. The game used some interesting mechanics, tasking the player with rotating boxes of various sizes and shapes in order to get Kribl, the protagonist bug in the game, to the end of each level. Beyond Ynth had a wonderful art style with Retina Display graphics, clever level designs, and unique gameplay, all of which we noted in our review. About the only thing we didn't like was the oft-frustrating trial and error aspect of the game, something that was mostly remedied with a nifty rewind feature that was introduced in an update last month.

Now, in lieu of a proper lite version of Beyond Ynth, the developers are following in the footsteps of Angry Birds Seasons [99¢/HD] and Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift [Free] and have released a free holiday themed version of their game called Beyond Ynth Xmas Edition [Free/HD]. This free ad-supported version features a nice slice of what you would be getting with the full version. There's an entirely new Christmas story that takes place across five levels, Game Center integration, Retina Display support, and the new rewind feature.

The 5 levels in Beyond Ynth Xmas Edition don't last very long, but they do give you an idea of the types of gameplay you'll encounter should you choose to purchase the full version. The short Christmas story is fully voiced with cute hand-drawn cutscenes, and appropriately some of the levels take place in the snow, though the full version features desert and fire levels as well. There are separate versions for both iPhone/iPod touch and iPad, and if you've been wanting to get a taste of Beyond Ynth before deciding to plunk down the cash then give Beyond Ynth Xmas Edition a download.

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Like many iOS games around this time of year, Zepto Lab and Chillingo are readying a holiday themed edition of everybody's favorite feed-a-candy-that-is-swinging-on-a-rope-to-a-tiny-monster game, Cut the Rope. Unlike some games, however, Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift will actually be a standalone game rather than an update to the existing one. Don't go throwing a fit just yet though, as you won't be required to make an additional purchase since Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift will be launching for free. I had a chance to experience the game first hand at the EA Mobile event last week, and it's looking like another great edition in the epic struggle to feed Om Nom.

There will be 25 brand new levels to play through in Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift, and of course the entire game is drenched with the sights and sounds of Winter holidays (formerly known as Christmas). Most interesting, however, is the introduction of holiday socks (formerly known as Christmas stockings). These always come in pairs, and basically act as teleports for Om Nom's candy. Drop a piece into one and it will pop out of the other, giving you yet another way to transport candy to his gaping maw.

Besides the 25 new levels and the new teleporting socks game mechanic, Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift will also feature Game Center with new achievements to unlock. While the OCD part of me that hates having multiple icons for essentially the same games (I'm looking at you Robot Unicorn Attack series) wishes this was just an update, I really can't look a holiday gift horse in the mouth. Who knows, perhaps sometime down the line this edition will be added into the original Cut the Rope. Be on the lookout for Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift as it should be available in time for Christmas.

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We remain huge fans of Homerun Battle 3D [$4.99 / Lite / HD] even though it's changed a lot since our review. In fact, even the name of the game has changed. And now it looks like our love will have to grow even more to accompany another, though more unconventional update. At midnight, Com2Us plans to drop Santa Clause into the game. Yeah. THAT Santa.

According to press materials, Santa will take on the role of pitcher for Homerun Derby match-ups and will reward players "x2," "x3," and "x5" gold balls or special pieces of stat-bending equipment such as shirts, pants, and helmets whenever they hit a homerun off of one of his special giftbox pitches. The gold balls can, in turn, be used to purchase an item in the in-game store, which by the way, will be updated as well with seasonal sales prices this midnight, too.

Of course, Homerun Battle 3D isn't the only Com2Us joint scoring a holiday-themed update. Slice it! [$.99] (above) has received 20 new stages, Christmas carol BGMs, and new themed visuals. Starting now, actually, you'll be able to hack away with all the holiday pride you can muster at lush evergreens, snowmen, or even lit candles. Go get 'em, Tiger!

Hey, guys, did you know Christmas is less than 20 days away? Yeah, just thought about that and my mind was blown. I wonder what Eli is getting me?

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Ngmoco has just released Touch Pets Dogs 2 [Free], the follow up to last year's popular virtual puppy game. The original Touch Pets Dogs [Free] was generally well received by gamers barring one major issue – the constant need to feed your puppy. A bowl of food was required in order to get a small amount of playtime from your doggy, and if he or she went unfed then you were unable to do anything with them except stare at them sleeping. Of course, food bowls were available as IAP for those willing to pay to play with their virtual puppy, but the value of purchased food was pretty thin. There's no sense in playing a virtual pet game, even an attractive and entertaining one like Touch Pets Dogs, if said virtual pet is a borderline narcoleptic.

Luckily Ngmoco realized this, and Touch Pets Dogs 2 doesn't implement any cruel restrictions that prevent you from playing with your pet, rather it more closely resembles their recently released feline-themed virtual pet game Touch Pets Cats [Free]. And when I say resemble, I mean that it's practically identical. Touch Pets Dogs 2 gives you the ability to personalize your living space with a plethora of different kinds of furniture and items. These can then be “searched” by your pet which will net you some coins that can then be used to purchase more items. Coins can also be earned by taking care of your puppy and completing other types of goals in the game.

The catch is that the frequency with which you can search furniture is time limited, with longer wait times resulting in more coins. The IAP in Touch Pets Dogs 2 comes in the form of dog bones which can be used to speed up the wait times of coin collecting. You can also feed the bones directly to your dog which will send it into a state of excitement, similar to catnip in Touch Pets Cats, that will allow him/her to collect even more coins. There are other time limited events as well, like daily goals that can be completed, which can also be sped up with the use of bones. Unfortunately, when the time limits have been reached for coin collection you'll need to act quickly otherwise they will expire.

While I'm not really a fan of games that require you to keep a constant watch in order for your rewards not to expire, there are some really nice things about Touch Pets Dogs 2. The game supports the Retina Display on newer devices and the graphics have been much improved over the original. This is a very sharp looking game, and your puppy's mannerisms and personality are just adorable. There is also a staggering amount of different items to collect in the game, such as furniture, toys, clothing, and more. It's actually pretty fun to decorate your house and upgrade to premium items as you collect enough coins to do so.

If you aren't bothered by Ngmoco's freemium model and have enough free time to keep a vigilant eye on your game's progress, then you'll find a lot to like about Touch Pets Dogs 2. Honestly, I enjoy the game a lot, but I just can't get behind the limiting factors associated with playing. At the very least it's worth a download to check out Touch Pets Dogs 2 since it's free to do so, and you can leave any comments in the discussion thread in our forums with your own thoughts on the game.

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Earlier this week Zynga sent out some curious invitations to a conference call to various members of the media, including TouchArcade. That left us scratching our heads to see what exactly it was that Zynga was up to that could possibly interest us. I was half expecting them to reveal plans to bring more games to iOS following the success of Farmville [Free] on the App Store, but this took me completely by surprise.

Zynga has acquired NewToy, the developers behind both Words with Friends [$2.99 / Free] and Chess with Friends [$2.99 / Free]. Where things really get interesting is when you consider that NewToy collaborated with ngmoco to release We Rule [Free] back in March, which has since been reskinned several times in various themes. Ngmoco has since been bought by Japanese social gaming conglomerate DeNA, which currently is one of Zynga's biggest competitors in the social gaming realm.

While many of our readers are (understandably) getting tired of freemium time sinks, it is incredibly interesting watching the international business battle unfold between all of these companies making untold millions on microtransactions and ad impressions. We're not sure yet what this will mean for NewToy other than a shiny new titles for the higher-ups at NewToy as well as the rebranding of NewToy to "Zynga With Friends." Like all these previous high-dollar dealings, it will be fun to see what happens once the dust of the acquisition settles.

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Back in October, Master Eli told you that Halfbrick Studios' Age of Zombies [$2.99] was a solid dual stick shooter, definitely worth its asking price. Eli doesn't lie; His words are worth their weight in Silver Dragoons. Now, we wouldn't normally throw disbelievers of Eli's Gospel bones, but today is as good of a day as any. Age of Zombies now has a Lite version on the App Store, which will allow you to play the game and evaluate it for free, if that review didn't do it for you for whatever reason.

Take note that this Lite version only showcases the first full chapter in the game, a prehistoric-themed romp. In it, you'll meet the "legendary" zombie T-Rex and even be able to unlock a level of the game's "Survival Mode," in addition to being able to upload your scores and earn Achievements.

In celebration of this release, creator Halfbrick Studios is handing out a little something special to owners of the actual game. Upon downloading the Lite version, you'll receive a bonus unlock code that, when used in the full version of the game, unlocks a "Hoverboard" similar to that one in those popular movies.

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Word that Rovio Mobile was stuffing its yuletide Angry Birds update into its Halloween version of the game [$.99, HD] struck us as odd. Sure, Halloween is a "seasonal" offering, but these two holidays are complete opposites.

This thought must have occurred to Rovio as well because the update, which does indeed add several new snow-laden levels to the game, adds more than just Christmas cheer: It also rebrands the Halloween to "Angry Birds: Seasons," killing the current confusion and thereby nipping all future hullabaloo in the bud.

The Christmas-themed episodes are packed within the App under the heading "Season's Greetings," while the Halloween stuff has been moved to another episode called "Trick Or Treat." Angry Birds Halloween is still $.99 for the iPhone and iPod, while the HD version for the iPad remains at $1.99.

Having spent a few mind numbing minutes with "Season's Greetings," we can say that we fully endorse Rovio Mobile's attempt to get us in the seasonal mood. Plus, it's free, so complaining would be a bit silly. Download this update as soon as you can.

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We're big fans of Dinofarm Games / Fusion Reactions' arcade-style dungeon crawler 100 Rogues [App Store]. The game, which we reviewed back in May, is a re-imagination of the typical Rogue-like formula. It features the typical elements of the genre — near-certain death, randomly generated maps and loot, and a foray into the depths of an enemy-riddled pit — but delivers it in a way that makes you feel you are playing something else entirely. In our initial review, we found it to be pretty brilliant.

In that review, we spoke of the long list of planned features that the developer had in store for the title. Here, half a year later, it's clear those weren't empty promises. The developer released all of nine updates to the game through October, and two weeks ago released version 2.0, a massive update that enhanced the gameplay in a great many ways.

Some of the enhancements that came with version 2.0:

• Hell! Another world, with new levels, music, monsters and maps to explore, has been added to the end of the game, appropriately situated between the Dungeon and Satan
• New Boss: A new, Dungeon-themed boss has been placed between the Dungeon and the new Hell world
• Amafyst: The Fairy Wizard's basic projectile skill now leaves behind Crystal Caltrops upon impact, each lasting 10 turns dealing damage and slowing monsters that walk on them. Each skill point in Amafyst creates a higher number of more damaging crystals
• Easy Mode now spans all three game worlds
• Map Generation: Each map is now comprised of a mix of handcrafted and randomly generated rooms
• Mob Clustering: Monsters now spawn more tightly in groups, and only spawn in mobs within rooms, reducing the incidence of difficult encounters in hallways.
• Game Center can now be disabled via 100 Rogues user preferences in the Settings App
• Stability improvements throughout the game

And the continuing evolution of 100 Rogues is showing no sign of slowing down. The version 2.1 update has been submitted to Apple and should go live later today or tomorrow. And it's a pretty significant update.

A partial list of what version 2.1 will bring:

• Two new weapons
• One new armor type
• End Cutscene now rendered in-engine (Apple's movie player has been entirely removed from the game. Enjoy the greatly reduced update size!)
• New Bandit Hole 1 music
• Custom Playlist support via Options Menu
• iOS 4.2 support (Game Center / Multi-tasking on iPad)
• Load Times improved throughout the games
• Many various bug fixes

In addition, a new, third player class will be released by December 15. This new class is known as the Skellyman Scoundrel, which lead designer Keith Burgun describes.

In terms of character, the Scoundrel is a member of the Skellyman race, a race of Skeleton-People created by magic many generations ago. This means that they actually reproduce and have baby skeletons which grow into adult skeletons – they're not undead and they don't come from humans. The Scoundrel in particular happens to be an undead Skellyman, however, as she was killed by her lover in life – he stabbed her in the back of the head with a dagger. She now keeps it in her skull (and it ends up looking like a fashionable ponytail because of its tassle) and stalks the dungeons looking for greater and greater kills with which to satisfy her thirst for revenge. When you get enough backstabs, you can deliver the ability SKELLY VENGENACE, a skill which makes the skellyman pull her lover's dagger from her skull and plunge it into a target. This skill can do *MASSIVE* damage, like you've never seen in 100 Rogues.

This Leap Attacking, Skelly Vengeance-dealing new class is all about stealth, mobility, speed, and dealing great damage to singular targets. It should mix up this already heavily-updated title rather nicely. Hats off to the folks behind 100 Rogues for so admirably keeping the ball rolling with 100 Rogues, as well as for these exclusive details and (inset) design sketch.

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One of the great things about the App Store is that the games you buy have the potential to evolve over time with updates. Couple that with our forums which are chock full of helpful feedback from our members, and developers with a listening ear can turn a game into something that is much greater than it originally started out as. While the App Store has been around for over two years and this is nothing new, I've never quite seen anything like what has happened with Rogue Runner [99¢/Lite] from developer Glowdot Productions.

Rogue Runner is an “endless running” game like so many others that have recently been popular in the App Store. It was released two full months ago, and to be perfectly honest I just wasn't very impressed with it at the time. It featured some excellent pixel art and a cool 16-bit style, but the content was limited and the gameplay just felt “off” compared to similar running games. Rogue Runner just didn't do anything that different from the competition to make it stand above the rest.

But then something happened. Glowdot listened to all the great feedback that was given in the forum thread, and the first update issued addressed a lot of the gameplay concerns. Rogue Runner was now much more enjoyable to play, and Glowdot vowed to issue content updates at a ridiculous pace. As soon as one update was approved, he would immediately submit the next one that he was working on while the previous one was in review. Two months and five updates later, and Rogue Runner has blossomed into much more than the initial release, and the beautiful thing is that the majority of content is directly inspired by the actual people playing the game.

Rogue Runner plays like your typical running game, with a button for jumping from platform to platform and another button for firing your weapon. Besides the enemy soldiers and vehicles that litter the ground, airborne enemies will fly in from the left side of the screen and attack from the right, and tapping on them will launch a missile in their direction while you continue to focus on blasting away the ground threat. It's not really anything we haven't seen before, but it works well and is a whole lot more playable since the first update.

Initially Rogue Runner contained just two vehicles to choose from and a single desert environment to play in. Now after the slew of updates the total is 6 environments, including a Gameboy-style theme and a 1920's noir-style San Francisco, and 10 vehicles which range from Back to the Future's Delorean to a dinosaur. All of this is merely cosmetic, mind you, but it's very cool nonetheless to be able to choose from all the different options, and it adds a lot of enjoyment to the game. The video above shows a bunch of the different themes available in the game.

What isn't cosmetic is the two additional game modes that have been added into Rogue Runner. The first is a chase mode, similar to the main game but with constant boss enemies that you chase after and battle. The second new mode is basically an entirely new game. It's a top-down mode similar to Spy Hunter in a way, where you travel around different lanes on a highway shooting or ramming enemy cars while avoiding innocent pedestrians. This top-down mode could have easily been a second game from Glowdot, but instead it's been included in the original Rogue Runner for free. You can check out the top-down video below.

Really though, there's too many different things in Rogue Runner to cover them all. The best thing to do is check out the thread in our forums where the first post lists videos of the various themes and the second post details all the updates so far. Then, if there's something you would like to see in the game, make sure and leave a comment about it because chances are pretty good that it could become a reality. A recent lite version has also been released, so you can actually experience what the gameplay is like before buying.

I still don't think that Rogue Runner is the best of the endless running games. The jumping still feels a bit floaty and the controls are not as responsive as they should be. But you do get acclimated to how it plays and with Glowdot's track record I have no doubt that the gameplay will be refined even further. What Rogue Runner really is, though, is a labor of love from both the developer and the community, and for that reason alone it is worth having a look at. I get excited whenever I see the Rogue Runner icon pop up in my list of updates in iTunes, and I can't wait to see what sort of content comes out for it in the future.

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