Industry experts are beginning to speculate that the iPad 3 could launch earlier than next year. DisplaySearch analyst, Richard Shim indicates that the new iPad with a QXGA 2048-by-1536 Retina display is already in production.
Because the display specifications are difficult to mass produce, Apple is reported to be looking for help from Samsung, Sharp, and LG to produce them. The iPad 3 could be ready to ship as early January, with more significant volume becoming increasingly available within the following months.
Amazon’s Kindle line of e-Readers and tablets reported exceptional levels of sales on Black Friday. Specifically, the recently debuted Kindle Fire was a best selling product across Amazon.com that day.
Kindles also saw noticeably high sales at retail locations like Best Buy and Target. “Kindle Fire was the bestselling tablet in our stores on Black Friday,” said Nik Nayar, vice president of merchandising at Target.
The Kindle Fire tablet currently sells for $199. Features include a 7- inch color touch screen, a 1 GHz dual- core CPU, 512 MB of RAM memory, 8 GB of storage memory, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Did you purchase a Kindle Fire this Black Friday? Share with us your thoughts on the up-and-coming Android powered device.
GameSalad is partnering with Eden Films Ltd and Precog Studios to create the interactive comic experience for Redemption: The Comic. Redemption combines traditional comic book narrative with elements of point-and-click adventure gaming to explore the adventures of action heroine Elizabeth Grey who is caught in the middle of the millennia-long struggle between Heaven and Hell.
The first chapter of the comic, Redemption: The Challenge, plans to launch early 2012. In Redemption: The Challenge, Elizabeth Grey begins her journey as a fallen angel. The story will follow her epic quest for forgiveness as she struggles to save humanity from her demonic former masters.
Redemption: The Comic was recently previewed to the public at Austin Comic Con. Billy Garretsen, Lead Game Developer at GameSalad, along with Rolf Mohr, the Art Director and Concept Artist with Precog Studios, were on hand at Austin Comic Con to deliver demonstrations and speak with comic enthusiasts about the upcoming project.
Billy Garretsen shares:
“With the GameSalad platform, we have primarily focused on games. But what is really exciting is how much more it can do. By partnering with Eden Films on the Redemption comic book, we are showing how GameSalad can be used to enhance the traditional comic book narrative and open up development to a whole new audience. ”
Adding to the excitement of the event, comic fans were also treated watch the development of a variant art cover drawn by Billy.
To view the process for yourself, check out this Youtube video showing the art development process behind the variant cover for Redemption: The Comic. Concept art images can be found on the GameSalad Facebook page and the GameSalad Deviant Art page.
Make sure to visit the Redemption website to recieve updates about the upcoming comic series. Signing up for the mailing list allows you to receive free downloadable art and be the first notified when the comic hits the App Store.
While the popularity of the iPad is undeniable, they are key demographic groups that are more likely to make the purchase than others. The marketing firm, BlueKai, compiled data into an infograph exploring the demographics behind iPad sales.
Three very interesting characteristics tied to iPad purchases are being male, owning a pet, and being a gamer. iPad owners also like organic food, science, and love to travel. Demographics also extend to female liberal arts majors.
Will these demographics help mold your app development in any way? Share your thoughts with us.
Congratulations to Sunshine – Here Comes the Sun, the GameSalad Game of the Month for November!
Developed by the Quantum Sheep, Sunshine – Here Comes the Sun is a delightful arcade-style shooter. The gamer plays the role of the sun and the goal is to banish sadness by strategically shooting down grumpy clouds. Be careful and don’t hit friendly dragons or nearby castles and your high scores will be handsomely rewarded with a set of whimsical, wearable achievement hats!
Hailing from London, England, Quantum Sheep is an industry veteran with over 16 years of experience in game development. He also has a background in retail, journalism, and marketing. Starting out in the industry, Quantum had many inspirations, sharing that: “As a child, Star Wars fired up my imagination. I wanted to be in those scenarios. To play them out. Fly an X-wing. Shoot the bad guys etc etc. Games expanded on that. The pixels on the screen were crude, but immersed me in their worlds. I made my first game for a school project on the wonderful ZX Spectrum.”
Before discovering GameSalad and the ease of drag-and-drop game development, Quantum Sheep worked as a game designer on several well known releases including a GameBoy Advance game, three Nintendo DS games, and PC MMO.
Quantum Sheep has previously been known for great GameSalad games such as Air Supply – 1bit Run and Gravitrixx. He prefers to develop games that are retro with a modern twist. Quantum’s passion for retro elements is pervasive throughout his games, notably evident in his signature chip tune soundtracks. It comes as no surprise that in his spare time, Quantum makes chiptune music with LSDJ on one of his many modified Gameboys.
Michael Agustin, GameSalad’s Chief Product Officer, said about Sunshine, “This is why I love our community and this is why we set out to make GameSalad. The world needs more fun, innovative games like Sunshine.”
Speaking on his inspiration for making games, Quantum Sheep shared that following three things motivate him: “music, the world, and wanting to bring a smile to people’s faces.” It is clear to see, that Sunshine – Here Comes the Sun will bring a smile to many faces.
The game is currently available for the iPhone and iPad for $0.99 and $1.99, respectively.
Industry experts are beginning to speculate that the iPad 3 could launch earlier than next year. DisplaySearch analyst, Richard Shim indicates that the new iPad with a QXGA 2048-by-1536 Retina display is already in production. 
Amazon’s Kindle line of e-Readers and tablets reported exceptional levels of sales on Black Friday. Specifically, the recently debuted Kindle Fire was a best selling product across Amazon.com that day. 
Billy Garretsen shares:
Developed by the 
Hailing from London, England, Quantum Sheep is an industry veteran with over 16 years of experience in game development. He also has a background in retail, journalism, and marketing. Starting out in the industry, Quantum had many inspirations, sharing that: