Gaming

The folks at Popcap were at E3 2014 giving us a sneak peek at the next update for Plants Vs Zombies 2. The mushrooms you know and love from the original game are back, offering a unique way to gather sunshine points at nighttime. Now the free mushroom attackers will wither away over time, but you also have a new plant which will make a zombie drop additional sunshine as it shambles towards your stalwart front line.

If there's an Apple TV software developer kit (SDK) at Apple - something they intend to release to the public, akin to the existing iPhone and iPad SDK - then it's currently sitting the winter out up on blocks in the Cupertino driveway. Long rumored, it hasn't been announced to date, and it's unclear exactly what form it would take if that ever changes. (Partnership only? Games and entertainment only?). What has been released by Apple, and continues to be improved in both iOS and OS X is AirPlay. It uses your existing Apple devices to power the apps, and your Apple TV to stream the results to your big screen TV. And soon, it'll work with MFi game controllers. Is that enough? Kyle Richter argues it may well be, and more:

Apple and Nintendo both share a passion for great products, for fantastic hardware in the support of fantastic software, and both have suffered more than their share of detractors and doomsayers. Recently, many have suggested Nintendo might be better off making games for iPhone and iPad than sticking with their hardware strategy - including people who would spit-take at the idea of Apple licensing out OS X or iOS. Federico Viticci thinks that's because of a disconnect between Apple and Nintendo pundits. MacStories:

During E3, Gameloft announced the latest iteration of their long-standing racing series, Asphalt 8: Airborne. Asphalt 8 introduces a new aerial element where you're launching your car off ramps to do freakin' sweet spins and flips. It's basically mixing in Tony Hawk with your classic racing game.