Now you’ll be able to work your fingers to the bone in an effort to please Mama in all sorts of real-world activities without any of the real world rewards! Yes, it sounds a little silly on paper, but when it comes right down to it, we just can’t resist Mama’s smiling face.

Gardening Mama is due this month, but Crafting Mama is just a new trademark–beyond that, there’s no word on it yet, though it’s easy to guess that it’s going to involve Mama, mini-games, and making things.

[via OMG Nintendo]

Now, Dope Wars is Candy Wars, and it’s available in the App Store for a mere $0.99. Now, instead of taking on the role of a drug dealer, the player is an illegal candy dealer in a future world that has banned candy in a desperate attempt to combat obesity. Instead of slinging weed, you’re trading in brownies. At Catamount Software, a sense of humor is clearly a job requirement.

They’re making no effort to hide the fact that the games are basically the same–in fact, they’re tracking news of the initial rejection and the new game’s acceptance on their official site.

[Catamount Software via Pocket Gamer]

It seems that piggy banks that double as tiny gaming machines are quite the happening trend in Japan these days. These simpler banks offer a variety of money-saving experience for the gamer who doesn’t need much razzle-dazzle. The Jinsei Ginko, shown above, is like a Tamagotchi or other virtual pet: you “feed” your tiny stickman your cold, hard cash. The more he “eats,” the more he succeeds. When your little guy gets enough money, he’s rewarded with a sweet crib and a loving sticklady. If only real life were so simple.

If the idea of a virtual pet makes you want to bury your money in the backyard instead, you could try Bankquest, a simple RPG, or Ikemen Bank, a heart-shaped bank with a dating sim.

Of course, in order to actually use these banks, you’ll probably need to convert all your money to yen. At least that will make you less likely to spend it… unless you happen to be in Japan.

[Wired via Kotaku]

A device originally created for remote medical investigation is now being transformed into a gaming vest that can provide its wearer with sensory feedback. Physician Mark Ombrellaro designed the TN Games 3rd Space vest, which uses air pressure to produce thumping sensations wherever impact should be felt. The vest has eight zones which can simulate the direction and forces of bullet fire, explosions, and even the sensation of fingers tapping on you (great for scary horror games).

The vest will ship this November for $189, and is bundled with a game called 3rd Space Incursion and a special version of Call of Duty II which showcase the force feedback technology. For a limited time, you can pre-order one for $169.99 from the TN Games online shop. The company is also offering patches for Quake 3, Quake 4 and Doom 3 which enable the vest in those games. An SDK allows developers to easily add support to their games.

The company is working on another version of the vest which will emulate the G-force sensations in racing and flight games in early 2008.

[AFP via MaxConsole]

This version contains major upgrades from past releases including massively improved visuals, a dynamic world with insane amounts of detail, multiplayer skies with real-time online traffic from other flyers and many new planes to fly. The demo includes three example missions. The full game will be released this October.

It’s really amazing how far this franchise has come from its humble roots as the SubLogic FS1 Flight Simulator on the old Apple II:

Download Demo

[via Major Nelson]