Microsoft to rebrand the Marketplace as Windows Phone Store?

You'll soon be purchasing apps from the Store
In the recent announcement of Microsoft launching the new Developer Center for the Windows Phone community, the company has also revealed a potential rebranding of the Windows Phone Marketplace. This is an expected move, which we'll rate as a strong possibility
. The Windows 8 Store is present in the next version of Microsoft's desktop operating system, so to remain consistent it makes sense to bring in a new name.
Windows 8, which will be powering not only desktop and laptops but tablets as well, will sport Microsoft's first real attempt at implementing an app store on its platform to rival the likes of Apple with its App Store. As well as that, we've got the Xbox Music Store replacing the Zune music service. "Store" appears to be chosen to brand Microsoft's online stores providing content to consumers through its products.


So what's happening with the mobile platform? Say hello to the Windows Phone Store. This will look to be the new home for all Windows Phone apps once Apollo is launched later this year. Microsoft has yet to announce the change officially, but we can safely expect it to become reality.
What do you make of the Marketplace rebranding?

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Posted in: Marketplace,Microsoft,Phone,rebrand,store,Windows

Farm Frenzy 2: Pizza Party served up hot and fresh on the Windows Phone Marketplace

Over the weekend Windows Phone Central reported on a killer bug introduced in the latest Farm Frenzy 2
update. Since then, developer Alawar notified us that they are indeed aware of the problem and working on a fix. They also let us in on some good news: they have a new game on the Marketplace.
Farm Frenzy 2: Pizza Party
is an expansion to the enjoyable Xbox Live game. But unlike its predecessor, Alawar has chosen to self-publish Pizza Party as a non-Xbox Live title. The decision seems to stem from Pizza Party’s similarity to Farm Frenzy 2; it is an expansion, not a true sequel. The Farm Frenzy series is already several games large on other platforms. By publishing this one as an indie title, Alawar can get Windows Phone caught up more quickly and without publishing too many similar Xbox Live releases.
As I’ve mentioned, Pizza Party
is quite similar to the Farm Frenzy 2 many of us know and love. It offers another whopping 90 levels of time and resource management. As before, each level provides varying starting resources and goals. Most often players will need to acquire a specific number of animals or produce certain goods in order to win the level. To do that, you’ll collect whatever your animals drop, catch invading bears (?), process some goods, and sell others on the market. Money earned from completing levels can then be spent on new buildings and upgrades, which in turn allow you to process and produce new goods.
So where does the pizza come in? Pizza Party
imagines that agriculture and pizza chains are closely related. Basically, players can now make different kinds of pizzas from the goods they gather on the farm. It doesn’t change the gameplay in any major way (less so than say, Sally’s Spa compared to Sally’s Salon), but hey, that’s why it’s called Farm Frenzy 2: Pizza Party instead of Farm Frenzy 3. Fans who enjoyed the previous game will likely enjoy a big batch of new levels, and who doesn’t love pizza?
Farm Frenzy 2: Pizza Party
costs $2.99 (same as its predecessor) and there is a free trial. Get it here on the Marketplace.
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Posted in: Frenzy,Fresh,Marketplace,Party,Phone,Pizza,served,Windows