The Rumour Mine: Earthworm Jim HD, Fallout Tactics: New Vegas, and Castlevania for iPhone

E3 hasn't been a place where much discussion of iPhone and iPod touch gaming occurs, but this year could be different.

It's the elephant in the room that handheld makers Nintendo and Sony have to confront when announcing new portables during the June event, and publishers are sure to be upping support for Apple's devices.

That means one good thing: tons of promising games on the horizon. The only question is where to find the time to play them all.

Earthworm Jim HD squirming onto iPad

Earthworm Jim is one of those memorable games from the early days of console gaming that filled a special spot in your heart. It's kooky and fun, which is why the iPhone and iPod touch version released late last year was so highly anticipated. Of course, the virtual controls made it tough to play, but there might be a revised version coming soon.

Gameloft has already announced an Xbox Live Arcade version (PlayStation Network and WiiWare to follow later), but that's not the only platform on which Earthworm Jim HD will be wiggling. iPad is getting the game too.

It's hoped that the larger screen will offer more space in which to customise the controls and make traipsing through those 2D levels a bit easier.

With the Xbox 360 version ready to roll in the next few weeks, expect the iPad edition to come shortly thereafter.

Konami considering Castlevania for iPhone

While supportive of iPhone and iPod touch, Konami hasn't exactly put its best foot forward with underwhelming games like Metal Gear Solid Touch and Frogger. That may change, thankfully, if my source with ties to the Japanese publisher is correct.

Knowing full well that its iPhone and iPod touch games are running a deficit in terms of quality, Konami is looking to revitalise its approach beginning with the release of a Castlevania game.

Don't expect the same instalment that's being prepped for Nintendo 3DS (that game hasn't even been announced yet!), but either a port of one of the DS titles, like Portrait of Ruin, or a new game built specifically for the devices.

It seems a stretch, in my opinion, that Konami would be willing to invest in a new Castlevania title specifically for iPhone and iPod touch given how little the company has tried to bulk up on the platform. Nevertheless, if the company is attempting to reinvigorate its approach, Castlevania would be the right bet.

Bethesda gambling on Fallout Tactics: New Vegas

It's been several months since Bethesda announced plans to release a major iPhone and iPod touch game, providing little information as to exactly what the lauded developer is creating.

The company has gone silent while it hunkers down to finish the game in time for a simultaneous release with console role-playing game Fallout: New Vegas.

Fallout Tactics: New Vegas promises a new game for iPhone and iPod touch that takes the tactical role-playing of the 2001 PC title Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, while using the south-western locale of the upcoming console game.

It's a brave venture given the company's lack of experience developing portable games, though if this iPhone spin-off is anywhere near as good as its console releases then we're in for a treat.

Bethesda feels that turn-based role-playing works better on portable than real-time, hence the decision to go with a new take on Fallout Tactics. Additionally, the PC game was well-received, and addressing some of the complaints lodged against it - linear structure, major bugs that we never fixed, etc. - with a new instalment seem like a good way to go.

The iPhone game, which sets up the story for the start of Fallout: New Vegas, will also help to promote the console release expected some time this autumn. More details could be coming as soon as June during E3.