The Rumour Mine: Aircraft in Gangstar 2, shooter Bunker Bob, and Chaos Rings iPad

Although things are quiet in terms of summer game releases, there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

IPhone, iPod touch, and iPad games may not sit on store shelves, but Apple is encouraging developers to push their games out during the holidays as a way of enticing gamers to buy a device. A new Gangstar and twin-stick shooter Bunker Bob definitely make iPhone gaming attractive.

Are there any games you're looking forward to before the year is out?

Chaos Rings for iPad tentatively set for August release

We already know that Square Enix is working on an adaptation of their pricey iPhone and iPod touch role-playing hit, but just when Chaos Rings will hit iPad has been unknown until now.

A source now tells me that the game is nearing release. Late August looks increasingly likely with the game nearing the end of its truncated development cycle. Since the game has already been expertly designed for iPhone and iPod touch, all of the development has been focused on tailoring the graphics and interface for the larger iPad screen.

Square Enix doesn't comment on release dates, so we'll know only when the game appears on the App Store for sale.

Bunker Bob prequel to twin-stick shooter Guerrilla Bob

Developer Angry Mob Games was among the few to find success in the twin-stick shooter department with its cheeky Guerrilla Bob. Backing up slick graphics with good gameplay is tough in a genre dominated by quick-hit games and Angry Mob Games managed to do just that.

So when I received word of a prequel to Guerrilla Bob, how could my interest not be piqued?

Instead of opting for a direct sequel, Bunker Bob remembers the years military man Bob spent fighting for country abroad. The setting is a shift from the sun-drenched Mexican desert with dank bunkers and war-torn fields lending a darker tone. There's still some humour to be had, though, with Bob confronting an array of new bad guys characterised by their over-sized noggins and crazed assaults.

The most substantial change won't be in the action, but in the progression system. Instead of random power-ups, Bunker Bob will offer upgrades via experience points. With missions successfully completed, you receive military promotions that unlock better weapons and statistical upgrades. Get promoted from private to officer, for instance, and you earn a new rifle and extra hit points.

A head-to-head multiplayer mode is being discussed, though it may not make it into the final game. No word on when to expect Bunker Bob, as Angry Mob Games won't comment at all on my source's speculation.

Pilot aircraft in Gangstar sequel

Just like the evolution from Grand Theft Auto III to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the next instalment of Gameloft's Gangstar series will introduce playable aircraft.

As I relayed a few weeks back, there's plenty of rumbling about Gangstar: Sin City; however, it's not clear if that will be the setting for the new Gangstar . What I do know, though, is that regardless of the locale you'll have the option of piloting a helicopter.

Whether it's a fictional Las Vegas or another city, you'll have the opportunity to fly the criminal skies.

It's also unclear if the helicopter is a bonus vehicle or part of a scripted mission, but either way it sounds like nice ride. Gameloft has slated the next Gangstar instalment for sometime before the end of the year, though officially the game remains unannounced.