The Rumour Mine: Gameloft picks up Captain America, Crafting Mama for iPhone, and Ubisoft ditches iOS for 3DS

Aside from the much anticipated release of Dead Space for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad early next week, it's a pretty slow time of the year.

Not much to expect in the way of big releases or announcements until Game Developers Conference in late February, although expect some good rumours to start trickling in between now and then.

This week is decent enough with an update on the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger game, iOS release for Crafting Mama (I know you've been waiting for news on this), and Ubisoft's App Store plans.

Thank goodness for Dead Space next week - how else would we tide the wait until Crafting Mama?

Ubisoft skittish on iOS, banking on Nintendo 3DS instead

After experimenting with its own iPhone and iPod touch releases, Ubisoft has quietly pulled back from the App Store to focus on portable releases for Nintendo 3DS. Underwhelming sales of Ubisoft's small iOS catalogue has prompted the publisher to puts its eggs in the 3DS basket.

Gameloft will continue to develop games based on Ubisoft franchises as it has previously. The recent announcement of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard demonstrates that the relationship between the two companies has been reset.

It's probably for the best given Gameloft's expertise with iOS and consistency in delivering quality iterations of Ubisoft franchises. At the end of the day, it won't much affect the appearance of major series such as Assassin's Creed, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and others on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Taito stitching up iPhone and iPod touch release for Crafting Mama

Although Cooking Mama and follow-up Gardening Mama weren't the most thrilling releases, their debut on iPhone and iPod touch was emblematic of the trend of major franchises expanding onto the App Store. Taito looks to continue that trend with Crafting Mama in the first half of 2011.

The original Nintendo DS version is being chopped up into a bite-sized download for iPhone and iPod touch. A handful of crafts are expected in the iOS version, down from the dozens of crafts in the original release. It's not clear from my sources what activities will be included, though you can be sure there will be plenty of cutting, sewing, painting, and clay moulding involved.

Sadly, multiplayer doesn't look to be in the cards, continuing a disheartening move to strip good features from iOS releases. Taito clearly believes that paring back on features is necessary for reducing the price, but perhaps keeping wanted features could spur the sort of sales for which the company is eager to see.

Gameloft handling Captain America: The First Avenger iOS game

A change from a previous report in which SEGA was identified as the prospective party behind the iPhone and iPod touch game based on the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger movie, it's now looking likely that Gameloft will be picking up the mantle (or should that be shield?).

Gameloft's history with film studio Paramount Pictures on previous mobile gaming projects including Iron Man 2 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad points to the likelihood of a partnership on this summer's blockbuster release. It's unclear whether the game will take the same title as the movie or opt for something simpler.

Whatever the case, it should be interesting to see how Gameloft learns from its experience crafting movie-licensed titles and success with comic book series such as Spider-Man: Total Mayhem as it works on Captain America.