The Rumour Mine: Tomb Raider: Dimensions and Samurai Warriors Touch for iPhone, and a new Ron Gilbert-Tim Schafer adventure

For all the talk about who leads in the portable gaming space, it's difficult to brush aside the excitement in the development community for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

While Nintendo 3DS is understandably receiving a lot of attention from developers eager to toy with the new technology, much of the development community is eyeing iPhone and iPod touch for their next game.

It's a significantly different market from a year ago, when PSP was barely hanging on and Nintendo DS still appeared to have some life left in it.

The game has changed. Speculation that Ron Gilbert is joining Tim Schafer to work on a new adventure game for iPhone and iPod touch underlines the attractiveness of the devices to developers.

Nintendo 3DS has a chance at recapturing some of that enthusiasm, but it'll only be a bite from Apple's share.

Ron Gilbert working with Tim Schafer on new iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad adventure

You may know them as part of the team that developed The Secret of Monkey Island and its fantastic sequel, but they'll soon be recognisable as the creators of a new adventure game for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert are joining forces once again to develop games at Schafer's Double Fine production studio. That's great news for fans of adventure gaming and games in general, as this pair are responsible for some of the most memorable experiences in all of gaming.

It won't be out until 2011, but the wait is likely to be worth it.

Side-scrolling Tomb Raider: Dimensions set for iPhone and iPod touch in 2011

Ms Lara Croft is making a comeback of sorts thanks to the success of her newest title available for download for PlayStation 3 and Xbox, but that's only the beginning. Tomb Raider: Dimensions will continue the return to form on iPhone and iPod touch some time next year.

Eidos has pledged to reinvigorate the Tomb Raider franchise and it appears that Dimensions will kickstart that effort. Expect 3D side-scrolling platform play on your iPhone or iPod touch that goes back to the series' roots. Combat hopefully has a minimal role, perhaps taking a hint from the iPhone and iPod touch version of Mirror's Edge.

While Tomb Raider: Dimensions will be distinct from recent release Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, here's hoping that it can catch the same spirit of excellence.

It's going to be tough revitalising the series, particularly given the decision to bring iPhone and iPod touch into the mix. Platformers are difficult to design for the touchscreen, but if it's done well this new Tomb Raider instalment could be a new start.

Tecmo-Koei prepping Samurai Warriors Touch for iPhone and iPod touch

Publisher Tecmo-Koei has released turn-based strategy games based on two of its popular Asian history series - Romance of the Three Kingdoms Touch and Nobunaga's Ambition. Samurai Warriors Touch will be the first hack 'n' slash fest from the company to appear on iPhone and iPod touch.

Based on the console series of the same name, the game is set during the height of feudal Japan where samurai and other military men aggressively vied for power. In other words, you get to beat a lot of people up with a katana.

It's a great fit for iPhone and iPod touch - button-mashing action might seem trite on a console, but it's good stuff for portable play.

I haven't been able to pin down a release date, but it's not far off. The aren't many hack 'n' slash games of real quality for iPhone and iPod touch, so the sooner Tecmo-Koei can get this out the door, the sooner fan cravings can be satisfied.