The Rumour Mine: Okamiden for iPhone, N.O.V.A. 2 co-op, and Medal of Honor iPhone in 2011

Months ago, critics were railing against shooters as undesirable on iPhone and iPod touch, and yet here we are with a handful of promising shooters on the horizon.

You don't even need to look ahead - this week saw the release of Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, a superb game that packs in the best multiplayer experience to be had on iPhone and iPod touch bar none. Gameloft isn't even finished this year: N.O.V.A. 2 promises to top it.

There's plenty of other developers that want in on the action, and if rumours of a Medal of Honor iPhone edition are true then EA Mobile could butt heads with rival Gameloft, not forgetting id Software and other studios eager for a piece of the action.

For now, enjoy Modern Combat 2 and relish all the shooters you have to look forward to.

Capcom to port Okamiden to iPhone after Nintendo DS release

With Nintendo shifting focus to 3DS and iPhone continuing its ascent, it's unsurprising that Capcom would consider porting action-adventure game Okamiden from Nintendo DS onto iPhone and iPod touch.

Capcom doesn't intend to undercut the Nintendo DS version by releasing an iPhone and iPod touch port at the same time, so it's investigating a staggered release.

Months after the Nintendo DS edition appears in retail stores, a downloadable version may be sold on the App Store at a lower price.

Much of Capcom's concern likely revolves around pricing. While there's an audience eager to play Okamiden on iPhone and iPod touch, it's unclear that the same gamers would be willing to pay the same price as for the DS version.

How Capcom addresses the pricing conundrum will be interesting, if they move ahead with Okamiden in 2011.

N.O.V.A 2 to feature two-player cooperative mode

News this week that Gameloft is working on a sequel to science fiction shooter N.O.V.A. came as little surprise given my accurate prediction earlier this year, yet word of an ambitious co-operative multiplayer mode is unexpected. A single-player campaign and competitive multiplayer have been anticipated, but co-op would be a stunning inclusion.

Details are nonexistent, though I assume that co-op will be local play through the campaign only. That means online play is off the table, leaving Bluetooth the likely solution and wi-fi a more distant possibility.

If confirmed, N.O.V.A. 2 will be the first iPhone and iPod touch shooter to offer cooperative campaign multiplayer.

Considering the stunning work on Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus and its blockbuster multiplayer modes, it's not a stretch to think that Gameloft's marquee shooter series will raise the bar even higher with co-op.

Medal of Honor for iPhone and iPod touch slated for early 2011

EA Mobile has yet to offer its own shooter on iPhone and iPod touch, which is surprising given its parent company's stable of noted franchises like Medal of Honor and Battlefield.

The latter is coming to Apple devices in November, as was announced earlier this week, but you may be interested to know that Medal of Honor is also on its way - next year.

In an odd series of delays, Medal of Honor has been scheduled for release during the first half of 2011. That's months after the October release for the console versions. It's an approach similar to that taken with Battlefield: Bad Company 2, a game that will appear on iPhone and iPod touch more than six months after release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

While this ensures Medal of Honor will stay clear of Gameloft's heavy-hitter N.O.V.A. 2, it also means that expectations will be high. If N.O.V.A. 2 delivers co-op along with cutting edge graphics and top of class competitive multiplayer, it will be that much harder for EA Mobile to make a mark.

2011 is already shaping up to be an interesting year.