Mario and Sonic take pride of place on An Post’s new stamps

An Post has unveiled a new set of stamps dedicated to the most iconic games of Nintendo, Sega, Namco and Taito.

The new 68c ‘Game Icons’ series feature legendary mascots Mario and Sonic, as well as arcade classics Pac-Man and Space Invaders.

They were designed by graphic design firm Zinc Design Consultants and can be bought on IrishStamps.ie in sets of four or more.

An Post says the four stamps are based on “probably the most iconic images of popular culture since the 1970s and lie at the heart of a multibillion dollar global industry”.

The stamps have gotten a solid reaction from Reddit’s gaming community – though over on r/Ireland, the designer felt the need to respond to comments on their “ugly” design.

Here are the four stamps in all their glory:

The bundles cost the same as the console on its own, but throw two Assassin’s Creed games into the bargain

Microsoft has announced a set of Xbox One bundles for fans of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed.

Gamers will be able to buy an Xbox One with a bundled copy of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, as well as the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Unity, for €399 (the same as the console currently costs on its own).

The bundle goes on sale on 2 November, with Unity due to launch in Ireland on 13 November.

The same bundle with Kinect will cost €499 (again, the same price as the console without the games).

Tetris set the bar for simple, addictive games

A movie based on the greatest time-suck of all time – Tetris – is in the works, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Threshold Entertainment – which is probably best known for its Lego-based animations – has struck an agreement with the Tetris Company to create a film that somehow incorporates the falling shapes first imagined by Alexey Pajitnov 30 years ago.

As strange a proposition as that may seem, the company’s CEO Larry Kasanoff does have some experience in the world of blockbuster films – he was an executive producer of True Lives and (sticking to the gaming theme) also produced the 1995 adaptation of Mortal Kombat.

A plot has been devised for the film, though no details are known at present – casting and release details are also still unknown.

Just Dance Now is the first mobile version of the popular game

Ubisoft has given Just Dance Now – the mobile version of its popular dance game – an Irish release date.

The new game will be available free to iOS and Android customers from 25 September, letting people connect and play with any number of users online.

Players will be able to watch the dance action on an internet-connected screen – like a computer or tablet – while using their smartphone as the controller.

Ubisoft promises around 40 tracks at first, with additional songs being added over time.

Microsoft’s Ultra Portable Keyboard is designed to work with multiple operating systems

Microsoft is launching PC-compatible Xbox One controller along with a Bluetooth keyboard that can instantly switch between three different devices.

The controller is almost identical to the one that ships with the Xbox One console – in fact it could even be used with the device if a user so wished.

The Ultra Mobile Keyboard, meanwhile, is designed to wirelessly connect to all manner of devices – from Android tablets to Apple phones to Windows PCs – and even allows users to switch between multiple devices at the flick of a switch.

The device also makes smart use of its protective cover – slide it off and it automatically switches on, with the cover doubling as a stand for your device. Put the cover back on and the keyboard powers down.

The keyboard will be available next month in the US for $80, though there’s no details of an Irish release as of yet.

The controller is priced in the US at $60, which is the same as a dedicated Xbox One controller.

Microsoft will hope Minecraft can provide a boost to its mobile platform

Microsoft has bought Mojang – the Swedish firm behind the hit game Minecraft – for $2.5bn.

However the man most associated with the title - Markus Persson (aka Notch) – has announced that he is to leave the firm once the deal is complete.

In a statement on Microsoft’s website, head of Xbox Phil Spencer said Minecraft would continue to be available on non-Microsoft platforms, including Sony’s Playstation, Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

He also said the firm would respect the “brand and independent spirit that has made Minecraft great”, while also allowing it to better tap in to Microsoft services like Xbox Live.

Minecraft has around 100m users, and has developed a loyal community of fans and followers.

But the game will have to continue without its founder Notch, who plans to leave once Microsoft has taken control.

In a post on his website, he said he did not see himself as a games developer or entrepreneur and had decided to focus on his game-making competition Ludum Dares and “small web experiments”.