RealNetworks said it's going to spin its casual gaming business out into a separate company. Most of the shares of the independent venture will be split among existing shareholders. Real is keeping open the option of taking the games company public, and may offer up to 20% of the shares in an IPO, Fierce Mobile Content reports.

The decision, and hopefully a name, will happen by year-end.

Real has been making its name in the casual games business since 2001; it has already released 38 PC and mobile games so far this year.

Glu Mobile is bringing almost a Wii-like experience to mobile gaming.

The company's newest original game, Get Cookin', uses motion-sensitive technology found in the new Sony Ericsson W910i handset as well as a few other new models. Sony Ericsson's JSR 256 API motion sensor challenges players to use both physical gestures and button presses to create sophisticated virtual meals. Users will get to do things like flip a steak in a pan, add ingredients and try to perfect other cooking methods by carefully moving the handset.

Get Cookin' is launching in July across all major carriers worldwide.

"Sony Ericsson's motion sensor technology allows us to incorporate more authentic, true to life challenges in Get Cookin' and introduce an entirely new dimension to mobile games," Glu CTO and senior VP of global product development Alex Galvagni said in a statement. "The use of this technology gives developers a way to deepen the gameplay and gives players a truly fun game that incorporates all new ways to play."

AT&T, Microsoft, phone maker HTC and mobile game outfit I-play are launching the AT&T Game Development Contest for Windows Mobile.

From May 1 through July 31, developers are invited to submit their Windows Mobile-compatible game. The grand prize is a mobile game developer contract with I-play, prime placement on the AT&T MEdia Mall and $25,000. Three finalists and 10 semi-finalists will also win prizes, but you'll have to visit http://developer.att.com/gamescontest to find out what they are. Games will be judged on gameplay value and quality, how unique and creative they are and their market potential.

Prepping for a season full of superheroes, Hands-On Mobile and Marvel Entertainment have come out with a mobile game and other content based on the upcoming "Iron Man" movie due to hit theaters on May 2. The two are also developing a game and other mobile goodies for "The Incredible Hulk," which will burst onto the big screen on June 13.

In the "Iron Man" game, players take control of our invincible hero and use repulsor rays and the unibeam to blast away at enemy forces through four levels of game play. Wannabe iron men in the US can download the game by texting "IRON" to 46966.

More details about the Incredible Hulk game will become available closer to the flick's release date.

International wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora is applying the Radiohead distribution model to securing donations. The organization has come out with a free mobile game called Silverback that, through gameplay, teaches about the difficulty of gorilla conservation in a "conflict zone," according to a 3G.co.uk post.

The eight-level game takes you through the life of a silverback gorilla, from baby to alpha male, and the challenges he faces in war-torn regions of Africa.

The Radiohead model comes in here: Although the game is free, Fauna & Flora is asking folks who like the game to make a donation of at least 10 bucks, but doesn't force anyone to open their wallet. Donations are accepted in pounds, dollars or euros.

3G mobile game service Vollee has posted a video on YouTube showing its upcoming mobile version of Second Life running on an actual cell phone. The demo shows a resident in the Second Life virtual world exploring, chatting and interacting throughout the environment. Anyone with a 3G phone who signs up for the beta trial at www.vollee.com/secondlife will have access to the service for free.

If you want to check out the video demo, here it is:

Taking advantage of one of its recent acquisitions to get a more marketable name, online and mobile game firm Oberon Media has rebranded itself I-Play. New York City-based Oberon bought both I-Play and PixelPlay over the past year, MocoNews reports.

Along with the new name, Oberon, er, I-Play, also has a new business structure, one that integrates its mobile, online and interactive TV game platforms, and a new consumer gaming site at www.iplay.com.

Instead of listening to your stomach growl with hunger the next time you're waiting in the drive-thru line at the local Burger King, power up your cell phone and whet your appetite with BK City, the fast-food giant's first mobile game.

The downloadable game, which carries a $2.99-a-month subscription fee, has multiple levels, three worlds and 12 mini-games, Mobile Marketer reports. Created by Mobliss, BK City features the chain's King mascot in variations of familiar puzzle games.

BK launched the game as a way to interact with its core customers in a way that's relevant to them, according to a company spokeswoman. BK City reportedly runs on close to 200 handset models across most major US carriers.

If seeing C-list celebs tango their way into America's living rooms on "Dancing with the Stars" isn't enough, you can now take them with you.

Fierce Mobile Content reports on a new mobile game from THQ that's based on the popular ABC show.

Players can take on the role of their favorite dancing stars - the celebrities or the pros - in five mini-games for practice and track their progress through an eight-week competition.

THQ also came out with a PC version of the game.

Game developer Glu Mobile has released the line-up of games it plans to launch in Europe for summer enjoyment - and it's a pretty hot list.

Mobile Entertainment reports that Glu will offer up eight new titles over the next couple of months, including tie-ins to blockbuster summer flicks "The Dark Knight" and "Speed Racer."

The other games include a resurrected Atari Super Breakout and Glu originals Super Political Boxing, Brain Genius 2, Race Driver: Grid, Wedding Dash and Get Cookin'.

No word on when or if Glu will make the titles available in the US. Hopefully we'll see some of them on this side of the pond before too long. Wouldn't it be fun to play something called Super Political Boxing while waiting in line to vote in November?