Underworld: SweetDeal, our location based iPhone game has been updated. Read more about the new features on the game site >>

Today, a new version of Underworld appeared in the AppStore. The one unique feature you will notice there is in-app purchase mechanics for paid in-game extras.

Right now, Underworld is the first MMO in the AppStore that has micro-transactions, so we decided to drop some knowledge on the whole micro-transaction deal and what troubles we were facing while working on it.

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Finally, the update has made it to the AppStore.

• Map blackout bug fixed
• New tiled-mode view added in the map screen
• Push notifications about your sales & received new messages

Quick, download it and let us know what you think!

If you follow the news, you probably know that since the release of a new firmware, the whole iPhone/iPod Touch community expected it to bring a lot of apps previously rejected from distribution in the AppStore. Yet we are still unsure if it helps Underworld to get its original setting back, but we promised to take our chances anyway.

Yes, we have re-submitted the gray-trade version of the game, called ‘Underworld: Traffic’. It is rated ‘17+’ for Frequent/Intense Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References and Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive themes.

Underworld: Traffic will bring players into the same world as SweetDeal, with a difference in available commodities and dealer ranks.

Now we wait for the news from Apple and will let you know as soon as we get an update. Stay tuned!

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Update [July 10]: Hey, we’ve  got an update from Apple. Not a very fruitful one though:

‘Your application, Underworld: Traffic 1.0, is requiring unexpected additional time for review. <…>’

Sounds like bad news to us, considering that a previous response like that led to two and a half months of waiting and then to a reject.

Well, fingers crossed, we let you know the minute something new comes up. Meanwhile, we are still working hard on the planned game improvements. Stay with us

Another update of Underworld, 1.2 is ready and waiting for you in the AppStore.

We have submitted this version long before the 3.0 came out, so the 1.2 doesn’t have any of those bells & whistles of 3.0 iPhone firmware yet. Still it’s worth checking out.

Messages from dealers and other characters (Joey, Max, etc) now appear right over the offers screen, so you can read and answer to them without going deep into the Profile screen. The same has happened with sales notifications — check out the screenshots.

We have also improved the tutorial at the start of the game — hoping it’s going to be a lot easier for the newcomers to catch up with the rules now.

Many small bugs and glitches have been fixed in the game, thanks for the bug reports we get from the community.

Ok, now just go get the new version and let us know what you think. While you are enjoying it, we are almost ready with some 3.0-rich stuff. Stay tuned for updates

By popular demand, we have created a new pack of 50 UW points.

Get it from the AppStore now!

Seems like the shortest post on our blog, evah!

30 UW Point Pack has just been published in the AppStore. The best part about it is that the point pack is completely free!

Get it now until it’s out there!

Re-Equipment pack works the same way as if you buy it in exchange for 75 UW points in Underworld, but it will only cost you $1.99 (U.S. iTunes Store).

For those who are unfamiliar with the whole re-equipment concept: the idea is that you get a full refund for your currently purchased upgrades. This allows you to re-arrange equipment for better game performance.

Another popular use is that sometimes you are getting second thoughts about upgrading too soon. Refunding equipment makes it possible to rethink what you have done

The same as with point packs, you can purchase Re-Equipment pack only once. Be wise.

Get it from the AppStore now!

Underworld: SweetDeal 1.1 is available in the AppStore.

As we have mentioned before, the biggest and the most useful feature we have prepared in the update is ability to connect with Facebook. What exactly will you be able to do with that?

First of all, it is your chance to get some extra UW points for free! Underworld rewards you with 10 points when you connect your game profile with Facebook. Also, you are going to get 5 points every time one of your Facebook friends joins the game by your invitation.

Second, connecting with Facebook makes it easy to share your Underworld’s events and achievements with your friends:

• Post stories to your Facebook page every time you acquire a new rank
• Post UW shouts to share what’s going on with you in Underworld
• Compete with your friends in the Cream of the Crop

If you’re a Facebook user, don’t forget to visit Underworld’s application page.

As usual, we appreciate your feedback a lot! What other features utilizing Facebook Connect you can think of? What types of UW activity you would like to share with your friends? What about other social networks, like Twitter? Best suggestions will appear in the Open Roadmap.

Update: all game versions, including the free one, are available in the AppStore now.

Phew! Underworld: SweetDeal 1.1 has just been submitted to the AppStore. Hoping guys from Cupertino are going to approve it till the end of this week.

Ok, the main question, as always, is what exactly did we prepare for you in 1.1?

The first and the most important feature of this release is Facebook Connect support. As any other MMO, Underworld is not only about making progress, but also about socializing. Bring your Facebook account into the game to communicate with friends, observe each other’s game achievements and struggle to the top of Friends Cream of the Crop. More details on that will follow in a separate post soon.

Another highly demanded feature added is stock controls. Review your current stock and dump something if you need space quickly for another commodity.

Cream of the Crop now will let you open dealer’s profiles, view their details and communicate. Finally, we did that

The last, but not least — we have put a lot of effort to fix all the known bugs and improve the overall game stability. Yes, «black screen» bug is in the past too

As usual, we’ve put out already implemented features from the roadmap and about to add some new stuff we are getting from the suggestion box. The work has begun on the next version!

Image credits: vox_efx via Flickr.