Nostalgia fans, you are in for a treat today. SEGA released the OG Sonic the Hedgehog game to Google Play today for $2.99. If you were the owner of a SEGA Genesis, there is no way you didn’t play this game. On the game page, SEGA states this is the full title, plus some exclusive features, such as the ability to play as Knuckles and Tails. 

We’re at the Google I/O keynote and Google just announced their new Google Play game services which include cloud save, achievements, and leaderboards. They also announced that it will be cross platform, so that iOS users can take advantage. As if those new, awesome features weren’t enough, Google+ sign-in has been integrated into this service and once games are installed with this API you can invite friends from your circles on G+ and they will receive notifications to join directly into your game. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more about this new awesome service.

If you are not there already, join us in our liveblog to watch the event!

Back in mid April, information taken from a MyGlass application teardown showed Google was working on something big for the Android gaming community. Today, that previous information is all but confirmed. An updated Google Play Services app (version v3.1.36), which escaped Mountain View, has been cracked open, spilling lots of great information. Inside, there are files and strings of code detailing cloud-based saves for games, multiplayer matchmaking, player invites, achievements, and global leaderboards. Yep, this is Google Play Games. 

It’s finally Friday, but that means you will need something to keep you busy this weekend while we are out doing other things besides bringing you the latest and greatest Android news. Why not some games and apps to fill up your time? For a limited time, you can pick up a few apps that we have discussed before or try some new apps we have never heard of.

You can grab Carmageddon for free which we have been hypebeasting or you can pick up Robird, a new Twtter client that looks pretty nice. Also, I highly recommend the Liquid Cloud live wallpaper which I wrote up earlier this week. It’s great. Either way, you can’t go wrong with app sales. 

While skimming Google Play, I happened upon Eufloria. I have seen it before, but the game is currently on sale for $4.99 which struck my eye. It is usually above $5, so I happened to give it a try this time. Needless to say, this game is gorgeous. It is a bit slow at first, reminding me a lot of Auralux, but once you get deeper into the game, it picks up quite nicely. 

Next week, tech fans from all walks of life will converge in San Francisco’s Moscone Center for Google I/O. On hand will be the world’s latest and greatest in tech innovation, including this new one called, Map Diving. Developed by Instruments, a start up out of Portland, in partnership with Google, puts years of data gathered by the Maps and Earth teams to good use in a skydiving simulator game. It’s like the 2012 I/O keynote minus Sergey Brin! 

Disney just launched a new game to Google Play for Android called JellyCar 3. Apparently, this game is pretty popular on iOS, but this is the first time I have ever heard of it. In the game, you create your very own adorable jelly car, then fly around through various tracks. What makes it intriguing is you can battle your friends with an online ghost mode that shows you your friend’s progress along with your own. 

If you find yourself cold and alone in the universe, maybe it’s time to check out Say the Same Thing. Interestingly enough, this game is from the members of the band OK Go, but that’s not really what is important. In this word-based game, two players say a random word. From these two random words, you begin a journey to relate those two words to the same word. It’s weird to explain, so if you get a chance to watch the promo vid, go for it.