Author Archive

InfoSpace report caps banner year

January 27th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

By nearly every measure, 2004 was a very good year at InfoSpace Inc.

The Bellevue company, which distributes content to mobile phones and operates an Internet search and directory business, posted record revenues, profits and cash flow as Chief Executive Jim Voelker continued his revitalization of the once-battered Internet firm.

Revenue surged 89 percent to $249 million in 2004, in part because of greater demand for the company’s ring tones, graphics and games. More …

JAMDAT Mobile and Atari Extend Licensing Agreement for Key Hasbro Properties; Agreement Includes Wireless Versions of SCRABBLE, SCRABBLE BLAST, YAHTZEE and BOGGLE

January 27th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Global wireless entertainment publisher JAMDAT Mobile Inc. (NASDAQ:JMDT) and interactive games publisher Atari, Inc. announced today the extension of the licensing agreement between JAMDAT and Atari, Inc. through 2008. Under the terms of the extension, JAMDAT will publish wireless versions of Atari’s interactive games, based on Hasbro’s "SCRABBLE", "SCRABBLE BLAST", "YAHTZEE" and "BOGGLE" properties, for mobile phones. More …

Digital Bridges To Bring Freestyle Motocross Legend To Mobile Gaming

January 26th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Nate Adams signs licensing agreement with Leading Mobile Games Publisher/*
Digital Bridges, a world leader in the creation and distribution of mobile entertainment solutions, today announced it has secured a licensing agreement with freestyle motocross legend Nate Adams. The rights, negotiated by The Familie, the athlete management division of Wasserman Media Group, will result in a new mobile game title, Nate Adams Freestyle Motocross joining the dbi games portfolio of premium branded mobile games. More …

IN-FUSIO buys US publisher

January 25th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

IN FUSIO, which makes downloadable games for mobile phones, has bought US mobile games publisher Thumbworks. The ex-boss of Thumbworks Craig Holland will nhead US operations. As well as improving IN FUSIO’s US profile the takeover will also accelerate development of new games. More …

SSX: Out Of Bounds On The N-Gage Grinds Its Way To Stores

January 24th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Nokia today announced that it has started to ship SSX(TM): Out of Bounds. With a new N-Gage exclusive 3D game engine, the season’s only SSX game lets gamers experience head-spinning tricks on twelve unique, crazy tracks. Players can challenge others to some friendly competition head-to-head via the Bluetooth connection or via shadow racing on the N-Gage Arena. More …

Nokia dismisses N-Gage demise rumours

January 21st, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Smartphones & Tablets | No Comments »

Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia remains "completely committed" to the N-Gage, a spokesperson has said in response to speculation that the company may be about to discontinue the mobile console range.

The reports originated with a report on online technology site The Inquirer, which claimed that Nokia is planning to shut down an R&D and production facility for N-Gage in Germany. More …

World’s First 3D recognition phone could evolve the user interface

January 20th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Trends | No Comments »

The rapid evolution of the mobile phone took an interesting turn this week when Samsung demonstrated a movement recognition mobile phone, a new technology that could mark a significant point in the evolution of the man-machine interface.

Information input devices for the ever shrinking mobile telephone to date have included several different forms of keypad, touch screen and voice recognition but all have their drawbacks in serving the ever increasing capabilities being packed into new designs by phone designers. More …

Namco Releases First Four of Seven Hot Titles to be Game Lobby-Enabled

January 19th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

M7 Networks Inc., a leading trusted partner and enabler of advanced wireless services, announced today the availability of four Namco America titles as Game Lobby-enabled.

Namco America’s PAC-MAN

Digital Chocolate Surges Past Three Million Downloads; Consumers Worldwide Are Eating up Its Mobile Games and Applications

January 19th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

Digital Chocolate’s Global Distribution Network Paves Way for More Games. More Customers and More Downloads Demonstrating mass market interest in mobile games and software, as well as the unique appeal of its applications.

Digital Chocolate today announced it has surpassed the three million downloads milestone. This achievement was accomplished roughly a year after the company’s founding and is a direct result of the consumer appeal of Digital Chocolate’s products and the company’s global distribution network. More …

A Hat Trick for Electronic Arts

January 18th, 2005 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Its third big deal in a short period locks up a 15-year licensing agreement with ESPN, leaving sports-game rivals on the bench.

It looks like the real-life world of manufacturing video games is getting as cutthroat as those battles on the screen. Just a month after signing an exclusive five-year deal to use likenesses from players in the National Football League and a four-year deal with the Arena Football League, video-game giant Electronic Arts announced on Jan. 17 that it has locked up an unheard-of 15-year license. More …