Author Archive

Dupuis And Overloaded Launch Largo Winch games; Popular Comic Character Comes To Mobile Phones

November 4th, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Dupuis (publisher of the printed cartoon strips Largo Winch) and Overloaded | Fun Everywhere (leading developer and publisher of video games for mobile phones), have signed a deal for the development and exploitation of the well known cartoon strip and TV character Largo Winch on mobile phones. The first revolutionary mobile game Largo Winch will be available for download to mobile phones before February 2005 and available at operators and mobile portals around the world. More …

Nokia’s Ollila Says Global Mobile-Phone Users Reach 1.7 Billion

November 4th, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Research & Stats | No Comments »

Nokia Oyj Chief Executive Officer Jorma Ollila said there are 1.7 billion mobile-phone users globally, equivalent to 26 percent penetration, and market growth will come from camera phones and so-called smartphones.

“Today, there are more mobile phones in the world than there are fixed connections,” and wireless telephony is growing six times faster than traditional telephone use, Ollila said in a speech at the Nokia Mobility Conference in Monaco. “We have seen many countries leapfrogging fixed voice altogether and going directly to mobile service.” More …

NBA Rolls Out Wireless Deals with THQ, Nokia

November 4th, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

The National Basketball Association on Tuesday took the wraps off a package of wireless video games and sports news programs which will allow fans to follow their favorite teams and build fantasy squads of their own.

The “NBA Unwired” suite, announced as the professional basketball season starts this week, includes offerings from Nokia and video game publishers THQ Inc. and JAMDAT Mobile. More …

Global brands go mobile

November 3rd, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

Think mobile content is just for geeks? Mickey Mouse begs to differ.

Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, Walt Disney Internet Group International

Many people hear the words “mobile content” and instantly think of young, male “gamer” types. Although that segment represents early adopters, Disney has found that mobile content presents a strong business opportunity in more mainstream content for mass audiences, especially when you view it from a global perspective.

In August 2000, with a combination of calculated risk and blind faith, the WDIG (Walt Disney Internet Group) entered the nascent mobile-content market in Japan, aggressively investing in production, marketing, and infrastructure to launch the Disney-i service with NTT DoCoMo. What started as a basic suite of services, including Disney-branded graphics, ring tones, games, and utilities, quickly developed into a meaningful and profitable business. Disney Mobile is now the No. 1 brand of mobile content in Japan. It has relationships with the four major Japanese carriers

Colin McRae on the N-Gage Platform Rallies Out to Retailers

November 3rd, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Nokia today announced that it has started shipping the eagerly anticipated rally racing game Colin McRae Rally 2005 published by Codemasters. With exciting multiplaying options, real rally cars and locations and advanced damage modeling, the legendary rally franchise will bring the ultimate rally experience to the N-Gage platform. More …

Game veteran taking a new trip

November 3rd, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in People | No Comments »

Entrepreneur’s latest startup offers video entertainment for cell phones

Video game industry veteran Trip Hawkins was at an airport when he spotted a toddler crying and throwing a tantrum. He walked over, pulled out his mobile phone, turned on a game called Baby Sitter and gave it to the child.

The child immediately turned his attention to the changing animated figures on the color screen and the different sounds that were emitted as he randomly pushed buttons on the keypad.

“It did the trick,” he said. “For the child, it’s a digital pacifier, but for the parent, it’s digital aspirin.” More …

Technology Licensing Propels Mobile Gaming

November 1st, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Trends | No Comments »

While the video gaming console segment is slowing, a number of vendors in the mobile gaming segment are making efforts to allow console-quality 3D games on wireless devices. More …

July Systems Deploys First-of-Kind Games Sampler Service on AT&T Wireless mMode

October 31st, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

July Systems, an innovative technology solutions provider of turnkey managed mobile content retailing services, announces that it has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘Games Sampler’ service on AT&T Wireless mMode on October 25, 2004. The Games Sampler service, managed end-to-end by July Systems, offers a completely new retailing model for mobile games on mMode, and a new consumer experience for mMode subscribers. The service will for the first time allow subscribers to download and preview a catalogue of mobile games from the mMode portal before deciding to buy further plays. It will also offer flexible pricing options including pay-per-play, rentals, and unlimited use for subscribers who wish to continue playing a game. More …

KAYAK INTERACTIVE AND UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL POOLPLAYERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE RELATIONSHIP

October 31st, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »

Kayak and United States Professional Poolplayers Association Sign Licensing Agreement for Game Releases Beginning 2005

Mobile entertainment publisher Kayak Interactive and the United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA) have signed a licensing agreement that will result in the first UPA Major League Pool game. Mobile game players will experience an incredible, connected game that allows them to play pool against their friends and family or other competitors, regardless of whether they’re in the same room, or on the other side of the world. More …

NEW PRICING MODELS ARE REQUIRED TO KICK-START THE EUROPEAN WIRELESS GAMING MARKET

October 29th, 2004 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Research & Stats | No Comments »

According to a new report by media research consultancy Screen Digest, the global mobile gaming download market will be a billion-dollar industry (

Disclaimer:

Arjan Olsder is the Vice President of Pixalon Studios. Opinions expressed on this publication do not have to represent those of Pixalon Studios.