Games Go Mobile 2006: EA’s lineup
June 19th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Brand Licensing | No Comments »
During the Games Go Mobile Conference, Mitch Lasky (Senior VP EA), announced their new lineup of games including Medal Of Honor, Battlefield and Spore. EA want’s to get more grip on the mobile market with their goal to rapidly become the market leader in mobile. The best way to do this would be by using their own IP to the fullest. In the same line, Mitch Lasky mentioned possible new released for the Need For Speed and Socom ranges. Socom isn’t an EA title, but the purchase of Jamdat did make this IP available (just like Tetris). Next to this, EA will remain publishing original mobile games as well to keep the creativity flowing trough the market.
Games Go Mobile 2006: EA to go B2C
June 19th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Games | No Comments »
During the Harris Nesbitt 2006 Games Go Mobile conference a few days ago in New York, EA’s senior VP Mitch Lasky announced that EA will start selling it’s mobile games directly to consumers. To support this move to bypass the classic channels, EA will release a series of applications for desktop, console and mobile targeted communities. Mitch Lasky demonstrated this by showcasing a desktop application in which the consumer buys a game and can drag it to his mobile phone. Also EA will pressure cross marketing by using their current marketing and packaging possibilities which would mean the mobile versions will probably be promoted in regular product packaging.
Games Go Mobile 2006: THQ to distribute Disney’s Pixar and HBO games
June 19th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Brand Licensing | No Comments »
THQ Mobile’s president Doug Clemmer announced their plans for the near future. THQ will focus more on casual mobile games and getting in big licenses from World Wrestling Entertainment Inc, Disney/Pixar and HBO amongst others.
THQ also gained the worldwide rights to develop and distribute games from Disney’s Pixar movies. Adam Comiskey (THQ’s GM) commented these licensed games have always proved major successes with operators worldwide.
Games Go Mobile 2006: Digital Chocolate to focus on social gaming
June 19th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Trends | No Comments »
Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate and founder of EA announced their focus is on social gaming. Trip Hawkins expects this direction will prove better then just pursuing big brands and bringing them to mobile. Examples of social play will be found in their new sports games where users can invite groups to play as well as trash talk to them via the game. Another example is where a user will play as a single and need to steer their character to a successful love life. Trip Hawkins hopes eventually this will lead to real life meetings between gamers.
Time to enter the “International Mobile Game Awards 2006”
June 16th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Game Awards | No Comments »
Supported by sponsors like NVidia, Nokia, Adobe, Texas Instruments and the Movida Group, the IMGAwards 2006 are blasting off again after another successful show at 3GSM earlier this year.
Submissions are requested from all over the globe as the IMGAwards is all about original mobile game. Creativity is important and the IMGAwards is aimed at rewarding it, giving both the industry giants as well as hobbyists an equal chance to steal the show.
This years prices are split into “Most Innovative Game”, “Best Interactive Experience” , “Excellence In 3D”, “Best Use Of Connectivity” and of course “The Grand Prix”. Cash prices are available in all categories with additional prices for student entries ranging from new handsets to paid trips to 3GSM 2007 in Barcelona.
All entries should be send in before September the 11th. The shortlist of the 20 finalists will be announced on September the 20th. The 26th of January, the entered concepts should be finished products. The final judging and ceremony will be held during the 3GSM event in Barcelona at the 14th of February.
Commodore International and the Content Factory’s JV
June 14th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »
Commodore International announced a new joint venture with Amsterdam based The Content Factory worth
Review: Ninja vs. Sumo (publishers wanted)
June 13th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in 1 | No Comments »
It took them some time, but Itch Design finished their work on Ninja vs. Sumo today. The minute the game starts, you can already see the amount of attention this small studio puts into creating a game as you are welcomed by a cool, fully animated menu.
The game resembles the good old Dr. Mario, but with some added game elements. When you start the game, you have to select wetter to play as the Ninja or the Sumo. You battle against your opponent by playing away all the opponents characters in Dr. Mario style. Just like the real arcade fighters, your or your opponents health decreases based on the moves you make.
Ninja vs. Sumo is a great accessible game for all ages to kill those ten minutes in the train or those boring lessons at school.
Ninja vs. Sumo is available for exclusive publishing. Please contact ZizzleMedia.
Preview: Train Tycoon from Redboss
June 13th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in 1 | No Comments »
When I met Jan Rezab (CEO – Redboss) back in February at the 3GSM event in Barcelona, we discussed the wonderful Train Tycoon game on the PC which turned out to be a game we where both hooked on. Jan told me, he was busy to try and get the game running on a mobile phone. Though I had my doubts if anyone could pull that off. Now, four months later he sent me an early beta version.
The minute I got it, I grabbed my phone and started playing. The game loads up extremely fast on a SonyEricsson K700i and instantly generated a unique map to play on. I was amazed by the number of buildings and other graphics that where used on the small screen. There has been a huge attention to detail here I hadn’t seen before in similar games like Zoo Tycoon or Townsmen (Which are also great games).
Redboss really shows their experience in this game genre by creating a really solid gameplay experience even though the game is not finished by far. The controls are well balanced. A lot of mobile games suffer under the crappy keypads that mobile phones sometimes have, however the way Redboss interpreted keypad usage is really smart and intuitive.
As I said, the game is not finished by far. The Redboss team still has a lot of features to implement, however we are sure this game will be a must have to every strategy lover out there.
Telcogames gets fat
June 7th, 2006 by Arjan Olsder Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »
Telcogames announced it’s acquisition of Finish and Korean developer Fathammer. Fathammer is the second developer to be acquired by Telcogames as they had acquired Magic Productions last year. Fathammer produces games for the J2me, Brew, Symbian, WIPI and Windows Mobile platforms. With the acquisition, the catalogue of exclusive Telcogames games, grows with 24 titles. Fathammer will continue to produce new titles for the Telcogames catalogue as well as for publishers like Disney.
Telcogames didn’t buy Fathammer completely as their X-Forge middleware client has been sold to another company (unknown yet). The current investors in Fathammer, are now transferred to Telcogames as well.
Disclaimer:Arjan Olsder is the Vice President of Pixalon Studios. Opinions expressed on this publication do not have to represent those of Pixalon Studios. |
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