Mobile Gaming

Audi drives mobile gamers to iPhone 3G

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:37:55 -0400

Auto manufacturer Audi of American announced the release of Audi A4 Challenge, a new mobile game developed for Apple's iPhone platform. Created in just two weeks by interactive agency Factory Design Labs, the free game--according to Audi, the first-ever iPhone application from an automaker--capitalizes on the device's accelerometer to enable players to steer a virtual version of the Audi 2009 A4 through a series of racing courses. In conjunction with Audi A4 Challenge, Audi also launched an associated website featuring videos, wallpapers and a dealer locator. Audi A4 Challenge is available for download now--the new Audi A4 drives into dealer showrooms in September.

For more on Audi A4 Challenge:
- read this release

Related article:
Can the iPhone 3G galvanize mobile gaming?

Artificial Life opens U.S. subsidiary

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:55:29 -0400

Hong Kong-based mobile technology and applications provider Artificial Life announced the launch of Artificial Life America, a new subsidiary based in Los Angeles. The firm said the new unit will serve as its U.S.-based creative and design service hub for the entire Artificial Life group of companies, with L.A. offering a strategic location in close vicinity to major U.S. clients, investors and partners as well as an access point to the movie, music and games industry.

For more on Artificial Life America:
- read this release

Related articles:
Thumbplay adds Artificial Life games
Artificial Life acquires SMS Galaxy

Thumbplay adds Player X content

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:32:48 -0400

Mobile entertainment destination Thumbplay announced an agreement with Player X that heralds the mobile media publisher and distributor's first direct-to-consumer partnership. Per terms of the deal, Thumbplay secures off-deck distribution rights for Player X mobile video and game content, including exclusive animated Hellboy clips along with games like The Crystal Maze and High School Days. According to Thumbplay, its entertainment library now extends to more than 100,000 pieces of licensed content.

For more on the Thumbplay/Player X deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Thumbplay to power MTV Mobile content store
Player X inks Hellboy mobile deal

MightyBackup - Top Mobile Applications 2008

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:38:42 -0400

MightyBackup

Company: FusionOne

Why It's a Top App: MightyBackup is the mobile application that other mobile apps are lost without. FusionOne's mobile data backup solution restores both user-generated content and licensed premium content in the event a handset is lost, stolen or replaced, enabling consumers to efficiently migrate contacts, photos, ringtones, games and other applications to a new device. The company says roughly 40 percent of downloaded applications are subscription-based, resulting in recurring revenue losses for content providers if consumers don't repurchase those apps for their new device. MightyBackup's secure data server compiles and updates a shadow list of all licensed content stored on a mobile device, and when a user upgrades to a new handset, the solution automatically assembles a menu of previously licensed content, enabling the user to select items they wish to reacquire--the app also determines the correct content format for each device. So whether it's photos of your newborn child or that Lil Wayne ringtone you downloaded last week, don't worry about it--MightyBackup has you covered, usually for about $2.00 a month per subscriber.

Hands-On Mobile invests in Connect 2 Media

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:37:21 -0400

Games publisher Hands-On Mobile announced it will swap the bulk of its EMEA assets in exchange for a minority stake in fledgling cross-platform gaming publisher Connect 2 Media. Per terms of the deal, Hands-On and Connect 2 Media will maintain a reciprocal global publishing partnership promising both firms expanded global distribution capabilities. Connect 2 Media--backed by venture capital firm Acuity Capital, which has so far invested $8.4 million in the company--said it intends to build on Hands-On's web-to-wireless gaming efforts in its push to offer games spanning platforms including the web, mobile and interactive TV. In late May, Hands-On sold its Korean assets to interactive entertainment giant Electronic Arts.

For more on the Hands-On/Connect 2 Media deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Hands-On Mobile, Marvel launch Iron Man
Greystripe, Hands-On ink ad-supported game deal

EA Mobile inks distribution deal with Handango

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:32:37 -0400

Smartphone content provider Handango announced a deal to distribute casual game titles from developer and publisher EA Mobile, including Madden NFL 08, The Sims 2, Monopoly Here & Now, Tetris and Bejeweled. Handango will distribute the EA games across its web properties and on-device client InHand, targeting platforms including Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and Symbian.

For more on the Handango/EA Mobile deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Handango cuts apps deal with Sony Ericsson
Handango, Carphone Warehouse sign retail deal

'Frogger' leaps onto iPhone

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:57:49 -0400

Electronic media developer and publisher Konami Digital Entertainment announced its first title for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch platform: George Costanza's favorite video game Frogger. According to Konami, Frogger--now available via Apple's App Store--was re-designed to fully exploit the capabilities of the iPhone platform, including the device's multi-touch interface and accelerometer.

For more on Frogger:
- read this release

Related article:
Can the iPhone galvanize mobile gaming?

Zeemote inks handset deal with Sony Ericsson

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:40:51 -0400

User interface technologies developer Zeemote announced a partnership with handset maker Sony Ericsson to launch the firm's Zeemote JS1--a handheld, Bluetooth-based controller promising near-console gameplay for mobile devices--free to users in the Netherlands, heralding the start-up's first major deal with a handset maker. Dutch consumers who purchase Sony Ericsson's new W760i Walkman through October 31 will be offered a free JS1 Controller via mail-in voucher--each device will ship embedded with two Zeemote Ready games, with an additional 14 titles available for premium purchase on Sony Ericsson's Fun & Downloads portal.

For more on the Zeemote/Sony Ericsson deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Gameloft to develop titles for Zeemote controller
Zeemote debuts handheld controller

iPhone games publisher ngmoco scores funding

Jason Ankeny — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:24:11 -0400

iPhone games publisher ngmoco announced the completion of a Series A financing round led by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, with participation from Maples Investments. The total amount of the financing was not disclosed. Founded earlier this year by gaming industry veterans for the sole purpose of creating and publishing titles for the iPhone platform, ngmoco said the investment will support its efforts to develop new games in-house as well as in collaboration with fellow gamemakers. The announcement follows on the heels of KPCB's March 2008 launch of the iFund, an investment initiative targeting applications, services and components for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch platforms.

For more on the ngmoco financing:
- read this release

Related articles:
Report: Mobile gaming leaders widen sales gap
Can the iPhone galvanize mobile gaming?

Report: Mobile gaming leaders widen sales gap

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:52:16 -0400

The world's four leading games publishers--EA Mobile, Gameloft, Glu and THQ Wireless--are claiming an ever-growing share of the mobile gaming market, vaulting from 11 percent global marketshare to 22 percent in 2007, according to media analyst Screen Digest, which adds the figure is still rising, especially in Western Europe. Screen Digest forecasts Gameloft will usurp current market leader EA Mobile during the remainder of 2008, arguing that in the first quarter Gameloft earned $40 million, only $1 million behind EA; the report adds that mobile gaming will reach a total market value of $4.1 billion by 2012, with North America emerging as the largest market by 2009.

Screen Digest also cites Apple's iPhone 3G as a potential tipping point for mobile gaming, noting that 10 million applications were downloaded from Apple's App Store within three days of the device's July 11 retail debut--at the same time, the report notes the iPhone 3G poses new technical challenges for developers, effectively restricting the sophistication of games created for the platform which in turn hampers audience retention.

For more on the Screen Digest report:
- read this release

Related articles:
Can the iPhone galvanize mobile gaming?
‘Known' titles equate to better mobile game sales