Author Archive

India: Movies, games, playing now on a mobile phone near you

July 20th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Research & Stats | No Comments »

Gaming companies, Internet portals and content providers are rushing to cash in on the explosive growth of mobile phones in India, predicting that content rather than cost will be the new battle ground.

“The price war in the mobile industry is now all over and there is a new type of war they (operators) will fight now,” said Vishal Gondal, chief executive officer of Indiagames.

“That war is going to be on content over the mobile phones,” Gondal told AFP. “In the future the major revenue areas for mobile operators are ringtones, wallpapers, downloads, games and movies.” More …

Focus On: Square Enix Ltd.’s John Yamamoto

July 20th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

The expansion of Square Enix’ European division heralds a whole new era for the Japanese giant in this territory – with self-publishing, moves into other media and even local development all on the cards. Rob Fahey caught up with new European president and CEO John Yamamoto…

The arrival of one of Japan’s biggest publishers on European shores is a fairly major event for the games market in the PAL territories. Although some Japanese firms – Konami and Capcom are good examples – have major presences in Europe and have been publishing their own titles here for years, they remain the exception rather than the rule. In general, Japanese firms – even those with US subsidiaries – have been happy to sit back and allow other publishers to handle their products in Europe. More …

Battle brewing over violence in video games

July 19th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Games | No Comments »

The video game industry seems to delight in pushing the envelope – and the bounds of good taste – with ever-gorier content. That has put it under renewed attack from legislators and activists who claim some titles must be kept out of kids’ hands, though courts have repeatedly granted games First Amendment protections.

Meanwhile, we’re in the midst of a gaming explosion. Deloitte & Touche predicts the worldwide number of “game compliant devices” other than PCs – mobile phones, consoles, and handheld computers, for example – will see a sixfold increase by 2010, from 415 million now to 2.6 billion.

For some legislators, that’s a call to arms. Some want the violence in some games declared obscene.

“You can carve out some exceptions to the First Amendment when it is determined that these things we are talking about – like pornography, like alcohol, like tobacco, and so on – have harmful effects to children,” Leland Yee, a Democrat in the California Assembly. More …

Sony Ericsson Beat 2Q Expectations

July 16th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Companies & M&A | No Comments »

Cell phone maker Sony Ericsson posted a second-quarter profit that was more than analysts had expected thanks to strong demand for its stylish camera phones. It also said it would release a new model designed to compete with Nokia’s N-Gage. More …

Sony Ericsson K500 Camera Phones to Feature Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow in 3D

July 16th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Games, Smartphones & Tablets | 1 Comment »

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and Gameloft(R), a leading international publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones, today announced a partnership that will allow consumers to play current and future Gameloft 2D and 3D games on Sony Ericsson phones. First out is the award-winning Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell(R) Pandora Tomorrow(TM) in 3D, of which a free level will be offered with the new K500 series of phones. The full game will be available from www.SonyEricsson.com/fun and from www.gameloft.com. More …

Real-Time Game Lets up to Six Players Compete

July 15th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Games | 1 Comment »

Verizon Wireless and Blue Ridge Games Launch Momentum Multi-Player Maze Game on Get It Now; Real-Time Game Lets up to Six Players Compete

Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless provider, and Blue Ridge Games(TM), Inc., a developer of cutting-edge multiplayer mobile games, today announced the launch of Momentum(TM), a real-time game that allows six individual players to compete in an arcade-style environment and participate in monthly competitions. Verizon Wireless customers can download Momentum over the air onto their phones via Verizon Wireless’ popular Get It(R) Now virtual software store. More …

Mobile Gaming: The Latest Wireless Cash Cow

July 14th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Trends | No Comments »

Online gaming has become possible because of recent technical advances in cell phones, such as the advent of high-resolution graphics, multiplayer features, Bluetooth connectivity, and color screens. However, the quality of the gaming experience is not as rich as that found with current game consoles, but instead is comparable to 1980s video games. More …

KDDI adds 3G cell phones capable of playing advanced video games

July 14th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Smartphones & Tablets | No Comments »

KDDI Corp, the provider of the au cell phone service, on Monday took the wraps off three third-generation handsets capable of letting users play advanced video games such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. More …

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory(TM) Coming to the N-Gage Platform

July 14th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Games | No Comments »

Nokia and Gameloft(R), leading developer and publisher of mobile games, today announce that Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory(TM) will be released for the N-Gage platform, expected during the first quarter 2005. More …

Comedy Central(R) Gives Virgin Mobile Users Something to Laugh About

July 14th, 2004 by Ashu Mathura Posted in Games | No Comments »

Customers of wireless upstart Virgin Mobile will be all smiles this month when brand new content from the all-comedy network, Comedy Central, begins hitting their handsets. In June 2004, Virgin Mobile kicked-off a monthly roll-out of an array of content based on original programming from TV’s top comedy destination. More …