New press release:

Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, today announced the latest games and publishers for its new N-Gage mobile gaming platform. Updated software development tools for the N-Gage platform and a new testing program for SNAP Mobile’s JavaTM platform were also introduced today at the conference. These new developments will help bring fun to play connected mobile gaming experiences to millions of Nokia mobile device owners worldwide.

“We are reinforcing our commitment to this industry with two significant initiatives that will help the mobile games industry evolve. Our N-Gage platform will deliver a global games platform that leverages the performance of the tens of millions of S60 converged devices that we are shipping each year,” said Gregg Sauter, Director of Games Publishing, Nokia. “Likewise, our support for Java development continues to evolve with more tools for developers supporting SNAP Mobile.”

Sauter will expand on these new developments with a speech at the GDC Mobile sponsored lunch keynote session on Monday 5th March at 1.00pm in Room 134 in the North Hall, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The session, titled ‘The next generation of the N-Gage platform’ will also be available at http://www.forum.nokia.com/gdc and http://www.forum.nokia.com/games later in the week.

New game titles and brands
Nokia introduced a range of games for the new mobile gaming platform including Gameloft’s Asphalt 3, Street Rules, Brothers In Arms, Hell’s Highway, Brain Challenge, Midnight Pool and EA Mobile’s FIFA 2008.

New games publishers on board
Games publishers Glu Mobile, Indiagames and THQ Wireless will be publishing a selection of mobile games and content for the N-Gage games platform. The first Glu title for the platform will be World Series of Poker® Texas Hold’em (WSOP), which allows players to compete at tables with up to eight mobile gamers against WSOP champions such as Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and Scott Fischman.

Latest tools to develop next generation mobile content
Nokia also launched its next generation software development kit (SDK 1.0) for the new N-Gage games platform, which enables developers to focus on one code-base to create social connected games across a range of Nokia S60 3rd edition devices. The new N-Gage Zone provides all the tools, documentation, support and updates required to successfully develop games for the N-Gage games platform.

“The availability of the N-Gage SDK 1.0 today is the corner stone of Nokia’s new development eco-system for developers to create connected mobile games in a familiar C++ environment,” said Mark Ollila, Director of Technology & Strategy and Nokia Games Publishing, Nokia. “This single development channel impacts positively on development cycles and budgeting as well as creating new social connected gaming experiences that will lead the way to how people discover, buy and play games in the future.”

For developer information, visit http://forum.nokia.com/games. ...

press release:

Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications and Indiagames, India’s leading mobile game publisher, announced today that Indiagames will be bringing a selection of their mobile game brands to the N-Gage platform.

“Indiagames is a leading force for driving mobile gaming in Asia and the rest of the world, and it’s great to work with a team that has such a global perspective,” said Gregg Sauter, Director of Games Publishing, Nokia. “Indiagames has a great range of content and more importantly, a fantastic understanding of what Asian consumers want out of their mobile gaming experiences.”

“Working with Nokia on the N-Gage platform is a great opportunity for us to deliver great content for a global audience,” said Vishal Gondal, CEO, Indiagames. “We believe in Nokia’s vision of making it easy for people to find and buy high-quality mobile games and we are excited to bring some of our well-known brands to the N-Gage.” Gondal further adds, “Our games have been well received in markets across the world. Our association with Nokia would make access to them easier and take them to a much wider audience. We believe that there has been a great void in the experiential gaming space and that the new N-Gage platform would effectively address this and hence make mobile games entertaining and accessible to consumers.”

As part of its association with Nokia, Indiagames plans to introduce a variety of games across genres that would appeal to mobile gamers of all skill sets. ...

A new 512MB Memory Unit has been confirmed by Microsoft for launch in April.

The original 64MB Memory Unit will now drop in price from $39.99 (£20) to $29.99 (£15). All this has been done because Microsoft has officially upped the size limit for its Xbox Live Arcade games from 50 MB to 150 MB.

The new 512MB Memory Unit will go for $49.99 (£29.99) and be available worldwide from April 3. The new MU will also come pre-loaded with the awesome XBLA title Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved from developer Bizarre Creations for a limited time.

via cvg ...

Glu Mobile and Microsoft have struck a deal to publish a mobile phone version Age of Empires III. The phone version will be based on Age of Empires III, which has already notched up 16 million sales on PC.

"We're excited to partner with Microsoft on another of its most valued brands," said Jill Braff, general manager of Glu Mobile. "Age of Empires is one of the highest-rated and best-selling RTS franchises on the PC, and we look forward to working with Microsoft to replicate that success on mobile."

Glu Mobile recently developed Project Gotham Racing Mobile. If the mobile phone version works as well as the DS version, this could turn out to be the second best mobile phone game ever created - after the awesome Doom RPG.

via cvg ...

Concerns regarding accuracy issues with motion control continue as an EA producer told CVG they're "messy".

Jay Balmer, associate producer for EA's new skateboarding sim entitled Skate, told CVG: "If you're well-behaved with the controller, the motion control will be super cool. It won't just be steering [in Skate]; we're going to put a lot more into the motion controls than just steering," speaking of the inclusion of motion control in the PS3 version of Skate.

"But it's very messy," he goes on to say, referring to motion control as an interface. "All of the sensors are active and all reporting information at the time, so we really have to find a way to filter what comes through on the motion controls so that everyone can have fun with them.

"Like I said if you're well behaved with the controls they work great but if you're jerky or jumping around the signal becomes very messy," as Wii owners will probably have frustratingly found when toying with their new console. We know we have.

"It's the reality for the Wii, as it is for the PS3," says Balmer.

Does that mean motion control is a rubbish idea? Balmer doesn't think so: "I think they still pay off. I think it's a great feeling to be using motion controls. It's just difficult because you don't always get what you expect."

Getting motion controllers to function properly is a challenge for developers, and as we delve deeper into the Wii/PS3 generation, we're bound to see some developers get it right while others get it disastrously wrong.

via cvg ...

Capcom will shut down the online servers for PS2 game Resident Evil Outbreak: File#2 at the end of March. The closure affects both the original and the sequel of Capcom's online zombie fest.

A statement from the company reads: "Capcom regretfully announces that the server for our PlayStation 2 online game Resident Evil Outbreak: File#2 will be closing at the end of March 2007.

"Since Resident Evil Outbreak File#2 was released in August 2005 , Capcom has provided a server enabling consumers to experience the online element of this game free of charge.

"Regretfully, conditions now dictate that we must close down this server effective from March 31, 2007. Naturally it will still be possible to play the game offline, but the online component will no longer be available.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have been loyal members of the RE Outbreak community for the past months."

Since the game was released in 2005, we doubt many of you will care. But if you're a hardcore Resi fan, voice your outrage below.

via cvg ...

Entertainment - that of Lumines Live! And Every Extend Extra fame - is to reveal a new Xbox Live Arcade game at this week's GDC in San Francisco.

The company previously released the much-anticipated Lumines Live! onto the service, which was greeted with a reception of controversy due to its pricey 'package' structure.

The exact identity of the new title is shrouded in mystery at the moment, though persistent rumour is expectedly bellowing claims that cult-classic music-shooter Rez is up for an Arcade re-jiggering - which would admittedly make us whet our pants.

But for all we know it could be a totally original piece of work, despite how good Every Extend Extra Arcade would look on our HD telly in the office.

via cvg ...

Bungie has explained the confusion surrounding last week's rumours that there could be two separate Halo 3 betas.

The rumour suggested that people who scored codes via its website would be on a separate beta program to those that will gain access through Crackdown. This isn't the case as Bungie's community voice Frank O'Connor told CVG it's the "same beta. Different way to get in."

Speaking to Next Gen, O'Connor explained, "Like, we have time to be working on two separate betas? No, people have confused the issue. Bungie's going to have a friends and family program which is basically a tiny alternative to the Crackdown Beta program. We're going to get a bunch of beta invites sent to people in the Bungie community as well as those people who have bought Crackdown. Some people have decided that it was this whole separate beta but it's the same beta, we're just giving out our own tokens."

Late spring is the latest date Bungie has given for the Halo 3 beta.

via cvg ...

The first trailer from THQ's recently announced MotoGP '07 on Xbox 360 is now spitting exhaust fumes in our video player on the right. Take a gander.

Expected to release in September 2007, the sequel features the likes of brand new bikes, tracks and enhanced customisation options, and beefs up the Extreme mode of play that lets you race crotch-rockets around city streets.

Trailer Here ...