89 Gizmondo Games Due Out

Gizmondo may have launched, but: a) the initial games line-up is nothing to write home about; and more importantly b) we still have yet to receive one of the handhelds for a full hands-on review. But while we await situation 'b' to be addressed, early adopters of the jack-of-all-trades device might like to know there are rumblings closely associated with situation 'a' - rumblings of the 'we've got 89 games coming out in 2005' variety.
89 games? Yes, as incredible as it sounds, that is indeed the number of titles Gizmondo Europe Ltd. claims it has planned for this year. Blanket bombing at its finest then, and with that many games out you can bet that virtually every videogame genre known to mankind is covered.

According to Eric Peterson, who heads up Gizmondo's global development operation, the games "will be comprised of original titles, both internally and externally developed, as well as very high profile licensed products."
"Our goal is to deliver a broad spectrum of high quality games, canvassing all genres. Gizmondo owners will be spoiled with all the choices they will have for games entertainment, this in addition to the music and video content already available," Peterson adds.

Microsoft Games Studios, SCI, Disney's BuenaVista Games, Team 17, and Fathammer and Ubisoft are among the companies that have signed up to support Gizmondo, and Gizmondo Europe Ltd additionally states that a further announcement concerning "one of the world's leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment" is pending. Our money's on Activision or EA.

And so, on to some of the Gizmondo games that have been announced so far then. Apparently, "Many of these new titles will be subject to their own announcement releases," according to Gizmondo Europe Ltd., with the company also stating that the games are unique to the Gizmondo and "will be optimised to use the distinctive features of the device, including the GPS, digital camera, Bluetooth, and GPRS connectivity."

Here's a select few from the Gizmondo 2005 catalogue:

Richard Burns Rally - SCi

(New) Battlestations: Midway - SCi

Carmageddon - SCi

(New) Conflict: Vietnam - SCi

Age of Empires - Microsoft Game Studios

MechAssault - Microsoft Game Studios

It's Mr Pants - Microsoft Game Studios

Colors - Gizmondo Studios

Chicane - Gizmondo Studios

Sticky Balls - Gizmondo Studios

(New) Supernaturals - Gizmondo Studios

(New) Race - Gizmondo Studios

(New) Ghost - Gizmondo Studios

Furious Phil - Gizmondo Studios

(New) Hit and Myth - Gizmondo Studios

Johnny Whatever - Gizmondo Studios

Milo and the Rainbow Nasties - Gizmondo Studios

Momma, Can I Mow the Lawn - Gizmondo Studios

Interstella Flames 2 - Gizmondo Studios

(New) Jump - Gizmondo Studios

Worms World Party - Team 17

(New) Alien Homonid - Tuna*

(New) Casino - Hustler*

(New) Goal - Factory 1*

(New) Verbier Ride - JoWood*
(*Deal agreed in principal and will be subject to separate announcement).