The International Mobile Gaming Awards (IMGA) are now closed to entries, and the judges are starting the lengthy process of selecting finalists.
First, an international panel of judges from Japan, China, Korea, the US, France, the UK, Germany, and Italy will pre-select 80 games from the nearly 400 submitted. The pre-selected games will then be submitted to a international jury who will select 5 nominees for each category, those being: excellence in gameplay, excellence in connectivity, excellence in 3D, best IP-based game, and best casual game.
“This edition is showing a further growth in professionalism and quality worldwide and some astonishing innovations that we can’t wait to disclose to a wider audience, after the judging sessions,” said IMGA founder and managing director Maarten Noyons. “We have seen new work of both the established studios as of small studios and individuals. Excellent work came in from all over the world in all categories: amazing 3D games, clever connected games, cross platform games, but also many Flash games looking a lot better than the ones we saw last year.”
Of the almost 400 entries this year, 45% came from Europe, 26% from Asia, 17% from North America, and 12% from the rest of the world.
Vivendi Games Mobile has announced that their game The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night was awarded with the Best Mobile Video Game Award at the Video Game Festival in Montreuil, France.
“We are extremely excited and honored that our game, The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night was awarded the coveted Best Mobile Game Award by the Video Game Festival,” said Paul Maglione, president of Vivendi Games Mobile. “The Spyro franchise is a classic franchise that is truly loved by both kids and adults alike and we are thrilled to once again bring the mighty purple dragon to mobile phones around the world.”
The platforming adventure, which features 13 levels, has been specially adapted for mobile phones and will be released worldwide in November.
Cellufun has announced the release of WAP Chess, a free chess game focused on multiplayer.
The game features an advanced opponent matching algorithm which helps amateurs and pros alike find suitable human opponents for their skill level. It also features a local server called AI where gamers can play against the computer, and a hint engine for users to improve their play.
“Mobile chess players should be able to play any one at any time on any phone, and Cellufun has created a game to deliver that,” says Arthur Goikhman, Cellufun’s CEO. “Our free mobile chess game offers fantastic game play, but the game really shines when you’re playing other people.”
The game is available for over 600 phones, including Apple’s iPhone.
Vivendi Games Mobile has announced the release of a new action game called Delta Force.
Based on NovaLogic’s Delta Force Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre franchise, and inspired by the film Black Hawk Down, Delta Force is an infiltration-oriented action game. Players position their team of engineers, troopers, and snipers for maximum strategic advantage in taking down a terrorist organization with ordinance like rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers. The title also features mini-games where players might have to seek out informers, crack enemy codes, or track down specific terrorists.
The game is available now throughout Europe.
Magmic Games has announced a partnership with board, card, and dice games producer Fundex Games to bring Phase 10 to mobile phones.
Phase 10 is one of the world’s best-selling card games, having sold over 30 million units. Originally created in 1982, the game is based on a variant of rummy known as Liverpool Rummy and requires a special deck. The mobile version promises to be “pick up n’ play” and features single player and multiplayer action.
“Lead designer Wes Tam and Magmic’s casual games design team were challenged to produce the best-looking card game on the market, and they delivered,” said Magmic Vice President Phil Giroux. “Phase 10 features effects, transitions, and animations that surpass any other card game I’ve seen for mobile — even the sound effects rock. Phase 10 mobile is a truly an enjoyable, and addictive, gaming experience.”
The game will launch throughout North America in mid-October.
Namco Networks has announced that they will be allowing event goers to demo four unreleased titles at DigitalLife in New York.
Gamers will get their hands on Popeye, Atlantis Sky Patrol, Mr. Do! and Mr. Do!’s Castle, as well as current Namco titles like Pac-Man and Scene It? Movie Edition.
“As one of the largest entertainment shows targeting consumers, DigitalLife is a great place to showcase our upcoming games and get consumers interested before they are officially launched to the public,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing at Namco Networks. “In line with our current game portfolio and strategy, these four titles provide instant entertainment, new features and overall entertainment on the go.”
DigitalLife runs from the 27th to the 30th at the Javits Center in New York.
THQ has announced a new game based on the Pixar animated movie Ratatouille.
Players take control of Linguini, a simple prep cook, who must cook his way all the way up to head chef with the help of Remy the rat. You have to cook quickly, however, or the patron’s in the famous Gusteau’s restaurant will leave in a huff. The game features a cooking school to fine-tune your skills and a “kitchen rush” mode that adds more customers, more food critics, and a more impatient head chef bearing down on you. Players can also upgrade their utensils, cooking surfaces, and special spices in the game’s bonus rounds.
Text RATSGAME to 88188 to buy the game for the price of £4.50.
Gameloft has signed an agreement to develop the CBS show CSI and spin-offs into a variety of mobile games, with the first one, CSI: Miami, already released for the US.
Show creator Anthony Zuiker will be closely involved with the development of the games, and both CBS and Gameloft hope this will keep the titles more more true to their roots.
“A mobile game adaptation of a CSI series is the perfect complement for a franchise with a fan base that watches the show with such a high level of engagement and interest in interactivity,†said Zuiker. “We are thrilled to join forces with Gameloft and are confident in their expertise to capture the essence of CSI and translate it into a quality mobile game.â€
CSI: Miami is available now in the US and will be available to other countries worldwide in the coming months.
Eidos Interactive announced the release of Prism: Light the Way, a light-based puzzle game.
In the black hole of Oog, the peaceful Glowbos are beset by a light-consuming being known as Big Bad Bhoball. Players must position Bulboids, which shoot powerful beams of light, and a variety of mirrors, junctions, and prisms to redirect the light onto the Glowbos and away from Bhoball.
“This is classic, can’t-put-it-down gameplay,” says Dave Clark, vice president of New Business Development at Eidos “With engaging graphics and addicting puzzles, PRISM: Light the Way is a great game for all ages that works perfectly in the mobile environment.”
The game is available now, and a trailer is available on Eidos’ website.
Wireless Sharks has announced the release of a new puzzle game called Mechanismo.
Players must construct a series of increasingly-difficult contraptions using a wide variety of objects such as walls, boards, balls, ropes, and engines. It features 60 levels and a tutorial mode, and allows players to create their own levels using the included workshop.
Wireless Sharks has also released a trailer for the game.