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.
Namco has announced a sweepstakes to celebrate the release of Snoopy the Flying Ace.
Released back in July, Snoopy the Flying Ace has Snoopy donning his helmet and goggles and taking to the skies in his iconic doghouse to save Woodstock’s fallen nest. He has to fly through the familiar Peanuts neighborhood, collecting balloons while avoiding storm clouds, kites, and the dreaded Red Baron. Bonus items can double, triple, or even quadruple points, and these points can be used on network-enabled phones to unlock new features and get rewards.
Sprint customers can enter the sweepstakes by texting the word “snoopy” to 26262 or by visiting the games home page on their handset. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to the Charles M. Schulz museum in Napa Valler for a VIP, behind-the-scenes tour. The trip comes complete with accommodations, airfare, and car service, as well as $1,000 spending money. 25 runners-up will receive Peanuts Classics: The Ultimate Box Set.
The sweepstakes runs until October 15th.
Namco has announced the release of new flying game Snoopy the Flying Ace.
Snoopy is donning his helmet and goggles and taking to the skies in his iconic doghouse to save Woodstock’s fallen nest. He’ll have to fly through the familiar Peanuts neighborhood, collecting balloons while avoiding storm clouds, kites, and the dreaded Red Baron. Bonus items can double, triple, or even quadruple points, and these points can be used on network-enabled phones to unlock new features and get rewards.
“Snoopy’s aerial escapades are some of the most memorable moments from the Peanuts comic strips and are appealing to mass-market consumers, making them an ideal storyline for a mobile phone game,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing for Namco. “Peanuts is one of the most beloved entertainment brands of all time and is a great addition to our lineup of top-selling, brand-based mobile games.”
Namco has created a website you can visit for more information about the game. The game is only available on select national carriers, but Namco has plans to expand the its coverage.
Namco Networks has announced that they will be bringing some of Big Fish Games’ products to the mobile space.
The deal will kick off with Atlantis Sky Patrol, where players must knock out a doomsday device by shoot and matching chains of colored marbles. The marbles move through a track, and players must stop them before they reach the core and the device explodes.
“Partnering with Big Fish Games is a testament to Namco Networks unremitting commitment to bring superior mobile games to consumers,” said Scott Rubin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Namco Networks. “Big Fish’s games have been hugely successful in the online gaming market, and we believe this popularity will continue on mobile phones.”
Atlantis Sky Patrol is due out this winter. There’s no word yet on what other games will be coming to handhelds.
Nacmo Networks has announced that their game Pool Pro Online 2 reached 2.2 million online games played, just six months after its release.
Pool Pro Online 2 builds on the success of Pool Pro Online, allowing gamers from around the US to join a virtual pool hall and compete against others for fame and in-game cash. Gamers can use the cash to purchase new cues, tables, and backgrounds for their customizable online persona. Players can also go offline to play against the computer or a friend.
“The rapid success of Pool Pro Online II indicates that wireless subscribers enjoy games that provide them with the ability to customize their head-to-head mobile gaming experience,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing at Namco Networks. “Namco Networks has always recognized the potential of incorporating network components into some of our highly successful mobile games. Pool Pro Online II builds on the success of the original, making the Pool Pro Online franchise of games successful on the BREW solution and popular among wireless subscribers.”
One player in particular contributed to the success, playing over 8,000 online games. The game is available now from US carriers.
Namco Bandai Networks has announced that they have partnered with FremantleMedia Enterprises to bring the popular Idols format to mobile phones.
The multi-year agreement will see Idols games launched across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. There’s little information about what the games will be like, but Namco is reportedly happy with the deal.
“Announcing this deal is a great milestone for NAMCO BANDAI Networks, and it’s one which underlines our commitment to be one of the industry’s premier games companies,” said Masaji Okubo, Managing Director of NAMCO BANDAI Networks Europe Ltd. “Idols is one of the biggest television formats in the world, with millions of fans who will soon be able to interact with their favourite show anytime they want.”
Keep an eye on QB for more information on this upcoming titles.
Namco has announced a partnership with Japanese operator KDDI to bring Japanese games to the US, reports MobileIndustry.biz.
“Partnering with Namco allows us to work with an established leader in the North American mobile market, ensuring the quality of the localisation and successful distribution of our catalogue of Japanese games to North American wireless subscribers,” said Takashi Nagashima, general manager at KDDI.
KDDI currently has over 25 million subscribers in Japan, and a portfolio of games that covers a wide number of genres.
Kenji Hisatsune, president of Namco Networks said “The portfolio of mobile games that KDDI offers has proven to be highly successful in Japan, a trend we anticipate to continue in the US.”
Namco has announced that they have partnered with King Features to bring the classic Popeye to mobile phones.
“Popeye is a mass-market icon that has been entertaining adults and kids alike for decades,” said Scott Rubin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Namco Networks. “We are excited to add Popeye to our lineup of top-selling arcade classic mobile games, which includes PAC-MAN, Ms. PAC-MAN, Galaga, Dig Dug and others.”
The handheld version tries to capture to spirit of the 80s arcade game. The player controls Popeye as he chases after his girl Olive, and must dodge attempts by Bluto and the Sea Hag to get her. If he manages to get his hands on some spinach, he gains his iconic strength and can knock Bluto off the screen.
The game is scheduled for release in fall of this year.
GamingBits has posted an interview with Namco’s Vice President Scott Rubin, reports Mobile Games Blog.
The interview covers a variety of different subject, although it starts off with Namco’s recent release of Ms. Pac-Man for the iPod. Here they discuss mobile gaming:
How have sales been going overall with Namco in the mobile and/or casual gaming market?
SR: We’re doing very, very well. We’re the number two mobile game publisher. In general, the industry is slowly growing. At the same time we still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in sort-of the education phase, where 5% to 7% of the consumers even know they can download games. It will grow even more and more. I also compare it to Japan, because it’s like looking into the future. They’ve basically created a mobile culture there.
They also discuss new game download site Hovr, porting, demos, and more.
We have to admit, the QB Crew is a little burnt out from GDC prep, so expect a little bit of snarkiness in our most recent podcast update.
This time, we respond to recent news from Eidos and Gameloft to ask “to brand or not to brand?”, and discuss EA’s impending development for the iPhone.
Because all good things come in twos, we also hit you with the second part of our interview with Namco’s Jason Ford and Scott Rubin. Namco’s brain trust dish out about iPhone development, GDC, and what Glu’s recent financial troubles mean for the industry as a whole.
Go here to get the podcast and subscribe to our feed via iTunes.
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