Smartphone gaming: N-Gage's saviour?
News has emerged today that Capcom will be publishing its wares on Nokia's (revamped) N-Gage platform from 2008. After the disaster that was the first N-Gage, a dedicated games machine with mobile phone functionality, Nokia announced at E3 2005 that its next strategy for the brand was to implement it into a variety of new smartphone handsets.
A year later at E3 2006 the Finnish firm explained the service would work as " ...a pre-installed application which allows consumers to easily find, buy and play rich and immersive games on a range of Nokia Nseries multimedia computers and other Nokia S60 devices."
"Capcom is dedicated to creating great mobile games, and believes that N-Gage will allow us to bring some of our most famous franchises to the platform," enthused Yosuke Yoneda, director of Capcom’s European Mobile Division, regarding the announcement. "Our dedication to quality and creative thinking has seen the company produce a series of ground-breaking titles, with stunning visuals and in-depth game play, never before seen on the mobile."
At least someone's confident, eh; although perhaps with more advanced mobile technology at its disposal, now could be the N-Gage's time to shine? Nah... we're not convinced either.
Capcom duly joins the likes of Digital Chocolate, Indiagames, I-Play, Electronic Arts and Glu Mobile, all companies that have already pledged their support for the next-generation N-Gage platform.