This afternoon Nokia plans to talk about their third swipe at the mobile gaming arena using the N-Gage platform. Fortunately, this time around the platform won't include their own game-centric phone. Instead the phone company is concentrating on the backend and lining up publishers and games.

"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 be outlining the software platforms at a lunch keynote during GDC Mobile today.

The session will introduce at least six games: Asphalt 3, Street Rules, Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway, Brain Challenge, Midnight Pool and EA Mobile's FIFA 2008.

It will also reveal that Glu Mobile, Indiagames and THQ have signed on to publish a number of games for the new platform.

Most interesting, though, will be a break-down of the new software development kit which will, I hope, outline why publishers would want to start working with Nokia on their new N-Gage games.

I wonder why Nokia is even using the N-Gage brand. It's not like it had any value among gamers, and it's associated more with hardware than software.

Much more details in the press release after the jump. Brian Crecente

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE Mars 5, 2007

Nokia reveals new games, publishers and tools for its mobile gaming platforms

Game Developers Conference 2007, San Francisco, CA - 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.

New testing program from SNAP Mobile

Nokia furthers its Java(TM) development activities by ensuring all SNAP Mobile connected games offer a consistent game-playing experience with the SNAP Mobile Compliance Testing Program, announced today. This program limits costs by combining a self-testing process with a traditional certification program. It also lowers the barrier of entry to this process and enables growth of high-quality game development by publishers and developers who have signed up for the SNAP Mobile Platform.

During GDC, SNAP Mobile and Forum Nokia will reveal the winners of the Nokia and SingTel Multiplayer Game Quest. Launched in June 2006, this multiplayer Java(TM) game development contest on the SNAP Mobile platform encouraged Forum Nokia PRO developers worldwide to develop multiplayer and cross-platform games for Java-enabled devices in one of three categories: cross-platform games, multiplayer games for males, and multiplayer games for females. Winners will receive cash awards, Nokia devices and promotion for their games from Nokia and SingTel Mobile. For more information, visit http://www.fnpro-apac.com/.

For delegates wishing to expand their knowledge in creating connected mobile games for the future, Nokia is holding four developer workshops at GDC.

- 'Developing next generation mobile content for Nokia platforms' presented by Michael Bergen, Business Development Manager, Nokia. Delegates will receive insight about the new N-Gage platform and learn how to access the various developer offerings.

5th March, 2.00 - 2.45pm, Room 120, North Hall, Moscone Convention Center

- 'Developing a connected mobile game for J2ME handsets using SNAP Mobile' presented by Matt Levy, Technical Lead & SDK Manager, Nokia. Levy will demonstrate a step-by-step walk-through on developing a connected mobile game for J2ME handsets using SNAP Mobile.

5th March, 3.00 - 3.45pm, Room 120, North Hall, Moscone Convention Center

- 'The new N-Gage SDK, development tools and platform' presented by Peter Lykke Nielsen, SDK Product Manager, Nokia. Delegates will get an in-depth look into the new N-Gage SDK, development tools and environment.

6th March, 11.45am - 12.30pm, Room 120, North Hall, Moscone Convention Center

- 'Designing next generation connected games' presented by Scott Foe, Producer, Nokia. Foe will discuss what the next generation of gaming means for Nokia and how to design mobile connected games that take advantage of the latest in technology and push the boundaries of what gaming can become.

7th March, 12.00 - 1.00pm, Room 2024, West Hall, Moscone Convention Center

For the latest N-Gage updates and to create a dialogue with N-Gage gaming enthusiasts, visit Future Watch at http://futurewatch.n-gage.com.

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