More from the show they're already calling, 'The last 3GSM to appear in Cannes before moving to Barcelona in 2006'!
Living Mobile The German publisher, hidden away within the depths of the Nokia partners stand (or it may have been the Microsoft partners stand. I keep getting the two mixed up since their alliance), didn't have anything new to show me, apart from promising screens of Bomberman Kart Special, a conversion of the PS2 title apparently featuring most of the power-ups of the original. They're also preparing Bomberman 3D, which looks a lot like the 3D version of Bomberman released on the N64 a few years back. That one's due for a Spring release on Series 60 and 3G handsets.
Kuju Wireless Here, I got to play an almost finished version of Cannon Fodder, a conversion of the Amiga classic created by Tower Studios (headed up by Sensible Software founder, Jon Hare). It's looking very nice indeed with 25 missions, many of which come intact from the original. The point and click interface has been tuned for mobile handsets: now you use left and right to circle the cursor around your soldier thereby selecting the direction he runs and shoots in. The aim of the game is the same as ever – guide your small squad through dense jungle foliage taking out enemies and occasionally hopping in vehicles.
An early demo of FIM Motocross World Championship revealed a nicely designed isometric racer, which looks a little like a motorbike version of Super Sprint. The tracks are based on maps of the real FIM locations and you'll choose from up to 20 riders (depending on handset), each with different handling.
The chaps also told me a little about their mobile game conversion of the crazed Cannonball 8000 driving event. The project hasn't really started yet, but they're looking to capture the whole community feel of the annual cross county romp, perhaps with a GTA-style story mode. Vague, but interesting.
Finally, there will also be a special 3G version of Sensible Soccer, complete with improved animation as well as in-game sound effects and crowd noises.
Mforma The big news was the publisher's ongoing licensing deal with Marvel, which will see many of the comic book giant's biggest characters getting their own mobile games. The first three – Blade Trinity, Elektra and Fantastic Four are movie tie-ins, but then I believe we'll see Ultimate Spider-Man. The deal should result in a continuous stream of titles – indeed both Mforma and Marvel envisage a kind of Marvel channel where mobile users will be able to download games, screen logos, ring tones, etc. Yes, yes, yes, but what about a Silver Surfer title?
Sumea The Finnish company is now part of Trip Hawkins' burgeoning Digital Chocolate empire, along with another studio in San Mateo. The two developers are working on a pretty diverse range of games and apps, including Atkins To Go, which allows you to monitor your carbs intake throughout the day; Mini Golf Castles, a sequel to the newly released crazy golf sim, Mini Beach Golf; Johnny Crash 2, another sequel, this time of the fun human cannonball stunt title; and Pitfall Caves, the last in a trilogy of platform adventures based around the old Atari VCS brand.
Digital Chocolate is also launching its own global and local gaming leagues, allowing players to post their best scores online, thereby earning Chocolate Chips (geddit?), giving them access to prize tournaments.
Superscape The 3D gaming specialist showed me its mobile conversion of the decent Disney RPG Kingdom Hearts. The company is also working on a Tron title and had its full product range on show including Fight Club, Evil Knievel: Evel-ution, Harlem Globetrotters and Independence Day, all of which come in both 3D and scaled down 2D Java flavours and are in various states of development/release.
Namco Unfortunately they swore me to secrecy about most of their forthcoming projects and now I can't remember what I'm allowed to say and what I'm not. That's what happens when you make inadequate notes during a meeting.
THQ Wireless At my final meeting of the show, THQ Wireless told me about Moto GP 3, the latest Java conversion of the superbike sim. This will feature 16 racing events, including special 'extreme' modes over dirt tacks and urban locations. Destory All Humans is coming across from PS2 and Xbox. It's a darkly humorous shooter with you playing an alien race attempting to take over the earth. On the subject of console conversions, we'll also see a Java take on Full Spectrum Warrior in the summer.
I also saw screens of the forthcoming Club Management, a sort of nightclub version of the Tycoon games where you build up your business from a dodgy little nite spot to a glamorous super club by hiring sexy staff and star DJs.
There were some big movie and TV tie-ins too. As part of a recent licensing deal, there will be five South Park games out over the next year, including South Park Sports Day (with events such as fart hurdling, starring Terrence and Philip) and Mecha Fighter, which I think is a take on the brilliant Barbara Streisand episode. Oh and THQ has got the rights to a film series called Star Wars and has various games and multimedia goodies planned for this, but I'm not allowed to say anything til March.
The end.
