Atari classics heading to N-Gage

Nokia has announced the release of the first instalment in its classic Atari 2600 collection, featuring eight titles from the dawn of the videogames industry, now available for the N-Gage platform.

Nokia's director of games publishing, Gregg Sauter, commented: "Atari Masterpieces shows how originality can stand the test of time. Nokia has created a worldwide league table within N-Gage Arena so retro gaming enthusiasts now have a forum to tell who is truly the king of the old school."

"We are offering gamers, both young and old, the opportunity to take the arcade with them wherever they go," he added.

Atari Masterpieces Volume 1, which was originally announced in May, features precise, unaltered reproductions of eight Atari 2600 titles. The line-up includes Asteroids, Millipede, Missile Command, Super Breakout, Lunar Lander, Battlezone, Red Baron and Black Widow. Gamers can also unlock a further four titles on the compilation, including Adventure, Yar's Revenge and Video Chess.

According to Wim Stocks, EVP of sales and marketing for Atari, "The Atari Masterpieces Volume 1 invokes the gamer in all of us," adding "We are delighted to work with Nokia and bring these classic games to the N-Gage platform."

According to a statement from Nokia, Gamers can enjoy the retro gaming collection and then upload high scores to the N-Gage Arena league tables, battling it out for the title of ultimate retro gaming guru.

Volume 1 begins shipping today, and will be followed early in 2006 by the release of Atari Masterpieces Volume 2. No details regarding the titles available in volume 2 have been released to date.

Nokia recently announced that its N-Gage 3D gaming technology will soon be available on a range of Series 60 Nokia handsets in addition to the standard N-Gage specific game deck. However, a timeframe for the roll out of this technology transition has yet to be revealed.