CipSoft launches first MMORPG for mobile phones

German mobile content developer CipSoft has launched the first ever massively-multiplayer online role-playing game for mobile phones.

TibiaME is set in the fantasy world of Tibia where players must fight a variety of different creatures and complete puzzles and quests, many of which can only be solved through teamwork.

As with traditional MMORPGs - such as the PC version of Tibia - players can develop their characters' attributes and collect new equipment as the game progresses.

TibiaME also supports real-time chat and interactivity, with information sent simultaneously to all players. CipSoft claims that response times have been markedly reduced by the use of brand new technology which allows for fluent, lag-free gameplay.

CipSoft does not charge a subscription fee - instead, users make a one-time payment to download the "Gold" version of the game. They must then pay any traffic fees charged by the mobile network operator for connecting to the game server. According to CipSoft, the amount of data exchanged by the phones and the game server is minimized to ensure low traffic costs. The developer has said that it reserves the right to introduce additional charges for use of the game at a later date.

TibiaME is compatible with the full range of Series 60/Symbian mobile phones, and a Java version is currently in development. A free demo of the game can be downloaded from the TibiaME website.