I-Play launches into the third dimension

Mobile games publisher I-Play has announced the launch of its first 3D title, with space action game Major Carnage now rolling out across European and North American wireless networks.

Developed by Ditto Studios, which was recently acquired by I-Play, the game is available for what's described as a "wide range of handsets with 3D capabilities", and features fully 3D graphics spread out over six levels of gameplay.

The game is not only the first 3D title to be published by I-Play, but is also the first one to be developed by Ditto, with studio MD Mark Bridgeman describing the firm as "hugely excited" at the launch of the game.

"With 600 million new handsets being bought every year, 3G handsets will not be regarded as high end or early adopter for very long," he said. "Producing cutting edge products that take advantage of the new technology available is essential for the continuing innovation in the market overall. This is probably the richest visual experience to hit the mobile phone market."

While a number of other publishers have launched 3D mobile games, the market remains mostly focused on 2D titles - and phone handsets with 3D acceleration chips aren't expected to become widespread until next year at the earliest.

The launch of the new 3D enabled handsets is seen by many publishers as a major change for the mobile games market - with EA Mobile CTO Lincoln Wallen telling MobileIndustry.biz yesterday that EA views it as being a similar change to a hardware transition in the console market, with many of the same lessons applying to both.