Taito to adopt Nokia's SNAP Mobile platform for connected mobile game publishing
Bust-A-Move: Mobile Mania to debut Connected Grooving Competition on handsets
Los Angeles, CA, 9 May 2006 - Nokia (NYSE:
NOK), the leader in mobile communications, today announced
that Taito, the publisher of some of the world's best-loved
classic video and arcade games, will begin publishing
connected mobile gaming content on the SNAP Mobile platform,
the most comprehensive one stop solution for connected Java
mobile gaming community. Expected to be available to
consumers in late 2006, Taito games developed for SNAP Mobile
feature the interactive multiplayer capabilities of the SNAP
Mobile solution and are optimized for mobile play through
superior use of mobile phone screen space.
SNAP Mobile's agreement with Taito to publish and distribute
casual mobile gaming titles marks the US and European debut
of a connected multiplayer version of Taito's hit title
Bust-A-Move, known internationally as Puzzle Bobble.
Bust-A-Move: Mobile Mania will be available on the SNAP
Mobile platform with the unprecedented addition of gamer
rankings and head-to-head match play over the cellular
network as well as friends list, presence, and instant
messaging capabilities.
"Our relationship with Nokia's SNAP Mobile opens a door to
the market opportunity for connected casual gaming," said
Kenji Ishikawa, Regional Manager of Taito. "The competitive
nature of a game like Bust-A-Move lends itself to multiplayer
gaming among groups of friends who purchase it for play using
the SNAP Mobile solution."
"The connected multiplayer features of SNAP Mobile are a
natural fit for intuitively social titles such as Taito's
Bust-A-Move," said Lisa Waits, Head of Nokia's SNAP Mobile.
"The agreement between SNAP Mobile and a leading publisher of
casual gaming titles such as Taito helps to define a market
shift to quality connected casual gaming titles for the
mobile user."
The SNAP Mobile solution is now available for connected
mobile game development and publishing, as well as mobile
game community development. It delivers a quality connected
game playing experience to users by harnessing the
versatility of Java-based mobile content on a wide
variety of Java MIDP2.0 compliant phones.
Operators, publishers and developers wishing to learn more
about SNAP Mobile can also visit Nokia at booth #900 during
the Electronic Entertainment Expo at the Los Angeles
Convention Center, May 10-12.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the
growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry.
Nokia connects people to each other and the information that
matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like
mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games,
media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and
services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com.
About Taito Corporation
Taito Corporation is one of largest game machine makers in
Japan. Founded in 1953, Taito manages amusement game
facility, arcade and in-house game, game software development
and its sales, Karaoke, mobile game content, etc. in a wide
range of entertainment business.