Mobile: Namco Networks to Publish Mr. Do!

Author: by Justin Davis, Modojo.com

Namco Networks, Namco America's mobile division, has announced an exclusive publishing agreement with Japanese firm Aruze to release the company's arcade classics Mr. Do! and Mr. Do's Castle on North American mobile phones. Mr. Do!, in true 80s fashion, tasks gamers with clearing a field of cherries while avoiding the roving monsters. Monsters are gotten rid of with the bouncing powerball or by dropping apples on them. In Mr. Do's Castle, players travel around floors interconnected by ladders. Both titles are expected in summer 2007. Both titles fit right in with Namco's existing mobile portfolio, which is primarily retro ports culled from the company's extensive back library of 80s arcade classic. Although the company does develop and publish some original mobile titles, Namco Network's greatest success has come from mobile ports of Pac-Man, Galaga, and other similar titles. “Partnering with Aruze further expands our popular catalog of arcade classics, meeting the ever-increasing consumer demand for fun, casual content,” said Kenji Hisatsune, president and CEO of Namco Networks. “Mr. Do! and other Aruze games were very popular in the 80s arcades and we believe this popularity will continue on the mobile platform.”