Namco Networks Hires Ex-Apple Man As New iPhone Games Boss

Namco Networks said Monday it hired ex-Apple gaming man Jonathan Kromrey as general manager of its Apple Games business, as the mobile publisher looks to expand on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. Kromrey's appointment marks Namco Networks' further emphasis on Apple's increasingly popular mobile devices. The exec was previously an iPod and iPhone games producer and designer at Apple, where he also researched and developed products for Apple TV. "It’s an exciting time at Namco. We are preparing to usher in a new generation of games that capitalize on changing consumer preferences, like ‘anywhere’ gaming and social games," he said in a statement. Namco Networks' roster of iPhone games is largely made up of recognizable Namco gaming brands such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Time Crisis, Katamari, Dig Dug, and Pole Position. The company said with Kromrey heading up its Apple Games arm, Namco Networks wants to place an emphasis on the iPhone and iPod Touch's unique features such as the touch screen, music and graphics capabilities, voice recognition, peer-to-peer gameplay, and accelerometer control. Namco Networks also plans updates to existing games to include support for new iPhone 3.0 firmware features, and in-game access to users' iTunes library, Facebook Connect, and other features. Kromrey was also previously head of the US production group at game maker I-play, working on BREW, J2ME and Symbian platforms. He's worked at various companies including Eidos, Namco Bandai Games, Mattel Interactive and Strategic Simulations. “The gaming community has never been broader, both in terms of the types of games being played and the audience. This is a great time to be developing games for Apple’s devices," he said.