Nokia Set To Re-Enter Game Space

With its latest range of Nseries phones and S60 software due to be released in Q2 2007, Finland's Nokia has said it is prepared to once again take on Nintendo and Sony in the handheld space, with "a real attractive offering for the games consumer." Nokia's UK and Ireland head of games Martin O’Driscoll has told UK trade magazine MCV, “We’re moving into a new competitive space, where we have a real attractive offering for the games consumer. The research is showing us that people are playing games on phones more often and spending more time doing it. These are no longer just ‘casual’ games – they are real games played by real gamers.” Though it's first integrated gaming device, the N-gage failed to find serious traction as a competitor to Nintendo and Sony's own handheld offerings, as we originally reported earlier this year, Nokia has renewed its tactics with new “game optimized devices” set to feature landscape-oriented screens, game controls, and a selection with ATI hardware video acceleration through a partnership announced in May. Nokia has also recently been building strategic software partnerships as well, with publisher Electronic Arts announcing in September a broad selection of their own titles due to be released through Nokia's Content Discoverer, including Tetris, Tetris Mania, The Sims 2, Doom, FIFA 06, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, and FIFA Street 2. Said O’Driscoll to MCV, “The consumer will have to make a decision: does he wants a standalone gaming device with a limited browsing capability or a phone with an MP3 player, a camera and a bloody good games platform? I think consumers will be prepared to spend £300 on a phone that offers all those different things rather than £100 to £150 for a standalone games machine.”