Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/10/mobile_games_innovation/
Nokia promotes N-Gage innovation with €70,000 bait
Only existing games developers need apply
Posted in Mobile, 10th April 2008 06:02 GMT
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Nokia is looking for new concepts in mobile phone gaming, and has launched a competition with €70,000 in prizes for the best games concept. However, it is limiting entry to those already in the games business.
The Mobile Games Innovation Challenge (http://www.developer.n-gage.com/innovation/) is open to companies involved in designing or developing games, and comes with a top prize of €40,000 alone. Submissions are invited in the form of a text description along with, optionally, graphics and videos demonstrating the game play.
But even the top prize money won't pay for a game to be developed - a simple mobile phone game would eat through a large chunk of €40,000 in the design phase. But, the competition is being run by Nokia Publishing and there is mention of a possible development contract too.
It seems likely that Nokia is hoping to attract some of the console games development companies, in the hope that a chunk of money and potential development contract will bring new minds to explore the future of mobile gaming. With a simple description being the only submission requirement, and companies able to enter as often as they like, it's possible that more than a few lunch hours will be spent brainstorming ideas.
N-Gage is going to need some truly innovative games if it's going to stand up as a hand-held gaming platform, and avoid its software incarnation following its hardware namesake into obscurity. ®