Before the next review of the novelties of the week to make a small lyrical economic retreat on the theme of a bright future, which, apparently, waiting for us fans of mobile gaming. At London's Wireless Leadership Forum, held last week, mobile gaming once again predicted a bright future. At this time, the well-known analytical agency Yankee Group presented the results of his research on mobile data for the region EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Asia). It is projected agency revenues from voice services to operators in Western Europe until 2008, stopped growing at around $ 124 billion, while revenues from mobile data will increase by that time almost doubled up to $ 50 billion and will continue to grow. In the worst affected, according to the forecast, the growth will come from entertainment services, in particular gaming. In an effort to take the opening promising market zabryatsala armor Nokia, released on sale in Europe and Asia, its N-Gage QD. This novelty, which appeared after the fiasco of the injured N-Gage, is a continuation of the company's strategy to move towards the mass consumer devices for online gaming. So far in this direction holds strong leadership GameBoy Nintendo. The new N-Gage QD corrected some shortcomings of the previous model, areas of particular criticism: slightly changed the navigation system, a slot for multimedia cards submitted for building - had to change the card had to remove the battery pack. The developers have retained as an operating system and N-Gage. The smartphone continues to be based on Symbian. In addition, the new N-Gage QD supports GSM 900 / 1800, equipped with Bluetooth, weighs 143 grams and its battery is designed for 5 hours of talk time or 10.5 hours of gaming. The device comes with 20 games. Same number of games, promised in 2004, was reduced by 60% from 100 to 40. In addition, the platform developed by the Finnish giant Arena, - a sort of online community of players, allowing play on the network via GPRS - has so far only 50-70 thousand people. After submission of the second N-Gage in Asia, Nokia is going to take a niche in the gaming industry such Asian countries as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. For this purpose, Nokia has developed a series of marketing programs, which, according to Rick of the Year, Manager of Nokia, engaged in games, are largely based on a study of the most popular in Asian countries multiplayer role-playing game Ragnorok: "The whole secret lies in the pricing model of the game: this popularity has become possible thanks to the low price and the minimum requirements for devices. At some stage we are going to follow the same strategy. " And Nokia can understand. Asia is the most advanced region for gaming: the number of active players are the greatest. So, Bandai Networks and D3Publisher announced last week that the number of registered users of their gaming portal has reached 400 thousand people. Founded in 2002, the portal contains games for subscribers of the telecom giant NTT DoCoMo, using the protocol i-mode. And finally, another good news. Most famous Electronic Arts is preparing to capture the market for mobile games. "The era of complete idler, - said Vice President Gerhard Florin, in his speech at the Mobile Entertainment Forum, - the current generation has grown up on interactivity and requires her to have fun. ... Our frenchayzery working to make our game stand out among others. Everyone can publish mobile games, but I'm sure that buyers will choose it ours. " Hope to check it out, but for now - Game news of the week.
Midtown Madness
It's not even a presentation of a new toy, but rather, a small announcement. Last week, the site PocketGamer posted a couple of screenshots and short video of Midtown Madness for Pocket PC. Judging by the rather scanty information, waiting for us pretty exciting game action, although there is no information about the developer, nor the timing of the game.
Perhaps this can be regarded as implementation intentions Microsoft, made by Mark Spain, director of companies involved in mobile devices, in one of his April interview. According to the sounded plans, Microsoft will release before the end of the year 13 games for PDAs, including Midtown Madness, RallySport and a series of Age of ... - the game has already gained its popularity on PC and Xbox. We add only that the Age of Empires for Pocket PC was recently released Korean ZIO.
Space Treker
Version Space Treker for Pocket PC
The web site SundialSoft posted a message about the impending upgrade known StarTrecker.
The game is a mix of genres, in general, it can be characterized as a strategy: you navigate through the "cosmic field", buy and sell items from alien civilizations at war with the ill-wishers. Above is a link to the second version of the game. In the third version implemented significant changes: it is planted in a 3D-engine, framed a new and spectacular graphics. Developer Conan promises to soon release a beta version of the game and put it on one of the known servers for testing. A small addition: while preparing Conan game, Astraware has released her. We compare? (See below for Strange Adventures in Infinite Space)
Flux Challenge
Revision Flux Challenge for Pocket PC
Fly Air PDAMill! Around with such a call can be accessed by players. The words we have joy. PDAMill, creator of some of these popular games like Gamebox Solitaire and GameBox Solitaire II, which I discussed in previous reviews, winner of several prizes and awards, started for the development of 3D-flying. In available for download the alpha version, you get into the distant future, where traffic is shifted deep underground in the tunnels of the magnetic fields. Designed for mass transit, tunnels, will soon become the main venue for the event by driving underground vehicles "based on magnetic levitation."
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Of course, things do not work in the alpha version. Available in only one track, only one type of vehicle, not all models of Pocket PC is still supported, but ... The game itself is enough worked out now and you can enjoy it. In my opinion, this is the most successful 3D Racing from currently available. Here I was entangled in a direction while in other games, sometimes with difficulty distinguished from the wall of the road, we had some time and hard work of all the receptors for the development of playing technique. Here, everything is much simpler. All visible at once. Excellent and stylishly-designed tunnels with appropriate lighting, fine crafts. Picks up speed and hear the amplified sound of a ship, screeching of metal when hitting the wall and in a collision with other ships - great sound effects. Convenient navigation system - you can work and stylus, and a joystick - and spectacularly well-drawn settings window. And this is not the limit. "The graphics, navigation, sound may differ from the final version. Taking this into account, we hope you enjoy the game "- the site says the game. Play. Assess. Report your offers to the developer forums and PocketMatrix PDArcade. Who knows, maybe you will contribute to the development of "magnetic levitation" race of the future.
Sky Force
Version of Sky Force for Pocket PC
As a continuation of today's review of news - yet another example of attempts to market mobile games: Polish company Infinite Dreams, known for its game for Amiga and GameBoy Advance, ported on Pocket PC game SkyForce. And although the official site link, you will not find a program available for download through our software directory.
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The game is a perfect example of so-called "vertical scrolling game." You manage continuous shooting ship, and beneath your sails land with enemy fortifications, bunkers, towers, destroyers, missile boats, tanks ... In the sky you lie in wait for the fighters and the bright red airplane, flying past the jamb cheerful and cause harm only in the event of a collision. You move your vehicle left and right, pushed forward and comes back, avoiding the missiles produced in you, while collecting a variety of bonus items that increase the power of your fire and strengthening of, say, the health of your aircraft. Undoubted merit of the game - its graphics: it combines elements of 2D with 3D landscape objects, worked a variety of weather conditions. This is complemented by a multi-channel sound: music by and sound effects. The full version - 7 levels and three difficulty levels. The game somewhat resembles already becoming known Siberian Strike - the same flight, same eternal pulyaniya. By the way, Siberian Strike was a bit more diverse - you choose your character and depending on that there are a few changed the course of the game. In addition, SkyForce I discovered the virtual absence of Help-file. Instead, instructions or explanations of the game's plot you will find a list of bonus items. Another small flaw - after the game I always had to carry out soft-reset my Pocket PC. Nevertheless, one must admit that the graphics are better developed than in Siberian Strike. In a short amount of time available in the demo version, you can have time enough to enjoy the flight and pulyaniem.
Mastersoft Casino
Version Mastersoft Casino for Pocket PC
I'm definitely set for ourselves - I can not go to the casino. For me, the perfect bore to sit, put the numbers of roulette, slam on the keys in the video poker, in a frenzy to pull by hand only one-armed bandit, with glassy eyes, counting the amount of points at the table BlackJack. Nevertheless, the play Mastersoft Casino I was curious.
It's not a schedule - she in the game is quite simple, but carefully traced and well thought out. And not in the sounds, although they are realistic. And the interface is built on a standard Windows menu. Nevertheless, there are two important factors: first, the game provides hints on strategy. For each game there are several things you can increase your chances of winning. Very useful pot, I was curious to test the mechanisms in the non-cash "environment. By the way, here's the second interesting factor: the creators of the game promises real prizes under certain conditions. You can even break the bank in the demo. Go for it! Good luck!
GoNinja
GoNinja version for Pocket PC
Variations on the theme of Go. Play on the field, which is built along the spiral wall. During each turn, you set of three chips - the vertical or horizontal row of randomly arranged black or white ninjas.Necessary to locate them so that the chip of the same color chips caught between the opposite color, the latter are killed, and the "winner" warrior ninja moves along the wall to the cherished center field, where it disappears and you add points.
Yes, and keep the balance. In the East, without it just anywhere. Be sure to balance a number at the bottom is filled with black and white chips. The game is simple enough in design and sound, but interesting in itself. The demo version is available 20 games.
Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
Software Version Strange Adventures in Infinite Space for Pocket PC
Version of Strange Adventures in Infinite Space for Palm OS
Travelling in the endless universe. You move from planet to planet, opening up new forms of life, buying or otvoevyvaya weapons, carrying out assignments. The entire game is divided between the four interfaces: the card movement, inventory, battlefields and the state of the ship.
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You move around the map, get information about the planets you visit, and sometimes on other ships that have appeared within reach. It can be as dealers and enemy creatures, funny voice told you to threats. Try to establish good relations with the traders - me with them, buy better weapons and other gadgets. With the usual inventory that you are equipped with the very beginning of the game, win it will be difficult. If the crew shows unfriendly intentions, the game moves on the battlefield, where you define the goal and go after it. In my opinion, this is the unfinished part of the game in which players provided too small a degree of control over the situation. The game is already 21 types of interplanetary boards, 18 life forms and 7 unique alien civilizations. The process itself is usually enough for 5-20 minutes. SAIS (abbreviation. - Ed.) - Reprocessing once popular in the West, the board game Star Force. As I mentioned, together with Astraware for the same subject took the developer Conan (see Star Trek). Nevertheless, I am convinced that at least the sound of Astraware will come.
Candy Cruncher
Version of Candy Cruncher for Pocket PC
Version of Candy Cruncher for Palm OS
Version of Candy Cruncher for Smartphone Excellent puzzle game from Astraware. Can safely be awarded her medal today. All the fun, beautifully drawn, wonderfully voiced, and the game itself is interesting.
On the field, filled with a variety of candies, just one empty seat. Slide the candy, you need to put the same in a row to "shrumkat" him. "Another!" - Heralds your speaker, and again for sweets - to build them in rows and ranks. Collected the required number? Dzzzzzin! Bonus! The authors, translation:
Gotan
