Category: Games

Mobile Gaming

Apple iPhone Games

It seems Apple is making all efforts to make sure it stays on top of the new generation of Phones. With a record number of downloads for Apple iPhone SDK and the subsequent launch of App Store, its all set to take the Mobile Games market by storm.

Major developers like Sega,Glu Mobile, EA and Pangea are already on the job to roll out the first batch of games. Sega recently showcased Super Monkey Ball, a tilt-sensitive iPhone game with over 110 levels.

But these games won’t be cheap. According to recent report on Pocket Gamer, while the initial launch price plans are close to $10, it may even come close to $25 for some titles. Continue reading “Apple iPhone Games”

Nokia launches much awaited N-Gage

Nokia finally launched the much awaited N-Gage mobile games service on April 7th 2008.

If you are a Nokia user, now can find, try and buy high-quality made-for-mobile games directly from your Nokia handset. Isn’t that awesome!!!

If you are an avid player, you can connect with other players through the N-Gage Arena community, meet friends, find others to play multiplayer games, discuss topics on the message boards and via live chat, and participate in tournaments and hosted events. WOW!

“With N-Gage we’re offering a seamless experience for people around the world to try and buy games that are engaging, accessible and have wide appeal,” said Jaakko Kaidesoja, vice president of games, Nokia. “We’re very excited to get this into the hands of our customers, because with them we will shape the future of mobile gaming.” Continue reading “Nokia launches much awaited N-Gage”

N-Gage ready – Nokia all set to say GO

Nokia is all set to open up its download heavenly gates to the N-Gage lovers. Yes .. Nokia just dropped word on its N-Gage blog that the final version of its new N-Gage gaming service / application is now live and ready for your taking. However only supported handsets are.,

  • Nokia N95 8GB
  • Nokia N95
  • Nokia N92
  • Nokia N81 8GB
  • Nokia N81

if you have any other N series Mobile lo behold your download option is also around the corner. soon handsets like N73 will all be able to download the application. Continue reading “N-Gage ready – Nokia all set to say GO”

Lego on iPhone

Apple released its new SDK for the iPhone and its raining applications for the sexy touch screen gadget. First it was Gameloft who made an announcement that they will be launching as much as 15 3D games for the iPhone based on the new SDK and now it is time for the all time favorite Lego Building blocks to come on iPhone. Continue reading “Lego on iPhone”

Ngage relaunch gets closer with pre-release downloads

NGage_Preview.jpg

Today marks a huge step towards the official release of the N-Gage Platform for the Nseries devieces. For the time being however, Nokia has chosen to invite N81 owners to the party a bit earlier than the

rest of us. The pre-release version of N-Gage is available for download immediately and there are several game titles on the shelf as well. To download it you can visit http://forums.arena.n-gage.com/nokia/board?board.id=downloadingapplication N-Gage users can trial games prior to purchasing them and plenty of great developers have already jumped on board. Popular titles include

  • FIFA 08
  • Asphalt 3
  • World Series of Poker
  • Midnight Pool 3D.

Continue reading “Ngage relaunch gets closer with pre-release downloads”

New PRO Games Zone at Forum Nokia

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE Mars 20, 2006

Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone to provide advanced support for next generation of Nokia mobile gaming

New PRO developer zone, enhanced mobile games section will offer key resources and information for N-Gage, SNAP Mobile and Forum Nokia developer communities??
San Jose, CA, USA – Nokia today announced the launch of its new Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone, providing mobile developer companies seeking to tap into the $2.43 billion worldwide mobile gaming market with access to advanced knowledge and technical support in the development of games and entertainment for the growing mobile consumer market.
The new Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone, launched here during the annual Games Developer Conference (GDC), joins an expanded Mobile Games section on the Forum Nokia community website to provide comprehensive developer support for Nokia’s next generation mobile gaming initiative, designed to speed integration of all current Nokia mobile games activities, including N-Gage and Nokia’s SNAP Mobile solution for connected mobile gaming on Java(TM) technology compatible handsets.
The Forum Nokia enhanced Mobile Games section provides extensive technical and business information on mobile games development to more than 2 million registered members of Forum Nokia, the world’s largest dedicated mobile application developer community. The Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone will provide Nokia’s fee-based, 400-plus member Forum Nokia PRO developer program enhanced business development support and exclusive access to in-depth technical information, enabling participants to speed mobile games revenue growth.
According to UK research firm Informa Telecoms & Media, the mobile gaming market surpassed $2.43 billion in worldwide revenues during 2005, with Informa analysts projecting total mobile games revenues worldwide to reach nearly $4.02 billion by end-2006 and soar thereafter, topping $10.17 billion in revenues by the end of 2010 – with connected mobile gaming accounting for more than 30% of the total.
“Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone and expansion of the community games section shine a spotlight on Nokia’s mobile gaming leadership, from the first-ever mobile game — Snake, launched in 1997 — to the N-Gage platform and SNAP Mobile,” said Lee Epting, vice president, Forum Nokia. “Forum Nokia has a great history of supporting mobile game development of which the new PRO Games Zone is the latest example, further enhancing the developer offering, providing easy access to all platforms and programs related to Games in Nokia and exclusive benefits for PRO members.”
Strengthening Nokia’s games developer support within a common framework for Nokia’s next generation mobile gaming will add impetus to the growth of mobile gaming development, increase business opportunities for Forum Nokia members and attract new developers to Nokia’s mobile gaming ecosystem.
“Harnessing Forum Nokia’s expertise to provide developer technical and business support for the N-Gage platform makes perfect sense as Nokia advances its current and future games initiatives within an increasingly unified framework,” said Jani Karlsson, head of games technology strategy in Nokia Multimedia. “Forum Nokia’s launch of the new PRO Games Zone is an ideal example of the level of developer support that will help bring N-Gage’s superior mobile gaming experience to millions of smartphone users around the globe.”
“Developers interested in working with the SNAP Mobile solution will find in Forum Nokia’s PRO Games Zone all the information, tools and support needed for the quick creation of quality, connected Java mobile games,” said Lisa Waits, head of SNAP Mobile. “Access to Forum Nokia’s extensive developer support resources means that high-quality Java games titles from developers working with SNAP Mobile’s developer-friendly system will be more available to operators and more likely to get picked up and played.”
The new Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone will be administered through the Americas, EMEA and Asia regional operations of Forum Nokia PRO and joins other specialized developer offerings launched by Forum Nokia PRO over the past year – including the Forum Nokia PRO: Flash Zone, the Forum Nokia PRO Symbian Zone, the Forum Nokia PRO Enterprise Zone and Forum Nokia PRO Networks Zone.
Forum Nokia PRO offers developer companies access to valuable business development and technical support resources, including events, marketing and public relations support, technical platform roadmaps, discounted devices, pre-release tools, SDKs and code samples for Java, C++/Symbian OS or SNAP Mobile developers,? as well as increased awareness in Nokia channels and joint-marketing activities. Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone benefits also will include access to specialized resources, such as games-specific market research and reports and technical games roadmap.
Further information on developer tools, resources and technical documentation available through Forum Nokia PRO and the Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone can be found online at https://pro.forum.nokia.com/site/global/home/prozones/p_prozones.jsp. More information on the expanded resources available to developers through the enhanced Mobile Games section of the Forum Nokia website also can be found online at http://www.forum.nokia.com/games.
Developers wishing to learn more about Forum Nokia and the Forum Nokia PRO Games Zone can also visit Nokia executives at Booth #616 during the Games Developer Conference at the San Jose Convention Center, March 20-24.
About Forum Nokia
Nokia’s global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at www.forum.nokia.com.

Jamdat Launches Games on Hutch

Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Mobile users in India can go bowling, wakeboarding or pitfalling wherever they go, whenever they want. Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Jamdat Bowling, Jamdat Pool, Pitfall! and Wakeboarding are available now on Planet Hutch, Hutch’s data services platform.

Players can choose to play a single game or a 3-game series and maneuver their aim, power and pin meter for maximum control. Jamdat Pool gamers can play eight and nine ball on their mobile phones. Pitfall! is the wireless version of the classic title as players guide Pitfall Harry through more than 200 jungle screens. Wakeboarding features Shaun Murray and other top pros.

“India is a growing market for mobile gaming and Hutch is one of the leading cellular service providers in that market,” Minard Hamilton, Jamdat’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. Hutch’s core consumer base is the urban population, which is the ideal target for Jamdat’s titles, he added.

Indiagames To Ship EA Mobile Games in India

Electronic Arts EA and Indiagames, a mobile content publisher, have signed an exclusive licensing agreement that will bring EA mobile games to consumers across multiple mobile carriers in India.

Electronic Arts (EA) and Indiagames, a mobile content publisher, have signed an exclusive licensing agreement that will bring EA?s mobile games to consumers across multiple mobile carriers in India.

The games that will be initially released through Indiagames include Need for Speed Underground 2, Need for Speed Most Wanted, NBA LIVE 06, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06, EA SPORTS FIFA 06, FIFA STREET 2, Madden NFL 06, SimCity and The Sims 2. Indiagames will release EA SPORTS FIFA 06 this year.

ea games logo Jon Niermann, President, EA Asia Publishing said, ?Indiagames is a key partner for us as we expand our business from packaged goods to mobile content in the burgeoning Indian marketplace. They have a strong technological infrastructure and share our passion for delivering top quality entertainment.?

?Indian consumers are quickly adopting a mobile lifestyle and we believe that this partnership will give people the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of playing great games on their mobile phones,? maintained Niermann.

India games logo Vishal Gondal, CEO of Indiagames said, ?We are thrilled to bring such legendary and popular games to Indian audiences. We are convinced that thousands of Indian fans will enjoy the opportunity to experience these games on their mobile phones.?

via [TechShout]

EA Buys Jamdat for $680M

In an effort to expand its mobile gaming portfolio, Electronic Arts has announced that they will be acquiring Jamdat Mobile – the top publisher of wireless video games.

In an effort to expand its mobile gaming portfolio, Electronic Arts has announced that they will be acquiring Jamdat Mobile – the top publisher of wireless video games.

Jamdat is the publisher of such popular games as Tetris, Downtown Texas Hold ‘Em, and Bejeweled. The acquisition, expected to close in EA’s fiscal fourth quarter ending March 2006, will cost Electronic Arts US$27 a share, or $680 million USD total. The deal is an 18% premium over Jamdat’s Thursday closing price of US$22.77 a share.

Jamdat is based in Los Angeles, and has 350 employees across the globe.

via [red herring]

Nokia announces alien adventure Space Alliance

Nokia, the leader in mobile communications, announced that in the first quarter of next year, hundreds of thousands of players can expect to be able to connect through “Space Alliance,” a massively multi-player online game available on selected Java technology-enabled mobile phones through the Nokia SNAP Mobile service.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 30, 2005

Nokia announces launch date of intergalactic alien adventure "Space Alliance"

Massively multiplayer sci-fi action game to hit Java phones in Q1 2006 through the Nokia SNAP Mobile service
 
Espoo, Finland – Nokia, the leader in mobile communications, announced that in the first quarter of next year,  hundreds of thousands of players can expect to be able to connect through "Space Alliance," a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) available on selected Java technology-enabled mobile phones through the Nokia SNAP Mobile service.  Announced earlier this year at E3 as "Space Shooter," "Space Alliance" tasks humans with defending themselves from a massively coordinated alien attack.  Gamers can go at it alone or build an online team of fellow pilots to destroy these vile creatures and save the human race.
 
"To really play upon the community aspect that accompanies all Nokia SNAP Mobile titles, we decided to pit gamers against the bad guys in ‘Space Alliance,’ rather than against each other," said Lisa Waits, head of Nokia SNAP Mobile.  "By giving gamers the opportunity to form alliances, we’re giving new meaning to the type of comraderie possible in massively multi-player arenas."
 
"Space Alliance," developed by Monkey Business, is a 3D space shooter game where players take part in a massively co-operative persistent online intergalactic war.  Players work together to annihilate alien forces, construct new starbases and fighter factories, build automated defenses, and respond to other players’ distress signals.  A live moderator provides mid- to long-term strategy for the alien fleets, and can add new elements to a game in play to keep the players busy or to assist them. The moderator also maintains an online "blog" that includes information on the history of the galaxy, and what has taken place prior to the alien attack.  Like other titles developed for Nokia SNAP Mobile, "Space Alliance" offers friends list and chat, but also includes score reporting, leader boards and community news boards.
 
"The game is action packed enough to be played solo, but working as a team offers gamers the sense they are contributing to the greater good," said Burt Sloane,  ‘Top Banana’ at Monkey Business.  "Think about it – we all love to cheer for the home team – so what better way to evoke that same emotion in a mobile game than to offer players the chance to join forces?  If collaboration isn’t the best definition of community gameplay, I’m not sure what is." 
 
All of the online Java games created for the Nokia SNAP Mobile platform are supported by both Nokia and non-Nokia phones.  Space Alliance is expected to be available in Q1 2006.  To download screen shots and game information, go to www.extranet.n-gage.com. For more on the Nokia SNAP Mobile service, please visit www.snapmobile.nokia.com.
 
About Nokia    
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people’s lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.

Going For Gold With The N-Gage Arena Medal Games Tournament

Now’s the time to sign up for the N-Gage Arena Medal Games Tournament and with it, the chance for N-Gage Arena users to prove that they really are the best in the world at their favorite N-Gage titles.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 30, 2005

Going For Gold With The N-Gage Arena Medal Games Tournament

The biggest global online mobile phone multiplayer event
 
Espoo, Finland -Now’s the time to sign up for the N-Gage Arena Medal Games Tournament and with it, the chance for N-Gage Arena users to prove that they really are the best in the world at their favorite N-Gage titles. With tens of thousands of gamers eligible to participate in five of the N-Gage Arena’s most popular titles including Colin McRae Rally 2005 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, it’s time to let the games begin.
 
Competitors placing within the top ten in any game will earn points, while the top three will receive medals, N-Gage games and their own exclusive merchandise from some of the biggest titles this year. It doesn’t end there either. The player with the highest number of points by the end of the Tournament will win themselves an N-Gage QD Silver Edition, more games and even more exclusive merchandise.
 
The Medal Games Tournament runs from December 2, 2005 until January 2, 2006 , and you can sign up at any time throughout the Tournament, but remember: If you don’t sign up you can’t take part, so visit http://arena.n-gage.com and get on board.
 
"Connectivity is such an important part of the N-Gage experience for our gamers," says Rob Sears, director, Community Technology Management, Nokia. "This is our way of showing them how important it is to us too."
 
The five games featured in the tournament are: Colin McRae Rally 2005, Tomb Raider, Pandemonium, The Sims Bustin’ Out and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
 
Email and text message alerts will be going out to subscribers of the N-Gage newsletter reminding them to sign up, and users can find more information about the tournament through the new Arena Launcher version 2.5 or by going to http://arena.n-gage.com
 
About N-Gage
The N-Gage game deck is an innovative mobile device that is creating an entirely new market for the games industry. Built for active gamers, the N-Gage platform is the first mobile and connected game deck to feature online high-quality 3D multiplayer gameplay over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation.

Asphalt Urban GT2 ships on the N-Gage Platform

Nokia today announced that it has shipped Asphalt: Urban GT(TM) 2, the rip-roaring sequel to the fantasy racing game on the N-Gage platform.

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 7, 2005

Prepare for the ride of your life as Asphalt: Urban GT (TM) 2 ships on the N-Gage Platform

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has shipped Asphalt: Urban GT(TM) 2, the rip-roaring sequel to the fantasy racing game on the N-Gage platform.
 
Ramping up the vehicle choice for this edition of the franchise, developer and publisher Gameloft has really spiced up the action. In addition to 37 fully customizable cars, ranging from Hummer to the delectable Aston Martin, Asphalt: Urban GTä 2 also gives gamers the chance to race on two wheels with a selection of 8 motorbikes to choose from. Even better game physics and collision effects create an intense improved driving experience on 15 tracks in 14 real locations from San Francisco to Tokyo further intensify Gameplay.
 
Gamers and up to three friends can enjoy Asphalt: Urban GTä 2’s visually stunning graphics via Bluetooth connectivity and can compare their skills to players worldwide via shadow racing and score upload capabilities on the N-Gage Arena. 
 
"For the second time, fans of the Asphalt series on the N-Gage platform will get the chance to experience high octane fantasy driving but this time with new tracks, new vehicles and better graphics." says Gregg Sauter, Director Games Publishing, Nokia.  "So get ready for the ride of your life!"
 
Fans of Asphalt: Urban GTä 2 can also try before they buy, with a free downloadable demo available from http://arena.n-gage.com/n-gage/web/en/downloads/gamesdemos/index.html, letting gamers choose from two licensed cars and two motorbikes to race for a limited time in San Francisco or Tokyo. In addition, the demo also offers the possibility to race against a friend via Bluetooth wireless technology.
 
Asphalt: Urban GT(TM) 2 also features loading screens images of sexy girl group The Pussycat Dolls and real music from Moby with the track ‘Lift Me Up’ from the album Hotel.
 
About Gameloft
Gameloft is a leading international publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones. Established in 1999, it has emerged as one of the top innovators in its field. The company creates games for mobile handsets equipped with Java, Brew or Symbian technology. The total number of mobile handsets with this technology is anticipated to exceed one billion units in 2007. Partnership agreements with leading licensors and sports personalities such as Ubisoft Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Paramount Studios, Dreamworks, Vans, Vijay Singh and Geoff Rowley allow Gameloft to form strong relationships with international brands. In addition to the partnerships, Gameloft owns and operates titles such as Block Breaker Deluxe, Asphalt: Urban GT and Siberian Strike. Through agreements with major telephone wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, specialized distributors and its online shop, Gameloft has a distribution network in over 65 countries. Gameloft has worldwide offices in New York, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, London, Düsseldorf, Milan, Barcelona, Beijing, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Gameloft is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000079600, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GFT.PA) For more information visit www.gameloft.com.
 
About N-Gage
The N-Gage game deck is an innovative mobile device that is creating an entirely new market for the games industry. Built for active gamers, the N-Gage platform is the first mobile and connected game deck to feature online high-quality 3D multiplayer game play over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation.

Mobile gaming to hit Rs 1,500 cr by 2010

Indians are spearheading the mobile gaming revolution around the world, quietly. Consider this: when a youngster in Australia plays cricket on his mobile, or another in the US weaves Spiderman?s webs or a teenager in Russia hits a Maria Sharapova forehand on her mobile set, chances are that these games have been developed in India

Indians are spearheading the mobile gaming revolution around the world, quietly. Consider this: when a youngster in Australia plays cricket on his mobile, or another in the US weaves Spiderman’s webs or a teenager in Russia hits a Maria Sharapova forehand on her mobile set, chances are that these games have been developed in India

In fact, an Indian provider has developed three of the four games included in the next month’s World Mobile Gaming Championships in Singapore.
 
One reason for the prominance of Indian companies might be the popularity of these games in India itself. Within a year, the market has expanded from a mere Rs 25 crore to at least Rs 80 crore in 2005.
 
In another five years, it is set to touch the Rs 1,500 crore mark. “This is due to the stupendous growth of mobile users — at 3 million a month. And 40 per cent of the handsets sold are JAVA-enabled (needed to download games),” says Rajiv Hiranandani, country head, Mobile2win India, a mobile games provider.

Read Full Story [Business-Standard]

Nazara Signs India’s Biggest Mobile Content Deal

Nazara has signed a $4 million deal with Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar for exclusive rights to market mobile content based on the sportsman around the world. The deal was announced a month ago, but the dollar figure was released today. They claim it is the biggest mobile content deal ever done in India, and I’m inclined to believe it.

Nazara has signed a 3 year licensing deal worth over $4 million with India’s most famous sportsman Sachin Tendulkar and is probably the biggest mobile content license with a brand in Asia

(PRWEB) India, Mumbai, February 15, 2005 — In a first of its kind deal in India, the Mumbai-based Nazara Technologies has signed a worldwide exclusive deal with famous cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to develop a wide range of mobile phone content based on him. The three year deal worth in excess of $4 million is probably the biggest such brand licensing agreement that has taken place in this part of the world for mobile content and is a signal to the kind of growth expected in the mobile content Industry in India over the next few years.

Nazara gets an exclusive licence to develop mobile content on Tendulkar, using his likeness and name, and distribute it worldwide. The company will distribute the content to mobile operators who, in turn, will market it.

According to Nitish Mittersain, CEO of Nazara, “We are very excited about both the opportunity presented by the mobile content industry in India and its expected growth over the next few years, as well as our association with Sachin who is Cricket’s biggest ambassador not only in India but world over. We look forward to bringing fun products based on Sachin to millions of mobile phone users in the coming months.???

“We expect strong demand from mobile operators, considering Tendulkar’s brand recognition and image. We are already in discussions with operators in the UK for a major launch in their market with Tendulkar’s games, based on cutting-edge mobile technology. The US was also a huge market with over 2 million Indians, a targeted consumer base, he added.???

The license was facilitated by Sachin Tendulkar’s managers at Wordtel.

The product line up will include games, wallpapers, screensavers, themes, SMS trivia, the latest news on Tendulkar and mobile communities based on him.

About Nazara Technologies
Nazara is India’s fastest growing mobile game developer / publisher and works with all mobile operators in India as well as several mobile operators worldwide. The company develops mobile entertainment products including games based on well known brands and distributes these products to millions of mobile phone users. Nazara is founded by 24 year old Nitish Mittersain who has been actively involved with the I.T. industry for the last several years. He has been the recipient of several awards including the Young Achievers Award by the Indo-American society and has also held the post of Co-Chairman of the National I.T. committee at the Indian Merchants Chamber in recent years.

Chinese media firm eyes Indian market

The company is interested in expanding into India’s film, publishing and online markets after a foray into the mobile gaming arena.

BOMBAY: China-focused media firm Tom Group Ltd. is interested in expanding into India’s film, publishing and online markets after a foray into mobile gaming, its chief executive said.

Tom, backed by Hong Kong’s richest businessman Li Ka-Shing, hopes to leverage off its Chinese experience to pursue a range of possible businesses in its southern neighbor from Internet portals to publishing magazines.

“Everyone talks about India and China across industries, and firms from both countries have set up operations in each other’s markets, but we haven’t had such ventures in media,” Sing Wang, Tom’s chief executive officer, said in a interview.

He said cultural and language differences, as well as the regulatory framework in both countries may be hurdles, but were not insurmountable.

The firm is eyeing India’s fast-growing online market.

“I think we’re at the tip of a very large potential market,” added Wang, who was in Bombay for an entertainment conference.

“India’s online market is still very small, with only 30 million registered Internet users — China has twice as many users — and I know mobile phones are taking off very quickly in India,” he said.

The firm, which owns 65 magazine titles, will also look at the publishing market in India, he said.

Film was another area with potential, he said, despite China only permitting 20 foreign films to be imported every year.

“I understand kung fu movies are very popular in India, and I believe Indian films can be popular in China, too,” said Wang.

Tom Group recently acquired a stake in a private Chinese film maker, one of a string of investments the firm has made in Chinese firms after the government introduced new rules to open up China’s growing media business.

“While China has some of the best hardware, it lags behind in software, or content, which is not as sophisticated as India’s”, he added.

Tom’s gaming partner Indiagames, founded in 1999, is the market leader in mobile gaming and provides content for all major Indian mobile operators as well as several global brands. It derives more than 80 percent of its revenues from exports.

“It is a small company, but it is profitable and it’s growing, and we’re very happy with our investment,” said Wang.

Tom Online Games, a subsidiary of Tom Online Inc., is due to complete buying an 80.6 percent stake in Bombay-based Indiagames for US$17.7 million by the end of April.

Tom Online Inc. is a unit of the Tom Group.

Tom Group, a former Internet startup and an associate of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., posted a net profit of HK$860 million (US$110 million) last year. It is targeting a doubling of revenue by 2007, largely on the back of China’s fast-growing media market.

© Reuters