Japan's Mobile Gaming Sophistication Probed

Thanks to BBC News for their article looking at the sophistication of current Japanese mobile phone games, as being showcased at the Game Developer's Conference Europe in London this week. A Namco representative showed off the mobile phone version of Ridge Racer, claiming: "You now have a PlayStation One game running on a mass market handset in Japan, delivering a fully interactive 3D game." Other innovative Japanese titles were shown, such as a Panasonic virtual pet for mobile phones, which "...uses the handset's camera to create food. When the pet is hungry, it shows a picture of a type of food like an apple. You then have to take a picture of something red, which the phone interprets as an apple and feeds to your pet."

for lack of a more insightful comment

[danguyf]

In Soviet Russia, your mobile phone probes YOU.

Gotta love it

[jsse]

When the pet is hungry, it shows a picture of a type of food like an apple. You then have to take a picture of something red, which the phone interprets as an apple and feeds to your pet."

When it shows a picture of a banana, I then have to take a picture of something yellow, long and curvey, and the nearest and the most convenient object shall be....hmm, may be I should just let it die.

Had to be mentioned... NGage

[cdneng2]

After reading this article, it's clear about Nokia's marketing direction with N-Gage.

From the article, The Japanese market is years ahead of Europe and the US and Ridge Racer is being sold in Japan for $11, about double the price of other titles.

Now is the N-Gage going to sold in Japan? No. It's strictly marketing for the US and European market. The phone itself cost more then any of the other consoles, plus it doesn't even include a game. Does Nokia think the US consumer is going to be that stupid and with such deep pockets? I don't think so.

Re:Had to be mentioned... NGage

[muirhead]

1. Does Nokia think the US consumer is going to be that stupid and with such deep pockets?

In the US we've replaced liberty & justice with lawers & lobby groups. Of course them Europeans think we're convinced with some good marketing. It's worked before.

Had to be mentioned... NGage is also phone

[imperator_mundi]

AFAIK people at Nokia usually like money, so if they plan to launch N-Gage isn't because they think it will be a major failure.

N-Gage is a cell phone and costs more or less like a cell phone... I suppose that the phone capabilities of N-Gage are not meant as secondary features.

Taco

[Metal_Demon]

have you seen what it looks like talking on one of those things? Like...an...ass.

Re:Taco

[imperator_mundi]

Thanks God for headsets : )

Re:Taco

[NonSequor]

People talking into headsets look even stupider than all of the other cellphone users.

Wonder if it says...

[NomNet]

WOOO!
That was a GREAT ringtone!
You must be one geeeneus of-a-phoneperson, you gotta TEACH ME!