Mobile entertainment creator and distributor Digital Bridges is bringing key game franchises to the cell phone market through its dbigames label. Announcements made at E3 include a deal with Vivendi Universal Games to publish mobile Crash Bandicoot titles and an agreement with 8bit Games and SCi Games to launch a mobile edition of Lara Croft creator Toby Gard’s upcoming Galleon at the same time the console versions are released.
The Crash Bandicoot contract covers North America, where dbigames titles are distributed across all major wireless network carriers. The title will be available for a range of both Java and BREW-enabled handsets by the fourth quarter of 2004. The cell hone games will also be sold in retail outlets via Digital Bridges’ North American distributor, Playphone.
Developed by 8bit Games, the mobile version of SCi Games’ Galleon will be released as two distinct chapters that will follow the storyline of the console versions, which will be available across Europe in June 2004. The parallel launch across console and mobile will see joint marketing efforts, a sure sign that cell phone gaming is gaining steam in the industry.
