Video gamers worldwide reveled at the new products and titles premiering at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) video game trade show in Los Angeles, and wireless players shared in the enthusiasm. Indeed, wireless was a prevalent theme at the show, with players from Nokia Corp. to Sprint PCS to Nintendo announcing products and services using wireless technology.
Notable in the rash of news from the show was video-game veteran Nintendo, which said its newest handheld gaming device will include support for Wi-Fi networks. The connection, which works over 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary battery-saving protocol, supports multiplayer features and even wireless game sharing. Nintendo said the device, dubbed the Nintendo DS, will ship by the end of the year in the United States.
Not to be outdone, Sony Corp. said its new handheld gaming device, the PSP, will also feature Wi-Fi connections for multiplayer gaming. Sony said the device will ship early next year in the United States.
In other news:
- Nokia continued to trumpet its N-Gage mobile-phone/video-game device with plans for eight additional game titles from the likes of Capcom and Atari. Nokia recently updated its N-Gage platform to include improved phone and game use.
- Video game company Square Enix said it will sell wireless games through Sprint, including those based on its “Final Fantasy” and “Dragon Quest” brands. The move comes as Sprint continues to promote its wireless games portfolio.
- Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. boasted of its focus on wireless games in both its handsets and services and said it plans to announce additional sponsorships in gaming, music and extreme sports throughout the year.
- Wireless entertainment publisher Mforma said it scored the license to Atari Interactive’s “Milton Bradley” and “Parker Brothers” brands and will distribute wireless versions of “Connect Four,” “Checkers” and others. Mforma said the move is an effort to target gaming audiences beyond the young male demographic. Mforma also said it will sell a multiplayer Poker game that will allow four players to simultaneously compete against each other over Sprint’s network.
- Finally, European gaming company Digital Bridges made a series of major announcements, including new games and licensing deals with the likes of TKO Software Inc., MGM and Vivendi Universal.
