Gizmondo Europe which is in-fact a subsidiary of Jacksonville,
Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc, announced the signing of a contract with Microsoft Game
Studios to bring killer gaming titles to this powerful handheld console. This collaboration
will include AAA titles, Age of Empires, MechAssault and It's Mr Pants. These games give
handheld console gamers the ability to experience top Microsoft games.
This deal with
MS does make us wonder if the U.S. giant considers Gizmondo a viable handheld alternative to
its living-room-console rivals Nintendo and Sony. If that is the case then we can expect
Gizmondo to receive MS support of various shapes and sizes and it is more than likely that
the console will fair a lot better than we may have initially expected. In any case a deal
with Microsoft is always a news-worthy story and definitely a step forward for the fledgling
handheld.
The Gizmondo device was launched in the UK on 29th October and recently won
the Design Solution of the Year Award at The Electronics Industry Design Awards in England.
This deal helps ensure that Gizmondo users have a rich catalogue of proven game brands, but
with the added value of total mobility and flexibility.
Indicative of the special
relationship between MS and Gizmondo are Carl Freer's, Managing Director, Gizmondo,
comments: This deal strengthens the existing linkage between Gizmondo and Microsoft Game
Studios. We welcome their enthusiasm and look forward to carrying the titles on our
pocket-sized console. Our collaboration puts both Gizmondo and Microsoft Game Studios in a
great position to meet all challengers in the handheld gaming market.
The first three
games approved for release are:
Age Of Empires - Microsoft Game Studio's largest
gaming brand comes to Gizmondo. One of the finest real-time strategy games
available.
MechAssault - 40-foot-tall, walking tanks battle it out for supremacy. An
ideal, third-person action game for a handheld platform and 'MechAssault' is a huge
brand.
It's Mr Pants - Developed by RARE, this is a simple puzzle game providing fun
entertainment. A classic favourite.
There are two more major titles in the
pipeline.
The Gizmondo is powered by Microsoft Windows CE advanced real-time
operating system, boasting a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen with a Samsung ARM9 400Mhz processor
and incorporates the GoForce 3D 4500 NVIDIA graphics accelerator. It provides cutting-edge
gaming, multimedia messaging, an MP3 music player, Mpeg4 movie playing capability, a digital
camera and a GPRS network link to allow wide-area network gaming. Additionally, it contains
a GPS chip for location-based services, is equipped with Bluetooth for use in multi-player
gaming and accepts MMC card accessories.
The Gizmondo device and its games were
launched in the UK in late October. The Gizmondo will be launched in European and North
American markets during 2005.
