November 2008
Nokia revealed that Ghostwire, by A Different Game from Sweden, is the winner of the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge.
Ghostwire is a casual collection and adventure game, where players use the unique features of the mobile device to communicate with the world of ghosts. Ghostwire also features an augmented reality-powered mini-game, where players can use the camera on their mobile device to find ghosts.
At the Nokia Games Summit awards ceremony, A Different Game was awarded the top prize of 40,000 EUR to further develop their concept. Sweden's Jadestone and France's C4M, came in second place with Melokey to win 20,000 EUR. Eclipse Interactive from the United Kingdom claimed third place and 10,000 EUR with Watchers.
As well as the prize money, each of the winners will be given pre-production contracts with Nokia Games Publishing. The winning three titles were chosen by a panel of independent industry experts, selected from a final shortlist of ten concepts from around the globe.
"We are happy to see such exciting mobile game concepts come from each of the three winners of the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge and are looking forward to seeing these innovative ideas come to life," said Dr Mark Ollila, director of games publishing, Nokia.
"The standard of the concepts submitted to the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge was very high, and it has been fascinating to see the different types of ideas created for mobile. It has been a difficult decision, but we were all impressed by Ghostwire," said Maarten Noyons, founder and general manager of the International Mobile Gaming Awards (IMGA) and head of the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge judging panel.
Noyons added, "This is a refreshing game that is truly 'made-for-mobile', using augmented reality in a different way. Your mobile phone helps you to discover and actually see a hidden world of mysteries and ghosts, to communicate with them, to collect them and to, as the makers state, give them peace. All judges agreed that this is a game they'd like to see progress."
The winner, Tom Söderlund, CEO of A Different Game said, "We believe Ghostwire has the potential to become an exhilarating and innovative game, and we're happy the jury agrees with us. The entire team is overwhelmed and excited to win this important award."
The Mobile Games Innovation Challenge, launched in April 2008, is designed to encourage the development of innovative game concepts with the power to positively disrupt the global mobile gaming industry and to help propel mobile gaming with handheld devices into a new and exciting future.
The Mobile Games Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Nokia Games Publishing, called for mobile game developers to submit concepts that will help drive mobile gaming to the next level, relying on the advanced features and functionalities of N-Gage-compatible devices, and Java- or Symbian-based Series 40 or S60 devices from Nokia.
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