GC: Konami Europe's big push into mobile gaming kicks off with Pro Evo Soccer

It's taken a while for the pieces to fall into place but Konami Europe's finally very serious about mobile gaming.

"It's been two years of planning and investment. We wanted to make sure we're doing the best with the brands we're bringing to mobile," explains an excited Florian Stronk, head of Konami Europe's mobile business department, while unveiling the company's first three mobile games – Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (finally), Silent Hill and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow – which will be distributed by Glu.

"This is the first time we in Europe have been allowed to get our hands on these Konami brands and we wanted to make sure we could do the very best we could. We're not going to squeeze these games just to get them out quickly," he adds.

Each of the three games has been designed to take the best elements of their larger, more complex console-based iterations, while in turn bringing a repackaged and more accessible version to mobile. But interestingly, each also offers what could be described as hardcore gameplay.

For example, Pro Evolution comes with two control methods: a one-button simplified version and a full control system, which offers much more depth and is designed for fans of the console version.

Equally, Silent Hill mixes the series' tense atmosphere into puzzle-based exploration gameplay, and includes point-and-shoot elements where you and your revolver are up against the bizarre, evil monsters that have characterised the Silent Hill franchise.

And finally, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is based on the critically acclaimed Game Boy Advanced version of the vampiric action role-playing game.

Mobile Deal or No Deal, these aren't, then.

All three games have been developed by the company's new Paris-based studio, which is headed up by Axel de Rougé, who previously worked on the Real Football licence for Gameloft.

Clearly, Pro Evolution 2008 is the title both Stronk and Rougé are most impressed with and expect to have the most impact. And with good reason. It's a huge game with loads of options, as well as what appears to be Pro Evo's attention to detail, despite it being a 2D Java-based affair.

The stakes are high, too – Konami is taking it very, very seriously.

"Market leadership in the mobile football genre is an ambition as well as an order," de Rougé reveals, with a wry grin.

And it shows. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is due to be released at the end of October alongside the console versions of the game. Silent Hill is due in September and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow follows in December.

We'll be posting hands-on previews of all three games soon.