Motorola launches mobile game development contest
I-play to publish the two winning games
Motorola hasn't done as much public gong-banging for mobile games as the likes of Nokia and Sony Ericsson in the past, but that's changing.
The company's just announced its MOTODEV Game Developer Challenge. It's a competition for independent mobile developers, with the aim of discovering 'the Next Big Thing' in mobile gaming (so not another Tetris knock-off, hopefully).
The contest will have two categories: Best Java Game, which will cover games submitted for Motorola's MOTOKRZR K1 handset; and Best Windows Mobile Game, which'll involve its Moto Q range of smartphones.
Backers include Sun Microsystems and Microsoft, while I-play is sponsoring the contest, and will publish the two winning games – which we think would be I-play's first move into the Windows Mobile publishing market.
Developers have to be registered with Motorola's MOTODEV developer network. Submissions open today, and won't close until August 10th. A panel of judges will then decide the winners before announcing them in Autumn. For more details, check the official contest website.
Hey, maybe they'll decide to get a top mobile games review site on board... *tries to strike knowledgeable pose*. (Surely 'pout'? – Ed). Motorola could also do with making a more game-friendly we phone – we weren't convinced by the gaming potential of the new MOTORAZR maxx, which we reviewed earlier this week.