Too busy to pick up any of the Brain Age games for the DS? Don't fret, as Namco Bandai Europe will be launching Brain Coach with Dr. Kawashima for the mobile phones. More details in the full article!

 

No matter what your game platform for this generation is, you've got a game lined up to be the most critically acclaimed at Leipzig. The Games Convention, very much like E3's Best of E3, will brand deserving games as the Best of GC 2007. But it won't be limited to just interactive entertainment: a Best of GC award will be pinned on a worthy hardware peripheral used in gaming.

Across 10 categories, there are at least two finalists queued up to win an award at the ceremony once it commences on August 24. And games from attending companies such as Take-Two Interactive, Konami Digital, Sony, Nintendo, SEGA, Namco Bandai, Eidos Interactive, Blizzard, and Crytek - among others - stand a chance to tout their creations as one of the best featured in the Leipzig Games Convention.

Get the full list of finalists at the full article!

While the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are getting to roll around in Katamari fun with Namco Bandai's next installment in the franchise, Beautiful Katamari, who'd've thunk that the developers would expand and finally confirm a title on the mobile platform? Yes, it's been confirmed that Bandai Networks will be rolling out Katamari Damacy Mobile come June in Japan for 904i phones (iMode series).

The game will come pre-bundled with the phones, but owners of other kinds of phones can still download it through the Namco Games portal. It's yet to be confirmed if (and when, if ever) the mobile game gets a Western release.

The cosmic catch for the mobile version is that it will be using a tilt-sensing software called GestureTek EyeMobile as a method of control. SIXAXIS, anyone? And you thought that the PS3 version will be the only one to have it? If you can grab hold of a Japanese iMode, you can practice your tilt-rolling as early as June.

The GestureTek EyeMobile technology uses the phone's built-in camera to detect tilt and vibration (as to how a camera can detect vibration... let's just assume the Japanese have gone that far in their gadgets). Those who don't want to tilt their phone around to control a katamari space-ball, there' still an option to use traditional controls (of course, the dual analog sticks of the PS2 won't be there, so we can't quite figure out the definition of "traditional controls").

All this talk of a tilt-sensing Katamari (on the mobile platform, no less), has got us thinking... Maybe Namco Bandai's ready to post over a Katamari game for the Wii? While you're trying to ponder on that question, check out the screens for Katamari Damacy Mobile:

  

It is no secret that Sony's relationship with third party developers isn't the best and smoothest of relationships. During the time when the PlayStation 3 was still boxed up, there were some reports that Sony was pressuring devs to release games immediately even though they were not yet entirely finished.

Regardless if those are true or not, Sony came up with a decision that will put away those hushed talks for good. The company recently teamed up with Japan's Namco Bandai to put up a new venture called as Cellius. The main task of the new company is to develop games that will exploit the advanced capabilities of PS3's Cell processor.

What's most interesting about this is that Mr. Ken Kutaragi himself will lead the new company. While he will continue serving as chairman of SCE, Kutaragi will also man the executive director post for Cellius. Furthermore, Cellius is 51% owned by Namco Bandai and the remaining ownership belongs to Sony. Also, it was mentioned by one Sony representative that Cellius will also be designing software for regular PCs, handheld devices, and mobile phones.

Well, this could mean big for Sony. The PSP for example, as great as it is, is kind of lacking in the games department. Nokia on the other hand, has been threatening to re-renter the games market. But more importantly, we all know that main competitor Microsoft has been big lately on the connection between X360 and operating system Vista.

There's only one thing we could derive from this development. It is as if Sony is telling others to "bring it." And in the end, this is going to be good for all of us.

Some may say that mobile games have lost their luster due to weak technology, as the stunning flop of N-Gage was seen as the final nail on the industry's coffin. But it looks like that the said industry isn't dead yet, just in a coma. And it's starting to wake up.

If Namco Bandai really wants to dominate the mobile game industry, it's going to try a little harder because a certain company called Electronic Arts is aiming for it, too. Namco and EA aren't the only ones shocking mobile games back to life. Nokia is giving it another try.

What's bringing the buzz back? People are expected to spend US $ 3 billion this year on mobile games. By 2011, that figure will jump to US $ 17 billion. That's billion with a capital B. Where's all that money coming from? A recent study by researchers Nielsen Entertainment said that mobile phone users in six countries are now playing games more often and for longer periods. The latest digits says 80% of respondents play at least once a week and an average play session of 28 minutes.

Mobile handset technology has taken a giant leap forward. Downloading costs are plummeting, while downloading content is becoming easier. And last but certainly not least, the quality of games has entered 3D domain. EA says this is the right time to best in the market because "We see all the pieces coming together."

Namco Bandai is aiming its big guns at the European mobile content industry. The company recently spun-off Namco Bandai Networks Europe Ltd., which will focus exclusively on mobile entertainment content based on the company's classic franchises.

Among Namco Bandai's mobile titles, which have already achieved household-name status in previous platforms, are Pac-Man Pinball, the classic space shooter Galaxian, the digital pet Tamagotchi, and the 3D racer Ridge Rider. The company also plans to publish mobile content created for the European market not only from Namco but from third party developers.

Namco Bandai Networks Europe Ltd. promises increased and superior mobile experience materials for European consumers over the coming months. The company will start its operations next year.