New Mobile Gaming Platform — EGE

In-Fusio LogoIn-Fusio has announced the launch of its new Entertainment and Gaming Extensions (EGE) platform. It seems to be middleware that offers customers are common user interface for games and developers the opportunity to avoid porting the game to as many different handsets. The press release also talks about the ability to “seamlessly integrate viral marketing programmes in a non-intrusive way” and that it “represents a unique opportunity for publishers to quickly and efficiently launch mobile games profitably”.
“Thanks to the massive sales success of Java handsets worldwide and to EGE’s unique user features, we will perform even better than we did with IN-FUSIO’s first game solution, ExEn, launched in 2001,” said In-Fusio’s CEO Gilles Raymond. “It is expected to reach a penetration rate over 65% among users, increase the gamers’ average spend by up to 5 times, and increase users loyalty over a period of months.”
Obviously some big claims, which you would expect in a press release. EGE adds to the capabilities of MIDP 2.0 gaming APIs in the following ways:

  • “Real-time” multi-player functionality (not available on initial handsets)
  • Enhanced 3D game play (not available on initial handsets)
  • Recommend a game to a friend
  • Try and buy
  • Simplified user interface for easy game play: direct access through a dedicated key (different according to handsets), dedicated game menu, etc.

Orange is launching the system first in France and the UK with four Java handsets from LG and Sagem, with Philips also signed up to produce a handset with EGE on it.
The initial game launch is pretty impressive, with Star Wars III, Midtown Madness 3 Mobile, Terminator – I’m back and Zoo Tycoon 2 Mobile, among others. One of the other games is “It’s Mr Pants” which I’m very curious about…
There’s been some discussion as to whether middleware is necessary on mobiles, but if it adds value I think there’s a space for it. Of course, whether it’s successful depends on other matters as well.

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