Upstart N-Gage game developers sought in Ireland

Over 500 people have entered an Irish competition that will see the winner's idea for a mobile phone game distributed throughout Europe.

According to Upstart Games, which organised the competition, the N-Gage challenge has received more than 500 entries and further applications are expected after its closing date was extended on Thursday from 30 June to 14 July 2003.

"We have been inundated with applications for entry packs and many of them were from third-level students who are under exam pressure or will be travelling for the summer," said Barry O'Neill, managing director of Upstart Games, in a statement. For these reasons, said O'Neill, the competition's closing date had been delayed to allow as many people as possible to compete. Finalists will also be able to make their presentations by phone if they can't be there in person.

O'Neill told ElectricNews.Net that Upstart is considering launching a similar competition in the UK later this year after receiving several entries for the N-Gage Challenge from that country.

The competition is designed to find the best game that can be used over the latest range of colour phones such as the Nokia 3510i and the Nokia 3650. Upstart Games claims that entrants do not need technical skills or expertise, just a good idea.

Following the closing date, there will be a short list of 25 entries drawn up. This will then be narrowed down to five finalists, who will be judged by an independent panel. Judges will include David Jones, the creator of best selling computer games Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, and games consultant Neil Jones-Cubley.

Prototypes of the finalists' games will be developed by Digital:CC, who have produced games from U2, 7-UP and rap group Cypress Hill. These games will then be made available on the web for public trial and voting. The winner will be announced in October 2003.

The first prize for the winner includes E5,000 as an advance of future royalties from the published games. There is also the potential for further payments to be made if the game proves to be successful on its release. The winner will also receive an 'original concept' credit on the published game.

If the victor has an interest in a career in the games industry then they will be offered a training course at a Digital Hollywood facility in Tokyo or Los Angeles, and an internship at a games development firm.

The winning idea will be published by Upstart Games and distributed in Europe by O2 through the O2 Games Arcade, which is available on Java phones.

Dublin-based Upstart Games was founded in 2002 and specialises in mobile games publishing. The company was founded by Barry O'Neill, who headed-up Eircom's ill-fated digital publishing business Rondomondo.

Andrew McLindon writes for Electricnews.net.