EIDOS TO DEVELOP WAP
Copyright 2001 www.tombraiderchronicles.com Source: The Guardian

[ February 22nd 2001 ]

Eidos Interactive have today announced plans to develop WAP content for Nokia's internet friendly and Third Generation handsets in a bid to counter the recent delay of PS2 which has forced the software company to reschedule many of it's planned 2001 titles.

"It is the first step on the way to mobile games, which is potentially a very big market. The introduction of third generation mobile phones over the next few years will make it possible to receive even more content," said Simon Protheroe, technical director of Eidos.

A cautious gaming market has held back purchasing many PS2 titles because Sony's latest Next Generation console has been majorly unavailable throughout Europe due to a series of technical hitches and marketing blunders. This hit Eidos hard, forcing a series of profit warnings and resignations during the fourth quarter of 2000 with it's share price dropping dramatically before regaining momentum shortly before Christmas. The new partnership with Nokia will see Eidos convert it's Gangsters title for Nokia WAP enabled phones, with more titles under development.The advent of Third Generation mobile handsets could potentially provide a substantial revenue stream for Eidos.

"Today, our core business remains PlayStation 2 consoles and PCs, and that will be the case for the next couple of years. But mobile phones will become an increasingly important market," Protheroe concluded.