MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
With millions of devices in people’s homes, not to mention their pockets as they go about their daily lives, it’s no surprise so many developers seek to release games for smartphones and tablets. In the first of today’s Game Connection Development Awards finalist round-ups, we look at the shortlisted projects for the mobile category.
Popular business and networking event Game Connection America will once again run alongside GDC in San Francisco next week, and will be highlighting some of the most promising upcoming titles with its own awards ceremony.
Previously known as Selected Projects, the Game Connection Development Awards are designed to reward some of the most innovative titles from studios big and small, across various platforms and in various states of development.
All this week, Develop will be rounding up the finalists in all ten categories. You can find out more about the awards at www.game-connection.com.
The finalists for Best Mobile & Tablet project are:
Hitman Go
Studio: Square Enix Montreal
Country: Canada
Platforms: Tablets and Smartphones
Stage: Released
This mobile take on IO Interactive’s hit stealth and action franchise focuses on the core element of its iconic protagonist, Agent 47: cunning strategy. Doing away with the complex third-person controls and fast-paced action that rarely translate well to touch screen devices, Hitman Go instead centres around planning your move, solving puzzles and trying to find the smoothest way to eliminate your target.
Epic of Kings
Studio: Dead Mage
Country: United States
Platforms: Tablets and Smartphones
Stage: Playable Demo
Dead Mage attempts to bring console-quality action to tablets with Epic of Kings, an action adventure game that takes players through a series of battle set in a dark fantasy land. Boss encounters and skirmishes with waves of enemies recreates the action hardcore gamers are used to from larger console games.
Papercade
Studio: Hololabs
Country: Canada
Platforms: Tablets and smartphones
Stage: Released
This unique title centres around user-generated content. Players create their own mini-games, stories or adventures by crafting a series of cardboard dioramas and populating them with interactive objects and paper characters. These creations can then be shared with other players.
Piano City
Studio: Room 8 Studio
Country: Ukraine
Platforms: Tablets and smartphones
Stage: Released
A Guitar Hero-like family game that tasks gamers with playing along to classical tunes and contemporary on a touch-screen piano. Players can battle their friends in muscial challenges or progress through the map of single-player challenges to unlock new melodies and collectables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFWB62Mzo0U
Raids of Glory
Studio: Nitro Games
Country: Finland
Platforms: Tablets and smartphones
Stage: Released
A new contender in the action strategy genre where players can build a pirate stronghold, train a gang of buccanners and lay waste to the home bases of their friends and other gamers. In addition to multiplayer mayhem, Raids of Glory features a single-player campaign that introduces users to the game’s various mechanics.
