Vodafone today announced the winners of its Java(TM) Games Challenge 2003. The competition, launched at Sun Microsystem's Java(TM) developer conference, Java(TM)One, is part of Vodafone's ongoing initiative to reach out to the Java(TM) community to find high quality and innovative games for Vodafone live!. More than 15,000 members of the developer community were present at the conference held in June 2003.
The three successful participants, who will each receive a Sharp GX20, the latest Vodafone live! handset, and have the opportunity to secure a commercial contract with Vodafone enabling them to see their game reach Vodafone live! subscribers in up to five countries throughout Europe, were:
"Skidlock Racer!" - developed by Spectrum Wired. "Skidlock Racer!" is a top-down racing game. The aim of the game is to race at high speed and skidding and sliding as much as you can whilst staying on track to win the race.
"The Office" - developed by Vaka. In "The Office" the player is forced to undertake all the worst jobs in the office on behalf of his boss. If these tasks are performed well the office darling will reward the player with a kiss.
"Trails of Terror - Mutiny" - developed by Universomo. In this game the player searches for his lost daughter on an alien planet whilst fighting the alien invaders, driving futuristic vehicles and hacking consoles.
Guy Laurence, Global Marketing Director at Vodafone Global Product and Content Services, said: "We were extremely impressed by the high standard of submissions to the Vodafone Java(TM) Games Challenge 2003 and were forced to cut the number of entries down to 90 of the most appealing games. Choosing winners from that number of high calibre games was a very difficult task. The competition has shown us that, in addition to the current selection of games offered through Vodafone live!, there is still a vast pool of quality mobile gaming potential to be tapped into. I look forward to welcoming the winners to Vodafone's portfolio."
The Java(TM) Games Challenge 2003 was open to any person or entity from any country, excepting employees or family members of Vodafone or Vodafone Group. Applications were submitted in J2ME format and were evaluated by Vodafone Global Product and Content Services based upon their appeal, quality, usability, commercial potential and ease of deployment.
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Investor Relations
Melissa Stimpson
Darren Jones
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Media Relations
Jon Earl
Janine Young
Emma Conlon
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges
Justin Griffiths
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's largest mobile community, with equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 11 countries, serving over 125 million proportionate customers.
Vodafone's global consumer service offering, Vodafone live!, opens up a world of mobile colour communication, bringing news, information, e-mail, chat, location-based services, games and shopping to customers’ mobile devices. Vodafone live! is available in 16 countries globally and has connected more than three million customers worldwide.
