Halo Game to Hit Cell Phones 2005.11.23

转自：创游网 http://www.chinagcn.net/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardID=4&ID=534&page=1
Microsoft's popular Halo game is heading to cell phones, mobile game publisher In-Fusio said Tuesday.

In-Fusio has signed a deal with Microsoft and its Bungie Studios unit, which produces Halo for Microsoft’s Xbox game platform and PCs. The multiyear agreement gives In-Fusio the right to develop and publish downloadable and embedded mobile applications based on the Halo universe.

The first mobile applications based on Halo should be out by the end of the year in North America, with other parts of the world to follow. In-Fusio publishes games on wireless networks in 50 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.

That network may well expand further with the deal, as well as increase Microsoft’s reach.

Halo has managed to cement Microsoft’s position in the gaming industry, with more than 14.3 million copies of Halo, Halo 2, and related software sold so far. In August, Microsoft even managed to sell the movie industry on making a film version of Halo (see Microsoft Inks Halo Film Deal).

The wireless deal will only expand the franchise further.

“The Halo franchise is an enormous force, conquering consoles, PCs, online play, and soon the big screen,” said Gilles Raymond, chief executive of In-Fusio. “With In-Fusio as the mobile partner, the brand will now expand its reach to the millions of cell phone users around the world that make up the mobile community.”

Shares of Microsoft were up $0.09 to $25.36 in recent trading.

Games vs. Music

Bordeaux, France-based In-Fusio has already signed deals in the past with the Redmond software giant to produce mobile games based on Microsoft’s Midtown Madness, Zoo Tycoon, Age of Empires, Banjo-Kazooie, SabreWulf, and It’s Mr. Pants games.

However, Halo is not likely to capture the same kind of popularity on cell phones as it did on the Xbox. Research firm In-Stat released a report Tuesday predicting that music could prove to be a bigger revenue generator for wireless carriers than games.

Gaming is currently providing the greatest share of mobile data revenue in the United States, though. But the growth of mobile music is being hampered by the immaturity of the digital rights management technology now available, as well as disagreements on pricing and revenue sharing. For now, games like Halo have room to grow on cell phones.