Nokia revealed that Ghostwire, created by A Different Game from Sweden, is the winner of the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge. Ghostwire is a casual collection and adventure game, where players use the unique features of the mobile device to communicate with the world of ghosts.

Ghostwire also features an augmented reality-powered mini-game, where players can use the camera on their mobile device to find ghosts. At the Nokia Games Summit awards ceremony, A Different Game was awarded the top prize of 40,000 Euros to further develop their concept.

Sweden's Jadestone and France's C4M, came in second place with Melokey to win 20,000 Euros. Eclipse Interactive from the United Kingdom claimed third place and 10,000 Euros with Watchers. Besides the prize money, each of the winners will be given pre-production contracts with Nokia Games Publishing.

The three winning titles were chosen by a panel of independent industry experts, selected from a final shortlist of ten concepts around the globe.

Tom Söderlund, CEO of A Different Game, declared that "We believe Ghostwire has the potential to become an exhilarating and innovative game, and we're happy the jury agrees with us. The entire team is overwhelmed and excited to win this important award".

Second Prize was awarded to Melokey which was chosen for its potential to bring music and games to mobile with advanced social networking features. Melokey is a music game for mobile devices where players learn to master songs and play them against other in-game characters and competitors to win the hearts of fans.

Once they have the hang of how to master the play interface via the immersive single player campaign, gamers can start playing their own favorite music, not just on their own, but together with friends.

Third Prize, Watchers, is a conspiracy adventure-themed game and is part of the new generation of games which are using location and context as an essential element. The game will use Nokia Maps and other real world tools to find locations.

Players must explore these locations to uncover clues and use all their wit and any means necessary to find out who they are, why they are trapped, and who is behind it all. Watchers is supported with episodic game play and offers players the chance to provide content to challenge other fellow conspiracy theorists.

 

The Mobile Games Innovation Challenge, launched in April 2008, is designed to encourage the development of innovative game concepts with the power to positively disrupt the global mobile gaming industry and to help propel mobile gaming with handheld devices into a new and exciting future.