14 DAY TRIAL // Making this the first multi-platform launch of a casual brand from a mobile game publisher, Gameloft, renowned publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones, has decided to launch Brain Challenge (one of their popular mobile brain teasers) on Xbox LIVE Arcade, in early 2008. iPod, DS and PC versions are also being planned for the same release date, each of them sporting platform-specific features.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that Nintendo is having tremendous success with brain teasing titles for its DS and Wii. Casual play has always been attractive but never so attractive as with the two platforms and since there's an urging market out there for casual play and brain teasers in particular, why wouldn't Microsoft's Xbox 360 gamers benefit from such fun titles, be them Xbox LIVE Arcade ones?
"The tremendous growth of mass-market, casual games coupled with the massive consumer acceptance of gaming platforms such as Xbox LIVE Arcade, has opened up a significant opportunity for Gameloft," said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of Publishing, Gameloft. "Xbox LIVE Arcade is the perfect vehicle for us to expand our presence with players of all types."
"We at Microsoft are excited at the prospect of expanding our gaming catalogue to include one of Gameloft's best sellers," said Jeremy Wacksman, Product Manager of Xbox LIVE Marketing. "Gameloft's reputation and standard of excellence in the casual gaming space precedes them and Brain Challenge is a welcome addition to Xbox LIVE Arcade."
According to this official report Brain Challenge was originally released for mobile carrier decks in 2006, selling some 1.5 million units to date. It is considered to be one of the best mobile games released within the last couple of years, being ranked in the top downloads on carrier decks more than a year after initial release. Brain Challenge vol. 2 only adds to the success of the original game so you can only imagine what the Xbox LIVE Arcade is getting. After all, it is a next-gen console, so Gameloft can't just roll out a game that sports 128 x 128 pixel resolution.
What you need to know about Brain Challenge for Xbox 360 is that it features a personal coach, among other stuff of course. The coach helps players develop their abilities in several areas of cognitive function, such as logic, math, memory and visual thinking. Should the game sport a nifty interface too, I'd say Xbox 360 gamers can look forward to getting the title as soon as it hits XBLA, in early 2008.
Brain Challenge will also become available for iPod, Nintendo DS and PC, making this the first multi-platform launch of a casual brand from a mobile game publisher. All versions will sport specific platform features.