Tezuka Production chooses SNAP Mobile by Nokia to bring iconic figure to mobile games market

Famed Japanese anime, Astro Boy, comes to mobile devices in all-new connected experience.

Today, Nokia announced that Tezuka Production, owners of the Astro Boy intellectual property, has chosen SNAP Mobile to develop and distribute Astro Boy games for Java(TM)-based mobile phones. Based on the 1950’s Japanese manga character, two new Astro Boy Games - Astro Boy Game Flight and Astro Boy Reversi - are slated for 2008 release.

“Delivering Astro Boy to the mobile market through SNAP Mobile means we can bring a connected experience that will allow fans to interact with one another,” said Mr. Koji Miyajima, Media Force Ltd, Mobile games IP license holder. “SNAP Mobile is known as a trusted platform with global reach, and we are certain we chose the right method to deliver Osamu Tezuka’s most prized creation.”

Created by famed Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy is the powerful robot boy designed by the Ministry of Science to replace his recently deceased son. However, Astro Boy does not replace the Minister’s son because he is a robot and he ultimately becomes a crime-fighting, evil-destroying hero.

“By bringing Astro Boy to mobile games, fans will have access to discover one of Japan’s most famed heroes through a more convenient channel - their mobile device,” said Antoine Doumenc, head of Nokia’s SNAP Mobile. “Working together, SNAP Mobile and Tezuka Production are taking the Astro Boy to a global mobile community.”

In Astro Boy Game Flight, players face obstacles and fight crime in space, on land and sea, with each unique environment posing different challenges. Using the SNAP Mobile platform, players have access to community features, including: chat, rankings, friend lists, and more. In Astro Boy Reversi, players can take advantage of the SNAP Mobile community features, including multiplayer gaming, to challenge friends around the world.

Astro Boy Game Flight and Astro Boy Reversi are planned to be available for download in Europe in 2008, with future rollouts under development.