Written by weiganla on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Astraware Games Coming to BlackBerry


Right after RIM announced it was creating a $150 million fund to support BlackBerry software development, Handmark (the parent company of awesome game studio imageAstraware) released plans to launch a couple of lifestyle programs and several Astraware games for BlackBerry. Coincidence? Hmm.

The two Handmark programs will be available May 28. Bible Translations features wireless access to 16 translations of the Good Book. Ringtone Junkie is a ringtone manager that also includes unlimited access to its basic ringtone catalog.

Game fans will have to wait a little longer. The press release promises games in Q3 including squishy shoot-em-up Platypus. Astraware’s flagship gamepacks Solitaire, Sudoku, Casino, and Boardgames will show up in Q4.

RIM is obviously trying to extend into the non-business market, but I had my first experience with a BlackBerry Pearl yesterday and I really, really don’t get the appeal. A friend was missing calls because the ring volume was too soft, and it took me about five minutes to figure out how to fix it. I might have done it in four if the darn trackball wasn’t slowing me down. RIM wants me to play games on that thing? I’d rather chew off my own thumb.

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Menneisyys
May 16, 2008

When the game is correctly written, you don’t end up having to use the trackball to control the game, but can use the thumbboard / dialpad instead. This can be pretty useful in action games where “digital” control is preferable over “analog” ones like the one the trackball / mice / PC analogue joysticks provide.


weiganla
May 17, 2008

Werner, thanks for the clarification. And thank goodness. If RIM keeps developing touchscreen devices there will be even more control options (and even more ways to avoid messing with that dratted trackball).

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