Gameloft Gets Smart Casual With Paris Hilton & The OC
Mobile game publisher Gameloft is perhaps best known for its conversions of console titles like Splinter Cell, Rayman, Prince of Persia and Rainbow Six. However, the French firm is also showing its casual side at E3 with two games based on refreshingly un-nerdy brands: Paris Hilton and The OC.
The OC is the official game of the show, and puts you in the doubtless-expensive shoes of four of the main characters. The game is actually based on an existing Gameloft title, New York Nights, which was itself very similar to The Sims (before The Sims itself came to mobile).
Meanwhile, Paris Hilton’s Jewel Jam is a simple-but-addictive puzzler involving – what else? – jewellery. Shame on you if you thought something else.
The idea is to swap gems around to make lines of three or more, just like another casual game called Bejeweled. It shows that mobile games publishers are looking beyond the traditional console or movie licences to appeal to a wider audience of players, which is a good sign. Especially for Paris Hilton’s bank balance.
