ADVANTAGE O2

O2 becomes first operator to add Bluetooth® multi-player games to its extensive portfolio with the launch of ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’, Bluetooth® Biplanes and ‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’

O2 volleys into the mobile games lead as the first network operator to launch Bluetooth® games on the mobile. O2 opens up its Bluetooth® games set with a triple ace, ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’, Bluetooth® Biplanes and ‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’.

Complementing O2’s existing multiplayer games portfolio, O2’s Bluetooth® games enable smoother and quicker gameplay, adding further excitement and competitiveness to the world of mobile gaming by allowing players to test their reflexes against real life opponents in a more fast paced and furiously fought environment.

There is no better place to put those gaming reflexes to the test than on O2’s first Bluetooth® mobile games, ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’, Bluetooth® Biplanes and ‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’.

‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’

‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’ allows players to compete both in cooperative and versus modes for the very first time, combining a fully featured singleplayer game with Bluetooth® multiplayer options.

As part of the Fatal Force, a team of deadly warriors, the mission is to defeat a race of invading aliens who are determined to make Earth their new home, whilst at the same time ensuring your opponents are kept at bay.

By using the Bluetooth® capabilities of selected phones, Bluetooth® multiplayer options allow gamers to play deathmatch style against each other in addition to the obligatory battles and surprises thrown in their path as players battle their way across deserts, artic tundra and underground caves.

An online ‘Battle Zone’ is also available via Bluetooth®, allowing gamers to create online player profiles, form their own game clans and compare scores and tactics across the universe in a joint effort to defeat their alien enemies. Mobile gamers with compatible devices are able to download additional levels specially designed to enhance multiplayer Bluetooth® battles, whilst an online global ranking system shows just who is the Fatal Force fighting champion of the mobile world!

‘Bluetooth® Biplanes’

‘Bluetooth® Biplanes’ brings you fast-paced, action-packed aerial dog-fighting for two players. Allowing gamers to pit their wits against a friend via Bluetooth®, or duel against increasingly challenging computer-controlled enemies, ‘Bluetooth® Biplanes’ offers a white-knuckled ride as battle for air supremacy commences.

Armoury isn’t limited to the traditional cannon with loop-the-loop, twist, dive, bail out and parachute all available to use in the quest for control of the skies. Players must be careful not to stall mid-air though otherwise they’ll be left a sitting duck for opponents to dive on.

‘Bluetooth® Biplanes’ also features a choice of pilots to play as and enemies to fight against. Players have to prove their fighting skills if they want to take advantage of this option, with skills being judged in a practice mode and monitored on a list of records, which display individual accuracy rates.

‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’

‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’ sees tennis legend Pat Cash make his mobile games debut in this fast paced, action packed game not for the faint hearted!

Giving mobile gamers the chance to test their ball skills in singles and doubles matches, ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’ also lets you try your luck against real life opponents for the first time ever in an exciting multiplayer mode, thanks to Bluetooth®.

Competing against a choice of smoothly animated characters for the prestigious title of ‘World Mobile Tennis Champion’, games, tennis and Pat Cash fans alike will be put through their paces in the fight to serve up those killer aces.

Simon Dean, Head of Games for O2 comments “Bluetooth® gaming is an extension of O2 Games' community gaming strategy which started last year with the O2 turn-based Summer Games. The launch of Cannons Tournament in March this year made use of the GPRS network to allow mobile gamers to play up to three other people at one time - another first on a UK mobile network.”

“Now Bluetooth® is set to strengthen O2’s mobile gaming community further, providing players with the added adrenalin of competing against each other in real time,” continues Dean. “Multiplayer games are proving increasingly popular, with a growing number of platforms taking up the opportunity to extend their gaming communities by offering multiplayer capabilities. A great viral marketing tool, Bluetooth® advances the mobile gaming community spirit by enabling players to try out a game with a friend first before choosing whether to download it themselves, helping to make mobile gaming more interactive than ever before.”

How to play O2 games

‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’ and ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’ cost £5 each to download from the O2 Games Arcade* and are free to play via Bluetooth®. The O2 Games Arcade is updated weekly so there’s always something new to try for all tastes. For more information log on to www.o2.co.uk/games 

*Plus standard wap access charges

Note to Editors

Some mobile games are compatible with a smaller selection of O2 handsets. These are clearly marked before a download can be attempted. Over 150 games in total, not all games are available on all devices. Games are only in colour if the handset can support it. There is an additional charge for the airtime used to download the game, this is charged at standard rates. Terms & conditions apply.

Bluetooth® is a registered trademark © 2004 Bluetooth SIG all rights reserved

About ‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’ ‘Fatal Force: Earth Assault’ costs £5 to buy and is available on the following handsets:

Nokia 6610i, Nokia 7210, Nokia 7250, Nokia 7250i, Nokia 3100, Nokia 3300, Nokia 6230, Nokia 3650, Nokia 7650, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6810, Nokia 6820, Nokia N-Gage

‘Fatal Force : Earth Assault’ and all associated characters and images are © and ™ Macrospace Ltd 2004

About ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’ ‘Pat Cash Pro Tennis’ costs £5 to buy and is available on the following handsets:

Nokia 6610i, Nokia 7210, Nokia 7250, Nokia 7250i, Nokia 3100, Nokia 3300, Nokia 6230, Nokia 3650, Nokia 7650, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6810, Nokia 6820, Nokia N-Gage

Copyright © 2004 Kuju Wireless, co-published by Kuju Wireless and Player-1. Developed by Dhruva Interactive. Pat Cash name and images are used under license from Melbow Limited.

About O2

O2 aims to enrich customer's lives by enabling them to get the most from their mobile. As a leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses in the UK, O2 offers a range of services including text, media messaging, games, always on data connections (via "GPRS"), music over mobile and mobile video. O2 is the UK market leader in mobile data services such as text, with three quarters of a billion messages being sent by O2 customers each month.

O2 was formed in 2001 following the demerger from British Telecom of its former mobile business, BT Wireless. O2 (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of mm O2 plc which also delivers O2 branded services in Ireland and Germany. O2 has over 13.5 million customers in the UK.

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