November 13, 2007
Casual Games Publisher Creates
Online Competition To Find Real Diamonds
RealNetworks today launched Diamond
Detective, a new mobile phone game based on the massively popular PC puzzle
game. The game incorporates a first-for-mobile online diamond hunt, in which
players can solve clues to win real diamonds.
The competition will run in Europe
from the game’s launch in October 2007 until mid-2008. Over ç15,000 worth of
diamonds are up for grabs by players. Winners will be chosen at the end of each
quarter, with three players eventually walking away with a small fortune in
gemstones.
As players complete levels within
the Diamond Detective mobile game, they are given hints about the locations of
the stolen gems. They can then log onto the Diamond Hunt website:
www.diamond-hunt.net
and use these clues in the competition. Players can even download a demo version
of the game from the website, directly to their handset – free of charge.
“This is a step in a new direction,”
said Wilhelm Taht, Head of Marketing, Mobile Games EMEA of RealNetworks. “Our
research has shown that there is a gap between the value consumers feel they
receive compared to the steps they need to take for buying mobile games. By
tying the game into an ongoing competition and giving players a reason to return
and complete the game, outside the immediate fun factor, we’re pushing mobile
entertainment into very different territory and providing additional value for
the players. They can even try the game for free first to find out if they like
it. It’s a no-risk deal for players.”
Diamond Detective is published by
RealArcade Mobile and is developed by the mobile games studio Mr.Goodliving –
the critically acclaimed team behind the hugely successful Playman series and
other award-winning mobile games. Diamond Detective offers a new twist on a
classic puzzle game in which players must create and remove chains of gemstones
from the playing area within a tight time-limit. Success in doing so rewards the
player with clues towards the thieves within the game – and the gems in the
online diamond hunt.
“Diamond Detective is a fantastic
game in its own right,” says Matt Turetzky, vice president, off-the pc games at
Real. “It combines simple, pick-up-and-play controls with intuitive game play
that can be understood in seconds, but which can keep players engaged for a
significant amount of time as they try to create longer, larger and higher
scoring chains of gems. We firmly believe that the game’s natural appeal,
combined with the attraction of the online Diamond Hunt and the chance to win
real high value prizes will help Diamond Detective to raise the bar for mobile
games.”
Diamond Detective has released this
month through a wide range of mobile networks, carriers and retail channels. The
online website can be found at
www.diamond-hunt.net.
Diamond Detective was created using
RealArcade Mobile’s proprietary EMERGE technology, ensuring that the game will
support the widest possible range of mobile phone handsets and ensuring gamers
around the world can play and enjoy it with ease.
