Nokia and PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, will bring connected mobile Java games to the SNAP Mobile platform. The award winning Chuzzle is the first game to be re-developed by PopCap under a multi-game agreement.

SNAP Mobile from Nokia is essentially, from my initial research, social networking via Java for compatible handsets. It features friends lists, multiplayer gaming, instant messaging, rankings, and other community features. From the Nokia SNAP website: 

SNAP Mobile includes a lightweight, client-side Java library (the SNAP Mobile API) that uses a standard HTTP or TCP protocol to make remote method calls to the
SNAP Mobile gateway. This gateway offloads heavy processing to a community infrastructure, which includes services for account and profile management, instant messaging, presence, and online multiplay.

Support for a wide range of Java MIDP 2.0 devices.SNAP Mobile supports a wide selection of Nokia and third-party devices that meet Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) 2.0 and Connected Limited Device (CLDC) 1.0 standards. The number of supported devices continues to grow.

That basically means that the platform could be made available on non-Nokia handsets. SNAP is more aimed at carriers and developers to implement. But for the gamers who can/do/will have it the games currently available are 3D Pool Hall, NitroSpin Racer, Puzzle Bobble, Blackjack, Sudoku, Jelly POP, Backgammon, Reversi, Shuffleboard, Snake, Dominoes, Spade and Chess. Popcap games will bring a more diversified list of games to the platform since many of the current games are standard board games and PopCap has a long list of innovative titles.

“SNAP Mobile is all about bringing fun multiplayer Java games to the masses,” said Paul Whitaker, Head of Business Development for SNAP Mobile, Nokia. “With a catalog of broadly appealing games, PopCap titles are a perfect addition to our growing portfolio.”

“Downloads of our mobile games continue to grow rapidly and we have learned that consumers are increasingly looking for on-the-go games that allow them to interact with one another,” said Andrew Stein, Director of Mobile Business Development, PopCap. “To help meet that growing demand, we’re happy to cooperate with a company like Nokia that shares our vision of bringing engaging and fun casual games to the mobile mass-market along with a proven track record of efficiently distributing and hosting connected mobile games.”

The multiplayer version of Chuzzle will feature community offerings, including chat, leader boards, and more. The original single player version of Chuzzle, which was named ‘Casual Game of the Year’ in 2005 by Billboard’s Digital Entertainment & Media Excellence Awards, is expected to be available on a variety of mobile devices powered by SNAP Mobile by the end of 2008.

I have an email in to SNAP to see how we, the gamers, can get in on the action. I'll keep you updated as to the findings. 

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