Nokia and SINA sponsor competition

SINA, a Chinese online media company, has announced that they have joined Nokia in sponsoring a mobile multiplayer games competition.

"SINA will provide the winners of the multiplayer competition with a fast track opportunity to distribute games in China," said Terry Tian, SINA's network business department director. "This competition encourages developers and publishers to raise the bar on mobile game innovation, and developers located anywhere in the world, can compete."

"We are keen to add more SNAP Mobile based games to our portfolio, and see this competition as a unique way to speed deployment of innovative games to market," said Antoine Doumenc, head of SNAP Mobile.

"Based on our experience, many game developers and publishers are lacking global channels to bring their best innovative, connected mobile games to market. With SINA joining there will be attractive distribution channels in China."

Developers who are interested in joining the Mobile Rules! Multiplayer Competition and in receiving free developer support should submit concepts based on SNAP Mobile by September 24.

Beta versions of multiplayer games based on any platform can also be submitted by January 25, 2008 as long as they include fully working multiplayer gaming functionality and back-end technology.