Windows Phone Thoughts: NCsoft Exploring Possibilities of Mobile Gameplay

"Publisher NCsoft has revealed it is currently exploring the possibilities of expanding its online focus through next-generation home consoles, handhelds and mobile phones. Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, European director of products Thomas Bidaux revealed ambitions to develop games that will play across multiple formats. "The holy grail of gaming is a game that plays across as many platforms as possible," revealed Bidaux. "It's not about making a great game on PC and a great game on console. It's about making a great game that you can play on PC or console, and then incorporate your mobile phone to expand the whole universe - the longer the player can keep the world with him, the more he'll stay in the game universe."



NCsoft, a master of MMOs in this day and age (if you're a Guild Wars player, feel free to ping me with your in-game name ;)), is exploring the possibility of expanding the MMO universe to consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. While NCsoft admits that a full MMO on a mobile device could be hard to execute, the implementation of mobile auction houses and a character creation interface is certainly not out of the question. It will be interesting to see where NCsoft takes this concept in the years ahead. Combined with Microsoft's Live Anywhere, and we'll soon see mobile devices enter a whole new era of gaming.