Nokia is adding another property from paper-based games to its N-Gage cell phone gaming platform:  Settlers of Catan is joining Rifts (see 'Palladium License Rifts for Phone Games').  The Settlers license is actually from Capcom, which has the electronic gaming rights in Japan and has released an eletronic version of the boardgame there with anime-like characters.  Development of the N-Gage game has been carefully pursued to create a strong connection to the paper game and to keep the storyline authentic.  Nokia will link to the Mayfair site from its N-Gage site, and will support the game with magazine advertising. 

 

Meanwhile, Palladium founder Kevin Siembieda pronounced the N-Gage adaptation of his Rifts roleplaying game as 'Fantastic, a beautiful job.'   Shane Neville, the Nokia producer of the Rifts N-Gage game, was a 14-year Rifts RPG fan, and Derek Jam, the lead designer from Backbone Entertainment, which designed the game, was also a Rifts RPG fan.  A character from the N-Gage game, the Elemental Fusionist, found its way into the paper game; it was introduced in the new core book.  Siembieda will begin a European press tour in support of the Rifts N-Gage game this month.