Popcap signs Xperia deal but claims Android is still 'maturing'

CASUAL GAMES giant Popcap might have announced a historic deal with Sony Ericsson to deliver several titles pre-loaded on handsets yesterday but it caused the company some embarrassment in the process.

The partnership between the newly acquired Electronic Arts company and the mobile manufacturer will see classic games like Chuzzle, Peggle and Plants vs Zombies pre-installed on Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro smartphones. The global deal will kick-off with the Popcap games appearing on Android devices throughout Europe.

Talking about the deal, Popcap's senior director of global product and business strategy for mobile (phew!), Giordano Bruno Contestible said, "We are delighted to partner with Sony Ericsson to fulfil our promise to Android users and bring PopCap's hit mobile games to an ever-widening base of smartphone users."

However it was his next statement that might cause a few Android stakeholders to turn a darker shade of crimson.

"As the Android ecosystem matures, PopCap is committed to providing best-in-class game experiences for Android game players."

Ooops! To suggest your platform is losing ground on the competition (that is, IOS devices) is probably not the best way to christen the partnership. Thankfully Contestible goes on to curry a little favour with Sony.

"As the Android ecosystem matures, PopCap is committed to providing best-in-class game experiences for Android game players. The Sony Ericsson Xperia mini devices are equipped with superior processing power and exceptional screen resolution on the Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, which provides an excellent platform for delivering the quality fun that our fans have come to expect."

Though the software might be some way off being an industry front runner in Popcap's opinion, Sony hardware is top notch with the Xperia mini handsets boasting superior processing clout and tear inducing screen resolution thanks to the Reality Display with the Mobile Bravia Engine.

It's been revealed that the classic Chuzzle will be pre-loaded onto smartphone devices in its entirety starting later this summer. Trial versions of Peggle and Plants vs Zombies, winner of numerous Game of The Year awards in 2009, will also be rolled out giving customers the option to download the full versions for a fee.

Commenting on the partnership, Fredrik Mansson, Sony Ericsson's global product marketing manager said, "By partnering with companies such as PopCap, we are demonstrating our commitment to bringing the very best communication and entertainment experiences to our phones.

"Games such as Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle and Chuzzle are becoming increasingly popular amongst Android users and we are proud to be able to offer them exclusively on our Xperia mini and mini pro."

Will this deal have you moving away from your current handset? How important is mobile gaming for you and your device? Let us know below. µ