NBA coming to your mobile phones

Look’s like we’ll be seeing more basketball in our mobile phones this year. Kobe Bryant, 2008 MVP awardee, has a popular mobile game. He has helped the LA Lakers win game 5 (LA – 111/Utah – 104) in spite of the performance of Deron Willians who is actually one of Utah’s great guards. Soon you’ll be able to play NBA on your mobile phone ‘coz Gameloft has closed a deal to bring 2 NBA games on your mobile phone.

The first mobile game called NBA Smash! is an arcade-style 2-on-2 street basketball game to be released in Q2/Q3 (depending on countries). While the second game will be a 5-on-5 simulation style game that will tip off the 2008-2009 NBA series.

I really like the Kobe Bryant Pro Basketball 2008 mobile game so I’m eagerly waiting for the NBA on the mobile phone.

Here’s a copy of Gameloft’s press release:

New York – Gameloft®, a leading global publisher and developer of video games for mobile phones and consoles, today announced an agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to develop and publish two NBA games for mobile phones. The first game scheduled is NBA Smash!, an arcade-style 2-on-2 street basketball game to be released in Q2/Q3 (depending on countries). A second NBA game, a 5-on-5 simulation style game, is scheduled to launch in Q3 2008.

“The NBA is one of the great global sports leagues whose tremendous popularity spans from North America to Europe and Asia, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to develop NBA mobile games,” said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of publishing, Gameloft. “By featuring every NBA player and team, along with a spectacular gameplay, our games will deliver an authentic look and feel that will make them stand out from the competition”

The first NBA mobile game, NBA Smash! includes actual NBA players, and puts them into an arcade-style 2-on-2 basketball game. Slam dunks and skillful dribbling are all included as players try to string together combos to maximize their score. An advanced career mode allows players to create their own players, form and upgrade their teams, and face off against all the NBA teams to determine who is the best.

A second game will tip off prior to the 2008-09 NBA season this September with an authentic NBA experience for mobile platforms. The game features all 30 teams and every NBA player; a full 80 game season and even includes events from NBA All-Star. The in-depth management feature will enable players to manage their team rosters and choose winning strategies to top the competition.

Look for NBA Smash! this May. Both games will be available across all major carrier decks.