Nokia has announced that Tezuka Productions, the owner of Astro Boy, has chosen to develop and distribute Astro Boy games for Java-based mobile phones through

For Nokia’s SNAP mobile. The companies plan to release two new Astro Boy games, Astro Boy Game Flight and Astro Boy Reversi, based on a 1950’s Japanese character, in 2008.

Astro Boy was created by the famous Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka. He is the powerful robot boy designed by the Ministry of Science to replace the Minister’s dead son. Although he fails to take the place of the Minister’s son, he turns out to be a great hero who fights and triumphs evil.

“We can bring about an experience of unity around the globe by delivering Astro Boy to the mobile market through SNAP Mobile,” said Mr. Koji Miyajima, Media Force Ltd, Mobile games IP license holder. “SNAP Mobile is a trusted platform with a global reach, and we are certain that we have chosen the right method to deliver Osamu Tezuka’s prized creation.”

“Users will now be able to discover one of Japan’s most renowned heroes through a convenient channel—their mobile device,” said Antoine Doumenc, head of Nokia’s SNAP mobile. “SNAP Mobile and Tezuka Production will now work together to take Astro Boy to a global mobile community.”

The players of Astro Boy Game Flight will have to face numerous obstacles to fight evil in space, in the sea, and on land. Each of the three environments poses different types of challenges. The players of Astro Boy Reversi can make use of SNAP Mobile’s community features, such as chat, rankings, friend lists, and so on, to challenge friends around the globe to play with them.

Astro Boy Game Flight and Astro Boy Reversi are scheduled to be available for download in Europe in 2008.

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