Zeebo is still officially in stealth mode, but the GDC conference programme has revealed more about its plans, with this entry for Yuen and Rizzo's session (titled 'Gaming For The Next Billion'):
"Throughout history humans have played games. Gaming is mainstream entertainment in the United States, but not in emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, China, and India. Rampant piracy, high import duties, lack of local content, and high product prices create difficult economic conditions for console manufacturers, publishers, and developers. By leveraging Qualcomm technologies, 3G networks and the BREW ecosystem, Zeebo is preparing to launch a system which could become the world's fourth console designed to provide interactive fun and learning for the next billion consumers in the world's emerging markets. Come learn how to participate in this exciting new opportunity."
There's an official website for Zeebo which promises more details, although you have to register and receive a password in order to access it. We're waiting for ours.
Presumably someone who has is responsible for this Wikipedia page on Zeebo though, which provides more details and specs, along with links to Brazilian media coverage suggesting that publishers EA, Activision, Namco, Capcom, Sega and id Software are involved.
What's more, it suggests that Zeebo will have 51 games by the end of 2009, including FIFA 2009, Need For Speed Carbon, Prey, Quake, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart, and Action Hero 3D.
It's no surprise to see Qualcomm as a major investor in Zeebo: Yuen has been a vocal supporter for many years of the notion that mobile gaming has huge potential in countries where console penetration is still low.
The focus on Brazil, Russia, India and China is also interesting, since those four countries (or the BRIC markets, as they're known), are forecast huge mobile growth in the coming years.
We first picked up on Zeebo at last year's BREW conference in San Diego.
