Navigation specialist NAVTEQ has announced the finalists of the North America region of the 2010 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge, with two games developers making the line-up of twelve.

Originally launched back in 2003, the competition focuses on studios around the world that build or implement location-based services (LBS) using dynamic positioning technology and NAVTEQ maps.

In the game

Leading the way on the games front are Finnish outfit 3D Arts and US-based Razavi Application Developers.

NAVTEQ, which is owned by Nokia, says 3D Arts has been nominated for its social-gaming community Hile Arcade, which allows players to take on multiplayer games supporting location-based services in player profiles, scores and buddy pages.

Razavi has made the line-up for its urban hunt location-based game Search Party, which combines live-action player activity with classic gaming and puzzle solving – the game tracking their movement on NAVTEQ maps.

Locating talent

Other finalists include Cell Storm Mobile, Cutlass, Cypress Solutions, eVOTZ, Nobex Technologies, SachManya, Spime, Spriv, Tracker Software and ZOS Communications.

"It is encouraging to see that the Global LBS Challenge continues to attract new developer talent and inspire increased diversification in the development and use of location-based applications among new target audiences," said VP of partner and developer programs at NAVTEQ, Marc Naddell.

The firm has confirmed that final judging will take place on March 30th in San Jose, with delegates from a wide array of mobile-focused firms – AT&T, Intel, Microsoft, RIM and Samsung – serving on the judging panel.

Further information about the challenge can be found on its official website.