New Zealand’s first text games

Media Release
12 October 2001

New Zealand’s first text games

New Zealand vs Australia in paper scissors rock?

It’s a possibility now with the launch of New Zealand’s first-ever mobile TXT Games!

Vodafone is making mobile games available to all of its customers from 10 October. Games will include: Hangman, Paper Scissors Rock, and Hot Potato.

According Vodafone New Zealand Marketing Director, Mr Chris Taylor, mobile phones are no longer about only making a voice call or sending a text message.

“People want to have fun with their phones. They’ve become the new entertainment accessory. We’ve had phenomenal success with TXT Life and TXT Chat and now TXT Games is our latest offer,” Mr Taylor said.

If friends aren’t up to a mobile games challenge customers can play the game with a virtual opponent. Vodafone has created Mr Big to keep track of the players’ points, interact with the game and stand in when there are no other opponents. Big’s character is pitched as the creator and enforcer of the games’ rules.

The games’ technology has been developed by Softgame International, a wireless gaming service company and are easy to set up and play. Contestants simply send a nickname to ‘Mr Big’ on 303, then select the game they want to play.

Vodafone customers will be able to play the games with their friends anywhere in the world, as long as they are on a GSM network.

All TXT Games are played via text messaging, and each message costs 20 cents to send.

For more information visit www.vodafone.co.nz.

About Vodafone

Vodafone New Zealand Ltd is part of Vodafone Group Plc, the world’s largest mobile telecommunications company with more than 95.6 million proportionate customers. The company has interests in 28 countries over five continents.

Vodafone New Zealand now has more than 1.08 million customers on its fully digital network and provides coverage to 97 per cent of the population.

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Alison Sykora
Company Communications Executive
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd
Ph: 09 357 5631 Mob: 021 630 782

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