EA Mobile throws its support behind Windows Phone 7

Electronic Arts‘ mobile game division, EA Mobile, said today it will make games for Microsoft‘s Windows Phone 7 and has four titles ready for the launch on Nov. 7. The support from EA is important, since EA Mobile is the biggest mobile game company.

EA Mobile joins other companies that will make 60 launch games for Windows Phone 7. Microsoft needs a critical mass of games to make its new mobile operating system a success, since games are typically the No. 1 app on any mobile platform. Apple has more than 49,000 games among the 296,000 apps in its App Store, according to Mobclix. Microsoft has a huge uphill battle ahead in trying to attract gamers and game makers to its new platform.

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Still, games could be the big hook for Microsoft phones, which will include nine models launched in 30 countries by Microsoft’s manufacturing partners. Microsoft has dedicated a hub of the phone, or an easy-to-access part of the user interface, to the Xbox Live online gaming service. Users can update their status, check in with their Xbox Live friends, and play multiplayer games on Xbox Live via the phones. Xbox Live has 25 million players on the game console.

EA Mobile said its new games will be enabled for Windows Phone 7’s Xbox Live features, with the ability to track and share scores, unlock Xbox Live Achievements, and communicate with friends on the console, the PC or the phone. EA’s games will include Need for Speed Undercover, Tetris, The Sims 3, and Monopoly. All of those games are already available on the iPhone, but EA will enable unique features on the Windows Phone 7 platform.

On the iPhone, EA is releasing a much bigger slate of games this fall, including Battlefield Bad Company 2, EA Sports FIFA 11, Heroes Lore, High Caliber Hunting, EA Sports MMA, EA Sports NBA Elite 11, and SimCity Deluxe. If you want to play an EA Mobile game, the iPhone is clearly still the best platform for that.

Other game publishers supporting Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 are Microsoft Game Studios, Gameloft, Konami, Namco Bandai, PopCap Games and THQ.