Astraware, arguably THE top name in PDA gaming, has finally started releasing titles for Symbian OS, with the simultaneous launch of "Boardgames" for both S60 3rd Edition and UIQ 3, supporting all the usual devices. The games include Chess, Reversi, Backgammon, Snakes and ladders, Nine Mens Morris and Checkers. Ewan's been playing with an advance copy for a while and he'll have a full review tomorrow, hopefully. See below for some screenshots and the full press release.

(Screenshots from the QVGA version for S60....)

Astraware releases first game for Symbian S60 and UIQ!

KEELE, Staffordshire, UK - March 31st, 2008 - Astraware(R) is excited to announce the release of their first game for Symbian(R) S60(R) and UIQ(R) smartphones! Astraware Boardgames features 8 classic boardgames including Reversi, Chess, and Backgammon, all designed with casual players and non-experts in mind.

Astraware Boardgames offers 3 levels of gameplay that everyone can enjoy, even complete beginners. If you're new to board games, you can play a nice easy game to begin with and when you're winning those regularly, select a harder difficulty.

The game features plenty of options so that you can choose to play it your way - against the computer, or alongside other players, and with your choice of rules, so whether you like huffing in checkers, flying in nine men's morris, want more ladders or less snakes, Astraware Boardgames lets you play it your way!

The gameplay and graphics are designed to evoke the feel of classic board games, played on wooden boards, with traditional playing pieces and satisfying piece movement. Astraware Boardgames includes Chess, Backgammon, Ludo, Checkers, Reversi, Nine Men's Morris, Snakes and Ladders, and Tic Tac Toe.

Astraware Boardgames is compatible with Symbian S60 3rd Edition devices including the Nokia N95 and E61, and with UIQ 3 devices including the Sony Ericsson P1i and Motorola RIZR Z8. The game includes support for English, Spanish, German and Portuguese languages and is available from Astraware.com priced $19.95.