Punch Entertainment’s EGO brings social networking to mobile games

This isn’t actually a hot news, but it’s interesting, we’ve missed it in the past, and we’re going with it today.

California based Punch Entertainment has recently launched what they say is the U.S. first social networking game for mobile phones called EGO.

As a registered user, you play with the so called super-avatar (EGO), which has emotions, abilities, needs and an evolving personality based on your actions within the game. Through your “EGO,” you can meet and interact with friends on your buddy list, as well as with other EGOs in the virtual world in real-time.

EGO is designed to be played on your mobile phone but also features a Web component that allows you to interact further within the virtual world of EGO. The mobile phone and Web versions of EGO are synced with each other. Users can try out a limited version of the game on the Web site, which is available now in beta.

Each EGO character comes with his or her own room (profile page), which serves as a means of self-expression and allows you to learn about other EGOs. You can decorate your room with such information as favorite songs, movies, books and more. But the fan starts in interaction with other users, whom you can challenge to games and competitions like fights, roshambo, ESP battles and debates — that could win you social points. Which leads us to the game’s goal — to progress through each of the life stages: High School, College, Professional, Career and Enlightened.

Finally, before I let you go, you should know there’s also EGO Facebook application available. Using it, you can send animated messages or EGOmail to friends…

Interested? Hop over to ego-city.com to give EGO a try and see for yourself why they won the “Most Innovative Game Design” award at the inaugural Independent Games Festival (IGF) Mobile, which was part of this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC).