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By Will Sturgeon, 23 March 2004 16:20

NEWS Motorola has attracted criticism after unveiling a mobile-phone game, in association with music station MTV, called 'Pain on the Train' - just a week after a series of explosions on Spanish commuter trains killed 202 people.

While the game, unveiled at CeBIT last week, has clearly been in the pipeline for quite some time - long before the horrific events in Madrid unfolded - the timing is at best unfortunate and has given rise to claims of insensitivity on the part of the US giant from others in the industry.

David Brunnen, MD at telecoms business development consultancy ABFL Groupe Intellex, published an article online last week in which he writes that the launch was "not, one would have thought, particularly sensitive timing... after mobile-triggered terrorist bombs on trains in Spain".

A spokesman for the Motorola-MTV joint venture said: "We sincerely regret any unintended concern raised by the timing of last week's announcement regarding the new mobile content and game. The game had been in development for a long time and the announcement intended to coincide with the CeBIT technology show in Hannover, Germany last week."

Less-stinging criticism has been made in relation to Motorola's decision to use images of 'gimp' characters in their marketing and on the handsets. While mini characters have formed part of the personalise functions of mobiles and desktops for some time now, the choice of gimps - leather-cowl-clad figures linked to sadomasochism - seems an interesting one for a venture that is targeting teens.

However, the spokesman said the choice is very much in keeping with "youth culture".

"The word 'gimp' is synonymous with the underground nature of youth culture," he said.

It's a statement which may raise a few eyebrows, particularly among parents who have seen Pulp Fiction, which features such a character in one of its more gruesome scenes.

The spokesman added: "The irreverent and mischievous persona of these characters has inspired a cult-like following and has particular currency with MTV's audience."