Mobile Phone Gaming

[Rob]

In the last few years, starting with the iPhone operating system, games have become a viable option for gamers wishing to get their "fix" on the go. This is mostly thanks to faster processors and larger memory pools for developers to use. Major publishers have ported versions of popular franchises onto mobile platforms. Many smaller game studios and coders have jumped into the mix and made commercially successful and entertaining games. The biggest success has come from the iPhone platform but as Google's Android o.s. gains more market share, I'm sure we will start to see major titles being moved in its direction. The largest obstacle in front of Android seems to be the hardware fragmentation that comes with having so many different manufactures making phone's using Android.

Before picking up and iPhone a few years ago, I never bothered with a mobile game because they were horrible to look at and lacked any real innovation. In the last few years I have used an iPhone, iPhone3G, iPhone3GS, and now Motorola Droid (Android). Games look and play good and I actually find myself using my phone to play some games while I am standing in line. I occasionally take my PSP with me, but recently I have been avoiding taking two pieces of gaming hardware out and about because it gets a bit crowded in my pockets.

What do you think about the direction of mobile gaming? It's going to become more popular and available as technology allows and smartphones become standard over the next few years. Have you already jumped into it or are you waiting for prices or the technology to meet at a reasonable point?

[Steph]

I am one of those that have to wait ... only because I am a skint git haha.
But whenever I see one of my friends I nick their i-Phones just to play one of the games on it.

I used to love the games on mobiles like that really popular Nokia one, Snake.

But the games on my phone are rubbish like Quadrapop and stuff.

The only mobile gaming device I own is a Gameboy Advance ... think they're a bit out-dated to be walking around with ... don't think I could do that to myself haha.
It'd be just like walking around with a walkman instead of an mp3 player eh.

Although after talking all that crap I don't think I would be that bothered about mobile gaming. It just can't compare to sitting in your bedroom/living room with a nice beverage and some munch by your side.
=)

[MyNameDidntFit]

Meh. Games on phones/DSs/whatevers are... meh. They're alright if you have to kill an hour or two on a trip somewhere but, beyond that, I've never found them appealing at all.

[Konrad]

I have an Android powered phone, but I never found any hugely appealing games. Certainly nothing large and with a budget of more than $15... The best games I have played on it were "What the Doodle" and some Tower Defense game that's tons of fun.

[Rob]

Meh. Games on phones/DSs/whatevers are... meh. They're alright if you have to kill an hour or two on a trip somewhere but, beyond that, I've never found them appealing at all.
I'm pretty sure five minutes to an hour is the target developers are aiming for on phones. Expecting anything more is unreasonable on screens that are five inches or less.

DS/PSP is in a completely different league as far as computing power and target audience.