What is a Mobile Game?
A mobile game is a video game played on a mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, handheld computer or any type of handheld or wireless device.
Your mobile device defines what type of games you can play. If you’re looking at playing networked games, you’ll want to make sure you have some common technologies, such as text message (SMS), multimedia message (MMS) or GPRS location identification.
Or, you can simply load the software directly onto your device. This can be done in a variety of ways – loaded onto the phone by the mobile operator or installed through the air.
They are usually put on the mobile by the mobile operator's radio network, although it is possible to have them loaded into the mobile handsets when purchased, or via infrared connection, Bluetooth or memory card.
About the Industry
The Gartner Inc report states that the global mobile games market is set to grow 49.9 percent in 2007 to $4.3 billion and will hit $9.6 billion by 2001. Mobile gaming is defined by Gartner as video games on mobile phones as long as there was a revenue stream. Free downloads or prepackaged games on phones are not eligible because they do not bring in money. Different areas will have different rates of growth based on the user base of mobile games. The cost may be a factor mobile gaming is the most accessible to a greater number of people.
The North American market will rise a bit slower because the wireless technologies are not the same as in other parts of the world. Still, Gartner expected growth from $716.9 million in 2007 to $1.7 billion in 2011.
Various Platforms
You can play mobile games on your mobile device using a wide range of platforms. The following are the most common however there are other not so well known platforms that are in use today.
Common ones are:
- Windows Mobile
- Palm OS
- Symbian OS
- Adobe's Flash Lite
- DoCoMo's DoJa
- Sun's J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition, recently rebranded simply "Java ME")
- Qualcomm's BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless)
- WIPI or Infusio's ExEn (Execution Environment)
Games are becoming higher tech by the day and although Java was originally the most used, it doesn’t offer as much as some of the others.
Boundaries of Mobile Games
Heavy graphics are hard to maintain in mobile games so most of these games are in their most simplistic form. Another issue is attempting to tell potential customers about a game in enough detail so that they will want to purchase the product. You can buy games through network carriers portals however this means there is not much room for descriptions – only a couple of sentences and one picture of the game.
There are a couple of ways developers and publishers attempt to overcome this hurdle. One – they build up the brand name of certain characters or games and use those as leverage to get the customer to purchase. Two, they develop the games so they are similar to other games such as Tetris. If you’re told ‘this game is like Tetris’ you, as a consumer, will more likely come on board as a customer.
These two tactics help to overcome the assumption that gamers will be hesitant to purchase without detailed information.
Some of the most recent changes to the industry include the introduction of multiplayer games. People are now able to connect with others via their mobile or PC to play against each other.
The growth of online gambling sites has also lead to companies taking advantage of mobile capabilities to reach customers. Various companies, such as Ongame and CipSoft, are now developing products that can be played by more than one player as well as have the ability to play from a mobile product or a PC.
Site-based Games
Site-based games are played using similar technology to GPS. Using mobile hardware, these games utilize the user's position into the game concept. Unlike normal mobile games which are not dependant on location, the users location and movements are integral parts of a site-based game.
Geocoaching is the most well-known game that uses GPS recovery technology. There is expected to be an increase of cellular phones with integrated GPS.
Unlike Geocoaching, there are a few other site-based games which are in the early stages of research.
Multiplayer Games
Multiplayer games for the console or PC are usually rebranded into multiplayer games for mobile devices. But most mobile games are single player games with a computer generated enemy.
Infrared Connectivity
The technology on older mobile phones was never meant to be used for games because the infrared connectivity was meant for sharing information with other phones or PCs.
Bluetooth multiplayer games
Using wireless protocols, mobiles achieve connections using Bluetooth. The games share information by communicating through these protocols. The main obstacle to this technology is that both users have to be close to each other to get a connection. This type of connection is more like a peer to peer (P2P) connection because it can only be used by PCs.
Multiplayer Games using - WAP / GPRS / UMTS / HSDPA
Data can be shared globally on GSM phones by using a GPRS connection. Developers are able to connect a large number of mobile games with one server and share information to all the users. A few developers have succeeded in creating cross platform games which enable PC users to play with mobile players. Turn and RPG based games are supported by WAP and GPRS. A weak GPRS speed can be found in most country carriers. In this instance, the games communicate with a global server which works like a router between mobile phones. UMTS and HSDPA are faster connections and allow real time multiplayer games, though a level of lag may occur. More and more multiplayer games are entering the mobile market.
3G and WiFi
In most instances, 3G lets users play in real time and uses technology that is quicker than GPRS. WiFi users connect from home for the most part. WiFi can be limited as not all devices can use this technology.
Sharing and Delivery
There are four ways you can get your mobile games:
- Over the Air (OTA) – this will come to your mobile unit by wireless carrier network in a binary file type – mostly likely BREW or JAVA.
- Sideloaded – you connect your mobile to a PC using a cable to get the binary file onto your phone. You can also use Bluetooth in this instance.
- Pre-installed – Your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) will have loaded the software onto your phone prior to your purchase.
- Mobile browser download – go to a mobile website and you’re able to download the software directly. The game file will most likely be an Adobe Flash Lite.
US wireless carriers like ATT, Verizon, Altel, Sprint and T-Mobile sell the majority of games in America. There is more equal allocation of the games in Europe by carriers like Orange and Vodaphone and third party stores such as Jamster and Gameloft. As of 2007, third party stores had not appeared in America.
Mobile games have seen a phenomenal increase in the interest of players. Over $3 billion USD worth of games were sold in 2007 internationally, and projected annual growth of over 40%.
