Mobile games are a specific niche of the global gaming industry, characterized by the adoption of handheld devices, such as smart phones, to play games. A mobile game is generally a text-based game, which is usually played on a mobile phone. The term also applies to all interactive games which are played via any portable electronic device, such as from a cellular phone, PDA, tablet, smart phone or portable media player to handheld gaming console, laptop or with and without networking capabilities. The term can be used to refer to both single and multiplayer games. In addition, the term can be used in a generic sense to refer to any device that plays games.
Mobile gaming has attracted a variety of players across the globe because of its simplicity and its wide variety of options. Unlike other types of games, mobile games allow players to perform an unlimited number of actions, thereby creating an extremely dynamic and engaging gameplay. Due to the open architecture of the platform, a wide variety of technologies are used to facilitate the gameplay experience. Some of these technologies include rich graphic user interface (GUI), support for various input methods, screen overlays, the ability to multitask, the ability to create and execute complicated programs, as well as the capability to integrate high-resolution camera images into the gameplay. The use of such technologies creates a highly engaging and convenient gameplay experience for users.
As more people are opting to purchase their own smartphones, mobile games have become more popular on these handsets. One of the most popular types of mobile games for these smartphones includes puzzle games. These puzzle games are available for free on the Android Market. Moreover, several popular brands such as Vuarnet, Samsung and Motorola are currently developing more puzzle games for download on these smartphones. Additionally, there are several popular third party companies that develop applications specific to this genre of mobile games. These third party companies include Big Fish, Playdom and Electronic Arts.
The other major segment of mobile games for mobiles includes card games. The popularity of card games on mobiles is on the rise because they offer an engaging gameplay. Games such as “Texas Holdem” and “Caverna” are currently very popular with users. In addition, “Words With Friends” is another exciting game developed for mobiles that supports various gaming platforms such as iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone 7. Card games are fast becoming popular on mobile phones. Moreover, players can also easily connect their mobile phones to their computers using Bluetooth technology to play games on these devices.
The third segment of mobile games is focused on entertainment. There are numerous mobile gaming platforms, which are offering a variety of entertainment content for mobiles. Popular smartphone games such as action and adventure games, sports and fitness games, as well as lifestyle and simulation games are popular in this category. Leading online gaming companies such as Zynga and Playfish are developing more exciting and engaging games for mobiles that include virtual worlds, 3D games and the like.
Mobile gaming is definitely a promising business especially with the rise of smart and powerful smartphones. Several leading mobile game developers have launched titles that are compatible with the likes of iPhones and iPad. With this kind of support, more people are looking forward to playing their favorite games on the go. The demand for mobile games is further increasing with the increase in popularity of smartphones. Therefore, mobile game developers are having a great time in developing more engaging mobile games for mobiles.