Hurray, it's another weekly regular, and this time I'm re-engaging with my 'specialist' subject - mobile gaming - which I've neglected horribly over the last couple of months. What with N-Gage finding its feet, iPhone providing a new platform and Android on the way, it seemed like a good time to start a quick regular re-cap on key news and releases.
So here goes...
Most interesting perhaps is last week's news about Swoopin, a Facebook app that gives users access to free ad-funded mobile games. Facebooksters download the app onto their profiles then download any of the 800 or so games available on the service - these can then be sideloaded to their own handsets, or sent to friends (thereby providing the viral element which should help growth). Ad-funded mobile gaming is an emerging area, with sites like Hovr and Gamejump offering freebie games with embedded advertising. But bringing this model to the social networking sector could well be smarter way to build an audience of cheapo players.
Elsewhere, Pocket Gamer has been snooping through industry job ads recently, unearthing possible preparations for a mobile version of WoW, and, and speculating on EA's plans for, 'cross-platform networked game services'. Is the publisher about to bring mobile phone functionality to brands like FIFA, allowing PS3 gamers to fiddle with stats and team formations while on the move, then downloading the changes to their consoles when they get home? It's an idea that's been kicking round the industry for years, though mostly in the form of wishful thinking, rather than actual developer plans.
Glu has attracted attention this week, giving itself writer's cramp by inking a vast array of licensing deals. It's extended its relationship with Activision and announced a mobile version of CoD: World At War, it's signed a new deal with Sony Pictures to distribute games based on forthcoming super-hero comedy Hancock as well as US TV faves, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Finally, Glu has partnered with Sega to handle two Olympic games: the snappily-titled Beijing 2008 - The Official Mobile Phone Game of the Olympic Games and the more manageable, Sonic at the Olympic Games. I'll have more info on all of these next week.
Recommended games This week I'm playing Bridge Bloxx, the latest in HandyGames' excellent series of building-based puzzlers (try Tower Bloxx Deluxe and Pyramid Bloxx if you haven't already). Your aim is to construct and/or repair a series of bridges, using a variety of materials and parts - your design is then tested when a train comes along and either crosses safely or plunges into a ravine. Feels very similar to Amiga classic, The Incredible Machine, itself available (and very good) on mobile.
