Define "Wireless Games," Please

[Brad Adrian]

<a href="http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/19404.html">http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/19404.html</a><br /><br />Here's an article from WirelessNewsFactor that seems to be following the market-wide mantra that wireless games will be the savior that wireless carriers have been looking for. It's an interesting piece and it does a fairly good job of bringing up many of the issues surrounding "wireless games."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/newsfactor.gif" /><br /><br />One thing that kind of bothers me, though, is that I think it confuses a couple of concepts: wireless games and wireless gaming. To me, "wireless games" refers to the ability to download and play games on a wireless device like a PDA or handset. To me, "wireless gaming" refers to the ability to actually play games or gamble while connected wirelessly, either against a computer or fellow gameplayer. I feel pretty confident that there is significant opportunity for a wireless carrier that can offer compelling content like games for me to play on my handset; I'd pay a few bucks for a well-written Tetris clone. <br /><br />But, if a wireless carrier REALLY wants to get me to pony up some money, it should focus on creating a handset-based game that I can play with my friends no matter where we are. That way, I pay for the game AND I pay for the databits used while playing. Granted, the price points would have to be right, but this kind of stuff could capture a lot of interest.<br /><br />What about you? Would you play games wirelessly on your Pocket PC against your buddies or a computer (if the price were right)? Would you do it on a wireless handset? Other than careful pricing, what would a carrier have to do to get you interested?

[kaiden.1]

I am a big Games fan.... believe me. I spend a lot of my personal time on gaming and love it. I think to myself.... would I spend time and money with a gaming internet provider? I really don't think so. It takes the personalization out of gaming. You don't feel that you own or really control anything. What would the rules be? Could I have just as much fun or better fun on my home network, or playing with my X- Box? What a big Question? :roll: I don't think it will cause people to flock to the internet. I think that maybe we are putting all of our eggs in one basket with that one!

[PlayAgain?]

I am very uncomfortable with the idea of paying to play games for a fixed time so that (for example), the gane you just downloaded is playable for a month and then expires. To quote the previous poster, you don't feel that you own or really control anything.

Also, if wireless games is simply games that are downloaded wirelessly, then I've been using wired virus checkers, wired compression tools, wired graphics applications and wired all sorts of other applications because I downloaded them.....

I think they're just playing on the download novelty factor and not on the sophistication of the software that's actually available. I mean, I just bought Crazy Taxi in a computer shop, I don't think of it as a 'Shopped Game', just a (very excellent and I'm glad it came out on the PC) game!

[Andy Sjostrom]

Internet. Wireless gaming. Multiplayer. Head-to-head. Internet. PDA. Graphics. Same game. Desktop PC. Saved game. Internet. Pay to download. Pay to play. Internet. Graphics. Desktop PC. Same game. Smartphone. Internet.

[JonnoB]

I like many millions of others used to pay $.25 to play our favorite arcade game. If a similar model were adopted for good games, others may pay. It would be just tacked onto your monthly mobile phone bill. A dumb remake of PacMan however won't cut it. Multiplayer online gaming where you are competing against others will (IMHO)

[rubberdemon]

For the right games, I'd be very interested.

Look at all the people who play chess, hearts, bridge, poker, scrabble, boggle etc. online with strangers. I'm sure these sorts of games would be very bandwidth friendly (pretty much like IM traffic), and very addictive, as well as working well on the small screen of a Pocket PC vs the dubious playablity of a FPS. Oh, and of course RTS games could do very well, especially if you could connect in different ways to a world in which you already exist using your PC (pocket Ultima Online for example), and are already addicted. A brand new game that worked on PCs, wireless pocket/palms and cell phones as well, in different ways, might be a real hit once the critical mass of users are out there.

[kinged]

I want bluetooth games.

I think it will be cool to play with someone in a room during a meeting.

[schergr]

I think that I would pay for something like this if the games were compelling enough. I'd like to see something that is very dynamic and factors presence (of friends) & location awareness to build a very rich experience. It doesn't even have to be about graphics. A game such as Majestic, adapted for mobility would be amazing IMHO.

- greg