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View Full Version : The Bible of Multiplayer Gaming on the Pocket PC

Menneisyys
10-28-2005, 11:45 AM
I've published my latest roundup on everything related to multiplayer gaming on the Pocket PC. Not only for players.

The main article address: http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/menneisyys/102005MPPPCGames.asp
The backup article address (should you not be able to access the article at the above address): http://winmobiletech.com/102005MPGames/102005MPPPCGames.html

Comments are welcome :)

Table of contents:

1.1 Wireless Connection Types 7
1.1.1 Strictly local connections 7
1.1.1.1 Directly managed BT and IR connections 8
1.1.2 Internet connection- and/or IP-based connections 8
1.1.2.1 Games with a central Internet server 9
1.1.2.2 Serverless IP address-based games 10
1.1.3 Examples of connections 11
1.1.3.1 IP-less local (natively managed) connections 11
1.1.3.2 IP-based local (BT PAN/Wi-Fi) games (no Internet connetion required) 11
1.1.3.3 IP-based serverless Internet p2p 12
1.1.3.4 Server-based (both locally and developer-hosted) 12
1.1.3.4.1 Games that use a centralized server and can't be used with local servers 12
1.1.3.4.2 Games that can use both a centralized server and a local server 12
1.1.3.4.3 Games can only use a local, user-run server 13
1.2 Software houses with several MP titles 13
1.2.1 Fathammer (http://www.fathammer.com/) (a.k.a. Vasara Games) 13
1.2.2 DreamQuest (http://dqsoft.com/index.html) 14
1.2.3 i-mate titles 15
1.2.3.1 i-mate Checkers Multiplayer (http://www.clubimate.com/p-397-checkers-multiplayer.aspx) (trial available here (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=171797&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B7%5D_title)) 16
1.2.3.2 i-mate Dominoes Multiplayer (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=172052&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B2%5D_title) 16
1.2.3.3 i-mate Backgammon Multiplayer (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=171793&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B9%5D_title) 16
1.2.3.4 i-mate Number Place (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=174676&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B10%5D_title) 1.2.3.5 i-mate Blackjack Multiplayer (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=172051&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B13%5D_title) 16
1.2.3.6 i-mate Lines Interactive (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=172044&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B15%5D_title) 17
1.2.3.7 i-mate Cosmo Interactive (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=172048&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B16%5D_title) 17
1.2.3.8 i-mate Filler Multiplayer, 1.1 (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=171794&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B18%5D_title) 17
1.2.3.9 i-mate Pool Multiplayer (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=172053&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B19%5D_title) 17
1.2.4 OmniGSoft (http://www.omnigsoft.com/) 17
1.2.5 Infinite Dreams (http://www.idreams.pl) 19
1.2.6 Mobirate (http://www.mobirate.com/) 19
1.3 Chess games (other than the DreamQuest (http://dqsoft.com/cgi-bin/sku.pl?what=ppz) title) 20
1.3.1 A side remark: FICS & Java 21
1.3.2 Chesscapade 1.52sv1.24 (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=15811) by SUPERSCAPE 21
1.3.3 Valentin Iliescu's multiplayer chess (http://www.valil.com/chess2) 22
1.3.4 IntelliChess 2.7.33 (http://www.intellichess.com/) by Intorine 23
1.3.5 Olmichess 2.61 (http://www.olmichess.com/) by OlmiSoft 24
1.4 Torpedo (a.k.a. Battleship) games 25
1.4.1 Handmark Battleship 1.06 (http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=80779) 25
1.4.2 Space Tactics 1.0 (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=2607) by ZIO Interactive 26
1.5 Miscallenous (other) games 26
1.5.1 Warfare Incorporated 1.2 (http://www.warfareincorporated.com/index.php) 26
1.5.2 CanTris 091002 (http://www.kotiposti.net/sodacan/) 26
1.5.3 Quartz 2 PocketPC (WM2003), 1.2 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=164676&R=164676) by Elements Interactive BV 27
1.5.4 Multiplayer Championship Poker - Texas Hold'em (Pocket PC), 2.14 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=159802&R=159802) by Realdice.com 27
1.5.5 TapzMania: Bug Killer 1.01 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=165042&R=165042) by RU0 games 28
1.5.6 CUBE (http://www.cubeengine.com/forum.php4?action=display_thread&thread_id=521) 29
1.5.7 Snails 2.6 (http://www.pdamill.com/buy_sn.shtml?snails) by PDAMill 29
1.5.8 RocketElite (http://www.rocketelite.com/) by Douglas Beck/Digital Concepts 30
1.5.9 Wyvern client (http://www.cabochon.com/zaurus/index.html) 30
1.5.9.1 Jeode 1.7.3 31
1.5.9.2 Jeode 1.9.3 31
1.5.9.3 Mysaifu 1.0.5 31
1.5.9.4 IBM WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment 5.7.2 - Personal Profile 1.0 (AKA J9) 32
1.5.9.5 CrEme 4.0b8 32
1.5.9.6 VGA mode 32
2. Untested and/or IR-only and/or not really MP games 33
2.1 Untested because of the lack of a trial version and/or disabled multiplayer mode in demo/trial 33
2.1.1 Bingo, 2.0 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=56443&R=56443) 33
2.1.2 Pocket-Jongg 4.2.net for Pocket PC, 4.2.1 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=145665&R=145665) 33
2.1.3 PopperZ 1.0 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=173006&R=173006) 33
2.1.4 MicroQuad 1.1 (http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=162529&productType=2) 34
2.1.5 Pocket Bar Billiards 1.21 (http://www.parystec.demon.co.uk/Bar.html) 34
2.1.6 iGolf 1.04 (http://www.cecraft.com/product/igolf/default.asp) by CECRAFT 34
2.1.7 Touch Poker 1.0.1 (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=18603) by Touchdev Limited 35
2.2 multiplayer on the same device (no wireless / inter-PDA) titles 35
2.2.1 Scavenger Ride Signs, 1.0 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=26806&R=26806) 36
2.2.2 Quash (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=144344&R=144344) 36
2.2.3 Mad Marbles, 1.0 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=138378&R=138378) 36
2.2.4 Reversi (Othello) for Pocket PC, 1.3 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=122841&R=122841) 36
2.2.5 Quizland, 1.1 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=161493&R=161493) 36
2.2.6 Pachisi, 1.0 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=63621&R=63621) 36
2.2.7 Bonus Dots Head2Head, 1.5 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B1%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=94546&R=94546) 36
2.2.8 Counter Sheep, Second Edition v1.5 (http://www.ozcreations.com.au/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=5) from Oz Creations 36
2.2.9 BrickSlider (Pocket PC edition), 2.01 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=124758&R=124758) 37
2.2.10 Simbsoft Volleyball (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=510&pc=list%5B7%5D_title&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=95283&R=95283) 37
2.2.11 Resco Seal Ball (v1.10) (http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/sealball/) 37
2.2.12 Resco Table Soccer (http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/tablesoccer/default.asp) 38
2.2.13 MetalShard Pocket War (http://www.metalshard.com/pocketpcgames.html) 38
2.2.14 Pocket Mini Golf 2 (http://www.momentumgames.com/asp/webpage.asp?PageId=6) 38
2.2.15 Atomic Cannon (http://www.isotope244.com/atomic_cannon_pocket.html) 39
2.3 IR only – no support for other ways of communication 39
2.3.1 Scrabble 1.01 (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&platformId=2&N=96806&productId=43204&R=43204) 39
2.3.2 KSE Backgammon 2.0 (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=628&associateid=244) by KSE Software 39
2.3.3 Microsoft Entertainment PocketPak (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&productId=44492&optionId=1_2_2&productType=2&catalog=30sectionId=0&platformId=2) by Microsoft Corporation 39
2.3.4 Exit Nights (http://www.fade-team.com/content.php?content.11) 40
2.3.5 The four games from Webfoot Technologies 40
2.4 Announced as MP games but not released yet 40
2.4.1 Tactical Incursion (http://www.xengames.com/tinews.html) from Xen games (http://www.xengames.com/index.htm) 41
2.4.2 The IMAGiNET (http://www.imaginet-software.com/index.aspx) MP games 41
2.4.3 Europa Universalis II (http://www.ppcstudios.com/eu2prod.shtml) 41
2.4.4 Ballshooter Games' Caramba! Caribbean Pirates (http://www.ballshooter.com/games/?prod_id=27) 41
2.4.5 Lands of Shadowgate (http://www.landsofshadowgate.com/) from Infinite Ventures 41
2.5 Stopped being developed/hosted 41
2.5.1 Jake Poznanski's Pocket Game Network (http://ti-news.net/jake/pgn.php) 42
2.6 Non-working and/or haven't had the time to fine-tune it 42
2.6.1 Classic Checkers 2.0 (http://www.gameenergy.com/) 42
2.6.2 MobileChess 2.0 (http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=3959) from ID Gaming 42
2.6.3 Dan East's Pocket Quake I (http://quake.pocketmatrix.com/) 43
2.6.4 Quake Mobile (http://www.pulsemobilegames.com/QuakeMobile.html) 44
2.6.5 GridBloc Game - Wi-Fi / WirelessPPC edition, 1.37 (http://www.handango.com//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productType=2&optionId=1_2_2&platformId=2&siteId=510&productId=53359&sectionId=0&catalog=30&pc=list%5B1%5D_title) 44
3. The main comparison chart 44
Menneisyys
11-01-2005, 06:08 PM
Updated the article with
- a review of The Travel Collection 1.5.1 by pocketadventures.com (WOW! This game is very good!)
- new IBM J9 bug reports (Wyvern)
- Mysaifu 1.0.6 test report (Wyvern)
Menneisyys
11-03-2005, 10:03 AM
A new version of the roundup has been posted:

- (now that its MP code works on WM2003SE), an entirely updated section on Multiplayer Championship Poker - Texas Hold'em v2.20 by Realdice.com
- (now that I've - at last - received the account verification codes), an entirely updated section on Classic Checkers 2.0 by GameEnergy.com
- some other modifications; for example, a direct link to my new Gaming with the Microsoft BT stack-related article here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&title=running_bluetooth_multiplayer_games_on_a)
Menneisyys
11-24-2005, 04:45 PM
A new version has been published because Travel Collection 1.6 has been released.
Menneisyys
01-09-2006, 04:55 PM
Added a review of Battle Cake X-mas 1.0, a decent (really worth trying out if you're into arcade MP games), multiplatform, 4-players-at-most, Bluetooth-only mulitplayer game. See section 1.5.12.
Menneisyys
02-10-2006, 03:38 PM
Brand new review of the new version of Battle Cake: http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=519&more=1

In addition, I'm just updating the roundup with WM5-specific information - I'll publish the new version really soon.
Menneisyys
03-12-2006, 09:11 PM
O.K. guys and gals, I've heavily updated (almost completely rewritten) the article. Now, it contains everything about PPC2k, PPC2k2 and WM5 compliance too, along with stress tests over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, updated reviews of titles that have new versions and completely new reviews of new games like the excellent The Great Gold Rush.

The comparison chart, in addition to the added operating system compliance data, now contains a far more thorough breakdown of networking compliance.

Anyone interested in killing his or her time playing friends should read the article.

Comments are, as usual, welcome!
Menneisyys
03-25-2006, 06:56 PM
Updated the article with:

- compatibility information with Dell Axim x51v (or the WM5 x50v) running the Widcomm BT stack – this is a must for any player wanting to play multiplayer games on the Axim!
- (some) compatibility information with the iPAQ hx4700 upgraded to WM5
- links to my latest articles on improving the native Widcomm Bluetooth-stack compliance on all Widcomm devices.
- Wyvern compliance update: now, with CrEme's TinyAWT, you can run the game at excellent speed on all pre-Windows Mobile 5 devices! A tutorial on the configuration included.
Menneisyys
05-10-2006, 04:10 PM
Article updated with:
- a brand new section & links of the new Wontom Poker multiplayer title (see my today's review of the game (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=793&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1))
- updated info & links on Cube (see my 2-week-old article on the game (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=761&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1))