Cell Phone Games

The earliest cell phone games were simple embedded games like Nokia’s legendary Snake. However, the whole business side of mobile gaming came alive in 2000, when major cell phone companies decided to implement mobile Java into their handsets.

The decision to implement Java came from the successes Japanese NTT DoCoMo had had with their i-Mode handsets. It was clear to everyone that if Java-based cell phone gaming would be unleashed, the markets for mobile phone games could become huge in a hurry.

And that’s what you’re about to experience today. Even though the downloadable mobile games with Java cost around $3 to $5 each, the demand is already huge.

Cell Phone Games – SMS Games

Even though mobile Java/BREW games are the standard, you can find games based on other mobile formats.

For example, you can play games based on SMS.

In fact, SMS based services, although having been around for ages, are still increasing popular.

Examples of games based on SMS are quiz games, where you receive and answer each question via SMS.

In addition, TV based mobile games (and TV based SMS chat) use SMS as the medium with which players send their commands. The TV based SMS games are typically run on nightly airtime when advertisement revenues are lower.

Most Popular Cell Phone Games – Symbian

There is a selection downloadable mobile games available for cell phones with the Symbian OS.

You’ll find Symbian operating system in high-end/smart cell phones like the Sony Ericsson P900.

The game files to download are usually comparably big and you may have to first download them to your PC, the use a data cable to get the game to your phone.

Most Popular Cell Phone Games – N-Gage

This popular cell phone device, Nokia N-Gage, has mobile phone games made on special cards, plus you can download games to the device.

The games cards are sold through retail stores.

The device is marketed at the same customers that consider devices like Game Boy Advance an alternative.

Most Popular Cell Phone Games – Mobile Java Games

Even though mobile Java games are considerably large data packages, you’ll find downloading them with a WAP browser and a GPRS connection a snap.

It seems that the now widely available cell phones with color screens, polyphonic and RealTones sounds, Java capability, and faster transmission speeds have taken the mobile gaming experience to a whole new level.

If you’d like to experience Java mobile phone games, you’ll need a Java enabled cell phone. The biggest manufacturers, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, LG, Sanyo, and Sharp, have all enthusiastically embraced Java gaming.