Games for cell phones are growing in popularity and sophistication with every improvement in the multi-dimensional graphics technology and memory configuration of mobile handsets. The entertainment value of cell phones cannot be overstated.
A free boxing game for cell phones is pitting political heavyweights against one another in a virtual ring. The Mobile Ring by Cellufun has something for everyone - Democrats, Republicans or Independents.
You can play the game as any of the presidential election contenders. To download the free game, point to The Mobile Ring - WAP on your phone’s browser. Or, visit The Mobile Ring from your PC. And, catch this video of the "trash talking" candidates.
Other Cellufun free games for mobile phones include Call of the Pharaoh, Space Wars, MobilePet myPhone, as well as downloadable games Chess, Sudoku, The Battle for Orion’s Belt and Why Chicken Why.
World of Warcraft Goes Mobile
A plug-in for GoWare's DoMo HomePage personalized mobile portal allows players of the popular World of Warcraft MMORPG to access and share WoW character data via mobile phone. Players automatically load their WoW character into their DoMo HomePage, then when friends ask about their character, players have the answer right on their cell phones.
Through the DoMo HomePage Snapshot feature, players can even send character content via text messaging. DoMo HomePage is available as part of a free beta trial.
Video-Enhanced Mobile Game Plays
The DVD game Scene It? Movie Edition is mobile. Namco Networks and Sprint say it is the first mobile game to integrate video clips into the game play in North America. Featuring trivia categories like Invisibles, Take 3 and Rising Star, Scene It? Movie Edition lets you relive great Hollywood movie moments with text, audio and video questions. For a free demo text "movie" to 26262 on your Sprint or Nextel cell phone.
Bling For Your Mobile Game Skills
Sennari is leading the charge in a new trend in games for cell phones - rewards programs for your gaming skills. The company's PrizePlay is a suite of pay-per-play games that lets you accumulate and redeem prizes to encourage repeat play and customer loyalty.
PrizePlay includes titles like Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Triple Towers (Solitaire), Mahjong, Star Trek, Poker Battle and Goldenballs (Pachinko). T-Mobile offers the gaming service; it is also available through Amp'd Mobile, Ericsson, Hasbro, Verizon Wireless and others.
A series of cell phone games based on The Da Vinci Code movie is available worldwide through mobile carriers in more than 70 countries.
Blaze Entertainment's release of the movie-based mobile games covers a number of different genres and player demographics.
According to Blaze, The Da Vinci Code Helix and The Da Vinci Code Light Puzzle offer simple, engaging puzzle-type game play, while The Quest Begins and The Da Vinci Code 3D offer a more in-depth challenge.
"By providing a number of different games and styles, we are giving every single mobile phone owner the chance to interact with and enjoy The Da Vinci Code on their handsets, whether they're new to the concept of mobile gaming, or an experienced videogame player," said Keith McCurdy, president and CEO of Blaze.
The Gorillaz Entertainment System is an exclusive arcade game title from RealNetworks. It captures the irreverent nature and irresistible charm of Gorillaz, the world's first cartoon band and Grammy-winning group.
The title features four easy-to-grasp, mini-games based on each of Gorillaz' band members; 2D, Noodle, Murdoc and Russel. The graphic elements are a unique blend of retro "arcade style" games and the utterly contemporary Gorillaz artwork. Click here for more.
In-Stat/MDR forecasts that mobile gaming users will increase from an estimated 10.6 million in 2003 to 78.6 million in 2009, and game downloads are expected to grow from 40.2 million in 2003 to 648.3 million by 2009.
According to M:Metrics mobile consumption data, 48 percent of the games for cell phones offered by carriers are sports and action/adventure titles. Arcade puzzle games like Tetris and card games, which are universally popular, account for 10 percent.
More than ever, cell phones and mobile games are intertwinned. Looking at some cell phones, you can't help wondering - is this a phone or is it a gaming console?
That's a good question for the Nokia N-Gage QD, one of the best cell phones for gaming. But, with cell phones like these, let the games begin.
Sometimes you want to call your friends to talk, but sometimes you just want to challenge them to a game showdown - over the cell phone. That's what Nokia had in mind with N-Gage, the first cell phone designed primarily for gaming and phoning.
Driving the trend of realistic 3D games for cell phones is Golf Club 3D by InfoSpace. This game features real-time 3D animation, realistic environments and customizable players to deliver a complete and fully interactive golfing experience for mobile gamers.
Golf Club 3D allows mobile phone customers to hit the links, playing through an 18-hole golf course in both single player and multiplayer modes. The 3D course graphics include sand traps, rough, waterways, fairways and greens that change the behavior of the ball, giving players a most realistic golf experience.
The game is complete with weather effects and five unique camera views that allow players to witness the game from all angles. Players are also given the option to customize a player's appearance and receive detailed player statistics to further enhance their gaming experience.
In a big boost for mobile entertainment, Wimbledon's officially licensed cell phone tennis game, Wimbledon 2006, is available in North America and Europe. Mobile carrier Cingular offers Wimbledon 2006 in its lineup of games for cell phones.
Like it's predecessor - Wimbledon 2005, the latest game offers a realistic virtual tennis experience for cell phone players. Players can adjust the velocity of their serves, attack the net, and add spin to their shots.
The Wimbledon 2006 game is compatible with select mobile phones by Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Visit Pixiem for more details.
