Bluetooth, GSM, and Gameboy

brnsurgon1 writes ""The aim of the project was to investigate mobile gaming over GSM- and Bluetooth- networks, by developing a concept prototype, connecting a Gameboy to a mobile phone over Bluetooth. The results show that it is possible to connect two Gameboy Color over a GSM network by connecting to the phone using the Bluetooth plugin we developed for the Gameboy."" A couple other have submitted this story - it looks interesting. But, heck, I'm still trying to finish Golden Sun on my GBA.

Comments

GPRS gaming

[nordicfrost]

I love my Ericsson T68i (i is for "Intercooler"...) It has the classic game Naval Fleet, where you try to sink the opponents boats by guessing where they are. This game can be played by one player, vs the computer, two players on the same phone, or with another player connected vi IR or Bluetooth. Now, this is cool and all, but why not connect players via GPRS? GPRS is based on who much traffic (in MB) you transfer so a game of Naval Fleet shouldn't cost that much. Too bad Ericsson didn't include GPRS gameing instead of just posting the highscores via GPRS.

Re:GPRS gaming

[Anonymous Coward]

GPRS is based on [how] much traffic (in MB) you transfer so a game of Naval Fleet shouldn't cost that much.

It looks like some phone companies have decided to charge for GPRS access based on time, not on volume of traffic. This is not very wise, but that's a fact that some users have to live with. So for them, the costs of a game would probably be quite high.

Re:GPRS gaming

[Rouven]

My company has developed the GPRS-based Chess game that comes bundled with the O2xda (essentially the same as the T-Mobile Pocket PC in the U.S.). It works extremely well, using connectionless UDP via GPRS packets. The game only sends tiny little packets when you chat or make a move, and as far as we have seen there is not even packet loss on a GPRS network. The costs boil down to about 1 EUR/US$ per hour of play. The only problem is that the device still costs EUR 500.-, so it's not really a mass market product. But expect things to change, my guess is that there will be plenty of multiplayer mobile games by summer, at least here in Europe.

Re:GPRS gaming

[ardiri]

> It looks like some phone companies have decided to charge for GPRS access based on time, not on volume of traffic.

thats bad. very bad.

first, it is important to understanding how GPRS works. telco's will put higher precedence over voice calls than GPRS calls - so, if the network is full, they will disconnect GPRS connections to allow voice connections to go through (this, depends on the network of course - but, when you understand more money can be made from voice calls - its obvious).

paying by the minute for a GPRS connection is stupid. the whole idea with GPRS was to stay connected at all times, and, receive data as soon as it was available; when i tested GPRS way back in 2000, it was cool to be able to ride the subway/bus to work, and, continue to icq my buddies (sad, i know; but it had a geek factor to it *g*).

the second problem with GPRS is that although there may be more bandwidth available - its a common misconception that in reality, you are actually sharing bandwidth with others. that means, if 10 people are sharing a 144kbps line, your connection may effectively be 14kbps. keep in mind that normal GSM phone call you pay by the minute, but, your guarenteed a connection of 9600bps. while doing tests with GPRS and GSM, i found, when in congested areas - i got better transfer rates with GSM (dialing isp) than GPRS. it isn't hard to do the math and figure out at which point GPRS actually becomes slower than using GSM.

the true fun will come when they can stablise UMTS. but, that is well overdue - constant delays, hmm.. i wonder why?

gameboy advance sp

[Hank Chinaski]

can i connect a gb advance sp (picture) with a normal gb advance or a gb color? can it be done using gsm? can i use the bluetooth thingie to connect it to the pc and play over internet w/ flatrate to play with friends around the world? TETRIS!

Re:gameboy advance sp

[Tha_Zanthrax]

can i connect a gb advance sp with a normal gb advance or a gb color?
Why not? it's the same device in a different case.

Nintendo and Motorola

[borgdows]

Motorola works on an 802.11 wireless gaming system, developed with input from Nintendo, that will serve for future wireless gaming systems.

I can't wait for the GBA/net .. wow

Interesting, but not really new...

[Anonymous Coward]

Did anybody notice that the thesis was done in 2000 and the last update to the page was two years ago?

It is interesting anyway because the thesis contains all the diagrams and explanations needed for building your own interfaces. But this is not really new...

Re:GPRS gaming - we did it for free

[Suchetha]

ahh the advances in technology.. we used to play Battleship for free...
Paper torn from note boook : $0
Chewed up pencil : $0
Yelling co-ordinates to your opponent : $0

Ruling the Seas during detention : Priceless

Suchetha

<and we didnt have 802.11b destroyers either>

Nokia and Sega

[horcy]

I cant wait for Nokia's/Sega's N-Gage. This will be
a mobile phone where you can shove in tiny
cartridges with games developed by Sega.
That will own. They want to compete with Nintendo's
GBA. I hope this will end Nintendo's
monopoly on the handheld market.

Re:Nokia and Sega

[ThundaGaiden]

I have a GBA and just recently bought a few new
games , I now have Doom and a Diablo type LotR's
game which are both amamzing.

I really don't mind Nintendo having a
monopoly in the handheld market at the moment,
They haven't abused it , the games are reasonably
priced and the acutal unit is really cheap

But if the N-Gage has a backlight , I'll sign on
with it.

One problem I do have is that these multipurpose devices usually have a heavy premium and some of the functions are underpowered or missing to make space for the other stuff

Re:Nokia and Sega

[Aronymous Coward]

Sega has no hand in the design, manufacture, or sale of the yet-to-be-released N-gage hardware. All the PR you've been seeing is from the one press release that Sega sent out announcing that they would produce games for the thing. Talk about lending credibility.

Along that line of thinking, I will keep playing Nintendo's/Capcom's/Konami's/Namco's/Sega's Gameboy Advance for now. Nintendo may have a monopoly in handheld games, but the market thrives regardless. Current generation of GB hardware AND games are cheap, numerous, high-quality. Add a phone to the mix, and you create a more sophisticated phone, not a better game system (and definitely not an inexpensive or universally-accessible one). Bah, whatever. In the games industry it's always fun to watch what companies are willing to try what.

Re:Nokia and Sega

[Wuukie]

If N-Gage will compete with GBA I'll be really happy. Here in Finland GBA games seem to cost about 50-70 EUR which is about as much as PC games. And seeing that there are quite a few games from SNES, it really is depressing.

I actually don't have GBA, but I sure would like to. But games just cost too much for me.

We really need competition.

Re:Nokia and Sega

[Neon Spiral Injector]

Sega is not developing for the GBA. THQ is porting old Sega titles.

There's another company...

[Kalewa]

...that's doing bluetooth on the GBA, but for a lot more than playing games. Their "edutainment" angle makes me suspicious, but they've got some interesting looking features.

GBA wardriving?

[xpurple]

I'm just waiting for an 802.11 adapter for my GBA. It's got plenty of CPU power, and battery life shouldn't be an issue either.

So where's the Nintendo phone?

[Inflatable Hippo]

Nintendo have been pushed into 3rd place in the console market, how long before they start slipping in the handheld market too?

The majority of people demonstrably are willing to only carry one piece of electronics around with them, and the phone is clearly it. That's why over the last 18 months more and more of the functions that used to be separate have been folded into the phone.

Witness products from Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson that combine phone, camera, walkman, PDA etc. into their phones in various combinations.

I've long expected Nintendo to announce their own phone or establish an alliance with one of the big phone handset manufacturers, but I haven't heard anything as yet.

They'd better hurry if they don't want to miss the boat, assuming they haven't already.

Re:So where's the Nintendo phone?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nintendo's in 3rd place only in European home console sales. But the GBA is #2 system including handhelds, right behind PS2.

In the US, it's a 2-way tie between Nintendo and M$ for 2nd place in home consoles. PS2 is #1, but again, GBA is #2 overall system.

In Japan, it's a near blowout. PS2 is #1 overall, Gamecube is the clear #2 home console, GBA is #2 overall system (pushing cube down to #3 in overall system sales).

And a slashdot story of another...

[Aronymous Coward]

GBA Getting Bluetooth

Story's about a year old, about a company trying to use bluetooth on GBA, with bluetooth hotspots in malls and other public areas.

Cool, but...

[mrselfdestrukt]

This is very clever and everything, but too messy for me. I want a phone with a proper PDA, a color screen for watching my portable 101x80 res pr0n ans decent bluetooth games like mobile doom or outrun or something like that. When will we have that? We have most of the technology available today. Why not combine it? I know some people will say that all they want is a phone that they can use to talk to someone, but some of us want something that we can use to organise our lives,send e-mail and play a game against a friend or alone sometimes..

Re:Cool, but...

[radish]

It already does exist...pocketpc with phone & GPRS built in:

o2 XDA

There are also other similar products floating around.

I want my phone smaller not bigger

[n_jed]

Call me old fashion but I want my phone to hold phone numbers and allow me to make calls. Nokia are release some game hybrid phone (N-Gauge?). It looks rubbish and I had a laugh when a Nokia spokesperson said that the it is a games machine first and that if you wanted to play multi player games he'd rather be playing poker with then than a non-multiplayer system. Me thinks I'd rather be playing Metroid Fusion on the train every morning on the way to work. Because when I am on a train in the morning, I don't have anyone there I want to talk to let alone play games with/against ...

gp32

[Cpt_Kirks]

The Gamepark gp32 has a 2.4GHZ RF Module for connecting to other devices.

Frankly, the gp32 blows the GBA away:

# CPU 32 Bit 133MHZ RISC CPU (ARM9)
# Display: TFT 3.5" Reflective TFT LCD(65,536 colors)
# ROM 512 Kbytes
# Storage SMC(Smart Media Card)
# RAM 8MB SDRAM
# PC Connection Cable USB Port connection cable
# Sound 16Bit PCM Stereo Sound, MIDI support (over 32 poly), 4 Channel WAV Mixing
# Definition 320 X 240 Pixels
# Power 2 AA Batteries (12 Hours use time between charges)
# MP3 MPEG(I,II) Audio Support
# Controls 8-Way directional pad (joystick) + Durable 6 key buttons
# Wireless multi-player gaming
# Internet Connectivity
# Online multiplayer game can be played by high-speed Internet connection

It runs SNES, GBC, C64, NES, 2600, etc. emulators, plus Doom and even Quake. Mame and GBA emulation are on the way. MP3 and Divx players too.