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The Rise of Casual and Mobile Gaming

HardcoreGamer writes "The New York Times has a lengthy article about the simple pleasures and growth of casual mobile gaming. Trends show that 'more and more people are playing simpler, quieter types of electronic games on the Web, cellphones and hand-helds.' The growth in lighter, less time- and resource-intensive games (like those by GameLoft, Jamdat, and WildTangent) is spurred by the ability to play anytime, anywhere, as much as the rising development costs and production times for a traditional game. A wireless game can cost $40,000 and take a few months to develop, while full-fledged PC and console games can cost $5 million to $10 million and take years to deliver."

21 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. too busy.. by itallushrt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn I was too busy playing Ms. Pacman on my phone to realize that I just missed first post.

    Maybe next time.

  2. Of course in Greece... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do they still arrest people for playing cell-phone games over there? Or did that crap stop after a few politicians were found hanging from the streetlights? Not that I had anything to do with that, I wasn't even in the counrty that weekend. Honest.

  3. and... by cybercuzco · · Score: 4, Funny

    And development of a TI-8x game can take several study halls to develop and cost six cans of mountain dew and a bag of skittles.

    --

  4. It's true by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 2, Funny

    I built myself a nice 2ghz system - and bought myself a dell Axim - I find myself gaming more often with the free Missle command program than I do with all my other software.

    I DID spend a few hundred dollars when I was a kid playing the game - and this version is better than the atari's version of missle command.

    I hadn't noticed I was doing so till this article got posted. Thanks for pointing out my 260.00 Axim is entertaining me more than my thousand dollar computer ;/

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
  5. simpler games by niko9 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The game I like to play didn't cost anybody a dime to develop, has been passed down from generation to generation, and when finished, provides ample amounts of satisfaction.

    It's called... Spank The Monkey

    "Son! Don't do that, you'll go blind!"
    "Dad...I'm over here..."

    1. Re:simpler games by bad_fx · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not to mention the endless replay value...

    2. Re:simpler games by fobbman · · Score: 4, Funny

      If you like that, you'll love the multi-player mode! Just know that the offers that you'll get in email for "expansion packs" aren't legit.

    3. Re:simpler games by Suicide · · Score: 4, Funny

      Heck, with the right girl(s), it's even multiplayer...

      Eh, who am I kidding. You just keep enjoying the single player mode.

  6. Re:Simple Games are Fun by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's a secret? In that case, you may be interested to know that you can also hide behind the shields. That way the enemy fire can't destroy your ship. ;)

  7. Ti-8x games by brilinux · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, well, try writing one in RPN on your
    HP-48gx. That'll take at least 24 Dr. Peppers/
    Mountain Dews and 3 bags of Skittles. But, in
    the end it is rewarding, because no one else can
    play it and the best you can do is a stupid guess
    the number game without killing yourself. So you
    get bored and turn on the TV in the lecture hall
    with your IR port. Oh, well.

  8. Nokia says: "It's all lies!" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Portable gamming is going downhill because of its unhip-ness. Can you picture a 25-year-old pulling out a Game Boy while waiting in line for something? Oh yeah, buy the N-Gage instead. It's cool.

  9. Not for me by Enraged_jawa · · Score: 2, Funny

    Needs to have at least a Super Nailgun to get me to try it..

  10. Re:I beat all of you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    So developers for N-Gage weren't just a myth after all?

  11. Nice title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The Rise of Casual and Mobile Gaming"

    Oh yes... I play casual games all the time. I play lots of different games as they're all the same to me. I get everything I want out of one, "finishing" it, then I move on to the next. Sometimes I play a couple games at once over a certain period of time, trying to get a feel of which one I want to play more.

    Not only that, but I just got into "group gaming," where I get to meet a bunch of other gamers like me and we play each other in groups of 3 or more. You should have seen this one time when we all played the same game, like 3 of us at once. We were logged in at different consoles but it was fun nonetheless.

    If I ever find the right game, I want to try tantric gaming, so I can get more of a lasting and satisfying and "close" experience when I play. But that demands I find the right game that I can trust and stay with for a longer time than I'm used to. I just don't know if I have that kind of time and patience.

    And to other casual gamers, make sure you are careful. Don't buy games that aren't shrink-wrapped or you might infect your system with a nasty virus!

  12. Re:Casual Gaming by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can anyone suggest other great games for Linux ?

    Mame :)

    --
    Everything will be taken away from you.
  13. You obviously haven't watched enough futurama... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You shoot THROUGH your own shields, so that they are unable to hit you.

  14. Re:Part of the culture now by rampant+mac · · Score: 3, Funny
    You work for the government, don't you?

    Actually, I can't say a word. I work civil service where my career goal is to TOTALLY beat Freecell. *sigh* 26,341 more games to go before I can retire.

    --
    I like big butts and I cannot lie.
  15. Re:N-Gage is mad sweet! by Babbster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sounds like SOMEbody needs a hug! {{{{{AC}}}}}

  16. New game: I beat all of you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, that's great. But the title needs a little work. It sounds a little violent.

  17. The game I want by LunarOne · · Score: 2, Funny
    A wireless game can cost $40,000 and take a few months to develop, while full-fledged PC and console games can cost $5 million to $10 million and take years to deliver

    Does this mean I shouldn't hold my breath for the day when I can play "Duke Nukem Forever" on my mobile phone?

    --

    Read my sig if you like, but I'll never see yours, thanks to Discussions, Viewing, Disable sigs...
  18. Uh Oh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    First casual gaming... ...then casual drinking... ...then casual sex...

    What's this world coming to!?!?!