Gaming has come a long way from its earliest incarnations on massive arcade machines and the most basic of home computers offering low-res two-dimensional graphics. Gaming used to require specialized equipment such as consoles, cartridges, joysticks, and controllers. The more devoted gamers out there have special gaming PCs and every gadget going, including VR headsets and even body sensors. However, for most of us, the smartphone or tablet that we carry around with us is all we need to enjoy gaming on the go.
As with all things, not all phones are equal, and in all probability, the newer the phone, the better it will be for gaming. However, it is also very dependent on the type of game you want to play, and you will probably find that any relatively up-to-date smartphone will be more than man for the job. So, whether you are into Action, MMORPGs, Arcade, or Casino Games, there’s a mobile device ideally suited to your style of play.
Your mobile device no longer needs to store all the content you want to play. Instead, the app holds the game’s architecture, but the content is streamed to your device just like any music you listen to or shows that you watch. Unless you choose to download the content for future use, you just access what you want over WIFI or a decent data connection, and you have everything you need.
Many of the games that are played on mobile are a variant of a console or PC game that can also be played at home. Initially, they appear to be the same, but gamers will tell you that using a touch screen for everything does not compare to a controller. For example, FIFA, the football game, can be played either on a mobile device or PC. The biggest downside, according to gamers, is the quality of the graphics. On PC, the AI is well evolved, but for the mobile version, it is all about speed and accuracy.
Looking at MMORPG titles, Minecraft is probably the one that is best suited to mobile is Minecraft because it has simple, blocky graphics. Even so, the mobile version of the game does not include all the features found in the original java version of the game. Minecraft Pocket is, however, incredibly popular. It is available on iOS, Android, and Windows phones, as well as Amazon Fire tablets. Reviewers actually say that the graphics on the pocket edition are better than on the original. One thing that people do really like is that there are in-app purchases that allow players to race through particular sections of the game if they want to.
Many classic arcade titles translate almost seamlessly to the mobile environment. Players love arcade-style games because they give them a quick burst of action rather than hours of endless role play. The original and arguably best viral mobile game was Angry Birds. This is probably mobile gaming at its best. Simple, fast, fun, and funny. Moments of entertainment that are bright and colorful do not require too much concentration.
The best online gambling sites games are also developing mobile versions of their games to offer players a quick burst of fun. In a similar way to the arcade games, the most popular mobile casino games are the slots. They do not have overly complicated storylines but are about the action and the opportunity to win. There are, of course, longer mobile games available. Some of the earliest on-screen game successes were for card games like solitaire. There is now all manner of card and table games available to download as an app for mobile devices, either as stand-alone games or as part of a casino suite.
Where will mobile games go next? Pokémon Go brought AR (augmented reality) to the gaming world and had gamers collecting virtual Pokémon from real situations. Everyone is talking about the Metaverse but whether this can translate to a mobile environment remains to be seen. It is all very well having a small phone in your pocket, but if you have to don a large headset like the Oculus to get involved in the gameplay, it rather defeats the object.
With tech constantly evolving, it has to be assumed that before too long, some clever inventor will solve that riddle. There are already smaller headsets in the form of glasses on the market, but they do not give the fully immersive experience that is offered by a headset. As with so many of the best innovations, we do not necessarily see them coming, but when they do, a critical mass gets involved, and suddenly the latest thing is everywhere.
