Mobile Games Development: Its Latest Trends and Future Prospects

Mobile games and its development is now not a restricted territory. With the help of open source platforms, game developers are bringing in fantastic and interesting ones. Though the iPhone games rule the roost in terms of sheer classiness and operability, the Android and Symbian counterparts are not too far behind. 

One of the earliest games was the "Snake" which was launched in 1997. With the advent of sleeker platforms and consistent enhancements, the processing capabilities of today's average mobile phone are much better than the processing capabilities of the costliest phone launched a decade back.

Nowadays, smart phones include a wide range of games which can be played easily by any age group. Android is one of the most popular operating systems and platforms today. It has a Java based environment and most of the apps are developed using Java. Even amateur tech lovers can tweak their applications easily by referring to relevant gaming sites. 

Each and every mobile application platform has a software development kit which does have all the necessary ingredients needed to make a fantastic interactive app or a game. One can start on with Android app development using the Android SDK (software development kit).

Development of 3D apps and mobile games is very much in demand today, much like the demand for Xbox games and PlayStation games. Most analysts agree that in the near future, an average user would be able to have much more interactivity and fun within the mobile itself. Though the 3D gaming experience is at a nascent stage, do not be surprised if 3D games get found in most smart phones in the near future.

Some of the trends related to gaming include:

Java is the most popular gaming platform which is ruling the roost today. But with subsequent competition with other platforms, the trends might change rather drastically.

Multiplayer apps like chess and poker are preferred by the online audience, especially those who frequent on social media. The common gaming platform allows people of a group to compete with absolute strangers too.

Mobile games are also used in many promotional and advertising campaigns wherein the user can play games and even shop from their favorite merchandise.

The emergence of portals which are selling games is on the rise too. The games are quite affordable to the average user and the demand makes it a win-win situation for the buyer and the developer. Different mobile games based on different genres like action, adventure, racing, puzzles etc. are available online.

The Sweet Spot: Being a Gamer Parent

As a parent of young children, it is often tough to find time to game. Or energy. Gone are the carefree days of playing game after game after game. There's always something coming up... late bedtimes, going to the store for medicine, washing diapers (for cloth-diapering hippies like us!), cooking, cleaning random messes the kids leave... yeah, free time is at a premium. 

Every minute counts. So I have to shoot for getting the most out of my time when gaming. So what does that mean? How do I get the most out of my time gaming? Honestly, I'm still working it out. I have 5 years of practice, though, and I'll share what I've figured out. Here are some guidelines I use for finding the "sweet spot" in gaming.

1. Avoid games with complex or fiddly rules.

Some games are just elegant. Play progresses in an orderly fashion, there's an FAQ in the rulebook covering anything you need, and people just "get it" after a quick explanation. Play these games. And avoid games (especially teaching games!) that require a trip to boardgamegeek.com to arbitrate a rules question, use arcane iconography or just make things complex. 

A game that I really like that fits into this category is Race for the Galaxy. I love the game. I really do. The iconography makes it hard to teach, though, so it's not going to hit the table when new players are around. Especially with expansions. Complexity doesn't need to be there for depth, necessarily. So when a game delivers a comparable experience without the fiddliness, go for that one.

2. If the kids are around, figure in additional time... or get a babysitter.

I don't know how many games I've lost due to having to parent. In the scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. A game is a game. But gaming is a hobby, and meant to be relaxing. Socializing. Interacting with friends, or maybe just unwinding with the wife. And it really gets frustrating when I feel that I can't remember what I'm doing from one minute to the next due to constant interruptions. 

I'm not the best multitasker (just ask my wife!), and the kids usually get the priority in any situation where they're involved. A good thing to do is to make sure you "load 'em up" with attention beforehand. If they're going to be supervised less during play, set their expectations and try to meet all their needs (immediate and anticipated) before you sit down. Gaming with other parents helps. Often, kids will play together. Another option is a babysitter. Even having a babysitter over at the same time is a great thing, and well worth the investment.

3. Maximize the "Fun vs. Time Spent" ratio.

Some games are just long. I'm not averse to playing a long game; I enjoy the opportunity every now and then. But some games... are just long. As an example, I don't really feel that I get more out of Axis & Allies than I do out of Memoir '44. I'll definitely be playing it for five more hours, but I don't necessarily think that Axis is going to deliver six times the fun just because it takes six times the time to play. 

That means that it has a poor fun:time spent ratio. Look for games that deliver the essential experience. Some games are going to take longer to do that, so make sure that when you're selecting a game to pull off the shelf, that there isn't a game that delivers the same experience in a shorter time.

4. Read reviews of games before you get them.

This has become so important for my wife and me when buying games. In the past, we would drop loads and loads of money on games we had never heard of. Sometimes this would have positive results. For instance, we purchased Attika after a recommendation from a game store employee. Hadn't heard of it, or looked it up. Just bought it. And loved it. But sometimes... you end up with a game that doesn't fit your style, isn't what you expected or is just plain bad. I'm not going to point fingers at any games in particular, primarily because I try to stay positive. But there are definitely games out there with few redeeming qualities. Which is why game reviews are so important. Just as the reviews themselves are important, so are the reviewers. It's easy to look at a review uncritically and walk away thinking of the reviewer's opinion as the final word. 

My advice is to find a couple reviewers' blogs or podcasts and get familiar. My wife, for example, loves The Dice Tower, a podcast about games. She doesn't necessarily agree with all of Tom Vasel's opinions on games, but she knows where she stands in relation to him on things and can use that as a yardstick and gauge whether or not she thinks she might like something based on that. We've made some very informed decisions on games based on his reviews, and on the reviews of others. FYI, I know a blog that reviews games (hint, hint!)... ;)

So what is "the sweet spot"? The sweet spot is primarily about being cognizant of factors like time and parenting when purchasing games, choosing which games to play and playing games. How this is defined for each individual is definitely going to vary. Just think of this as a game itself! It's a very complex resource management game, and the resources are time, money and attention. Stay aware of this, and you'll find your sweet spot!

Post-Apocalyptic Fun: A Review of 51st State

One of our recent acquisitions is 51st State, a card game from Toy Vault based in the Neuroshima world (like Neuroshima Hex). There has been quite a bit of buzz about this one, often with it being compared to Race for the Galaxy. In fact, many claim it will effectively replace Race for the Galaxy in your collection. I want to share how we're feeling about the game after a handful of sessions under our belts. For those of you not familiar with the Neuroshima world, it is a post-apocalyptic North America with various factions vying for power. 

It was originally based on the Polish roleplaying game Neuroshima. The designer of 51st State, Ignacy Trzewiczek, is also one of the designers of both the Neuroshima roleplaying game and Neuroshima Hex. For those of you familiar with Fallout, what I've seen and read about it seems a lot like the world depicted in that series of videogames. It's an interesting setting, and the art of the cards does a great job of conveying the post-apocalyptic theme.

The rules of the game are not too complex, though I must indicate that the rulebook isn't that great. It meanders a bit, and some things are not referred to throughout but not explained until the very end. That being said, a couple reads and look at some online resources helped us get started. It starts with players selecting cards from several set out at the beginning of the turn. 

After card selection, players earn an income and then take turn executing actions. Actions can be playing a location (more on this later), using a production location with a worker, playing a leader, rebuilding a location or a couple other minor actions. Play continues until all players have passed. For the most part, gameplay is multiplayer solitaire, much like Race for the Galaxy, or even Dominion.

Most of the cards you'll see are locations, and locations are very interesting in this game. Each location may be played in one of three ways, each with a color associated with it. The most basic function is white, and that is putting the card in your play area as a location; doing this can derive one of several benefits, such as giving an income of a resource, or being able to produce victory points or having a trait that stays in effect. Some are production locations that you, or sometimes an opponent, may play a worker on to get its benefit. 

Another option is to make a deal, which is the blue action. This will give you a modest income of its resource (or sometimes a card or victory points) each turn. The final action, denoted as red, is to conquer the location. This will yield a one-time windfall of resources, cards or victory points. This is a definite strength of the game. Each time you look at a card, you have to decide how you want to play it. It's a very interesting tactical consideration, and very thematic to the world.

Each player takes on the role of one of the world's factions. There are four: Mutants, New York, Appalachian Federation and the Merchant's Guild. Each faction is trying top establish dominance by controlling areas. They each play a little different. The differences are not huge, but somewhat thematic. This is reflected in how they spend resources to accomplish the three basic actions for dealing with a location, and income they receive in the resources present in the game: scrap, building materials, weapons and fuel. As can be expected, each has an advantage towards one of the basic location actions.

I have to say I've been enjoying this game. Rulebook woes aside, it's a great game. There is certainly a bit of randomness with the limited card availability per turn, but the cards seem balanced enough that you won't have a situation where you need to fish for cards to implement your chosen strategy. It has enough complexity to be interesting, without dictating a dominant strategy.The stated playing time is 40-90 minutes, and is accurate. In an earlier blog post I talked about the "sweet spot" for games in regard to fun versus time spent, and I think this game does a good job hitting it. 51st State gets a solid recommendation from me. I encourage you to give it a try!

How to Create Your Own Avatar

Creating avatars can get difficult if you don't have the right tools. Find out how to create your own avatar with a click of a button!

Creating avatars can get challenging if you are not artistic or if you are not fond of using photo-editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw. To create avatars that are vibrant, clear, and impressive, you need these programs as well as a good computer. You also need to know how to work your way around making graphics and decorating your avatar.

People use avatars to make their websites more visually entertaining while others use avatars to enhance their personal branding. Celebrities use avatars as well to leave an impact on people-- take Barack Obama's popular "HOPE" avatar which he used back in 2008. This simple avatar somehow managed to get him into office.

You don't need to be an artist to create your own avatar, but if you are well-versed in using the computer nonetheless, here's how to create your own avatar using a photo editor.

Know what you want to turn your realistic photo into. This part involves conceptualizing and thinking about what your avatar should wear or look like. You could get inspiration from your favorite TV shows and cartoons and other characters in pop culture. Most avatars today look like South Park characters while others have been inspired by Doctor Who. Ask yourself this question, "What inspires me?" Get ideas from your answers.

Get your tablet or any photo-editing program ready. Some of the most popular avatars were created using a photo-editing program and it is important to know how to use one if you want to succeed in creating memorable avatars. Photo-editing programs can also create animated avatars, although there are a few programs such as MS Paint which does not include this feature.

Make drafts of your avatar on your photo-editor. Now that you are ready to start creating your own avatar, you should start off by sketching or making a draft on your photo-editor. Get ideas from popular trends today or turn your avatar into a cartoon portrait of yourself.

Download effects and other textures online to enhance your avatar. If you intend to use Adobe Photoshop to help you create your avatar, you should try to download advanced graphics, textures, and actions from online libraries. Doing so will definitely help you enhance your avatar and turn it into something impressive to look at.

My Fun Experience of Yahoo Games

Gaming has always been a passion of mine, from the time my parents bought me my first Atari up until now, when I spend hours on Yahoo games. Some may call it an addiction. I, however, call it an appetite for competition. Additionally, I love being transported to another world and using skills, such as problem solving and critical thinking, while playing games. So while I may spend hours upon hours in front of my computer or television screen, my brain is truly being exercised.

What started out with personal gaming in the comfort of your own home (with one other buddy playing the cheats for Contra) has moved to a universal world wide experience. While buddies still play games together, they no longer have to be confined to the same room. Now we can play games of any style with people in other countries online or through our console system.

Getting games through Yahoo allows you to foster relationships with other people during the universal language of competition. With the world operating in various time zones, there is always someone online ready to play and engage in a game.

What I like best about Yahoo games is the ease of playing and purchasing online. Its seamless operation is safe and swift so I can purchase any new game at any time. What's even better, and easier on the pocketbook, is they offer coupon codes on specific games. These are generally limited time offers and are not on every game, but purchasing online games with coupon codes definitely makes the experience even better.

Yahoo offers a variety of games. Some of the most popular games are puzzles or role-playing. Gaming tends to get a bad rap for violence, but the most popular games on Yahoo revolve around women owning bakeries or breaking bricks by lining up the correct color series. These games are a tremendous escape from reality by taking on a fictional small business where the user is in charge and not forced to obey the rules of their superior, which is often the case in the real working world.

There is a game out there for everyone, and Yahoo makes it easy to play those games. You can play the games directly on a computer or netbook or game online through the Yahoo portal. This is where multiplayer action begins. Games of skill or chance are often the primary focus of these games, like Vegas style gambling or anything according to Hoyle. Whichever type of game you choose, though, you can expect to have some fun when you log into Yahoo games.

Taking Driving to New Heights With Racing Games and Driving Games

They say that the best things in life are free, this is a true statement. Free games are one of the those things! Racing games are quite the online entertainment these days. There are literally thousands of free online games on the Internet and games like driving games are becoming more popular every day. Imagine yourself driving your favorite sports car or even just your favorite car down San Francisco and through the white line. 

Games like this can even be a great way for kids to learn about driving and even sharpen their skills before driving in the real world. Maneuvering your car takes practice and skill. In order to pass any race, you must not crash your car. That is why games like these can even help children of all ages prepare for the real world. It will sharpen their driving skills. In games like these, if you crash, you lose. That is why games that involve driving or racing can be a big benefit to a children's perspective on how to drive, and drive efficiently.

Games are becoming more advanced every day. Even flash developers are trying to create games that intrigue both the adult and the child. Racing games are one of the most popular types of games available on the web. They have been around for ages! When games were first invented, driving games were born. 

Now days the graphic engines on these types of games have advanced more than you know or could possibly imagine. Imagine years on the clock passing by while these games are getting developed better than you ever imagined. So head on over to your computer or laptop and hit up your favorite search engine and search for your favorite type of games, you are sure to find them! There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. You will be gaining enjoyment and satisfaction to your craving for driving games.

Racing games are also exhilarating and interactive, they give you an adrenaline rush and they're great for learning new skills or even just passing time. You can race with your best friends and compete for high scores, or you can live out your fantasies and zip around the track in your most desired dream cars. There is no limit to the genre of online games can do for you. Whether you're old or young, you can draw upon these games and live out your online gaming fantasies.