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My principal interest in mobile applications is to push the boundaries of innovation to create uniquely mobile experiences. I hope my blogs excite and challenge developers to think 'outside the box'.

Mobile Games 2.0!

coultonp | 26 November, 2007 13:57

Along with Will Bamford I have had a lecture accepted for next year’s GDC called “Mobile Game 2.0: The Rise of the Widget?”  based on the ideas we have developed from working on the Widgets Workshop blog. In the coming weeks I will talk about a new game and distribution concept we are working on based on widgets but in the mean time here is the basis of the talk for GDC. 

Before we can attempt to frame the concept of ‘Mobile Games 2.0’ let us first consider some of the principles that have come to encompass the concepts of Web 2.0 and Mobile Web 2.0.  As with any concept that is not tied to specific technologies, the field is open to various interpretation but Mobile Web 2.0 services are generally seen to harness:

  • Data (often user derived) over software;
  • Collective intelligence (for example group filtering);
  • Open standards “Above the Single Device”;
  •  Niche markets or the Long Tail;
  • Use of context;
  • Emergence resulting in constant evolution (perpetual Beta).
Whilst some of these concepts might be alien to traditional console games developers, the very nature of the mobile games environment and the broad demographic of game players would appear to offer enormous potential for this industry. However, if Mobile Games 2.0 is to become more than a mere buzz phrase, we will need to overcome the current fragmentation within the market and provide a platform that facilitates the majority of these features.

To achieve the principles of Web 2.0 in Mobile Game 2.0 it is worth seeking inspiration for the by evaluating the solutions that have evolved in that environment, ascertaining their relevance to mobile. In this regard Widgets are seen as a primary enabler of Web 2.0 as they utilise open standards, are easy to distribute, and have a mechanism for continued evolution.  As Nokia has recently introduced two flavours of Widgets for mobile, in this lecture we’ll be exploring these platforms in terms of their development and distribution mechanisms in relation to games.

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