Multiplayer Mobile Games

Multiplayer Mobile Games:

A Multiplayer mobile game is often a re-branding of a multiplayer games for the PC or Console. Most mobile games are single player mobile games perhaps with artificially intelligent opponents. Multiplayer functionaility is achieved through:

Infrared

Bluetooth

GPRS

3G

WiFi

AI

MMS

Wireless LAN

Infrared connectivity:
Older mobile phones supporting mobile gaming have infrared connectivity for data sharing with other phones or PCs. This connectivity is not really good for gaming because of its line of connectiviy should not be disturbed. This technology was never really used in mobile games.

Bluetooth multiplayer games:

Mobiles are connected through a wireless protocol called Bluetooth using special hardware. The games are designed to communicate with each other through this protocol to share game information. The basic restriction is that both the users have to be within a limited distance to get connected. In this type of connection the game mode can only be one to one or two players more like a peer to peer connection between two PCs.

WAP / GPRS / UMTS / HSDPA multiplayer game:

A GPRS connection which is common among GSM mobile phones can be used to share the data globally. Developers can connect a mass number of mobile games with a single server and share data among the players. Some developers have achieved cross platform games, allowing a mobile player to play against a PC. WAP and GPRS best supports turn based games and small RPG games. (Most of the counties have a weak GPRS speed in their carriers. In these types of games, the game communicates with a global server which acts like a router between the mobile phones. Faster connections like UMTS and HSDPA allow real time multiplayer gaming though speeds will still give some level of lag. Currently, there are a lot of multiplayer mobile games entering the market.

3G and WiFi:

3G allows in most cases realtime multiplayer gaming and is based on technologies faster than GPRS. Wi-Fi is often used for connecting at home. Not every mobile device allows games to use the wifi connection.

Distribution:

Mobile games can be distributed in one of four ways:Over the Air (OTA) - a game binary file (typically BREW or JAVA) is delivered to the mobile device via wireless carrier networks.Sideloaded - a game binary file is loaded onto the phone while connected to a PC, either via USB cable or Bluetooth.Pre-installed - a game binary file is preloaded onto the device by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).Mobile browser download - a game file (typically Adobe Flash Lite) is downloaded directly from a mobile website.
In the US, the majority of mobile games are sold by the US wireless carriers, such as ATT, Verizon, Altel, Sprint and T-Mobile. In Europe, games are distributed equally between carriers, such as Orange and Vodaphone, and off-deck, third party stores such as Jamba, Jamster, Kalador and Gameloft. Third party, off-deck game stores have not yet taken off (as of 2007) in the US, as the US based carriers use a 'walled garden' approach to their business models.
The popularity of mobile games has increased in the 2000's, as over $3 billion USD worth of games were sold in 2007 internationally, and projected annual growth of over 40%.