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iPhone and iPod Touch becoming a viable gaming platform?

The relationship between mobile phones and games has allays been an odd one. Even very early mobile phones had simple text games such as hangman. As the screens got bigger games started to become a little more arcade in nature, and the awesome Nokia Snake was unleashed upon the world. People were reminded how ridiculously addictive simple 8 bit games can be. Now we are all carrying around powerful mini-computers with us on a day to day basis, but in a world of the DS/DSi and PSP are mobile phones really becoming a viable gaming platform?

EA's 'The Sims' for the iPhone

Apple were initially keen not to promote the iPod Touch and iPhone as games platforms. They were keen to show what could be accomplished with there devices, and games were a good way to show that off, but they were not interested in entering them along side the DS and PSP as a mobile gaming contender. Well that’s changing, and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has said that the company is now pushing the hand-held as a dedicated games machine. In an interview with The New York Times Jobs said: -

Steve JobsOriginally, we weren’t exactly sure how to market the Touch. Was it an iPhone without the phone? Was it a pocket computer? What happened was, what customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine. We started to market it that way, and it just took off

Tiger Woods Golf for the iPhone

According to Apple, the App Store now houses over 21,178 “game and entertainment titles” for iPhone and iPod Touch. In comparison, the company says there are 3,680 games for Nintendo’s DS and just 607 for Sony’s PSP. Sure this might well be a case of quality over quantity but with big names such as EA and Ubisoft now releasing solid game apps to complement there next gen franchises there are some real games in there. I myself have been blasting away on Alive-4-Ever, a top down Zombie shooter by Meridian Entertainment Ltd, that’s just frankly excellent.

'Alive 4 Ever' for the iPhone (Yes, I love killing Zombies)

In an effort to respond to the Apple threat Sony said earlier this week that it might consider releasing free PSP development kits in a bid to attract more developers to the platform. I can’t help but feel that the mobile phones instant digital distribution, and micro-payment platform are also key elements of is success. Also, just as Nokia showed us all with Snake, a simple and addictive game that everyone can pick up and play in short bursts is exactly what you want from mobile gaming. The PSP may well be a PlayStation in your oversize pocket, but who has time to grind out another level on your portable JRPG, or get to that next check point while you are waiting for the bus?