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Gaming<br />
Mobile Games - Cheap and<br />
Fun Gaming for Everyone<br />
Does anyone remember<br />
Tetris? How about Myst?<br />
Okay, I know, probably only<br />
us old timers remember,<br />
and many of us still revel<br />
at the thoughts of fi nally beating that<br />
monster that stole the princess as we<br />
anxiously attempted to pass through the<br />
many worlds of the fi rst ever Mario Bros<br />
video game on our modest early Nintendo<br />
consoles. Do you think Mario or Luigi<br />
could have predicted how far they would<br />
come?<br />
Video games have come a<br />
long way, and have spread to<br />
sophisticated designer home<br />
consoles, computer and laptop<br />
gaming and mobile hand helds<br />
that are far more advanced and<br />
with bigger and better digital<br />
capabilities and graphics. And,<br />
mobile phones have not been<br />
left behind in the world of the<br />
gaming phenomenon. Same<br />
as music ringtones, cell phone<br />
wallpaper, fancy cases and<br />
mobile phone bling, cell phone<br />
games allow users to personalize<br />
their phones and make them<br />
usable way beyond just receiving<br />
and making calls.<br />
MOBILE GAMES<br />
The first cell phone game<br />
was Snake, which was first<br />
released in <strong>19</strong>97 as an embedded<br />
application for Nokia<br />
phones. It's doubtful that the<br />
Finnish mobile icon knew at the<br />
time that this simple addition<br />
would forever alter the function<br />
of a cell phone. With Snake, and<br />
the tons of mobile games that<br />
followed, cell phones became<br />
much more that just communication<br />
devices and became<br />
entertainment for the modern<br />
age.<br />
What is the fascination with<br />
video gaming? Well, for the<br />
most part we are obsessed with<br />
gadgets and technology overall.<br />
And, the fact that millions<br />
of video games are sold every<br />
year and people slept outside as<br />
long as three days just to have<br />
the chance to get their hands on<br />
Playstation 3 supports this. And<br />
if you saw the news reels, many<br />
were not kids and teenagers but<br />
grown-ups who could not wait<br />
to get their hands on the new<br />
console.<br />
The answers to the fascination<br />
with mobile games may be<br />
more simplistic. While gaming<br />
in general whether, computer,<br />
console or hand held is huge<br />
business, and an activity which<br />
people spend a lot of money and<br />
ample time weekly engaging in<br />
whether alone or with friends<br />
and family, mobile games probably<br />
serve a little different and<br />
more pragmatic purpose. For<br />
example, while commuting on a<br />
train to work or to pass the time<br />
waiting in a doctors waiting<br />
room. And, while video games<br />
can be a much more social<br />
event, mobile games are usually<br />
played solo, and are a great<br />
way to engage the mind and<br />
create a fun activity anywhere<br />
and anytime. Also, while the<br />
gaming hobby can be a significant<br />
expense, mobile games are<br />
very cheap, and there are many<br />
standard free games that come<br />
with most cell phones.<br />
Today, there are hundreds of<br />
different mobile games to suit<br />
any fancy. From, quiz games to<br />
card and board games, arcade,<br />
racing mobile games, shoot 'em<br />
up, 3D, brain twisters, lifestyle<br />
games, and many moreFind<br />
Article, there is a game to suit<br />
everyone and anyone.<br />
Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>19</strong><br />
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