Gaming Invasion: Level 2

Welcome to the beginning of Level 2 of Gaming Invasion. In this level, I will explore some of the games that I have been playing lately due to the smart phone game explosion! The introduction of downloadable games for cellphones has created a whole new genre for game designers to explore, and with any new genre, a challenge for innovation. I will focus on two games in particular, 7 Little Words & Cut the Rope. Before getting into the objectives of the games and dissecting them, I feel like I should cover the limitations associated with cellphone games.

The most obvious limitation to a game using a cellphone as the console is the display size. Unlike with the now more traditional console based games using a television for monitoring, the average game must work with a screen around the size of an ipod, or smaller, in order to reach the majority of potential consumers. Of course, Nintendo released the Gameboy many, many years ago, but unlike a self contained system like a Gameboy, game designers are challenged to design games that can operate on multiple interfaces. In other words, Nintendo always knows their games will be played on their system whereas cellphone games must be compatible across a variety of phones, operating systems, and tablets in order to be successful. User interface is also very important, and cellphone games cannot overload the phones processor or resources to where it destroys the phones general functions or battery life. These are just a few of the many challenges faced by cellphone based game design.

The first game I'd like to review or dissect is the amazingly simple game (which is free) 7 Little Words. The concept is extremely simple, and borrows ideas from crossword puzzles, but it puts a new twist that makes it very fun. The game lists 7 clues, and then 20 "blocks" containing 2-3 letters. The object is to figure out the 7 words using the blocks which can only be used once each. It is an amazingly simple game, but I do love it for its simplicity. I do not have to devote my direct attention while playing the game as there is no real-time aspect. I can take as long as I want to guess a word. I find myself generally playing this game the most while performing some other action like attending class or having a conversation. I love this game because I actually learn new words when playing it and I can multitask while playing it.

The second game I play a lot is called Cut the Rope, and it is a bit more complex, but it is still simple enough to figure out within a minute or two at the most. The object is to make a piece of candy, attached to a string, hit 3 stars and then "deliver" it to a frog. Yes, it sounds very ridiculous, but it is very addictive and challenging. I'm not going to get into all of the variables, as it becomes more and more complex as you progress through the game. What I love about this game is the real-time strategy required to play it, and the fact that it is highly entertaining and you honestly feel a sense of accomplishment when you beat a level you've been stuck on for a while.

I cannot even imagine where the cell-game genre will be in the next 6 months or year, but it is a new and very exciting genre of game design. Even my mother plays games on her phone.

Gaming Invasion: Level 1

Games are a great way to distract us from life. Virtually every person in their life has been told to "quit wasting your time playing games and be productive!" You may hear this every hour, daily, weekly, monthly, or once in a blue moon. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you've heard this phrase, or something to the same affect before in your life. Welcome fellow gamer to a multiple-level game entitled "Gaming Invasion". Ok, yes, you've probably called my bluff and I should've title it "Please Read My Blog", but it just didn't have the same ring to it. ANYWAYS, this is the first entry (aka level) in my blog series dedicated to explaining how far games penetrate into our lives. If you feel that you are exempt from this aspect, think again you ripe little n00b (slang for newbie, as in new to a game and inexperienced) because you are about to get PWNED!

Since this is only level one, I am going to stay away from any sort of technical terms and go for the easy kill. Life is a game. Cliche? Perhaps, but take a moment to think about it. Life requires planning (strategy), and the choices you make effect the outcome of your life. Yes, some choices, such as what to do with that five minutes after waking up may not effect your life goals. But, there is a real-time effect nonetheless. Actions create outcomes. Jumping off a porch while drunk may effect the next three months of your life, even if it seemed like such a great idea at the time.

If you are still reading at this point, I am guessing I managed to get your attention, and I will award you +3 karma points. Now, let's think real hard, make your brain work, and think of the physical controls you interact with, and the mechanism you use to create interactions. It's hard, I know, thinking requires effort, but here is the spoiler. You play the game! Your mental and physical actions interact with the world. There are some set rules, such as laws, sociological rules, and "world rules" also. Never forget, gravity is not always your ally! Gravity is great when you want to move a beer from a can to your red plastic cup, but it can definitely be a bitch when you decide to try and land a solo keg-stand! Stay alert, be prepared, trust no one. You may proceed to level two when I make my own choice on whether or not to write a second level. GLHF!