R. L. Fielding asked:


Playing games has always been a favorite pastime for kids and adults alike, and online games are right up there with the best of America’s passions. With the advent of mobile gaming, we are no longer tied to the computer, but are free to roam and play at will. Simple pre-programmed games used to be the standard, but with more sophisticated devices on the market like Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and the Apple iPhone, the window of opportunity for online mobile gaming has been flung wide open.

Mobile gaming is big business for the game industry and big fun for mobile device users. The freedom to play games when and where we want makes mobile game downloads highly popular with consumers and the market reflects this as sales are expected to grow to 11.1 billion by 2010, up from 1.5 billion in 2007. As demand grows, so will mobile game titles and mobile device abilities.

Who plays games on their phone?

The ability to play games while riding in the car, standing in line, and between activities makes mobile games highly enticing to both teens and adults. Although stereotypes maintain that men have the greatest interest in digital entertainment, the convenience of playing online games via mobile devices may open up an even broader game playing audience.

Research has shown that more than half of the 117-million active game players in the US play online games and nearly 64% of these online game players are women. As online games already appeal strongly to women of all ages, it is likely that mobile game play will find a strong foothold with this demographic in addition to reaching adult men and teens of both genders. By enhancing games with social networking technologies, developers also have the ability to appeal to audiences who enjoy the more social and challenging aspects of online game play.

Mobile Game Design

So what qualities make a mobile game a hit? The most popular mobile games in the US are puzzle, strategy and trivia games because their simple design makes them easiest to play on hand-held devices. However, game creators are working to change that. As mobile devices become more sophisticated, the door will open for more advanced game play.

The push for open platforms, such as Google’s Android, and unlimited access to the real power of the Internet has created quite a stir in the mobile device and entertainment industry. Wireless providers must make the choice to create their own games or open their networks to a variety of mobile applications. With more than 13.5 million mobile subscribers downloading games, a shift to a different wireless provider because of game availability could be devastating.

The Future of the Mobile Gaming Market

With the introduction of the iPhone and other mobile devices with easy-to-use interfaces, game developers are getting even more creative in how they address current drawbacks such as pay-before-play, limited functionality, soundless system browsers and accuracy issues. More and more companies are getting around these issues by building games specifically for mobile devices.

How the games are delivered to the mobile user will change also. It used to be that wireless carriers dictated the size and sophistication of mobile games, but companies such as Apple will bypass this obstacle by offering games through an iTunes type of service and through over-the-air stores available from the iPhone home screen. This will allow developers to create bigger and better games that users may be able to control through touch, tilt, and shaking, instead of the current push-button approach.

With the mobile entertainment industry having the potential to reach millions of buyers, game developers are working on mixing mobile and social media applications by creating social game networks where people can play games against each other in tournaments and place on leader boards. Realizing the power of social play combined with the advancements in mobile technology platforms sets up an almost limitless potential of possibilities in the made-for-mobile service arena.

About Slingo

Slingo.com is a leading online destination for people who enjoy playing games, winning prizes and having fun. In fact, 1 out of every 20 people in the U.S. has played Slingo online. The Slingo website offers free, original online games, downloadable games, and contests with cash prizes, as well as a social-networking community for game players. For more information, please visit http://www.slingo.com/.



QUINN

R. L. Fielding asked:


Playing games has always been a favorite pastime for kids and adults alike, and online games are right up there with the best of America’s passions. With the advent of mobile gaming, we are no longer tied to the computer, but are free to roam and play at will. Simple pre-programmed games used to be the standard, but with more sophisticated devices on the market like Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and the Apple iPhone, the window of opportunity for online mobile gaming has been flung wide open.

Mobile gaming is big business for the game industry and big fun for mobile device users. The freedom to play games when and where we want makes mobile game downloads highly popular with consumers and the market reflects this as sales are expected to grow to 11.1 billion by 2010, up from 1.5 billion in 2007. As demand grows, so will mobile game titles and mobile device abilities.

Who plays games on their phone?

The ability to play games while riding in the car, standing in line, and between activities makes mobile games highly enticing to both teens and adults. Although stereotypes maintain that men have the greatest interest in digital entertainment, the convenience of playing online games via mobile devices may open up an even broader game playing audience.

Research has shown that more than half of the 117-million active game players in the US play online games and nearly 64% of these online game players are women. As online games already appeal strongly to women of all ages, it is likely that mobile game play will find a strong foothold with this demographic in addition to reaching adult men and teens of both genders. By enhancing games with social networking technologies, developers also have the ability to appeal to audiences who enjoy the more social and challenging aspects of online game play.

Mobile Game Design

So what qualities make a mobile game a hit? The most popular mobile games in the US are puzzle, strategy and trivia games because their simple design makes them easiest to play on hand-held devices. However, game creators are working to change that. As mobile devices become more sophisticated, the door will open for more advanced game play.

The push for open platforms, such as Google’s Android, and unlimited access to the real power of the Internet has created quite a stir in the mobile device and entertainment industry. Wireless providers must make the choice to create their own games or open their networks to a variety of mobile applications. With more than 13.5 million mobile subscribers downloading games, a shift to a different wireless provider because of game availability could be devastating.

The Future of the Mobile Gaming Market

With the introduction of the iPhone and other mobile devices with easy-to-use interfaces, game developers are getting even more creative in how they address current drawbacks such as pay-before-play, limited functionality, soundless system browsers and accuracy issues. More and more companies are getting around these issues by building games specifically for mobile devices.

How the games are delivered to the mobile user will change also. It used to be that wireless carriers dictated the size and sophistication of mobile games, but companies such as Apple will bypass this obstacle by offering games through an iTunes type of service and through over-the-air stores available from the iPhone home screen. This will allow developers to create bigger and better games that users may be able to control through touch, tilt, and shaking, instead of the current push-button approach.

With the mobile entertainment industry having the potential to reach millions of buyers, game developers are working on mixing mobile and social media applications by creating social game networks where people can play games against each other in tournaments and place on leader boards. Realizing the power of social play combined with the advancements in mobile technology platforms sets up an almost limitless potential of possibilities in the made-for-mobile service arena.

About Slingo

Slingo.com is a leading online destination for people who enjoy playing games, winning prizes and having fun. In fact, 1 out of every 20 people in the U.S. has played Slingo online. The Slingo website offers free, original online games, downloadable games, and contests with cash prizes, as well as a social-networking community for game players. For more information, please visit http://www.slingo.com/.



JESSIE

Joe Schmieder asked:


Creating the “Ultimate Home Game Room” isn’t as hard as you may think. “Ultimate” doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive game room either. It just means it’s ultimate for you, your family and your friends.

The basics for every game room include “games & signs”. That’s all it takes to create your game room. Of course some organization is also needed, you don’t want a mess of posters, pub signs and neon signs taking up your walls.

Creating Your “Ultimate Home Game Room”

To do this you start with the wall colors. The best looking game rooms have two-toned wall color schemes. This means a top border around the room that’s 12-24 inches in width. Then paint the rest of the room a complimentary color.

It’s fun choosing a color scheme. Use your favorite sports team, your high school / university colors, the colors of your home country or a favorite painting or place you’ve visited. If those colors aren’t good just select Two Great compatible colors. It’s usually best to make the darker color your border color and the lighter color as your main wall color. This brightens up the room and helps your cool signs and posters to display better.

Next comes the flooring. There is a variety of floors that can be put into game rooms. A few examples would be hardwood, vinyl, cork, bamboo, carpet tiling, ceramic tiling, area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. If your game room is located in a basement that eliminates most if not all hardwoods because of moisture problems in basements.

So what’s best? Checkered tiling is what “Ultimate Game Rooms” are all about. Match the tiles up with your wall color for the ultimate effect. Whether you use 6×6, 8×8 or 12×12 tiling squares it’s a checkered floor that makes your game room “Ultimate”.

Now comes the “FUN PART”. You can either theme your game room or create a general all out fun game room.

Let’s start with furniture. If you’re creating a theme then your furniture must match. For example if you want a “Beach or Hawaiian Theme” then the best pub tables, pub chairs and accessories would be made of wicker or rattan. If you’re creating a Green Bay Packer’s Theme then you’d want chrome bar stools with green or yellow vinyl cushion covers to match. Otherwise if you just want a great game room make sure you bar stools and pub tables match.

The next thing to consider is the lighting. If you have a theme, say a sports theme, then find pub lamps, swag lights and floor lamps that have your favorite sport or team’s name on them. For an Asian theme you’d want bamboo lamps and hanging lanterns. For general game rooms, bar lights with your favorite drink or food would be perfect!

Now you’re ready to decorate your walls! Posters, Tin Signs, Neon Signs, Clocks and more are what you’ll need to get started. Have a movie theme then find some great movie posters online to fill up your room. Actually it’s best to have an assortment of each. Leave gaps and spread all your cool stuff out. You want them to be noticed and admired not lost in a mess of other posters and signs. Remember you just spent a few days painting your game room so don’t cover it up. With a general game room theme vintage tin signs are always a big hit. Plus one or two neon signs add atmosphere. Don’t overdue the neon though just choose a few favorites.

Now it’s time to find the best TABLE GAMES. Besides the cost it’s room size that determines which games to include in your game room. By far every “Ultimate Game Room” needs a billiard table. Now days you can get a variety of fabric colors besides green. Also you can find themed billiard tables like NASCAR and more. Two other great additions are foosball and air hockey. Easy to play fast paced games. They also come in a variety of sizes and fun designs. Table Tennis is a fun game but not everyone knows how to play and they take a lot of space if they don’t fold up so you may want to add other games first. One game that is overlooked too much is Shuffleboard. It’s GREAT for the whole family and it’s easy and fun to play.

Think about “Other Game Room Games”. For example if you have a 1950′s Theme then an Elvis Pinball Machine fits right in. Also a retro slot machine would be fun to have. A Pachinko Game or Pachislo is a great family game from Japan worth mentioning. And “Dart Boards & Poker Tables” are in high demand these days and there is such a large variety out there you’ll have no problem finding one for your game room.

A variety of games, some for the adults and some for the kids are what you need. Games can get a little expensive so don’t buy new, buy second hand from an online auction site or look in your local paper for used games. It’s not how new they are it’s how FUN they are! Don’t have enough space? Then try a “Combination Game Table”. They have combos from 3 in 1 to 15 in 1 game tables.

It’s time to liven things up with “Music”. You can’t have an ultimate game room without music. A Juke Box is best when it comes to game room music. Whether it’s a 1946 Rockola or a retro looking CD Juke Box it doesn’t matter. It’s having a jukebox that counts most. Yes a 400 CD changer with a nice surround sound stereo system works even better but looks mean a lot when creating a game room. Just hide your CD or stereo in the corner.

Finally to create the “Ultimate Game Room” you need a TV. One should be mounted on the wall in the vicinity of the pool table / poker table and the other in a sitting area for kids to play video games. This is a must. No game room is complete without a TV or two for the big game.

Now you have all the ingredients you need for creating the “Ultimate Home Game Room”. There are always fun and different accessories you can add to spice it up even more but with the basics covered you’re ready to start having the best parties and get-togethers on the block!

You’ll find information on other decorating themes like Western and Hawaiian themes and much more at http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com/game-room-themes.html .

To view game room posters go directly to http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com/picture-and-poster.html



CHUNG