Being informed on the history of early mobile games helps one to better understand the gaming culture we currently experience. This also helps outline the games we enjoy playing on the go, which have long been in the making.
Mobile gaming has certainly come a long way since it first became popular in 1997. It is said that the first game that was played on mobile was Snake, a simple pixelated mobile game preloaded on Nokia phones. However, mobile gaming traces back to 1994 with the pre-installed game Tetris on the Hagenuk MT-2000 which is regarded as the pioneer of the mobile gaming revolution, followed by IBM’s Scrabble on their Simon Personal Communicator. It did not take long for other providers to follow suit.
As time passed and technology became more advanced, users started downloading additional games by connecting to the internet. Sadly, all of this is lost as these web stores are no longer operational. The good news is that online casino players aren’t complaining, as advancing technology has led to the development of some of the best casino apps available on iOS and Android.
A pioneering era
Tetris was the first mobile game on the lesser-known Danish mobile phone, the Hagenuk MT-2000. It made history as the first phone with a built-in game with block stacking mechanics, providing hours of endless entertainment. It showcased the potential of mobile phones to be more than just communication mechanisms.
Snake, developed by Nokia was the go-to game, and it became an instant hit among mobile users. It was also the first game to go viral. This game allowed users to control a pixelated snake by manoeuvring it to consume pellets while avoiding its own tail. It was an instant hit. By the early 2000s, it had reached more than 400 million devices, laying the foundation of what is today a thriving industry.
Another interesting release was Space Invaders in 2002. As many know, it was an arcade game created by Tomohiro Nishikado in 1978 before it became available to play on mobile phones.
There are also some forgotten firsts, one of them being a hidden version of Tetris called Klotz installed on the Siemens S1. It was not a widely promoted game due to licensing restrictions; however, it was still a milestone in the history of mobile gaming. Another hidden secret was the N-Gage, a phone and handheld gaming system released by Nokia in 2003. This device aimed to take gamers away from the popular Game Boy due to the inclusion of mobile phone functionality. It failed dismally, at least partially because the design of the phone was not compatible with gaming.
As mobile technology became more advanced, Java-based games were introduced in the mid-2000s, revolutionizing the mobile gaming platform. Java-based phones led to the development of more sophisticated titles with improved graphics and mechanics, offering players a variety of gaming options which included puzzle games and racing simulators. However, these were limited by the memory and processing power of the early mobile phones.
How the first mobile games shaped the online casino industry
The first mobile games laid the foundation for the monumental mobile industry we have today, developers learned key lessons from them, including:
- Simplicity and straightforward mechanics, like in the game Snake, create endless engagement with very little detail.
- Easy accessibility has had a huge learning curve, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Players want easy accessibility, top tier gaming and variety.
- Social interaction and competition.
A turning point in mobile gaming
The turning point in mobile gaming came with the advent of smartphones. In 2007, Apple released its first phone. It came with a trademark home button and a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, opening new doors for mobile gaming.
Shortly thereafter, Android-powered devices were also released. Both devices took mobile gaming into a different sphere. We saw the rise of app stores in 2008, which provided a platform for developers to create and distribute their games globally. This led to a new and innovative generation of mobile games and live streaming of gaming and sports content for touchscreen devices.
In 2009, we saw the rise of casual gaming with the release of Angry Birds, a game developed by Rivio Entertainment. This simple yet addictive game became an overnight sensation with its charming graphics, intuitive gameplay and widespread access across a variety of platforms. It sparked a revolution in casual gaming and exemplified how much mobile gaming appealed to users. It set the benchmark for success in terms of mobile gaming and even led to a series of movies!
As smartphones became more prevalent, it set the wheels in motion for the free-to-play model with in-app purchases where developers offer their games for free and users enjoy on-the-go entertainment without having to empty their wallets. This model proved to be hugely successful with games like Candy Crush and Clash of the Clans generating billions in revenue.
The advent of augmented reality and virtual reality
This change is currently underway as AR and VR technology are being implemented at a hasty pace. These types of games allow players to immerse themselves in virtual worlds. In these virtual worlds, they get to interact with characters and objects in real time. Games like Ingress Prime and Pokémon Go are perfect examples of what AR gaming brings to the table. VR is another spectacular breakthrough in mobile gaming, with games like Job Simulator and Beat Saber demonstrating the potential this technology has to offer.
Has mobile gaming reached its maximum potential with mobile games evolving from pixels to immersive 3D worlds with blockchain-powered economies? Personally, I don’t believe it has reached its full potential yet. With the incorporation of 5G networks, advanced AI, cloud gaming and mobile esports, which is fast gaining traction, there is a lot of room for growth. Guaranteed, mobile gaming has a lot more history to make and it will become more immersive, social and interactive.
