PSP World

Gaming Consoles Vie For Space on Smartphones

When it comes to technology, you can bet your bottom dollar that the advances and innovations are going to come at blazing speeds, so much so that you could go unaware of some of them because they become obsolete in no time at all. Gaming has come a long way since the days of the first handheld game console which required just two tiny silver-colored, button-like batteries and had just three or four buttons and operations. Today, it has exploded into a fantastic experience, one that has hooked both youngsters and adults alike. From full-fledged virtual reality games on your computer to simplistic one-player games on your mobile, gaming is no longer just a pastime, it's a serious hobby for some, an addiction for others, and a professional success for those involved in designing them.

Now, get ready for the gaming wars to come right to your smartphone; and no, I'm not taking about the preloaded games that come with even the simplest of phones or even those that can be downloaded to them. I'm referring to the big guns on the small screen - Sony Ericsson has set the ball rolling by packing its PlayStation pad into its newest Android-powered phone, Xperia Play. Fitted with a neat slide-out panel to allow for more effective gaming and the latest Gingerbread OS for more power, this smartphone is now your PlayStation on the go.

Not to be outdone, Microsoft has stepped up its efforts to stay in the competition by allowing greater integration with its Xbox on phones that feature the Windows Phone 7 OS - many phones already allow you to play Xbox games, and now, to sweeten the deal, Microsoft has made it possible to continue games started on your Xbox on your phone and vice versa, and also engage in two or multi-player games with people who are on their phone or gaming console.

If you prefer the PlayStation, you're going to have to shell out around $10 for each of the games, as well as $850 for the Xperia Play without the service plan. But you'll have to wait for April to get your hands on this phone which its makers are saying is targeted at the 20-30 year age group who would like to play some real games when they're forced to kill time on the move.

Samsung is not far behind with its Galaxy SII - it is being billed as the world's thinnest smartphone, and comes equipped with a 3-axis gyroscopic sensor which is supposed to open up a realm of new possibilities in the world of hand-held, on-the-go gaming.

-------------------
About the author:
This guest post is contributed by Sara McDowell, she writes on the topic of video game designer schools. She welcomes your comments at her email id: saramcdowell6[@]gmail[.]com.