NRG and Nokia deliver the book that teaches how to work within the complex, Nokia-proprietary wireless game development platform, N-Gage. Official documentation from Nokia for developers learning how to program mobile games that use the Nokia N-Gage platform. Technology has always driven the game industry forward and introduced new opportunities to create compelling user experiences and positive surprises for the consumers.

While technology has been the main driver, the importance of usability cannot be underestimated. Today, the game industry is facing the challenge and opportunity to bring games available for the population of over a billion cell phone users around the world. With this, cell phones are quickly becoming a platform for game play and a large one at that. Unlike console games, there are numerous platforms to play in the mobile game space, also known as wireless game play, and mobile service providers play a large role in what games you can get and play.

No matter what type of mobile game you're working with (i.e. which platform - Nokia, Sony, etc. - or what type of game -simple text message games, highly developed Java games, console-like rich games, etc.) the challenge is the same: How do you make mobile games easy to obtain and use? With so many variables, developers and designers are in need of a book that shows them what they need to know. New Riders Games brings you the book that will help solve it all.

Through a partnership with Nokia, we bring the book that will teach you how to work within the wireless game world. The Nokia N-Gage platform is the tool that will be used to teach the hands-on tips and techniques developers and designers need to know.

Contents

• Convergence
  • From Spacewar to The Sims-Aiming for the Next Level
  • Cutting the Wires-The Evolution of the Mobile
  • Nokia N-Gage-A Converged Killer Cocktail?
  • Conclusion
• The Value Chain
  • Building the Ecosystem
  • Shipping, Selling, Software
  • Sign Up and Serve
  • The N-Gage Business Model
  • Money Talks-Make Games Better, Not Bigger
  • Conclusion
• Enabling Technologies
  • Enter The Plot!
  • The Symbian Operating System-The Open Playground
  • Java on the Handset-J2ME
  • The Newer, Funnier WAP
  • Playing with Messages
  • Networking-An Integral Part of Mobile Games
  • High Speed, High Action with Bluetooth
  • Rock Your Opponents Miles Away-Gaming over GPRS
  • And There's More... Over the Air
  • The Network Is the Game
  • Who Operates a Game Server?
  • Spotting Your Target-Location-Aware Games
  • Conclusion
• The Mobile Game Studio
  • Evolution of the Game Design
  • Get Ready to Rock and Rumble-Making a Game Plan
  • Think Ahead-Success Factors of a Mobile Game
  • Make It Happen-Implementing the First Mobile Game
  • Stick Out from the Crowd-The Role of Brands
  • Conclusion
• The M-Generation And Gaming
  • M-Literacy and the Digital Lifestyle
  • Games and Humans-Inseparable
  • The Ultimate Form of Fun-What Makes Games Tick?
  • Not All Gamers Are Alike-Different Types of Mobile Gamers
  • Mobile Gaming Styles of the M-Generation
  • Conclusion
• Innovate!
  • Team Up-Mobile Community Aspects
  • Innovation Through Various Channels
  • Pushing the Limits-Real-Life Games
  • Innovation Delivery-From Products to Services
  • Conclusion
• Glossary
• Notes
• Index