Oh, how cell phones have transformed over the years. Long gone are the days of flip phones heavier than an actual brick with signal antennas that would barely work. Now, it’s a crime against humanity if a cell phone has reduced signal, let alone none. Why? Because we rely so much on the small, massively overpriced bits of technology to get us through the day.
From phone calls to social media scrolling – a study conducted by Statista concluded 44% of US adults alone couldn’t live without their phones, let alone what the rest of the world thinks.
In terms of gaming, cell phones have completely transformed the industry. On the go gaming is now easier than ever. Let’s explore how and why cell phones have had such an impact on online gaming.
Where It All Began
Cell phone games have come a long way, as have games in general. The gaming world was once not what it is today, only getting this far thanks to advancements in technology that allowed better graphics and gameplay to develop.
Tetris was the first-ever cell phone game, and its introduction in the early 1990s transformed the way people used their cell phones. Suddenly, it was more than just a device used to make calls – it was the beginning of a drastic shift in cell phone technology.
Shortly after that, Snake graced our lives and showed us how easy it was to waste a few hours playing a simple game on your phone. From there, cell phone manufacturers realized they could attract more attention by putting simple games on phones — although they were not simple back then — and sell more of them.
How It Progressed
Each year, something new came out that blew people’s minds – just as it does now. Take the concept of 5G and every G that came before that. Just when you thought there couldn’t be a quicker network, a new one arises. We can say the same about mobile gaming and how, even to this day, new advancements are revolutionizing how people game.
One example is the merger between cell phone gaming and console gaming. PlayStation and Xbox have now made it possible to connect a console controller to a cell phone, making it easier to play much-loved console games on the go without awkward cell phone controls.
Additionally, it is now easier than ever to play games such as Call of Duty on cell phones because software developers have adapted the gameplay to be suitable for cell phones, finally! Long gone are the issues with unresponsive controls, poor graphics, and glitchy gameplay. Although it is still not the same as playing on a console, the experience is now more similar than it has ever been before.
The Transition To Online Gambling
It is worth talking about the presence of online gambling and how cell phones have had an impact. Casinos realized people want to play on the go and adapted to the rest of the world. Now, 1 in 4 adults gamble using online casinos rather than land-based ones.
Why? Because it is so much easier to deposit money instantly, access hundreds of slot games, and play in a more relaxed environment. It is easy to get sucked into the whirlwind of casinos, spend a lot of money, and cannot win it back. They are fun, but online casinos eliminate a certain element of risk that comes with land-based casinos.
Although online gambling began in the early 1990s — around the same time as cell phones had more of a purpose — and it has snowballed into an industry that should be worth over $100 billion by the end of 2026.
The Most Popular Cell Phone Games
Let’s finish with some of the most popular cell phone games. There have been some immersive games over the years. Take Candy Crush as the prime example. A game that first came out in April 2012 is still consistently ranked one of the most downloaded and played games. Other games are the same, such as Angry Birds, old-school Tetris, and Clash of Clans.
If you were wondering, here are some of the most popular cell phone games right now:
- Call of Duty Mobile
- PUBG Mobile
- Minecraft: Pocket Edition
- Candy Crush
- Among Us
Cell phone games have come a long way, but as of 2021, there are 2.4 billion people who play cell phone games – and the popularity seems to grow year on year.
Our worlds revolve around our cell phones, which has led game software developers to develop with the growing demand of consumers. The future of cell phone gaming is shaping up to be better than ever thanks to technological advancements in 5G, making it easier than ever to play multiplayer online games through cell phones, as well as processing power and batteries. What would you like to see from the future of cell phone gaming?