A UNIQUE CALLING CELL PHONES OFFERING NEW COMPETITION.Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer Interrupting his talk about video games See video game console. , John Lee stared incredulously at the man talking on a cellular phone. ``Sir, is there a reason why you're using my phone to talk?'' the global brand manager for THQ THQ Toy Headquarters THQ Territorial Headquarters THQ Tehsil Headquarters (Pakistan) THQ The Holy Quran THQ Theater Headquarters Wireless said. ``These are just for games.'' The man apologized for using Lee's display model to make a call and meekly left the booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. While most of the action at the three-day trade show that ended Friday centered around new game consoles and their splashy splash·y adj. splash·i·er, splash·i·est 1. Making or likely to make splashes. 2. Covered with splashes of color. 3. Showy; ostentatious. See Synonyms at showy. software, programs that fit in your pocket featured prominently. The market for such games was virtually nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non 10 years ago; now analysts estimate it's eclipsed $2 billion in annual sales. No longer just monochrome card games or simple animation, the programs feature three-dimensional graphics, realistic sound and game play better than the arcade games You can also check the Killer List of Videogames. This is a list of arcade games organized alphabetically by name. It does not include computer or console games unless they were also released in video arcades. See Lists of video games for related lists. you grew up with. ``Everyone's got a mobile phone now, and, if you've got 20 minutes, you can sit down and play,'' said Stephane Vergernes, the senior product line manger for In-Fusio, a French game producer showing its wares at E3. ``Since the young people like to play games, they might not have a portable console, but they can just use their phone.'' Content ranges from board games This is a list of board games. This page classifies board games according to the concerns which might be uppermost for someone organizing a gaming event or party. See the article on game classification for other alternatives, or see for a list of board game articles. to scaled-down versions of console releases, allowing users to blast away using their tiny keyboards and screens. New technology allows players to compete against each other online, allowing Scrabble opponents to square off with no board, no tiles and no computer. One particularly avid player logged onto wireless carrier Sprint's network 138,000 times, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. spokeswoman Kathleen Dunleavy. ``As our network has gotten faster and our handsets have gotten more advanced, we're seeing a huge demand from our customer for games,'' she said. ``We're just besieged be·siege tr.v. be·sieged, be·sieg·ing, be·sieg·es 1. To surround with hostile forces. 2. To crowd around; hem in. 3. by developers with ideas now.'' Some cellular providers offer them on a subscription basis, while others charge a flat fee of between $1.99 and $8.99 for downloads. The average devotee downloads two each month, according to the Calabasas-based THQ's Lee. ``It's a diversion, something to do while you're waiting in line,'' he grinned. ``Our fantasy baseball's very successful on Sunday mornings, and we think that it's people not paying attention in church.'' Brent Hopkins, (818) 713-3738 brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Possible future customers try out THQ cell phone games at the E3 event Thursday at the L.A. Convention Center. (2 -- color) The opening screen from a cell phone version of ``3D Beach Mini Golf'' is shown on a Sprint cell phone. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion