The Rise of App Games: the Great Avian-Porcine War of 2010

November 30, 2010

Over the last few years, I've drastically reduced the amount of time I spend playing video games. Staying up all night playing XBox 360 just wasn't working out for me anymore. I decided to change my ways. I was doing so well, but then I got an iPod Touch and was introduced to my downfall: Angry Birds.

For those of you who haven't been assimilated yet, Angry Birds is an app game for iOS and Android devices. What's the premise of this simple yet addictive game?  A group of evil green pigs has stolen the birds' eggs. The birds must fling themselves from a slingshot to take out the pigs and their defenses. That's pretty much it.

Yes, I know it sounds stupid, but I CAN'T STOP PLAYING THIS GAME! I must get 3 stars on all levels! I must get all the Golden Eggs!

But enough about my problems. There's a major trend happening here: app gaming is beginning to make serious inroads into the market share dominated by handheld gaming devices such as the Sony PSP and the Nintendo Gameboy/DS. What is an app game? It's simply a software game designed to run on a smartphone (or other mobile device) rather than a PC or dedicated gaming console. While there are other types of apps, (productivity, reference, shopping, weather, etc) games have dominated the app market. 

Most people don't carry a Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3 around at all times. They don't even usually carry a PSP or DS at all times. What they do usually carry at all times is their cell phone. Will smartphones like the iPhone 4 and the Android (not to mention the iPod Touch, iPad and other tablet devices) make the dedicated handheld gaming device obsolete? It's still too early to be sure. What I do know is I MUST DESTROY THOSE PIGS!  Fear the wrath of my birds!

Sorry about that. I just get a little carried away. If you have a favorite app game, why don't you share it with us in the comments?

Now excuse me while I do something productive...like SMASH PIGS!

-Jeff D.
Grandview Branch