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Mobile phones are getting more functional everyday. They can do an entirely new range of features that were at one time limited to handheld game consoles, pocket PC’s, and MP3 players. Lately phones seem to be able to do just about everything but cook for you. The content providers are now rushing to create even more services all to go into one tiny machine.
Today what we call a “cell” is now digital rather than cellular, but the name has stuck like the erstwhile Kleenex to the bottom of technology’s shoe. With the top of the line phones you can not only make and receive calls but your phone can emit “symphonic” ring-tones, play MP3’s, be used as a mixer, and function as a video and still camera. They will send and receive text messages, allow you to do your web browsing, and send picture/video messaging anywhere instantaneously. You can have an entire media center in your pocket that would have once filled a room. Best of all there are games. Hundreds and hundreds of games.
First Impressions
Recently I dipped my toe into the welcoming warm waters of mobile gaming by checking out two games that were provided to me by Longtail Studios. The most recent offering is called “Heartbreakers”. It’s a dating game that gets you involved in the drama of trying to manage two relationships.
Game - Play
Heartbreakers is a text driven comedy dating game. In it you play as Danny, a sandwich cart monger who manages to attract the attention of a young woman who is a music industry executive. All seems well until you are told that Danny all ready has a girlfriend of two years that he lives with. Danny has a little devil on his shoulder that influences his choices and gives him what he thinks are wise dating tips. Unfortunately the angel that should be on his other shoulder is MIA. There are multiple story-lines and possible endings.
Little “confidence bubbles” tell you how Danny is doing with the quest to date two women and keep them both in the dark about each other. The patois between Danny and the girls is humorous and trendy. You pick from a selection of responses in order to win the hearts of both girls and to keep him from living on a park bench. The game is divided into chapters and you are permitted to either save your progress or redo the chapter if you fail or if his confidence is too low. You also are told how well you have done in the love meter after each chapter. You might be “all talk” or “lame”.
In between the chapters there were mini-games that truly were mini. They were too small to see and they weren’t very interesting or much fun. You are given the option to skip those.
I also played Longtail Studio’s game from last year which is very similar, it’s called Love Triangle, which I enjoyed even more. In that game you play from the girl’s perspective. This time you play as the jealous mousey female friend who is in love with her best friend’s man. When they break up you get your chance to go for the guy, or to help your bff get back with him. The love meter is right at the top of the screen showing you just how you are doing in capturing your heart’s desire.
In Love Triangle some of the dialog seemed a bit off. There were attempts at new age and feminist dialog between women that didn’t cut it. Here’s a tip fellas, let a girl write the “girl talk”. My favorite thing about Love Triangle was the mini game. It’s called “Mugged”. Nine coffee mugs are on the screen and the object of the game is to hit your rival over the head with a spoon. There’s nothing like hitting a cheating ho over the head, what a guilty pleasure that is. Oh, did I over share?
Graphics and Sound
The graphics are simple, and similar to what you would see on a Game Boy. The screens are colorful enough. The characters have animated expressions. There are still limitations to what can be programmed into a phone for games. It’s the story that is engaging and makes you want to keep playing to see what happens in these torrid little romances that are taking place inside your phone. The sound and music are also basic and funny too.
Marketing Efforts to Women
Both games have the romance and dating angle that is clearly marketed to women gamers. For the most part I think that they accomplished what they set out to do. They are amusing diversions for when you are in line, or sitting up late waiting on those last batches of cookies in the oven.
The price for the games will be is $5.99 for an outright buy or a $2.99 subscription, on Verizon and Amp’d. Both Heartbreakers and Love Triangle are not rated by the ESRB. Most mobile phone games do not get rated, so parents need to take an active role in game choices made by kids with phones. I give both games a 7 out of 10.
Pros : They are fun and engaging time wasters. The stories were amusing.
CONS: Heartbreakers was a little short and the mini- games weren’t very good.
Total Rating -7.0
Gameplay - 7.0
Enjoyment - 7.5
Graphics - 6.5
Sound/Music - 5.0
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