Flashback: the first gaming phones quickly went from Tetris to downloadable 3D games

24 January 2021
In the beginning, devs snuck Tetris into the service menu. Later, Club Nokia would serve as a primitive app store.

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  • l
  • lolme
  • 6XN
  • 24 Jan 2021

im impressed. didnt know there were firmware updates even back then.

    I don't play games, but sometimes it's just interesting to see what is possible with these mobile phones. We saw huge improvements in mobile games earlier, but last years it's been very stagnant progress. Reason is simple, developers want to support as many devices they can so they can make more money. There's only few games which really challenge the performance of these devices and what they are capable.

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      • AnonD-940827
      • 8pQ
      • 24 Jan 2021

      Devil , 24 Jan 2021Sony has an amazing potential at making gaming phones but t... moreThey did once. Far from expected sale. That's why they aren't making more.

      But yes, Playstation mobile console. Competition to Nintendo switch.

        Vegetaholic, 24 Jan 2021Back with your BS? :D mobiles overtaking gaming laptops and... moreI only play using high frame rates and high sampling rates. With ultra low internet latency. Bearing in mind I can dock my gaming phone with a Lan cable cat 8 straight to the modem.

        I know some friends whose computers and consoles can't go above 60fps... And same with there TVs.

        Everytime I use my gaming phone. That high refresh rate and touch sampling combined with cooling and air triggers, clearly gives me the upper hand. And the sound. Red magic with DTS:x 7. 1 and 32 bit dedicated sound card. Which in most phones is 24bit. Makes the stereo audio immersive. Deep and quite bassy for a phone. Combined with 4D effects.

          Vegetaholic, 24 Jan 2021Back with your BS? :D mobiles overtaking gaming laptops and... moreExcuse me... Please read again... I did not say at all that gaming phones have overtaken gaming PC or gaming Laptops. I did actually say... To rival some of them possibly. In some principle areas. Your beginning sentence was clearly the exaggeration. Thank you.

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            • Devil
            • myU
            • 24 Jan 2021

            Sony has an amazing potential at making gaming phones but they won't...

              Vegetaholic, 24 Jan 2021Back with your BS? :D mobiles overtaking gaming laptops and... moreThat's completely false, you can play hundreds of PC or Xbox game on Samsung devices (tablets and phones). You don't need a killer PC anymore, or actually any PC at all. You get a free controller with high-end Samsung phones, all you need to do is subscribe to Xbox Gamepass and you can play unlimited. And playing on tablet is pretty similar to a regular Xbox, yes, you have a smaller screen but that screen is also much closer to your face so it's not an issue.

                • D
                • AnonD-940827
                • 8pQ
                • 24 Jan 2021

                MagicMonkeyBoy, 24 Jan 2021Amazing how I am reading this after playing PUBG Payload 2.... moreImagine a switch, with the powers of the new gamer phones. But with access to all the games android/ios also has.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-940827
                  • 8pQ
                  • 24 Jan 2021

                  Wasn't snake before Tetris, on phone gaming?

                    MagicMonkeyBoy, 24 Jan 2021Amazing how I am reading this after playing PUBG Payload 2.... moreBack with your BS? :D mobiles overtaking gaming laptops and desktops? :D you are something, most exaggerating person about mobile gaming on this site for sure. Well yes, phone hardware is on impressive levels definitely rivaling laptops, problem is with software and gaming support. People play mobile games which are basic and not overcomplicated require short period of time to play. Software wise mobile games are 10-15 years behind PC or consoles. You can only play basic games like PUBG or some very old classic, rest are pure garbage and can't even close to PC or console gaming and mobile gaming will never catch consoles or PC gaming because there is no demand for that. People who really wants to play console level games on the go they just use consoles itself like Switch. Mobile gaming will be based on casuals and that will not change for long time for sure :)

                      To find Mankiki World on a brand new 3410 back in the day and play was something incredible :)

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • i84
                        • 24 Jan 2021

                        Anonymous, 24 Jan 2021Snake was my introduction to mobile gaming, lol. I played i... moreSame! I was playing it a lot!
                        *My father didn't had the 6110 but the 3110 instead.

                          Sony still has the chance the revive the Xperia Play. They should launch it at a 'flagship killer' price (not 1000 euro or something). Would be such an amazing thing to play old psp games on it. Altho i dont think so many people would buy it because of the PSP emulator 'ppsspp'. However, it would be surprising if they launch a new Xperia Play.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 35h
                            • 24 Jan 2021

                            I remember those weird times) I had one of symbian phone. I ran games via doom emulator. And one of games was CS 1.6. Map called Dust and even though it was really difficult to play the opportunity to play itself intrigued me as well as other who saw it on my phone. Moreover, the game. (CS) was about 7Mb ant it took ages to download and I wasnt even sure whether I would be able run it or not)

                              I remember have awed people, especially students, were when they saw my Sony-Ericsson P800 playing Lucasart games like turtle Island, Sam n max, day of the tentacle, grimm fandango, etc etc through scummvm ememulator, in 2001, they did look so vibrant and bright compared to everything else, and played without a hic cup.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • inR
                                • 24 Jan 2021

                                Snake was my introduction to mobile gaming, lol. I played it a lot more than I should have. It was a bit like mine sweeper and solitaire on windows. Just a superb time waster.

                                  Amazing how I am reading this after playing PUBG Payload 2.0 on my RGB flashing, Air/Liquid cooled Red Magic Monster... Interesting I just came 1st place. Then switched out of gaming mode. And read this nice article about some history of phones with games. Evolving to gaming phones...

                                  Well... Whilst playing PUBG at 90FPS. Gaming phones really are something. In some ways they have even overtaken some PC's and laptops... And beginning to even rival some Gaming PC's and Gaming Laptops I have some principle areas.

                                  It is simply amazing the rapid evolution of gaming phones... I have had my gaming phone just under one year. I am so impressed with it. Even now... In fact I am so impressed with gaming phones. That I am already planning on buying another gaming smartphone. - The problem is... All gaming phones for 2021 are sooo good. I need to take a very serious detailed comparison between them all. And take my time choosing one.

                                  One thing for sure... Gaming phones never disappoint
                                  A gaming phone is way above and beyond any conventional flagship. Gaming phones always give you the edge. Big time.

                                  If you really enjoy gaming. And want to launch those scores to another level... The answer is simple. A gaming phone. Enjoy! And start getting used to winning 90%+ of the time...