Abstract
Abstract Mobile games have multiple historical origins reaching back to antique card and board game sets made for travelers, and various mechanical toys. Nintendo's Game & Watch series was an early precursor for handheld video game consoles which represent a different evolutionary path from that of mobile phone games. The mobile phone ecosystem was fragmented for a long time, both as a result of the differences in the hardware and software of mobile phones and differences between mobile network operators, all of which represented challenges for game developers. iPhone and other touch screen‐enabled smartphones have significantly changed the user experience of mobile phone games, and the online App Store distribution channels have stimulated expansive growth of inexpensive, primarily casual mobile game applications. Some mobile games make use of the unique design opportunities provided by smartphones, such as the user's location, movements, or communications. The boundaries between mobile games and games released to multiple other platforms have started to erode, consequently further complicating what constitutes a “mobile game.” Mobile and contextual gaming remains a dynamic area of research and development, as discussed in this entry.
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