PocketMatrix / Overloaded Game Coding Program

[Michael Y]

[Malmer]

[Malmer]

[Phantom]

[brendan]

[Phantom]

Nope, not really. I don't think EasyCE needs that much work however. It's pretty stable.

[BurningSheep]

I like the concept very much Jacco, I have great expectations of GPRS, this is just the kind of service that would become a hit.

[T¹]

[skybuck2000]

[Phantom]

Read the press release.

[Hosed]

Hey Phantom, I'd just like to say I think this is a fantastic idea and I can't wait to start playing around with ideas for it.

However, being in the states and being fairly ignorant of wireless technologies I haven't even heard of GPRS. What exactly is it and what's it promise over other technologies?

[skybuck]

So the press release says the games will be all over the place etc...

That sounds to good to be true :)

[Phantom]

Hosed,

GPRS is basically just a communication technology, like GSM. It's called '2G' or second generation, because it allows for much faster data communication than GSM. A GPRS connection typically equals a 56k6 connection, wich may not seem fast, but it's still way faster than a GSM connection wich comes closer to 14k4.

The cool thing of GPRS is perhaps not GPRS itself, but the technology that is using it. GSM was perfect for speech, GPRS allows for more serious data transfer. On the short term this means e-mailing from your phone, but soon we'll see much more advanced applications, like chatting (e.g., ICQ) and realtime applications: GPRS is not billed per minute that you spend online, but rather per kb that you transfer. A GPRS device is always online, so your e-mails arrive immediately. Always online and paying per kb doesn't make GPRS cheaper, but it does make it more interesting, IMHO.

Coolest thing for us is that the typical GPRS device is rather advanced: It's a PocketPC communicating with a phone using bluetooth (that's how GPRS is being used right now) or a dedicated all-in-one device, like the XDA from O2 (I'm allowed to tell you that we have a deal with O2 and we'll be right there in the main menu of EVERY XDA that is sold in The Netherlands, UK and Germany) and the Stinger phones with the Microsoft OS. But again, the devices have nothing to do with the GPRS tech itself; the i-Mode devices also use the GPRS connection, for example.

Skybuck, I hope my remark about O2 did clarify a bit about my earlier statements that we will be all over the place. There's much more, but I can only provide info on partners when I'm allowed to. I don't want to break anything.

- Jacco.

[Hosed]

Interesting. So games would have to be downloaded to the device the first time? Each time? Obviously this puts some restraints on the size of the games as well.

Is there target specs for games laid out yet? Such as max size, etc?

[Jadam]

not necessarily, you could keep the actual program in the device, and deliver content instead. one question, are the handspring treos GPRS ready?? are GPRS networks coming in the US, and what about 1xRTT networks? they run a 143.6kbs i think, and thats a fast enough speed to do some good gaming.

1st try
The killer app: a good game of snake!! lol, no really though, i think an Massive Multiplayer RPG. or a Puzzle game!!