Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Appendix B
SNAP Mobile
In this appendix, we introduce the development of connected mobile
games, with features such as a friends list, presence, chat or instant
messaging, rankings, head-to-head connected games, versatile world
games, matchmaking, lobbies, and game rooms. Developing and hosting
such an infrastructure is a costly and technological challenge, something
that very few companies can afford in this highly competitive market.
With that in mind, we focus our attention on Nokia's SNAP Mobile
solution (
www.forum.nokia.com/snapmobile
) for developing connected
Java ME games. It shields games companies from having to spend money
and resources building their own multiplayer game infrastructure and
provides operators, service providers, publishers and developers with
strong business opportunities and new revenue streams for mobile Java
ME games.
We begin with an overview of a SNAP Mobile game's business model,
followed by a description of the game development process. We then
review the tools used for developing connected games and finally take
a look at some code examples of games using the connected gaming
features provided by the SNAP Mobile platform.
B.1 Business Model
SNAP Mobile is Nokia's end-to-end solution for connected mobile games
and game-playing communities. It offers operators and wireless service
providers a complete turnkey approach and enables them to provide
connected mobile games and create online communities quickly and
with very little effort. SNAP Mobile uses the same technology that is used
by Nokia's N-Gage Arena.
1
Hence, the platform offers the same high
1
See
www.n-gage.com/ngi/ngage/web/uk/en/community.html
for more information
about N-Gage Arena.
