GPS-enabled games on your mobile

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via Strange New Products

Blister Entertainment has developed a couple of GPS-enabled Java cell phone games for Boost Mobile of the United States. These 2 games, “Swordfish” and “Torpedo Bay” take advantage of the GPS capabilities on some cell phones by determining the user’s geographical location and then generating a virtual playing field depending on the location.

The objective of Swordfish is to reel in catches with your trusty rod. There are randomly placed fish all over the map, and GPS data determines the player’s position so that he can see where the closest school of virtual fish reside. Walking around in the right direction will bring you closer to the school of fish, while running expedites the process further.

Torpedo Bay utilizes a technology called “Location Application Platform” (LAP), creating a multi-player environment. This technology enables players using different carriers and networks to interact within the same gaming environment, creating an immersive experience in a virtual world while hiding their actual physical locations via PseudoPositioning algorithms. In Torpedo Bay, you pilot your submarine and torpedo enemy ships while replenishing your health and ammunition. Your submarine is overlayed above a street map which is littered with enemy ships, ammo boxes, and health.