ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the history and technological developments of mobile gaming, which has played a significant role in shaping the video game market of today. It includes the companies and technologies that have fostered these platforms to the major breakthroughs over the evolution of mobile gaming. The chapter covers key indie (independent) and major publisher game titles from each decade, from mobile gaming’s casual beginnings to the high-fidelity games of today. The chapter also highlights the key individuals who have helped shape today’s mobile landscape, in addition to the organizations who celebrate the platform with annual awards. Smartphones evolved from PDAs by utilizing their computer-like, multimedia functionality. The first PDAs were the Organiser series released by the British company Psion in the mid-1980s. A major reason for the success of mobile and casual gaming was accessibility, as more consumers adopted feature phones, which included the ability to play video games.
