The technology of today is very impressive and the specifications of the Gizmondo are most certainly mind blowing with its great power and media capabilities. Among the many features that the hand-held contains, one of the most innovative features is the GPS position signalling technology---this is the foundation of City.
City is a game that is solely designed to appeal to the on-the-go gamer, being comprised of short-time gaming missions to pass the time when you only have a few moments to spare; like travelling on the bus or within a short lunch break. This is a system that can work well but it might lack interest if the gamer is not drawn into the missions and can improve their gaming skills within them before it is over and the time limit---or the mission itself---ends.
Due to the GPS functionality that the Gizmondo possesses, it takes the location of the player within the real world and then puts that into the game itself, creating a unique and virtual gaming world that can extend to the off-line world. This means that there is no end to the creativity and play of the world within City and ever time you play it in a different location, at a different time, then it will all be new and unique. Because of this excellent system, it means that the game length of the title could go on for as long as the player wishes to travel about and use different landscapes and locations to enhance the experience of the game. The customisation of the experience within City does not stop there either. With the use of the built in digital camera in the back of the Gizmondo, the player can also take pictures and use it to personalise the city to the way it looks around you and making the gaming experience the more realistic.
Another feature within the game that is used through either the Bluetooth of the machine of through the GPS too, is the instant messaging. With this you can communicate with those who are next to you but also others who are in the same city or location as you. This would suggest that you could work together perhaps on some of the missions or merely inform them of some info that might help them in their own playing.
Through the GPS and the instant messaging it seems, from the description of the game given by Gizmondo that it will involve a lot of communication and gameplay with others who own the game and are in link with you. Finding them through the game is a main factor but there are no other indications that it might involve things such as guns or other weapons. It all seems to be about location.
All of the information surrounding this title does not offer a very clear description of the game and everything that it will actually entail; what game modes there are and what some of the missions or objectives in the game that it might actually have the player doing. However, there is a game for mobile phones that seems to be rather similar to that of City.
Mogi Mogi is a Japanese mobile game that uses the same concepts of City. Using GPS technology, it tracks your location and then puts you into the game, creating a 3D map of your surroundings and where you are in the world. From this, it also places where everyone else is nearby too, showing their location by a symbol of their character.
The main aim of Mogi Mogi is to travel through the location where you are in the real world, following markers and information, to collect items. These items collect together and add up in the end to your overall score; the one with the highest points wins. It is a great idea, that will also be the main feature of City, getting you to travel about in the real world in order to complete the missions by either locating people or items.
Mogi Mogi also has the instant message feature to inform other players of where high point items might be located. This creates a great sense of multiplayer gaming, even though you are technically playing it on your own, you can work together as a team to gain the highest point scores.
City promises to be a very up to date game. Although at this stage, the details of the game are hazy and what you will be doing within the game is not too clear, it looks to be a very creative and original idea. With the added feature of the digital camera to customize the game, City could well be a very addictive title to hook handheld gamers firmly in place and keep their fingers glued on the buttons to complete their mission objectives. Whenever something new or complex first appears, there are many who speculate it and believe that it will be a pile of utter rubbish. However, on the other hand, there are some who can see the same thing and realise the great potential that it could amount to. City is exactly that, you can see by the look and explanation of it that it will push the features of the Gizmondo, as it should, to create an original and ingenious title. TR
