Get Connected with Mobile Multiplayer Games

EA Mobile, continuing to push the boundaries of mobile entertainment, has launched a new Tetris® multiplayer game, as well as enhanced versions of two multiplayer titles - Bejeweled and EA Pool. These perennial favorites allow players to compete against each other in real time, either across the street, or across the country. Players do not need to be on the same carrier network - a Tetris fan on a Cingular handset in New York can compete against another player on a Verizon phone in California.

Behind the Scenes Producer Brooke Olson shares her thoughts about the challenges of creating multiplayer games. » Read Interview

Multiplayer online games have grown in popularity, and as handset technology evolves, the movement has migrated to the mobile phone. We're not talking about thousands playing the same app at the same time - yet. For now, the competitive urge to take on an adversary known or unknown must be satisfied with exciting one vs. one competition. With an easy-to-use interface, players can either select an opponent, or let the network find one. With a couple of clicks the action begins. Whether you love gem-swapping puzzles, terrific Tetris action, or exciting EA Pool, real time multiplayer adds new dimensions to your gaming fun.

As evidenced by the strength of these new games, the engineers and producers at EA Mobile have taken advantage of the inherent communication capacity of the phone. Opponents can watch each other's progress as they clear lines from their Tetris grids, or match gems in Bejeweled. Watch a network hustler line up and take a pool shot immediately after you have completed yours. Not only is the real-time game play smooth and fluid, but players can impact their opponents from afar. For example, by launching a 'crazy-pad bomb' at the competition in Bejeweled, with one touch you can reverse the key pad directions of your rival's handset. The result: maddening for your competition, devilishly fun for you. After you've finished the game, interact with your adversary, whether friend or foe, by using a unique post-game chat feature - either choose pre-canned comments or by entering your own text.

In the early evolution of mobile multiplayer, engineering obstacles loomed huge: Difficulties in locating and matching opponents, and lag time between players' moves diminished game momentum and led to less than perfect results. Not the case any more. EA Mobile has taken their already excellent multiplayer engine and revved it up with new multiplayer speed, functionality and a built-into-the-game social network. Creating - and distributing - these multiplayer games for a multitude of handset and carriers poses enormous challenges. In the interview accompanying this article, Brooke Olson, one of the EA Mobile producers working on the multiplayer slate, discusses the difficulties - and rewards - of creating innovative, multiplayer games.

Like games and never experienced multiplayer? Play Tetris and see why 60 million fans have made it a world-wide hit. Connect via multiplayer to one of those Tetris fans, play an exciting game, and if you want to, chat afterwards. Be dazzled by the latest Bejeweled. Swim with the sharks: run the table with EA Pool. Sound like fun? It is. Pick up your phone and find out. And stay tuned, in the coming months, more EA Mobile multiplayer titles will hit the carrier waves everywhere, including 4-Player Pictionary, the classic quick-drawing game, and The Sims Bowling.

Tetris and Bejeweled multiplayer are now available on the Cingular and Sprint networks. EA Pool is available on Sprint and Verizon. More carriers are coming soon. Remember to visit eamobile.com on a regular basis to check availability of games for your phone using our Game Finder.

Learn More:

Tetris

Bejeweled

EA Pool

Interview with producer Brooke Olson

View Spring 2007 Newsletter

Find more games at eamobile.com