I've published my latest roundup on everything related to multiplayer gaming on the Pocket PC. Not only for players.

The main article address: http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/men...MPPPCGames.asp
The backup article address (should you not be able to access the article at the above address): http://winmobiletech.com/102005MPGam...PPPCGames.html

Comments are welcome

Table of contents:

1.1 Wireless Connection Types 7
1.1.1 Strictly local connections 7
1.1.1.1 Directly managed BT and IR connections 8
1.1.2 Internet connection- and/or IP-based connections 8
1.1.2.1 Games with a central Internet server 9
1.1.2.2 Serverless IP address-based games 10
1.1.3 Examples of connections 11
1.1.3.1 IP-less local (natively managed) connections 11
1.1.3.2 IP-based local (BT PAN/Wi-Fi) games (no Internet connetion required) 11
1.1.3.3 IP-based serverless Internet p2p 12
1.1.3.4 Server-based (both locally and developer-hosted) 12
1.1.3.4.1 Games that use a centralized server and can't be used with local servers 12
1.1.3.4.2 Games that can use both a centralized server and a local server 12
1.1.3.4.3 Games can only use a local, user-run server 13
1.2 Software houses with several MP titles 13
1.2.1 Fathammer (a.k.a. Vasara Games) 13
1.2.2 DreamQuest 14
1.2.3 i-mate titles 15
1.2.3.1 i-mate Checkers Multiplayer (trial available here) 16
1.2.3.2 i-mate Dominoes Multiplayer 16
1.2.3.3 i-mate Backgammon Multiplayer 16
1.2.3.4 i-mate Number Place 1.2.3.5 i-mate Blackjack Multiplayer 16
1.2.3.6 i-mate Lines Interactive 17
1.2.3.7 i-mate Cosmo Interactive 17
1.2.3.8 i-mate Filler Multiplayer, 1.1 17
1.2.3.9 i-mate Pool Multiplayer 17
1.2.4 OmniGSoft 17
1.2.5 Infinite Dreams 19
1.2.6 Mobirate 19
1.3 Chess games (other than the DreamQuest title) 20
1.3.1 A side remark: FICS & Java 21
1.3.2 Chesscapade 1.52sv1.24 by SUPERSCAPE 21
1.3.3 Valentin Iliescu's multiplayer chess 22
1.3.4 IntelliChess 2.7.33 by Intorine 23
1.3.5 Olmichess 2.61 by OlmiSoft 24
1.4 Torpedo (a.k.a. Battleship) games 25
1.4.1 Handmark Battleship 1.06 25
1.4.2 Space Tactics 1.0 by ZIO Interactive 26
1.5 Miscallenous (other) games 26
1.5.1 Warfare Incorporated 1.2 26
1.5.2 CanTris 091002 26
1.5.3 Quartz 2 PocketPC (WM2003), 1.2 by Elements Interactive BV 27
1.5.4 Multiplayer Championship Poker - Texas Hold'em (Pocket PC), 2.14 by Realdice.com 27
1.5.5 TapzMania: Bug Killer 1.01 by RU0 games 28
1.5.6 CUBE 29
1.5.7 Snails 2.6 by PDAMill 29
1.5.8 RocketElite by Douglas Beck/Digital Concepts 30
1.5.9 Wyvern client 30
1.5.9.1 Jeode 1.7.3 31
1.5.9.2 Jeode 1.9.3 31
1.5.9.3 Mysaifu 1.0.5 31
1.5.9.4 IBM WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment 5.7.2 - Personal Profile 1.0 (AKA J9) 32
1.5.9.5 CrEme 4.0b8 32
1.5.9.6 VGA mode 32
2. Untested and/or IR-only and/or not really MP games 33
2.1 Untested because of the lack of a trial version and/or disabled multiplayer mode in demo/trial 33
2.1.1 Bingo, 2.0 33
2.1.2 Pocket-Jongg 4.2.net for Pocket PC, 4.2.1 33
2.1.3 PopperZ 1.0 33
2.1.4 MicroQuad 1.1 34
2.1.5 Pocket Bar Billiards 1.21 34
2.1.6 iGolf 1.04 by CECRAFT 34
2.1.7 Touch Poker 1.0.1 by Touchdev Limited 35
2.2 "multiplayer on the same device" (no wireless / inter-PDA) titles 35
2.2.1 Scavenger Ride "Signs", 1.0 36
2.2.2 Quash 36
2.2.3 Mad Marbles, 1.0 36
2.2.4 Reversi (Othello) for Pocket PC, 1.3 36
2.2.5 Quizland, 1.1 36
2.2.6 Pachisi, 1.0 36
2.2.7 Bonus Dots Head2Head, 1.5 36
2.2.8 Counter Sheep, Second Edition v1.5 from Oz Creations 36
2.2.9 BrickSlider (Pocket PC edition), 2.01 37
2.2.10 Simbsoft Volleyball 37
2.2.11 Resco Seal Ball (v1.10) 37
2.2.12 Resco Table Soccer 38
2.2.13 MetalShard Pocket War 38
2.2.14 Pocket Mini Golf 2 38
2.2.15 Atomic Cannon 39
2.3 IR only – no support for other ways of communication 39
2.3.1 Scrabble 1.01 39
2.3.2 KSE Backgammon 2.0 by KSE Software 39
2.3.3 Microsoft Entertainment PocketPak by Microsoft Corporation 39
2.3.4 Exit Nights 40
2.3.5 The four games from Webfoot Technologies 40
2.4 Announced as MP games but not released yet 40
2.4.1 Tactical Incursion from Xen games 41
2.4.2 The IMAGiNET MP games 41
2.4.3 Europa Universalis II 41
2.4.4 Ballshooter Games' Caramba! Caribbean Pirates 41
2.4.5 Lands of Shadowgate from Infinite Ventures 41
2.5 Stopped being developed/hosted 41
2.5.1 Jake Poznanski's Pocket Game Network 42
2.6 Non-working and/or haven't had the time to fine-tune it 42
2.6.1 Classic Checkers 2.0 42
2.6.2 MobileChess 2.0 from ID Gaming 42
2.6.3 Dan East's Pocket Quake I 43
2.6.4 Quake Mobile 44
2.6.5 GridBloc Game - Wi-Fi / WirelessPPC edition, 1.37 44
3. The main comparison chart 44

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

Very, very nicely done, sir! This has helped me tremendously! Props!

Updated the article with
- a review of The Travel Collection 1.5.1 by pocketadventures.com (WOW! This game is very good!)
- new IBM J9 bug reports (Wyvern)
- Mysaifu 1.0.6 test report (Wyvern)

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

A new version of the roundup has been posted:

- (now that its MP code works on WM2003SE), an entirely updated section on Multiplayer Championship Poker - Texas Hold'em v2.20 by Realdice.com
- (now that I've - at last - received the account verification codes), an entirely updated section on Classic Checkers 2.0 by GameEnergy.com
- some other modifications; for example, a direct link to my new Gaming with the Microsoft BT stack-related article here

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

A new version has been published because Travel Collection 1.6 has been released.

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

Great job!

It's that time of year again. I need a new holiday avatar... Is there anyone up to the challenge?

 

Added a review of Battle Cake X-mas 1.0, a decent (really worth trying out if you're into arcade MP games), multiplatform, 4-players-at-most, Bluetooth-only mulitplayer game. See section 1.5.12.

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

I briefly tried the demo of Battle Cake X-Mas last week. I just couldn't get into it.

It's that time of year again. I need a new holiday avatar... Is there anyone up to the challenge?

 

Brand new review of the new version of Battle Cake: http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ind...3&p=519&more=1

In addition, I'm just updating the roundup with WM5-specific information - I'll publish the new version really soon.

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

The roundup has just been updated with the latest up-to-date information.

- updated the OmniGSoft review with a review of their latest JetFight and DogFight versions released last month. (They, for example, added 240*240 square screen support.)

- updated the TapzMania review with my genuine registry hack to relocate the music files from the main storage to anywhere else.

- updated the Wyvern section with the latest, CrEme-related developments.

- added a section on Buglord.

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

Updated the article with:

- compatibility information with Dell Axim x51v (or the WM5 x50v) running the Widcomm BT stack – this is a must for any player wanting to play multiplayer games on the Axim!
- (some) compatibility information with the iPAQ hx4700 upgraded to WM5
- links to my latest articles on improving the native Widcomm Bluetooth-stack compliance on all Widcomm devices.
- Wyvern compliance update: now, with CrEme's TinyAWT, you can run the game at excellent speed on all pre-Windows Mobile 5 devices! A tutorial on the configuration included.

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

Article updated with:

- a brand new section & links of the new Wontom Poker multiplayer title (see my today's review of the game)

- updated info & links on Cube (see my 2-week-old article on the game)

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.

    

I've just finished updating the Windows Mobile Multiplayer Bible with the latest information / links. Make sure you check it out if you like playing multiplayer games on your Windows Mobile device!

Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices, 2006, 2007. See my PPC & SP blog HERE.