UbiqGames : casual, educational, multiplayer games for mobile and desktop platforms

Abstract

The mission of the UbiqGames project is to develop a suite of casual, educational, multiplayer games that are playable across a wide variety of operating systems and devices. To accomplish this goal, we plan on making use of the expanding availability of wireless networks and the increasing capabilities of mobile browsers to build engaging and dynamic web-based games. This paper will document the progression of the UbiqGames project and take a deeper technical look at the first two games built under its heading: Virus and Weatherlings. Initial questions we wanted to answer were whether mobile browsers could handle complex web applications and whether the small screen size would significantly hinder game play. Results from multiple play tests have demonstrated that these games can be executed successfully, and user feedback has shown that players are receptive of the educational aspects of the game and enjoy the overall experience.