Verizon VCAST: Mobile Games Grow Up

By Steve Palley
Design by Collin Oguro

Rather than a complex technical explanation, a quick analogy may be the best way to illustrate the state of next-generation cellular services. So-called "3G" (third-generation) cell networks currently stand somewhere between Duke Nukem Forever and the Nokia N-Gage in the minds of most North American cellular consumers. The media hype machine, venture capital firms, and mysterious middleware solutions providers have formed a very nice positive feedback loop around 3G's commercial foundations. However, the average Joe simply hasn't seen the goods--and even if he had, he'd wonder whether his monthly bill was getting put to good use. Why bother with fancy streaming video and music videos when the networks can't even deliver consistent voice service?

Thus far, most North American mobile users have demonstrated that they're only interested in the most fundamental usages of cellular technology, relative to the rest of the developed world. It follows that only the most aggressive (and best situated) of the major North American carriers would be willing to take a chance on the first widely available 3G network on the continent. That's right: New Jersey-based Verizon Wireless, of "reception geek" and "Get It Now" fame, has launched that very service--branded V CAST--on February 1, across 30 major urban markets in the United States, with more cities to join in the near future.

In truth, Verizon has been operating its 3G services since 2003 in a few select cities for testing purposes, but there were no commercial handsets or multimedia services on sale at that time; the only way a subscriber could connect to the over-the-air broadband was through a special PC card. For the hard launch, Verizon will roll out three brand-new EV-DO (the technology that powers Verizon's 3G network) handsets for consumers, as well as a bundle of snappy new multimedia services--which happens to include a double handful of new 3D games!

The V CAST generation of mobile games are going to redefine your conception of cell phone gaming. The new phones' increased memory capacity, bigger screens, and faster processors give mobile developers a lot more design leeway than they're used to, which in turn leads to a quantum leap in the quality level of the content. In addition, the faster download speeds make episodic content like the downloadable levels used in SuperScape's S.W.A.T. 3D and Disney Mobile's Kingdom Hearts a reality. In short, the chasm between mobile games and all of GameSpot's other gaming platforms is about to narrow to the size of a crack in the sidewalk. If you don't believe us, check out our previews of the V CAST launch lineup and start microwaving that crow.

Details

According to Verizon, as of February 1, 2005, the V CAST service is available to Verizon subscribers in the following 30 markets:

• Atlanta
• Austin, TX
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas/Ft. Worth
• Dayton, OH
• Hartford, CT
• Houston
• Jacksonville, FL
• Kansas City, KS/MO
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Madison, WI
• Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Milwaukee
• New Haven, CT
• New Orleans
• New York/Newark, NJ
• Orlando, FL
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Providence, RI
• San Diego
• Tampa, FL
• Washington, DC
• West Palm Beach, FL

Verizon representatives have said that the service is to expand to cover 150 million Americans by the end of 2005, although the company has not specified which markets will receive V CAST next. Accessing V CAST will cost current Verizon subscribers $15 per month on top of their current plan. Some content purchases, such as downloadable 3D games, will cost an additional per-unit fee. V CAST will also offer substantial on-demand video and music products for streaming and download, including NBC newscasts, VH1 music videos and Comedy Central content, Web browsing, and special mobile episodes of popular TV shows like Fox's 24. Most of the video content appears to be available in chunks that are three minutes long or less, and it is of a very watchable quality.

The V CAST launch features three new EV-DO-enabled handsets, courtesy of LG, Samsung, and UTStarcom. V CAST's featured launch handset, the LG VX8000, is similar to the popular LG VX7000 in most respects, aside from its EV-DO antenna, increased application memory, and somewhat bulkier form factor. Like the LG VX7000, the LG VX8000 can take 15-second video clips and is also equipped with a 1.3-megapixel camera and stereo speakers. The VX 8000's screen is slightly larger in both dimensions, and it has more battery capacity than the 7000. So what kind of games can we expect to see, and how much will they cost?

Q&A with Paul Palmieri

Executive Director, Business Development & Programming, Verizon Wireless

Paul Palmieri is Verizon's single most important decision-maker for "Get It Now"'s multimedia and application offerings, including mobile games. Palmieri filled in some of the blanks on Verizon's games strategy for V CAST in a recent e-mail interview:

GS: Judging from the launch portfolio of games for V CAST, it looks like the service will be leaning heavily on a few of the larger, more successful developers (and brands). Do you anticipate that V CAST will adhere to this strategy going forward, or are we going to see the game offerings open up over time?

[Paul Palmieri]: V CAST games require a new level of technology and investment in each title, based on several factors. The first is 3D, which is being achieved in these titles using software-based 3D rendering. Second is the depth of the game (levels, options, features, etc...). Finally, the size of the games range from 1 to 2MB. All of this led us naturally to a place where the larger publishers from both the console and wireless became the early supporters of V CAST games. Over the next several months, you will continue to see additional major console and handheld games publishers launch titles on V CAST.

GS: How often will the game offerings be refreshed on V CAST? Ultimately, will V CAST follow the Verizon model for updating content on a weekly basis, more or less?

PP: When there are new V CAST games, they will be refreshed in our weekly catalog updates. We do, however, expect there to be fewer titles available for V CAST, because our focus is on delivering a certain level of gameplay quality that consumers will find real value in, and that cannot be matched via over-the-air downloads on last-generation networks and handsets. So, we do foresee weeks where there will be nothing new in the V CAST Games category.

GS: As a corollary, how are V CAST's games offerings going to be presented? How's the new V CAST "deck" going to work? Will V CAST take advantage of its speed to offer over-the-air screenshots/video previews for games?

PP: We have found the "Get It Now" discovery and purchase process to be simple and straightforward, so we will look to leverage the same features for V CAST Games. We will also be running a mobile show called V CAST Live that will feature games, game movies, and previews each week. V CAST Live is available on the V CAST Showcase Channel. For instance, this week we have some great footage from the 3D version of Asphalt: Urban GT.

GS: What's Verizon's thinking on the balance of gameplay offerings on V CAST? Will a lot of "casual" titles be making the transition? Will these games be able to use multiplayer in new ways due to broadband?

PP: Some casual titles will make the transition, like Jamdat Bowling 3D and SuperScape's AMF Pro Bowling. We see the puzzle, casino, and strategy game market remaining in the Get Games Category. We see fantastic growth in the multiplayer gaming area, but virtually all of it is related to the casual game genres, which will be served extremely well in Get Games. V CAST games may well move in that direction, and broadband speeds certainly portend great capabilities, but this hasn't been a focus of the publishers for the first wave of content. As we see more titles being simultaneously released across consoles, handheld, and V CAST, customers will see that our broadband network offers the backbone for truly great crossover play.

GS: All gamers, mobile and otherwise, are very curious about pricing. Are these V CAST games looking mostly like one-time purchases, subscription-based, or both? Will V CAST usher in a new commercial model for mobile games, such as episodic pricing, micropayments, and so on?

PP: V CAST Games will be priced at two levels, based on their level of gameplay. They will be either $8.99 or $9.99 for a one-time purchase, or offered on a monthly subscription for $2.49 and $2.99, respectively.

V CAST Games Previews

The most important characteristic that distinguishes the 11 V CAST launch titles from typical mobile games is their size. The smallest V CAST title weighs in at about 500k, while the largest tips the scales at just under 2 megabytes; by comparison, a large majority of downloadable mobile games that came out in 2004 were 300k or less. This extra space translates into 3D graphics and improved sound quality across the spectrum of V CAST games, although the gameplay, on average, remains much simpler than that featured in console games. The following games will be available from the "3D Games" section of Get It Now on February 1:

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow

Gameloft's already ridden the mobile Sam Fisher to glory, thanks to two previously released, stellar side-scrolling stealth games that came out in 2004. We haven't had a chance to play the new V CAST version yet, but judging from the screens, this chapter will take advantage of the LG VX8000's horsepower to offer the third- and first-person gameplay perspective more familiar to fans of Ubisoft's console Splinter Cell franchise. All of the usual accoutrement will accompany Fisher on this eight-level mission through the wilds of Indonesia, including Fisher's proximity sensor and light meter, as well as his trusty pistol, which he can use to shoot out lightbulbs.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Jungle Storm

The fact that Gameloft is porting several of its popular N-Gage games more or less intact to V CAST is a vivid illustration of the new system's power. Jungle Storm wasn't available for download on our test LG VX8000, but we can safely assume that the premise of the game remains the same: liberate Columbia from an evil gang of narco-terrorists--with guns! We're not sure whether the V CAST version will include all of the N-Gage game's weapons, levels, and other features, but the graphics appear to be almost identical.

Asphalt: Urban GT

All told, this will be the fourth version of Gameloft's street-racing game for handheld gaming systems, and we are happy to report that almost nothing has been lost in the translation. The V CAST edition of Asphalt: Urban GT has a level of graphical acuity that is only slightly grainier than that in the N-Gage game, and it runs at an incredibly smooth frame rate--well over 20 frames per second. The MIDI-based sound isn't as amazing, especially since there's no engine noise, but the music is very comprehensive from a mobile point of view. Like its stripped-down, 2D cousin, you can play Asphalt using the 8000's D pad alone to turn, accelerate, brake, and hit your nitro boost. It offers all of the same game modes that N-Gage users enjoy, from cop chase and time attack to the car-collecting evolution mode, in addition to the full slate of levels. Unfortunately, there's no Bluetooth multiplayer here, due to the 8000's sad lack of Bluetooth capabilities. Still, this iteration of Asphalt is quite possibly the most impressive downloadable mobile game we've ever seen in North America, and it's a great headline title for Verizon's next-generation service.

Spider-Man 2 3D: NY Rooftops

V CAST is indeed a bold move on Verizon's part, but the operator isn't ready to abandon all of the conventions of mobile video games at once. Several of V CAST's launch games, such as Spider-Man 2, are major licensed properties. Spider-Man 2 is a collection of five 3D minigames that put your superhero chops through their paces by testing your timing and rhythm skills. In the first game, you have to help Spidey climb up the side of a skyscraper toward a rooftop confrontation with Doc Ock and his goons. The trick is to keep an eye on your three Spidey-sense meters while gaining altitude, because you'll have to dodge Ock's mechanical arms at odd intervals. Reaching a certain point threshold opens up the next level, which simulates a hand-to-hand battle with Ock's henchmen via a simple rhythm game. Even though these games are simple, they're challenging enough to require your full attention as well as a few practice runs to advance. Plus, Spidey's prearranged animations are fun to watch, from his web-slinging to his acrobatic combat combinations.

S.W.A.T. The Movie: 3D Game

SPM is leveraging another of its popular film properties, last summer's Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson action thriller S.W.A.T., for its next V CAST game, a first-person rail shooter modeled after Virtua Cop. The screen is divided into nine targeting sections that correspond to the keys on the 8000's number pad. As the perspective moves slowly around several 3D environments, like a rooftop and a subway, you have to shoot down terrorists as they pop up, while avoiding innocent civilians and taking care to keep bullets in your gun. As downloaded, the game only consists of four short training sequences, but the four larger levels are available for free over a quick V CAST download. S.W.A.T. The Movie is an impressively smooth action title that takes an intelligent approach to putting a rail shooter on mobile. On a small screen, and without precision controls, the whack-a-mole approach is much easier to deal with than a maneuverable cursor. The terrorists' animation and tactics could have used a little more attention, but this is an enjoyable game nonetheless.

Jamdat Bowling 3D

Jamdat Bowling, one of the most successful mobile games ever made, is making a very unsurprising appearance on V CAST. The 3D version's graphics have been spruced up to fit in with the rest of the launch titles, but the Jamdat's award-winning core gameplay remains the same: aim your ball, set the power, set the spin, and rip yourself a turkey! From our time with the game, it seems as though Jamdat has successfully transitioned the essence of its landmark franchise to 3D while also adding a host of new features and user-interface improvements. For one thing, there are now six dynamically switchable camera angles to use when watching the results of your roll, which really show off the game's solid polygonal graphics. Jamdat has also added a four-person pass-and-play mode for impromptu tournaments, some great stat-keeping functionality, and a cute menu system that comes in the form of a "Jamdat TV." Although it appears to have dispensed with over-the-air multiplayer, Jamdat Bowling 3D has plenty of customization options. You can opt to roll on a "street alley," for example, which comes complete with a yellow center line. In all, it goes a long way toward establishing the casual part of the V CAST lineup.

Kingdom Hearts

Ever since we published our preview of Kingdom Hearts in the summer of 2004, the demand for information on Sora's mobile adventure has been sky-high. We couldn't divulge the handset or service we were using to play the game at that time, but now that V CAST is launching, the cat is out of the bag. For some gamers, Kingdom Hearts was sure to be V CAST's must-have game, whether it ended up being any good or not. However, those that don't know or care about this action-RPG collaboration between Disney and Sqaure Enix should give it a download. The same 3D graphics that threw us for a loop over the summer look a lot less revolutionary when placed in the context of the other V CAST games; but they're still fantastic. Sora swings his key blade at the shadow monsters with a nicely animated aplomb, and the game offers lots of neat visual effects for magic spells. The first chapter, which details Sora's escape from a desert island, will take seasoned gamers only a half hour to complete, but the subsequent chapters (the next one features an encounter with the hookah-puffing caterpillar) are available as in-game downloads. As of press time, there's no word on how much the new episodes will cost if Disney ends up charging on a modular basis.

AMF Xtreme Bowling

Verizon couldn't just hand Jamdat the keys to the nascent V CAST bowling game empire; it felt obliged to bring some competition on board. AMF Xtreme Bowling is a much different game in many respects, but it goes toe-to-toe with Jamdat Bowling 3D in the quality department, and players who appreciate a third-person viewpoint might even prefer it. You get to hit the lanes with your pick from a group of two male and two female bowlers, set up their shots with the standard array of meters, and watch them lunge toward the foul line with a deliberately measured combination of power and grace. If you mess up, you might actually have to witness an ignominious pratfall or two, including a belly slide down the alleyway for particularly nasty fouls. AMF Xtreme Bowling also offers a number of special lanes, including a jungle alley, and game modes like practice and tournament.

Evel Knievel Evel-ution 3D

The 2D version of this stunt biking game, which lets you relive the omni-insanity of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, came out this summer and promptly slipped under the radar. To avoid a repeat performance, SuperScape is giving Evel a full-body makeover for his V CAST debut, and the nutty speed demon has never looked better. The controls and premise are exactly the same as the first go-around: using only the direction keys to balance, and keeping Knievel in one piece while jumping fountains and cars, hurtling through flaming hoops, and popping wheelies for his adoring fans at the Guinness Book of World Records. This easy-to-learn system is still a great fit for mobile, and now that Evel's in full 3D, you'll be able to see how unconscionably dangerous his stunts really were from a third-person, behind-the-rider viewpoint. The game's funky retro soundtrack also deserves a special mention.

Swerve Basketball

The first non-casual sports title for V CAST is a two-on-two arcade basketball game in the tradition of NBA Jam, although with several major differences: it's played on a full court, there are lots of moves to perform, including post-up techniques, special slam dunks, and crossovers, and it runs at a poor frame rate compared to other, contemporary titles. The action in Swerve Basketball hovers around 5 fps, which is unacceptable for a sports game of any kind, let alone one that's missing a major league license. Here's hoping that SuperScape brings this game's speed up to par with a version increment in the near future.

Evil Slayer

This simple, first-person action game is a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler in the vein of the early Castle Wolfenstein games. Your job is to stop the evil Baltazaar and his horde of undead minions by force of arms, which include swords and crossbows. Evil Slayer's attractive features include its fluid run speed and simple combat; its pixelated, murky graphics, and boring level design leave something to be desired, however.