Want to kill time? Or a few aliens on an unknown planet or tomb raiders, for that matter! Ashish Gupta finds the Palm handheld can serve to be a powerful gaming device

A lot of people tend to look at a Palm handheld computer as a toy. Indeed, it is a powerful gaming machine. Gaming on the Palm OS is serious business for game developers such as SEGA and chipmakers such as Motorola. In a Palm Inc. sponsored competition, the First Annual PalmSource Developers Challenge, the winning software was a game called AutoPond. The prize money awarded to the developer was $10,000.

Games on the Palm OS range from the very basic to the extremely creative. Let’s look at the possibilities of using a Palm handheld computer as your gaming console.

There are hundreds of games, across several categories. Here are some of the most popular categories.

Built-in Games
Most Palm handheld computers come with a few factory-installed games. If your particular device does not have any games loaded, don’t worry, just go online and download some.

Hardball: An extremely addictive game this is the Palm OS version of the wildly famous “Bricks” game that we used to play on the Atari as kids. Many computer programmers might identify with this game, being one of the first games we learn to program for the PC.

Giraffe: A spin-off of the typing tutor games. Allows you to improve your Graffiti typing speed. There is another game called WPM that basically calculates your Graffiti typing speed.

Strategy Games
These are a personal favourite. I used to spend hours at the PC, playing games such as Heroes and Age of Empires. Now we have equivalent games on the Palm.

Strategic Commander: If I had to recommend a single game for the Palm OS platform, this would be it. The rules are simple; the outcome complex. You start with a home planet in a galaxy. The object of the game is to take over the home planet of your opponents, using trickery, stealth or sheer fire power. Supports up to eight players. I have a group of friends so hooked to this game that we often have multiple Palm devices, playing multiple games simultaneously.

Dope Wars: An immensely popular game featuring underground drug dealings. Buy and sell illegal substances without having to bother about the law.

Roll Playing Games
For those who enjoy games such as Super Mario Bros or SimCity.

Air Traffic Controller: Monitor the flow of air traffic as an Air Traffic Controller. Within an area of 14 x 24 miles are two airports, two navigational aids, and ten entry-exit fixes. During the game, 26 aircrafts will become active inside this area. It is your responsibility to guide each of these aircraft safely to its predetermined destination before the aircraft runs out of fuel or the game time expires. Now, if only real air traffic was in such safe hands!

SimCity: Yes, you read it right. There’s SimCity for the Palm OS.

You have the opportunity to design, build and manage cities. It’s the original simulator played in over two million homes. SimCity makes you Mayor and City Planner of your home-made metropolis. It dares you to build it your way, while surfing the waves of public opinion.

Board Games
If you’ve played the game on a board, be assured it’s available on the Palm OS.

Monopoly: The original Monopoly is now available on the Palm platform. Buy and don’t sell properties.

Pocket Chess: The chess player’s essential chess software. With multiple levels to suit your skill. Famous GM matches are available in the database for review, move by move. The game has a handy option I often use, called “Take back move.”

First Person Shooters
Crazy about games like Doom and Tomb Raider? Take your pick.

Zap!: The most spectacular full-colour game for the Palm OS. Demolish incoming enemy fighter planes. Collect super-human ammunition. Remember to land safely.

Pacman: The classic computer game. More of a first person “eater” game actually. Needs no introduction.

Network or Multiplayer Games
The most exciting aspect of playing games on a Palm handheld computer is its ability to connect to other Palm handheld computers to play multiplayer networked games. The default connection is through infrared, but increasingly games are being written to work over Bluetooth and other wireless industry standards.

AutoPond: AutoPond is an infrared trading game for Palm-powered devices. The unique point about this award-winning game is that everyone all over the world is playing the very same game. Right now. There is no winner yet. Join the game at the next Indian Palm User Group meeting.

IR Battleship: Guess the position of your opponent’s battleships and submarines, and destroy them before they destroy your fleet.

Game Over
My choice of interesting games may vary widely from yours. Therefore, I suggest that you log on to the Internet and have a look at the games available for the Palm OS platform. And if you find a game that keeps you entertained for hours, do let me know. I’ll stop playing Strategic Commander.

Ashish Gupta is the Founder and President of The Indian Palm User Group. He can be reached at ash@notcomguys.com

(Most applications mentioned in this and following articles are available for download from www.palmgear.com . If you still have trouble finding any application feel free to e-mail the author)