midnight
06-21-2005, 10:57 PM
Skyzone Entertainment has developed a game called "Mobile Derby" for cell phones. The game, which is available for a good number of phones, has a reasonable amount of detail to it, considering the platform it was written for.
Players may either run a quick race, with horses picked at random or may play a longer save-able game in the quest for the "Mobile Crown". In the long game, the player shops for horses (the player can own up to three at one time) that are based on three stats: Speed, Stamina, and Conditioning. The racing series consists of five races at five different tracks. The player then makes an optional bet on his/her horse in the upcoming race. The stronger a horse that the player enters, the lower the odds are, and vice versa. Naturally, a stronger horse will also fare better. After placing a bet, the player runs the race.
In the race, the player is the jockey. Every race is a two-turn race of the same distance, and all races have six entrants. The player always starts on the outside. Each horse has a store of energy and a rate of deceleration, The amount of energy and deceleration depend on the horse's stats. The race view is back-on, meaning that the player's view is at ground level from just behind his horse, and the track view is a straight line or slight curve to the left, depending on whether the horse is on a stretch or turn. The player can change the MPH speed of the horse, use the "whip" for more speed, and steer the horse from side to side on the track. Using more energy will make the horse race faster but will also cause it to decelerate faster. If the player drops the horse's speed far enough, the horse will regain its energy (one unrealistic part of the game that actually improves the play) up to a full meter. Strategy is definitely needed in the tougher races.
In addition to purse money, the player is paid full odds on a first place finish, half-odds on a second, and one-quarter odds on a third. Horses never go out of form or get injured.
There is a surprising amount of play to the game, considering that it's designed for a mobile device and about 125K of memory, and the graphics aren't bad. For about $5, it's a pleasant addition to for any horse racing enthusiast, and I definitely recommend it.
Players may either run a quick race, with horses picked at random or may play a longer save-able game in the quest for the "Mobile Crown". In the long game, the player shops for horses (the player can own up to three at one time) that are based on three stats: Speed, Stamina, and Conditioning. The racing series consists of five races at five different tracks. The player then makes an optional bet on his/her horse in the upcoming race. The stronger a horse that the player enters, the lower the odds are, and vice versa. Naturally, a stronger horse will also fare better. After placing a bet, the player runs the race.
In the race, the player is the jockey. Every race is a two-turn race of the same distance, and all races have six entrants. The player always starts on the outside. Each horse has a store of energy and a rate of deceleration, The amount of energy and deceleration depend on the horse's stats. The race view is back-on, meaning that the player's view is at ground level from just behind his horse, and the track view is a straight line or slight curve to the left, depending on whether the horse is on a stretch or turn. The player can change the MPH speed of the horse, use the "whip" for more speed, and steer the horse from side to side on the track. Using more energy will make the horse race faster but will also cause it to decelerate faster. If the player drops the horse's speed far enough, the horse will regain its energy (one unrealistic part of the game that actually improves the play) up to a full meter. Strategy is definitely needed in the tougher races.
In addition to purse money, the player is paid full odds on a first place finish, half-odds on a second, and one-quarter odds on a third. Horses never go out of form or get injured.
There is a surprising amount of play to the game, considering that it's designed for a mobile device and about 125K of memory, and the graphics aren't bad. For about $5, it's a pleasant addition to for any horse racing enthusiast, and I definitely recommend it.