what is Game Testing

Testing a mobile application or game is mandatory to ensure, there is no crash or inconvenience for players. To test a game, it is not enough to do it on emulators and not all devices have emulators. Testing a game on real devices is not possible for all developer. They provide standard reports on each device test.

Superheroes always provide good material for a game. By default they spend most of their time doing what we all want to do in games – flying, punching up bad guys and using super-strength to pick up buses and chuck them around like paper cups.

So new(ish) US TV series Heroes was always going to be a good choice for whoever got to sign it up. Because for one, it doesn't just have one superhero, it has a whole pack of them. And, interestingly, their superpowers are somewhat atypical, ranging from spontaneous regeneration to being able to paint the future.

Of those available, Gameloft, holder of the desirable license, has picked out three of the heroes to star in this game (essentially, those with the powers best suited to the medium), although others make unplayable appearances. The three – a different one is playable in each new level – cover flying, altering time, super human strength, and telekenesis. In other words, enough to keep the action fresh throughout.

True, there's some repetition in the later levels but the gameplay is generally kept mixed up, and the ideas continue to be expanded on as you progress. And while some of the combat is generic, there's more than enough to stand Heroes out from a lot of similar games.

Your starting character, Niki Sanders, is probably the least exciting to play as given that her levels are mostly made up of fighting. That said, there is more to her than a few kung fu moves. For instance, she can pick things up – in the Vegas casino you start off in that equates to hefty fruit machines lying around – and lob them at opponents.

That's not all, though. Her in-game special power (every character has one, which is activated with '0' and only lasts as long as your special power meter) is to obliterate everyone onscreen with one zap. Oh, and she can also grab guns off downed enemies to use for herself.

Next up is Hiro, the computer programmer with time-bending skills. He's not immediately able to fight his enemies and instead must use stealth to break into a museum to retrieve a very special sword.

Stealth, we should point out, can ring loud alarm bells for us as, when done badly, it can be the most frustrating thing on Earth. In fact, even done well it can get tedious. But, amazingly, the stealth sections here are good fun – partly because triggering Hiro's time-slowing ability makes nipping past patrolling guards much easier, and partly because there are generous save points throughout.

Plenty of ideas are introduced into Hiro's segments, too. For instance, moving statues to interrupt laser alarms, dodging cars and finding key cards to unlock doors. His levels are much more exploration and puzzle-solving based (later on, you help him on a quest to find a little girl who's about to step into the road in front of a bus, for example), and he also occasionally teams up with Matt Parkman, the LA police officer who can hear other people's thoughts.

Peter Petrelli, who's able to absorb the powers of other people, giving him a range of possibilites, completes the trilogy. In his first level he's flying through fast-paced, obstacle-dodging, item-collecting sections and using telekenesis to solve puzzles. Later, there's a stand-out moment where he must slot falling bits of scaffolding to form a bridge, Tetris style.

With so much variety, it's easy to get hooked into Heroes just to see what's around the next corner. Most of it works well, too, although there are drawbacks. Occasionally, the controls aren't responsive enough, so your superpower sometimes isn't activated at the split-second you need it to be. Likewise with the combat controls – not being able to shoot or punch in all directions can be problematic when you're surrounded by a gang of goons.

But to return to the positives, the visuals are great, with a good variety of environments to get through. And, importantly, they're backed by decent audio.

Ultimately, it all adds up to an enjoyable action package. And, pleasingly, one that proves far more innovative than the average licensed platformer this would normally have turned out to be.

Hungry Snake 3D slithers onto mobiles

Mobile games have come a long way since the humble beginnings of Snake. But it's fair to say everyone's favourite reptilian chum has not enjoyed the same amount of revised editions and releases as many of his contemporaries.

The Italian-based DS Effects is looking to give nature's villain (and mobile gaming's genesis) another crack at the whip, however, with a new serpent-themed title called, simply, Hungry Snake 3D.

The game, like the original, sounds disarmingly simple: move your snake in four directions; collect the fruit; and avoid the edges, your tail and the bombs until all the levels are complete.

So, essentially it's the same as the original Snake but with flashier visuals, extra fruit and bombs. Still, that isn't necessarily a bad thing and based on its lineage alone (unofficial though it may be) we think this title is certainly deserving of further investigation.

Samsung Game Station: mobile games on the big screen

Samsung's latest mobile games initiative in South Korea is called Game Station, and involves hooking your phone up to a TV to play 3D games on a full-sized screen.

I'm currently out in Korea, and had the chance to give the technology a test in Samsung's Anycall showcase store in Seoul. Several games were on show, including a football title, and a crazy 2D beat-'em-up where your character turns into a goat as one of the special moves.

It's certainly easy to hook your phone up to a TV – connecting the TV-out cable switches off the phone's display, transmitting the game on the larger screen instead.

There are reservations, though, about whether it's any good.

The first concerns resolution, as blowing a game designed for a QVGA screen up to a higher res LCD TV means games look a bit blocky (although this may be rectified once phones with VGA-resolution screens start to appear).

The second problem was that the TV-out cable wasn't very stable. Moving the phone around too much made the screen cut out or flicker, which isn't obviously ideal when you're playing an action game.

Still, the idea of TV-out ports being used for gaming is intriguing. Qualcomm, which supports the feature in some BREW handsets, has suggested that this kind of thing is most relevant for poorer countries, where less people own actual consoles. However, the fact that the function is also part of Nokia's plans for its N-Gage platform implies it'll also become common in more developed markets.

Tetris: Korean style

Ever wondered what Tetris looks like in the Far East? The same as our version, surely – there's not much you can do with the time-honoured falling blocks format.

But while out in Seoul, I've been playing Tetris Mission 2008, which is a game created specifically for Korea and Japan by Com2uS, which is EA Mobile's partner in the region. The core gameplay is the same, true, but as you can see from the video below, there's some additional cute touches around its edges.

Well, a cartoon woman with a pet frog and a skirt that keeps blowing up, anyway. We can't fathom why this feature has yet to make it into western versions of the game.

Furthermore, the game is also split up into 'mission' style chunks, although not being Korean, I couldn't tell you what those missions involve. Possibly a quest to find a longer skirt.

Anyway, check the video for a taste of how Korean mobile gamers experience Tetris, and watch this space for views and videos of other Korean and Japanese games that I've been playing during the week:

Phones and screen sizes

Nokia Series 60 :: Nokia 3600, 3620, 3650, 3660, 7650, N-Gage

Nokia Series 40 / 128x128 :: Nokia 2650, 3100, 3120, 3125, 3200, 3300, 5100, 6100, 6108, 6200, 6220, 6225, 6585, 6610, 6800, 6810, 7200, 7210, 7250, 7250i

Nokia Series 40 / 96x65 :: Nokia 3510i, 3530, 3586i, 3587, 3595, 6010

Nokia Series 40 / 128x160 :: Nokia 6650, 6651, 6820, 7600

Nokia Series 40v2 / 128x128 :: Nokia 2610, 3220, 5140, 6020, 6021, 6030, 6060, 6230, 6235, 6822, 7260, 7270

Game Studios List India

(Across all platforms, PC,Console,Mobile,ITV(?),Web)

Lets start
1. Mauj Telecom / Mobile (VAS)/Mumbai
2. Paradox Studios /Mobile,Web,Pc/Mumbai
3. Nazara Tech / Mobile / Mumbai
4. Dhruva Interactive / Mobile,PC/Bangalore
5. Aurona technologies / Mobile,PC...?/Hyderabad
6. VBeing Software/ PC,Art Work/New Delhi
7. Small Device/ Mobile/Mumbai
8. Gameloft Software/ Mobile/Hyderabad
9. EA Mobile/Mobile/Hyderabad
10. Boomslang Studios/Mobile/Mumbai
11. Indiagames/mobile/Mumbai
12 Trine/PC,Console/Mumbai
13 .babelmedia/ new delhi
14. FX labs / HYD
15. relQ/ banglore
16. spiel studios/ mumbai

10 things to look for in a PDA/cell phone

Service network
The first consideration when reviewing cell phone and PDA options is the service network technologies a phone supports. T-Mobile, for example, predominantly relies upon GSM in the United States, whereas Verizon leverages a CDMA-based voice infrastructure and 3G-powered data network. Sprint/Nextel, meanwhile, utilizes a 3G wireless data network but is moving to the 3G EV-DO standard, whereas Cingular maintains a GSM network for voice service and GPRS and EDGE for data.
Thus, it’s critical to ensure that the telephones you purchase are compatible with the carrier’s network. If employees remain regional, you’re not likely to encounter trouble when purchasing equipment from your local cellular provider. But if employees travel, particularly overseas, you’ll want to make sure that their mobile phones are compatible with the service network infrastructure (often GSM overseas) in the locations where they’ll be.

Call quality
Many phone and PDA manufacturers have squeezed innumerable features and functions into tiny handsets. From integrated MP3 players to streaming video and games, manufacturers have been working feverishly to add new features to their products. Unfortunately, voice quality--arguably a handset’s most critical function--sometimes suffers. Before you purchase a phone, do your homework. Read real-world reviews to help determine which models provide high levels of call quality. A great PDA will prove maddening, after all, if you can’t hear callers when driving down an interstate. Two excellent review sources are CNET's Cell Phone Buying Guide and Amazon’s PDA user reviews.

Battery life
The never-ending battle to add powerful new features and functionality to cell phones has taken a toll on more than just voice call quality. Battery life, too, has taken a hit. Even though lithium ion batteries have essentially become standard equipment, they still have limitations. Manuals and product brochures boast standby times exceeding several days. But enable Bluetooth connectivity with a hands-free headset and use the phone to actually make calls, and a handset’s battery can deplete itself in just a few hours. Consider battery life carefully. In many cases, it may prove prudent to ensure mobile executives travel with an extra.

Network bandwidth
Not all data networks are created equal. Carriers are all in the process of rolling out tweaks and enhancements aimed at improving their networks’ data transmission speeds. Some phones, however,(such as the Samsung Blackjack and upcoming Apple iPhone, work on only one provider’s network.
Cingular is working to deploy EDGE technology aimed at maximizing data transmissions. But Verizon Wireless and Sprint service data users via their faster EV-DO infrastructure. If you or your users must regularly download larger data files via cell phone, it will make sense to select phones compatible with the faster data networks. If simple text-based e-mail is all you require, most cellular providers’ data networks should suffice, assuming the service areas meet requirements.

Groupware compatibility
Typically, the groupware application in use dictates which model cell phones are deployed. If Microsoft Exchange--and its accompanying contacts, calendar, and e-mail tools--powers the bulk of your organization’s messaging infrastructure, take care to select cell phones and PDAs that not only mesh well with the messaging server but that can easily pass the required security and authentication credentials. Often, that means selecting Windows OS-based telephones.
Organizations leveraging Blackberry Enterprise Server will experience streamlined administration by standardizing on Blackberry handsets. Others may find that the Blackberry Enterprise Server provides perfect middleware for connecting Blackberry users with Lotus or Novell groupware servers.
Although third-party tools exist to help users synchronize cell phones and PDAs with other platforms and applications (The Missing Sync is but one example), organizations deploying large numbers of units will likely be best served standardizing on a common platform when possible. Maintaining fewer cell phone lines and fewer back-end groupware platforms greatly simplifies administrators’ workloads and encourages higher uptime levels.

Bluetooth
Wireless features place greater demand on a cell phone’s battery. Time between recharges is drastically reduced when even a single Bluetooth accessory is paired with a PDA. But the convenience of a cordless headset and the ability to wirelessly synchronize a cell phone’s information with a laptop or desktop system more than make up for the subsequent performance hit.

Simple controls
Most every manufacturer touts its new cell phone models as having revolutionary designs that forever simplify phone or PDA use. Unfortunately, the measure of simplicity is in the hand of the holder. In other words, one engineer’s innovation is another user’s torture.
Some professionals enjoy sliding a phone apart (such as with the Cingular 8125) to reveal a full keyboard. Others find it tortuous to have to do anything to reveal a keyboard. (Such users often prefer the exposed keypad such as is found in a Treo 680 or Blackberry 8800, instead.) Still others prefer a PDA that has no keyboard at all, such as Apple’s iPhone.
When selecting a cell phone/PDA, consider how it will be used. If mobile sales staff will be using the handset frequently in the field while driving, it’s important the phone have one-handed operation. All Windows Smartphones are designed for single-handed use, leveraging a clickable mouse for performing most functions. Windows Pocket PC phones boast touch-screen displays and often a separate stylus. The Pocket PCs provide added functionality but typically at the cost of requiring a second hand.

Expandability
To keep unit prices attractive, manufacturers distribute cell phones with minimum RAM. As you add third-party applications, documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and other files to a PDA, the device’s memory limitations soon become problematic.
Verify that the model phone you’re purchasing easily accepts upgrades. Common memory types supported in cell phones include mini SD, MultiMediaCard, and SD cards. Fail to plan for expansion and you could find your phone’s service life severely limited.
Microsoft Office compatibility
Any PDA worth its weight should possess Microsoft Office compatibility. Not all cell phones can natively view or edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, and still others can’t even access PowerPoint presentations.
By default, Microsoft Pocket PC PDAs boast excellent Office suite compatibility. Other phones ship with software (on accompanying CDs) that must be installed separately. Some models, meanwhile, can't open or edit Office files.
Before purchasing any PDAs be sure the models in question provide the compatibility your organization requires.

Voice dialing and recognition
Voice dialing may be the biggest unsung hero of a mobile warrior’s workday. Whether driving, commuting by train, or walking to lunch, the ability to dial numbers using only your voice (versus having to navigate myriad menus to identify a specific contact and select the desired telephone number from the lengthy list that typically includes home, work, fax, and cell options) can be a lifesaver.
Unfortunately, not all cell phones ship with the feature. Some, such as the Motorola Q, include voice recognition features, whereas others (the Treo 650 is one example) require first that a separate software license be purchased, downloaded, and installed. Many models of cell phones simply don’t offer voice recognition functionality.Help mobile employees make the most of their productivity tools; when possible ensure a cell phone supports such voice recognition features to simplify menu navigation, dialing contacts, and accessing other needed information. Any added expense is easily offset by virtue of the feature’s timesaving nature and convenience--not to mention the safety considerations.