Kongregate “Tests” New Android Flash Implementation With 100+ Games

There’s been plenty of talk lately about the Android mobile operating system’s latest iteration, Froyo (Android 2.2). In stark contrast to the iPhone, Android-based phones will have full Flash functionality once updated to Froyo. That would appear to have major implications for mobile gaming — provided the Flash implementation is well done.

Instead of waiting to see, web gaming portal Kongregate decided to go ahead and release some Flash games for Android. Ten days after putting out a call to some of the developers who work on its platform, Kongregate has already released 120 games.

“The actual Flash performance is much better than I expected,” says Kongregate CEO Jim Greer. “I thought it would be mediocre, but it’s actually very good.”

Greer’s take is much the same as other early Froyo reviewers, all of whom agree that the powerful hardware in most Android devices helps the case. With performance out of the way, the remaining question is how easily existing Flash game developers will be able to switch over to mobile.

One might think that Kongregate and its developers, having taken only 10 days to port their games to mobile versions, didn’t put a lot of effort into it — and that assessment would be about right, according to Greer. “What I would say is to an average Flash developer is that you don’t necessarily think that you’d use the same version as on the web, but that’s just the same fallacy that people committed with the iPad, where they thought they had to have an app in the store even though there’s a great web browser.”

Most of the work is in simply choosing games that work well with touch-screen controls. Many of the 120 games are physics-based, with the main interaction from users being taps on the screen or a drag of the fingertip. Most games that use mouse controls on the desktop can be easily modified for mobile.

You can check out the games yourself on Kongregate’s mobile site, while mobile developers will now have access to a separate category and uploader for the site. Going forward, Kongregate plans to release an arcade app to add in social features, as well as the features from the main site, like voting and leaderboards.

Of course, if surfers go directly to Kongregate’s web site, that means they won’t have any reason to visit the Android Market for the same games — or to pay up front for any games at all. The addition of Flash could immediately set Android on a different course than the iPhone. But it seems likely that Google already knows that, and doesn’t mind at all.

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5 Responses to Kongregate “Tests” New Android Flash Implementation With 100+ Games

  1. Pingback: Kongregate Testing Android Flash Support With Over 100 Games | Frisky Mongoose

  2. Android Void says:

    Nice article!

    We have also been working on our Android flash gaming portal.

    http://www.AndroidVoid.com

    If you could give us suggestions on the page, we are designing it for mobile flash gaming.

    Thanks a lot!

    -AV

  3. Android Void says:

    I think this will definitely set the Android on it’s own course in the mobile gaming arena. The iPhone may have some technically advanced games, but the sheer number of potential flash games for Android is pretty amazing. Not to mention that they are free. It will be interesting to find out how Apple responds to this :) – Great Article.

  4. Pingback: Interfaces riches > Adobe lance une offensive sur les magazines numériques et les jeux mobiles

  5. Vern Moench says:

    I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks – you cleared up some things for me!

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