The Android Operating System has, since it first hit the market in 2008, quickly become the World’s most-used mobile platform. With over 500 million activated devices in use today, and over a million new activation happening every day, it’s no wonder there are over 700,000 Android apps on the market. As opposed to the Apple iPhone, the system is available on a number of mobiles and tablets manufactured by a plethora of providers, mostly running on touch screen devices. But why are most Android games developed with a touch screen in mind?
Android began life in 2003 as a passion project between four partners, all committed to designing an Operating System that would place users’ locations and preferences center-stage. They were, after only two years of business, purchased by Google Inc. who have been responsible for many of the innovations we now recognize Android for today, including the recently re-named Google Play store. However, it’s safe to say that the Operating System didn’t quite reach its full potential until the Smartphone and, more specifically, touch-screen revolution in recent years.
Having witnessed the huge growth of Apple after introducing their iPod Touch and iPhone devices, the founders thought mobile and tablet development to be the future of the software industry. At the center of this revolution was the touch screen, which had changed the way consumers, perceived mass interaction. You can see the outcome of the proceeding years today, with Microsoft’s Surface being released to market in the coming months.
Android’s user interface was designed with touch in mind, with most actions performed by the platform responding to various real-world manipulations of the screen – such as tapping, holding, swiping, and other gestures. One of Android’s greatest strengths is the length to which the developers go to in order to design a seamless interaction between the user and the system. Android processes are developed to react immediately to the input of the user, and include the device’s vibrate function to create an intuitive and engaging user experience.
The fact is, that prior to Smartphones (I’m sure some of you may remember that far back), mobile devices were fairly basic. Yes, you made calls, and maybe even texts, but it was very rare for the devices to sport an adequate Internet capacity, and to think that you’d see a gyroscope on a Nokia 3310 was madness. There was a high degree of functionality, but that’s all the phone was designed to do – function as a phone. The Smartphone changed the way we viewed mobile devices, creating a more personal, portable entertainment machine that also allowed you stay in contact with your friends, family, work, or businesses.
The touch screen became ubiquitous with smart phone technology when, in summer 2008, Apple released the first iPhone. For the first time, a handheld device had been made beautiful, and set in motion a great many court cases and custody battles in order to fully realize the potential for the medium. As Apple held the patents to its own Operating System, and retained all licensing for official products, other manufacturers looking to penetrate the smart phone market and deliver similar products opted for the Android system, which was committed to experimentation and open source development.
What we are left with is the boom in devices we can see today, all sporting exquisite touch screen capabilities. It’s said that in the next few years, we’ll start to see more applications for the Android system, perhaps within wristwatches, cameras, mirrors, and even in our glasses in the case of Google’s latest development – Project Glass.
But when you really think about it, the reason that most Android games are developed for touch screens is simple – everyone has them, and they’re a hell of a lot of fun!
