Monty's Gaming and Wireless Outlook - Issue 151

There’s nothing like a spot of casual sex to lead to injury. Last week in Carioca, Romania, a man almost lost his most valuable appendage while making pancakes for his genuflecting inamorata.

In the heat of passion, he lost grip of the pan and spilt pouring oil down her back. Naturally, the poor woman clenched her teeth, and in agony he hit her head on the pan. That’s the last time they’ll be watching Laurel and Hardy then… or maybe they should just give it up for Lent.

Stories such as these are legion among nursing staff and my friend’s favourite is about a couple that had been ‘experimenting’ with the inside of a thermos flask. Naturally, such an object is fragile and doctors didn’t know how to remove it without causing injury.

It was only when my mate suggested pouring quick-drying cement into the flask that it could be removed. Probably not what the couple had in mind when they had previously discussed throwing something else into the mix.

On the subject of all things casual, this week saw the first Casual Gamers conference in Seattle. The links between casual gaming and mobile gaming are growing by the hour. Whether it’s sitting on a train, queuing for a bus (or waiting in a surgery waiting for a flask to be removed?), simple games on a mobile phone are the perfect antidote to boredom. What’s more, unlike the traditional games industry, women ARE playing mobile games and the publishing industry is going ga-ga to accommodate everybody.

Concepts that will push mobile gaming to the next level are thick on the ground, but one of the successful ideas that did come up at the conference was Infospace’s For Prizes games. Already successful in the US, players can compete in tournaments for simple games such as Tetris and Solitaire with a chance to win daily prizes.

The links between gambling and gaming are tenuous, but everybody likes a competition and a bit of casual fun. Infospace are onto a winner here, but don’t try it in the kitchen while fixing up a bit of batter. You never know what will happen.