Finland-based G-cluster is about to deliver ordinary PC games to your handheld device wirelessly, but there's one limitation: You'll have to be in a special "hotspot".
Just admit it, the primary use for your handheld is gaming. Even though you told your boss "it's super neat and can synchronize with Outlook and lets me work everywhere", you have no intention of using it for work-related tasks. Oh well, perhaps just a tiny little bit then. But heck, games really are one of the best things you could waste your time on a handheld with, and what if you could get your ordinary PC games on your handheld as well?
 | As good as PC gaming on your handheld may sound, only a few PC games will be adaptable
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G-cluster grabbed the opportunity at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to announce its new G-screen suite, utilizing wireless network and gaming technologies to bring PC games to handhelds. The goal is that in addition to making use of the suite itself, the company will also allow others to use their client/server solution to bring the joys of the desktop to your palm.
The games will be available initially in selected areas, called "hotspots," where local wireless networks can be deployed quickly. Numerous hotels, airport lounges, amusement parks and coffee shops already have the existing infrastructure available to deliver the service according to G-cluster, and the first hotspots will appear in Helsinki, Finland, in August 2001 with locations in the United States by 2002.
Users at hotspots can either rent a wireless device or use their own laptop to play G-screen games, and payment will be based on the amount of time played. Because of the network technology, players also will be able to engage other players in their area in multi-player games.
One of the first games to showcase the power of G-cluster technology is LEGO Media's LEGO Racers, a fast-paced, multi-player racing game, while future games will feature a wider range of gameplay such as racing, action, sports and children's games.
We must admit that we have some doubt as to how PC games can be adapted to handheld devices, considering the immense difference in platform capabilities, display resolutions and input methods. Most likely, you won't be playing Rainbow Six or anything like it on your handheld, but it should not be impossible to adapt less advanced games. What really would be interesting was if someone came up with a way to let you play all kinds of PC games on your handheld, but alas that is a utopy that will never become a reality - so here comes a message to handheld game developers: The world is a stage, and it's all yours to play.
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