'Java still isn't dead', was the denouncement at this year's Mobile Games Forum panel discussion entitled Android + iPhone + x = ;), with HandyGames' CEO, Christopher Kassulke, and Digital Chocolate's veep of global sales & business development, Robert Unsworth both promoting the format's place in the mobile world.
"It's a terrible misconception to say Java is dead and we have to move onto the App Store, Unsworth said.
"Just because we made mistakes with Java doesn't mean it's dead".
Scoreloop's CEO Marc Gumpinger was uncertain there would ever be one platform only for developers to work to in the future, even if iOS garners most of the headlines today.
"You really need to be on all platforms", Unsworth advised. "On mobile there's still significant fragmentation, so you as a developer and publisher have to mask this fragmentation."
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Moving away from Java, the panel also took a stab at describing the pitfalls and advantages of both the Android and iOS platform, although none were keen to hedge their bets on which platform would eventually come up top in terms of generating revenue.
The panel was more positive towards Android than iOS, with even the Android Market being praised by Gumpinger for allowing "carriers and OEMs can come up with their own markets. On iPhone you just can't do it."
It was the wide-ranging reach of the platform that excited Kassulke. "We're not only developing for mobile phone, it's TVs, in-flight entertainment - that's Android," he said.
The only black cloud was the Android Market itself, with Unsworth predicting it'll take at least 2-3 years for it to be "a viable market for everyone."
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Will's obsession with gaming started off with sketching Laser Squad levels on pads of paper, but recently grew into violently shouting "Tango Down!" at random strangers on the street. He now directs that positive energy into his writing (due in no small part to a binding court order).
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