The best of Mobile World Congress 2011: Xperia Play, Xoom power, excellent Android pins
Which handsets, games, and trends caught our attention for better
Gaming was big, big, big at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where a number of notable announcements set the mobile gaming industry abuzz.
No question about it - Sony Ericsson dominated the spotlight with its unveiling of the Xperia Play handset and a pledge to push hard in the gaming space. There were plenty of other noteworthy developers - good and bad - that defined our MWC experience.
If you want to read about the worst MWC 2011 had to offer, go here. Otherwise, stick around for the standouts.
Best of showMobile graphics improving at exponential rate
Graphics technology has always advanced at a staggering rate, but the accelerated manner by which mobile graphics continues to improve is downright jaw-dropping. Nvidia's Tegra 2 offers phenomenal power, only to be beat by the company's Tegra 3 line.
Imagination Technologies - the company behind Sony's PSP successor NGP and iPhone 4 graphics - has been pushing limits and promises to deliver desktop PC-quality graphics with its Series 6 PowerVR chips in the near future.
What this means for battery life remains to be seen (Imagination Tech says it can manage respectable battery usage despite the incredible processing power), but as a hardcore mobile gamer the promise of console-quality graphics is alluring indeed.
Sony Ericsson takes the wraps off Xperia Play
It's been the worst-kept secret of the year, and MWC was the official debut of Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play handset, affectionately nicknamed the PlayStation Phone. While there have been mixed feelings about the device's quality and game line-up, there's no questioning its potential.
A PlayStation-certified device opens up a world of possibilities in terms of games. Big name franchise that have previously been off-limits to mobile gaming could now be on the cards, making their way to this neat little device. Confirmation of PS1 games being available for downloads, as well as the possibility of PlayStation Network titles, is a good first step.
Of course, the ability to use face buttons and a proper D-pad makes this a great hardcore gaming device, even if the games aren't quite there yet. Adding button controls to iPhone games is okay, but to really showcase the device there need to be games built specifically for it.
Without a price announcement, there's also the risk of serious sticker shock with the Xperia Play, particularly when it's pitted against cheap iPhone, iPod touch, and other Android handsets. Still, those buttons hold quite the appeal and it's difficult not to get excited about the device's prospects.
Super-powered gaming on the Motorola Xoom
Android tablets were in full force at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, though the Motorola Xoom managed to catch our eye during MWC. Pocket Gamer's Will Wilson spent time playing games on the device and was impressed with its capabilities.
The tablet's beefy technical specifications enabled all sorts of graphical bells and whistles unavailable on other devices - real-time reflections in Backbreaker 2, increased texture details in Samurai II: Vengeance. Unfortunately, this power comes with a hefty price tag in the US where the Xoom will launch first: $799.
Adorable Android pinsThe Android pins given away during the week aren't exactly tied to gaming, but they were one of the most memorable things at MWC. Even if you're not an Android gaming fan, you have to admit these pins are pretty cute. Better still, you can win one by following our Twitter feed.