<p>These days, phones can do nearly anything their users ask of them. This includes playing video games previously permitted only on game consoles and the handheld systems like the PlayStation Portable or Nintendo DS. Thanks to advances in the technology, though, cell phone and smartphone games have been able to advance past Tetris and electronic chess. Common gaming platforms include Nokia's N-Gage, and the iPhone's many gaming applications.</p>
<p>Nokia was the first to emerge with Snake in 1998, a game originally created in the 70s and later ported as standard into all Nokia phones. Today, Nokia's N-Gage service, originally the name of a failed handheld gaming system with a built-in phone, is still a leader, receiving good reviews for the games available for download to its smartphones.</p>
<p>The iPhone, however, is a staunch competitor in the industry and is expected to remain so, especially with Apple's recent introduction of a new model. Serious gamers agree on online forums and elsewhere that the iPhone's games are at the forefront of mobile gaming technology. This is unsurprising, and another thread in the wide web of dominance Apple is taking over technological consumerism. The game's afoot, and hopefully the latest iPhone will only spur Nokia to try harder.</p>