5 things Android will need to do to compete with iPhone

2009 is going to be a fascinating year for mobile gaming, with the three giants - Apple, Nokia and Google - going head to head (to head) in an almighty scrap.

It's quite possible that there simple isn't going to be room for three competitors in the mobile gaming field, and with Apple taking its place as the early pace setter, the other two have it all to do to catch up.

With a full retail model imminent, we'll soon (finally) be able to start making valid comparisons between Google's Android and Apple's iPhone as gaming platforms. Before then, we thought it would be appropriate to look ahead at the sort of things the upstart platform will need to do to compete.

These are just a few of our musings, but we'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments below.

Games, games, games

As Nokia has discovered, having a handful of decent games is no substitute for Apple's tactic of having whopping great quantities of crud, speckled with gems. Android is well on its way to matching this philosophy with its open source structure, allowing every man and his programming-genius dog to get in on the act.

How that philosophy translates to the new retail model, only time will tell. One thing's for sure, though - users will be far less forgiving with their ratings once they have to shell out for the games.

Support the little man

With this in mind, Google needs to make the most of its accessible point of entry for developers. In recent years, on other platforms, breakthrough hits such as N+ and World of Goo have been made by tiny teams of two or three talented people.

If Google knows what's good for it, it will bend over backwards to ensure that Android becomes the first port of call for anyone with a great idea.

Android has the perfect foundation for such an eventuality, now it just needs the right support (and reward) structure.

Appeal to the masses

Another area in which Android will need to emulate the iPhone is attracting the casual pound. We've entered a period where even the giants of hardcore gaming, led by Nintendo, have realised that traditional hobbyist gaming has reached critical mass.

Real success is now measured by pulling in those who would never dream of picking up a joypad.

This is going to involve some serious advertising and, more importantly, healthy word of mouth. That's only going to happen if there's a number of polished, accessible and fresh games on offer from the start.

But don't forget your roots (mon)

Of course, mass-market appeal is no reason to turn your back on a sizeable minority of gamers who are feeling a little disenfranchised by the casual direction the industry as a whole is taking. Android could win itself a valuable fan-base if it served up some rather more meaty offerings than your usual block puzzler.

That might mean utilizing the tactile controls of units such as the prototype G1, with its PC-like combination of keyboard and trackball. Of course, it would be helpful if these were standard features for all future Android handsets, but that's not looking likely.

Get yourself a solid first party development team

Following on from this last point, if Apple's gaming policy lacks one thing it's games. By that, of course, we mean that Apple seems reluctant to get its hands dirty with the nitty gritty of, y'know, producing the fun stuff. As a result, it can come across to gamers (rightly or wrongly) like they don't particularly care about or prioritise games.

Of course, Google knows as much about making games as Apple: diddly squat. But then we doubt the company knew much about running a successful video sharing website before November 2006. What happened then?

Why, it bought YouTube, of course. There are plenty of struggling talented development houses out there who would no doubt jump into Google's dollar-lined bed in a heartbeat.