Confessions of a gaming virgin

It always happens when you least expect it. A sly glance on a crowded train, the rising heart beat, flushed cheeks and the thought, 'but I've never done THAT before!'

It was the start of a long journey and it was my wild friend Cassie who was giving me the benefit of her experience. Under her tuition, my frantic fingers were pushing all the right buttons.

The more played, the longer and longer it got. "Yes, YES, YES!" cried Cassie. But it was my first time and over excitement got the better of me. Far too quickly it was 'game over' and Cassie sat back, a look of disappointment on her face.

"You were well rubbish," she snorted.

But I was young and had plenty of energy for more action. I'd just had my first mobile games experience and I couldn't get enough.

The game? Snake.

I had often looked over at people on their phones, heads bowed, fingers busy. Were they really sending so many texts? On long journeys, texting had seemed the perfect way to avoid the gaze of the drunk, amorous nutter who seemed to shadow me on public transport (his name was Trevor).

But a hefty phone bill later and some advice from Cassie showed me a far cheaper way to amuse oneself in public and avoid Trev's wandering eyes.

Snake was perfect for a small mind such as my own. You could work it out without reading the instructions, you could make it go realllllly slowly, and it reminded me of heady childhood days playing Pac-man. Being a greedy guts myself, I loved the idea that Pac-man could eat his way across the universe and never get fat.

Snake may have put on weight as I guided him on a culinary tour of my phone, but it was done in a slimming, supermodel kind of way. He never put weight on sideways.

Fast-forward, and in a relentless Darwinian fashion mobile games evolved; now I find myself dealing with music, colour, graphics, and complication. I love playing with balls but my skill leaves a lot to be desired. Golf games find me in the rough, football turns into handball, and basketball has turned me into a basket case.

And then there are rules! I'm the one for whom the letters 'RTFM' were designed for. As far as I'm concerned, instructions are like recipe books for cooks with no flair, and I only consult them if pressing every key with my fists doesn't work, or in the event of a small electrical fire.

Still, I'm hooked on my mobile gaming and the more games the merrier. Like a Hugh Hefner of the mobile games world, I'm seduced every day by a newer model. I may not be able to take them to the next level but first base is enough to keep me satisfied. And there's always more lining up for me to play with.

Emma Farrell is the author of One Breath: A Reflection on Freediving. We presume she leaves her phone tucked into a sandal when taking a dip.