Free Palm Centro Games

Because Palm OS has been around since 1996, we're fortunate enough to have tons of games and applications available to the platform.  The success of the Palm Centro (both the GSM and CDMA versions) has caused a resurgence in demand.

A Robust Platform in Your Palm

The Palm Centro uses the patented Palm interface, which up until the Apple iPhone, was the most popular and successful platform for PDAs. When it was added to the functionality of a cell phone, it didn't lose any of the flexibility - in fact, as we'll see, it actually added to the range of possibilities. As more and more connective technologies developed in the wireless realm beginning with infra-red connection and now with 802.11 (WiFi) and Bluetooth Technology, the potential for head-to-head and networked gaming has made the field even more exciting.

Of course, the Palm was initially a business tool - especially with the high price tag, no one would get it and admit that they were playing games on it during boring meetings. No, instead they were manipulating data, examining spreadsheets, and sending that last minute update to the sales force. And if along the way they were also creating a global drug cartel or developing Roman civilizations or blowing up aliens, well, that's just what makes Palm such a feature-rich product.

Almost Free Palm Centro Games

While the market for gaming has never been as robust as those for business applications, there are still companies dedicated solely to making entertainment for the Palm. These tend to fall into three main categories:

1. Fancier versions of the simple games (such as Klondike, a next-generation solitaire)
2. Handheld version of classic arcade games like Tetris or Space Invaders
3. Fully-featured games designed particularly for the Palm platform (such as Bejeweled)

Almost all of these types of games come with "try & buy" options. That means that the applications can be downloaded as .PRC files, installed on the Palm, and then either work for a limited time or with limited levels of functionality. The creators are betting on the fact that the games are addictive enough to inspire a purchase when the trial period runs out.

Several applications such as Handango and MyPalm will enable the Centro to actually download trial versions directly from the internet, with no need for using the computer to install the applications. However, these are designed as shopping portals - there are no free games available.

Download.com: An Open Source for Gamers

There are many sites on the web that claim to give away free Palm Centro games. Most are simply search-engine-optimized pages designed to funnel searchers to ad-heavy sites with a few links to outdated but admittedly free games that may or may not work on the latest version of the Palm operating system. Still, they can be a source for a gem or two to keep you entertained. Freeware-Palm.com is one of the least offensive of these kinds of sites, with easily searchable sites (once the search box is located in the crowded design) and game categories such as strategy, adventure, and text-based.

A much more robust site is Download.com, a division of the CNET family of websites that is well-known for reliable reviews of gadgets and software. Download.com has the ability to filter searches based on

• Operating system
• Free or free-to-try
• Number of downloads
• User ratings
• Category
• File size

This makes finding not just free games but reliably entertaining free games a snap. Based on number of downloads, for example, the top five free Palm Centro games are:

1. Blocks 1.3.2 - Similar to the popular video game Tetris but with advanced features.
2. Sol Free 4.5 - Play five different solitaire games on your Palm.
3. Sea War 3.0 - Play a remake of popular paper Sea War game against your Palm OS handheld or another human.
4. Trivia To Go - Test your general knowledge, answering miscellaneous questions from different topics.
5. T-Crisis - Play classic Tetris on your Palm OS handheld

With the exception of the Trivia game, all of the others have four or more stars from users, and tens or hundreds of thousands of downloads. Download.com makes it easy to get hours of enjoyment from these free apps, as well as having the classic try & buy options as well.

Best of all, as the Palm platform remains popular, it is certain that developers both open-source and commercial will continue to develop free Palm Centro games in the future.

Source: http://cellphones.lovetoknow.com/Free_Palm_Centro_Games