Frequently Asked Questions about Mobile Phone Games and Blimp Mobile

Q: What is Blimp Mobile?
Q: Why are the multiple versions of the same game?
Q: What is a JAR File?
Q: What is a JAD File?
Q: What is a SIS File?
Q: How do I install games on my mobile phone?
Q: Why do my comments take so long to appear?

A: Blimp Mobile is a community driven mobile phone games website. Games on this website are provided by the community. To provide your own games please visit the site index which contains an upload box.

A: Java games are intended to be a write-one run-anywhere solution. This means that a java game should work on every java device. In reality, for a number of reasons, this is not the case. Since mobile game vendors release multiple versions of their games, each to support a different set of mobile phones, any game may appear on blimp mobile more than one. More importantly, these different versions may have different functionality. For example, one game may have three versions, one specifically for nokia phones, one for other phones with a 176x220 screen size, and one for phones with a screen size of 128x128. These three versions may have the same name or they may be called by slightly different names such as "The Big Game", "TB Game", "TBG", "Big Game", and so on. If you find a game does not work for your mobile or it doesn't behave as it should such as having a reduced screen size, then you should try to locate the game under an alternative name or with a different version. You may also consider leaving a comment on the correct game for your phone telling other people that your specific phone model works best with the specific version.

A: A JAR file (Java ARchive) is a collection of files that make up a game including game code, images, sound, and data files. A JAR is usually what is installed onto your mobile phone when you install a game.

A: A JAD file (Java Archive Descriptor) is a text file that contains information about the makup of a mobile game including its size, location, name, vendor, version. A JAD file may also contain specific information that is accessed by a game to perform some functionality such as the URL for a highscore website. A JAD file is not a game itself, rather just information about a game.

A: A SIS file is a game file for Symbian devices. SIS files contain game files including code, images, sound, and data in a different format to Java that is completly incompatible. Not all phones support SIS files. Check your mobile phone features for Symbian.

A: Each mobile phone has different ways in which games can be installed. The most general method that is supported on all mobiles is called Over The Air (OTA). OTA game installation works by having your phone browse a website with the game files. The game files are installed over your mobile phones data connection. This method works on all mobiles as long as your service provider allows direct access to the internet. Data charges usually apply. There are a few sites that help people install games this way by allowing you to upload your game, and then use your phone to browse to the website and download it with your phone. One such site is wapdamage.

The second most common method for installing games is via Bluetooth or IR. To use this method you will need a Bluetooth or IR device on you computer. You will need to send the JAR file to your phone via the Bluetooth or IR connection and posisble also send the JAD file. This method is phone specific and does not work on all models so check with your mobile phone vendor before burchasing a Bluetooth or IR communication device.

The last method is to use a USB cable to upload the game to your phone. This method requires that you have a USB cable that suites your mobile, drivers for your mobile phone, and software to install games over USB. This method is becoming popular due to USB cables being included with a lot of new mobile phones. However, this method is very mobile specific to the extent that the cable, drivers, and software are different for every mobile. Please check with your mobile manufacturer to see if this method is possible. Alternativly, some third party applications to install games over USB exist such as junction.

A: The Blimp Mobile website uses an advanced comment system that achieves the highest performance for for those posting comments, those viewing comments, and the webserver sending you comments. Comments are also evaluated for their value and relevance. As such, comments are processed in blocks at scheduled times to always ensure blimp mobile pages load as fast as possible.