Gamers iPhones May Emulate Wii Devices

A Palo Alto company has released the first video game that wirelessly connects a personal computer and an iPhone or iPod Touch, allowing players to wave the mobile devices like a motion-based controller a la the Nintendo Wii.



Social Gaming Network, which has earned a faithful following with its Facebook and iPhone games, is marrying the Web and iPhone platforms in iFun iGolf, the first in a line of new, free cross-platform games. The game uses the motion-sensing accelerometer in the iPhone or iPod Touch along with its broadband connection - either Wi-Fi or 3G - to turn it into a Wii-like controller for a PC-based Web game.

"This is the first time the mobile world, the Web world and social gaming have united liked this," said SGN founder and CEO Shervin Pishevar. "This is like having a Wii on the go or a Wii in your hand."

Players who register their iPhone or iPod Touch - using their Facebook accounts or separately - can fire up the game on their mobile device and PC and use the handset to do full golf swings that translate into on-screen play on a PC monitor. Games can be played with others in a room or online.