Interview with Marc Saltzman, Author of Top 250 Games for Palm OS

Submitted by Patrick on Sun, 10/29/2006 - 10:19pm.

Marc is a syndicated game columnist and technology correspondent for CNN. He has assembled a great CD full of the best in games for PalmOS. We chat with Marc concerning his release and thoughts on PDAs.

DJ: Why did you decide to compile a collection of games for the PDA market?
MS: Truthfully? I'm a hardcore Palm gamer, but found that 9 out of 10 games I downloaded off the Net weren't worth the time and effort. As a journalist (and CNN 'technology expert') I travel every week so I need some good games to keep me entertained on those long flights. I figured I knew at least a couple hundred great ones and decided to package them together for others.

DJ: What PDA do you use? Why?
MS: Well, I use a Palm m515 right now, but I also started to use a Compaq iPaq as I will be also releasing a "Top 250 Games for the PocketPC collection later this year, as well. Both the Palm and PocketPC operating systems have their strengths of course but there's still many more games available for the Palm.

DJ: The future of PDAs is murky now with convergence being a hot buzzword. Color, phone functionality and more are being tossed into one unit. Where do you think the industry is headed?
MS: You're absolutely right -- soon we'll have a very powerful, color PDA that is really a pocket computer. It'll be a communicator (cell phone, text-messaging, email, fax, etc.) as a personal organizer, games machine, multimedia device (MP3, ASF, JPG), Web portal, business tool, etc. Later fown the road I envision there will be a tighter relationship between PDAs and the 'smart home.' For instance, you leave a movie theater and head home so you use your PDA to call your home netwiork, which puts on a fresh pot a coffee and sets the timer on the Tivo for a show you forgot to record...

DJ: If you had to buy a single PDA now which one would you buy and why?
MS: Sheesh -- hard question. I would really depend on what you need it for, The Palm Vx is still perfect for those who want a slim, business tool and organizer. Want games? Color is nice. Then there are those who want a modem built in or Bluetooth, etc. Some want to watch Simpsons episodes and MP3 tunes while in the back of a cab. I really like the m515, personally, but admittedly, it is light on the multimedia side. The new Sony Clie looks cool (PEG-NR70V).

DJ: What is your most enjoyable game on the CD?
MS: Even tougher question. Right now it's anything from AstraWare. These guys are amazing. Maybe "Alchemy."

DJ: Where do you see game development going on PDAs?
MS: More multimedia (videos, richer images, better music) and of course, the introduction of the Internet will lead to massively-multiplayer games.

DJ: What are a few of your favorite PDA related websites?
MS: There's a handful I visit each week such as Palm.com, Palmgear.com, Handago.com, PDABuzz.com, Palmgamingworld.com, Palmblvd.com, Downloads.com, etc.

DJ: When you're not publishing software collections or writing books what do you do for fun?
MS: Play video games and computer games, which is also my full-time job (I'm syndicated through Gannett News Service and I also write for Playboy, Maxim, Yahoo! magazine, PC Gamer, and many others). I also love spending time with my wife walking, rollerblading, reading books by a fireplace, watching DVDs. In fact, my wife and I just found out we're having twins. Egad! ;-)

DJ: Can you describe your home PC setup? Computer configuration? Internet connectivity?
MS: I'm getting a new PC next week but for now, I'm running a high-end Pentium III (1 Ghz) with 256MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, cable modem, 64MB video card, 5.1 sound system. I am using WindowsXP and having a good experience with it....it seems to be great for games.

DJ: If there was on accessory that everyone should buy for their PDA what would it be?
MS: The little keyboard I guess. It's an amazing piece of engineering...you know the one that folds up to the size of the PDA. There are some other cool ones now such as the roll-up rubber keyboard but it's not as comfortable as Palm/Targus' own expandable keyboard.