MHL and Gaming Apps: Enabling Real-time Video with MHL Technology

[#1]

For the upcoming Seattle Mobile App Hackathon that is being produced in conjunction with Casual Connect, we have enlisted the wonderful support of the folks over at MHL to come talk about their technology and help developers create some interesting games that leverage the use of MHL in unique instances. There are currently three ways that we can envision using a phone with MHL:

Phone as a Game Controller - This use case enables the the phone to control a charater on a TV as opposed to playing a game on the smaller screen of the phone. Accelerometer games and games where touch is used in such a way that the user doesn’t have to look at the phone (touch anywhere on the screen to brake in a racing game, for example) are good examples.

Phone as a Game Console - This use case requires an external controller, such as a Bluetooth joystick or mouse. For example, there are already several great games that use the Zeemote JS1 Bluetooth joystick (who will be giving away 150 Zeemotes to the first 150 developers). To use MHL technology to turn your phone into a game console, the phone would sit next to the TV, connected with an MHL cable or adapter. The external controller would be used to start and play the game, just like a traditional game console.

Phone as a Smart TV - In this use case, the game would use the TV’s remote control to send RCP (Remote Control Protocol) information to the phone over the MHL link.  The phone will see RCP as a USB keyboard, so basic keyboard controls should work – think virtual D-pad (up, down, left, right, and select/enter).  A number of games that use this methodology already exist for Google TV, such as Space Invaders.

Do you have other ideas for how MHL can be utilized? Post them here or save those nifty ideas for the hackaton. RSVP for the hackathon and see you on July 20th!

[#2]

Hey developers - hope you're able to snag a Zeemote Bluetooth controller for Android while supplies last! Have fun at #atthack!

[#3]

Use the phone as a media player/web browser using the controller as the remote.

[#4]

Tahiri- that's certainly a good idea and quite possible.

[#5]

@Tahiri Yes! Those are the kind of ideas we are looking for! Or even a combo usage of Zeemote and a TV remote...