Didn't My Cell Phone Used to have Games?

This weekend we went out to watch the UFC pay-per-view fights.  MMA is his sport of choice, so getting to watch the fights has become our regular date night.   

Unfortunately, the bar we normally watch at was not showing the fights this week, so we had to head to another bar.

This bar had EVERY television set to the fights.  No bar trivia games. No Nascar race on some of the televisions.  Nothing but men in tight shorts hitting each other everywhere I turned.

Needless to say, I quickly got bored.

Not to worry, though. In my purse I had my cell phone, the constant companion, filled with entertainment.

Which got me to thinking. . . .

When I bought my first cell phone, it came included with silly, low quality games.  Tetris or Crab Catch or a similarly mind-numbing game.  They drained the battery, but if you were stuck waiting in a parking lot waiting for someone it would entertain you for a while.

Over time, the games started getting better, more in depth, and actually draining the battery less.

Then came the day my phone came with three games, all in full color.  . . but I could only play them for a few minutes before I was required to buy them.  On that phone, I eventually did spend the $1 to buy a silly little game for that mindless entertainment I needed at times....like when I was sitting in a bar for four hours watching men beat each other senseless.

My current phone, though, didn't come with any games.  Where Tetris should be is a link to an Internet site with HUNDREDS of games. None of them are free.

This weekend I was bored enough I thought about spending another dollar on a game, just to have something on my phone.    That's when I learned. . . .

The games are now SUBSCRIPTIONS!  Pay-per-month!  Oh, and for many of them, expect to use airtime or data time when you want to play them!   I don't even HAVE a data plan because I just want my phone to make phone calls.   And, occasionally, provide free mindless entertainment.

Why is it that as technology gets more commonplace and easier to produce, it also is becoming more expensive?  Shouldn't phones still be able to offer crab catch or hangman included with the software?  Or, at the very least, if only fancy full color games can be marketed, why aren't there options you pay for once, and own? That don't require use of airtime when you're playing?  

I think I might dig out my held-hand electronic solitaire again.  Sure, the 3rd column burned out and you can't tell what the cards are anymore, but at least it won't rack up subscription fees!