Google Launches a new "Games You Can Feel" collection in the Google Play Store

Google Play recently launched a Games You Can Feel collection to raise awareness of games using the vibration motor to enhance the mobile game play experience. We’re not talking about an annoying buzz when you lose a life that was all the rage ten years ago. No, Google has highlighted a number of games that use vibration in different ways across very different game genre. For example, In Rovio’s casual Angry Birds Friends, you feel the stretching of the slingshot before you launch your birds at the piggies. In Redlynx’s more hardcore Trials Frontier, you feel your motorbike tires landing on the ground after a jump as you might expect, but later in the game  you also feel subtle ticking as the reward wheel spins and a nice confirming “clunk” feeling as you pull the handle of a slot machine.

In Google’s collection you’ll also find Solo Air that simulates the look, sound and feel of a guitar. You’ll feel the pluck if each string and a pleasing hum as the vibration from the strings fades away, just the way a real guitar does. And at the other end of the game spectrum you’ll find a full mobile port of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto Vice City. Every detail from their console experience is there, including the rumble feedback. Every weapon in the game’s arsenal feels different. You’ll even feel subtle things like pulling the pin from a grenade or the opening and closing of car doors.

There is a lot to feel in these games. And no matter what type of gamer you are, Google has curated a nice mix of game titles to show you just what is possible when game developers use that little motor in their mobile games to extend the game experience. Worried about battery life? Don’t be. The vibration uses about as much power as your audio speaker but won’t annoy your neighbor. That’s about one percent power on Samsung Galaxy phones or tablets. So, go ahead and enjoy the feel of these excellent Android games. But you won’t feel them on your iPhone -- only Google Play has these Games You Can Feel.