Madden is everywhere. Literally.

The game is on virtually every gaming device known to man. If you have an iPad or iPhone, you are probably enamored with the idea of being able to line up with your favorite team while waiting for a bus, in line for an espresso or lounging around with a few minutes to kill.

However, the iPhone and iPad Madden offerings simply do not measure up to the experience on a console. And, frankly, they shouldn’t. These mobile mediums can’t stack up to the powerful consoles sitting on your living room entertainment centers. To try is futile, but that is just what Electronic Arts did when it brought Madden to your phone and tablet. Simply put, Madden is not fun to play on an iDevice.

One of the main problems I had with Madden, particularly on the iPhone, is the size of the gamepad. It’s too small for my meaty fingers. On the iPad, it is a bit better, but using it with any kind of success is still an exercise in frustration.

The playbooks are very difficult to navigate and defense is nearly impossible to master. And as you would expect, the graphic quality is poor, but acceptable for the limited gaming power under the hood of the iPhone and iPad.

All the basic bells and whistles are there: season mode, exhibition, etc. But the game simply isn’t enthralling enough to finish a game, let alone an entire season. 

EA should have focused more on mini games. The Touchdown Challenge mode is a start –- you have two minutes to move your team down the field and score -- but that’s it. Those quick, pick-up and play games are fun, and give us our Madden fix on the go.

But there are other big name games on the iMarket that have shown some promise. One of those games comes from 2K Sports. They took a big first step in bringing sim-style basketball to mobile gaming devices.

The main difference between Madden and NBA 2K12 is the control scheme. 2K12 offers the traditional gaming pad setup, but also offers one-touch controls that make the game much easier -- and much more fun -- to play.

The graphics are more than acceptable for the iPhone and iPad. In fact, some of the player models and animations are done very well given the limitations. That doesn’t mean it’s without hiccups, but anyone who plays games extensively on mobile devices knows to expect these.

Like Madden, I would have liked to see more mini games in 2K12. The real draw with these iDevices is how convenient they can be. Mini games are a must have feature for this platform.

Now NBA Jam, that's a game that just oozes of fun on your iDevice. It's amazing how good this game is, because I prefer it over the 360 version. Why? Because NBA Jam is the kind of game that is made for mobile devices.

The graphics just look right. Let’s face it, NBA Jam has never been built on lifelike player models, which lends itself to the iPhone and iPad. The control scheme is smooth and reactive, even on the relatively small screen. Even though there is no multiplayer, there are plenty of challenges to keep you occupied for months.

It comes down to games being fun. Realism and sim are meant for consoles, but those quick, quirky, pick-up-and-play games are what's meant for iDevices.