Buy an N-Gage, seriously
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Aug 7th 2006 at 5:25PM }
That's the gist of Modojo's latest feature, at least. Apparently, you can score a factory sealed N-Gage QD for a mere $20 -- remember, it still functions as a mobile phone -- and games frequent the bargain bins for as little as $5 (there are only about 50). So, theoretically, you could own the entire N-Gage library for around $250.Still, we're certain there are more fulfilling $270 gaming experiences to be had than with what you'd get out of a clunky phone and a pile of so -so games. But if you've exhausted all other portable options, and you've yet to try out Nokia's failed experiment, perhaps, we repeat, perhaps now's the time. Then again, maybe you should consider digging up the Zodiac instead.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alkaiser @ Aug 7th 2006 5:29PM
Been there, did that.
Only it cost me $50.
http://www.netjak.com/review.php/1165
Also, the Gamestop near me is selling their N-Gage library off for $1.99.
lacking cleverness @ Aug 7th 2006 5:33PM
There is only one reason to own an N-Gage.
Sidetalking!
jabbertrack @ Aug 7th 2006 5:33PM
you would have to pay ME to buy that pile of crap
aaron @ Aug 7th 2006 5:33PM
where can you buy them for this cheap?
FrenchPoodle @ Aug 7th 2006 5:38PM
yea seriously... where in the world can u get an NGage taht cheap? Heck I'd buy 2!
The Rev @ Aug 7th 2006 5:40PM
The ultimate in Finnish engineering......ummm not really.
LoveHertz @ Aug 7th 2006 5:45PM
Considering phones with comparable features cost anywhere from $250-$500, back when the N-Gage QD was $100 it was a steal, and it's a shame that no one really picked up on it. Nintendo could learn a lot from Nokia's N-Gage Arena service, too. It's basically Xbox Live, with voice chat, matchmaking, downloadable content, friend's lists, actual usernames, awards, and for free.
Scott @ Aug 7th 2006 5:46PM
You know what? I owned one. The second model, even, so you didn't have to hold the ass-end of a taco to your ear to talk.
It sucked as a cellphone AND as a game platform. Even at $20, and with $2 games, it's not worth it.
Jonathan @ Aug 7th 2006 5:48PM
In all seriousness, and I own a PSP and a DS and am not a fanboy, the N-Gage was a very functional and feature packed cellphone with SOME amazing games.
X-Men LEgends
Rifts
One
System Rush
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
Splinter Cell
Tomb Raider(if you're into that sort of thing)
Yeah, most games could be considered horrible. And the screen tiny...but hey, once the GBA Micro came out with a small screen, it became okay...right? *misses his ngage*
Alkaiser @ Aug 7th 2006 5:56PM
I don't know what constitutes a good game to you, Jonathan, but I found Rifts: Promise of Power completely underwhelming.
I wish they would have just found a way to get that thing onto a decent platform. Rifts is a nice universe, but the clunky Palladium system makes it unwieldy as a pen & paper game. As a CRPG it's much more fluid.
Sean @ Aug 7th 2006 5:57PM
"you would have to pay ME to buy that pile of crap"
Ironically, you can. LetsTalk.com has the N-Gage for negative $50 with activiation from T-Mobile or Cingular with 5 free games. I have my order in already.
frodo @ Aug 7th 2006 6:04PM
I have both the n-gage and the zodiac.
Not that I bought them to begin with...
My gaming life is no better or worse for having both. I play emulators on the zodiac and the n-gage is just a phone. Woo?
Shahar2k @ Aug 7th 2006 6:12PM
there is ONE reason to buy an N-gage in my mind - Pathway to Glory. probably ne of the better turn based games ever made.... unfortunately never ported to anything else.
I wonder if there's an emulator out there that can play it...
Scott Jon Siegel @ Aug 7th 2006 6:20PM
Take my advice and never turn down an opportunity to own a once-expensive video game system for next to nothing, even it's priced that way because it's crap. A year or so after the Virtual Boy flopped, I saw one, brand new and unopened, for sale at Best Buy for $30. I should have bought it right then and there, but I didn't because I remembered that it was a crappy system.
But remember, even crappy systems always have some hidden gems in their software library. And there's no saving the N-Gage at this point, so paying 20 bucks isn't going to inspire Nokia to continue marketing or developing the damn thing. Appreciate cheap game systems whenever you can, because they're fleeting.
PsyClerk @ Aug 7th 2006 6:29PM
There is at least one game on the N-Gage that makes the system worth having: Pathway to Glory. I think it's the only N-Gage exclusive game that warranted (and got) a sequel.
Justin @ Aug 7th 2006 6:29PM
@ #s 6 and 10 -
That was exactly the point of our feature! Yeah the N-Gage was a horrible decision when it was $200 (or $100), and the games a ripoff at $20-30, but the prices just aren't like that anymore.
The N-Gage had about 6 good games (we list 7 in the feature). They're about $5 each, and the system is now $20. So that means for the price of ONE PSP game, you can own an interesting piece of hardware, and 6 good games. High Seize is especially cool.
But yeah, we wrote the feature specifically saying what you're saying, about the cheapness.
blindspot1331 @ Aug 7th 2006 6:30PM
I would really like to find it for 20 bucks.
i looked on froogle and ebay, nothing.
does anyone know where i could go about finding it for $20?
mike @ Aug 7th 2006 6:45PM
lol $20. I wouldent even use it if some1 gave me an ngage for free. I have better things to do with my time
Waqas @ Aug 7th 2006 7:33PM
anybody know where to buy it for $20 without any plan activation???
i'd buy it just for a spare phone, not to play games. you can't beat $20 bucks for a new phone with color screen.
Your Mother @ Aug 7th 2006 7:39PM
Cough :Piece of Shit: Cough.
No seriously I sold mine for 20 bucks
Eric @ Aug 7th 2006 8:06PM
For all wondering about where to get an N-Gage for $20, EB Games and GameSpot clearened their N-Gage stuff about two months ago, all the stores that still had hardware sold the QD's for $20, brand new. Their most likely all sold out by now, but you can certainly look.
GSI @ Aug 7th 2006 9:03PM
Why would anyone want an electronic taco?
kidding...kidding...I know they changed that design.
Seriously though? Amazing games? It's a CELL PHONE.
Anyone who defends this piece of junk has low standards when it comes to cell phones.
Bocaj @ Aug 7th 2006 9:25PM
No. Do not buy an N-Gage. Take it from someone who has one. It might be fine if you’re not really into cellphones and only need one for basic use because it’s cheap, but playing games on the thing is an exercise in pain unlike any other. There ARE a few good games, but good luck controlling them with the number pad and horrible, terrible, ghastly d-pad.
On the other hand, DO get a Tapwave Zodiac. In dire contrast to the N-Gage it has fantastic physical design (very comfortable to hold, and it has a better joystick than the PSP). Its games go beyond the library of official Zodiac games because it plays Palm software, emulators, and the are old PC games that have been ported to it that are free. You can use SCUMMV on it, for instance.
James @ Aug 7th 2006 11:37PM
Were can you get one for $20??
game_hunter @ Aug 8th 2006 12:06AM
I don't understand why people still insist on being ignorant asses with regards to hardware wars that are long since over. What's the statute of limitations on being sheep?
The N-Gage while not a viable alternative to the DS or PSP for a seriously hardcore gamer is at least 10x better than any other cell phone on the market for gaming and is by far the cheapest S60 smartphone on the market as well. If you are a gamer and need a cell, this is a great choice.
Bottom line: I defy ANYONE to find a device that for -30 USD new can watch movies (including XVID encoded), play music, play games, run emulators (including SCUMMV, MAME, Commodore 64, Spectrum, Game Gear, Gameboy, NES, SNES, Genesis/Mega Drive), surf the net, allow e-mailing, allow instant messaging, server maintance, mobile blogging, RSS subscriptions, handle Office files, do all of that without a hot spot, do all of that for more than 5 hours on a single battery charge and fit in any pocket.
The N-Gage was and is a great device and is an insane value these days. Turn off your fanboy auto-response system and turn on your damn brains.
GSI @ Aug 8th 2006 12:37AM
"10x better than any other cell phone on the market for gaming"
That isn't saying much...
Ubersnuber @ Aug 8th 2006 1:30AM
Dammit GSI!
While reading down the page i was goin to write that line lol
Anyways, i have not even seen a N-gage in real life, but with a micro screen and that controller issue..turnoff!
Gizmondo on the other hand..wouldnt mind having one of those^^(i havent payed attention to it at all..shame on me:P) well well, probably impossible to find one now:(
phipscube @ Aug 8th 2006 3:29AM
I still have my old Ngage. Never play it now but in the day Sims Bustin' Out was fun. At these prices its a complete bargain!
jamms @ Aug 8th 2006 5:09AM
seriously, buy an n-gage?
nearly 3 years now 'professional' gaming sites like joystiq bashed the n-gage. it was a rare day when a gaming news source gave the n-gage any coverage aside from the monthly punches without any real reason or original thought.
brilliant how the story fails to mention that the n-gage is not dead and nokia is launching a next generation platform next year.
David @ Aug 8th 2006 8:48AM
I love how everyone who AUCTUALLY owned/owns an ngage (and atleast a game)(in this list of comments particularly) havent bashed it.
Fair enough if youve properly tried it and you have a viable reason for hating it (WHICH DOESNT COLLIDE WITH THE PORTABLE YOU LIKE INSTEAD) (I.E. hating ngage for small screen... yet loving gameboy micro), but come on people dont be so fuckin shallow.
If you arent willing to give it a try, then stay away form bashing ok? or else ill have to come round all your houses and inidivually kick each one of your 'anonymous hater' asses- 'jay and silent bob style'
flymolo @ Aug 8th 2006 9:27AM
I just got an n-gage qd a few months ago when my cell phone (which was crappy to begin with) died. I like games so I figured an n-gage could be cool. I didn't find anything wrong with the phone, it makes calls it recieves calls and the screen isn't THAT small just a different orientation than we're used to.
Plus it has Civilization!
#29 Nokia isn't releasing a new N-gage but a new games line for a series of phones. I'm pretty sure the games will be download only.
GSI @ Aug 8th 2006 7:28PM
Funny how people always say "Well if you'd tried it then you wouldn't hate it."
Guess what? I've tried and I still hate the damn thing. I've tried both the original N-Gage Taco and the QD...both are crap.
Sting The Bad Boy @ Aug 12th 2006 6:33AM
Trying doesn't mean holding in hand for 15 minutes.
thompson340 @ Aug 12th 2006 4:08PM
I own a Zodiac, and did own both models of the N-Gage. Despite several flaws, I found the N-Gage and QD enjoyable, as both a phone and games device, it has several games which are enjoyable and work well, such as the PTG games, WWP, Tomb Raider and Tony Hawks as well as others. As a smart phone, $20 is an excellent price even if you hate the N-Gage as a games device, and even if you only hate it because of word of mouth, youdon'tknow what you're missing.
I do find my Zodiac more enjoyable for some games, despite it not having Worms, I have Quake, Duke3d, Hexen 2 and a number of other FPS games which work well with the analogu stick/ stylus combination. Emulators also run well. I also have Tomb Raider 2 on my Zodiac, which I find more enjoyable than Tomb Raider on the N-Gage (not because its on N-Gage).
If you need a good phone at a cheap price, get a QD, if you want something cheap for handheld gaming, get either the QD or Zodiac, both have their highs and lows.