Rumor: Next-gen N-Gage garners interest
by Ross Miller 
{ Jan 30th 2007 at 6:15PM }
Remember the N-Gage? Some of you may even have one in a dusty drawer, yearning for some love. Handheld website Pocket Gamers claims that Nokia held a two-day "top-secret workshop" in Santa Monica so that publishers and developers could have a look-see at the next-generation version of N-Gage.The list of companies present include Square Enix, Capcom, Sega and Sony Online Entertainment, among others. However, how Pocket Gamers managed to obtain "top secret" information makes this very suspect, not to mention SOE's presence, who would likely only show up as reconnaissance for Sony's own handheld, the PSP. The article further claims that another two-day workshop is being planned in Madrid to show the new N-Gage to European companies and that Nokia will publicly unveil the new handheld at this year's Game Developer's Conference.
Noting that Nokia had an E3 2006 booth showing off some N-Gage titles, despite abysmal sales, it is plausible that the phone company is working on N-Gage 2.0 and is looking to garner some third-party interest; however, we don't want N-Gage fanboys (population: 3 or 4, maybe) to look at this story as definitive lore. We'll see if anything new comes our way leading up to GDC.
[Via Eurogamer]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Game Artist @ Jan 30th 2007 6:17PM
Can we still sidetalk? Im not buying one without the sidetalkn'
NeverSage @ Jan 30th 2007 6:17PM
@ Nokia
STOP
Norm @ Jan 30th 2007 6:24PM
you can only side talk if they re-release the old one.
I would still be playing tony hawk and KOF on mine if the battery hadn't asploded.
carg0 @ Jan 30th 2007 6:25PM
awesome! we need a new product to make fun of and the ps3 bashing is getting tired.
Kendrick @ Jan 30th 2007 6:36PM
I still carry my N-gage around (and nearly half the library) but I don't use it as a phone. My first question about the next N-gage is whether or not it's still a convergence device. Good phones aren't good for games, and well-designed game consoles don't work well as phones. So if Nokia is willing to take the leap and make a dedicated game console, I'm right there with them.
My other question would be about backward compatibility. However, given that there are ten N-gage titles available for legitimate download on other Nokia phones, I imagine that Nokia is looking at electronic software distribution as opposed to any kind of physical media.
Abscissa @ Jan 30th 2007 6:52PM
I remember hearing around last E3 it was supposed to be more of a branding for games on regular cell phones, and less of an actual gaming device.
Kevin @ Jan 30th 2007 6:48PM
uhm... no?
Ryoga Vee @ Jan 30th 2007 6:58PM
Still have my N-Gage, still love it as a phone. infact I bought a 2nd incase the first went boom.
People who make fun of it was people who have never used it. those who have one swear by it.
Kendrick @ Jan 30th 2007 7:02PM
Maybe it's not a physical device now so much as a virtual platform? I can see the N-gage existing as a software-only environment, like the way Java was intended to be. That would explain why Sony and other game companies would be involved, as this N-gage platform could be made available as part of the Wii virtual console or Xbox Live. That would put Pocket Kingdom in a lot more hands, which would be cool.
That's all speculation, of course. But the thought that there's still some life in the 'blink-and-you-miss-them' N-gage titles pleases me a lot.
lunaclown @ Jan 30th 2007 7:04PM
I am a proud owner of the n-gage qd. It's still a fantastic device. I managed to pick up a bunch of games dirt cheap as Gamestop closed them out. The ability to play games online from anywhere (it's a phone..no wifi needed) was a big plus. Their online community rocked too. Hell, I even won prizes by playing games online! MP3, web browsing, movie watching..it was all there. It's too bad that the system got such bad press because the games towards the end were fantastic. Pathway to Glory 1 and 2, Glimmirati, System Rush, One were some classics. Too bad people don't try something and just listen to the media's opinion.
Hate all you want but I'll be picking up an N-gage 2 if or when it releases.
Mr Khan @ Jan 30th 2007 7:23PM
2 things point to this most likely not being a game console per se, but more like a convergence mobile gaming device/phone (think: More like the iPhone than the PSP)
1. Sony is developing for them, sony is a first party contender in the handheld market
2. Between the DS and PSP, there is no room for a 3rd strict handheld (probably why the Zune wasn't more like a PSP as well)
Maybe Nokia learned their lesson last time, then again, maybe not, we shall see
(another "GameBoy Killer" Killed by a Game Boy), everyone who's taken that title has perished, like a bad omen...
mreddie @ Jan 30th 2007 7:32PM
I love my ngage. I think it only because of the joypad AND the thousands of emulated games (Sega, NES, MAME & Ngage)I can carry around. There are plenty of more poweful phones around, but NONE have a joypad.
Oh the joy of having Street Fighter II and R-Type with me at all times...I Love my Ngage!
murphster @ Jan 30th 2007 7:38PM
This is actually FACT. Go to the GDC webpage and check out nokia's advert on the right (might have to refresh)
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3931/00010001xo9.png
Sensai @ Jan 30th 2007 7:44PM
'Good phones aren't good for games, and well-designed game consoles don't work well as phones.'
*cough* Iphone?
joe smith @ Jan 30th 2007 8:11PM
n-gage redux... great. Excuse me while I express some doubt.
Kendrick @ Jan 30th 2007 8:07PM
When you've actually used an iPhone for gaming, please let me know about. I don't think it's a good idea to consider it as an example of anything until it's actually out in the marketplace. Can't rely only on the hype.
NoHitHair @ Jan 30th 2007 8:14PM
Don't even joke about the taco phone coming back. I don't which was worse: Nokia attempting to sell a *cell phone* in a *video game store* or the N-Gage's groundbreaking bad design.
alec @ Jan 30th 2007 8:40PM
OMG im going to be the only one to camp at wal mart to get one im guranteed to get one! ........................NOT!
Goober @ Jan 30th 2007 8:41PM
Oh my God. Haven't they learned their lesson?
NeverSage @ Jan 30th 2007 8:46PM
Hm, it DOES kind of look like a taco... never noticed. Now I'm hungry
hef @ Jan 31st 2007 12:21AM
N-gage had a certain something... Sidetalking! While it was very embarrassing to talk into a taco shaped phone and it hurt your ear i had fun. But then i pirated all the games and still felt a little ripped off. Pathway to glory was a great gqame if you like war and strategy that was very good. So yes the n-gage sucked but i liked it in a sucky kind of way. N-gage 2 needs a camera and a widescreen ratio. Fuck that was retarded thinking you could play games with a portrait style screen. Don't these bastards ever ask anyone about anything before investing in a multi -million dollar project?
borritoh @ Jan 31st 2007 1:25AM
Ah the good ol'flamin days of the N-GAGE. Hated the sidetalking on the original N-GAGE so got the QD and 2+ years and still rockin. Using Bluetooth to play multiplayer over the internet is the coolest crap this thing can pull.
For now, the N-GAGE is now being promoted as THE gaming platform for all Symbian OS devices. Yea. It's gonna support multiple resolutions so landscape or portrait screens can enjoy the same games. If the price is right, I'd hit it again with the next-generation.