Nokia unveils N-Gage gaming platform
by Ross Miller 
{ Aug 29th 2007 at 1:55PM }
The service will launch globally this November, where you can download the free client to your computer and subsequently installed onto compatible Nokia devices. According to the press release, all games will be free to demo, cost between six and 10 euros (approx. US $8 to $14) and feature online play against friends or random opponents via the N-Gage Arena.
Electronic Arts is currently showing the most support to the system, with Capcom and Vivendi also pledging to provide mobile titles.
According to the website, each player will have a their own profile with achievements and points. Most everything about the new service reeks of Xbox Live, in a very good way. The first phones to be compatible will be Nokia models N73, N81, N93 and N95, with more S60 models to be compatible at a later date.
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
snoopaloop @ Aug 29th 2007 2:01PM
why bother?
Word of the street. @ Aug 29th 2007 2:01PM
Simpson’s did it, I mean Microsoft did it.
I don’t know but naming a whole new project after a failure isn’t bad luck?.
Cellien @ Aug 29th 2007 2:08PM
That phone pictured has an insane pricetag.
Donald @ Aug 29th 2007 3:52PM
FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE US DOLLARS is actually a fair price to pay for a newly-launched cellp... sorry, "mobile computer" that can also make a few phone calls.
Exo @ Aug 29th 2007 2:08PM
interesting. Will sidetalking come back as a gameplay mechanic?
ronald.raygun @ Aug 29th 2007 4:40PM
This is going to be the new problem, these handsets are all atleast $350 or more.
Matters @ Aug 29th 2007 2:19PM
They should have done this from the start. I think it's a good idea. I don't mind playing a game or two on a cellphone and most cellphone games aren't nearly as good as the nGage. If I owned a Nokia phone that happens to have the nGage platform built in I'd probably consider buying a few games for it. Why not?
I just don't want to buy a cellphone that is designed as a portable game machine and isn't all that good of a phone OR game machine. If it's a great phone with a decent game platform built in I have no problem with that.
NintendoFanbot @ Aug 29th 2007 2:20PM
To be honest, I think they would make more money by developing for DS (though guessing on the quality of their "games", it could be dastardly dealings).
shoeshine @ Aug 29th 2007 2:22PM
Gotta hand it to Nokia. They refuse to let this crap die. That takes determination.
samfish @ Aug 29th 2007 2:22PM
Ick.
Todd @ Aug 29th 2007 2:23PM
I'm so beyond caring about this. Why is Nokia trying this? I think Round 2 of N-Gage will fail, too.
mr nimblewick @ Aug 29th 2007 2:37PM
This is round three, is it not?
Cluckyx @ Aug 29th 2007 2:38PM
Makes you wonder what phones will be compatible with this thing. Seeing as you just can't upgrade it like a PC and I know some people still using phones with black and white screens that look like calculators.
And to be honest, what makes them different from all the current mobile game providers, besides being more expensive?
DarthDavid @ Aug 29th 2007 2:44PM
Not only is the N-Gage platform back, but 2-D shumps are back too!!!! Check out the screen, yeah baby!
bm @ Aug 29th 2007 3:44PM
Who the fuck cares? It's an action game on a mobile phone. I mean, I'm all for more shmups, but.... mobile phone.
DarthDavid @ Aug 29th 2007 4:15PM
I was being sarcastic numbnuts....come on, you couldn't tell by the many exclamation points, the "yeah baby"? I would NEVER support ANYTHING with the N-Gage brand on it, yeah baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bm @ Aug 30th 2007 4:51AM
Idunno man, I wasn't even paying attention to the N-gage part. Since the thing up there is just a phone. :p And unfortunately those are still popular enough for developers to waste resources on.
REUYL @ Aug 29th 2007 3:08PM
$8-14?! What a rip.
Obie @ Aug 29th 2007 3:17PM
Nokia still keeps trying...and I keep smelling failure.
J-Guy @ Aug 29th 2007 4:14PM
Well, at least it doesn't have those thirty buttons that last model I saw had.
SuperDave @ Aug 29th 2007 4:42PM
Wow, you guys are harsh. I like to make fun of the first N-Gage as much as the next person (sidetalking, taking out the battery to play games, etc.) but this actually seems to make sense, especially with this phone. It looks like a Game Boy micro in this configuration and for once, it's a cell phone with good controls for gaming. Finally! You've got a control pad on the left and two buttons on the right (not a sea of buttons like the original N-Gage and other phones).
While I own a DS Lite and a Game Boy micro, I would love to be able to play games whereever I am (waiting at the mechanic, etc.), even if I didn't bring a game system. The only reason I haven't been able to get into cell phone gaming is the controls, and this sews it up quite nicely without the mistakes of the previous N-Gage.
[start sarcasm]Oh and now it looks like EA can put Madden 08 on another system since it obviously doesn't have it on enough systems *cough 10 systems cough*. [/end sarcasm] I swear, they'd still make it for Super Nintendo if there was money in it and they could.
Neil @ Aug 29th 2007 5:05PM
I loved my n-gage qd. It's great being able to have handheld system around just in case. I still keep it and my charger in my car just in case I need a game fix.
blooh @ Aug 29th 2007 5:08PM
why would people buy crappy games for their phones? just get a gameboy if you want good portable games
I just have a shitty $20 phone i got with my service renewal. I just use my phone for *gasp* calls.
SuperDave @ Aug 29th 2007 5:19PM
blooh - see my above post for why. I have a Game Boy micro actually (as well as a Game Boy Advance SP and a DS Lite).
Kendrick @ Aug 29th 2007 5:51PM
This is excellent news. Given the existing N-gage download function that already exists in the EU region, that means more people who get to experience exclusive titles like Pocket Kingdom and Rifts. On the other hand, it looks like Nokia is going with wholly digital distribution, which means no new software on MMC cards for users of the older hardware (or people who use the device for gaming only and not as a phone.) I also worry about software backward compatibility, given that there have been three revisions of the Symbian S60 operating system whose applications are not cross-compatible.
ThornedVenom @ Aug 29th 2007 5:55PM
Do we have to pay for N-Gage Arena?
Anyways, I agree with what the other dude said: better controls do make the phone appealing. With that price tag, it doesn't really appeal the hardcore gamer, but it should make cell phone nuts think a bit before choosing another model (if they're into portable gaming without a second device).
Hectigo @ Aug 29th 2007 6:13PM
I can't exactly see why Nokia decided to continue using the N-Gage name, considering the last iteration ended up a failure, but it'll be interesting to see what this will mean to the mobile game industry. There's little to no reason why games on mobile phones couldn't be as good or even better than on the "dedicated" gaming handhelds, and the additional possibility of online gaming wherever you go is a nice feature to have. There just seems to be a belief about the inferiority of games on mobile phones that feeds on itself, and a standardized, high-quality mobile game platform with strong marketing could be just the thing to fix it. I remember some decent games even on the original N-Gage, so I hope people will eventually forget the side-talkin' fiasco and move on. Why have three or four different devices in my pockets when just one can do the job just fine?
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 29th 2007 6:42PM
Because it's not doing a decent job. A Swiss army knife has scissors and screw driver but I'd rather use those dedicated tools. Until they come out with a platform that can perform as a cell phone and gaming machine well we are free to ridicule them.
Hectigo @ Aug 30th 2007 6:26AM
I'd usually rather use a separate screwdriver too, but if I had to take 10 different tools with me wherever I go, I'd opt for the Swiss army knife instead of a toolbox. I'm not saying mobile phone control methods can yet directly compete with the PSP or the DS, but with developments like the N81, we're getting there.
Utils @ Aug 29th 2007 9:19PM
Capcom Supporting new hardware?
BIG SURPRISE!
Awesome Stuff @ Sep 5th 2007 9:33AM
Din din dindin..Super fighting ROBOT.. din din dindin!..MEGAMAN!!..
t_m @ Aug 30th 2007 10:15AM
Nintendo need to make a gameboy/ds platform before they get overtaken by the mobile market!
...or make their own phone like apple did to protect their mp3 player market from mobiles. I notice sony has figured this out and is working on a playstation platform/phone as well.