Nokia's not so hot on the N-Gage now?

Oh N-Gage, we know you get enough hate from the crew up in here, but today's really your unlucky day. We're going to hold our tongues out of respect, but you know it's harsh when your biggest cheerleaders — the freaking peeps who brought you to life — are even dogging on you. The money quote came from Anssi Vanjoki, head of Nokia's Multimedia division: "I am not happy. I said we needed to sell six million in three years, and we sold one-third of that. We need to make some changes." Ouch. But no, those changes won't necessarily include a timely death of the device, merely expanding the list of devices capable of playing N-Gage games to the rest of the Nokia N series (something we've been expecting anyway). Gizmondo, you listening? Taking notes?

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

lol, i didnt think they even still made those...

[Andre @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How did they realistically expect to achieve their goals with inferior hardware, sub-standard titles, and impractical form factor?

[Keith Warden @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Hey, i have a QD......

and its the BEST Cell ive ever had!
Plays NES/GB/GBC/SNES (SLOW)......and Nokia's games!

[apeguero @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Damn! They actually sold that many?

[Xbox360-forums.com @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The day the N-gage died was when they removed sidetalkin

[funkyflea @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I am a troll: [e-mail]

[Kroc Camen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

R.I.P http://www.sidetalkin.com/ :(

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The N-Gage gets such bad press. I just don't get it. Sure, it's not the best gaming device out there or the best phone for that matter, but it's a damn good deal.

Where else can you get a Series 60 smartphone with bluetooth and a removable memory card for under $100 without contract? Hell, what other smartphone of any make is under $100?

[sonofabinch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Why doesn't Nokia strike a deal with some of the carriers to make the N-Gage QD a free phone with contract? If they pump millions of N-Gages out there, surely they'll make it back in game sales. Isn't that a similar business model to most console game systems?

[Drunk_Monk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

dang, is that thing still arround =|

[ChrisXS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Gotta love the narrow aspect ratio display on a sideways oriented device.

[ChrisXS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Hey look! Its Peter Rojas: http://www.sidetalkin.com/Images-General/NickSidetalkin.jpg

;-)

[deegg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

wow... look at you all thinking your so smart and funny with these hilarious witiscisms about the ngage.

OK just you go sit there beside your wifi hotspot outside starbucks in the rain and play your recycled franchises which have been ported to your psp =) Also i hope you have remembered your special extra-reinforced pockets to carry your 'portable' gaming systems, and also your highly impractical cellular telephones which you will need to phone for repair of your system as it will probably break into pieces in your pocket! then return home to report your incident to your highly un-caring crappy community.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

How did they realistically expect to achieve their goals with inferior hardware, sub-standard titles, and impractical form factor?

--

Hey look.. Engadget hypocrites talk about convergence!

[DiedWater @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

N-Gage QD is GOOD, its like one of the best thing ever, i have an DS, but it's so big, how do u even put that into your pocket? but with qd, it's so nice, and small, and very strongly build, i only wear jeans, so I m interest to try any handheld that will fit in my jean pocket, without getting the screen scrach to death, and QD made it, not gameboy micro, not psp, not nds, its QD! QD is what an ideal pocket gaming system should be like, it's a phone, it's smart, it's got bluetooth, it's got removable storage, it's get a hard body. QD is the best!

[Virtuous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The N-Gage is a failure. Nokia hasn't announced any new phones that will play N-Gage games. The QD is almost 1.5 years old. Some games will be difficult to play on candy bar and flip phones.

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I love my QD. A $100 s60 BT phone for $100? Can't beat it by a long shot. I only use it for gaming when I'm taking a crap, but that's enough for me.

[Shin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

It was my first S60 device and I had to admit, the device was quite nice for the price (QD). It was my bridge switching to my sweet sweet 6260 *love*

[xbit @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

2 million sold isn't a lot in games console terms, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the most popular smartphone ever.

Even now the N-Gage QD doesn't seem such a bad deal. For $100 you get a colour screen, Bluetooth, hot-swappable and cheap expandable memory, decent sound, a full HTML web-browser, the ability to sync with Outlook or Notes and as much homebrew gaming as you like. No need for hacks like the PSP - it runs custom software out of the box. Hell, even some of the newer N-Gage games (Path to Glory) are pretty good too.

It's just a shame that the screen is relatively poor and the wrong way around.

[deegg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

man those are just the best features... look closer and youll find video player, screenshot taker, voice recorder, fully functional phone which is the same insides as a 3650.... then you think about expanding the games and apps.... you can have gps, mp3 player, radio, full screen movie player (landscape).... all in a seriously small packaging.

its just such a pity that everyone was distracted from these things by the press (EG ENGADGET) who wouldnt allow their readers to see how good the n-gage auctually was. Instead of focusing on the good thigns- or even mentioning them, they only decided to mention the bad parts. then they dont update their opinions for the qd and the new games... they keep with their old opinions of the ngage from the original. these people like engadget have brainwashed their readers, now all we hear is "OMG SIDETALKING TOO BIG OMFG TAKE IT OUT IN PUBLIC HAHAHA".

I wish some people could get a mind of their own, and quit being such sheep. Give the ngage a fuckign try and you will like it. NO, dont go and buy one then download cracked games- cause then you wont appreciate them....

just give it a go

[cutton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

i own an N-gage QD too... best portable device i have used interms of built quality the amount of stuff you can do on it... it can still hold on its own as a poor man's PSP.

It's built tough,well designed and easy to use layout, huge software library,Games (n-gage), emulators and u can make phone calls too :p

If they come up with an N-gage2 i would seriously get one, unless there are some major defects in it.

i do not understand why n-gage gets this much negative press.

[ChillyWilly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

N-Gage QD owner here (thanks to Engadget). I use mine as a backup phone (GoPhone) when I am in places that my Sprint phone drops more than it should. I also have MAME for Series 60 on it, and a few games for it.

Except for the size (when compared to my current Sanyo phone), I like the N-Gage and feature wise, it's really not a bad phone.

As with my current criticism with Sony and PSP, Nokia should focus on software, not hardware, which it looks like they may actually be heading down that path.

As long as my N-Gage keeps going (and Cingular keeps their GoPhone service around), I'll continue to use it as a backup phone and a cool little gaming device.

[fistpittingnork @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

23. Posted Nov 3, 2005, 11:58 AM ET by MaxSMoke
(Can you believe they used to make cellphones without cameras? Geezz! The Stone-Ages!)

Yeah, way back in the day when ringtones were $0.00 everywhere without need of going through free ringtone WAP sites. Good times.

[Virtuous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The N-Gage platform is dead without new handsets. Will Nokia keep selling the QD forever? People here say the N-Gage is a success. Nokia missed their sales goals by a country mile!

[eltower @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

pwned.

Actually, the N-Gage is a brilliant device. The only sub par games were a few of the launch ones. People who say the N-Gage games are sub par have obviously never come into near contact with one of them.

Let's see, what's a game all about? Gameplay, fun, originality, graphics...

Notice graphics go last. I will never forget the day I bought Enter the Matrix. Brilliant graphics, but gameplay that felt like a beta, and originality that drilled a hole through my head. Let's take a look at post-launch N-Gage games... Gameplay? Check. Originality? Double Double Check. Graphics? Check. Yes, the graphics are there. Just take a look at Splinter Cell Chaos Theory and ONE. FFS, SC:CT was ported FROM the N-Gage TO the DS. So was Asphalt. *ahem*, and ONE is the first ever portable game to be developed with motion capture. Wake up everyone. If after a test run of the device you decide you don't like it, fine. But don't let the arseholes at Engadget tell you what to think. Just give it a try. You won't regret it. I know I never did.

[Rocket Punch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

People who buy N-Gage also bought the $399 Bose Radio.

[Mr Stevens @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Not everyone wants a PSP/DS - they're expensive and bulky compared to a phone. Yeah, QD's is a bit cr@p in comparision but there is still a place for it. Hopefully expanding the games to the other N-series handsets can only be a good thing. Not sure what it'll be like playing without a dedicated D-pad