Nokia's new N-Gage gaming service goes live

It's apparently saving the full, official announcement until Monday, but Nokia just dropped word on its N-Gage blog that the final version of its new N-Gage gaming service / application is now live and ready for your taking. To take advantage of that right now, however, you'll need an N81, N81 8GB, N82, N95, or N95 8GB handset, although Nokia says that support for additional N-Gage compatible devices is "coming soon," including the N73, N93, and N93i. If that doesn't preclude you, you can download the application straight to your device from Nokia's mobile site (n-gage.mobi/d), or you can hit up the link below to download it the old fashioned way.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Chebwa @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:41PM]

Watch out DS/PSP! Your days are numbered!

[tom @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:50PM]

The chance of that happening is remote.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:56PM]

SONY needs to make a PSP phone. If done right - they'd easily eclipse iphone.

But more importantly, Sony needs to ditch the UMD drive altogether and make all its games 1.5 GB digital downloads (or flash memory cards) . A PSP phone and any PSP revision would need either an SSD drive or a built in 15 ~ 20 GB HDD.

[tom @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:20PM]

PS3 - portable (SWEET!)

[Imran @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:48PM]

Finally, now I can get rid of the hacked version from my N95.


:D

[Shahryar @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:50PM]

Any advice on the best place in the U.S. to get a N82 cell phone? I'd like to get one within the next 1-2 weeks for my wife's bday. I think an N95 might be a bit too bulky for her.

[martin @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:51PM]

woop im going there now

[Steffen Jobbs @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:46PM]

Yeh, sure a PSP phone. Come to think of it, all they'd need to do is add a 3G chipset and a touch screen to the current PSP. That would be just great. They'd outsell the iPhone 10 to 1. You could have all those buttons do other things when in phone mode.

Wake up, willya. It isn't going to happen and as soon as the iPhone 2.0 hits the streets with SDK produced games, it's game over for both the Nintendo DS and PSP devices. Their hardware is already old. This is not my opinion, this is from some articles I've read comparing the iPhone hardware to the DS and PSP. You can make comparisons on your own before or after you vote me down.

I own a PSP and use it constantly for games and sometimes internet radio, but dammit, that crappy browser is the worst thing I've ever tried surfing the web with. I have a cable broadband connection and it takes forever for a page to load. Sorry, but the iPhone is the future. DSs and PSPs are history.

[Rich @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:24PM]

Great news!

Now where's that sequel to Pathway To Glory...

[DeadPixel @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:25PM]

why wont ngage just die

[L.Rawlins @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:40PM]

Excellent. I'm looking forward to getting this onto my N82. My trial of the service that came pre-installed is getting a little long in the tooth.

As excellent as the one Asphalt 3 level I have access to is great to re-play (the game/level seen in the featured image)... I have at this point nailed every nitrous scented apex on the track.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[analyzewithin @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:15PM]

Is that the game in the screenshot? It actually looks a bit like Burnout Paradise!

[L.Rawlins @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:32PM]

Yes it is and yes it does. It's a lot of fun to play and is similar to Burnout in its arcade, hi-octane style.

I can confirm a clean install on my N82, the installer overwrites the N-Gage demo that comes on the phone (but unfortunately also wipes out the game demos that came as part of that trial).

Having said that, I've just gone to the 'Showroom' and was able to download their replacements and new trials for completely free.

My initial reaction is that this service could be a very promising development in mobile gaming and I for one am intrigued.

[huh @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:42PM]

As I've whined about so many times, you can't use this on an n95-3 because Nokia can't get their update act together. n95-1 is running version 20-something, with full ngage support, flash lite, faster camera and many other improvements, whereas n95-3 is still running version 11, with none of these features. Keep Nokia's ability to support devices in mind next time you go shopping, especially since no NA carrier will officially support their n-series.

[Pdexter @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:57PM]

Nope it does work with N95-3 and N95-4. Yes i know it actually says in ngaga page that it dosent work with other than norm N95's. Thought i agree with your point.

[namtastic @ Apr 27th 2008 10:36AM]

It RUNS on an N95-3, but games do not activate properly. So enjoy those trial versions 'cause that's all you'll get until a firmware update. :( Which means that's all we'll get.

[chris @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:53PM]

Cool piece of kit. Sony Ericsson should come out with a PSP Phone that would rival it. N-Gage was never my favorite gaming platform (except Tony Hawks Pro Skater) - screen looks smaller than the old QD though.

[Pdexter @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:05PM]

It's a platform not a device and i think Nokia got it right this time it will be just one add to those smartphones. It wont compite with PSP or Nintendo, but Nokia is trying to create all services under OVI icon(Nokia music) and any of the other major manufacturers havent really even started. Ngage works with all new N series devices

[kyle allen @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:05PM]

dang, i was hoping for another taco phone

[hhhenryhhh @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:25PM]

check your local big city (as in nyc,LA) china town phone shop. Last I checked, n82 was $220 with 1 year plan, or around $500 with just the phone.

[Virtuous @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:26PM]

Nokia took too long to revitalize N-Gage. Not to mention that few Americans own N-Gage compatible mobiles. N-Gage is DOA in the US.

[nix v @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:27PM]

Imagine the gaming on the E90's beautiful screen. Why do we get nothing?!!!

[kneelconqueso @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:53PM]

no sidetalking?

[Al @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:27PM]

Buy.com and Amazon sell the N82 for $480. That comes with warranty.

[namtastic @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:59PM]

...only if it's running v20.x firmware. Technically, it doesn't work (isn't supported? won't install) on anything but.

And since the American N95 (N95-3) is still at v11.x firmware since August, it goes to show you exactly why Nokia has such a hard time in the US. 'Cause they still have their thumb up their butt when it comes to supporting us.

No Active Standby Search, no Nokia Maps 2.0, and now this. Greaaaat.

[namtastic @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:01PM]

Oy. This was supposed to be a reply to Imran.

Also, Flash Lite... forgot to add that to the list of stuff the -3 still doesn't have.

[underwhelm @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:37PM]

So this won't work on my N-Gage QD??

[Kurian @ Apr 4th 2008 5:41AM]

You have obviously never played on a PSP.
Other handhelds are a joke

[Dr Haisook @ Apr 4th 2008 7:25AM]

This is going to be a failure like the previous nGages. Nokia's customers are most likely to be non-gamers. And I don't see people buying those expensive Nokias just for games when a NDS or a PSP would obviously be a cheaper option.

Move on to the next topic please.

[Shahryar @ Apr 4th 2008 9:04AM]

Thanks for the suggestions Al and hhhenryhhh. I think I'll grab it from buy.com. It's $468 there right now and I have a $20 google checkout coupon which makes the price pretty good. Although the only downside is that it's the silver version and not the (in my opinion) better looking black one:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/nokias-n82-now-in-black-629-unlocked/

[ryaninc @ Apr 4th 2008 9:13AM]

I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the original side-talking N-Gage. Yes, I actually owned one. One of the worst phones I've ever used. But I'm sure these are better. :-)

[Deoki @ Apr 4th 2008 10:01AM]

"Will existing first generation N-Gage games be compatible with the new N-Gage ready devices?

Due to evolution in the underlying technology, our original first generation N-Gage games will not be compatible with next generation N-Gage compatible devices. Similarly, the next generation N-Gage experience will not be compatible with the original N-Gage game deck or N-Gage QD devices. However we are bringing a wide range of content to the next generation mobile gaming platform, including select N-Gage franchises.faqs0.9648en"

What does it mean? A BIG F_U_C_K YOU for the ones who supported n-gage since the beginning! How about a return policy to the Original And QD N-gages? Nokia, like every other company doesn't give a rat's ass to the ones who spent TONS of USD's & €'s on games!

I AM ASHAMED OF EVER BEING A OFFICIAL PLAYER!!!

[Deoki @ Apr 4th 2008 10:02AM]

WHERE THE HELL IS THE SUPPORT FOR THE ORIGINAL N-GAGE SERIES!?!?!

*BLEEP* YOU NOKIA!

Nokia phones for me, never again.

[PJ @ Apr 4th 2008 10:23AM]

@ Deoki

how is anything supposed to evolved if you are providing backward compatibility? Thats like asking why my N64 won't play my NES or SNES games. Down with Nintendo!!!

[huh @ Apr 4th 2008 10:23AM]

AN official player.

[jsh4ft @ Apr 4th 2008 11:05AM]

I can't believe how useless Nokia is being for people in the US. I want Flash Lite 3. Hell, I want to pay NOKIA a few dollars to play a game or two? Update our firmware!!!

[tribalmasters @ Apr 4th 2008 12:15PM]

I tried Ngage demo on my boyfriends N95, I hope you can use bluetooth gamepads to play. I playesd a car demo, it was a bit shit but then it was only a demo! I think I'll be keeping my PSP just a little longer :-) Ohh and check out Chebwas Myspace, he is one hot emo!

[Imran @ Apr 4th 2008 12:49PM]

You mean all the lovely things my N95-1 Euro Plum has? :p Don't worry man, I'm sure they'll pop out a new firmware for you with everything you want and more just piss us Europeans off. Besides, you have twice as much ram as us.

[Imran @ Apr 4th 2008 12:50PM]

Oops, meant to reply to Namtastic, what's going on with the reply option?!

[ferry @ Apr 5th 2008 9:05AM]

Ye--even ones that are not out yet

[axia777 @ Apr 13th 2008 8:59PM]

Dead on Arrival. End of story.