N-Gage
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Capcom signs up to deliver N-Gage games in '08
Putting the N-Gage and N-Gage QD squarely in its rear view mirror, Nokia continues to pick up the pieces, take its lumps, and learn hard lessons in revamping N-Gage from a dedicated line of devices into a far-reaching platform -- and it's starting to look like the strategy just might work. Latest to sign up with Espoo is Capcom, a juggernaut in the gaming industry, and perhaps more importantly, the first Japanese studio to issue a vote of confidence for the new N-Gage. We wanted to be quick to point out that this probably means Street Fighter II is coming to an N81 near you, but the director of Capcom's European Mobile Division beat us to the punch, saying that he "believes that N-Gage will allow us to bring some of our most famous franchises to the platform." Cheers to that, we say.
Nokia's N81 slider is an 8GB N-Gager
Remember the sidetalkin' N-Gage? Yeah... well, this isn't it. This is Nokia's new N-81 gaming device built upon their revamped N-Gage gaming platform. The S60 device packs HSDPA (sorry, no US band support) for on-line gaming, integrated speakers (and 3.5-mm headphone jack), and D-pad navigation for getting your game on. Still, it's not just for gaming as it fully supports all the audio and video you'd expect in a new "pane-driven," UI which carousels your windows instead of lining them up in tabs -- a UI which will evolve in the coming months in line with Ovi. On sale Q4 in Europe in an 8GB flash model (€431/$585) or €360/$490 pre-bunged with a 2GB microSD card. You did see our hands-on, right?
Nokia's N-Gage gaming service now official
Just as we expected, Nokia announced their totally revamped N-Gage gaming platform. An eco-sytstem now, covering software-enabled S60-based handsets, games, and a full-featured community-based service to link it all together. A new mobile gaming platform, if you will, which Nokia plans to extend beyond just Nokia devices. The service will offer tournaments, global rankings, and other events within the gaming community. Cost of games will cost up to €10, are free to try, and can be rented over varying periods. All available starting November. More as the information becomes available.
Nokia N81 hands-on
The N81 is perhaps the most attractive Nokia we've ever seen. Not everyone will agree -- it's kinda square, bulky, and a little heavier than we were expecting -- but the total package struck us as solid and extraordinarily well designed. We were digging the cool metallic flake front and rear offset by a medium gray strip down the sides, the wild control layout below the screen, and the fact that this simply doesn't look like Your Father's Nokia. Turns out the N81's beauty is far from skin-deep, though. %Gallery-6500%
Nokia music store, N-Gage, N81, 8GB N95 all confirmed for tomorrow
In case you haven't heard, Nokia's blowing it out tomorrow, London style. We can't be certain what exactly is going to get announced until the curtain drops, but as the date and time draw near, we're hearing whispers from across the 'nets about what we can expect. Latest across our desks is this itinerary from The Nokia Blog, detailing the day's events; from it, we can see that the N81 and 8GB N95 are both on the docket, ensuring that the high end will be well represented. Also up are the rumored music store and the revamped N-Gage platform we've been hearing a solid buzz about recently. Stay tuned, we're just a few hours away now!
Third time's the charm: Nokia prepping new N-Gage service this week
If you've noticed an uptick in the number of gaming announcements coming out of Espoo recently, there's likely a very good reason for that. As expected, the New York Times is reporting that Nokia will officially announce this week a totally revamped N-Gage platform this week, turning the brand from a series of dedicated gaming-oriented phones to a full fledged service supported by a variety of its S60-based handsets. It sounds like N-Gage will take a number of cues from the current crop of online services for video game consoles, offering "try before you buy" game demos, player skill matching, recommendations, and other features that look to give the service even more of a community feel than it had before. Perhaps most importantly, Nokia will step up casual game offerings -- crucial for those times when you have literally one or two minutes to bust out some entertainment -- and offer the games as downloads rather than pesky cartridges. There's no word yet on exactly what existing handsets will be compatible, but it's safe to say superphones like the N95 will make the cut -- and odds are this doesn't spell the end of the gamephone form factor, either.
Nokia, I-play hook up for "casual" games on N-Gage platform
The exact nature of Nokia's next-gen N-Gage efforts still aren't entirely clear, but at least we know we'll be able to get our mahjong on. Nokia has announced a partnership with mobile game purveyor I-play to offer a full range of "casual" games to the N-Gage platform starting this fall. Interestingly, this announcement seems totally unrelated to the Shockwave Mini deal that was also recently inked -- so by all appearances, Nokia's putting a lot of weight behind its entertainment offerings over the next few months. There's no mention of how exactly the games will be delivered, though it's a safe bet that the upcoming N-Gage download client will play a role. Expect I-play's offerings to focus on -- as they call it -- "one-thumb" gaming experiences that make it easy to catch a quick game on the bus to work without having to get too involved. Just don't go trying World Rally Championship while you're driving, k?
PS3 becomes home to FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008
Do you have what it takes to be the world's best virtual football player? The FIFA Interactive World Cup begins this October, and the Grand Final will take place in the Sony Centre in Berlin next May. Players will be able to compete in one of twenty FIWC Qualifier Events around the world, or online through the PlayStation Network. Not only will players be vying for fame, but the grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000 USD. The FIWC will be open exclusively to PS3 players.Simon Rutter, VP Sales & Marketing for SCEE commented: "With the added realism that PS3 brings to FIFA 08, we have every belief that now is the time to truly make an impact with the FIFA Interactive World Cup, We're looking forward to PS3 fans helping to make the tournament every bit as iconic for gamers as the real FIFA World Cup is for football fans." While Xbox 360 enjoys a superior version of American football in Madden 2008, it appears that the rest of the world will enjoy a superior soccer game on PS3 through FIFA 2008. Which game of "football" will reign supreme? Registration for the FIWC opens today at www.FIFA.com/FIWC.
EA finally makes sports game that (shock!) runs at 60fps on PS3
Maybe EA has finally learned the importance of the PS3 community. Maybe they finally tackled the challenges of developing for Sony's next-gen hardware. Or maybe EA wanted gamers to just shut up about the 60 fps debacle caused by Madden 2008. Whatever the reason, EA representatives were keen to make note that the upcoming FIFA 08 was, in fact, running at 60 fps on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. At Leipzig, the development team showed the game off on PS3, highlighting that the game wasn't sloppily ported for our platform. Rather, it was developed from the ground-up for both platforms. That's the way it always should've been, EA.
Nokia's N-Gage coming to PCs
When you hear the word N-Gage, you probably get weird, grossed-out feelings and maybe a little stabbing pain in your side, right? Well, Nokia is attempting to make the transition from the N-Gage as a handheld gaming device (and a bit of a failed one at that), to N-Gage as a standalone game platform -- one which can be implemented on the PC as well as other mobile systems. The company is currently in the thick of development on a top-secret title known as "Project White Rock", which will be the first bound for the PC. The game is being developed by RedLynx (creators of popular handheld fare like "Pathways to Glory"), and produced by Scott Foe, who's known for his work on the first mobile MMOG "Pocket Kingdom: Own the World". According to reports, the game contains over a thousand lines of recorded dialogue, though sources say the game-play experience will be largely the same on both the PC and handheld platforms. Whatever the case may be, the few glimpses we've seen of the "next generation" N-Gage look pretty promising, and this scheme may just be the shot in the arm Nokia's gaming division is looking for.[Via Joystiq]
New N-Gage game coming to mobile phones and PCs
Don't be confused: Nokia's N-Gage gaming platform isn't the same as its ill-fated hardware iterations of the same name. And while sidetalking might be a thing of the past, Nokia's still confident that the N-Gage name can live on in mobile phone games, especially as a client for facilitating online play.That said, Pocket Gamer reports that Nokia is working on a new title for the N-Gage platform, which will be playable not just on mobile phones, but on PCs as well. The game, codenamed "Project White Rock," is being developed by RedLynx, makers of the well-received wartime strategy title Pathway to Glory. The team is also being led by Scott Foe, who previously worked on Pocket Kingdom: 0wn the the W0rld, notable for its equally positive press and for being the first ever mobile phone MMO.Though little is known about "Project White Rock", Foe did inform Pocket Gamer that the title will feature over a thousand lines of recorded dialog, and will utilize unique technology purchased from Sega that will allow the mobile version to connect with the PC version. Details pertaining to the game's specific genre, multi-platform connectivity, and release date are as yet unknown, but will most likely come forth when the game is officially announced.
New N-Gage interface in the wild
It is nice to see that the N-Gage platform may -- as heavily rumored here, there, and everywhere -- receive a fresh breath of much-needed life in the coming months. The new interface captured at Nokia's Experience Day is running merrily on the Nokia N95 (read: no sidetalkin') and is definitely wearing Nokia circa 2007 styling. While we do have the pic, we definitely lack any concrete details -- but we can at least take some comfort in seeing a "Play With Friends" menu option and what appears to be a user pic on the screen taken by a forward facing camera. While the idea of a real gaming phone is a hot one, the N-Gage fell a little short of hitting the perfect balance (OK, well short) and we all have high hopes that the third time's a charm.
FIFA 08 Wii: Mii-supported party games, dev talks Wii vs. Xbox One
For the Wii version of FIFA 08, Electronic Arts has turned Brazilian footballer (or soccer player, for those in the US) Ronaldinho into his own Mii character and included a Wii-only collection of multiplayer minigames dubbed "Footii Party with Ronaldinho" that gamers can play using their own Mii characters. Yes, folks, another Wii title with an added minigame collection, only this time we get a football legend with an unarguably large grimace to host. While discussing FIFA with Eurogamer, group producer Tim Tschirner was asked his thoughts on the Wii's horsepower. Tschirner said that the console is "about as powerful as the original Xbox," though noting that the video hardware "unfortunately is not as powerful." Shaders were cited as an issue, which is something we heard previously when Newsweek's N'Gai Croal discussed Wii and Xbox One similarities with anonymous developers. Not that the hardware limitations have hurt its sales, mind you, so can't we all just get along? %Gallery-3967%
Plastic legs score a goal in FIFA 08 teaser trailer
Assuming you really love watching some quick footwork by some plastic-looking legs, you'll probably get a ... prepare yourself ... kick out of this teaser trailer. Oh no we didn't! In all honesty, EA has made some fairly lofty improvements regarding the next installment of FIFA. Like having superstar Ronaldinho grace the cover. Other improvements? We imagine graphics, gameplay, pretty much everything that crippled last year's game. It's all in good fun and shows what we can expect -- nicely rendered grass, possibly some insanely improved ball-handling mechanics, and people cheering. Cheering people are awesome.
FIFA 08 scores with Ronaldinho, blesses PS3 & Wii
EA didn't shock the world with its surprise confirmation of FIFA 08 today, but PlayStation 3 and Wii owners might be pleased with the assurance that versions of the soccer sim are in development for their consoles, along with Xbox 360, PS2, PSP, DS, PC, and mobile platforms. A strong marketing initiative appears to be the key feature of this year's iteration, with Barcelona's midfielder and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo de Assís Moreira, or simply Ronaldinho, being brought on as the "center-piece" for the global packaging campaign. From country to country, Ronaldinho will be joined by other carefully selected stars, whose celebrity will help drive predictable profits. But EA claims it's not just paying these footballers for a picture, as several participating athletes will be carefully studied under the lens of a mocap camera deep within a private facility in Barcelona for authentic virtual representation. As for the rest of the league's players? Well, you just can't pay 'em all... FIFA 08 is being developed by EA Canada in Vancouver and is scheduled for a worldwide release this fall.
FIFA franchise coming to PS3
EA Vancouver will be developing the next reiteration in the series, FIFA 08. This marks a prominent series introduction to the Sony console, as the last crippled FIFA game hit all systems except the PS3. The first showing of a FIFA on the PS3 might even push system sales by convincing soccer fanatics the PS3 can provide high-profile titles as well as lucrative sports franchises. Soccer champ Ronaldinho will grace this year's cover, with several other prominant soccer stars assisting with motion-capture. FIFA 08 will be availablle in the fall, on every console known to man (but more importantly, the PlayStation 3).
Today's most failure-prone video: Console duds
In today's video pick, GameTrailers counts down its list of the top ten console failures, including the Jaguar, Virtual Boy, and 3DO. We were tortured by watching footage of these console failures, yet we couldn't turn away, wishing that the hardware had succeeded while laughing about all the obvious reasons the systems bombed. The list covers the systems we expected; would you have added others?See the video after the break.
PSP at the top of handheld evolution
We know that the PSP is powerful. But how powerful is it compared to handhelds before it? A lot more, as seen by Pocket Gamer's recent analysis of handheld systems. PSP's 333MHz of processing power knocks makes the rest of the chart seem miniscule in comparison.Pocket Gamer's feature is certainly an eye-opener. Of particular note is a fascinating diagram of screen sizes, overlaying each other. The PSP's wide screen LCD far exceeds the size of its nearest competitor, the Nomad. Even with such impressive statistics, the system remains one of the lightest handhelds created, and doesn't stand out as disproportionately larger than the others. This is a must-read feature for any PSP fan.
Obama: 'Stop playing GameBoy'
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is fired up to win this election like it's 1999. Stopping in Texas, Obama spoke to a group of youths about recruiting their friends for his campaign and said, "I want you to tell them, 'It's time for you to turn off the TV and stop playing GameBoy' ... We've got work to do."A good first step is for Obama's speech writer to learn this is the 2008 election. If we're going to be hip and cool, let's learn what the kids are actually playing. Words to use in the future are: Wii, PlayStation, Xbox, DS -- and N-Gage.[Thanks Obo]
Nokia prepping new gaming-oriented handset
Just because Nokia hasn't committed to making a direct successor to the original N-Gage doesn't mean there won't be focused devices in the pipeline to support its next-gen gaming platform. Although the N73 and N95 are apparently the only launched models that'll support its game download service when it launches this September, neither device is well-suited to the rigors of a hardcore game, and that's where the new handset comes into play (pun intended). Though details are scant, the Wall Street Journal reports that it'll have dedicated game keys, "among other features," for the expressed purpose of making life a little easier on the on-the-go gamer. As long as we can dispense with the taco talking, we're game (again, pun intended).[Via MocoNews]
