N-Gage
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Nintendo patent reveals cell phone gaming plans
Joystiq sister site Engadget recently unearthed a great Nintendo patent filed way back in 2001 for an "Electronic apparatus having game and telephone functions" -- that's right, plans for a gaming cell phone from Nintendo. Mock-up pictures of the device show a small, Game Boy-style D-pad and buttons atop a standard 12-button cell phone layout, along with sketches of a game of "Super Mario DX" being interrupted by an incoming call. While the failure of the N-Gage and the current success of the Nintendo DS make it somewhat unlikely we'll see any actual products created from this patent anytime soon, it's still interesting to note that Nintendo included cell phones in its mobile gaming plans, at least at some point.
Nokia makes, retracts September launch statement for next N-Gage platform?
Apparently, a loose-lipped writer on Nokia's official N-Gage blog had tossed out the s-word ("September," that is) regarding a launch from publishers EA Mobile and Gameloft for the next-gen version of its much-maligned gaming platform -- which is now a software concept more than a hardware one -- but a quick scan of the site now reveals no such verbage. Conspiracy theories aside, it seems that either September wasn't quite accurate or Espoo wasn't ready to spill the beans, but since the platform is shaping up to be little more than a bunch of specially-branded games running on phones deemed "N-Gage ready," we're not getting too worked up about it -- especially since we doubt we'll be able to taco-talk.[Via Pocket Gamer]
Nokia to release new N-Gage this September
You don't have to tell Nokia that the original N-Gage was not the success they had imagined. They already know. That won't stop them from giving it the ol' college try as Nokia plans on rolling out a new N-Gage by this September. In a brief statement on the official N-Gage blog, Nokia makes mention of a September release amidst reassuring that more than two publishers are on board for the new platform.At the moment, only EA Mobile and Gameloft have known commitments for the new N-Gage with both publishers having already released titles for the original device. With Gameloft holding the lucrative Totally Spies license, we can only cross our fingers and hope for a next generation N-Gage follow-up.
Look out, Nintendo -- the N-Gage is coming (again)
Since failing in a spectacular fashion is so much fun that they wanted to do it again, Nokia is gunning hard for their second generation N-Gage, according to UK site Pocket Gamer. If you haven't been following the story, this time Nokia's not attempting to make a dedicated handheld-phone hybrid, but rather a platform for gaming that can be used with their N-series smart phones. Is that a better recipe for success? It will depend on the execution, of course, but apparently Nokia's been meeting with some big developers lately and they have plans to reveal the platform at next month's Game Developers Conference.They are, obviously, fixing some of last round's mistakes; if there's no dedicated handheld and the service is supported by downloadable games, then gamers will have no reason to complain about having to completely dismantle the device just to change games. On the other hand, we figure it's probably safe to assume that most gamers with smart phones already have a handheld they love and cherish, so at best this may free up a pocket. What do you think, DS gamers? While a download service would certainly be a nice thing to have on our handheld (we're looking at you, Virtual Console), is the new N-Gage platform a threat to our dual-screened beauty?
Rumor: Sony attends meeting on new N-Gage
People like to say the PSP is a failure. That would be incorrect. Calling the first N-Gage a failure, on the other hand, is quite apt. We reported back in November that Nokia was interested in making a comeback into the games arena with yet another N-Gage. In the era of the iPhone, a $600 convergence machine that can make calls and play games doesn't seem so outrageous. Does Nokia have what it takes to pull it off? If Pocket Gamer is to be believed, it appears many top-name publishers are interested in Nokia's latest device. Supposedly, Nokia held a "top secret" two-day event, which was attended by big-name publishers, such as Sega, Square Enix, Capcom, THQ, EA, Tecmo, Namco, Vivendi ... and Sony. What? If this "top secret" meeting didn't seem fishy enough, Sony's presence makes it even more obvious that Pocket Gamer's reporting is downright inaccurate. Why would Sony want to work on a platform that directly competes against the PSP? (Of course, history buffs will remember that Sony did go on to make at least one game for a Nintendo platform.) If by some chance this mysterious Nokia meeting did happen, and Sony happened to be there, we'd like to think they're simply trying to get ideas for the rumored PSP phone. The validity of Pocket Gamer's claim will be tested next week, during a new conference that will supposedly happen in Madrid. [Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Next-gen N-Gage garners interest
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]
Sunconnection kicks out handheld PMP / do-it-all, smells like N-Gage
We've seen a fair amount of N-Gage-esque devices hit the international front, and shoving more and more functionality into gizmos we Americans will probably never touch is becoming quite the fad, but Sunconnection's SC-VP128SD combines the short-lived goodness of Nokia's handheld with Japan's (apparent) all-in-one mentality. The device sports an orange or black color scheme, 128MB of storage, an SD slot, USB 2.0 connectivity, AV in / out (NTSC / PAL compatible), built-in equalizer, a 2.5-inch LCD, voice recorder, and a "digital video camera" that can purportedly snap stills or record full motion video to your SD card. Additionally, it plays nice with MP3 / WMA on the audio front, while playing back ASF video files as well, and weighs in at just 90-grams. Although we've certainly seen sexier multi-tasking handhelds hit the market, there's not much to complain about here for just $84 -- except for its absence in the US, of course.[Via Akihabara News]
Next N-Gage platform to support several handsets at launch
Though we've known for a while that the next N-Gage -- in whatever form it'll ultimately take -- will be drastically different than Nokia's lackluster gaming efforts thus far, details have been slim for the picking. While we don't know with certainty whether there's going to be an actual in-the-flesh N-Gage 2 per se, the software platform to support it is a done deal, and we've got good news: it'll support several existing Nokia phones from day one. "Something like 5-7," in fact, according to Jaakko Kaidesoja of Nokia's Play New Experience division, which is the next N-Gage platform's caretaker. What models make up that list remains to be seen, but upcoming games have been demonstrated on several Nseries devices, suggesting that most (if not all) S60 3rd Edition phones may make the compatibility list. Granted, none of those phones have the kinds of controls we'd expect out of a gaming-oriented device, but there's some talk that we might see a Bluetooth controller down the road designed specifically to make those complicated moves a little easier to execute (provided the user has the required thumb dexterity, that is). Add that to N-Gage's online features and the N93's TV out, and we have the makings of a makeshift game console on our hands, no?[Via Tech Digest]
Nokia to re-enter games market, compete against PSP & DS
"The consumer will have to make a decision: does he want a standalone gaming device with a limited browsing capability or a phone with an MP3 player, a camera and a bloody good games platform? I think consumers will be prepared to spend £300 on a phone that offers all those different things rather than £100 to £150 for a standalone games machine."Martin O'Driscoll, the new head of Nokia's games division, is getting ready for a fight, according to Mobile Entertainment. After the colossal failure called the "N-Gage," Nokia is ready to go back into the portable games market, reinvigorated. As previously reported, it appears that Nokia will attempt to one-up Sony's strategy with the PSP, by offering even more functionality than Sony's portable. However, one should make note that more features doesn't necessarily equate to more sales, as the DS has proven in the handheld wars.Will Nokia be able to survive a battle against Sony and Nintendo? Maybe, maybe not. However, if gaming cell phones catch on, Sony's sure to have backup ready.[Via Esato]
Buy an N-Gage, seriously
That's the gist of Modojo's latest feature, at least. Apparently, you can score a factory sealed N-Gage QD for a mere $20 -- remember, it still functions as a mobile phone -- and games frequent the bargain bins for as little as $5 (there are only about 50). So, theoretically, you could own the entire N-Gage library for around $250.Still, we're certain there are more fulfilling $270 gaming experiences to be had than with what you'd get out of a clunky phone and a pile of so -so games. But if you've exhausted all other portable options, and you've yet to try out Nokia's failed experiment, perhaps, we repeat, perhaps now's the time. Then again, maybe you should consider digging up the Zodiac instead.
Nokia's E3 booth tour
Despite Nokia's best attempt at a snazzy E3 booth and plenty of 3D game examples on display, the only real draw to their booth was the booth babes. A trio of the cute girls even had their very own line of gamers waiting to have a picture taken with them. Otherwise, the whole booth had a roughly 10:1 ratio of staff to visitors. The games really weren't that bad, and the 3D graphics are always interesting to see running on a random Nokia phone, but nobody much seems to care either way. Click on for pics of all the excitement.
Nokia announces six games for N-Gage, N-series, S60 devices
Just because you're a Mobile reader. doesn't mean you can't join in on the E3 fun. Nokia used the world's biggest gaming show to unveil several upcoming titles compatible with not only the N-Gage, but N-series and some S60 devices as well. Among the six games announced were three sequels to popular franchises, Space Impact, System Rush: Evolution, and ONE-Who's Next?, which improves upon the 2004 fighter with better graphics, frame rates, and support for landscape mode. The new titles also look rather promising, and include an Internet-enabled version of Texas Hold'em called Pocket Aces, which allows players to convert winnings into digital swag for their online avatars, and even allow those avatars to play in their stead. Rounding up the bunch are the N-Gage Arena-compatible Pro Series Golf and a fishing simulator called Creatures of the Deep that uses vibration feedback to enhance the otherwise boring activity of watching a fishing pole on your phone's tiny screen.
X-Men: Legends now available for the handset you love to not quite love
The Ngage continues to show life with the announcement of X-Men: Legends. The game should be in stores soon (if it's not already) and it looks like it may be worth picking up. Once again, an Ngage title pulls in a respectable score of 81% on one of the most influential sites out there, Gamespot. It's important for you Doubting Thomases to keep in mind that the device didn't have a title that broke an 80 until recently. The recent flood of games (if you can call it a flood) has consistently impressed reviewers. Does this mean the Ngage is suddenly worth having? Probably not for most of us. But it is offering exclusive titles that you can't find on any other handheld, including SSX: Out of Bounds, One, The Elder Scrolls: Travels and now X-Men: Legends. If those products get you going, then come on in. The water is getting warmer.
The "QD" in "N-Gage QD" doesn't stand for anything
Straight from the horse's mouth: we just rang up Nokia's PR guy and he told us that the "QD" in "N-Gage QD" doesn't stand for anything, it's just a couple of random letters that they picked because they wanted a name that didn't mean anything in any particular language. But why not just call it the N-Gage 2, since it is the follow-up to the first one? He didn't have a good answer for this, but we're guessing that it could be because they plan to keep selling the original N-Gage alongside the new one, at least for a little while, and it's easier to market an older product if there isn't something that is so obviously its replacement already out (sorta like how Nintendo has both the Game Boy Advance and the Game Boy Advance SP).
