The future of N-Gage

[Vazkor]

Ok, time to do some homework Nokia ...
I wanted to know what do you think about what will come this way in 2005.

It's clear that Nokia shooted all its big cannons before Christmas with PtG, PK, CMR and so on, in a final attempt to show that this platform can support great games and they received very good reviews too.

Here in Italy there's advertisement EVERYWHERE, the metro in Milan ( I mean, the train itself ) is a big, black N-Gage QD. I don't think it comes cheap.

Now look at the 2005 lineup :
SSX, WWE, X-Men are plain shit, Xanadu was lost somewhere, Glimmerati never made it and Catan is a fucking board game.

Only Worms and The One will ( maybe ) save Nokia from an abysmal failure.

Oh, I forgot Chaos Theory, that one looks very good too.

My opinion is that new and better quality games will come out only if Nokia think the N-Gage platform sold well this Christmas, and I think it did not.

The only think I don't understand is why Nokia goes on with this fucking suicidal choice of MMC games distribution, why they don't change idea about it and find another solution?

All in all I think times are ready for a better, retro compatible phone ...
what do you think about it?

[tyler]

I have to say that here in Italy the n-gage community is growing but i think the big problem is GPRS. It's so expensive!! (but i think the situation doesn't look so different in many other country..)
maybe if vodafone or any other operator made a decent flat only for playing arena.

p.s. vazkor, please read my mp's!!

[Vazkor]

Vodafone has a 20 euro / month flat ... a bit expensive.

However the Arena is THE ONLY THING that makes buying an original game worth, so Nokia should push for it.

At this point Nokia should put down the N-Gage trademark ( sounds like CRAP or FAILURE to a lot of people ), make games playable by every Symbian phone ( just fixing the colour bug will do ) and support a gaming-phone like the 7700 ... big, wide, touchscreen.

This way could really screw both Nintendo and Sony ...

[v7e6j5]

The Future of N-gage is good as long as they put out good or great games. And more of them quickly. Like 2 or 3 games every month.

[H@Zardous P@in]

Vodafone has a 20 euro / month flat ... a bit expensive.

However the Arena is THE ONLY THING that makes buying an original game worth, so Nokia should push for it.

At this point Nokia should put down the N-Gage trademark ( sounds like CRAP or FAILURE to a lot of people ), make games playable by every Symbian phone ( just fixing the colour bug will do ) and support a gaming-phone like the 7700 ... big, wide, touchscreen.

This way could really screw both Nintendo and Sony ...
i agree with u
u forgot also: civlization Driv3r, nokia didn't mention anything about these games!
nokia wont release the7700, they will release another one similar: 7710

[andre_1234564]

don't underestimate Catan, i myself will buy the game, as i love the board game... Lots of people do, i think it will sell pretty nice

[MacAnkka]

don't underestimate Catan, i myself will buy the game, as i love the board game... Lots of people do, i think it will sell pretty nice

I agree, I had the chance to play it last weekend and it is one of the best board games ever made!

[Vazkor]

It's not what the PEOPLE want :
40 euro for a boardgame??

Metal Gear Acid for PSP, that's what the market is asking for.

I did not really meant the 7700 but a phone SIMILAR to 7700 with gaming features, dropping the N-Gage trademark once and for all.

[Neophyte88]

It's not what the PEOPLE want :
40 euro for a boardgame??

Metal Gear Acid for PSP, that's what the market is asking for.

I did not really meant the 7700 but a phone SIMILAR to 7700 with gaming features, dropping the N-Gage trademark once and for all.

Now where talking ;-)

[Real_CHiP]

The quantity of games is not up to Nokia now. It's up to the games developpers... And if I were one I would put my money on the PSP or the DS.

The only thing that Nokia currently has control of is the hardware platform. And if they don't shell out a new Ngage (or whatever) soon it will quietly die.

But that's just my 2 cents...

[Sony_Ericsson]

The quantity of games is not up to Nokia now. It's up to the games developpers... And if I were one I would put my money on the PSP or the DS.

The only thing that Nokia currently has control of is the hardware platform. And if they don't shell out a new Ngage (or whatever) soon it will quietly die.

But that's just my 2 cents...

N-gage has good hardware. It's between GBA and DS when it comes to power. If only the first N-gage didn't have all the design problems and there had been more good games..

[Vazkor]

No, it has not good hardware.

It's a simple S60 phone, I mean ...
3650, 3660, 7610, 6600, 6630, have the SAME hardware so WHY on earth Nokia protect them so they can be played only on N-Gage??

It's plain and utterly stupid.

IF you want to sell exclusive games then make sure they run on exclusive hardware ... and that MMC thing, whoa, it's the most stupid thing i've ever seen in my whole life.

EVERY mobile application and game can be downloaded from the 'net but no, you have to buy a memory card that is half the price of the final product.

They should drop the N-Gage as soon as they can and start all over again, this time with GOOD ideas and some good people at the marketing department ...

[yuppo]

I think it failed because of poor advertising. Sure there's a few ads now but it's all too little too late. I read a few music magazines and watch a fair bit of tv that is squarely aimed at the 16-24yr old male market (the main target audience for the Ngage I would've thought), so why was the first advert i'd see outside of Nokias own site an ad for Asphalt?
Since I got my Ngage people have been amazed that it can play games that it can, for example my little cousin was at my house a couple of months ago, to keep him amused i gave him my Ngage, can you guess what was on top of his xmas list? It just goes to show that if more games stores would keep demo models and Nokia treated it like a console instead of just another phone it could've been so much bigger.

[Vazkor]

I think it failed because of poor advertising

A good product is NEVER a failure due to poor advertising.

The online reviews were abysmal, here in Italy at least EVERY INCH of Milan is still dotted with "Do you like threesomes?" stickers, if the commercials were something like "hey you can read emails and browse internet and emulate megadrive with this phone" people could find it very confusing.

Here in Italy we have a skyhigh number of mobile phones / population, every corner of the streets you see a 6600 ... how many people among them do you think even know what an OS is?

5% maybe?

[Sony_Ericsson]

A good product is NEVER a failure due to poor advertising.

The online reviews were abysmal, here in Italy at least EVERY INCH of Milan is still dotted with "Do you like threesomes?" stickers, if the commercials were something like "hey you can read emails and browse internet and emulate megadrive with this phone" people could find it very confusing.

Here in Italy we have a skyhigh number of mobile phones / population, every corner of the streets you see a 6600 ... how many people among them do you think even know what an OS is?

5% maybe?

Most S60 and N-gage owners are too stupid to deserve their phones. Here on Nokiafree the smart owners come.

[v7e6j5]

Hey! Wait until u get aload of the New Nokia N-gage. Oh i mean Zen-Gage! :P

[DarkSaber]

I think that killer applications made a product successfull.You can have the most powerful,ultrafast hardware in the galaxy,but without good games (which actually have to b 4-5 gorgeus games at the release of the console) you are flat dead.In japan the little DS killed the monstruous PSP,the ratio in 10 pieces sold till now was 7-3 for the humble DS.As i said,games makes the difference.And if we look in the N-Gage catalogue,we found nothing that goes beyond the 'hmmmm...quite nice!' barrier.But Nokia outdone herself by release the step-2 N-Gage,the QD,with LESS features,no killer apps,no camera (that's a must-have feature by now)and still a quite dumb design.So what's the future?Making games fully s60 compatible will have no effects by now,as a 8way joy is required to properly play games.But this may be a way.So the only hope is that a geared-up,sleek-looking(this may appeal the cool look fanatics),16:9 screen inclusive,SD compatible,all kind of media content compatible N-Gage will be released soon.Maybe dropping the N-gage name (which is something 'cursed')to better aware the people of the Next-gen step up.I think retro-compatibility must be issued too.And developers as Treasure,Konami,Factor 5 etc.. must be involved in the business to ensure the crucial quality games.

[Vazkor]

I agree but the time of killer applications is long way gone ...
a single game doesn't make the console sell anymore, you have to build up a solid line-up.

[DarkSaber]

I agree but the time of killer applications is long way gone ...
a single game doesn't make the console sell anymore, you have to build up a solid line-up.

Mario still does the job for nintendo.
As for MGS & WE for sony.

BTW,I agree with you.Solid line-up is a priority.

[DarkSaber]

Seems that for the american launch of the PSP Sony is taking things SERIOUSLY.Howard Stinger said that the company will keep the price tag under 200 Dollars.200 DOLLARS!And with the DS price set even lower,who will buy an N-x?No way.N-gage is doomed.

[Sony_Ericsson]

Seems that for the american launch of the PSP Sony is taking things SERIOUSLY.Howard Stinger said that the company will keep the price tag under 200 Dollars.200 DOLLARS!And with the DS price set even lower,who will buy an N-x?No way.N-gage is doomed.

Yeah, but N-gage and PSP are to different things. N-gage is a phone, not only a gaming device. And PSP is damned big too, I wouldn't want to carry it in my pocket. But ok, PSP has unbeatable graphics...

[Vazkor]

Mario still does the job for nintendo

I don't think so, Gamecube has a market share of 3-4% against Sony, on par with Microsoft.

Mario and Zelda don't do the trick anymore.

When I bought an N-Gage I bought a mobile phone, not a car stereo nor a DVD player, so I can't really understand why it should be "doomed" ....

[DarkSaber]

I don't think so, Gamecube has a market share of 3-4% against Sony, on par with Microsoft.

Mario and Zelda don't do the trick anymore.

When I bought an N-Gage I bought a mobile phone, not a car stereo nor a DVD player, so I can't really understand why it should be "doomed" ....

Ok,i get the point.But for 200E i will surely buy a PSP to handle all the entertainment & multimedia.And with a little more i'll buy a small,cheap,reliable & simple phone to make/receive calls.All this will make my pocket a bit on the full side,but even N-gage does this too.
And speaking of games...for 40E will you buy GT4 or Ashen?
Talking of the N-Gage future we forgotten this:Games should be way less expensive.

[DarkSaber]

Yeah, but N-gage and PSP are to different things. N-gage is a phone, not only a gaming device. And PSP is damned big too, I wouldn't want to carry it in my pocket. But ok, PSP has unbeatable graphics...

Considering the performance & specifics(not to mention the big,bad,gorgeus 16:9 screen),PSP isn't that big.Expecially when comparing wif N-Gage measures.

[Vazkor]

Do you REALLY intend to carry a PSP everywhere you go?

Man you're going for a real BIG surprise ...
at least I can have N-Gage games for free, the UMD discs for PSP will be expensive like shit.

[DarkSaber]

Do you REALLY intend to carry a PSP everywhere you go?

Man you're going for a real BIG surprise ...
at least I can have N-Gage games for free, the UMD discs for PSP will be expensive like shit.

I really prefer to cash out 50E for truly enjoying a single game like GT4 (or MGS Acid) rather than collecting (even if for free) dull games that feel boring after a week (to be generous).
BTW this is a personal opinion,like yours.

[Vazkor]

Ok but that's not the point :
if I can't carry the PSP everywhere I go where's the point in buying Metal Gear Acid? I'd rather play Metal Gear Solid 3 at home.

No matter where I am and how I got there I can always play with Pocket Kingdom, instead, when I go out I take with me the car keys, my wallet and my mobile phone, not my PSP or my GBA.

[DarkSaber]

Ok but that's not the point :
if I can't carry the PSP everywhere I go where's the point in buying Metal Gear Acid? I'd rather play Metal Gear Solid 3 at home

And why play pocket kingdom around (spending enourmous amount of money in GPRS) when i can play FFX at Home?
The point is that games i play at home in my ps2 are almost if not the same i will play on psp,both graphically and gameplay-wise.I get ps4,not asphalt.
And Why can't you carry a PSP along with you?Seems that you are talking about a 8 feet x 8 feet device weighting 59 kg!
And i suppose that you're not a games addict,because if you are there is no battle between the systems. :-P

[Vazkor]

And why play pocket kingdom around (spending enourmous amount of money in GPRS) when i can play FFX at Home?

Maybe because I'm not at home, mr.Einstein ...

[DarkSaber]

[Originally Posted by Vazkor
Ok but that's not the point :
if I can't carry the PSP everywhere I go where's the point in buying Metal Gear Acid? I'd rather play Metal Gear Solid 3 at home.]

i guessed that You can carry a PSP along with you,as i thought that you were born with arms & use to wear trousers or backpacks.So the same would apply to wot ya write about MGS.That's wot i mean with the previous post.
Got it,mr. Zichichi?
Btw,that was only for sharing opinion.Not for anything else.

[Vazkor]

Got it,mr. Zichichi? :lol:

Einstein is much better than Zichichi, I'm offended! :lol:

The point is, I don't use backpacks, where I'm supposed to put my PSP?

It's definetely not pocket-sized, the N-Gage is.

BTW, it's still a console, so I'd carry around my mobile AND a console.

The PSP is a really great piece of hardware but I'm not really interested in it. Maybe it's a good laptop replacement for people always on the move, but it's not fit for a play here and there like the N-Gage is.

[Sony_Ericsson]

:lol:

Einstein is much better than Zichichi, I'm offended! :lol:

The point is, I don't use backpacks, where I'm supposed to put my PSP?

It's definetely not pocket-sized, the N-Gage is.

BTW, it's still a console, so I'd carry around my mobile AND a console.

The PSP is a really great piece of hardware but I'm not really interested in it. Maybe it's a good laptop replacement for people always on the move, but it's not fit for a play here and there like the N-Gage is.

If u are willing to always pull a small wagon behind u, then it's easy to carry the PSP everywhere u go. Sad that it's so big, it makes your arms hurt to play standing up. :lol:

[a_dude]

as long as there is WSOD, the ngage is going nowhere....

cheers ;)

[Vazkor]

... Wsod = ?

[Vazkor]

Ah, White screen of death ...
I've heard it recently became a serious issue, a lot of people had their gamedeck permanently screwed up.

[DarkSaber]

Ah, White screen of death ...
I've heard it recently became a serious issue, a lot of people had their gamedeck permanently screwed up.

What the hell is it?Some Kind of virus?Plz tell more!

[DarkSaber]

If u are willing to always pull a small wagon behind u, then it's easy to carry the PSP everywhere u go. Sad that it's so big, it makes your arms hurt to play standing up. :lol:

You already got one?
We (in Italy) are going to wait for many days before the launch..and the prices in the import market are f*****g crazy!! (over 600E actually!)
BTW,do you really thought that a handheld featuring a 480x272 pixel screen was going to b little'n'tiny?Some sacrifice in terms of size was necessary to support that huge display.Maybe something better in weight was possible,as 260gr are quite massive!

[Vazkor]

What the hell is it?Some Kind of virus?Plz tell more!

Nothing more to say, one day you try to turn on your deck and all you see is the white screen of death ...
it's a software or hardware bug of some kind, I've heard a lot of people had this problem ( it has nothing to do with hard reset mmc reset or so on )

[Sony_Ericsson]

You already got one?
We (in Italy) are going to wait for many days before the launch..and the prices in the import market are f*****g crazy!! (over 600E actually!)
BTW,do you really thought that a handheld featuring a 480x272 pixel screen was going to b little'n'tiny?Some sacrifice in terms of size was necessary to support that huge display.Maybe something better in weight was possible,as 260gr are quite massive!


No I ain't got one, and I wouldn't want one unless I got it for free. I bought my N-gage QD because its more than just a gameing device. I need something that works as a PDA and phone too.

I think the PSP is a great portable gameing device, but it's a bit too big and heavy.

[XunMingRui]

You already got one?
We (in Italy) are going to wait for many days before the launch..and the prices in the import market are f*****g crazy!! (over 600E actually!)
BTW,do you really thought that a handheld featuring a 480x272 pixel screen was going to b little'n'tiny?Some sacrifice in terms of size was necessary to support that huge display.Maybe something better in weight was possible,as 260gr are quite massive!

Err yeah ok that guy who said its huge and heavy has never held a DS or a PSP

DS's weight 9oz Which is 255.15grams
PSP's weight is 260grams

Dont think 5grams is that much heavier...

Size of both systems
DS = 14cm (L) x 8.4cm (W) x 2.8cm (D)
PSP = 17 cm (L) x 7.4 cm (W) x 2.3 cm (D)

so err all in all the psp is 5grams heavier and 3 cm wider than the DS its main comp

So if u think the psp is too big never go near a DS

Btw i own a DS and boy does it hurt my hands if i play it for too long

[DarkSaber]

So,apart from all the things we last said about PSP & DS,what is really going to happen to N-gage in the near future?That's my 'salvage' plan:

- Release soon a third N-gage (real cool design,small size,all multimedia content compatible,photocamera inclusive)
- New display,at least 65k color,16:9 aspect,maintaining the height of 208 pixels but stretching lenght to 400 (or a bit higher value) pixels.That should do the trick for retro compatibility with the titles already relesed for N-Gage1 & QD.The display should be touch sensitive,so a keyboard pops up when phone or messaging functions are called into play.That will help maintain a small size & implement a real winner,polished,cool look with only few buttons around the new bold display.
- Faster processor,32 mb of system ram
- Sign in with skilled & respected developers to guarantee a new breed of excellent titles.
- Acquire licenses of strong game franchises to allure more people (Winning Eleven,Resident Evil,Baldur's Gate and so on...)
- Aggressive pricing of both device & games.Strong advertising.

Maybe all this things will help to make N-gage stronger in the future.We all hope so!

[Joey18]

The N-gage is not a bad phone, the only problem is the lag of good games. If nokia do release a new a n-gage with good graphics, good media center, good design with no good games, nokia is not going to make it. DS do have mario and ZELDA and PSP do have metal gear, final fantasy.....So my point is that games is the most important issue not the hardware.