N-Gage is coming out tommorrow anybody gonna get one?

[kai123]

I am not. I don't feel like spending $300 on a handheld at the moment. Considering I could buy 3 Gamecubes with that.

[neotokeo2001]

I'll get one in 2 weeks when they are on clearance for $20. :-P

[neotokeo2001]

-_- -_- -_- -_- -_-

[1bigmig]

555-LAME O_O

-- egm

[ManekiNeko]

No, no, a thousand times no!

JR

P.S. And that means "no" in case you didn't get the hint before.

[Mr. NEStalgia]

I wouldn't waste my money. I'm gonna wait for the PSP whenever that'll come out.

-=Mr. NEStalgia=-

[Hamsnibit]

I wish I was off so I could go stand at EB and laugh at the people who get one. What a piece of crap.

[Balloon Fight]

I am definitely not getting one. $300, are they kidding? I could get so much more useful crap than a stupid handheld.

[sisko]

I am not. I don't feel like spending $300 on a handheld at the moment. Considering I could buy 3 Gamecubes with that.

I've never thought of it that way before....it kinda puts this whole thing into perspective.

I won't be though. I spent $300 on the PS2 at launch and think that that was too much. Spending $300 on a handheld, let alone a doomed one isn't much better.

[punkoffgirl]

Ahh, but look how many people DON'T want one. Think of what a collector's item this is going to be some day ;)

[Stamp Mcfury]

Yeah I think I'm going to pass on the Ngage

This sums up my feelings on it
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2003/20030822l.gif

[Gunstarhero]

The funny thing is, I haven't seen a single person on any gaming message board say they will get this thing. What exactly is the type of person who will buy this? I mean, if people who are actually in to games don't have any interest, what could possibly be the market for this contraption?

[Stamp Mcfury]

Well the funny thing is Nokia says this system isn't for "GAMERS"

They are trying to target the more "EXTREME" casual gamer. That seems to make no sense since the gamers are the one's the most likely to shell out 300 bucks for a system.

[ubikuberalles]

I was thinking of getting one. Until 1 microsecond after I saw the price. $300! X_x Forget it! I don't care how many features it has! And it does have a lot of cool features. It's just way way too pricey.

Can't wait until it hits bargain bin! :-P I'm patient. I can wait. I just got a Dreamcast after waiting for 4 years. $23. \/\/00+! How long would I have to wait before the N-gage is at $22? Not long I'll bet.

[jonjandran]

The funny thing is, I haven't seen a single person on any gaming message board say they will get this thing. What exactly is the type of person who will buy this? I mean, if people who are actually in to games don't have any interest, what could possibly be the market for this contraption?

I was in E.B. and a lady pre-ordered one.
She was going to use it as her primary phone and let her 2 kids play games onit.
Yea right. Good luck getting it from the kids , and after the battery dies in a couple of hours , who you going to call ?
The funny thing was the manager was talking it up like it was the greatest thing ever. But every time he showed the kids a game he would have to explain why it was so slow, or looked so bad , or why the GBA version looked better, LOL

[Alex Kidd]

Something I really don't get is not only are there virtually no gamers/people in general who claim they will buy it right away for the debut price; but; ever since it's been announced no one has even been excited from day one...
It's been considered doomed really from the first time the news hit our ears...
Either Nokia did/they're doing some real fucked up martket research thats telling them this is gonna be a profitable venture, or they just aren't doing any...
AND not only are they going ahead with it, but they have a lot of 3rd party developers who've already made games for them, what are THEY thinking?

Alex Kidd

[Oobgarm]

Despite my anti-Ngage comments, the thought of getting one crossed my mind yesterday when my store got them in. I don't want it to use as a gaming device, but rather as a taco-phone, PDA, and the MP3 capability is sweet.

But then I realized that I don't have $300 of expendable income, and that I would rather spend that money on games and alcohol. :D

http://www.dustincarter.com/images/head.gif
I'm hardcore! I play NGAGE.

[GrandAmChandler]

It was doomed from the time they said it would cost $300.00.

Today in the video game world. Here is what you can get for $300.00

3 Nintendo GameCubes
3 GameBoy SPs
6 Brand Next Gen Games (New Releases)
30 Game Informer subscriptions (300 months of G.I!)
1034.5 copies of SMB/Duck Hunt at Gamestop (priced at $0.29 each)

It's just not logical! ;)

[jaybird]

I think I would have been a prime target for them since I'm shopping for a new cell phone & am an avid gamer.

But, given its price & that you look like you're talking into a taco when you use it as a cell phone - I'll pass.

[TheRedEye]

AND not only are they going ahead with it, but they have a lot of 3rd party developers who've already made games for them, what are THEY thinking?

Major communications leader + money = food on table?

[Achika]

I asked for one for christmas :embarrassed: That's the only way I'll get it till the price drops. I don't have the $300 to spare on that right now.


In the immortal words of meatwad: "This ain't a cell phone, it's a suck phone."

Oobgarm: Do you feel the need to post that picture everywhere? :shudder:

[1bigmig]

Oobgarm: Do you feel the need to post that picture everywhere? :shudder:

Achika and http://www.dustincarter.com/images/head.gif sittin' in a tree...

[davidbrit2]

I might indulge in the Walkie-Taco when it hits bargain bins, which shouldn't be long, as Gamestop moved the NGage display near the back of the store facing a corner. And it wasn't even released at the time. What kind of internet capabilities does it have? Can it be used as a bluetooth or serial modem or anything like that?

[Oobgarm]

Walkie-Taco? I love it. I think I'll call it that from now on, if you don't mind, of course.

The internet functions of it are pretty weak, as it can only display wireless-ready webpages. It does supports Java though, so perhaps it could be trained to do some cool stuff.


Oobgarm: Do you feel the need to post that picture everywhere? :shudder:

I only posted it for you. :D :P LOL

[portnoyd]

I'd rather cut my arm off than get this as my new cell phone, and I'm getting a new one in December too...

dave

[davidbrit2]

Walkie-Taco? I love it. I think I'll call it that from now on, if you don't mind, of course.

Knock yourself out. It's not as lyrical as "Heavy Sixer," mind you, but it needed something. ;-)

[bargora]

I wasn't planning on getting one, but ---> http://www.dustincarter.com/images/head.gif
is an X-Treeem gamer/phoney. And I'm an X-Treeem gamer/phoney! Hey! Wheeee!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!



Whoah. That nitrous really packs a whallop.

[Slipdeath]

I might indulge in the Walkie-Taco when it hits bargain bins, which shouldn't be long, as Gamestop moved the NGage display near the back of the store facing a corner. And it wasn't even released at the time. What kind of internet capabilities does it have? Can it be used as a bluetooth or serial modem or anything like that?
i think it uses bluetooth

[ManekiNeko]

Walkie-Taco... oh man, that's too hilarious!
What I find especially funny is that some chowderhead on a web site promoting wireless products claimed that the Game Boy Advance was for kids, and that playing one in public made you look foolish. How much more idiotic would you look by putting an N-Gage up to your ear?

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

I think the NGAGE FELLOW's (his name is always in all caps, you see) chin was specially designed to let him balance the 'Gage on the end of it...or else he's had a lot of practice trying to eat Walkie-Tacos. :P

[calthaer]

http://www.geocities.com/calthaer/ngagnarc.txt

Die hardcore ngage boy! May your system die with you!

[ManekiNeko]

I think the NGAGE FELLOW's (his name is always in all caps, you see) chin was specially designed to let him balance the 'Gage on the end of it...or else he's had a lot of practice trying to eat Walkie-Tacos. :P

Here's my theory. The N-Gage wasn't designed for gamers, so Nokia had to design a gamer for the N-Gage. Someone has to play it, after all!

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh dear god Calthater, NARC vs NGAGE. What is the world coming to?

And a further refinement of my theory:

I think the NGAGE FELLOW's chin IS an N-Gage, which explains EVERYTHING.

:o werd.

[ManekiNeko]

http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/06/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/cm_nokia_gamephone.jpg

Just look at this "satisfied" N-Gage customer. You can practically read the expression on his face.
"I can't believe I wasted $300 on this. Hello, anyone? Can you kill me? Can you kill me now? Good."

JR

[davidbrit2]

Okay, I fiddled with an NGage in Software etc. for a minute or two, and here's what I think.

Pros:
D-Pad is decent
Bright screen
Adequate graphics hardware

Cons:
Buttons are a little awkward
Small screen
The whole game changing nonsense

Basically, I think it's going to boil down to the fact that Nokia has no fucking clue how to conduct themselves in this market. So I'm ready for Game.com round 2 if you guys are.

[RoboticParanoia]

I swear the resorting to putting subliminal messaging in the commercials. One just played and my mind went "Hmm! Looks cool! maybe I should get one!". Then I was reaching for the knife....

[Ed Oscuro]

Can you kill me? Can you kill me now? Good."

Hah! Next thing we know he's stumbling about Mexico with his eyes stabbed out. Yuck. Doubt the N-Gage will help him out there, either. Especially when his line is compromised.

[Cranduit]

After playing it today and thinking of all the gaming I could be missing (when I'm not carrying my GBA SP around) I decided that $300 could be better spent. My current cell phone was free and has a color screen, games are $5 or less and I don't look stupid when I hold it to the side of my head (at least no more so than usual LOL
I guess my wonderful time with setting up the display isn't the be all end all of review times, but when I turn on a phone, I want it to stay on. I had the damn thing reset 4-5 times "in-game". I could just hear the other guy I was playing yelling at me now for backing out.

[Ed Oscuro]

I had the damn thing reset 4-5 times "in-game".

Was that a software crash? Or you hit a button? Yuck.

[vincewy]

What are those guys at Nokia smoking? I almost died on the floor when I heard the price tag, not to mention the totally un-ergonomically designed piece $%# #$%^.

This is the same thing when Pioneer introduced LaserActive back in 1994, $1800 for the main deck plus Genesis and TurboGrafx modules, but at least LaserActive's concept was cool and I waited 7 years after its demise to collect them and found bargains, but it'll not be the case with N-Gage, I won't even pick them up for free, they'll end up in trash cans in seconds.

[davidbrit2]

but it'll not be the case with N-Gage, I won't even pick them up for free, they'll end up in trash cans in seconds.

You gravely underestimate the power of the dumpster divers. He he.

[Oobgarm]

I actually got to try a few games yesterday besides Tomb Raider, and our store got in a neat-o display with 2 NGage systems inside. No NGage gamer, though. :D

The graphics in the games do look pretty good, but the framerate is terrible. Everything seemed to chug along. It's passable, but expected much more. I played Sonic N, Pandemonium, and Super Monkey Ball.

http://www.dustincarter.com/images/ntaco.gif

[davidbrit2]

Now THAT'S a Walkie-Taco. He he.

How was Monkey Ball in comparison to the GBA version? If I go bargain bin dredging, that's probably one I'll get.

[Oobgarm]

They're very close. I expected the GBA game to chug along, as the GBA doesn't really have adequate 3D hardware. It's a title worthy of purchase, despite that fact. I think I've seen it around for $19.99 or so.

[Drexel923]

I played a little of pandamonium at work today and while I will say that the graphics weren't bad, the framerate was good awful and the screen being way too small doesn't help much. I've also read a bunch of reviews saying the same about the other games. Couple that with the price and the sideways phone junk, I think my initial assessment of the systems still holds true. I can certainly wait until it hits the bargain bin and even then I might not get it.

[Six Switch]

It is a bad system and a bad phone.And it is $300.Count me out.

[Gunstarhero]

My goodness, I hate this thing so bad now, thanks to Oobgarms NGage Man...I was kind of indifferent before, but now its like aarrrgghh... :angry: I especially hate the name....wtf does NGAGE mean? what is it...its stooopid, thats what, just like the device itself. I think NGAGE actually means Stupid. Its slang for stupid. Hey I just bought some Stupid for $300....yeah..thats about right.

[Slipdeath]

My goodness, I hate this thing so bad now, thanks to Oobgarms NGage Man...I was kind of indifferent before, but now its like aarrrgghh... :angry: I especially hate the name....wtf does NGAGE mean? what is it...its stooopid, thats what, just like the device itself. I think NGAGE actually means Stupid. Its slang for stupid. Hey I just bought some Stupid for $300....yeah..thats about right.
the n is pretty obvious, nokia

[AB Positive]

Well, look at it this way, it'll be SO NEAT to get a MP3 player for $22 at bargain bin? Remember, that capability won't go away, so even if the games blow, you made out with the portable mp3 capability.

-AG

[Gamereviewgod]

Do these games actually have music? EGM's reviews said they were all pretty much silent....Pandemonium actually had decent tunes!

[Stamp Mcfury]

I just had to link this hehe
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2003/20031008l.gif

I can't believe that some stores did a midnight madness sale on these things lol

I don't think I'll ever buy one of these even if I see one in a clearance bin for $30-$60.

But I do hate cell phones anyways they are like walking around with a leash on.

[davidbrit2]

But I do hate cell phones anyways they are like walking around with a leash on.

Nah. I just leave mine off all the time. :-)

[DogP]

As much as the NGage is WAY overpriced... I played one today at a local gamestop... I was actually kinda impressed by Pandemonium... once I figured out how to start the game (the stupid buttons and screen don't really help you to navigate the thing)... not so much the system, but finally someone figured out that 2D scrollers can be done with 3D graphics! I only played it for about a minute, but it was kinda nice to see them show off 3D hardware without having those stupid 3D environments like EVERY other game since 3D hardware was invented :P .

DogP

[Slipdeath]

i went to gamestop today, and they said theyve only sold 1 unit.
So overall how many units have u think they have sold??
How many games do you think will make be made??

[davidbrit2]

So overall how many units have u think they have sold??

I think you saw it.


How many games do you think will make be made??

I don't know. How many are on the shelf right now? That's probably a good ballpark figure.

Seriously, I'm shocked at how badly the NGage is bombing. At least the Game.com had the ability to ride on hype for a little while thanks to the lack of demo models to let you see how shitty the hardware actually was.

[kai123]

My local Eb Games had a preorder of 4 and they were picked up. They haven't sold one since.

[davidbrit2]

Weird. What city is that in?

[kai123]

Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock Arkansas

[Slipdeath]

well i guess they sold 5 units in all, my guess they'll probably have around 20-30 releases.

[Raedon]

I love when they show the Tomb Raider game as a major selling point.

[Drexel923]

As much as the NGage is WAY overpriced... I played one today at a local gamestop... I was actually kinda impressed by Pandemonium... once I figured out how to start the game (the stupid buttons and screen don't really help you to navigate the thing)... not so much the system, but finally someone figured out that 2D scrollers can be done with 3D graphics! I only played it for about a minute, but it was kinda nice to see them show off 3D hardware without having those stupid 3D environments like EVERY other game since 3D hardware was invented :P .

DogP

Yeah, Pandemonium does look nice. Everything was going fine until I hit an area with a waterfall in the background...I thought the machine was gonna die from the multiple sound effects and everything on screen.


i went to gamestop today, and they said theyve only sold 1 unit.
So overall how many units have u think they have sold??
How many games do you think will make be made??

I work at Gamestop and we got two systems in and they didn't get sold. People would probably take a chance on the system if the price was way lower. But $300 for a portable system (yeah I know it has a phone/mp3) is way too much for people to justify. Most people that come into my store can barely pay for a $179 console. So what do you think is worth the money? Unless the games get better (other than graphically), I don't know what can push this system. And even then it will be tough.

[YoshiM]

As much as the NGage is WAY overpriced... I played one today at a local gamestop... I was actually kinda impressed by Pandemonium... once I figured out how to start the game (the stupid buttons and screen don't really help you to navigate the thing)... not so much the system, but finally someone figured out that 2D scrollers can be done with 3D graphics! I only played it for about a minute, but it was kinda nice to see them show off 3D hardware without having those stupid 3D environments like EVERY other game since 3D hardware was invented :P .

DogP

In case you didn't know this game came out on the Saturn and PS1 roughly 4 to 6 years ago. So they figured out how to do 3D scrollers with 3D graphics (see also the latest Viewtiful Joe for GameCube) they just choose not to make the games that way. :D

[zmweasel]

N/A

[pango]

i will never purchase an overpriced, overvalued, corporation whore, sell-out, hidden charged, behemoth of dog shit

[scooterb23]

So, what kind of car do you drive pango? ;)

[pango]

well, good point there

[Bloodcat]

I didn't buy one either. Its a cellphone. Which I hate. And it also runs games I pretty much have superior versions of already or never wanted in the first place...

Edit: Woah. Its been a year since the board switch and I haven't posted on the new one? Time flies I guess..

[thegreatescape]

As much as the NGage is WAY overpriced... I played one today at a local gamestop... I was actually kinda impressed by Pandemonium... once I figured out how to start the game (the stupid buttons and screen don't really help you to navigate the thing)... not so much the system, but finally someone figured out that 2D scrollers can be done with 3D graphics! I only played it for about a minute, but it was kinda nice to see them show off 3D hardware without having those stupid 3D environments like EVERY other game since 3D hardware was invented :P .

DogP

:D Thats exactly the same thing that happened to me. I swear i must have spent 2 minutes standing there trying to get into the game, and about 5 mins actually playing it. I wasnt as impressed with pandemonium as you were though, and it was my first time playing it also.

If they ever release one that is cheaper, and doesnt have the phone and mp3 functions (like that will ever happen) I will pick one up, simply because it was comforatble. Taco shaped or not. I dont have a handheld system, and the gameboy advance is incredibly uncomfortable. Heck, even the x-box controller was a better fit. I might try out an SP, but im not getting my hopes up x_x

As a side note, the cases looked as if they would be collection friendly, so in a couple of years we can collect all 10 games that will be released LOL

[Oobgarm]

In keeping with my taco theme:

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200310/N03.1008.1141.15670.htm

[calthaer]

Just like the N-Gage, the Taco Bell Taco Supreme has no slot for games

Hahaha...that was a good one. Great "review."

I went to EB Games yesterday (there are TWO of them in the local mall). I asked how the NGage had been selling. One of the guys told me that his store hadn't sold any while the other store had sold two. It may very well be that this thing is bombing even more fantastically than I thought it would.

[pango]

Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock, AR

X_x thats where i live too!

[kai123]

There seems to be a few people here from Arkansas.

[KirbyStar27]

No. You might as well buy three gamecubes pee on them then dance around them the buy a cheesey handheld. The games are to expensive. :-P

[vincewy]

My instinct tells me that this sucker won't survive for more than 2 years, maybe even less, on a positive side, we'll have another game collection that will be easy to complete, oh yeah, I'll have another complete collection, of what system? N-Gay....... LOL

[Achika]

Was anyone this horribly awful to the Xbox before it came out? Yea, ok, now I don't feel so bad. So, for the somewhat positive review here:

As I stated previous, I had asked for one for Christmas (for lack of wanting anything else). Well I went home this weekend and my mom told me to go pick it up, get the warranty and whatever else I needed. I could test it out, make sure it worked, but I had to give it back before I left their house on monday. Remembering what happened to my Xbox and I, the warranty was just a must. I can't trust a company's first system.

So I get it from EB (sacriligious to my native home of Gamestop I know) but they had a deal where if you bought it with 2 games, you'd get $100 back in a gift card. Cool. So I got Pandemonium and Puyo Pop. Pandemonium going off the reivews here and playing the in store demo. Puyo, because of all the times I've played, I don't actually own any variations of Puyo.

The pro's:

-$300 doesn't just get you a handheld. You also get the battery, charger, and headphones
-You don't HAVE to sign up for the cell phone contract to play on the network. $9.99 a month you can go through T Mobile's gaming networks
-The Sound is really good. When I was playing Puyo, that was one of the first things I noticed. The sound was probably the best out of all the handhelds I own.
-The screen: it's a double edge sword. It's bad for the adventure games, but really good for the puzzle games, since they are set up vertically anyhow.
-6 hours battery life. For anyone that has a cell phone or a cell phone with any game capabilities look in the manual to see the total number or talk hours that you can get from one charging and how many hours of games you can play with the back light on. 6 game time hours isn't really that bad.
-It's really nice and small. Thinner than the GBA. Perfect for little girly hands.
-The packaging for the games doesn't go to complete waste. They are carrying cases within themselves. Besides the slot for one game, there is a plastic tab that can be removed to add 4 more N Gage games into one case.

The Cons:
-The buttons. The keypad is confusing enough, but the function buttons aren't sensibly labeled. Looking in the manual for the quick set up, some of the small images looking like mutations of their on-system counterparts. (and also really really tiny
-Yeah, yeah, the Walkie Taco. Har Har. Anyone looks like an ass with a hunk of plastic sticking out of their head. Remember the 80's? We thought it was cool back then, and well, the 80's are making a come back /really bad joke.
-The price. Yeah, it's steap. That's about all I can say.