Even Nokia can't deny the failure of the N-Gage now!

[ManekiNeko]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04/19/news_6093847.html

Nokia posted financial losses after spending millions of dollars to promote its N-Gage handheld. In other news, well, duh.

JR

[Ed Oscuro]

The company has "certain gaps in its product portfolio," indeed. Well, I wouldn't have agreed with you but there it is. I still think they're hoping the new unit will help pull them through and I certainly hope that's going to be the case...but...but BUT...

Whitepaper: Application of Soviet design techniques in designing the N-Gage LOL

Seriously, it's like those stupid knife guns the Soviets developed. Everything works perfectly but over-engineering features is no good if you don't confront a few basic issues. Of course I mean over-engineering in features...the botched cart swap port was a classic example of simply bad design, probably the result of the design team being rushed.

Of course, as the article mentions, the purpose and proper use of an N-Gage is also hardly clear. What the hell are you supposed to use it for? A rather poor MP3 deck? Radio? Sidetalkin'? Game device that plays games nobody cares about? x_x

[SoulBlazer]

I also think it's important to note that the majority of their losses are coming from a reorganization of the company, tough competiton from other phone makers such as Samsung, and the saturation of the mobile phone industry (people who are going to get one allready HAVE one, thus you don't have any new customers to sell phones to, just people who want to upgarde). I'm sure the N-Gage comes in as a reason, but I don't see it as their PRIMARY reason.

[MarioAllStar2600]

In other news- The whole Digital Press message board has been labeled mind readers after they called the failure of the Nokia N-gage.

I had to!

[digitalpress]

I guess we all expected it but I'm still sorry it happened. I think the unit is great, personally. I guess now I'll be able to afford one! See, there's always an upside with us collector types :)

[Kim Possible]

a second system so soon after the first, spells certain doom.

Personally, I'm glad its dead. Game system/cell phone, nonsense. If you can't wait to get home to play games, or can't carry a handheld AND a cell phone, you have bigger problems than needing an N-Gage.

[Griking]

Will the New N-Gage be able to play current N-Gage games?

If not there's gonna be a couple of dozen pissed people out there.

[ubersaurus]

Will the New N-Gage be able to play current N-Gage games?

If not there's gonna be a couple of dozen pissed people out there.

N-Gage QD is to N-Gage as NES toploader is to NES front loader.

[davidbrit2]

N-Gage QD is to N-Gage as NES toploader is to NES front loader.

Hard to find, expensive, and with poorer video quality, but with a better cartridge slot? ;-)

[vincewy]

I guess we all expected it but I'm still sorry it happened. I think the unit is great, personally. I guess now I'll be able to afford one! See, there's always an upside with us collector types :)

Upside #1 - the game library will be the 2nd easiest to complete, next to N.U.O.N, I've seen Gamestop selling certain NGE games for $10.

[Sph1nx]

N-Gage QD is to N-Gage as NES toploader is to NES front loader.

Hard to find, expensive, and with poorer video quality, but with a better cartridge slot? ;-)

Good one. :D

[bensenvill]

I think it beats out virtual boy for worst system platform ever

[chrisbid]

N-Gage....


21st century Game.com

:D LOL

[Ed Oscuro]

a second system so soon after the first, spells certain doom.
Better look closer Ben, that's alphabet soup :-P

Honestly, though, a lot of people were expecting that Nokia would pull completely out of the market within months. It wouldn't have surprised me but it goes against the mindset of these companies.

They're still fighting and I wouldn't be surprised if Nokia keeps the current system alive for a good long while.

So much for the Roundheads being fortune tellers ;)

[Cmosfm]

Actually, the big doom bringer I saw was when stores that carried the N-Gage dropped the price by 100.00 within a few weeks of it's release.