N-Gage end maybe not so near [Archive]

classicb

02-02-2005, 01:19 PM

Lots of people have been speculating that the N-Gage may be nearing the end. Well it doesn't look like Nokia is planning on it. In fact the N-Gage seems to be getting some good press for a change. I've seen several articles both on the web and in print praising the latest N-Gage releases. The new free Snake game also seems to be getting allot of praise. Nokia also just unveiled today System Rush a new game to be released in Summer 2005. Nokia is also building upon their N-Gage Arena allowing people to create their own custom arenas.(it would be cool if we had a DP arena) I think Nokia will give the N-Gage at the very least another full year.

edit: here is a screen shot from System Rush more on page two

http://usuarios.lycos.es/maqcky/systemrush/system14.JPG

Ze_ro

02-02-2005, 01:22 PM

WanganRunner

02-02-2005, 01:25 PM

I dunno, I still think that it's largely being saved by the fact that it also happens to have cell phone functionality. Rated as a standalone game machine, I dunno how it stacks up. The emulation stuff is all well and good, but compare it to, say, a Tapwave Zodiac, which does the same thing with a better screen and better PDA functionality. Or the GP32, which is just so cool I don't have words for it.

I hope the little bugger starts picking up though, it's a neat idea. As it gets more original games, the faults of what I see as it's two main competitors, the Zodiac (pure crap original titles) and the GP32 (no official presence here) will get more apparentl

classicb

02-02-2005, 01:35 PM

I dunno, I still think that it's largely being saved by the fact that it also happens to have cell phone functionality.

I think the phone part is both helping and hurting them. While the main reason I got one was to get a phone that could be my portable gaming devise I had to wait until my current phone contract ran up so I could get one at a better price. If you don't get it with a new phone plan it can be up to $200. If they priced it without a phone plan down around $79 were the GBA is they would probably sell allot more. I know there are plenty of people here on DP wanting one but its still too much money if you're locked into a phone plan.

SegaAges

02-02-2005, 01:56 PM

That is very true. I want an N-Gage, but am not about to pay $200 for one. I could care less about the phone stuff, I just want it as a system.

digitalpress

02-02-2005, 02:19 PM

I'm glad they're sticking it out. I was a little late to the N-Gage party but I'm knee deep in it now with emulators, videos, MP3's and N-Gage games aplenty. I hope it's supported for a long time.

PDorr3

02-02-2005, 03:00 PM

I have been waiting for a price drop before I buy one. the older games are so cheap, and the boxes are so cool that i want to collect for it.

Querjek

02-02-2005, 03:20 PM

I have had my N-Gage for less than a week now, and I've completely run out of charge on the battery every day since I got it (Saturday). I LOVE using this for MP3s, videos, NES roms, and, of course, Snakes. I hope that Nokia continues to support their system, despite its lack of a large user base.

davidleeroth

02-02-2005, 03:40 PM

I tried N-Gage yesterday for the first time. The Nokia stand has been in our local supermarket for a good while now but I had passed it until now. There was some racing game on it and I was really surprised by the quality. It was fun, I had no trouble with the button layout and it had very impressive graphics.

I can see it's an easy target to bash on but I for one have moved from :hmm: to :) camp.

classicb

02-04-2005, 12:06 PM

Heres a good Q&A with Gerald Wiener Nokia's new Games director

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/02/news_6117799.html

when asked about how long Nokia was going to stick it out without a profit

Basically, the answer is that the N-Gage will be here for as long as it takes. I remember the sickening feeling I got during the Dreamcast era when I was at Sega, and this situation isn't the same. Every time we get hit, we learn more, and it just makes us stronger.

slip81

02-04-2005, 12:22 PM

The phone functionality is one of the reasons I want the N-Gage. In May I'm gonna need to get a new phone and it will probably be one of these because I keep hearing so many things about it.

I probably wouldn't buy it though if it was just a handheld, because I don't want another dedicated protable.

rbudrick

02-04-2005, 12:29 PM

I definitely want to get an Ngage too, but they are so expensive...I know there's been a bunch of threads on this before, but is somebody clearing these out at a great bargain? Even a non-QD model?

-Rob

DogP

02-04-2005, 12:55 PM

I wish I could use mine as a phone (doesn't work with my Sprint PCS service)... carrying both the n-gage and a phone in my pocket gets to be a little too much, but I do try to leave it in my backpack for days that I have long gaps between classes.

DogP

SoulBlazer

02-04-2005, 04:30 PM

I would get one if it was'nt so expensive and if I don't need a phone contract, cause I have no intrest in it as a phone. If I could get it for under $150, sure.

zektor

02-06-2005, 02:00 AM

I just bought one with my tax return. It really is a nice little unit. I have been messing with it tonight, and am looking forward to testing some of the emulators. I bought it because I was curious about the system and because I do not have a cell phone at all. Now I can have the best of all worlds. Not a bad purchase for what I will be using it for in my opinion.

max 330 mega

02-06-2005, 02:08 AM

yay, another person buys this sexy little handheld!!

Gemini-Phoenix

02-06-2005, 02:29 AM

I got my original version Ngage when the QD as getting launched ( I waited to see which was better)

My Ngage cost me only �80, and it came unlocked, with a free sim card, free Sonic N game, and free 128mb memory card! Oh, and Nokia Game.

That was a bargain and a half! They were trying to get rid of their stocks of the original model before the QD hit the shops.

zektor

02-06-2005, 02:39 AM

yay, another person buys this sexy little handheld!!

Yeah, it's really too bad that the system has such a bad rep. It is very nice, and built very well. The price is a killer I suppose, but I really don't care much about that...not for what I can do with it. It's like the Dreamcast of portables. With a little research you can find a whole lot of great stuff for it...which I'm only finding out now! :)

tholly

02-06-2005, 09:59 AM

i have a couple games for it, now i just need the system

if it dies, i can get the system quicker for cheaper, but if it stays around, when i finally do get one there will be more games for it

hmmm....i guess i dont need one right away, especially with the DS and my PSP preorder, so i guess i hope the N-Gage stays around for awhile yet

zektor

02-09-2005, 01:18 AM

I hope it stays around for a long time as well, but I don't see it happening. Mobile gaming is getting bigger and bigger however, and I suppose that is a good sign. A co-worker was playing Metal Slug Mobile the other day as a matter of fact. But these are downloadable games, not games on sale as cards in a game store.

Either way, whether it does stick around or not, I am really having a great time with it. I can now play MP3's, Mod's, and OGG's on the QD, as well as Genesis, NES, Gameboy, some Mame and some SNES games on it. Also some cool applications to boot. If only people knew what they really can do with the unit, well, they jsut might not think the price is all that bad. I sure as hell didn't.

Also, what is up with finding MMC cards? In my area I was only able to find a 128MB card. On newegg I am only able to find a 256MB. I had to resort to ebay to get a 1GB MMC, which is the max capacity the N-Gage will handle and I must say is the ideal size for mucho music and games. Wonder why they are so hard to come by?

classicb

02-09-2005, 01:43 AM

After reading that Q&A with Gerald Wiener it seemed clear that the N-Gage would be around for sometime but what wasn't clear was if the game cards would be. He hinted at developling more games like the new snake which of course is a free download. I think the future of the N-Gage might be just hardware to play the increasing number of mobile games. Most people who get an N-Gage like what it can do more than the games that it has. I like both. It's clear that Nokia isn't giving up just yet but where their headed is anyones guess. I'm just glad I'm along for the ride because it's been fun so far.

yoursisterspretty

02-09-2005, 02:30 AM

Cauterize

02-09-2005, 06:08 AM

Also, what is up with finding MMC cards? In my area I was only able to find a 128MB card. On newegg I am only able to find a 256MB. I had to resort to ebay to get a 1GB MMC, which is the max capacity the N-Gage will handle and I must say is the ideal size for mucho music and games. Wonder why they are so hard to come by?

MMC cards seem to be basically dead. Most devices use SD's now. The best bet for MMC cards now seems to be either eBay or to look through pricewatch.com. The only place (kind of local) that I've been able to find MMC cards is BestBuy and they wanted $35 for 128MB, no thanks!

I think youll find, everyone is using XD cards now... Especially Nokia! Look at the 7600!

As for the largest MMC, i think you can use any although from what ive heard, the larger ones may possibly have longer loading times for obvious reasons.. im not 100%

classicb

02-09-2005, 12:47 PM

Another interview with Gerald Wiener he even suggest that a new N-Gage devise this year could be released. Not surprising since new cell phone models come out every year. It also sounds like their going to try pushing it more through phone providers. He sounds like a gamer so hopefully he knows what he's doing.

http://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/0,17863,1026052,00.html

CreamSoda

02-09-2005, 02:35 PM

I still don't want it because I have a DS!

*Runs*

classicb

02-09-2005, 04:27 PM

I still don't want it because I have a DS!

*Runs*

call me on your DS and I'll tell you how great the N-Gage is. :)

zektor

02-09-2005, 05:14 PM

I still don't want it because I have a DS!

*Runs*

So do I, and all of the games released to date for it as well (except the sport titles), so what does this mean? You must only own ONE portable? Not me, own em both, and love em both.

classicb

02-11-2005, 11:21 PM

some screens have been leaked from the latest N-Gage anounced game System Rush. I think it looks pretty cool. It kind of looks like a new S.T.U.N Runner 8-)

source: http://www.n-page.de/index.php?page=newsdetails&datum=1107852265

http://usuarios.lycos.es/maqcky/systemrush/system3.JPG

http://usuarios.lycos.es/maqcky/systemrush/system6.JPG

http://usuarios.lycos.es/maqcky/systemrush/system14.JPG

edit: ok its fixed now

yoursisterspretty

02-12-2005, 12:39 AM

Can I vent for a second? Thanks.

Why the hell do all the new people have to bag on the N-Gage. It really pisses me off.

OK, that's all I have to say. ;)

zektor

02-12-2005, 12:50 AM

Can I vent for a second? Thanks.

Why the hell do all the new people have to bag on the N-Gage. It really pisses me off.

OK, that's all I have to say. ;)

Ihad a problem today with this. I went to a certain Gamestop looking for a case for the QD. I went all over and could not find one, so I decided to try there. I asked the salesperson if they had any, and he said "You wouldn't need a case if you just threw out the N-Gage". I could not believe he had the nerve to say something like that, especially when that store sells the system. He then said to just get a DS or PSP. I told him I had a DS, but I couldn't play NES and Genesis games on it. He quickly shit up and went in the back, where he found the official QD case. Then, while he was ringing it up he tells me that the PSP will be able to emulate things anyway.

I didn't want his f'ing opinion, just some decent service....which now seems to be next to impossible to find in NJ. Needless to say, I am calling Gamestop corporate about this incident, as well as that particular Gamestop's manager and Nokia themselves tomorrow. That just wasn't right.

classicb

02-12-2005, 01:04 AM

I was at a Gamestop recently as well and I asked to buy a copy of Asphalt and the employee who happened to be the manager says to me "really.. are you sure" yes I'm really sure WTF. He then added his opinion about how great the PSP was going to be and that I'd be better off just saving my money for it. When you call Gamestop and Nokia you can add my story. Can't all handhelds just get along. :)

RangerG

02-12-2005, 10:14 AM

The same thing happened to me. My wife and I are no longer under contract with our cellphone carrier. Thus, I was looking into the new N-Gage at EB which seems like a good deal with the rebates for activation. Anyway, the store clearly is down on the N-Gage. It is displayed by itself in the corner and questions I had about it were not so subtly turned into encouraging me to pre-order a PSP.

classicb

02-12-2005, 01:52 PM

My wife and I are no longer under contract with our cellphone carrier. Thus, I was looking into the new N-Gage .

get it through amazon.com it's $75 with a $200 rebate I got mine that way and came out ahead $125

CreamSoda

02-12-2005, 06:13 PM

"You wouldn't need a case if you just threw out the N-Gage."

LMAO! LOL Sorry but thats funny...

Cauterize

02-12-2005, 06:16 PM

"You wouldn't need a case if you just threw out the N-Gage."

LMAO! LOL Sorry but thats funny...

Seriously, this is more an Ngage appreciation thread, and youll only end up angering the Ngagers

NintendoMan

02-12-2005, 10:21 PM

Kudos to Nokia for sticking with their product despite the poor reception. It's too bad Sega and Nintendo didn't do the same with the 32X and the Virtual Boy, or we might have seen some truly excellent games for those platforms.

--Zero

Sorry this is way off subject, but your saying if you had a few millions of $$ that you would put it up on something that most likely you wouldn't get your money BACK? And just lose that money, and say oh well?

classicb

02-13-2005, 12:00 AM

no I think he's saying that he likes to play video games and that he liked those systems and wished they had more games and is glad that the N-Gage will have more games. :) I don't think any of us are trying to buy stock in the N-Gage we just like it and hope it does better.

zektor

02-13-2005, 12:52 AM

The N-Gage makes a great addition to my portable collection, no matter what anyone else says. I called that Gamestop and spoke with the guy's boss. He appologized and said he would talk with the employee. He then told me that he'd be honest and say that the N-Gage is not doing well and he thinks it's pretty much over for the system.

I told him I am fully aware of the status of the machine, and I was there to buy a case, not a comment.

retroman

02-13-2005, 01:02 AM

I bought a N-Gage when it came out, and i still love it. i dont use the phone on it..only for gaming...and its got some nice softs for it too. I would say get one just because i dont want to see it die..its like a PSOne in your hands...love it

max 330 mega

02-13-2005, 01:08 AM

ngage is in my top 3 consoles, i love it to death, it goes everywhere with me.
screw the haters, this system is a powerful little bastard, and it deserves to be in everyones home, because it does everything.