The trick is to remove the battery

[TheOrangeOne]

The trick is to remove the battery
Ok, it pains me to admit it, but the new Nokia n-gage phone is looking pretty good. www.n-gage.com. A lot of people are slating it, saying Nokia should stick to what they know and leave gaming to the professionals. I'm disagreeing with that and think nokia are very brave for making such a bold move. If nothing else, the phone will be a new-age retro gamers dream! (by new-age retro gaming, I am referring to the 32-bit generation of consoles)

Games on it include Red Faction (being developed by Doom legend, John Romero) Tomb Raider, Tony Hawks and the almighty Pandemonium. From what ive seen, the games have the same look as their playstation one counterparts (apart from Red Faction, which looks more like Quake). Now to be perfectly honest, this is the sort of thing most of us were expecting when Nintendo announced the GBA. Whilst GBA is a great console, it still didn't live up to what we were hoping.

In fact, if popular rumour is to be believed, Nintendo had already developed the next 'super-handheld' but due to their monopoly on the handheld market, were just delaying its release until GameBoy sales weaken. Whilst I am not particularly excited about the n-gage itself, it is a promising and exciting glimpse into the future of handheld gaming. Perhaps with fresh competition on the market, Nintendo will pull their finger out and deliver something that's truly amazing.

With all this exciting new technology on the horizon, I am left with one last puzzling question: Why did Nokia, in all their wisdom, design the n-gage so that you have to physically REMOVE the battery to change the games? Lets just hope this isn't a new trend, otherwise the future is looking very sad for lazy gamers everywhere...........

cheers! :beam:
Olly

[teet]

I think I'll just duct tape my cell phone, cd player, and gameboy together and save some money.

It is a pretty cool idea, although I think you would get a lot of funny looks when you hold your "gameboy" up to your ear and start talking to it, haha.

-teet

[BadMagick]

I'm with teet on this one!! I think people would look pretty **** stupid holding such a huge device up to their ear. In a world where everything tech is getting smaller, why would someone trade in their tiny cell phones and mp3 players for this huge thing that plays better games.

I dunno about you, but SNAKE is classic! I can have boatloads of fun with my Nokia 3360 just the same.

[TheOrangeOne]

Heh,i agree! Im quite happy to use my phone JUST for phone calls. After all, thats what its there for.

Anyway, i started this thread about the future of handheld gaming. What are your views on this? If a newbie to the game market like nokia can produce somthing like the n-gage, what do the old-timers (like nintendo) have up their sleaves?

I predict that we will have a head on batlle between the big players, just like the days of the mega drive and SNES, except this time it will probably be between Nintendo and Sony. I cannot honestly see the n-gage catching on, but the technology will.

[SureShot]

WEll the N-Gage is definatly a little strange but it's got some great features. Not to mention it already has some big name players on board to develop for it such as EA Sports and EA Games & Sega, to name a couple.

I personally Think it looks too big and cumbersom to talk on, not to mention the fact that there are too many buttons to mess around with. I know they have the buttons you need for gaming raised up a bit, but it would still be distracting. Not to mention - would those buttons get worn out a lot faster than the others on the phone.

I think they have a neat idea and it will appeal to a few people, but I for one will stick with my GBASP and wonder about what the "secret project" that nintendo is working on. Not to mention the new Sony Hand Held looks pretty sweet also. :)

[prstudio]

snake...rofl

nibbles

[T-O]

N-GaGe sould be Banned from all games shops.

But it's good that the SP is getting some compitision. I mean 45 euro for 1 game!!!!
what are they thinking!!!

I'd rather pay 200 euro the thing and 5 euro for one game the 100 euro for the thing and 45 euro per game!

[asphaltcowboy]

sorry... why should it be banned? :-\

[Coppertop]

Originally posted by BadMagick
I'm with teet on this one!! I think people would look pretty **** stupid holding such a huge device up to their ear. In a world where everything tech is getting smaller, why would someone trade in their tiny cell phones and mp3 players for this huge thing that plays better games....

Well, personally I have no problem with the N-Gage. Its another console, except it has fallen to the miscrosoft way of thinking:

Not only will it play games, it will recieve email, balance your check book and manage your calls!

I don't think I will be buying it. If I were to buy a phone, it would be something along the lines of the Nokia 3360. It makes calls, manages a list of your favourite people, and plays simple games when you are bored. If I want more intense games I will buy a laptop dammit.

[fez]

a food processor cell would be nice too
but you cant have everything

[TheOrangeOne]

heh, yeah! And whilst they are at it, why not add the following:
A toaster
An umbrella
A Penknife
A fridge
A torch
Some wheels
A Gaydar (No reason, i just like that word)
A Tv Tuner
My Grandma
A pen

....Oh, and somthing to call people with would be nice as well.

[fez]

Originally posted by TheOrangeOne
heh, yeah! And whilst they are at it, why not add the following:
A toaster-pending
An umbrella-pending
A Penknife-pending
A fridge-what are you crazy?
A torch-already done
Some wheels-vague...but its a good idea
A Gaydar (No reason, i just like that word)
A Tv Tuner-done
My Grandma
A pen

....Oh, and somthing to call people with would be nice as well.