N-gage?

What do you think of the new N-Gage by Nokia? I have a feeling it's all going to depend on the pricing. Very nice idea though.

Edit: I didn't even know about the N-Gage until I saw it mentioned on Penny Arcade.

Wake me up when I can make PHONE CALLS on a cell phone without getting disconnected. All these gadgets and crap are great, but come on, these are PHONES, right? When I'm on my way home trying to order a pizza and keep getting cut off, I don't think playing a few levels of Sonic is going to make me feel much better (or any less hungry.)

I hear that, although, there are only certain areas that don't have very good cell coverage in my area, so I've been fairly lucky to only get cut off just a few times. Nokia's have been known to get better signal strength, as long as you don't have a low-end model.

I can't complain really, I figure having a cell phone work at all is better than nothing.

I hear that, although, there are only certain areas that don't have very good cell coverage in my area, so I've been fairly lucky to only get cut off just a few times. Nokia's have been known to get better signal strength, as long as you don't have a low-end model.

I guess so. I have the Nokia 8265. I think the weak link is the TDMA service in my area. I guess AT&T here is rolling out GSM. All having different standards does is reduce my chances of getting a signal because the available infrastructure dollars can't suddenly double just because there are two standards. For now I'm not putting money into ANY phone until GSM service is really here and not just spotty in a few areas.

Dude, it's going to have Super Monkey Ball...

Must... resist... urge... to... buy...

I don't care how great they are, I won't buy anything that has monkey balls.

Oh, but these are really CUTE monkey balls!

Are they sweet and sour?

pca

Rats. I thought it'd be a post about really small trains.



-Zeke

The best are Shweddy Balls, or maybe a good Shweddy Weiner.

Man, those clips were funny.

A fellow beliver its a phone i use it to make phone calls not to listen to stupid ring tones, take photos, play crap games, surf the web really slowly.

I like me current phone nokia 5210 small, rain proof, rubbery case and vibrating ringer what more do you need

I'm not keen on the gaming function. It's something I don't use.
Are mobiles becoming the communication swiss army knife. I'd like a phone that can take a memory on-board (SD, compact flash, memory stick etc) and can connect to a computer via USB. that way I could manage all the contacts and make backups an store other useful stuff.

I thought it might be a post about what Captain P-Card says on the bridge of the N-terprise whenever it times to get the photon on there.

Content is not King

I use the game functions on my phone every once in a while -- when passing the time waiting for a movie to start mostly, but, generically, anywhere where I'm waiting for a short period of time with nothing else to do. At the same time, I can't imagine I'd ever pay money to play a game on a cell phone, which seems to be the big push behind these new games (I blame John Romero). I'd much rather play one of those pebble games or growing worm games for free.

I can't imagine I'd ever pay money to play a game on a cell phone, which seems to be the big push behind these new games (I blame John Romero).

While John is great to blame for things , the pay for gaming on cell phones has been visible at E3 for at least the past 2 years. The networks and hardware is finally coming into place to make it viable. I personally would just rather keep a GameBoy SP somewhere near me for mobile gaming, but the N-Gage is one step in the right direction. Game Boy Advance compatibility would have been the killer feature, but I'm sure it will still catch on with the teen market.

I also play the games on my cell phone to pass the time. The only problem is that the games on my phone have to be the worst and least fun games ever invented. I don't know why in God's name ANYone thought they would be fun. I have a lame slot machine game and an even lamer game called "Crab Catch." Despite the name sounding very unpleasant, the game is one of those boring "things are falling so try to catch them" games. I would rather have Bouncing Babies than this crappy game. Only when I'm the most utterly bored do either of these games get played.

On the other hand, I have no interest in playing a game with someone else on my phone. Multiplayer games aren't appealing to me.

Eidos was in my office with one. It absolutely blows the GBA SP out of the water. The screen is far superior with a full backlight. (vs the side lit GBA SP). The games that come out should be impresive, not the typical mobile phone that plays games, but a gaming device that is also a mobile phone. The specs are nice too, even by mobile phone standards: bluetooth, tri-band, gprs etc. I've heard pricing in order of magnitude of £300 ($500) off contract. Operators might sub it for c. £100 ($150)

The screen is far superior with a full backlight. (vs the side lit GBA SP)

Sidelighting a reflective LCD usually works better then backlighting for a device that is going to be used in the daylight. Any ideas how the N-Gauge looks outside?

Well, the Gameboy Advance has such poor lighting that it is impossible to use in any conditions except ideal. There are kits for sale for about $25 to fix the problems (backlit or frontlit). Check out www.lik-sang.com

Interestingly enough, Nintendo has put out several versions so far without fixing this basic problem (or dropping the price).

They also have a problem in a lot of games where if you pause it, the screen turns darker, burning up the batteries faster.

-Biscuits

Well, the Gameboy Advance has such poor lighting that it is impossible to use in any conditions except ideal.

I know, this is why I still haven't finished Metroid Fusion. I did get the Afterburner kit, but decided not to install it.

Interestingly enough, Nintendo has put out several versions so far without fixing this basic problem (or dropping the price).

The Game Boy Advance SP is what they are releasing to fix the "lighting" issue. It's a clamshell version with a sidelit LCD, rechargable battery, and a release date of March in the US. I believe this is the version compaired above to the N-gauge.

The one big reason I could see for Nintendo to release a Game Boy without lighting is that most of the younger marker dosen't care. In that market space, battery life is going to be the main issue. Now with the SP on its way, and the GameBoy Advance Player for the GameCube, noone should have any big complaints against the system.

Well, maybe one. I wish it had A,B,X, and Y buttons like the SNES did to allow for even better revivals of classics from that platform.

IMO it looks very sleek. the device is thin in profile perhaps a bit wide from top to bottom. Again, it looks as though its designed first as a gaming device. the length is about the same maybe shorter than the original GBA. It has a silver/grey finish. check out this site: http://www.n-gage.com/n-gage/home.html

Well, maybe one. I wish it had A,B,X, and Y buttons like the SNES did to allow for even better revivals of classics from that platform.

So true! I hadn't thought of that, and it may be a non-sale point for me now. I was really excited about the GBA SP (there was a great article about it in EGM a while ago), and I was also considering getting the Gamecube add-on. Maybe it will be a little better with the GC controller...hmm.

I am really excited about being able to play a lot of the old games again, even if I still own my old SNES and a bunch of games.