My concerns

1.I don't know how much ram it has but wathicing tomb reider run on the N-Gage made me think two things:Wow,Tomb Reider's port was coded really good or Naah,It just has more RAM 😊

2.I don't know.

3.Maybe you are a developer,maybe you are not,but lets end the cracking discussion before it starts.

Don't the games in this bad boy run off cartridges. If so then you can build as much RAM as a game needs into the cartridge.

Yes they do and that would ba a good solution,but not great.What about java games,like worms,or just native Symbian games liki Motoracer.It would be too bad if a beast like the N-Gage has RAM problems as the 3650.

I agree with you that it would be a shame if there were problems running Java games, especially since the control would be so nice. However I doubt that it's a primary concern for Nokia, since their goal is to sell the cartridges and not Java games.

[quote="GhostDog"]It would be too bad if a beast like the N-Gage has RAM problems as the 3650.[/quote]It won't.

I'm also looking forward to test N-Gage, but at the moment my concerns are:

1) Display size and resolution (compared to GBA SP).
2) Physical design - a phone or a handheld games console?
3) Game prices - 30-40 � sounds too much for small mobile games - at this price I can get games for GPA SP from www.play.com.
4) Games availability - can I get them anywhere I currently buy games? Downloadable games would be more handy in a mobile device.
5) Battery time - only 3-6 hours for games (source: www.n-gage.com) - my GBA SP's battery seems to run over 10h?

Nokia has said that N-Gage doesn't have direct competitors, but at least I feel that it will compete with my GPA SP.

I'm sure to be comparing for example Splinter Cell's N-Gage version to that of GBA. So far I've played the Symbian / Series 60 version which is far behind from GBA when it comes to playability, graphics and sounds.

Tero

When comparing a single-purpose device to a multi-purpose device like the N-Gage, consider also these points:

Can you also make and receive phonecalls with the GBA?

Can you also use the GBA as an MP3 player?

Can you also listen to (FM) radio with the GBA?

Can you also do messaging (SMS, MMS, email, instant messaging/chat) with the GBA?

Can you also, in addition to cartridge (MMC) bases games, install additional software (games, productivity/business software, whatever developers happen to have written) directly from the network through a browser, receive them directly as email or install them through a PC?

Can you also browse the internet ( and WAP service 😉 ) with a GBA?

Can the GBA support remote online/networked games (using the cellular network) as well as short-range wireless multiplayer gaming (using Bluetooth)?

Can games on the GBA take advantage of wireless features while playing and additional community features (teams, buddy-lists, shared high-score/ranking lists, text/voice based chatting, etc., etc.)?

[quote="N/A"]When comparing a single-purpose device to a multi-purpose device like the N-Gage, consider also these points:[/quote]

I have read all the N-Gage specs and I understand many advantages it can offer. But I wouldn't be sure that having a multi-purpose device is always better than having a single-purpose device. Does this apply to N-Gage? I don't know, since I haven't got to test one (yet).

My point is that many multi-purpose devices are a compromise of features: a mobile phone with camera doesn't compete with real digital cameras, games console like PS2 or Xbox used for watching DVDs doesn't offer all the advantages of a single-purpose (and high-quality) DVD player and a MP3 player in a mobile phone don't necessarily compete with a single-purpose MP3 or MD player.

In my opinion GBA SP is a good-looking and very easy to use handheld games console that offers many (not as many as I'd like, though) nice games. When it comes to its price and ease of use, single-purpose model seems to be an advantage.

Tero

Well, this maybe nothing but according to well informed sources, sony's first handheld console, PSP, is gonna trounce GBA-SP and N-Gage.
http://special.reserve.co.uk/news/story.php?id=2768
Any thoughts on that?

[quote="ebo"]I'm also looking forward to test N-Gage, but at the moment my concerns are:

1) Display size and resolution (compared to GBA SP).
2) Physical design - a phone or a handheld games console?
3) Game prices - 30-40 � sounds too much for small mobile games - at this price I can get games for GPA SP from www.play.com.
4) Games availability - can I get them anywhere I currently buy games? Downloadable games would be more handy in a mobile device.
5) Battery time - only 3-6 hours for games (source: www.n-gage.com) - my GBA SP's battery seems to run over 10h?

Nokia has said that N-Gage doesn't have direct competitors, but at least I feel that it will compete with my GPA SP.

I'm sure to be comparing for example Splinter Cell's N-Gage version to that of GBA. So far I've played the Symbian / Series 60 version which is far behind from GBA when it comes to playability, graphics and sounds.

Tero[/quote]

1: Same size as any S60 phone...anyone care to remember?

2:I had a quick go with the N-Gage back in April @ the Expo, it's more a handheld games unit than a phone IMO

3:With Gameboy SP you can't download games 😉

4: Skip

5: Buy another battery or live with it....the GB SP doesn't have to run a mobile phone and a OS from the same battery

[quote="Orophin Anwarunya"]Well, this maybe nothing but according to well informed sources, sony's first handheld console, PSP, is gonna trounce GBA-SP and N-Gage.
http://special.reserve.co.uk/news/story.php?id=2768
Any thoughts on that?[/quote]

Wow,look at the specs on that thing!!! 3D Sound, 7.1 Channel,LOL!!!

its still not a phone
i know ngage will rock

[quote="Ismail"]its still not a phone
i know ngage will rock[/quote]

well from the looks of things here, it doesnt matter if its not a phone, since the n-gage is being compared like for like with a single function system like GBA, of which has its own market.
i thought the N-Gage was made to give those that love cell-phone game a much easier and entertaining experience than its Snake predecesors. in the stead of having two seperate devices that would otherwise weigh them down.

[quote="J2theIZZO"]1: Same size as any S60 phone...anyone care to remember?[/quote]

I'm sorry, I don't quite understand your point. I'm quite aware of the S60 resolution and screen size and I think it's quite small for games - especially because it has more height than width (aspect ratio). 208 x 176 would be quite different than 176 x 208 considering games.

And yes, I have an S60 device (7650) and yes, I have played many games with it, although its screen is not suitable for all kinds of games.

2:I had a quick go with the N-Gage back in April @ the Expo, it's more a handheld games unit than a phone IMO

I have held N-Gage in my hand for a quick pause too, so I can't say how well it will work. It just looks funny or weird depending on how I look at it. 😊

3:With Gameboy SP you can't download games 😉

Quite true, and GBA games are also very expensive (60-70 euros) in many countries. I think this a real weakness for Nintendo. Many news reports have told that even though GBA SPs are selling well, games are not doing that well.

5: Buy another battery or live with it....the GB SP doesn't have to run a mobile phone and a OS from the same battery

This doesn't change the point from perspective of a consumer who wants a gaming console, (s)he will probably look for how many hours of gaming the battery offers. Or maybe I'm wrong?

Tero

Well this is a problem that Nokia will face in marketing the N-Gage. The comparison to the single purpose protable gaming decks, currently only the GBA but perhaps the PSP in the future. And it is the comparison that it will most definitely lose due to the fact that it is a multi-function device. It's a comparision that is not valid but that does not matter to the public. But no matter what the N-Gage will sell well if only because it's the "newest Nokia gadget".

hi, just got back from skiathos and i had a fantastic time. Anyway i would just like to know why no-one has answeredd my 3rd question. I understand the need for no warez and no asking how to crack software but all i want to know is; will games be as easy to crack on n-gage as on other s60 phones? Just a straight yes or no, thats all.

sco2001,no one can answer that with a straight yes or no.I'm glad you had nice time on skiathos,but your question will probably lead the discussion in the wrong direction,the kind that's not allowed on AAS,so lets end it here.

Talking about the cracked software I strongly believe that it will be sth very hard to avoid. But don't expect them to come very soon.The MMC games will have a decryption/copy protection and unfortunatelythis will work backword meaning that crackers won't only will have a problem to copy the games but also make them work in the n-gage.We may also see mod chips for n-gages. After all this type of protection is known to be working since the Nintendo's NES/Famicom video game console...

Now about the gameboy users not being able to download games,totally incorect(the method is illegal though,and a bit expensive).Just check the link...
http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0,23008,3338287,00.html

Lastly my thoughts about the N-Gage.I must say that I really like it at first but I doubt about its future. Baring in mind that it is very high priced compared to a GB advance I don't think it will have a success we want as a mobile video game device for varius reasons (not correct size and shape of screen for most video games wrong place for the MMCs as well as high price for them, and not good key placement for games).And although Nokia first claimed that it is not a product that is competing the GBA it was the first to claim that GB is for kids and N-Gage is for grown ups. Bearing in mind that Sony's PSP is on the road as well as that Nintendo is going to release a new device next year which no doubt will be a new GB(more)A

http://www.megagames.com/news/html/console/nintendonewdeviceand3games.shtml

then for sure N-Gage has a hard game to play.

But on the other side N-Gage is also a smartphone and a radio/mp3 player. But again we have some minus. First of all it is the biggest Smartphone after the Communicator. Secondly it doesn't have a camera(though Nokia will shortly release a camera accessory for it).

Finalising my opinion and besides all the minus I don't believe that N-Gage will be a failure,instead it will be a success where the others may fail...(Device selling) N-Gage is not only a Gaming device or only a phone,etc,etc and that makes appealing to anyone. eg. someone who just needs a cheap smartphone or a phone with MP3/radio (maybe to replace their old 5510),etc. But the real question is will N-Gage not fail where the other succeeds?(Games selling)

heya ive been looking on loadsa different sites concerning the n-gage and they all say different things. All i want to know is:
1) will it have an available camera attachment?
2) will it have infra-red?
3) will you be able to change the fascias?
4) and will the game cartridges work on the 3300? (if not why was it released?)
hope someone can answer all me questions. cheers SAbz

[quote="SAbz911"]1) will it have an available camera attachment?[/quote]As far as I know, no.
[quote="SAbz911"]2) will it have infra-red?[/quote]No. It has Bluetooth and USB (principally for transferring music from a PC to the phone).
[quote="SAbz911"]3) will you be able to change the fascias?[/quote]I haven't seen any indications that there'd be any Xpress-on -type user-replacable ones available.
[quote="SAbz911"]4) and will the game cartridges work on the 3300? (if not why was it released?)[/quote]No. The 3300 is a Series 40 (it is not running Symbian) phone that has music capabilities and can also run Java applications, and even if somewhat resembles the N-Gage, they're not really "related" in that sense.

It may be obvious but they released it to make money and so people would buy it.

There is a rumour that a camera addon for the N-Gage will probably be made available shortly after release and N-Gage owners might even get it for free.

Is that a Jimmy-Floyd rumour? 😉

:rofl: No!!!Rafe mentioned here: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16197

hey all, this is the first time i've been to this ngage forum, normally i go to the other ones apart from this one, i'll be able to get some specs tomorrow as the ngage tour is coming to mancehster , so not really tomorrw, later on today, i've just not slept yet :angel: ummm, i'll get some pics and stuff and hopefully i'll get that goody bag they you get when you go and play tony hawkes and post your high score. it's all about the freebies :angel:

[quote="sco2001"]1)my biggest concern is that, as with the 3650, the ram might not be enough to run some games, especially the bigger ones.[/quote]

Any games that come on MMCs will be designed to work within the memory constraints of the N-Gage.

[quote="Kirill"]Don't the games in this bad boy run off cartridges. If so then you can build as much RAM as a game needs into the cartridge.[/quote]

No they don't run off cartridges. They run off memory cards (MMC only).

[quote="sco2001"]2)How many games will be coming out after the launch, in the months when the furore has died down?
[/quote]

Well Nokia have just signed a deal with EA Games, they'll probably launch a number of games in the run up to Xmas.

As for the N-Gage vs GBA debate, I don't think that GBA owners will want an N-Gage. The N-Gage will appeal to phone users who'd like the advantages of Series 60 e.g. -

Download apps/games, play MP3, read books, read MS Office docs, browse internet, MMS etc.

and who

a) Don't necessarily want a camera
b) Don't want to pay the high price for a camera phone (well, ok, 3650 might be cheaper than N-Gage by now)
c) Don't mind (or even want) a radio on their phone
d) Don't mind (or even want) a phone in the shape of a games console
e) Want to be able to buy games like Tomb Radier, Tony Hawk etc.
f) Want to be able to compete against other players (BT, N-Gage Arena)

In short, N-Gage will appeal to phone users like the games features of N-Gage.