"N-Gage Launch Disaster for Nokia"
January 2004 Game Informer p. 54
On October 7, Nokia's entry into the video gaming device market began when its N-Gage cell phone/mobile gaming device went on sale at retailers worldwide...and it was pretty much all downhill from there. We've seen some bad console launches in the past, but the N-Gage's coming out party proved to be an economic bloodbath of epic proportions. Originally priced at a hefty $299 and with little compelling software to drive interest, the N-Gage moldered on shelves, selling only 5,000 units in the first week in America and only 500 units in the U.K. To put this perspective, the Game Boy Advance sold 540,000 copies in one week during it's U.S. launch.
Nokia tried to put on a brave face, claiming that it had moved 400,000 N-Gages in the first two weeks of sales. However, analysts scoffed at the number, pointing out that these figures represented units shipped to retailers, not actual sell-through numbers. In a desperate attempt to spur sales, many outlets actually cut the price of the handheld by $100 just two weeks after it debuted. Currently, each retailer is offering a different N-Gage bundle in what appears to be a mad dash to clean out the stagnating stock of units, games, and accessories.
P.S. I just bought a GBA SP.
Which is fairly typical of the main stream gaming press. They dont understand sales make up is going to be very different for a phone especially in Europe.
On top of that I willing to bet Nokia still make a profit on the N-Gage despite the reductions.
Personally I'm gorwing rather fon of my N-Gage and I dont think I'm the only one. I have a feeling the N-Gage may yet suprose a lot of people.
Rafe
BTW the recent games seem rather good (having just played a few of them).
I just got one last week and I really like it. All of this is a matter of opinion. I like the uniqueness of it. Three were sold right before mine, so I agree with Rafe.
Perhaps yes, the price reduction is due to sales, but heck, I'm glad I got a deal. I paid less than I did for my other phone and have more functionality, so I'm quite happy with mine.
I think people need to get over it not being in a 'standard' phone format. It is designed as a gaming machine (a couple of shoulder buttons would have been nice) - I would hate to try playing games on a traditional phone layout after the N-Gage.
As for the cost it may first appear expensive but then compare it with the GBA SP which is around �90. But then what do you get with the N-Gage - a much better display, pda functionality, media player and a phone. GBA advocates may say the GBA has more games - true but the N-Gage is in it's infancy, but it's got a growing software library, plus all the downloadable games and apps.
This has turned into a bit of a GBA vs N-Gage (sorry) so one last thought for you GBAers - THPS GBA or THPS N-Gage. 😊
The main thing that won me over the N-Gage was I wouldn't need to carry a phone, discman and Gameboy around, I could could have it all in one and it could play movies. It was only once I owned one I realised how much more you can do with it, it's a great tinkering toy! 😊 My only problem now is that I can't get my wife off of it!
If you're in two minds about getting one - do it, you won't be disappointed.
Pix.
Despite the lack of sales, I'd say Nokia are still doing rather well. Im personally selling loads of N-Gages, especially in the run upto christamas. Alot of people are saying to me, why dont i see loadsa people with the phone if there selling well, its simply cus alot of them are being brought as christmas presents!
Ive said before and i still have the same opinion, Nokia cud of marketed the N-Gage differently. All they ever go on about is the gaming aspect of the phone. I rarely use the games on my fone, i mainly watch films and listen to music/radio. How often hav you seen them advertising these aspects of the phone on tv? I havent yet seen it.
Everytime I tell a customer, "by the way you can watch full length movies on the fone aswell", there shocked!
Yes I think its a case of Nokia advertising the Brand initially and not bombarding people with too many of the details.
The low sales of the N-gage are only low if you want them to be. Lets face it this is a new technology to any other phone or hand held games machine. If you look at past tries at this - then you will see even lower figures. I would liken it to the release of the CD-ROM drive for computer back in the early nineties... A few people bought them but not many as you couldnt get any useful discs, yet it has become a standard and I think the N-gage, maybe not in the current form, will become a standard.
I was very sceptical about the need of such a device but having now owned one I think its amazing - my girlfriend is now using it and it actually more suits girls as they usually carry the bag around with them to put it in, I think this is something not forseen as it is primarily marketed at boys.
To be honest for me it is joint tops for the current phones out there. The 6600 has size and screen quality on its side, but the N-gage has the stereo sound albeit no camera!
Anyway of combining the two?
P
There is too much confusion going on.
Maybe the N-Gage is getting bad press reviews and being criticized by GBA owners because they have never seen the real functioning unit, and only played with this one.
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olooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
wat the hell is that😃
That is my friend a proof that the N-Gage rules. In other words, the imitation is the highest form of flattery.
In the US the dominant standard is CDMA. At the moment the hottest US carrier is Nextel, which I believe employs TDMA and has the popular �push to talk� feature. For the N-Gage to succeed in America Nokia must introduce CDMA and TDMA editions. Nokia needs carriers, especially Verizon and Sprint, to aggressively market it. Some Americans won�t buy GSM phones because Verizon and Sprint have better nationwide coverage through their CDMA networks.
