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Will Nokia make a better stab at the mobile market with N-Gage 2?

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iPhone + N-Gage + DS ...

History has taught us much about the launch of a new console. For example, hype doesn't necessarily equal high early adoption sales (PS3), an amazing launch title doesn't necessarily precede a sustained stampede of heavenly titles (N64) and a gap in the market doesn't mean that a console's success is assured (Nokia pastie aka the Nokia taco aka the N-Gage).

And so it is that we turn our attention towards the new N-Gage and all of the new promises Nokia has been making about its second attempt at cracking the mobile games market.

After an initial rush of support from developers and a promising sounding road-map to launch, Nokia has stumbled with its much debated N-Gage successor which is already starting to raise industry eyebrows over its delayed launch and the conspicuous absence of a robust marketing presence.

In last week's Loose Threads we asked for your opinions on the subject, and several of you were more than happy to volunteer.

Half man, half quiff� SetsFireToPoshHammer began the discussion:

If you ask me, the whole Google Android/Apple iPhone thing is a bit iffy just now, yes the potential is there but it is really hard to say what portion of the market each will go after. As far as the new N-Gage competing against the PSP and DS goes, I don't think that will happen. That is the mistake that Nokia made last time and so for the new N-Gage I think the focus will be on pushing mobile games forward as opposed to aping handheld console efforts.
Splat chipped in thoughtfully with some straight talking on the subject:
All I'd want is some reasonable communication about what's going to happen and some reasonable 3D and connected games- i.e. the sort of stuff that we're not currently getting with Java. Nokia's problem however is that it's trying to muscle in on the operators space so it won't get much support from most of them. As for iPhone and Android, I don't think they're really designed as gaming platforms whereas that's the entire point of N-Gage, so N-Gage is actually quite important to pushing the future of mobile games.
Then Chris jumped into the discussion with:
I think actually launching the thing might be a start, but the struggles with that suggest that there are issues to be ironed out.
Which is something we can probably all agree on. Chris continued:
Yes Android and iPhone are direct challengers as are Qualcomm's BREW and even Symbian itself in some ways, as they are all platforms aiming to offer something extra. In terms of DS and PSP, I think that mobile is already in the same ring in many respects in that it's a portable gaming device that offers to consume your time and is already has some very competitive casual titles.
It wasn't until Dynamite Ham took to the discussion however, that someone really stuck the knife in:
I couldn't be less excited about N-Gage. I think Android is an interesting prospect, and I look forward to seeing what materializes, if anything, but the N-Gage is going to have to pull out something special. It's a nice idea, but I, a gamer, am unlikely to choose a Nokia phone for the sake of playing N-Gage titles unless a library of games makes it irresistible, which I can't honestly see happening. It has always seemed like a misguided technology to me. When mobile is already capable of running excellent games, why isn't the energy being ploughed into game development? After all, it's the games that sell the consoles, not the other way around. N-Gage at the moment is just a disembodied platform with no real addressing of the control issue, and no launch title.
Harsh words right there folks but it is easy to see why people are disillusioned with the new N-Gage. The key problem seems to be the radio silence that currently surrounds the whole project and until Nokia starts arming the press with essential information such as a definite launch date, a series of handsets that will run the service and details about a firm clutch of launch titles, the mobile gaming public will likely remain apathetic about the whole thing.

Elsewhere in the forum, using science, we managed to magically make our new Help! section go live and we can only assume that all of you are gaming wizz-kids who never need to turn to your fellow gamers for help based on how quiet it's been. Either that or you haven't noticed it yet and are still posting your questions elsewhere on the forum. By next week most of the biggest help threads (Pokemon, Silent Hill etc) will have been moved across so look out for that. In the meantime you might want to think about natashakd who got in touch via email to ask

Can you please tell me where I can find instructions to load downloaded files (downloaded using uTorrent through DS download station) on to my DS lite. I do have a wifi max. I just cannot find instructions anywhere. Thanks Also, the hinge on my DS lite has come loose. Is there anywhere that will fix this for me?
Surely one of you code mongers should be able to offer some advice. If you think you can help just head over to this thread to post your knowledge.

So what will next week's salacious topic be? Well seeing as it is ever more popular we thought we'd ask you all what you think about handheld homebrew. As always the full details can be found over on the forum where there will also be free digital crisps and other refreshments (warning - requires the use of one's imagination).

Click 'Track It!' to be sure to catch the highlights from the ensuing discussion in next week's Loose Threads and until then happy posting.