Loose Threads: What does the future hold for N-Gage?

The N-Gage, as in the first iteration of the console, the N-Gage QD (also known as the Nokia Taco, Nokia pastie and a slew of other slurs involving comparisons to baked goods), is perhaps the biggest flop in pocket gaming’s recent history.

Sure, the Gizmondo was probably even less successful, but in the gaming industry, the bigger they come, the harder they fall and as companies go, they don’t get much bigger than Nokia.

But that’s all in the past now and the new N-Gage service is much, much better, in fact, it’s brilliant. It’s just a shame nobody knows it exists. The irony is that in terms of market-share, there are probably more N-Gage capable handsets in pockets around the globe than there are PSPs and DSs combined (don’t quote us on that).

The problem is two-fold: the new N-Gage service doesn’t have a new brand to differentiate it from the first version, and Nokia has put less money into advertising the service than it spends on paper clips in a year.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, the N-Gage has the likes of Reset Generation and Metal Gear Solid Mobile proving what a capable platform it is, and there’s lots more to look forward to next year.

At least, there is from where we're sitting. From where hunter_alien is sitting however:

“Well Nokia will have one tough mission to get into the handheld gaming market with the N-Gage. First it made hardware that fitted only a few people (N-Gage), then it ditched the hardware and made a software-only, more open-ended platform, that had an extremely slow start. Oh and did I mentioned that it had no mass-market advertising campaign since the release of the first N-Gage model... Yep, for over 6 years.

"Unfortunately, games like Resident Evil Degeneration will never make the N-Gage platform a mainstream one, and all that it will be is a more popular option to download games for Nokia handsets. Sure, we could see some cool, ultra complex movie/music download service, but at the speed things are going now (even slower than Sony works) I’m not seeing it happen any time soon, and when it does (if it does) it will probably be too late.”

Oh come on hunter, stand with us on this one. Surely Nokia’s direct to device delivery model is a winner as soon as the content is there? It’s working for the iPhone. Next up was Gideon B:

“Now that's a hard question which can be responded to with - we have absolutely no idea at all. Only a few top quality titles like reset generation have been released.

"I personally think that there is no future for the doomed system/distribution software. The games aren't that good and dedicated 'gaming' phones by Nokia aren't really dedicated 'gaming' phones. So the future of the N-Gage is simple, it either limps on (slowly) or dies off quicker than it was released.”

Good lord you ruthless lot, is this not the season of goodwill? Still, there’s no denying that the N-Gage has been taking its time to make an impact, a fact not lost on new member cartmann2:

“I really don't think the platform will die. I think Nokia only launched it the wrong way, if it had launched the First Access as a closed beta program, (I know that Nokia did release it before, but keeping it closed is better) because it doesn’t create as much hype in the beginning.

"The other problem is, Nokia has a lot of partners on stealth mode, like it had with Firemint and that Mega Monsters game.

"I think it was a mistake removing 3D hardware support from the new N-Gage, it would have made it easier for developers and the games would look better! But the future is good, since Nokia is installing N-Gage on lots of new handsets (see N96). I hope that the N97 has the N-Gage client pre-installed too."

We can confirm that the N97 is indeed compatible with the N-Gage client, which throws touchscreen controls into the debate. That debate however can continue another time as January will no doubt see some announcements concerning the N-Gage’s future.

Elsewhere on the forum, another new member, or should we say long lost member, SciFITY picked up the Best Strategy Games thread in the PSP section:

“Populous was just released on the DS I have both DS and PSP) and I LOVE both! They both have their need out there. Lots of people have been real hard on Endwar by Clancy because they thought it was all going to be voice activated, but that misconception was based on a poor advertisement that misled people (unintentionally) by using the same video and blurb for the handheld release as they used for the console release.

"I for one think that Clancy did a fine job on Endwar if you don't compare it to Advance Wars, which is similar. I have not tried the PSP version though, only the DS version. I think the PSP is more designed for action style games (i.e. racing) and the DS for strategy games. But as I have said, I HAVE and LOVE both as they both are equally good at what they present to the public.”

Wow, that’s a load of capitals in there, but it’s great to see one of our readers getting passionate about their genre of choice and even better to see an old thread getting picked up again - the more of that sort of thing, the better. But enough about old threads and on with next week’s

Are the DS and PSP dead in the water?

Yep that old chestnut, but it’s the time of year to be asking these sorts of questions and the current pocket gaming landscape makes it all the more apt. More details can be found in the war chest (otherwise known as the forum) which you can become a member of by visiting this link.

That’s it for now, remember to click ‘Track It!’ to catch next week’s discussion and happy posting!