Nokia Slams GameBoy, Discusses N-Gage 78
Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for writing up an article discussing Nokia's most recent comments about their N-Gage portable phone/game deck, which launches later this year, and will be at least partly competing against Nintendo's all-conquering GameBoy Advance. Most notably, Nokia boss Ilkka Raiskinen is quoted as saying "GameBoy is for 10-year-olds. If you're 20 or 25 years old, it's probably not a good idea to draw a GameBoy out of your pocket on a Friday night in a public place."
Nokia blows (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Nokia blows (Score:5, Informative)
The only 'cool' thing it does is allow you to play against other people using GSRP and GSM. Oh, except those things cost money under just about every cell plan there is...
-Henry
Re:Nokia blows (Score:2)
Re:Nokia blows (Score:1)
Re:Nokia blows (Score:2)
The GBA does what it does damn well. There are cell phones which do a good job of that too. It is certainly possible to create a device which is the convergence of a cell phone, game device and cell phone- but this isn't that device.
I have a GBA, but I regret getting it just a little. The kinds of games I play most often I can get both on my PDA and my GBA- Snood m
He might have a point (Score:5, Funny)
a) Need to find new friends and/or friends. Period.
b) Need to find a new place to hang out on Friday nights.
c) Should get punched in the face.
d) Are a huge doofus.
e) All of the above.
Cell phone games sure are a neat waste of time, but if I'm going to blow $300 on a portable gaming system it has to blow me, too.
Target demographic (Score:5, Funny)
What they DON'T tell you... (Score:5, Informative)
I think I'll stick with my "Cartridges that only a 10-year old would play", thank you. At least then I can play them on airplanes.
Feeding the AC Troll...: (Score:2, Informative)
Actually, no, I don't read Penny Arcade. I personally can't stand their style of humor. However, feel free to mod my post down.
When I was at E3 and actually asked them "how do you change the games?" they, very reluctantly, told me. Hence why I was able to make this post. Considering that this is "public" knowledge, as long as you know to ask, I am not surprised that other sources have al
Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:5, Funny)
in other news:
Shouldn't they pick on someone their own size?
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:1)
Sadly, GameBoy is their âoesame size.â The sad truth is that, for $300, you are getting something that is not a flexible or as fun to use as a $99 GameBoy Advance.
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:5, Insightful)
Not only is the handheld unappealing because of its design and poor cell phone integration it seems to me to be a trend with thier current line of cell phones. Why in the world would anyone want a cell phone that is layed out like a rotary phone?
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:2)
Well sonny boy, back in about 1980 there were these game systems called "Gameboy", "Atari", "Colecovision", etcetera. At the time there was a popular childrens toy called "N Gauge model railroad". It is to these things, not the johnnie come lately "Gameboy Advance", that the headlines appeared to be referring to -- at least to a crustly oldster like myself.
I have to go now the buzzards are starting
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:2)
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:2)
Do you realize that my original post was a joke? Jokes sometimes compromise "making sense" in favor of "humor". In this case it was clear from the article body that they were talking about gba, not vanilla gb, but since I'm a shameless karma ho, I decided to get my licks in...
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:2)
Re:Noika Slams GameBoy! (Score:2)
I mean, really, I give Sony's offering a longer life-span against the GBA than Nokia. And I don't think Sony will be able to surpass the Game Gear's high water mark.
Friday night (Score:4, Funny)
Bender (Score:2)
"No, THEY look like dorks!! *grumble*" (from "War is the H-Word")
For a 20-year old... (Score:1)
Re:For a 20-year old... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:For a 20-year old... (Score:1)
I'm on the verge of 32 and I have no issues pulling out my GBA while waiting for a plane or on the plane. My wife and I both have GBAs with Afterburners for the lights. Most likely we'll get each other GBA SPs for some holiday or another and use the old GBAs as GameCube controllers for use with FF.
Hell, last time I was at the airport I saw someone at least 40 in a suit playing on a GBA SP. If you want to hide your playing, all you are inconveniencing is yourself
Re:For a 20-year old... (Score:1)
Why? I'm 39 and I still play my GBA everywhere. Do you know of a better way to spend three hours in an airport waiting for the flight, then ten hours flying, then time waiting for the luggage? I don't. (Also the reason I won't get a SP, no place to recharge!). Besides it's the most interactive my SO and I can do in public without being arrested.
Re:For a 20-year old... (Score:1)
Frankly I find a little video gaming a lot less of something to be embarrassed about than
my thoughts (Score:3, Interesting)
I used to play with my gameboy a lot back in '89 and played it to death until I got my gameboy color. Back when I was young, it was fine for me to be playing it until it did indeed seem to be a bad idea to draw my gameboy out when I was in high school or with friends as it seemed like kiddie stuff.
I fit the 20-25 age group but now it is cool again to play. People don't give a fuck. Many times they're more interested in what video game you're playing so they can check it out also. Video games have become so commonplace that seeing the new professional, shiny, and slick gbasp in silver makes me look godly. I would think that buying a $300 phone just to play some games seems like a bad idea imho.
I could just imagine my friends say "WTF? you have a gameboy for portable games and its cheaper. You idiot.. you got fucking ripped off".
It's not the system that matters.... (Score:5, Insightful)
If this is Nokias stance on gaming, then they are already doomed. Not because of the trash-talking to gamers either.
They are making a very similar mistake that past console makers have done, and that is to front their systems and not their library. They haven't learned one of the most *basic* rules for manufacturers in the game industry, and that is that *games* make the system.
(Yadda, yadda... It's been said a 100 times)
I think the majority of the older generation of gamers play their games because they are fun, not because a system is hyped. I have yet to see any real fun games on the N-Gage. I'm 25 years old and I carry my GBA where ever I go. It's a blast, yours is not, I've played it.
N-Gage won't work either way (Score:1)
1. When playing games, people will ask me why I'm molesting my cell phone.
2. When talking on the phone, people will ask me why I'm talking into a gameboy.
I got a GBASP a month ago and it's become part of my standard gear I take with me everywhere I go (cell phone, wallet, keys, pen, GBASP). It's perfect for killing time between meetings, classes, etc. Plus it fits perfectly in my cargo pockets (hey, they finall
Uh-huh, sure... (Score:1)
N-Gage piece of trivia for you. To put a new game in this thing you have to remove the batteries. Brilliant!
hrmm... (Score:5, Funny)
They obviously haven't hung out with anyone at Slashdot on a Friday night.
And if their target market is 20-25, I doubt their ad-campaign [nokia.com] is going to be very productive.
"Dude! I need to get an NGage so I can be bitchin!!"
Re:hrmm... (Score:1)
I heard Nintendo is gonna make a GBA BlueTooth adapter to provide wireless gaming through NTT Docomo phones. Really, the little voices in my head told me.
If Nokia really want to create a wireless gaming market, maybe they should try and focus on promoting the current breed of games on J2ME and Series 60 platforms. Most people don't even know they exist.
Oh yeah, thanks for the link to that ad. It's uber-r3t@rd3d. LMAO
Re:hrmm... (Score:1)
Re:hrmm... (Score:2)
And as if anybody needed another reason why GBA is a system for mature gamers who want great gaming: I give you Castlevania [metacritic.com].
slam dunk, guys! (Score:1)
Is that a threat? (Score:4, Funny)
BEWARE THE NOKIA NINJAS
can't use combo phone/gameboy on airplane (Score:2, Informative)
it doesn't matter if it includes a "turn radio off" feature. flight attendants can't be expected to understand that or be able to actually verify/believe it.
Re:can't use combo phone/gameboy on airplane (Score:2)
That may, in fact, end up being its only market.
Leave gameboy alone (Score:1)
this goes with out saying (Score:1)
Gabe of PA said it best (Score:3, Insightful)
We even strung our link cables across the seats in the airplane on our way to E3 in order to partake in some four player Puyo Pop. Whereas airline regulations will not even allow me to turn on your masterfully designed game system while anywhere near a fucking airplane much less play a game to pass the time. Oh and speaking of great design, having to remove the battery in order to change gamesâ¦brilliant. "
This fits my own sentiments dead on. Almost all of my friends have SPs and you better bet we will pull them out when we are sitting waiting for a table or a movie to start. That is the beauty of my SP, I can play high quality games where ever I happen to be. So I can have a social life without having to sacrifice my gaming completely. I was interested in checking out the N-Gage, but now I feel that out of principle of not contributing to its success I won't. I am your target demo graphic, young geek male with loads of disposable income. Way to go Nokia.
On a certain Friday night (Score:3, Interesting)
Buisness Plan (Score:3, Funny)
2. Insult potential customers
3. ????
4. Profit!!!
Actually, after that comment, I will never buy this poor waste of landfill space!
Re:Buisness Plan (Score:1)
1: Call your customers crooks.
2:
3: Profit!
Dear Nokia: (Score:5, Funny)
Could you help me find them? Thank you.
I am very excited about the names of the forthcoming titles. As many as two or three of them I could not recognize from my gamestop GBA section. I am sure they will be excellent, and even the games that do exist for the gameboy will be much better for the n-gage.
P.S. Last week I saw a really hot chick and I think I might have had a chance with her, but she saw my gameboy SP and ran away. If possible, can you send me an early copy of the n-gage or even a mockup so that I can score the next time I see her?
Screenshots (Score:2, Informative)
Actually from these screen shots [newlc.com] it looks half reasonable, but:
1) I bet it's not that good in reality.
2) Slagging of GBA SP owners by suggesting they are uncool 10 year olds is market suicide (have they not heard of the 'GBA:SP - For Men' campaign all over London?)
3) You take the battery out to change games? *boggle*
4) Looks like a brick, and I can't see it being comfortable.
5) It's been hyped for
Re:Screenshots (Score:1)
There is at least a slight difference between N-Gage and all those devices :
- it's also a mobile phone
- you can download free or shareware games and those could be stored on the phone file system
I have seen some of these games running: they are impressive for a mobile phone platform.And as I don't know the GBA-SP
2Old2bCool (Score:3, Insightful)
Last Friday night, at 2Fast2Furious (I'm in a war of attrition with a friend to drag each other to the worst possible movie), I pulled a platinum SP out of my pocket and played (original GB) Mario in the cinema, waiting for the movie to start. All the little kiddies playing centipede on their cell phones all leant over to watch, as did the older people on a retro kick.
Granted, I've been 26 for two months now, so I'm clearly passed it.
GameBoys have a level of retro cool that completely transcends just about any other retro fad. They also have a stupidly large library of some of the most simply playable games ever. I'd choose to be seen playing one of those things over the "Please look at me, I desperately need to be cool by sticking flashing LED battery packs on my cell phone" alternative - be it Friday night or any other time.
Re:2Old2bCool (Score:2)
"GameBoy - You'll never have your mum calling to check up on you on it."
Any device that allows your mum to check you've got your thermal underwear on, you've got your coat buttoned up and you'll be home by bedtime, while you're trying to hang out with your friends, is fundamentally uncool.
The Last Gasp of a Stillborn Product? (Score:2, Insightful)
Interesting Comments there (Score:1)
I hardly think a 10 year could play all the games. Heck my daughter (who is 9) cannot play (functionally and maturity) all the games we have.
Don't see me letting her play any mortal kombat games in a hurry.
quote (Score:1)
hmm, well a) you'll never get the chicks playing video games while they're around, so this is bad juju for nokia also and b) i'd guess 1 in 5 guys of university age (20-24) own a GBA of some sort... it's not exactly like playing video games is a demasculating activity, seeing as how pretty much all guys play some sort of video game at least on
Wow... (Score:4, Funny)
I must say, Scandanavia is the last place I'd expect Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf to pop back up...
And yet... (Score:1)
Subway players and Europe's Sexy SP Campaign (Score:2, Informative)
You should check out Nintendo's campaign in Europe. Young attractive couples half naked in bed [nintendo-europe.com] playing gameboy. (possibly not safe for work)
Re:Subway players and Europe's Sexy SP Campaign (Score:1)
Casual conversation between co-workers. (Score:1)
Ha! (Score:2)
Nokia, I am not afraid!!
If you hadn't seen it... (Score:2, Informative)
These days (Score:2)
They're absolutely right. (Score:1)
WARNING: Not a sincere recommendation.
Free and accessible development kit for N-Gage (Score:3, Informative)
Nokia provide free development kits for their mobile phones (have a look at developer.nokia.com [nokia.com]). OK, it may be just java (not C++), but for people programming for fun, this is more than you will ever get from Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft/Xbox, who require you to go through a certification process (impossible for an individual).
From their web page:
Nokia N-Gageâ game deck supports two different game styles: downloadable titles and rich games distributed on MMC cards. Downloadable titles for Nokia N-Gage game deck are developed in Javaâ MIDP in the same way and with the same tools used to develop downloadable games for any other Series 60 Platform device. Our Step by Step Guide to mobile game development [nokia.com] will get you started. You do not require authorization to develop downloadable games for any Series 60 Platform device.
Ilkka Raiskinen = Information Minister? (Score:1)
N-Gage vs. Communicator quality? (Score:1)
The Communicator is a nice concept, but horribly implemented.
I've seen plenty of 9110i and all had the same problems. Apps crashing, caller lists getting nuked, phone crashing. Best one always was when the diplay looked like normal, but the phone actually crashed internally.
Hmmm, strange no one called today...
One had to reboot that thing once a day at times. T
Obligatory Simpsons Reference (Score:1)
"Superliminal?"
"Hey you! Join the Navy!"
"Okay"
Does anyone else see similarities between Lt. L.T. Smash's advertising tactics and Nokia's.
"Hey you! Don't buy Gameboy. It's uncool."
"Okay."
"Hey you! Buy N-Gage. It's cool."
"Okay."
It's so simple it's genious. They'll make bags of money.
10 year olds? GBA maybe, but not GBA-SP. (Score:2)
Yeah, yeah, yeah... (Score:2)
---
Well, I'm 30... (Score:2)
Nokia needs a better PR person (Score:1)
And pulling your small phone out of your pocket to play a game on while you are out on a Friday night is somehow more 'adult'???
Hey, Remember back when SEGA had an ad... (Score:1)
It was an advertisement for Gamegear, SEGA's answer to Gameboy. Where is Gamegear now? For that mat
Re:Hey, Remember back when SEGA had an ad... (Score:1)
Back when I was 10.... (Score:2)
Then again, I am pretty shameless as it is.