Nokia Slams GameBoy, Discusses N-Gage

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

[LineNoiz]

I think Gabe's post [penny-arcade.com] pretty much sums it all up.

What they DON'T tell you...

[Blackwulf]

...Is to change the game, you have to open up the back of the N-Gage, take out the battery, and change the chip that's underneath, then replace the battery...

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.

Re:Nokia blows

[DragonPup]

Speaking as someone who went to E3 and played with the N-Gage, I agree with Gabe on all counts. Control was arkward at best, screen wasn't so great, and the games I played were not making me want to consider buying this. And the having to turn the phone off and remove the back cover to change the games sealed the deal. :p

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

can't use combo phone/gameboy on airplane

[Splork]

As long as phones and wireless devices are frowned upon on airplanes a combo device will not work well for the frequent traveller.

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.

Screenshots

[@madeus]

Yeah, I wonder Why there are no screen shots, oh no I don't, I know why, it's because it's going to be pants.

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 over 6 months, but they still have no actual in game screen shots on the web site.

..and lastly...

6) They plan to unthroan the Gameboy SP how? With magic pixie dust?

If the Atari Lynx and the Sega Game Gear couldn't do it, this phone doesn't have a chance (the only advantage it has is wireless play and we know that GBA BlueTooth adapters are en route).

Nintendo may have screwed up their last two consoles (N64 - pants, GC - good, not enough games) and the GBA (backlight) but with the GBA:SP they have an excellent system with a huge back catalog of games, and one that is capeable of running quality SNES and Megadrive conversions. I don't even see Sony beating them now (not after how big they've said the screen is going to be).

I wish they would make offical blank ROM carts though, carrying games is a pain and they are soo cool. I'd love to be able to pay and download games via the net (getting hold of popular carts like SF:Turbo and Golden Sun:LA can be a pain as every man and his dog want's to get them it seems).

Subway players and Europe's Sexy SP Campaign

[clu76]

I'm 27 and I play my SP in public. I'm not the only one. I see other adults playing them regularly on the subway.

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)

Feeding the AC Troll...:

[Blackwulf]

Wow, you read Penny Arcade. You are so original.

Please mod parent down for being a lame ass plagarist. Thanks.

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 also used the information.

Thanks for playing!

If you hadn't seen it...

[bl4nk]

Gamesindustry.biz also wrote a nice little article about the pros and cons of the N-Gage at first sight.. Check it out here. [gamesindustry.biz]

Free and accessible development kit for N-Gage

[snowtigger]

This should be a good news to the Slashdot community.

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.