Next-Gen N-Gage Getting Ready to Go

We've previously discussed the lackluster performance of Nokia's N-Gage handheld system. Just the same, despite a market seemingly sewn up by the DS and PSP the company is getting ready for another go. Pocketgamer reports that Nokia had a group of game development houses down to Santa Monica, to check things out and decide for themselves whether they wanted to make a game for the new platform. Another two-day event is slated for Madrid next week, and you'd expect there to be some discussion of the platform during GDC in March as well. No word on a release date from the article, but these certainly point to signs of Nokia's product having at least some chance coming out of the gate.

Why?

[Mr. Hankey]

Not to sound too negative, but why? There are already handhelds on the market (one from Sony and two from Nintendo, even the GBA still sells) that are more than capable of fending off an uninspired phone/console combo. People who play games probably want to do so on a dedicated gaming device, to avoid killing their phone's battery life. A built-in game or two couldn't hurt, and there are already a number of games you can download based on Java. It almost seems like they want to lose money with these devices.

I guess on the plus side it couldn't suck as badly as the original N-Gage, they must have learned something from the horrible control layout and weak graphics capability. Good luck to them, and let's hope for a solid implementation.

Re:Just Throw a Couple of Buttons...

[vertinox]

I think the flip phone design would be best. I was thinking like the DS only smaller.

The only way the nGage would ever succeed is if they:

1. Alow and foster homebrew (aka Mame games).
2. Have a touch screen. (Dual screen in your suggested flip design would be nice)
3. Have the ability to read SD flash cards for memory (same ones you can put in your cameras)
4. Have a USB port (well this one isn't 100% needed if they comply with #3)
5. Make game development really easy (see 1)
6. No tie in with any Cell phone provider.

But seeing no company has the balls for #1 the device is doomed to failure...

Do a deal with Nitendo

[curmi]

Do a deal with Nintendo to include the GBA chips in your phone, and integrate with that. Why try and compete with Sony and Nintendo, you will always be an after-thought.