Nokia Buys Sega.com Mobile Division Assets

eticket writes "According to a story on CNET News.com, Sega is selling its Sega.com mobile division to Nokia. I guess Nokia is serious about this online gaming thing." According to the article, "The Finnish cell phone maker said it will acquire Sega.com and use Sega's Network Application Package in its mobile phone and online games products", and according to the press release on GameInfoWire.com, the technology will "...enhance online games and service offerings for the Nokia N-Gage game deck." An earlier Sega press release regarding the SNAP technology is fairly jargon-heavy, but seems to emphasize multiplayer mobile gaming - the example described, Pocket Kingdom, is "...a multi-player online turn-based fighting game based in a virtual world where each phone is a unique player representing their own castle and soldier."

Not Gonna Hellp

[BigDork1001]

I don't think it matters what Nokia does, the N-Gage isn't going to do too well. From just about every preview and review I've read about the N-Gage all of them make it sound like this is a hunk of junk and not worth my money.

Re:Not Gonna Hellp

[Mategan]

Maybe the N-Gage is a heap of junk now, but the next model or the next model after that will be the one to benefit from this buyout. Make no mistake - N-Gage wont be the last portable gaming device you see from Nokia.

Re:Not Gonna Help

[BigDork1001]

The problem is that consumers don't forget a poor product. So if the initial model N-Gage sucks when future ones come out it'll be a harder sell.

It's like a bad movie. If the original sucks I'm going to be less likely to go see a sequel because I remember how bad the first was.

Re:Not Gonna Hellp

[the_riaa]

$299 is just too much to drop on a handheld console, period. Some speculate Sony's PSP might debut for that price, but I for one doubt it.

For $299 now, you can pick up any of the three major consoles and a couple games, or a damned nice GBA SP and say, 7-8 games. $299 for the unit, monthly fees of $30/month or so for cell service, plus $20-30 per game - that is a bit too pricey for my blood for any game system.

This is sad

[cloudless.net]

Sega is a great game developer. When it is independent, it could create games for different devices. Now that Nokia purchased the mobile division, it will turn everything into proprietary that only works on expensive Nokia phones.

At least someone will profit...

[aweraw]

It's good to hear that Sega has made some money (indirectly) from the N-Gage, cuz I'm pretty darn sure Nokia wont see a cent...

Jargon Heavy?

[WuWarrior]

Since when were Slashdot readers afraid of something a little jargon heavy?

Coming Attractions

[17028]

The real question is, who's going to buy Sega itself?

N-Gage a little steep at $299, but...

[WoTG]

once you factor out the BIG subsidies phone companies give out on phones to entice new customers, the price doesn't sound too too bad. If down the line wireless co's offer similar discounts in some sort of 'kids' bundle the net cost to the consumer would be comparable to a Gameboy - with the benefits of having less stuff to carry around (than a phone + GBA).