| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
Nokia reveals N-CAGE (Mobile Phone and Mobile Handheld Console)
02.07.03, 07:35:25
|
|
|
|
Post #1 (permalink) |
|
|
| |
|
|
The initial press conference was held under the looming might of the London Eye on the South Bank of the Capital. Consumer, specialist and financial press from across Europe and America had been invited, as had representatives of Sega, Activision, THQ, Eidos and Taito all adding to the weight of the impending announcement.
The conference itself, given by Nokia senior execs, outlined the company's aims and ambitions for the console. It became abundantly clear very swiftly that N-Gage is no mere gadget, but a serious proposition in the gaming market, boasting enormous potential thanks to GBA-beating specs and excellent publisher support.
Did we say GBA-beating specs? Yup. And this was the real surprise of the event. The corporate double-speak was all very impressive and the pitch as polished as you'd expect, but what really captured the attention of the audience was the first glimpse of Tomb Raider running on N-Gage. And we're not talking top-down-GBA Tomb Raider; we mean fully 3D PSone-standard. (Note: the Tomb Raider clip in the trailer below is mocked-up; not actual in-game footage).
And before we carry on, let's take a look at the actual specs released by Nokia:
Features:
Large colour screen with backlight, 176x208 pixels with up to 4096 colours
Series 60 platform and Symbian Operating System (OS)
Bluetooth wireless technology for gaming
An eight-way directional controller "Rocker" for gameplay
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Triple band GSM (900/1800/1900), GPRS mobile phone
Digital music player (AAC/MP3) and stereo FM radio
Nokia Audio Manager PC SW for managing own music files
Comprehensive range of applications; email and personal information management
XHTML browsing
Java application support
Connectivity: calendar synchronisation with PC, USB for music file and application download
Usage times:
Games up to 3-6 hours (depending on game type)
talk up to 2-4 hours
Standby up to 150-200 hours
Music up to 8 hours
Radio up to 20 hours
Size:
Volume 139cc
Dimensions (LxWxD) 133.7 x69.7 x 20.2 mm
Weight 137g
Nokia is still keeping the precise internal workings a secret, but on the evidence of the early demos, graphics far in advance of what GBA is capable of are possible. All this would count for nought, of course, if the games were all rubbish. And, to be brutally honest, though Nokia's own titles are excellent tech demos, they are, frankly, a bit naff compared to standard console titles.
here's a sample of some of the games you'll be enjoying later this year:
Super Monkey Ball
Virtua Tennis
Sonic N
Tomb Raider
MotoGP
Sega Rally
Puzzle Bobble
Pandemonium
Puyo Puyo
Super Space Invaders
But N-Gage is not just about the solitary experience of playing games. Quite the opposite, in fact, with Nokia insisting that every piece of software either offer full online play or downloadable content and other online functions as a bare minimum.
The conference video illustrated this and the overall functionality of the N-Gage, showing someone playing a game online, while being interrupted sporadically by SMS messages or phone calls. Games automatically freeze if any of these events occur. A further cool feature is the ability to take screen grabs at any point and send them to another N-Gage unit.
As for the games, they will be available on individual cards through retailers, or available for download on pre-installed data cards.
All a Nokia official would say was that it would retail for under 500 euros (we certainly hope so - that's around £330) and the software would be released at the price of current console software (handheld or home was not made clear, but we presume the former.)
N-Gage is a hugely impressive piece of kit with enormous potential and the right names behind it to make it a success. The key factor is pricing, and we'll have a clearer picture when Nokia makes any such announcement. At the very least, Nintendo should be feeling ever-so-slightly uncomfortable right now... |
______________________________________
Last edited by Zelnaga : 02.07.03 at 07:37:43.
|
|
|
|
|
|
sounds impresive....
 sorry i'm dumbfounded by all that |
______________________________________
100% Creamy Goodness
|
|
|
|
|
|
I won't get it till more games arrive on it..
Are there any RPG's announced on it?
The specs are quite impresive.. |
______________________________________
[ Status: Former Super Moderator ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Isn't it like another version of the GBA? I think i know what your talking about it looks like a Phone right? |
______________________________________
My heart knows no love. My heart know no light. All I can feel is Hate and Darkness. All I know is Hate. All I have been shown has been Hate.... Forever in the pits of Hell alone and lost in it's Darknesss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ive seen some pics of it, looks good |
______________________________________
|
|
|
|
|
|
| it sounds cool, but i stopped buying gameboys after GB color. |
______________________________________
~Banned for Multiple Accounts~ Previous User: God, Twitch, thespotofjonny
|
|
|
|
|
|
| no thanks i have a cell phone and a gba. im all good |
______________________________________
 My head is a cloud, you can't get through it
 Im a chocobo, too fast for you
 I have a gf like aeris, only she's hotter
Support your local gangster at: http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=262417
|
|
|
|
|
|
| I don't think this will do so well... How fast will the battery go out? |
______________________________________
The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life,
your memories,
your attachments.
They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you
They're freeing your soul.
So, if you're frightened of dying and...
and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away.
But if you've made your peace,
then the devils are really angels,
freeing you from the earth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| We don't need anymore... Like they'd have a chance anyways. |
______________________________________
A much updated ruin from a much outdated style.
|
|
|
|
| |
